Favourite Artist: Jeremy Miranda

My other favourite artist in the world is Jeremy Miranda, and he happens to be married to my other fav Michelle Morin! I can only imagine how gorgeously decorated their home must be.

I love things that make me feel. Just that. Jeremy's treatment of light evokes such strong feelings that I'm floored whenever he releases something new. He has this ability to perfectly capture every emotion in his work; especially the unexpected ones.

One of my favourites is Yellow Room. (I missed out on the original of this one last year and I immediately wrote to Jeremy, begging him to make me a print. Which he happily obliged.)

Yellow Room

Rose Light: I have the original of this on my bookshelf... Actually, my home is a split of Michelle's and Jeremy's art.

Rose Light Greenhouse

Explodey ships: Also sold out, I will likely have to beg for a print of this one, too. There's something about the contrasting chaos and beauty that totally does it for me.

Harbor

Library

Solarium

All pictures from www.JeremyMiranda.etsy.com and

www.JeremyMiranda.com

Designer Crush: House of Harlow 1960

I love Nicole Richie's House of Harlow jewellery collection. I love everything about it so hard. The shapes, colours, materials, all perfect. I could make this into a picture post with all my favourites but I would likely go overboard, so I'll keep it simple and tell a quick story instead.

Despite my love I only have a couple pieces (the black pyramid station necklace making regular appearances in my Etsy listings). They're a bit pricier and with shipping, duties and exchange rates, I must choose my pieces carefully. However, yesterday I discovered that not only is there a store in Toronto that carries HOH jewellery, but that it's walking distance from my home! WHAT. How did my frequent Googling keep this crucial knowledge from me? I had quite an emotional reaction when I realized that the jewellery I was browsing at Poor Little Rich Girl was ALL House of Harlow because I was just that excited. Maybe I overreacted, and maybe I'm overreacting now by blogging about it but dayum, gurl, I was thrilled. Imagine! The novelty of being able to shop a favourite brand in person. The shop owner released the kraken when she told me she'd order any pieces I wanted if they didn't have it in stock.

Anyways, I collected myself and left with a modest purchase of a pair of earrings and what was left of my dignity. But I'll definitely be making monthly visits because it would be unreasonable not to.

Pic swiped from shopbop.com

Happy girl!

Favourite Purses

I have a thing with bags, surprise surprise. Anyone who knows me knows that I have a LOT of purses, and that I think it's always a smart idea to buy more.

Warmer weather I want brightly coloured bags with thin straps. I tend towards smaller bags even though I am technically carrying way more things (sunglasses, water bottles, kites etc.) but cold weather for me means cross-body straps are mandatory. I cannot stand struggling to keep a purse on my shoulder while grocery shopping in a giant jacket. It usually ends with tears in the produce aisle.

Anyways, here are some pretty pictures of pretty purses.

My go-to summer purses. Both from Danier.

My favs. I use these whenever I can! L: A gift. R: Fossil.

Leather battalion. L: Gap, R: Hoakon/Helga (Etsy)

I've never been able to find the perfect black bag, however. It remains forever elusive to me. I guess that just means I'll have to keep an eye out to add to my collection!

Wednesday Wishlist - Fall

We have had a nothing summer here in Toronto. July had some exciting storms and stifling heat, but August was mostly cool October weather. I don't mind and neither does my AC-less apartment, however as we experience some humidity again, I find myself permanently in Fall Shopping Mode.

Case and point:

1. Avery Buttondown - Anthropologie

I tried this on in the store and fell in love with how soft it was! But alas, it's a wee bit out of my price range.

2. Driving Mocassins - Gap

Okay, confession time. Between planning this post and now, I bought these shoes and they are just the best. Why should I wear anything other than mocassins from now on?

3. House of Harlow 1960 Gypsy Feather Necklace

I have a mild obsession with HOH. This necklace needs to not be sold out anymore so it can never be taken off my body.

4. The Buena Vista Social Bag - ArcOfADiver

In love with this girl's style! Fabulous fabrics and designs.

This week is my birthday week and while I have already done quite a bit of fall shopping, it's very difficult to not buy the rest of the items on this list! Stay cool, Toronto!

Favourite Artist: Michelle Morin

I discovered Michelle Morin's gorgeous watercolour artwork on Etsy a few years ago and have more than my tiny apartment can possibly handle (eight on display, four in storage *blush*). My collection of her work is 100% bird-related, however her latest collection of florals is divine. The colours are irresistible and I might break down and snatch up a few more prints!

The hot pink of the Tree Peony piece particularly makes my knees weak. Check her out!

Tree Peony

Imperial Fritillaria

Stems

Wild Roses

All photos from:

www.MichelleMorinArt.com

www.unitedthread.etsy.com

Summer Picks

Ah, the summer slump. There you are! I'll admit, I've been bad. Now that it's so lovely outside, I want to be away from my computer as much as possible. Blogging has slowed down, sewing has ground to a halt, and shopping has accelerated to a concerning speed haha. I am starting a new job tomorrow (!!!) so I can't help but justify the need for new clothes and accessories. Seems only natural, right?

Here are some of my favourite picks for summer!

1. Wooster Sunglasses - Elizabeth and James

2. Mini Marci Mirror Watch - Marc by Marc Jacobs

3. Sunburst Earrings - House of Harlow 1960

4. Nantucket Bingo Bag - Madewell

5. Angie - Janessa Leone

However with this New Job, I'll have more free time on the weekends so I hope hope hope to have a new DIY or two! The truth is, if I'm not in love with an idea, I'm not going to force myself to do it. It just makes the ideas you do love that much better :D

Happy CANADA DAY!

The Woman

When I think about the question "What would you save in a fire?" boring things come to mind. Purse! Computer! Box with passport in it! But if it were at all possible, The Woman would be coming with me, too. (She first made her appearance on this blog in this post but a photo wasn't enough.)

My paternal grandmother was the ultimate crafty lady. She taught me how to crochet, how to cross-stitch, and whenever I'd visit, we'd make something. She was master of embroidery, knitting, tatting, calligraphy, everything! One of her projects I remember was this embroidery of a woman. At the time I thought the flowers in her hands and hair were grapes which only made her more alluring.

Over the past few years she'd been on my mind. My grandmother passed away when I was in high school and when my grandfather moved into a smaller home, The Woman was put in a low-traffic area so I didn't really see her again until she was mine. When the time came for my grandfather to move into yet a smaller home, I persisted my dad as often as possible, letting him know that if The Woman didn't make the cut into the new home, let it be known that I wanted her.

After a good few months of nagging (to be honest, my goal was for my anxiety to be linked to the portrait so no one would forget someone wanted her. Stealth.) my parents sent me a text with a photo of The Woman propped on one of their dining room chairs. There was squeeing.

But where to put her? I had only been in my apartment for a couple months, but all the wall space was already accounted for. So she lives by the front door and every day I am floored by her. I don't normally favour artwork with people in them (it feels awkward to me to have strangers in my home) but she is family.