Chabrol

I've been absent on here for a bit.  Busy working on several different projects.  One of the most exciting ones is a new restaurant!   Meet Chabrol right in the heart of Yorkville, Toronto.  I have been lucky enough to style and brand this little gem.  While working with some elements that were left behind from a previous cafe, we worked to create a cozy little space with some Southern French charm. At only 20 seats, it's a petite boite packed with flavour!

photo credit: Toronto Life

We wanted to create a space and atmosphere that was classic with a hint of art deco. The Bally Blonde is one of my favourite vintage prints and I think she is just perfect looking over the room. Below is my branding... oh and a brass business card tray I couldn't resist. 

photo cred: Phil Babcock

photo cred: Phil Babcock

photo cred: Phil Babcock

photo cred: Phil Babcock

One of my favourite parts of the job, flower arranging. Right now I'm obsessed with Ranunculus:

Stop by and say Hello if you are in the neighbourhood!

by hand, handsome

I have whittled the line down to four different patterns or "personalities".  I'd venture to say each tells a different story - some a little more gregariously than others.  This week, I have also been working on a collection of matching bow ties.  The gentlemen up at Cava restaurant will don them as their new uniform.  The ones featured below are pre-tied for easy application and removal.  Essentially, for the gentleman who doesn't like to fuss trying to figure out a proper knot.  However, for the more skilled, or patient, we are also offering the real deal.

Beautiful Branding

I've shifted my studio to the Annapolis Valley in NS for a few weeks.  I'm hanging out with my folks again making some great dinners, watching their fancy cable and stoking the fire.  This part of the world is a whole lot different during the winter months, but there is something cozy and wondrous about it at the same time.   Businesses shut down after Christmas for a few months but at this time of year there are lots of festive parties and concerts - the community loves to come together.  We've had a ton of snow already and are due for a mighty nor'easter on Sunday.  I don't mind it.  Winter is so much more palatable in the country.  Things I'm missing about my kitchen studio at home: the light, the constant stream of CBC Radio1 and the gluten free baked goods from my Landlords.  Things I like about this new makeshift studio in my parents dining room: way more space to lay out fabric and cut, a better heavier iron and most importantly the chatter of my mom and dad in the background.

Things are ticking along with my handmade business.  Although I have a few plans for a couple of different lines, I am moving full steam ahead building my pocket square inventory.  Here is an example of the final product with the branding.  I'm really pleased with the simplicity of the design.  I have also been doing some custom orders for personalized ladies handkerchiefs.  I'm pretty pleased with how the cross stitch monograming turned out.

Pocket Change

Well...I'd like to take credit for the title but it comes from my mother who suggested I start a new business making pocket squares.  I'm not sure I'm there yet, but I'm having a pretty good time putting these together.  I had made a couple of pocket squares as a birthday gift a couple of months back and they have apparently gained some notoriety around the workplace so I have been making some more to distribute.  I happened upon some fat quarters of Liberty of London fabric at the Workroom and was able to get a couple out of each piece.  The fabric is 100% cotton but is so finely woven it almost feels like silk.  I've now learned how to miter corners, which is also a pretty great skill to have in your back pocket.

Summer Silk

I fell in love with this silk Peter Jensen dress while hopping around the internet.  The "Lodge" print reminds me of the summer I spent in the mountains.  I think it would go quite nicely with the nude Swedish Hasbeens that I recently acquired dreaming of Summer.  I'm also kind of loving this model's up-do.  Makes me long for those bangs that framed my face for so many years.  I've been secretly considering taking the plunge and getting them again.

 Peter Jensen