rainy revelry

A fair share of rain for us so far this summer.  Today I'm working from the couch as there is no real reason the venture outside.  I am getting geared up for a trip out east to see my Mom and Dad.  Looking forward to some ocean air.

swatch watch

The textile swatches are in from Tonic Living.  Apparently I am very drawn to the geometric prints these days.  The navy blue diamond lines in the top right corner will be the cover for two more mid-century modern teak chairs.  The mustard geometric next to it will be the cover of a footstool to contrast an aqua ikat chair I am working on.  Many upholstery projects on the go at the moment.  I am going to have to take them outside into the sunshine.

modern mix

My apartment lends itself very well to mixing and matching.  It is full of character and has great floors and solid bones.  I like the idea of juxtaposing modern things within these classic lines.  When I moved in many of the walls were painted crazy colours.  This robins egg blue in my living room was initially too much for me and I spent the first few months contemplating painting.  I'm particularly drawn to white walls with bursts of colour in furniture and accessories.  But as time went on it started to grow on me.  There is something almost restful to it for me now.  I'd say this is one of my favourite corners in the house.  It is also one of my more modern vignettes.  This structured, boxy oversized lounge chair covered in a sheepskin throw is perfect to settle into with a good book (or computer).  I reupholstered a classic antique ottoman with a simple textured geometric pattern.  The silkscreen on the wall, rattan lamp and throw cushions are all new modern pieces.  I couldn't resist putting a bit of emerald green, antique glass in the window.  It just looks so great in the morning light.

Beautiful Brass Bobbles

I've been really lusting after all things brassy lately, slowly picking up little pieces at auctions and antique stores - book ends, vases, light fixtures.   I'm finding that they work really well with the tones of my teak mid-century modern furniture.

Here is a nice inspiration wall from Jonathan Adler that instantly caught my eye.  The brassy bits just pop and I love the warmth they bring into the room.  It is instantly elevated.

Jonathan Adler

Green Bean

I've been riding my almost brakeless, very rickety 1964 Raleigh Sport 3 Speed for the past five years and I was beginning to notice that I was choosing public transit over my bicycle far too frequently.  I think the weight of the thing and its rather abrupt gears were really starting to wear on me.  It was a gift from my friend Tom when we were living in Halifax in 2006.  He ventured across the street to a garage sale and came back with a lovely vintage Raleigh for I think $25 bucks.  It has served me well.

Growing up my family had a bright green Volkswagon Westfalia camper van that we drove east for a summer, until we ended up buying a cottage in NS.  We called it the "Green Bean" because my dad had some body work done on it before the big trip and then had it painted a beautiful bright Kelly Green.  I have been looking at upgrading my bicycle situation for the past year with the ambition of riding a little more often.  This bike, the very same colour as the 'ol "Green Bean",  jumped out at me the other day as I walked trough the Annex.  It was  a beautiful day and I was pressed for time and contemplated taking the subway home.  If only I had my bike.   She is a Linus Dutchi 3 Speed designed in Venice, California, with lovely classic character and flare.  I couldn't stop thinking about this beauty so I went back yesterday aft and took her for a spin.  She is smooth and shifts effortlessly and has a whole bunch of options for attachments and baskets.  I was sold.  A little bit of an investment now will no doubt pay off with huge joy over the summer months.

Happy Easter

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

Mid-Century Recovery

They are finally finished... The chairs that took a great deal of blood sweat and tears.  Between re-foaming the seats and backs and waiting for the fabric to arrive from the manufacturer, it was quite a lengthy process.  I'd only ever tried smaller upholstery projects in the past and these were a little trickier.  I had to shape the foam myself and apply decorative tacks to the seat backs.  It was all worth it.  Im very pleased with the results.  I've already had a couple of offers to buy them,  but i think these ones will be for me.  I just like them too much.

Here are a few other snapshots of the process.

Saving the Daylight

Tonight is the night when the clocks slide forward and we get to have a little more light in our lives.  The city is shifting - warming up to spring.  I have been busy puttering around the house and have found a lot of joy in having some springy flowers about to muffle the sights of melting snowbanks.  I image we will see some flakes again before it is totally safe to put away the puffy coats for good, but still something has shifted.

Soul Soothing

I've been a little under the weather lately and have been spending a lot of time on this...
Couldn't be more pleased with this purchase.
I've also been working on a few other projects to show and tell shortly. Stay Tuned.

Joyeux Noël

The cutest little Charlie Brown Christmas tree that ever lived in downtown Ottawa. My first hotel room Christmas. Its cozy in here and cold and white outside. Just how we like it.

Holly Jolly

This is what the holiday season brings. So grateful to have this delightful space to relax in.

Pheasantries

Found this amazing piece of fabric at the Junction Flea this morning. Vintage Sanderson. It was a full length curtain belonging to an old home ec teacher. She has perfectly finished two yards of the stuff. It is a lovely thick linen. Not sure what it will become yet. For now an extra bedspread or very soon, a throw on the new couch I'm waiting to be delivered.

Sewing Service

I'd been looking at this table for weeks, trying to figure out what colour would suit it as the wood veneer was chipping and worn. I tossed around red, white, yellow but then finally settled on shiny olive green. I like that it has a little punch. It's quite a contrast to the wall now, but it's growing on me.

Second Spring

I think it's the second spring since I started writing this blog. I'm reminded of how much I love the light in my kitchen at this time if year and how lucky I am to have such a whimsical space to call my own. I'm going to endeavor to write more as the summer unfolds. Toronto is full of many dear people and lots of adventures.