dépaysement

oh Boy, this is good...

2010-12-26T09:15:00.000-08:00

City of Craft has a Boxing Week Giveaway going on right now, and just look at all the lovely things you can win!

The prize includes a copy of Adrian Tomine's Shortcomings from Drawn & Quarterly, Tickets to Sundat Night Live at the Comedy Bar, a discount coupon for music boxes or supplies from Tuned Teeth, a mini print from Hieng Tang (1% Talent), a mini craft tutorial and pinback button from Sewing School, an embroidered spore pinback from Leah Buckareff (Coldsnap Bindery), a 2011 letterpress wall calendar from Etsy & more. Just leave a comment on their blog to enter, good luck!

this is not talking...

2010-12-03T19:14:00.000-08:00

Chelsea Crew Holland, $50
Shoulder Bag, $1,030
French Connection Tops Black And White Miami Palm Top - StyleCaster
Theory Jackets Navy Blinn Oversized Double Breasted Three Button...
dépaysement: re-viewed: rain man
Elise Overland Pants Light Pink Silk Pleated Harem Pants - StyleCaster
Stella McCartney Belts Black Silk Blend Obi Belt - StyleCaster
dépaysement

hunting and gathering, gathering and hunting...

2010-12-03T19:13:00.000-08:00

Journal Submission Dress, $45
Womens's NEW ARRIVALS - sweaters - Dinner Party Cardigan - Madewell, $78
Salvatore Wedge - Pony Feather, $432
Cand leather messenger bag, $275
Ring, $132
Vintage Clothing, eyewear Eyeglasses & Dress, 1950's 1960's 1970's, $149
Fluted Earrings, $38
online boutique and community | totokaelo.com

I love.

2010-11-14T18:41:00.000-08:00

I love this satchel.

I love these bookends.

I love these pencils.

I love these shoes.

I love this dress.

I love this book.

It could be that I've been coughing for two weeks straight, that I'm lying in bed on antibiotics and two different inhalers, and the view from my window is foggy and grey. That could be why I'm craving bright, sunny colours and pretty florals lately. I just feel like throwing on a dress, tossing my sketchbook and pencils into a gorgeous yellow leather satchel and taking a walk in the park.

Yours 'till Niagara Falls

2010-11-13T07:42:00.000-08:00

ONCE AGAIN, TO ZELDA: Wednesday Walkabout

2010-11-03T05:18:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Did you miss me? Well, I've been busy working on some really exciting stuff over at my other blog. More details to follow shortly, but in the meantime, check out my weekly links over at ONCE AGAIN, TO ZELDA: Wednesday Walkabout: "Every Wednesday I'll be sharing my roundup of interesting things that I find on the Interwebs, here are my picks this week:This is awesome, ..."

Happy Halloween

2010-10-31T18:14:00.000-07:00

see more funny videos

stop, look, listen

2010-10-30T00:45:00.000-07:00

My roundup of what I'm reading/watching/listening to this week:

William Kentridge: Anything is Possible full movie available online!
David Meslin for TEDxToronto. Awesome.

26 covers, samples and spoofs of "Float On" by The Floaters from WWAATD. Which one is your favourite?
New Elvis Costello album streaming for a short time here. Listen to You Hung The Moon. Swoon.
Roger Ebert gives us 10 great films about horror just in time for Halloween
Best Music Writing 2010 teaser.
Oliver Sacks examines "The Mind's Eye"
Test how consistent your philosophical and moral beliefs really are

rainbows and reveries

2010-10-25T14:05:00.000-07:00

Stained glass window, faculty club @ Brock University

Reveries, Duncan MacDonald, @ Rodman Hall Art Center

mural, Brock U

2010-10-24T22:20:00.000-07:00

::K a t e::

stop, look, listen

2010-10-24T20:16:00.000-07:00

Some lovely pictures of the sky (courtesy of my talented mother) and a roundup of things on my mind this week:

Will Aitken's interview with Anne Carson for Paris Review
Authors Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall and DBC Pierre in conversation with Brent Bambury for the IFOA
This video about the problems with our education system and what needs to change.
Steven Loft's lecture:Towards Forever... An Indiginous Art Historical Worldview (looking forward to it)
A look at this year's possible Grammy winners
Ari Up passed away. So sad.
James Elkins teaches us how to look at a Mondrian
Duncan MacDonald's solo show Little Revolutions at Rodman Hall Art Center in St. Catherines, Ontario
The Toronto Mayoral elections are tomorrow... VOTE!

forest mushroom chowder

2010-10-13T11:24:00.000-07:00

With the leaves changing colour and the weather finally cooling down a bit, I'm starting to crave some heavier fall fare. And what could satisfy my hunger (or yours) on a cool day better than a steamy bowl of mushroom chowder? This recipe for forest mushroom chowder does just the trick. The corn and carrots' sweetness compliment the richness of the cream and the earthy mushrooms perfectly. You can use any combination of 'shrooms you like, but we used shiitake, portabello, and plain old buttons for this one. If you don't have any sherry on hand, red wine vinegar works well, too. Don't forget to top with cracked black pepper, and serve with a nice crusty piece of bread so you can get every single drop from the bottom of your bowl.

2 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 cup sliced onions
1/2 cup diced carrots
3 cups sliced wild mushrooms (chantarelle, morel, shitake, oyster)
3 cups chicken broth
2 cups whipping cream
1/4 cup diced potatoes
1/4 cup frozen corn
1/2 apple, peeled and diced
2 bay leaves
3 tbsp. sherry
2 tbsp. chopped parsley
salt and freshly ground pepper

In large saucepan, heat oil and sauté garlic, onions, carrots and mushrooms. Do not brown.

Add broth and cream to vegetable mixture. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to simmer.

Add potatoes, corn, apple, bay leaves, sherry and parsley to soup. Simmer about 1/2 hour. Remove bay leaves and season with salt and pepper.

Serves 6.

words to live by

2010-10-10T08:49:00.000-07:00

Manifest plainness, Embrace simplicity, Reduce selfishness, Have few desires.
-Lao-tzu

Fashion Week Favourites

2010-10-09T13:38:00.000-07:00

Alexander Berardi

Versace

Karen Walker

Lanvin

these are a few of my favourite things

2010-10-07T01:03:00.000-07:00

adorable wooden spoons from Elizabeth Dunker

Embroidery by Eudoraeudora

bathroom from www.lonnymag.com

marc by Marc Jacobs Tote from our.city.lights

Isabel Marant S/S 2011

Polarbear - Peepers

Toadstool rings by Sarah Dingwall

Bow Bins from Cordula Kehrer

Bike (Natalia Vodianova by Bruce Weber for Vogue Paris June/July 2005.)

duet

the budva riviera

2010-10-06T02:40:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago my parents and I spent a weekend in Budva, Montenegro for a little r&r. Budva is known mostly as a popular beach resort destination with a busy nightlife, but it's also has a rich history, as it is also one of the oldest settlements on the Adriatic coast. Nearby our hotel was Sveti Stefan (the triangular-shaped island jetting out from the mainland in the second from last photo, above). Sveti Stefan is an exclusive resort island that was once popular among celebrities such as Princess Margaret, Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Loren, Carlo Ponti, Monica Vitti, and Kirk Douglas. Montenegro is one of my all-time favourite places to visit. It's a beautiful country, and the drive along the coast (which includes highlights such as the Bay of Kotor, one of the most beautiful bays in the world) with the expanse of the Adriatic Sea on one side, and the majestic black mountains on the other, is unforgettable.

on the road

2010-10-05T01:59:00.000-07:00

Quick snapshots of the Albanian countryside from our drive to Buddva, Montenegro a few weeks ago. Hopefully they give you a small taste of what this country is really like.

This is how many Albanians buy their meat, these stands are set up all along the highway

There are hundreds of thousands of these bunkers all across Albania. Built by Hoxha to protect against a percieved threat of invasion from Italy
"It is said that when a prototype for the bunkers was presented to Hoxha, he demanded the architect to go inside of it. A tank was then ordered to open fire. The bunker withstood the shelling, the architect survived, and Hoxha gave the go ahead to build nearly a million replicas of the prototype all over the country."
(from http://www.vagabondjourney.com/travelogue/bunkers-in-albania/)

A common sight here, even in the capital city.

Colourful painted houses are everywhere

So many unfinished structures

We stopped for lunch at a restaurant/"zoo"

I love chickens- wait, is this a chicken?

No, seriously, they're amazing

I actually cried when I saw the bear, though.

I think this is a lynx, or a bobcat. I'm not sure what the difference is.

I shared a moment with an owl.

The toilets were not. A hole in the ground is not my idea of fun.

At least the cats got to roam around free

Albanians love birds. They have them in practically every store or restaurant I've been to here

The remains of an old city wall

Another common sight.

I wonder what they were talking about

One of the best things about Albania is that a Catholic church...

...and a mosque can coexist peacefully side by side in a tiny village.

A great way to pass time at the border

A breathtaking view

Albania really does have so much natural beauty.

life lessons

2010-10-04T07:08:00.001-07:00

A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.

-Lao Tzu

I couldn't have said it better myself. If there is one thing that this past year has taught me, it is that sometimes life has other plans for you, and it is best to just let them take you where they want you to go. Just a few months ago, I gave away most of my belongings to relocate to Eastern Europe indefinitely. Due to circumstances beyond my control, I will be coming back to Canada in a matter of days, again, indefinitely. Nothing in life is definite. And that is o.k. In just the last few days, our plans have changed several times, and they continue to change. I am learning to trust that whatever happens will end up being the right thing. So at the moment, I don't really know what's around the corner, but that's alright, because I am doing my best to just enjoy the ride.

shoes at lanvin spring/summer 2011

2010-10-02T13:20:00.000-07:00

(September 30, 2010 - Photos by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images Europe)

italian pigeons have the best perches

2010-10-02T04:07:00.000-07:00

fill in the blank friday

2010-10-01T15:59:00.000-07:00

1. True happiness is having something to do, someone (or ones) to love, and something to look forward to.

2. The most surreal moment of my life was watching a stranger take his own life.

3. My favorite texture is silky, gooey, or a combination of both- like caramel.

4. My signature color is grey, probably. Unless black and white stripes could be considered one colour.

5. My signature style is always evolving. I have a huge collection of vintage dresses, but lately I just want to be in simple, comfortable clothes.

6. If I could choose one store to spend my life savings at, it would be dependent on how much savings I had... in a completely unrealistic scenario, I'd blow it all at Opening Ceremony or A.P.C.

7. My best thing about autumn is the leaves changing colour, falling, crunching under your feet.., and apple cider.

http://thelittlethingswedo.blogspot.com/

timing is everything

2010-10-01T06:02:00.000-07:00

http://www.conranusa.com/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=12349&cid=Clocks&language=en-US

http://www.unplggd.com/unplggd/my-tech-top-10-curated-by-hamish-robertson-of-vanity-fair-128095

http://www.designformankind.com/2010/09/weekend-mash-up-19/

http://www.studiopazo.com/

http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/03/30/wallpaper-done/

http://www.unicahome.com/p50177/ameico/formosa-perpetual-wall-calendar-by-enzo-mari.html

http://www.e-potpourri.com/index.php/2008/01/09/minimalist-retro-wide-digital-watch-by-flemming-bo-hansen/

http://www.e-potpourri.com/index.php/2008/12/05/sebastian-wrong-desktop-font-clock-time-telling-typographists/

http://www.rockettstgeorge.co.uk/flip-clock---time-talks-3548-p.asp

Ryan McGinley's film diary

2010-09-30T10:30:00.000-07:00

postcards from Italy

2010-09-30T01:17:00.000-07:00

The Sassi district of Matera

1. 1595-pola, 2. 1528-pola, 3. 1535-pola, 4. 090-pola8

Weird head planters

1. 189-pola, 2. 188-pola, 3. 187-pola, 4. 186-pola

Green shutters

1. 056-pola, 2. 304-pola, 3. 181-pola01, 4. 336-pola

A few of my pictures from the beautiful and unique Sassi district of Matera, where the houses, caverns, and streets are dug from the calcarous rock in the mountain itself. This area is believed to be the site of some of the first human settlements in Italy. According to Fodor's

"Matera is the only place in the world where people can boast to be still living in the same houses of their ancestors of 9,000 years ago."

By the 1950s, the district had essentially become a ghetto, and the living conditions were deplorable. The government forcefully relocated most of the population to apartment blocks on the outskirts of the city. People do still live in these dwellings, though, and tourism is starting to bring in more money for repairs and restoration.

I still have a lot more photos to go through, but I promise I will try to get the rest of them up by the end of the week.

aw(some) family photos

2010-09-30T01:14:00.000-07:00

Coordinating your clothing with the decor? NKOTB feeding you by hand?? Kittens and triangles??? Cute boy in a cardigan (I'll overlook the fact that he's groping his sister because she's wearing the best dress ever, who could resist)???? I actually really like these.

10 things i would kill for right this instant (if asking nicely doesn't work)

2010-09-28T03:41:00.000-07:00

1. Belgian waffles with Nutella and strawberries, beautifully photographed by Jessica

2. Necklace made from an antique key, by Vanessa of Loose Lips Sink Ships

3. Black dress from Project Runway's Micheal Drummond

[Photo Credit: gettyimages.com/wireimage.com]

4. Czech film poster of Catherine Deneuve in Belle de Jour by

Machálek, Karel

5. A kitten (photo source: nairafee.deviantart.com)

6. Linus Mixte 3 Speed Bicycle from Adeline Adeline

7. The hair (and skin) I had when I was 12.

8. A garden with pretty pink flowers (photo via: satoko yugari)

9. To visit New Zealand (image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/martin-james/2432369018/)

10. `Nuff said.

pompeii part IV

2010-09-27T12:21:00.000-07:00

A few pictures from the Hotel Amleto in Pompeii. A very sweet, comfortable room. I always love the combination of peach and aqua, and the molding on the ceiling, the light fixtures, the bed, and the bathroom tiles and sink were so pretty and feminine. There are definitely a few ideas I'm taking home with me.

pompeii part III

2010-09-27T11:35:00.000-07:00

After exploring the ruins of Pompeii all afternoon, we relaxed with a gelato by the fountain, Italian style! It was the perfect opportunity for people watching (with my telephoto lens!). The old man surrounded by a bevy of young girls was particularly interesting. I'm not sure what he was talking to them about, but they seemed entertained!

Vesuvius!!!

pompeii part II

2010-09-27T08:21:00.000-07:00

angel on ruskin

2010-09-26T07:25:00.000-07:00

The Bathers feat. Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins

I never get tired of this song. I'm in love with Chris Thomson, and Elizabeth Fraser is just magical.

Follow my blog with bloglovin

newman's own

2010-09-26T06:20:00.000-07:00

I have a face that does not belong to a thief. [When asked why he thinks he became so successful as an actor]

—Paul Newman*

Humility, a sense of humour, piercing blue eyes and made a darn good salad dressing, to boot. I don't usually find such flawless beauty particularly compelling or attractive, but Paul Newman is the exception to the rule. And what an exception he is.

*Note: I just discovered that today is the 2nd anniversary of his death. I did not know this until after I wrote this post. Spooky.

10 recipes that I will be making this fall...

2010-09-26T05:52:00.000-07:00

In an effort to be more goal oriented, I'm making lists of various things I want to do.and posting them here for others as a way of being (somewhat) accountable for actually following through with the things I set out to accomplish. I love to bake, probably because I've always associated baking with leisure time and cooking with work. It's one thing to spend your Saturday making brownies, and another thing altogether to come home at the end of a long, hard day and think about filling your belly. I want to make cooking meals as much of a joy as baking is, and the shift from summer into fall always signifies new beginnings, no matter how long it's been since you left school. In my opinion, it's a more natural time of the year to make resolutions and set new goals and challenges for yourself. And I love cooking in the fall, it's the perfect time of year for all of my favourite ingredients and dishes: earthy mushrooms, sweet squashes, hearty chillies and curries. So here, in no particular order, is my little challenge: 10 meals that I will make this fall. Stay tuned for the results...

1. Butternut Squash and Coconut curry via: Love and Olive Oil

2. Mark Bittman's Easy Pad Thai via: the kitchn

3. Herbes de provence Roast Chicken via From Me To You

4. Turkey and zucchini green chili via : Closet Cooking

5. Thai Shrimp Curry via : Steamy Kitchen

6. Warm mushroom pasta with citrus-soy dressing via: Discovery Health

7. Sag Panner via: New Asian Cuisine

8. Homemade potato chips (technically a snack) via Not Without Salt

9. Lentil sweet potato soup via: The Gluten-free Scallywag

10. Bacon ice cream with a hint of maple via: delicious days

Okay, so the last one is technically not a meal, either... but, it does contain bacon! And combined with #8 on my list, could be a movie night/junk food/pms kind of meal... and anyways, it's my list!

pompeii part I

2010-09-26T05:34:00.000-07:00

So why the sudden outpouring of posts after such a dry spell, you ask? The answer, quite simply is that I threw my back out and have been in bed for the last 3 days. Fun. At least it gives me the chance to catch up on this, and to go through my 1642 photos I took while I was in Italy.
Here are some of my favourites from Pompeii.

It's been my dream to visit Pompeii since I was a little girl. If I believed in reincarnation (maybe I do, actually...) I'd be convinced that I lived in Pompeii in another life. I've had a fascination with the ancient world for as long as I can remember, and I've visited the pyramids in Egypt, the Acropolis in Athens and Knossos in Crete, and various ancient ruins in Albania and Turkey, as well. But the place I've always felt a deep connection too is Pompeii. It had a different feeling from any of the other sites I've been to, as if I'd been there before. Sure, I've stared at slides of the Villa of the Mysteries and the House of the Faun for hours in class, but I've spent as much time if not more studying the other ancient sites I listed, and I never felt the same connection with those places as I did here...

scribbler fun

2010-09-26T02:51:00.000-07:00

I recently discovered and have become completely obsessed with this crazy online drawing tool called Scribbler.

These are just a few of the portraits I have made since discovering it last week. I'm thinking of translating them into a series of paintings...

Friends

Saucy Laurie

Troy as Joaquin

pouty Alex

Morgan, Erin, Anna and Jordan

Film Stills

Maya Deren

Catherine Deneuve in Repulsion

http://www.zefrank.com/scribbler/scribblertoo/

day ship

2010-09-26T02:26:00.000-07:00

night ship

2010-09-26T02:08:00.000-07:00

In order to get from Albania to Italy, we had to take an overnight ferry from Durres to Bari... a deserted overnight ferry. It was spooky, but I was lucky to be able to take all of these pictures of the ferry at night with no body around.

equinox

2010-09-24T15:25:00.000-07:00

The super harvest moon and jupiter looking down on Tirana on Sept 23.

fill in the blank friday

2010-09-24T12:15:00.000-07:00

1. In the story of my life the actor who would play me would be Michelle Williams.

2. If I could change one thing about the world it would be to make every single person on earth capable of having greater understanding and compassion for each other. That would change everything.

3. Yesterday all my troubles seemed so far away.

4. My favorite comfort food is butterscotch.

5. My new favorite blog find is We Who Are About To Die

6. If I could meet any blog friend (who I haven't met yet) in real life, I'd choose to meet... I guess I only really follow blogs that belong to people I'd like to meet irl. So, like, all of them.

7. My favorite breakfast food is my dad's strawberry and cottage cheese-filled crepes dusted with icing sugar.

Thanks to Lauren and agirlandherblog for the idea. I haven't posted in awhile. I'm back.

the sea, the sea

2010-09-13T14:31:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday night, my parents and I took of to Italy for an extra-long weekend trip.

Our ferry from Durres-Bari left at 11 pm, so we had a few hours in the evening to enjoy the sunset on the Albanian side of the Adriatic.

We had dinner right on the beach, where, as you can see, the light was stunning.

My adorable mom and pop, who also happen to be the loveliest travel companions!

losing my mind

2010-09-12T06:26:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favourite songs of all time... and Dorothy Collins' rendition was the first, and best. She is just tremendous.

2010-09-11T02:56:00.000-07:00

To the extent that our experience of suffering reminds us of what everyone else also endures, it serves as a powerful inspiration to practice compassion and avoid causing others pain. And to the extent that suffering awakens our empathy and causes us to connect with others, it serves as the basis of compassion and love.

~Dalai Lama ~

cabinet of curiosities

2010-09-09T22:08:00.000-07:00

Diptych with Bamboo Fungus and Squid

Diptych (Graefenberg Panacea)

Hotel V, I (Diptych)

Urn Burial w/ Medusae

Urn Burial

Brian Booker is the Brooklyn-based visual artist responsible for creating the mixed media assemblages you see above. he collect preserved marine invertebrates, seashells, stones, and pages from antique texts, which are then cast in resin and mounted in wooden boxes. In addition to creating these beautiful shadow boxes, Booker has a Ph.D in English lit, and completed his dissertation on the work of David Foster Wallace. He is a man after my own heart.

our apartment

2010-09-08T03:16:00.000-07:00

from park to parking lot

2010-09-07T04:58:00.000-07:00

Walking around the streets of Tirana recently, my mother and I stumbled upon these statues. An Albanian friend told me that the Stalin once stood proudly in the park in front of the National Gallery. Now, these fine examples of socialist realism have been relegated to the parking lot behind the museum, all but forgotten. I wish these statues could tell us what they've seen.

rainbow connection

2010-09-06T04:44:00.000-07:00

Laurent Martrès

James Duckworth

The rainbow eucalyptus, or eucalyptus deglupta, is native to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Phillipines. It sheds it's bark at different times through the year, leaving exposed patches that change colour over time, creating these wonderful painterly patterns.
Honestly... how have I never heard of this before? It feels great knowing that nature still has a few surprises for me!

till there was you

2010-09-05T06:41:00.000-07:00

back to school

2010-09-04T14:05:00.000-07:00

I found these outfits on display outside a clothing store here in Tirana. I assume they're school uniforms... but I've never seen children wearing clothes like these in Albania. I always had a secret desire to go to Catholic school when I was growing up, just so I could wear the uniforms. I wonder how the kids here feel about wearing clothes like this to class. The sweater vest and tie looks much more modern and wearable than the dresses, but I actually find the girl's uniform's quite adorable... but then, I'm a sucker for a sailor's suit or a peter pan collar.

how to be alone

2010-09-03T04:53:00.000-07:00

Yes, you've probably seen this already. Yes, it is wonderful. And yes, it deserves to be seen again.

freedom's just another word...

2010-09-02T01:10:00.000-07:00

“I’m free, I think. I shut my eyes and think hard and deep about how free I am, but I can’t really understand what it means. All I know is I’m totally alone. All alone in an unfamiliar place, like some solitary explorer who’s lost his compass and his map. Is this what it means to be free?”

—	Haruki Murakami

strange geometry

2010-09-01T03:40:00.000-07:00

http://www.stylecaster.com/news/9138/p.s.-i-made-this-erica-domesek-shares-an-exclusive-diy

http://www.openingceremony.us/products.asp?menuid=2&designerid=296&productid=13800

http://www.artsjournal.com/anotherbb/2010/08/stacked-if-a-little-is-good-1.html

http://www.presentandcorrect.com/item.php?item_id=805&category_id=1

http://www.openingceremony.us/products.asp?menuid=2&designerid=96&productid=2685

http://foundshoppinglist.wordpress.com/page/2/

I am a simple girl with simple tastes. Candy coloured circles, squares, and triangles. These are the things that make my day.

making stuff...

2010-08-31T02:20:00.000-07:00

I have been really busy this week, as I've found the perfect craft to keep my hands occupied while I'm watching Project Runway (don't judge me) I've also made a few simple necklaces, but am working on some designs for some more complicated pieces... stay tuned!

would somebody please buy this for me? please???

2010-08-30T01:55:00.000-07:00

Edward Gorey's "lost" book, now found

First published in 1965, written by Mel Juffe (aka hyacinthe Phyppe) and illustrated by Edward Gorey, this humorous etiquette guide was nearly forgotten until last year, when somebody posted the scanned pages on LiveJournal. It was recently reissued by Bloomsbury, and is now available on Amazon for a mere $9.60. I would die to get my hands on a copy. Are you taking notes?

Annie Get Your Gun - Anything You Can Do

2010-08-29T01:26:00.000-07:00

Back to Basics

2010-08-28T01:17:00.000-07:00

Me, age 4

So, I've had this blog for just about one month, And I thought it was high time I told you a little bit about myself and what brought me to Albania, of all places.

I was born in Toronto and raised in Burlington, Ontario. When I was 14, my dad got a job in The Netherlands, so we packed up and moved the family to Amsterdam, where I lived for 4 years until I graduated high school. During those 4 years, I was extremely lucky to be able to travel to all sorts of places, from Japan to Paris to Tanzania.

Modeling kimonos in Japan, 1997

I spent one year at York University in Toronto, where I lived with a family and took care of their 2 children every day in exchange for room and board. It was a tough year, as I had virtually no friends and very little free time. By the end of the school year, I was ready for a big change.

Luckily, my parents had just learned that they would be moving to Bucharest, Romania, again because of my dad's work.

My mom and I in Budapest. During the year I spent in Romania.

I decided it was a good time to take a year off from school and plan what I was going to do next. My next move was back to Canada, and I spent the next 5 years in Hamilton, ON where I studied Art History at McMaster University. Hamilton was very good to me, it had (and still has) an exciting arts scene, and I was working at the Art Gallery of Hamilton, and even had the opportunity to take another year off from school for a curatorial internship, which allowed me to spend a month in Moscow working at the State History Museum and The Tretyakov Gallery.

My view from behind the bar, at an opening at Loose Cannon Gallery in Hamilton

Once I was finished my degree, I felt that it was time for a change of scenery, so I once again packed everything up and moved, this time, to downtown Toronto. I've lived in Toronto for the last 4 years, and really loved it, but I was starting to feel like the pace of life there was getting a bit too fast for me, and knew that I had to make some big decisions, yet again, about the path I was on and where I wanted to go next.

good times in Toronto. At Les Savy Fav during nxne this summer

In the meantime, my parents had moved from Bucharest to Prague, and then from prague to Tirana, Albania. And once again, I was presented with the opportunity to join them in another country and figure stuff out. The plan, while I am here, is to get to know myself again, and take the time to do the things I love to do that I had lost sight of in recent years. This means being creative; making things, taking pictures, baking, starting to draw and write and blog again (I had a little knitting blog when I lived in Hamilton, but it is long gone...) One of the blessings of this move is that I was forced to part with a lot of my stuff, and leave the rest in storage. So I have the chance to start fresh, and filter out all of the distractions I once had, and really get back to the basics of what makes me, "me."

taking photos in Tirana

So there you have it. An introduction, one month into my stay, and one month into my blog. Thank you for being a part of this journey, I hope you stick around!

"It stood headless and armless and legless...

2010-08-27T06:53:00.000-07:00

1. typewriter, 2. Typewriter., 3. All hail the Royal typewriter!, 4. Royal typewriter

"It stood headless and armless and legless- brute shoulders merely: it might as well have been the torso of a broken god...The thing was large and black and glossy, and in height it ascended in tiers, like a stadium. Each round key was shielded by glass and rimmed by a ring of metal."

-from Dictation, by Cynthia Ozick

Nostalgic Typewriter Thank You Cards (Set of 4)(dodelinedesign)

Typewriter Necklace 18K Gold Plated Brass(CuteAbility)

Love stoned Just my type(MeadowTea)

Initial Letter R Vintage Typewriter Key Pendant Necklace GwenDelicious

2010-08-26T05:33:00.000-07:00

I'm finally getting around to scanning images from my magazine collection! These are from a pile of French Elles that I picked up at a flea market in The Netherlands 15 years ago. I also have a bunch of French marie claire, but unfortunately their dimensions are larger than my scanner, so I'll have to scan them in two parts and stitch them together somehow... that might take a little longer.

i read you like an open book so don't you lie...

2010-08-25T06:17:00.000-07:00

echoart

why do you stand by the window abandoned to beauty and pride.

2010-08-24T11:41:00.000-07:00

The view from my window. A patchwork of colours.

a friday kind of monday

2010-08-23T00:06:00.000-07:00

if i loved you

2010-08-22T01:39:00.000-07:00

the palace of sports

2010-08-21T05:39:00.000-07:00

One of my favourite buildings, The Sports Palace was designed by architect Koço Miho and built in 1966

panda brand

2010-08-20T05:44:00.000-07:00

I'm not really sure what to do with this can of sweetened condensed filled milk, but the lovely shade of robin's egg blue and the adorable panda just called out to me in the grocery store, how could I resist? If anybody has any recipes they'd recommend, I'd love to hear them, because at the moment, spreading it on toast or using it in pizza, as the pictures on the back of the can appear to suggest, does not sound appealing to me in the slightest. In the meantime, the can is just sitting on my desk, making me happy.

I love you the best better than all the rest that I meet in the summer indian summer

2010-08-19T12:57:00.000-07:00

Last days of summer by Rebekahla featuring Pendleton meets Opening Ceremony scarves

Complementary pairings of blue and orange, grounded by rich brown accessories to get me from the last days of summer into fall...

Fine Art Yoke Ruffle Dress | Built by Wendy, $163
De Gaulle 14" ..., $753
Keller Nine Hole Laceup Shoe, $315
Equilateral Necklace, $42
Yavapai Blanket, $510
NY Frames, $360
MAGNUM CAMERA BAG - S - MEN - OPENING CEREMONY, $610
Wear what you like
Wear what you like

don't forget the parsley (or your place)

2010-08-18T11:05:00.000-07:00

"All of you who are young wives and homemakers would do well to forget this Women's Lib and put your mind and energy on doing such a pleasant and successful job of cooking and about a million other things that your deserving husbands will know that they couldn't live without you."

Nadine Knowles, you would do well to forget this giving advice to young wives and homemakers and put your energy and mind on remembering the parsley.

archi-texture

2010-08-17T07:27:00.000-07:00

don't be cruel

2010-08-16T03:32:00.000-07:00

Elvis was my first crush, so it's fitting that he should be the subject of my first "vintage crush" post... He passed away three years before I was born, to the day. I grew up on his movies and his music, and dreamed (still dream) of visiting Graceland. In a lot of ways, it isn't cool to love Elvis anymore, politically incorrect, even. He "stole" black music, sold out, slept around, ate too much, lived in vulgar excess, made Vegas cool, became obsessed with guns, shook hands with Nixon (actually, wrote a letter requesting that Nixon let him be a government agent to fight "the drug culture and hippie movement") etc... he's come to represent the best and the worst of american culture, but I'll always swoon when I see those dreamy, bedroom eyes and pouty lips. And I'll always love Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977)

bring it on, 30. bring. it. on.

2010-08-15T21:52:00.000-07:00

happy talk

2010-08-15T09:16:00.000-07:00

get baked

2010-08-14T14:55:00.000-07:00

delicious almond apricot brown sugar bundt cake. recipe via Pictures of Cake. list of ingredients and more complete instructions on her blog. vague descriptions and pretty pictures on my blog.

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt and set aside

Cream butter with brown sugar, then beat in eggs and almond extract

mix well, then stir in dry ingredients a little bit at a time

gently stir in sour cream...

...then apricot preserves

admire the lovely peaks and swirls

spread evenly in bundt pan and bake 45 min or until golden brown

toast slivered almonds (or, realize you don't have slivered almonds, and proceed to make your own. how do you make slivered almonds? very carefully) let cool

let cake cool

mix together preserves, lemon and water. boil until glaze-y.

attempt to turn bundt cake upside down to prepare for glazing, but instead drop half the very, very hot cake down your top

eat the pieces that fell down your shirt (waste not want not), then poke holes in cake and dribble half the glaze on top. sprinkle with almonds (I added dried apricots, too) then pour the remaining glaze to seal the almonds/apricots.

Enjoy.

re-viewed: rain man

2010-08-14T00:13:00.000-07:00

I watched Rainman last night for the first time in possibly 15 or 20 years, and I was kind of blown away by how nice it was to look at: dusty sunsets, kitschy motels, small town diners and faux bois TV's... I could watch it over and over again for the wardrobe and interiors alone, but I'm also fascinated by the ways this movie seems to challenge, while at the same time upholding the ideologies of Reaganite consumerism. But that's another post all together...

Sure, Dustin Hoffman has been praised for his role as the autistic savant brother, but I forgot how great Tom Cruise was before he went all loopy. And how stunning Valeria Golino is, just in general... in her pink high waisted pants and double breasted military blazer, she'd be a Sartorialist favourite today. And this goes without saying, but Tom Cruise was born to wear sunglasses.

This movie isn't really about Raymond's autism, it's about distance. Charlie is the one who turns out to have problems connecting with another human being. While Raymond's disability is a biological one, something he has no control over, Charlie's is psychological. His relationship with his emotionally distant father sets up his own inability to even talk to his girlfriend on a 7 hour car ride, and change is only possible when he is faced with someone seemingly more closed off than he is.

In an early scene, the two brothers are in separate rooms of a hotel suite while Charlie's girlfriend Susanna rushes back and forth between them. The camera cuts from one end of the hallway to the other, showing (literally) the walls between them. Deep shots and focus heighten the physical and emotional space between characters, and are also used to convey the endless feeling of the wide open road. In another scene, Charlie and Susanna argue in the car as a way to break the silence, and it is apparent that this is an argument they have had before. When a phone call interrupts them, they both look ahead at the road and make the same unconscious gesture at the same time. It's a fleeting moment, but it's a very real moment. And their inability to connect with each other is made all the more poignant.

To Sir, With Love

2010-08-13T04:00:00.000-07:00

vintage pencil collection,
hownowdesign

1. vintage desk, RetroDaisyGirl

2. pencil sharpener, industrialrelic

3. vintage school wall clock, AMradio

4. classroom world map, CathodeBlue

5. french vintage notebooks, thehopetree

6. chalk board, LittleEdithBee

One of my strongest memories from elementary school is the scent of bleach on our desks in the morning. I loved it when the teacher would tell us to put our heads down for "quiet time." I'm not quite sure where this fit into the school curriculum, but I treasured those moments of silence.

A quick side note: I may be a child of the '80s, but these mid-century schoolroom items seem as familiar to me as Commodore 64 and Thundercats. We also watched filmstrips and handed in papers written on typewriters, and learned how to use abacuses (abaci?). Alas, Sidney Poitier was nowhere in sight.

flickr faves

2010-08-11T22:50:00.000-07:00

1. Welcome to Idaho, 2. Untitled, 3. you're the cream in my coffee, 4. isabel color closeup 1939, 5. Yeşilçam filmlerini çok seviyorum, 6. in the grass, 1930s, 7. Untitled, 8. Mimi 1968, 9. Que sea cierto el jamás, 10. church of the most holy trinity xii, 11. Untitled, 12. UncleLing in Victoria Park 維園舅父, 13. Neckarrems - Haeusler - 1968, 14. skis, 15. Jean Seberg, 16. into the sunshine

I actually really like this o_O

2010-08-10T12:19:00.000-07:00

I can't speak for what's actually on the cd itself, but he does have a nice face, and the colour scheme is awesome. The more I look at it, the happier I feel. And I've never even seen Lost.

Top Colors
   #B0796D
   #2D211B
   #D5B28B
   #8F554C
   #524234
   #51AA97
   #9194A9
   #C7C6D5
   #B86429
   #0B090B
   #762C1A
   #645A64
   #70C6B8
   #38C7BE
   #F2E6DA

Hurley by Rebekahla on Polyvore.com

The Wallpaper Company - 36 In. W Beige Bamboo Grasscloth Wallpaper -...
$300 - homedepot.ca

Pitchfork: Weezer Reveal Ridiculous Album Cover
pitchfork.com

Functional Coffee Table: Mimosa by Matt Carr
furniturestoreblog.com

Beautiful sofa with peach leather
ideadesignfurniture.com

Sandier Pastures » Blog Archive » Giveaway: 5 Gardenias
sandierpastures.com

Brown Bear Longhair Faux Fur Throw
rucomfybeanbags.co.uk

See what I did here? See? I designed a living room around Jorge Garcia's face. The couch is round and plump like his cheeks, and the fur throw is like his soft tendrils of hair. What is wrong with me?

Weezer Reveal Ridiculous Album Cover

victorian pharmacy

2010-08-10T03:47:00.000-07:00

Screen shots from Victorian Pharmacy
My latest obsession. Bloodletting, purging, oil of earthworm and cold bath treatments... historian Ruth Goodman is adorable charming, and her enthusiasm for the topic is infectious (excuse the pun), and the rustic wooden floors, old Victorian glass bottles, the quaint paper labels on jars, and scary medical contraptions are so inspiring.

A scene in the first episode stands out in particular: off camera, Goodman disrobes for her icy cold water cure while the camera rests on her well-worn lace up boots as they are put to one side, and a pale pink corset and ruffled petticoat are draped over a painted screen. I love the way BBC documentary programs are lit and styled; more like a dutch realist still-life than a reality program. This show is educational and a visual treat.

A screen shot from Victorian Pharmacy, or a Vermeer painting?

nutella cookies. it really can't get any better.

2010-08-09T13:19:00.000-07:00

When I came across this recipe the other day, I simply could not resist. These are probably the best cookies I have ever made. No, they are definitely the best cookies I have ever eaten! The texture is exactly how I like it; crispy on the outside, but moist and slightly chewy in the middle. They are rich and chocolaty, but not too sweet. And the hazelnuts add the perfect finishing touch to make these babies contenders for best. cookie. ever. And I am not prone to exaggeration. If you like Nutella, and you like cookies - hell, even if you don't, you will LOVE these delicious little morsels of heaven. Trust me on this one.

What does piggy think of them?

Yum.

what i'm reading

2010-08-09T06:26:00.000-07:00

My heart is warm with the friends I make,

and better friends I'll not be knowing;

Yet there isn't a train I wouldn't take,

No matter where it's going

-from Travel, Edna St. Vincent Millay

what i want right now...

2010-08-09T00:42:00.000-07:00

...is an ultra-girly, feminine space filled with pink ruffles and lace where I can put my headphones on and listen to records all day long.

La chanson d'hélène

2010-08-08T14:54:00.000-07:00

le lit défait

2010-08-08T02:48:00.000-07:00

"Every morning I awake torn between a desire to save the world and an inclination to savor it. This makes it hard to plan the day."
-E.B. White

Yep.

camera shy

2010-08-07T15:05:00.000-07:00

Yes, that is a cameraman filming me as I try to take a picture. Apparently, if you casually announce to your friends over Facebook that you're are going for a walk the next day to take pictures, the local news just might show up as well.
Tourism seems to be a growing industry in Albania, but it is still pretty unusual to see anybody walking down the street with their camera in hand, and doing so attracts more attention from strangers than I am usually comfortable with. It attracts even more attention when you are being followed by a reporter and her cameraman.
It's an odd feeling to have someone filming over your shoulder as you look for interesting subjects, compose shots, fiddle with camera settings, and snap away. I was mortified when they first showed up and I realized what was about to happen, but after the first 50 or so pictures, I forgot they were even there.
Initial discomfort aside, it would be worth it if just one person saw us taking pictures of this beautiful city on the news that day and felt inspired to go out and do the same.

colour inspiration

2010-08-07T08:47:00.000-07:00

Caught somewhere between pastel and neon, these earthy, muted shades are refreshingly pretty without being sickeningly sweet.

prettty peonies

2010-08-07T06:10:00.000-07:00

I love peonies. I love their delicate ruffled petals. I love their colour variations, from the palest blush to the deepest raspberry red. I love their sweet, light fragrance: luscious and sensual but never cloying. I especially love capturing their gossamer beauty before it fades.

dépaysement

oh Boy, this is good...

this is not talking...

hunting and gathering, gathering and hunting...

I love.

Yours 'till Niagara Falls

ONCE AGAIN, TO ZELDA: Wednesday Walkabout

Happy Halloween

stop, look, listen

rainbows and reveries

stop, look, listen

forest mushroom chowder

words to live by

Fashion Week Favourites

these are a few of my favourite things

the budva riviera

on the road

life lessons

shoes at lanvin spring/summer 2011

italian pigeons have the best perches

fill in the blank friday

timing is everything

Ryan McGinley's film diary

postcards from Italy

aw(some) family photos

10 things i would kill for right this instant (if asking nicely doesn't work)

pompeii part IV

pompeii part III

pompeii part II

angel on ruskin

newman's own

10 recipes that I will be making this fall...

pompeii part I

scribbler fun

day ship

night ship

equinox

fill in the blank friday

the sea, the sea

losing my mind

cabinet of curiosities

Diptych with Bamboo Fungus and Squid

Diptych (Graefenberg Panacea)

Hotel V, I (Diptych)

Urn Burial w/ Medusae

Urn Burial

our apartment

from park to parking lot

rainbow connection

till there was you

back to school

how to be alone

freedom's just another word...

strange geometry

making stuff...

would somebody please buy this for me? please???

Annie Get Your Gun - Anything You Can Do

Back to Basics

"It stood headless and armless and legless...

Nostalgic Typewriter Thank You Cards (Set of 4)(dodelinedesign)

Typewriter Necklace 18K Gold Plated Brass(CuteAbility)

Love stoned Just my type(MeadowTea)

Initial Letter R Vintage Typewriter Key Pendant NecklaceGwenDelicious

i read you like an open book so don't you lie...

why do you stand by the window abandoned to beauty and pride.

a friday kind of monday

if i loved you

the palace of sports

panda brand

I love you the best better than all the rest that I meet in the summer indian summer

don't forget the parsley (or your place)

archi-texture

don't be cruel

bring it on, 30. bring. it. on.

happy talk

get baked

re-viewed: rain man

To Sir, With Love

flickr faves

I actually really like this o_O

Initial Letter R Vintage Typewriter Key Pendant Necklace GwenDelicious