Our Domicile

Sometime a few months after my daughter was born we were robbed. It sucked. All the things you’d expect. Feelings of violation. General yuckiness. Shock. But once that wore off, the loss that really has stuck with me, left me sad, was that of my jewelry. Aside from a few family pieces I was supposed to be custodian of, nothing was of any real value. Everything was of deep sentiment.

We got an insurance settlement (and a safe for future storage), which I’m slowly using to rebuild my jewelry collection. And, in the world of #firstworldproblems, it’s been hard. It’s really hard to take 35 years worth of memories (and I don’t say that lightly as a number were pieces I was given as a baby/before birth) in one shopping spree. So, I’ve had my eyes open and have been picking up a few things here and there. I used to have a truly vast collection of necklaces and earrings, most of which were family heirlooms or pieces made by artisans and craft people and collected by me on journeys around the world. None will ever be truly replaced.

But, a few months ago I happened upon a literal treasure trove of awesome adornments. Hopea came to me the way that much does these days, via Facebook, and in this case via an old high school who was promoting her sister’s new business venture. At the words: mid-century, Scandinavian and jewelry I was sold. So, off I went to check it out and lost a great deal of time pondering over amazing pieces.

Hopea means silver in Finnish, and is the project of Cosima Friesen, a Montreal based woman with a degree in art history who fell in love, originally, with a collection of Montreal modernist jewelry, a period that was itself heavily influenced by Scandinavian design. She then spent a year collecting and building a collection of Montreal and Scandinavian pieces and now sells them through her site. No one piece is likely to appear there again. Everything is positively elegant. Cosima profiles the makers of the pieces, tries to collect multiples from different influential designers from that period and frankly has an amazing eye for mid-century work that is entirely contemporary and very, very wearable.

I love the earring and necklace set I purchased and wear them almost daily since they arrived by post (that’s them in the photo). I’ve got my eye on a number of rings for my next purchase (how great would this be for the non-diamond loving girl’s engagement ring?) and I get totally paralyzed with decision when browsing through the necklaces. I think Cosima is onto something beautiful and brilliant here. Don’t you agree?

Life is lots of work lately (though we’ve hired two delightful, smart and fabulous people who will be helping to lighten the load), some around-the-house work (mostly in the form of garden restructuring), and daydreaming about Spring finally arriving. I’m on the lookout for a new bag as my beloved AstroSatchel is getting a bit worn around the edges. I’ve been getting positively lost in Etsy bag searches lately and spending way too much late night time surfing through endlessly wonderful options.
In honour of having just finished Margaret Atwood’s Payback
and a desire for a new relationship to money I’m changing my approach to spending and actually saving for a bag before I buy one (how novel), so we’ll have to see what options are still around and how much I can squirrel away over the next while before I make a final decision. Anyone have a favourite they want to sway me towards?

I’ve been awfully fond of my Canon Elph (Powershot S400) since I first got it 3 (or was it 4?) years ago. I love it’s size, it takes decent photos (particularly since I started playing around with the manual settings), and I get the digital quality I need for my pretty casual use (it’s a 4 mega pixel model). The only thing I don’t like about it? Twice it has let me down at really inconvenient times. First at SXSW two years ago and now this weekend at Urban Craft Uprising in Seattle. I’m rather bummed that it crapped out on me this weekend as I was so inspired by UCU, and also spent time with (and met some new) friends whose lovely smiles I would have loved to bring home in my pocket. Alas, the first time it crapped out on me (just wouldn’t turn on) I sent it back to Canon for repair and with little fuss got it back in pretty reasonable time. Today I went to the Canon website to arrange sending it back for repair again (this time it turns on but the viewfinder just shows a blank image, though it will allow me to preview previously taken images so it’s not the viewfinder that is done for), but was disappointed to learn that because I’m beyond my warranty the cost for repair would be $149, plus tax and shipping. I’m a girl who very much likes to reuse and repair rather than replace objects, but for $149 one can very nearly get a spanky new camera. So…
So, I’m a bit torn as to what to do. I may infact send it back for repair, as I do like my camera, but I’ve been thinking about getting a digital SLR for a while now and am wondering if now is the time. Or, if perhaps I should just replace this little critter with a newer version. So as I contemplate that (and I’ve got a while as this will need to be a 2009 purchase), I’m wondering if anyone has a camera they love so much that they think I should know about it as I weigh my options. I’m likely to either go for another compact point and shoot or a fancy digital SLR, so thoughts on either type of camera are most welcome.

Kiwi
Originally uploaded by emira

I've been meaning to write this post for a good two (going on three) weeks now, but since we returned from our New York/DC trip things have been, well a little busy at work and on the book front. That said, I had such a fantastic time blowing my clothing budget in Brooklyn that I wanted to share. So better late than never yes?

I have to say, aside from a truly awesome pair of cherry red flamenco shoes, I didn't find much in New York that I was aching to buy. And while that probably sounds entirely ridiculous, let me qualify that by saying I saw plenty that I would love to buy in Soho, I can't really afford the prices shall we say. And while the discount shopping at Century 21 and the like was definitely something to experience, I can't say it was really my bag. This shouldn't be too surprising really, as my shopping tends to be at small boutiques here at home with a pretty strong bias towards locally made clothing and artisan bits and bobs. So it was that on our last day in NY we took the subway over to Brooklyn to check out the Botanical Gardens and avoid the mayhem that was Manhattan on a long weekend.

Now, I like to think of myself as a bit of a counter culture, consumption wary gal, but when it comes down to it: I can shop. And, to be totally honest with you, as we took that subway over, I was looking forward to the Botanical Gardens but feeling just a little wistful that I'd be returning home from NY with not much more than a pair of flamenco shoes to add to my closet. We had mapped out a few boutiques we wanted to check out in Brooklyn, and as we emerged from the Subway we decided to check those out before heading to the Gardens. Long story short: we never made it to the Botanical Gardens and I completely blew my budget inside of about 4 hours of what can only be described as a hardcore rush of giddy consumer insanity. We did not come anywhere close to taking stock of all that Park Slope had to offer in the way of boutiques and delights, so this is by no means a definitive guide. But, if you find yourself in Brooklyn (or near it) and you, like me, love boutique shopping let this guide be your starting point.

Loom: There are two Looms on 7th Ave. One is stocked to the rafters with knitwear — James Perse, Splendid, Ella Moss, etc. — the other, just a few doors down is full of accessories (purses, earings, necklaces, wallets, rings), stationary and other general cuteness. I picked up an Orla Kiely wallet and a very lovely little black clutch here, both of which I'm adoring.

Kiwi: Usually I'm not a pushy salesperson type at all, and don't get me wrong, Kiwi does not have pushy sales people. What it does have is really knowledgeable, helpful staff who know the store's stock like the back of their hands. We spent hours (no word of an exaggeration) in here being waited on by the staff, an experience I've never really  had save shopping at Anthropologie with Alex and which I wouldn't have thought I'd love so much. Our experience at Kiwi began when I told the sales girl I was looking for pants in my size. She suggested I try on a pair that I liked so she could see how pants fit me and then from there just began bringing me things that I never would have tried on my own either because I would have assumed they would look bad on me (wrong!) or due to sizing (women's clothes are so messed up sizing wise and in one brand I can be a XS and a M in another). By the time we were done Lauren and I had tried on dozens of beautiful things: jeans, dresses, silk tops, tanks, tshirts, pants, capris, shoes, and on and on. We were honestly a bit stressed out by the time we had to make a final choice and if money were no object I could have easily decided to discard my entire wardrobe at home and started over. For real.

The clothes at Kiwi are pretty Anthropologie-ish I would say (if that's a thing, but I think you all know what I mean) and they also carry some house-line pieces designed by one of the owners.

Lisa Polanski's: I poked my head into Lisa Polanski's store while waiting for Lauren to finish up at Kiwi. Honestly, given the exterior I did not expect what I found. The shop feeling a bit like going into the backroom of a store, overflowing with shoes, clothes and boxes and despite being a pretty long and narrow store you can only fit about 4 people in it at a time (if you're willing to be very friendly). Lisa however has an incredible selection of what I'll call fashion comfort shoes — Joseph Seibels, clogs, Terra Plana, Clarks, Privos, etc — at crazy discounts. And she's got a pretty decent stock collection too. Lisa is also a treat to talk to — definitely not a part of the gentrification of Park Slope.

Hopping from 7th Ave to 5th:

Eidolon: Eidolon is owned and staffed by women who design and make most of the wares it sells. I picked up a great pair of shoes here (not made by the owners) and Lauren tried on some gorgeous dresses here. By this point I was getting a bit freaked out by the fact that I had bought so much stuff my bag was becoming too heavy to carry, so I cooled it a bit on the browsing.

Flirt: Flirt is also an owner/designer coop kind of a place, though they also sell things not made in-house. We ended up at Flirt after asking a woman in Kiwi where she got the awesome skirt she was wearing. Their website describes the philosophy of the business thusly: "As artists ourselves we always wanted Flirt to be a place for women
like us: creative, individualistic, unpredictable, and up for anything!" I'd say that definitely comes through, and we had a great time chatting with one of the owners about the struggles and rewards of running your own show. Flirt has also started up Home Ec classes where they teach basic sewing techniques that look like tonnes of fun.

Cog & Pearl: Ok, by the time we hit Cog and Pearl I was nearly done for. For real. Take a quick look at their website and you'll see what I mean. Cog and Pearl is like an artisan art gallery filled with gorgeous handmade jewelry, pieces of art, books, ceramics and more all which are for sale. That's right: you can take them home with you. If we had started here I would surely have spent hundreds of dollars here. As it was I was freaking out that soon VISA may give me a call out of suspicion of a stolen card on the loose at wee little shops in Brooklyn. I did pick up a ring and a pair of awesome earrings which deserve their own post.

Beata, the woman behind Rose Hip Designs, has got to be one of the loveliest gals I know. I’ve had the great pleasure of meeting her in person at my local farmer’s market, and often run into her at my favourite local crafty events. In addition to being an all around delightful person, she’s also as talented as all get-out. I always pour over her table trying to restrain myself from buying my darling god-daughter one of each of her gorgeous dresses, skirts and general kids clothes, and telling myself that I really don’t need another bag/pillow/what-have you. This Christmas, however, when I saw her babushka dolls I could not resist. Could you? Really? (This photo here is very similar to the little gal I now have hanging by my desk). Beata has finally opened herself up an Etsy store today (I’ve been wishing she would do this for ages so others not able to make our East Van Farmer’s Market could partake in her lovelies) and it looks like I’m not her only fan. I just checked and 49 of her 60 babushkas are already gone, so get yours quick! I’m trying to decide between these two friends for my gal.

If you spend much time with Alex she will bring you under her Anthropologie spell. In particular, her success at scoring the Anthro sale racks. Perhaps the best testament to this is that while visiting Seattle briefly last weekend we managed to run into Felicia (someone we met through Alex) in the sale rack, browsing the same racks. I was on a budget, but had my heart set on getting something that I could wear to our book launch party in the Spring. While I know it’s ages away, I also know the time between now and then will whiz by, and frankly there are so many other things to do to prepare for that event, that knowing I have an outfit in my closet seems like a good thing to tick off the list.  Not only did I get a lovely chocolate brown french party dress for $60, Lauren also spied these gold shoes on the sale rack which were (saldy for her) in my size. And 50% off. The whole ensemble makes me feel like I’m a little girl playing dress-up (in a good way), I think largely because I used to have a pair of gold, very sparkly shoes in my dress up box that had once belonged to my Nana. I adored those shoes in all their 10 sizes too big for me splendour and there’s something about these that transports me back to those days of fantasy. Now, in addition to all the other planning that needs to be done, I’ll just need to be sure to get a pedicure before the party.

  Marimekko Mokki Tray 
  Originally uploaded by emira

Marimekko has always made me think of my darling childhood friend Kate. I think it must be that the nostalgia hit those big over sized prints give me takes me right back to the early days of our friendship circa 78 when running around in terry cloth shorts and polyester t-shirts that exposed our little toddler bellies was de rigeuer. Kate and her family are currently visiting the west coast from Montreal and are in fact staying with us for a week right now (after a visit with her folks for Christmas). Somewhere between the rush of Christmas and the mild chaos of a three year old and a three month old (part of her entourage) we didn’t manage to exchange Christmas gifts with one another until last night. She and her partner Adrian gave us this awesome Marimekko tray which Martin is trying to claim as his own (he does this will all things red). It’s my first official piece of Marimekko, despite much oggling when we were in Denmark, and it has inspired me to try to take Kate to the new concept store they opened last Fall here in Vancouver. I’m giddy at the thought of the store, as another friend — Ariane — described it to me just last night (in a weirdly prescient Marimekko moment) and I’m sure I’ll be as overwhelmed as she was by all the yummy fabrics and awesome prints… Oh the anticipation!

My mom has a dear longtime friend who, over the years, has been known to go into a bit of credit card debt here and there. Often paying off her Visa with her Mastercard, she would let these things run away from her for a while and then take drastic measures to pull it all back under control. Tried and true strategies like freezing your credit card in a glass of water, or having other people "babysit" it for a while until the bills are paid off. These days that kind of strategy doesn’t work so well. I rarely pull out my credit card when making impulse purchases, as I make most of those online and I know the numbers off by heart. Danger Bay.

My latest transgression: fabric on Ebay. Who knew!? I had hear rumours of course, but last Sunday night I went on a hunt for a particular colourway of an older Amy Butler print that I wanted to make some of the holiday gifts on my list. I started with the usual online retailers — ReproDepot and Purl Soho — but when they didn’t turn up what I was looking for I thought "what the heck, why not try Ebay". OMFG. Seriously. The fabric! The options! The colourways I thought were gone! And. Right now the Canadian dollar is kind of trouncing the US buck and that meant a potential wealth of savings. The more I bought, the more I could potentially save! So compelling. I held back to only 4 yards (with combined shipping of $3 no less), but I’ll admit I’m starting to get a bit itchy for more. Then, I go and read at Hilary’s blog this week that she’s been buying Japanese fabrics from Etsy and now I think I may need to see if the bank will change my credit card number so I can bury it in the garden until next spring and safely refrain from getting in over my head.

I have a thing for clogs. I love them. They’re comfy. I love the look of them, the sound of them on wood floor and I adore the many variations on the basic form. Like this one here. How great is this? I was looking for a new pair of clogs as a possible birthday treat and stumbled upon these. I am now fixated. Sadly, they do not ship to Canada, and buying shoes on line is risky enough without introducing additional shipping nuttiness. But still. So pretty! Also, it’s November. In Vancouver. These are not Vancouver November shoes. They are, however, great shoes to day dream about on rainy days.

  Diana Fayt Calendar 
  Originally uploaded by emira

Time to order calendars for next year, and like most years I’m overwhelmed with the awesome choices the interweb offers. (I don’t even bother looking at calendars in real life any more, knowing that I’ll have a hard enough time choosing online). So far I’ve already ordered a Camilla Engman one (for the office) and I may need to have the Diana Fayt one again is looks so very charming in the kitchen. (Plus since I can’t afford a Diana Fayt bowl this is my second runner up).  Port to Port Press is putting out a calendar soon, and a quick search on Esty shows so many awesome options.