Happy happy!

Happy Canada Day! Happy Pride! Happy long weekend!

"Winter Stations"

This Winter, we have a bit of a treat on the frozen shoreline.  Took a little afternoon break to check out 'Winter Stations' in the beaches.  There are 5 great installations built around the existing lifeguard stations at Kew Beach.  There was an international competition garnering 4 winners as well as a design by Ryerson students.  Each is a warming station to provide shelter from the cold in what has become one of the coldest Winters.  It was supposedly the coldest February on record.  So glad to see the arrival of March.

Turns out the Ryerson entry was the highlight for me!  I am a sucker for colourful things, especially in this palette!  The photos above show the "Snow Cone" by Ryerson Architecture students.  Loved how the interior is so amazingly colourful and how it is not totally evident on the outside.  It was like experiencing stained glass windows in a really beautiful church.  And I ain't religious!

This is the "Driftwood Throne."  It's made of 100% reclaimed lumber and has sheltered seating on each side.  One man sat in the -20 temps reading his book in the sunshine.

This orange sight is called "Sling Swing" with its design based on the Summer deck chair.  Enjoyed watching each swing flail in the Winter gusts of wind.  Of course I had to test it out.

This is the exterior and interior of "Wing Back", based on the wing back chair.  Lots of seating around a real fire would be excellent refuge from the cold.

Down the eastern end of the beach, we came upon "Hot Box" based on traditional ice fishing huts.  Nice simple design that serves its purpose well!

The shoreline has definitely been overtaken by Old Man Winter.  Still a really beautiful sight to see.  Felt like we were on another planet!

Head down to the beaches to check out 'Winter Stations' before they are gone on March 22nd.  It was a great little field trip.  If it's going to be cold, we may as well have interesting things to get us outside to better appreciate Winter!

Winter 2015 (so far...)

This Winter has so far been filled with keeping warm, visits up north, snow days, icy weather, dotted manis by 8 year olds, making jewels, collaborations, photo shoots, supply shopping, studio sales, food and drink, art, city walks, sporting events, powerful stones and birthday parties.  Still a few more weeks of Winter to go.  Goodbye February. Hello March!

Longest days

Just sitting here designing new pieces and enjoying the long day.  Been hectic lately, but the evening light is always so serene.  These are my favourite days of the year... when it's light after 9pm!  Also, love how crazy beautiful sunsets often follow days of heavy storms.  That's all.  Just had to say that.  Ok, bye!  Back to the jewels.

Warm up to Summer

I love Spring and Summer.  I'm really meant to live somewhere that is warm all of the time.  So, I can't get enough of this time of year.  Here is a huge series of photos taken over this Spring.  Seemed like the cold weather would not go away... and now mid-June, the days are finally longer and warmer.  I know, another person talking about the weather... again?  Yes.  It was driving me batty so I am so gloriously happy to see the sun and green grass again! As I scrolled through these photos, I re-lived the warm up.  Here are my Spring snap shots!

 Finally ditched the boots!  Bracelets include Luminous Bracelet, Jeweled Bracelet, Mega Bracelet.

 A visit to City of Craft.

 Little porcelain tumbler from rcboisjoli.

 Slick.

Guac and a hamburguesa from Grand Electric.  Yum.  Bette than the regular ol' burger.

 Round Crystallized Bracelet and Mega Bracelet.

 Storm clouds rolling over a patio afternoon.

 Pineapple everything!

 Pastel polishes.

 Fun with floral nail art.

 Luminous Bracelet in the kitchen at A.'s house.

 She sure whips up a good feast!

 J. Mo's reflective Pierre Hardy high tops.  Coolest pic.

 May 2-4 wrap up with cocktails and cozy fire.

 Love all the Spring flowers.

 Love.

 Excursion to Bakerbots with Avril.

Ice cream sammies!

And bracelets!  Left - Jeweled Bracelet, Right Connection Bracelet.

 Then we continued our chat over drinks.

 Lovely strolls and pretty evening light.

 HTO Beach at sundown.

 Cherry blossoms at Robarts Library.

 Pedestrian Sunday in Kensington Market.  

 BBQ with friends.

 Dreamy sunsets.

 Long city walks to enjoy the balmy humid day.

 Creating with tiny beads.

 At the TFC game.

 Favourite combo lately.  Connection Bracelet with little bracelet sets that we'll have available soon!

With my haul at the More Than Just a Yardage Sale at the Textile Museum.

 Patio lunch with Avril.

 Still relishing these gorgeous blooms!  Sigh...

 Earrings making binge.

 Nails coincidentally matched cake truffles from Momofuku Milk Bar.

 Baby cacti at Crown Flora.

Their amazing back wall.  The Crown Flora boys will be leaving this location soon for bigger and better.  Hope the next occupant keeps this wall as is!

 Fat Pasha to celebrate Anita's birthday.

 Who needs birthday cake when you have a whole cauliflower?

 Oil change?  Haha!

Dundas West Fest with S.F.  We loved this street festival.  The weather was perfect, the vibe so great. Live music all about.  Icy cold patio drinks in the sunshine. 

 Tasty food to sample everywhere.  Can't wait for next year!  Love me a good street fest!

 Fundraiser in the country.  Great effort in support of the Kidney Foundation of Canada.

Corner of my home.  Lemons painted in university... letter M from childhood bookshelf... ceramic tiles from Xenia Taler picked up years ago at the DUDE show.

 More evening walks.

 Concrete beach at the Luminato Festival hub.

 Great set up at the licensed and enclosed hub this year.

Late night catch up with G.

 Supply shopping.

 Pit stop to carb load.

Warm red/pink hues and the Mega Bracelet again!

Currently gearing up the Fall/Winter Collection, but with Summer still a couple days away, we'll be savouring the sunny days and warm nights.

Almost caught up on blogging, especially with this photo heavy post!  It's been fun to put words together in sentences again!  Be back soon with more!

xo

M