million dollar swim

it's spring!

2011-05-13T20:00:00.003-04:00

And this is exactly how I want to dress.

Above, the inspiration, from The Sartorialist.

Below, variations on the theme by Up the Wooden Hills, Anna Allen, and Loup Charmant.

if only...

2011-03-10T23:01:00.001-05:00

... I had $395 lying around, I'd definitely consider spending it on this gorgeous vintage Chloé dress. That neckline! So lovely.

Photo from Allen Company.

fay andrada

2011-03-03T18:19:00.000-05:00

Aren't these new pieces from Fay Andrada beautiful? There's something very unusual about the delicate, geometric shapes that I love. Fay makes all these pieces by hand, and after taking a jewellery-making course last year, I have such admiration for that—it's not easy!

First seen on Wikstenmade; photos by Fay Andrada.

million dollar swim at victoire

2011-02-18T10:48:00.000-05:00

Hi friends! I know it's been a while since I've stopped by, but things have been busy. Some news for you, though: you can now buy million dollar swim scarves, hats, and mitts at Victoire, in Ottawa. Doesn't the shop look lovely? If you're in and around Ottawa, definitely stop by and say hello to Katie and Regine, the two wonderful owners.

In other news, I'll be selling jam at Puces Pop the first weekend in March! So Montreallers, mark your calendars.

Photo via Victoire.

shop update

2010-12-30T20:53:00.000-05:00

So, ye olde Etsy shop has finally been updated with loop scarves, hats, and mittens. If you're feeling like treating yourself to a post-holiday gift, pop on over to have a look. And happy New Year! I'll be back post-January 1 with some exciting announcements and (hopefully) more frequent updates.

houston, we have an etsy shop

2010-12-06T22:25:00.000-05:00

Bad jokes aside, yes, you read right! At long last, million dollar swim has an etsy shop. It's woefully empty right now, the result of selling out almost all of my stock at last weekend's lovely smart design mart. But I'm working on getting some new things into the shop just as soon as possible, so stay with me, okay? And in the meantime, feel free to contact me via Etsy (there's a link on the left side of the shop page) if you stopped by my booth at smart design mart and saw something you liked.

million dollar swim at smart design mart

2010-12-02T17:13:00.000-05:00

Dear friends, I haven't been around here much these days, but I just wanted to swing by and let you know that million dollar swim will be at Montreal's Smart Design Mart this weekend, with lots of cozy knitted things and homemade jam for you to purchase! So stop by, okay? Friday, Saturday or Sunday from 11 - 6, at 160 St. Viateur E., 2nd floor.

reluctantly...

2010-08-25T01:39:00.008-04:00

Though I absolutely hate the tendency to begin thinking and planning for fall when I'm trying to cling to the last bits of summer, I couldn't resist putting together a few things I'm thinking about for that unnamable season.

indoor garden

2010-08-11T08:59:00.000-04:00

I think I'm going to have to recreate this cute project in my living room as soon as I get back to Montreal!

pretty

2010-08-09T08:50:00.000-04:00

nearly the perfect dress, I think.

(from here.)

je ne sais quoi

2010-08-05T09:35:00.000-04:00

The clothes this girl is wearing are so not my style - would never buy leopard, would never buy orange - but, just the same, I really can't get enough of this photo (from the Sartorialist).

summer veggies

2010-08-04T12:03:00.000-04:00

These days I have so been enjoying eating delicious summer veggies (fresh tomatoes! grilled zucchini!) from local farms. I'd like to put this print in my kitchen and look at it all winter long....

i wish i lived...

2010-06-25T17:19:00.000-04:00

This house is a bit more modern than my usual style, but oh, that cathedral ceiling / window combination is amazing.

Happy weekend, all! See you next week.

dishcloths by the seasons

2010-06-23T09:41:00.000-04:00

Claudia Pearson makes the loveliest printed sackcloth dish towels, one design for each season. By the end of the year you'll be able to buy a set of four.

pauper voile

2010-06-17T09:12:00.000-04:00

Lovely, just-offbeat-enough scarves from Pauper Voile. Via Frances May.

i wish i lived...

2010-06-11T14:51:00.001-04:00

here, taking baths all day long!

Happy friday, all. I'm so happy to be spending a week with my family at our home on Nantucket. Hope your weekends are equally sunny and fun.

(image via Skona Hem.)

monday flowers

2010-06-07T17:59:00.000-04:00

from Saipua. Because it's finally stopped raining in Montreal (just in time for me to leave for a week. Ah well).

just to continue this little series...

2010-06-01T23:35:00.000-04:00

... I also want to live here, here, and here.

(Nabbed from Design is Mine).

I want to live here.

2010-05-18T20:13:00.000-04:00

A lot.

via Joanna.

a new project

2010-05-12T17:00:00.001-04:00

Friends, here are a couple quick photos of some experimenting I've been doing recently that might turn into a new project. Mostly, I've just been having fun tinkering around for now. But an Etsy shop may really be on the way this time, so I'll be sure to keep you posted. In the meantime, I'd love some feedback.

home inspiration

2010-05-04T15:36:00.002-04:00

It seems likely that I'll be moving into a new apartment in a couple of months, and so I'm starting to think about decorating, redecorating, and what the space would look like in a perfect world. Scanning the archives of Bliss, Emma's Designblogg, and My Scandinavian Retreat yielded much daydreaming in that regard.

surfacing

2010-04-23T00:52:00.002-04:00

Some photographs I'm into these days, all recently posted here.

Is this perfection I see before me?

2010-03-30T02:57:00.006-04:00

Steven Alan does it again. I'd live in these clothes all summer long if I could.

spring essentials

2010-03-10T10:57:00.005-05:00

From top: 1 2 3 4 5 6

outside it's snowing...

2010-02-25T11:56:00.001-05:00

But this cheery outfit has me thinking of spring. Totokaelo gets it right every time.

new feminisms

2010-02-23T14:58:00.000-05:00

I got my copy of Matrix 85 today, happily. I have a review in the magazine, which is nice, but the more noteworthy thing is that this is the "New Feminisms" issue, one more in a series of recent publications devoted to innovative Canadian writing by women. The magazine looks beautiful and if you're in Canada I think you should really buy a copy, because it's full of just great, challenging work. And if you can't pick up a copy, there's still the online supplement to be found on Matrix's above-linked website.

This focus on new women's writing is incredibly important - as Karis Shearer and Melanie Bell write in their introduction to the New Feminisms issue, contemporary mainstream culture is rife with post-feminism, leading to questions like: "Has feminism accomplished all that it set out to do? Is it irrelevant to a portion of the younger generation?" Of course, no, feminism can not be seen as a done deal - to cite an over-used but effective example, women earn more university degrees than men, but are paid on average only 77% of what men are. Among other things, innovative writing by women challenges this reality, pushes readers to question the status quo. Here's to hoping that the recent attention paid to innovative feminist writing is only the beginning of a renewed conversation, a chance to, as Shearer and Bell wrote, "throw open the door of this dialogue wide and see what would come through."

yarn

2010-02-10T12:06:00.004-05:00

Aren't Sandra's knits beautiful?

cheery, cross stitched things from the pin pals...

2010-01-25T09:45:00.001-05:00

...are perfect for that moment in late January when, despite the past few days' thaw, you realize that spring is, in fact, not really around the corner after all.

available here.

from russia with love

2010-01-22T12:00:00.001-05:00

Have you seen Aino's photos from St. Petersburg? I want to go to Russia so badly, and these lovely images are just making me more sure of that fact.

toast sale

2010-01-20T08:30:00.001-05:00

Since the few days of thaw we had here in Montreal have come to an end, I'm forcing myself to get my mind away from springy thoughts. Instead, I'm taking refuge in cheery coats, pretty tunics, warm sweaters, and other lovely things, all currently on sale at Toast.

vintage jewelry

2010-01-17T19:54:00.003-05:00

Inspired by Kate's post about the wonderfully curated vintage jewelry shop Erie Basin, I browsed around the store's site a while earlier. Each piece is uniquely beautiful and interesting, especially the lyre pendant above, which is made partially of - wait for it - human hair. How creepily wonderful.

spring on my mind

2010-01-08T09:35:00.003-05:00

Well, I've got spring on my mind. Which is a bad thing, considering it's January in Montreal. But folks are starting to murmur about spring collections, and all those bare legs and parka-less outfits have got me momentarily hooked. Here are some favourites from around the interwebs this week: from Shabd, Totokaelo, and Sessun.

long winter farm

2010-01-04T09:27:00.003-05:00

A friend just send over a link to this lovely Etsy shop called Long Winter Farm. They stock handmade soaps, scrubs, perfume oils, and the like. I really enjoy the simple, pretty packaging, don't you?

bonne annee!

2009-12-31T17:29:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year, friends! Here's to an excellent next decade.

{pretty, festive garland from Rivulette}

new year jewelry

2009-12-28T08:49:00.002-05:00

Look at the lovely things that Stephanie Renee at Dores has planned for the New Year. I love how delicate and interesting each piece is. The Dores vintage shop is quickly becoming one of my standbys, and I've always been tempted to buy a necklace or bracelet as well.

In other news, Kate's also got a few new things up her sleeve for the New Year...

anti-corporate gift guide

2009-12-15T17:39:00.006-05:00

Hi friends,

the holidays are approaching, and as usual, Christmas gift madness has set in among many. Last weekend, Montreal's streets were filled with bustling shoppers, and my little yarn shop was overrun with folks purchasing last minute gift materials. I'm knitting all the gifts I give people this year in an effort to hold out against consumerism, but if I was buying things, these lovely - and almost entirely hand-made - selections would be at the top of my list.

From top: lovely jewelry from Milwaukee-based Dores :: Steven Alan cotton-wool Whitman top :: a hand-knit version of this hat that Erica made, using this wool :: Hello Handmade's Laureled tea towel :: Wonder Wonder's knit necklaces :: hand-printed cotton totes from little glowing lights.

winter, knitting, and 100 posts

2009-12-09T18:58:00.004-05:00

Hi all, welcome to million dollar swim's 100th post! I'm looking out at a dark, snowy Montreal night - it's coming around to that cold, calm stillness that follows a big storm like the one we had today. I'm holed up cozily in my apartment though, listening to Charlotte Cornfield (my friend Dom's roommate), and working away at a few knitting projects - I finished this hot water bottle holder yesterday, and I'm just starting this slouchy hat as a gift for my grandmother. Here's to the encroaching winter...

hello? anybody home?

2009-11-03T22:26:00.006-05:00

Readers, are there any of you still out there? It's been so long, I hardly know whether any of you remain. What can I say? I'm in the midst of one of those times where life is getting the better of me. Between writing, work, dancing, and trying to sneak in a few moments with friends when I can, my time is filling up faster than I can manage, and lovely things like this space are, unfortunately, getting lost in the shuffle. But please stick around just the same - for the time being, things may be a bit sparse, but it's short lived, I promise. With hopes of seeing more of you soon,

{photo of designer Annettee Verkuyl's home via Bliss}

fall at la garconne

2009-10-14T11:43:00.002-04:00

If I could wear nothing but these lovely printed dresses for the rest of fall, I think I would. As usual, La Garconne's styling is impeccable.

{dresses from Rachel Comey, 3.1 Phillip Lim, and Something Else}

lazy day retreat

2009-10-12T11:47:00.002-04:00

Don't you just want to jump into these gorgeous spaces at Mildred's Lane? On this lazy day off, I definitely do.

{seen first here}

bruce peninsula

2009-10-01T02:04:00.003-04:00

Have you listened to flat-out amazing gospel-prog-folk band Bruce Peninsula? I just got home from seeing them at Pop Montreal - my first Pop show of the weekend, and it set the bar high. This is one of those bands that sounds great coming through your computer speakers, and then sounds overwhelmingly EVEN GREATER live. Eff, I love Canadian music-makers.

inspiration: scandinavian modern

2009-09-17T23:42:00.004-04:00

Next up in our inspiration series: Scandinavian modern. There's something about Scandinavian design that just gets it right: cheerful with out being saccharine, clean without being spare, stylish without being pretentious. If I ever redecorate, I might just have to go down this route...

Clockwise from top left: sneak peek of Isabel Penzlien's home on Design Sponge; another D*S peek, this time of Nadja Muller's home; Skinny Lamixx tea towel; more of Isabel Penzlien's lovely spaces; j. mendicino bowls from Three Potato Four; an image of the brick house; Lecien 'my folklore' fabric; photo from tas-ka; chic on wheels in Copenhagen; Xenia Taler tiles at Three Potato Four; bertoia chairs for kids.

p.s. I highly recommend that you click on the collage to expand it - there's much more detail to be seen...

preloved

2009-09-11T15:00:00.000-04:00

I know I said I was trying not to purchase many new clothes this fall, but my gosh that gorgeous dress from Preloved is tempting me. The Canadian company makes all their pieces out of repurposed fabric, so each piece is unique, and also very friendly to the environment. In the last few years their clothing has been getting increasingly beautiful and interesting; stop by the website to check it out.

sessun for fall

2009-09-11T11:45:00.002-04:00

Of all the fall collections I've looked at so far, Sessun has to be one of my favourites. The whole feeling of it is exactly in line with how I want to look this fall. And that black dress! Perfection.

seen first here.

inspiration: modern eclecticism

2009-09-05T12:53:00.002-04:00

For the next installment of our inspiration series, some images centered around modern eclecticism. Enjoy!

Clockwise from top left: Urban Outfitters sofa; fabric detail from Globalweave Textile at Purl Soho; a favourite Sartorialist image; Wayne Pate 'flock' print; Jill Malek's living room, as seen on Design Sponge; photo from John Robshaw; Java pillow from Enid; fabric detail from Globalweave Textile at Purl Soho; unknown photo of an inspiration board that I found in a folder on my desktop - where is this from?? I have no idea...; John Robshaw light indigo block print; railroad tie plinths from here.

the fall wishlist returns...

2009-09-03T14:54:00.006-04:00

It's going to be hard, I'm making a concerted effort not to spend too much money unnecessarily this fall. Fall shopping is, for some reason, this big THING that always takes over, but this year I really don't need to buy anything. There are a couple of basics, though, that I'm going to consider purchasing, and lace-up ankle boots are definitely one. I'd like to try and get them vintage, but just the same, here are some contenders from around the web. Which do you like best?

(above, Jeffrey Campbell Metropolitan)

(black leather granny boots from apricot baby baby, on Etsy)

(Old World Lace Ups at Anthropologie)

(Jeffrey Campbell Everybody)

Or, do I want desert boots, like these from Rachel Comey, above, or Clarks (?!), below?

getaway

2009-09-02T13:29:00.003-04:00

I know I just got back from a vacation, but how much do I want to go spend some time at this amazing, 103 year old house right now? So much. From here, here, and, originally, here.

inspiration: vintage rustic

2009-08-25T12:41:00.004-04:00

My good friend Lee is moving into a new apartment in October, and she's promised to let me help with the decorating and such. Excitement! So I've been slowly gathering some inspiration over the past few weeks, and grouping images into some loose categories. I've made them into inspiration boards, and I'll be posting them every once in a while over the next few weeks.

p.s. How much more difficult was this whole project sans Domino? SO much. Tear.

Clockwise from top left: Anthropologie catalogue; Sword+Fern stallion necklace; balcony garden from marie claire maison; vintage bottles; Nkuku baobab pendant; closeup of a vintage eel trap; CutPastePrint's Keep Calm; Anthropologie catalogue again;Otto Fabrics hammam towel; Nkuku moonlight lantern; Leslie Janson grain sack pillows;

wiksten fall preview

2009-08-24T18:01:00.003-04:00

Well, this has just jumped to the top of my fall '09 wish list.

monday morning music

2009-08-24T08:55:00.004-04:00

So Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson made a duets album. Now, do I like Pete Yorn? I do not. Did I like Scarlett's Tom Waits covers? Really not so much. Do I like the first single from Break Up? Umm shyeah! Don't know why, but it's all I want to listen to right now - a little happy, a little vintage-y, but not at all retro. It's the perfect thing to listen to on a monday morning. Check it out on their myspace, friends; the full album's out on September 15th.

nadinoo

2009-08-18T18:28:00.007-04:00

Oh my goodness, as soon as I saw images on Camp Comfort of this lovely Germany-based clothing line, I was in love. Every piece is so sweet and and vintage-y, without looking dated. Head on over to Nadinoo's website soon, they're having a bit of a sale at the moment.

p.s. I have a feeling that some of these clothes might be right up Chelsea's alley...

two brunettes

2009-08-17T09:14:00.002-04:00

I really like these sweet papercut cards from Etsy seller Two Brunettes. They're nice and summery and right now they're helping me to forget that this summer thing isn't going to last forever...

the uniform project

2009-08-14T09:34:00.002-04:00

Have you guys seen the Uniform Project? Wherein Brooklyn-based designer Sheena Matheiken wears the same dress each and every day for an entire year (yup, the dress is that one up there ^)? It's meant to show the viability of sustainable fashion, while also being a fundraiser for the Akanksha Foundation, which supports education in India. The concept? Amazing. In reality? I'm not sold.

Why, you ask? Well, truth be told, the project doesn't seem all that sustainable to me. Is it more sustainable than the average person's habits? Absolutely. Sheena has seven dresses (and they're reversible!), one for each day of the week, and if we all had only seven articles of clothing in our wardrobes, the world would probably be a better place. But she's allowed to accessorize the dress - who wouldn't want to? - and this is where things go a bit awry.

After browsing through every one of the daily photos since the project's inception in May, I've noticed that very rarely is an accessory repeated. The project's manifesto states that the accoutrements are generally thrifted or procured from places like Ebay and Etsy, which is great. But how many people do you know who own enough socks, leggings, shoes, and other beautiful things that they could change them up continually for several months and almost never wear the same thing twice? And how many of you would call this sustainable? I would be much more impressed with the whole thing if it really were an exercise in sustainability - remixing a small pool of options in inventive and unorthodox ways for an extended period of time. That said, Sheena looks great every day, and her creativity is inspiring. Here's to hoping that by the end of the Uniform Project next May, it's followers will be motivated to live life a little bit closer to the earth.

essimar

2009-08-12T10:22:00.002-04:00

Esther of Essimar Papel one of my favourite, favourite Etsy sellers and artists, period. Her use of colour is so artful and beautiful, and her geometric shapes and patterns always feel spot on while maintaining their whimsy and eccentricity. Head on over to her Etsy shop, linked above, to see much more of her work.

urban gardens

2009-08-10T08:44:00.002-04:00

How gorgeous are these rooftop and balcony gardens? They're exactly the type of place that I would love to spend all day, every day in the summertime. From here.

oscar diaz is a very intelligent individual

2009-08-09T21:10:00.003-04:00

case in point: this genius calender. It uses capillary action to draw ink out of the bottle, which gradually colours in the numbers day by day. Evidently the well-designed contraption's novelty is popular; it has made the rounds of the blogosphere by now. Special thanks to Joanna for the tip, though.

purchased!

2009-08-05T19:35:00.002-04:00

...This gorgeous grey pinstripe dress from Uniform Studio. I can't wait for it to arrive! Thanks to Chelsea and Erica for the tip.

vintage browsing

2009-07-28T12:00:00.005-04:00

Lately I've been online window shopping a lot in Etsy's huge range of vintage clothing shops. Finding a few good sources is key; here are some recent finds from two of my standbys: Dear Golden and Persephone Vintage.

perfection

2009-07-24T09:52:00.002-04:00

Oh, Sartorialist, how do you do it?

rainy day baking

2009-07-16T10:46:00.005-04:00

So, my best friend Jamie is visiting! And Jamie likes to cook. She likes it even more after spending six months in Senegal eating little else besides fried fish and rice. A quick food-blog tour yesterday morning revealed this amazingness - a vegan chocolate avocado cake. Yeeeesh! It begs to be tried, especially since it's raining AGAIN today...

nantucket days II

2009-07-13T09:17:00.001-04:00

summer darks

2009-07-07T21:09:00.006-04:00

Friends, I'll be honest with you. I hate wearing black in the summertime. For me, summer and black just do not mesh. When it's warm and breezy out, I want to wear colours, patterns and the like. However! These summery blacks, as styled (in their wonderful, non-derivative manner) by the folks at Totokaelo, almost make me want to change my mind. Each of these looks feels fresh even though it's dark, which is, I think, a necessary quality for summer dressing.

{from top: rag & bone, rag & bone, rag & bone, zero + maria cornejo, apc, zero + maria cornejo}

liberty love

2009-07-07T20:46:00.002-04:00

I don't know what it is - maybe all this gray weather we've been having in the north east - but I'm in the midst of quite the Liberty print obsession. Bright, cheery florals, and lots of them, please!

Above, liberty-printed lovelies from Cacharel, Steven Alan, and the wonderful Eliza Gran.

can't wait can't wait...

2009-07-07T20:06:00.002-04:00

...to see Beirut in Montreal this Saturday! This band live is unimaginably great. Also loving the quirky, vintage-y, nostalgia-filled video - the song is 'Postcards from Italy' - above.

nantucket days

2009-07-02T10:27:00.002-04:00

in memoriam

2009-06-30T17:18:00.003-04:00

Pina Bausch died this morning. We will miss her creativity, we will miss her spirit.

summer in pictures

2009-06-26T14:54:00.003-04:00

Doesn't the latest edition of the 3191 poster series capture the feeling of summer perfectly? I love all the poster sets that Maria and Stephanie release - a new set comes out every time the seasons change - but this one feels especially perfect to me right now. Don't you think?

summer dressing...

2009-06-25T18:36:00.002-04:00

...courtesy of one of my faves, the APC/Jessica Ogden collaboration APC Madras.

(photos from la garconne).

if I had $225 lying around...

2009-06-17T10:04:00.004-04:00

...I would absolutely use it to buy one of these drop-dead-gorgeous (but in my opinion wildly overpriced) corsages from Ban.do.

{seen first on Frolic!}

summer sandals

2009-06-15T09:15:00.003-04:00

The weather is finally beautiful out here, and my changeover from shoes to sandals has officially taken place. However, my old, old, old, favourite brown sandals are wildly comfy but literally falling apart. In the spirit of (possibly) replacing them, here are some of my current faves, from Anthropologie

.

back!

2009-06-07T13:54:00.002-04:00

Hi all. After a few weeks of extreme busy-ness, I'm back and apologizing for falling off the facing of the blogging world. For now, I'll leave you with a video of the amazing - and when I say amazing, I mean AMAZING - Montreal group Coal Choir. I was lucky enough to see them perform at a concert I went to recently, and it was unlike anything I had ever experienced. Enjoy!

mid-week humour

2009-05-20T23:05:00.002-04:00

I heart XKCD.

fine jewelry, etsy styles

2009-05-15T09:14:00.005-04:00

Who knew that gorgeous fine jewelry like this could be found on Etsy? These pieces are from Brooklyn-based jewelry designer Blanca Monros Gomez, who works with recycled gold in order to make her business eco-friendly. It's also friendly on the wallet, and since Gomez often takes custom orders, the buyer can have a hand in the creative process as well. All her pieces are beautifully crafted and have a hint of old-world glamour that I really love. I also love that they're available in Gomez's Etsy shop, which you should definitely check out.

{seen first on Joanna's lovely blog}

flag-waving

2009-05-12T11:07:00.003-04:00

Ohhhh I really heart this flag necklace from Scout Holiday. It's so bright and summery and perfect for right now. Hope Cheri restocks her Etsy shop soon...

the amazing multi-purpose circle scarf

2009-05-07T09:56:00.004-04:00

Two words, friends: circle scarf. I bought one the other day at American Apparel and I can't get enough of it. Witness the many ways in which it can be worn:

vintage bottles

2009-05-07T09:37:00.003-04:00

I'm on a bit of a vintage bottle kick these days. I really love pretty much everything about them: the shapes of old bottles, the typography, the colours. Here's a sampling from a fun Etsy shop called Bottle Diggers.

paint chip art

2009-04-30T09:43:00.003-04:00

Claire Teschel makes tiny collages out of paint chips and found materials that I really love. They all have a bit of a nostalgic feeling that's hard to pinpoint. Claire mats these and frames them; the results, among other things, are for sale in her Etsy shop.

earth-friendly fashion

2009-04-22T18:59:00.003-04:00

In honor of Earth Day, some eco-conscious picks from everybody's favorite green designer, Stewart + Brown.

vintage kitchen

2009-04-16T21:29:00.003-04:00

I'm really liking this vintage-y kitchen stuff from Three Potato Four today. It reminds me of the kitchenware that was around when I was young, before new stuff got super slick and lost its character. There are tons more great old things where these came from, so check out the shop!

we feel fine

2009-04-15T14:25:00.003-04:00

So I'm in the midst of a small obsession with TED talks (which, if you don't already know, are amazing) and I recently listened to one given by Jonathan Harris, a self-described collector of stories. Harris is the founder of We Feel Fine, a project that aims to amass and share the feelings of ordinary people everywhere. Harris' internet program constantly scans the web for blog posts that contain the words 'I feel...' Each sentence containing the phrase is then incorporated into We Feel Fine, which catalogues and visualizes all the feelings collected into one huge interactive website. The site itself is organized into six 'movements,' or six different ways to view the data about what we as a society are feeling. If this description has left you confused, that's because you have to see We Feel Fine to get it. See Harris' TED talk here, and hop on over to the website to check it out for yourself.

Matta NY

2009-04-13T10:20:00.005-04:00

Spring is slowly but surely arriving, and all I want to wear these days is a breezy, summery dress from Brooklyn-based Matta. Everything designer Cristina Gitti makes is unique and interesting. There are beautiful scarves, sandals, and other fun things to be seen on the website.

exciting news

2009-04-04T22:07:00.003-04:00

Dearest readers, I am quite happy to tell you that I, your faithful blogger, was recently elected to be the coordinating culture editor at a lovely old rag called the McGill Daily. As of September I'll be working at the paper, cranking out two issues a week and hopefully having a grand old time. For more info about my new home, click here! And never fear, blogging will continue as usual as soon as I climb out from under this huge stack of work!

made by anna

2009-03-28T09:53:00.003-04:00

Friends, I know I have been a miserable failure of a blogger of late. But in hopes that you won't hold it against me, here are some whimsical little collages from Made by Anna. They're really bright and springy and wholly suited to the sunny Montreal morning I'm surrounded by. Anna has a blog, here, and her Etsy shop is here if you want to poke around.

apc spring dresses

2009-03-16T20:50:00.002-04:00

Aren't these new spring dresses from APC lovely? I can't wait, can't wait, can't wait until I can start going outside in just dresses like this and no coat or boots!

back from europe! and spring things.

2009-03-09T19:44:00.003-04:00

Hi all! I've been back from Switzerland and Austria for about a week now and am slowly readjusting to non-vacation life. There's a very imposing stack of work in front of me that needs to all get done in the next month, so my posting may be a bit sparse until then. But, since it's finally starting to feel a little bit like spring outside, I thought I'd share these lovely, springy headbands with you, from Handle & Spout. Don't they put you in an absolutely spring-like mood?

so long, farewell...

2009-02-20T08:23:00.002-05:00

Friends, in a few short hours I'll be on a flight bound for Zurich, the start of a week-long trip through Switzerland and Austria! I'll probably be spending the week doing things like going to museums and sitting in Cafe Central in Vienna (above). So, please forgive my absence from blogging for a while, but I promise I'll have lots of good stories and photos to share with you when I get back!

more new shirts

2009-02-18T09:51:00.011-05:00

(front)

Here's the first test of another new shirt from million dollar swim. I'm working on producing some more stock in different colorways. What do you think?

Also, some Etsy-related news. Right now I'm working on a small inventory of three to four introductory products. Probably three varieties of shirts and one scarf. Once I'm satisfied with the quality of the designs and the printing, things will start to be available on Etsy. As always, I'd love to hear feedback from you guys, so send it my way anytime!

(back)

how much do I love clementine press?

2009-02-16T17:35:00.002-05:00

So much! Each of these little vignettes is really cool and interesting. I especially love the way texture is used in these prints. Take a look at more work by Clementine Press here.

post for stef

2009-02-14T09:50:00.002-05:00

Because when I saw this wine, with labels done by Hatch Show Print, I thought of you immediately.

(Thanks to All Stripes for the tip).

layers

2009-02-13T11:24:00.004-05:00

I often feel a bit lukewarm about the Totokaelo blog and the way they style clothes. But every once in a while they hit it exactly right, as with these few early spring get-ups. I'm really liking the relaxed, layered feeling right now.

laura marling

2009-02-12T11:11:00.002-05:00

Lately I've been in the midst of a love affair with Laura Marling's music. Her songs are insanely creative and interesting and beautiful and nostalgic. Definitely, definitely check out her myspace page here.

friday treat

2009-02-06T15:18:00.003-05:00

Lovely, vintage-inspired accessories from Toronto-based Fieldguided. I basically love everything they produce, it has a nostalgic quality that's hard to beat. Here's their Etsy shop, hop on over and check it out!

Christoph Niemann builds New York out of legos

2009-02-04T08:31:00.006-05:00

I love the whimsicality of these lego constructions, and the captions as well. I also loved getting to step inside Christoph Niemann's head for a few minutes and experience the way he sees the world. See the full post, originally from his NYTimes blog, here.

wayne pate

2009-01-28T19:28:00.003-05:00

I've been a fan of Wayne Pate's work for quite a while now, but I love his newest batch of silkscreens even more than most. Best of all, his prints are beautifully done but still totally affordable. See more great designs here.

p.s. the degree to which the tour de france print reminds me of my dad is kind of ridiculous!

internet storytelling

2009-01-21T09:52:00.004-05:00

Anyone notice that internet videos are spreading like wildfire these days? One of the things I'm really liking right now on the internet is the slew of videos that, in their own ways, tell small stories about people. A good example is Fifty People One Question, a new-ish initiative where a couple of filmmakers decided to travel around to different cities and ask 50 people there the same question. And then film their responses. What's great about this is that the way someone answers any given question, along with their appearance and body language, can speak volumes about who they are.

here's to polaroid

2009-01-19T17:57:00.005-05:00

image from lolabot

No need to mourn the impending loss of polaroid film any longer, friends! It's not going anywhere, thanks to an Austrian businessman who just might have a plan to ensure that our collective polaroid stash is safe and sound. Check out the deets here, and thanks alyson for this tip!

new shirts!

2009-01-16T17:02:00.003-05:00

Brand new for 2009, shirts by million dollar swim. They're hand-printed sustainable edition american apparel tanks and there are definitely more to come after this. Feel free to leave me your thoughts, and stay tuned for a few more versions and, hopefully, an etsy shop on the way!

sartorialist archives

2009-01-09T18:00:00.002-05:00

I was looking through old Sartorialist posts and came across this one from a while ago that I love love love. The way she layers all the different monochrome textures is perfect. See more Sartorialist goodness here.

'09!

2009-01-06T14:20:00.002-05:00

My beautiful new Ilee calendar tells me its 2009 - already! So never fear, friends, I haven't fallen off the map, I've just been relaxing for the past couple of weeks and enjoying the holidays. But I'm back, and there will be much more good stuff coming your way, starting now.

the advent conspiracy

2008-12-14T13:27:00.002-05:00

So we've been hearing so much about the recession and people cutting back this holiday season in an effort to save much-needed cash. What we haven't been hearing about is the idea that perhaps we should cut back for other reasons. This film gives one such excellent reason: the money America spends each holiday season could actually be used to solve the world's clean water crisis 45 billion times over. Kind of puts things in perspective, no?

I decided a while ago to try and make as many gifts as possible by hand this year, or to buy them from the independent artists who sell their wares on Etsy. If you want some more unorthodox gift ideas, visit rethinkingchristmas.com for inspiration. And to donate time or money to the Advent Conspiracy, the folks responsible for this video, this is the place.