In Good Standing

One of the great things about having a blog is that I'm able to share info about resources that will undoubtedly and totally rock your world I consider to be life-improving. (One of the great things about reading blogs is that so many bloggers do the same.)

At any rate, if you don't know about Sunni's blog, you should. She posts terrific tutorials. She makes lovely clothes. She's looks adorable wearing them. What's not to love? Moreover, Sunni runs an online sewing shop that's really fantastic. I know this cuz I've purchased from it on a variety of occasions and have always been pleased with my loot. (It goes without saying, no one's paying me to write this.)

A while ago she revamped the store and I actually think it's better than ever. As y'all know, I live in a metropolis with a reasonable number of sewing resources closely available (for example, there's a Mokuba a short bike ride from my house) but many of you may not be in the same boat. For access to petersham ribbon alone, Sunni's store is a find. But add to it the fusible webbing, fusible stay tape (like a tape version of fusible interfacing in a variety of widths), 3-ply shoulder pads, a really cool pleater (and by the way, I have NO urge to pleat, but if I did I'd be all over that thing), belt supplies and so much more - though I hate the term, I've got to say the shop is well-curated. I can see myself using just about all of the offerings - in fact, I've bought many of them! What's better still, Sunni often highlights one of her latest finds in a tutorial or post to show you easy, real-world application. It's cross-marketing at its best.

The shipping charges to Canada are reasonable to competitive. As you know, shipping to Canada is expensive, so I do appreciate that the charges are aligned with larger vendors. It makes it feasible for me to support a small business. And I do love that I'm supporting small-business. 

Today's questions: Do you read A Fashionable Stitch? Have you bought from the store and, if yes, what was your experience? If you're a home-sewist, only just hearing about it now, does the stock appeal to you? Do you use the products you see listed in the shop (regardless of where you purchase them from)? (I believe the petersham might be from Mokuba, though it's available in a much more limited scope of colours and widths than are sold at Mokuba, but the price is better at Sunni's. Seriously, unless I need ribbon immediately, or in a very specific colour, I don't even bother going to Mokuba. I'd rather buy it from the luxury of my home...

PS: While I'm on about shopping and how you can buy life-enriching things, Butterfly Collection is having a 15% off sale on one of my fave bras evah - the Cleo Melissa. Since this vendor charges no shipping in US or Canada, that's a very good deal for North Americans. (UK and Euro peeps, you've got it made on the online bra shopping scene so I don't feel too bad for you.) Since it is my birthday tomorrow, why not buy yourself a gift? :-)

Check Me Out

I am fortunate enough to have been asked to complete a second interview with the fabulous, vintage pattern guru, Denise of The Blue Gardenia.

Please stop by and read about how I learned to sew, and other fascinating topics :-)

xo

It's Darling!

One of my favourite, new(ish) bloggers is Stacy of Taffeta Darlings. Ms. B convinced her to start blogging, which S. took to with aplomb and now she's getting even more fabulous.

Stacy is a designer with muchos experience in the NY fashion scene. She just started her own label Stacy Lomman: New York. It's like DKNY but with an SL - and it's edgier. Check out Wendy in that amazing dress:

Just like Wendy, the dress manages to be all lady with a kick in the ass! See:

I LOVE me an exposed zipper.

You should totally check out Stacy's new site - and her blog (for your daily fashion-oriented fun).

Chestnuts and Boasting

If this woman goes to one more happening holiday soiree, I think I'm going to lose it. (With envy.) Honestly, how does she have energy to work?

Pls. do yourself a favour and review her social calendar blog posts while drinking some kind of fattening beverage / eating cheese shortbread. It's almost like being there.

Merry Christmas all. Kxo

PSA

You know Maegan, my bloggy girl-crush? Well, here's a snap, just in case you're unfamiliar:

You will all agree that she is outrageously gorgeous, dare I say it, in a Hollywood movie star way. She is also stylish, hilarious and an INCREDIBLE crafter. (I swear I'm not being paid anything to say all this :-))

Well, now she's (rather remarkably IMO) decided to enlighten us about the specifics of her dimensions - something she is asked about all the time. Don't you think it's incredibly brave to tell the entire world how much you weigh and what size your boobs are? And don't you also think that it's incredibly sad that we live in a society in which that's a mark of incredible bravery (she asks, not offering up the details of her own weight).

I'm pretty confident that many women, who look to M as the yard stick of attractiveness, will be thrilled to see that she is both gorgeous and of very real proportions* - just like them. And she appreciates herself!

*By "real" I am in no way implying that those with other proportions are fake. And no doubt, M wears a "smaller than average" dress size. What I'm going for here is that M happens to be conventionally great-looking (proportioned, healthy, strong, curvy) regardless of what dress size she wears. The fact that her frame isn't "beauty industry small" gives ballast to the truism that conventional beauty is not contingent on any particular dress size.

No Doubt You Will ....love Maegan

You know how I don't lie to you, my bloggie friends. Many's the time one of you has commented or emailed to tell me how spot on my "check out this site" posts are. Cuz it's all about me, after all!

At any rate, one of the blogs I've been reading for a while - ...love Maegan - is a total gem. I just wish I could remember how I found it so that I could thank the referring blogger.

Maegan, a true California girl, posts sometimes-sweet, sometimes-artful photos of herself but, more excitingly, she speaks about her life with impressive candor. Right now, in some ways, things haven't been going exactly as planned for her, but this is one woman who takes lemons and makes lemonade. Hell, she takes lemons and makes Long Island iced tea!

Here's the thing (and you know that I am rarely so reductionist): Let's imagine Maegan decided to stop writing insightfully, misplaced her zany sense of humour, considerable style and went all bland. She'd still be so insanely gorgeous - like sit at a diner and get picked up by an agent gorgeous - that you'd be compelled to check out her photo posts (aka eye candy)! Not that I'm implying she's my blogosphere girl crush.

Cuz that would be over share. :-)

If You're Staying in this Evening...

...Ring in the New Year with some excellent new blog fare!

Y'all know I'm one of those mothers who doesn't buy into the yummy mummy phenomenon. Parenting is tough stuff and, while rewarding, is not for those who enjoy sleep, leisure, agreement or the presumption of peaceful meals.

On this note, I have recently discovered:

Motherhood in NYC: An acerbic and incredibly well-written account of family life in the Big Apple. Marinka is from Russia and has some incredible insights about being a "new American" (she's been an expat for much of her life) and a modern woman. She does not sugar coat the parenting experience, which thrills me, to be honest. And she's hilarious. Note: You do not need to be a mother to like this blog. In fact, the less you idealize kids, the better!

Is There Any Mommy Out There: Authored by a mother of 3 and soon to be 4 (all under the age of 4, I think - still new to the blog and figuring out the time lines), this woman deserves an award for optimism and fortitude! She's really living the new mom experience and, while she's obviously nuts about her kids, she isn't opposed to telling you some hair-curling tales.

Update: I was right the first time - it's 3 kids, soon to be 4 all under the age of 4. Thanks for clarifying, Anymommy!

Check 'em out and let me know what you think!

Toronto Bloggers Unite!

OK, you know how I love little thoughts. Well, I had such a delightful Saturday with its mastermind, the incomparable Yulanda, I've decided I simply must meet the rest of you :-)

We met at The Swan for eggs benedict...




Chatted about all things vintage while ambling along Crawford to Apt. 909 and other faves...


Browsed the shops with such dedication that neither of us had the wherewithal to take any pictures...

Took a well-deserved break at Fresh, over smoothies...


(I know, she's gorgeous!)

And, finalement, said our farewells on College St.

Y is truly a phenom photographer - a woman who observes her world with the eye of an artist and a camera at the ready. I was so pleased to have the chance to speak with her at length about photography and the many other artistic endeavours at which she excels.

At Apt. 909, I did get a fab new dress, which I'd show you except my staff photographer is in Oakville today. Pls. stay tuned for photos in the near future.

And, most excitingly, I spoke with Dai (co-owner) who told me - and this might be a scoop! - that he and a partner from Japan are starting a clothing line. Stupidly, I can't remember the name. It's that I was so blown away but a prototype for a jacket he showed me, everything else is a blur. Seriously, I practically begged him to sell it to me. Natch, he couldn't. But you will definitely hear more about this when the line is in the store...

I would love to get together with other bloggers in TO (or visiting) so please don't be shy. Maybe, next time Y and I go out for the day, you'd like to join us for some fun.

Freudian Slip

I keep telling myself that I have no more time to read and then, almost to spite me, the universe (by way of my fave bloggers and that Premio Award meme) throws me new sites I cannot resist. Talk about drowning in good material!

Here are three worth taking a close look at:

Already Pretty:

Of course I love this blog because its tone, in general, reminds me of mine! Sal writes about fashion-infused experiences as they impact her life. And because she does it so deliciously, I know I'm going to enjoy whatever she has to say. She roped me in with her rather serious, incisive posts about weight (and stepping on the scale). But she's quite light-hearted for the most part... And doesn't her blog win best name of the week!?

Please Sir:

This blog deserves an award for making tolerable - nay enjoyable - to me beautiful design layouts without calling up that lowbrow status anxiety which my husband likes to point out is beneath me. Somehow the photos shown are inspiring and democratic. More about dash than cash (and if that's not true I'd prefer to live in the fantasy). It's the renegade, design analogue of the downtown fashion blog. Could I actually be maturing, I wonder? Or is this site a work of genius? I'll let you decide...

Decorno:

That's the thing about exploring a new genre, before you know it, you find yourself smack dab in the middle of broader community. You know, like-mindedness and all that... At any rate, Please Sir hooked me up with Decorno (mash up of Decor and Porn) where I discovered a) witty, acerbic writing on a variety of entertaining topics and b) one of the most arresting images I've seen since, well, ever:


I'm not going to lie, this blog may test your ability to handle gorgeous interiors you will lament never being able to achieve...

Hold on. I'm taking that back. You know how we all love fashion whether it comes wrapped in Hermes ribbon or discovered, like a gem, off the beaten path? You know how personal style is a function of mindset, confidence and a great eye? Well I'm extending my boundaries, people. I hereby declare interior design fashion for your home. And if I can swing it fairly believably on my imperfect self with my imperfect budget, I can sure as hell do it with a piece of beautiful architecture.

Leading me to wonder, are blogs the new therapy?