Wallace Hall

I just spent the weekend swing dancing in the John Deutsch University Centre at Queen's University in Kingston for the Queen's Swing Dance Club's 20th Anniversary. Very conveniently, I have a Vera scarf that resembles Queen's blue, yellow, and red flag so that made a perfectly festive headscarf. The music by Gordon Webster and band was mind-blowing as always, and I thoroughly enjoying swinging out amidst the beautiful wooden panelling, lofty ceiling, and grand portraits of intellectual individuals!

Sewing Patterns

Guess what? I don't know how to sew using a pattern. At least, I've yet to sew a project using one from start to finish without assistance...and quite frankly, I have no desire to! For whatever reason, instructions on how to be creative just don't fly in my brain. It's much easier for me to look at the final garment, and then start chopping up existing garments or fabric chunks and sewing them together, and seeing what happens. The results are usually pretty cool. So I have a nice collection of vintage sewing patterns, but admittedly it's more for inspiration and ephemera appreciation than for actual use! Though I do like to keep a variety around as a last resort sewing weapon in my back pocket, should my usual drape-and-stitch method flop, or demand precision.

Deco Table

I ordered my Deco Diamond design on linen cotton canvas and satin fabric to update this black powder-coated metal c-table magazine rack. The sling used to be a black faux leather, but I wanted to make it a little more interesting. The canvas is on the inside so it holds up to the books sitting in it and the satin on the outside to give it that black and gold gleam. I love the clean lines and airiness of the glass writing surface. 

Knolling

This is one of those moments when I can ecstatically say that I have discovered a term to describe something I do all the time, in both surface pattern design and blog photography! According to this article, the above is an example of "knolling". I love that the concept of knolling was created by a janitor in a furniture shop. You go, Andrew Kromelow! It also happened to be the furniture store Canadian-born furniture designer Frank Gehry! He's the Wiggle Chair guy! More examples of this eye-catching organizational style here.

Luna

The past week I have been attacking my pile of sewing projects, and the completed pile is rapidly growing at a satisfying rate. It's a bunch of wardrobe maintenance--stray buttons, loose seams, and the like, mixed with refitting and reinventing of thrifted items. Luna, my mannequin, stands nearby as a sentinel of all things frilly and couture. Also yesterday I watched Coco Avant Chanel, so, you know, I'm living the couturière life! It's amazing what chic results can come about from hacking off a sleeve.

January Bulletin 2019

Rest, a blank canvas, and a new season of creativity