Showing posts with label rustic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rustic. Show all posts

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Week-End Roundup (Or: A Fashion Show, A Listing That Almost Made it to Etsy and Some Country Air)

February is turning out to be an incredibly busy and unusually social month for me and I'm thrilled about this. It's during this month that I start to get rather antsy, with regards to winter and if I don't keep busy, I tend to get blue. Hopefully, if I keep my head down and push through all of the activities I have planned, I'll blink and it will be March. I used to dislike March too, until a few years ago when I started planning trips during that time or for the first week of April. Two years ago I went o Jamaica, last year I was in New York City and this year I'll be in Las Vegas. But, before I take this tangent and run any further with it, this is what last week-end looked like:

Friday night I covered an event on behalf of Naiade for The Models' Coach. It started late, ran later and was kind of a mess but the photographer was good company and I was happy to be in my element. While waiting (and waiting) for the show to start, I cupped my balls in one hand and, with the other, wrote to a beautiful boy I've known online for a while and asked him out for a beer. He quickly and happily said yes and I must admit the exchange helped me ignore my mounting impatience.


Saturday morning, before listing some dia de los muertos cushion covers I made on Etsy, I decided to post them on facebook. Two people expressed a desire to purchase them and so they have yet to go up on the shop.


Midday, my stepdad came around with a rented SUV and we all piled in and headed up North for some quality time with my mom's three brothers and their families.




After a loud and enjoyably emotional dinner and much wine, I got geared up for the great outdoors and began my tipsy march down the hill behind my uncle's house, to the skating rink he and his boys work so hard to upkeep every year. On my way down, I thought about all of the times I had loudly proclaimed that my next boyfriend would not be a closed-minded Quebecer who can't wrap his head around the world beyond our borders and I knew something had changed within me. While I do want someone in my life that is worldly and accepting of other cultures, a part of me realizes that he'll either have to be able to relate to this side of my family or be incredibly open-minded as, for the first time in my life, I realize that that is important to me. There are two completely legitimate sides to me, when it comes to culture and, while I would greatly appreciate finally dating someone I can take out to a seven-course meal, who can hold his own throughout intelligent and stimulating conversation, who is well-read, who gets my Monty Python references and my dry humour, it dawned on me that he's also going to need to go with the flow when my French-Canadian family lets loose. I'm not saying he has to be from here but, for a moment, I thought of how nice it would be bring someone to my uncle's house for the first time and not have to spend hours explaining and possibly consoling. Whatever happens happens but this is what I was thinking as I made my way down to get my ass kicked by my daughter, sister and cousins on the rink.



The next morning, I took some time to head back down and snap a few photos with my phone.



On the way back, I thought about the family I'd be estranged from for a large chunk of my life and about how freeing it was to open my heart to them again. Looking around the table at all these kids who look like mine and like me and reminiscing about the great times I had with these guys when I was a child made a huge difference in my life and I've been feeling it since. This may be the understatement of the year but having kin is important and I'd spent so many years defiantly preaching about my friends being the family I've chosen that I'd overlooked the fact that I could one day work shit out with these guys and have this big, beautiful, loud, funny, loving clan of my own, after all.



I came home to a gorgeous snow-covered trees. My daughter and I spent the afternoon sorting through some more of our things and relaxing.




Monday, November 11, 2013

25 Days of Etsy Christmas (2013). Day One. All Things Rustic

I'm very excited to be kicking off my second annual 25 Days of Etsy Christmas. I'm quite passionate about buying from small businesses and artisans and this is the best way for me to share that with you. Last year, several Etsy sellers reported a growth in holiday sales, thanks to my series, and I hope the same can happen this year!

I will feature a different theme every day, for twenty-five (nearly) consecutive days, starting with today's rustic gift ideas.

Enjoy!

1. The Volstead Lamp by Speakeasy Lamps is $102.15 CAD.


2. This set of 5 twig pencils is available at Trees 4 The Wood for $16.15 CAD. I suggest adding these to a leatherbound or recycled sketch pad and giving them to the artist on your list. Most pre-teens/teens would also dig this ensemble. It's worth taking a look at the rest of the shop, as they sell cute gift tags and cards.


3. I like this set of three candleholders by Morgann Hill Designs.


4. If you've got a bit more to spend, this year, you should take a look at Artisan Wood, a fantastic shop based out of Texas. I'm rather taken by their Rustic King Platform Bed, which is going for $2096.77 CAD.


5. From Shab 2 Chic is a great shop based out Alabama and their faux antlers would make a great gift for someone on your list whose decor is already leaning toward rusticity. $48.38 CAD.


6. From California, Borden Specifics offers up a great variety of paper goods and household items. I will include two of their items in this list, starting with this mail box for $41.94 CAD.


7. Another great gift idea from the same shop is this set of hand painted mason jars in a wooden flower box for $83.87 CAD.


8. At Michelle Lisa's Designs, in Texas, you can find great stocking stuffers, such as this cast iron deer hook for $17.74 CAD.


9. Ticino Design, in Mississauga, Ontario, is definitely another one to look out for. Check out their beautiful reclaimed wood and glass coffee table for $780.00 CAD.


10. Last but certainly not least, I really like this wall shelf with coat hooks from Old New Again for $91.46 CAD.


Saturday, October 19, 2013

Thanksgiving in The Laurentians

Last week-end, for Thanksgiving, four friends and I rented a lovely ancestral home in the mountains, between Saint-Sauveur and Mont-Tremblant. On Saturday, Alex made his grandmother's borscht and on Sunday, I roasted a turkey and prepared a feast. We drank by the fire pit until four in the morning, visited Tremblant Village and the resort, drank wine by the fireplace and escaped to quiet corners to read, write, think and nap. Several deer came up to the house and, although we heard wolves and coyotes howling every night, one wolf got within 200 feet of the house and howled for a good ten minutes, while I cooked. All in all, it was pretty goddamn perfect.




















All photos were taken by me, with exception of the last one, which was taken with my chum Alex' camera.



 
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