Lost and Found

Via J.Loek

When someone possesses that creative genius, you can see the clogs of creativity constantly turning, no matter where they are. My friend Steph Hung is one such someone, creating beautiful and fun wears from material I would just discard. Seeming basic items become pieces of art, an unnoticed skirt becomes beautiful detail on a clutch, a retro bed sheet becomes a duffel bag, a golf shirt becomes a sophisticated scarf, a T-shirt becomes a necklace. Her ability to take vintage clothing and fabric an re-stitch it into fashionable clothing and accessories, as she does for her Lost/Found Collection, just amazes me.

Via Lost/Found

Steph is thankfully sharing her re purposing and salvaging talents with Vancouver at two local shows, Make it Vancouver this weekend and Urban Artisan Craft Fair November 28th and 29th, and select pieces from her line have recently been picked up by dream! Non-Vancouverites can check out her online shop.

Via J.Loek

To see more of her talent, including wonderful styling, check out these images taken by J.Loek of her line. I am counting the minutes until I can head down to the CCC to check out what new creations she has come up with lately.

Via J.Loek

I love Freda Loves Porter

My cousin, Kelby, and a couple of her friends started making headbands this summer while in 'quarantine' due to H1N1. They most definitely found the silver lining to a bad situation... their headbands are a huge hit and are flying out of their hands! And I can see why, they are beautiful!

My cousin is the one on the right. Via FLP

Their company, Freda Loves Porter, has taken off, they even had an article in the Calgary Herald last weekend. I checked out the website to see what all of the buzz is about and now I understand! Check out their amazing creations!

All images via Freda Love Porter

I wish I lived in Calgary and could pop by one of their shows, because the website is all sold out! Maybe I'll call in a cousinly favour!!

Bent grains

I love wood grains, clean lines and intresting angles. I also love magazines. How did they know?

Via svelteobjects on Etsy.

Bright Metal

I am in love with these stairs by Product and Design Metalwork which I found over at Remodelista. I love the way they have a solid and heavy presence, but allow the light to come through so nicely. The clean simple lines, with the interesting triangular detail on the bottom add some really neat interest! Does my love for these stairs make me a modernist?

Katie's Pad Part 2

A long while ago, my dear friend Katie was looking for a coffee table, while I was back at home we went out and scoured all day and didn't find anything! Later I hit the Internet and did some research - found several options and posted them. While searching I came across some other great items for her wonderful new apartment. So as I start to prepare for my Easter trip back home, I reminded my self of these wonderful pieces I have saved to show my dear Katie! Here ya go hun!

If you still want a desk in front of your window, these ones are great and could be used as dinning room tables too!

These ones are small and would be great in the corner where the bookshelf are! And look at all of the storage!!

This table might be a hall/sofa table but it reminds me of the one that we saw at Sojourn. It would look awesome in front of the window and can double function as a buffet...

...as well as be narrow enough to allow for another sitting chair, such as the lovely one below this table! (this might not be the ideal colour, but the shape is awesome! It would be a great height to pull up to the coffee table too!)

If you don't think you have enough room for the chair above, these ones would be good options, they could double function as desk chairs, dinning chairs or a family room chair for extra guests!

If you are leaning towards the bench with storage option for the window, here are some of my favourites!

Don't forget some storage! I love those square ottomans, although I also really like the ones we saw in leather!

And last but not least, side tables! I love this one, I think it is a night stand, but I love the simple design and all the storage.

And to add some texture and keep it casual and welcoming, these versatile floor cushions! They would be great to pull out when sitting around the coffee table eating or playing games! Scrabble battle! (you can also use them as foot rests!)

Here is the one catch: To achieve this look, we are going to have to go on a road trip to the States and visit a West Elm, since everything is from there (yes I am a bit obsessed!). So what do you think Katie? Anything that you like? What about everyone else? Any items that you love or could see in your place?

Crafty Globe

Do you remember back in January when I kept on seeing beautiful globe lights around and wondered if I should replace my bedroom light with one of them instead of a chandelier? Well, I am still convinced that I want a chandelier, but I still think they are amazingly beautiful! Maybe my dining room needs a new light?

From Bobo Intriguing Objects

These ones used to be old wine spheres.... I love the slightly charcoal tint in the glass and the flat bottoms. I imagine their unusual shape will make for some great light reflections!

Clever Living

Ferm means clever in Dutch, and is a very telling word for the company Ferm Living, who make very ferm products.  They also have a blog (Clever Spaces) showing clever creative uses for their clever and creative products... 

I love the gold and purple of the tree bomb wallpaper....clever name!

Wallpaper stuck on the inside of a lamp, you can only see the design when the light is on... clever, yet again!

I love this workplace!

Would go great in a black and white room!!

This wall decal was scribbled over, and then removed... the reverse effect!

Re-wood

Scrapile

Recently Haute*Nature has profiled two companies that make fabulous furniture out of scrap material. Scrapile and Oormerk have sleek designs, where the 'multicultural' wood adds intriguing dimension to the pieces! Oormerk is based in the Netherlands, and Scrapile is based in Brooklyn New York.

Oormerk via Design Boom

Scrapile

And you can even purchase items from Scrapile in Canada! You will have to make a trip to Montreal, but hey, anything for a company who has a logo like this! (Scrapile's Logo)

Oliver and Lilly's

A little over a month ago I found, just off Granville street, this adorable shop - Oliver & Lilly's. I was walking home along 13th Ave and the window display literally pulled be across the street!! Inside I was greeted with this tree -

It is so simple, yet intricate and interesting and... I absolutely love it but I just can't seem to find the perfect word to describe it! The store beyond the tree is a truly unique and lovely store. The displays are divine, with loads of texture, colour and layers, just the perfect touches to compliment the great clothes!
This store is such an inspiration - not only for my wardrobe (which I know will improve ten times now that O&L is sooo close) but also for my home - Styling ordinary objects can create that sense of magic! It reminds me of back in the day, when I used to make my mom's dinning room center pieces - I loved collecting random objects from around the house and arranging them... I encourage everyone to take a walk down 13th Ave, and drop by! Go for the tree, and you'll stay for the clothes! (If you aren't in the Vancouver area, check out their blog!)
All images from O&L.

Heavenly coffee break.

Keeping in the rustic theme I started on Friday, I just wanted to post about this adorable coffee shop in Coleman Alberta. Where is that? Well, for most of you it is middle-of-no-where Southwestern Alberta; but for those who ski, it is just after Frank Slide on the way to Fernie from Calgary. I usually associate Coleman with slow speed limits and fueling options, that is, until now! As I rolled into Coleman I noticed this large sign - Blackbird Coffee. Since I am obsessed with birds right now, I had to pull in, to check it out. And while I don't get why it is called Blackbird, it doesn't make a difference because it's great! On a whole, it is simple and eclectic and down to earth. The serving bar area is open, allowing you to still feel the space of the church with the high ceilings and stained glass. There are stellar antiques in the back, including some really well kept 1950s stainless steel items. The seating is a merry mismatch of chairs, couches and tables. I was almost sad that this was not next to a university since it would have been such a great hang out for students. The lady behind the bar was super friendly, and made up for the fact that they didn't have any skim milk. I just loved how quaint and cute this place was - I couldn't hear the road from inside, and all the details could have kept me there for hours! Unfortunately I had to move along...Next time, however I will make sure to have a few hours to spare for a snack and a browse. I hope they do well and stay there long enough for me to return!