simply unexpected

fraulein Kost

2008-08-28T08:31:00.002-05:00

Here i am doing a self photoshoot as kost in cabaret. come see it if you are in the Stratford area

we run till Oct 25th.

opening night of cabaret

2008-08-28T08:24:00.004-05:00

opening was may 29th, 2008 and it was magical! if you don't already know, i'm in a production of Cabaret at the Stratford Festival and i play Fraulein Kost. Here's some pics from the after party. To the left is Trish Lindstrom who plays Sally Bowles and Kelly-Ann Evans who is a featured ensemble (Erica Mann)

my sweet mustard killer heels!

Here is my sweetie, Kevan and below is me with the director, Amanda Dehnert. She's brilliant!

the chef

2008-08-28T08:21:00.004-05:00

can you believe it's my first roast chicken?

fresh sage and rosemary with butter under the skin and onion and lemon inside... salt and pepper makes for an unbelieveable treat!

garden flowers

2008-08-28T08:17:00.004-05:00

our garden is taking shape!

pretty yellow daisy-like flowers, hibiscus, beebalm and columbine to name a few

mid century modern

2008-08-28T08:14:00.002-05:00

look at how craigslist came through for me! with this gorgeous danish teak side board and hutch.. it's perfect in our dining room and houses all our glassware perfectly. i got it for only $120! ahhh! i love you craigslist!

our new fireplace

2008-04-21T20:38:00.004-05:00

so, instead of calling the pest control to help rid us of a raccoon living in our fireplace chimney... we went a step further by installing this awesome gas fireplace.

To get rid of the raccoon? lots of distorted, loud music and moth balls... oh, and a sturdy baracade.

now the only animals in our bedroom is my and my lover! ha

could this robins nest be any more perfect?

2008-04-21T20:35:00.002-05:00

look what i found on my window sill! i hope i don't miss the hatching while i'm away from home... it's just super sweet!

HUGE CLEARANCE SALE April 1 and 2nd only!

2008-03-27T20:53:00.002-05:00

I'm having a CLEARANCE SALE for the public on April 1 and 2nd to fill it all back up with new fab finds.

it's a buy one, get one 1/2 off!

i know a lot of you have your eyes on more than one item and this is the time to go for it!

how it goes is ~ you buy one item and get another item of equal or lesser value1/2 off.
you must purchase AND PAY FOR IT before the end of the day, otherwise, it goes back on the shelf... meaning, pay for it immediately and it's yours!

I will refund you easy peasy through paypal the savings as well as excess shipping costs (as i always do!)
see you then! and THANK YOU again for your interest in my shoppe!

www.atouchofvintage.etsy.com

montreal cheese commercial

2008-02-29T08:58:00.001-05:00

well, i alluded to this a while back so now i thought i'd give you a behind the scenes look at a new commercial i'm in. should air any day now.

another happy customer

2008-02-29T08:53:00.002-05:00

i just love when i get photos of my sold items in use. this tea set is spectacular! and it looks stunning here... way to go jenn! this cool gal posted her new love on her rad blog, skip over now to see what other treats jenn has for the eyes here
thank you.

a record number of treasuries

2008-02-20T09:19:00.005-05:00

my new shoppe has been amazing... loads of attention and sales right out of the gate.. don't they realize they are fueling my obsession?
here are the 4 treasuries a touch of vintage is in right now

thanks artish, pixiepaper, olive, memekiwii!

montreal

2008-02-16T18:37:00.005-05:00

so i just got back from an eventful few days. i popped up to montreal to shoot a cheese commercial (no, i'm not kidding)... but more on that later. it was just star treatment all the way. First we travelled on the most civilized airline known to canada called Porter.
stunning lounges, complimentary cappicinos, bicotti, smoked almonds, juices, internet, newspapers. ultra modern lounges. the service was stellar!

then when we got to our hotel... it was more luxury! we stayed at the Opus Hotel in downtown montreal. again, ultra modern design and state of the art... everything. it was really nice! lucky lucky me! i can't wait to go back and see more one day.
my room ~ the pictures don't do it justice

a touch of vintage

2008-02-12T21:35:00.000-05:00

my newest store on etsy!
a major passion of mine... vintage finds for house and fashion

www.atouchofvintage.etsy.com

happy girl

2008-02-12T11:22:00.000-05:00

flyball slouch sac in paris... lucky bag!

Fresh Florals

2008-02-10T09:54:00.000-05:00

this is a store that opened up a new location in my neighbourhood this past year and i'm thrilled!
it's called fresh florals. they have the most stunning window designs ever with a constant change over a couple times a week.

i love to walk in to the store and just look at everything.

i come out creatively inspired every time.

my kind of bathroom

2008-02-09T23:02:00.000-05:00

sigh! i love the feel of both of these bathrooms. clean and fresh.

mr. lights

2008-02-08T12:04:00.000-05:00

so in my search for my dining room light... yes, i'm still looking! i thought i'd try one last place for a shade. i called up mr. lights.. he seemed like quite the character over the phone ~ a real talker and very confident. i thought i'd give it a whirl.

i stopped by yesterday and its a very 'interesting' shoppe. lots of product everywhere... very second hand feel. i was already there so i popped in. and there he was, mr. lights, aka Elvis. he fully lives in character and it's quite something. here he is... elvis is in the building!

i don't know if i'll buy there... but it was a fun trip

Ultra Retro

2008-02-07T10:48:00.000-05:00

I found this rad gal on etsy called ultraretro specializing in stylizings from the 60's - 80's. above is an 80's fringed and sequined shawl. below is a summer delightful vintage 80s cream dress
her pictures show each item well and it's all priced reasonably too. i like.

best of flyball photoshoots 2

2008-02-06T10:42:00.000-05:00

http://www.michellegibsonphoto.com/

tv cabinets

2008-02-05T19:09:00.000-05:00

i've searched for the coolest tv cabinets and these are tops for me... it's harder than you think!

wow! this first lacy unit makes me feel unabashed to say 'i'm a tv watcher'. i could easily stare at this for hours... and the damask wallpaper really gives me the horn.
go to brocadehome to make it yours

the next two designs are from skloib wohndesign. sleek and delightful

above is a modern unit that enables the tv to slide up and down. nice.

i'll thrift shop anywhere!

2008-02-05T19:05:00.000-05:00

this earthy shop was along a backroad in belize city. ah, rose... why weren't you open that day?

i've died and gone to bath heaven

2008-02-04T19:44:00.000-05:00

could these dream baths get any more luxurious? Who would have thought to make a glass and leather bath... well, Gruppo Treesse has... and i'm feeling it! it even comes with a built in mp3 player... come on!
for the japanese flavour... here's the stone soak from german based Maxim.
finally, another german designer, flowood has created this insanely beautiful wood tub!

now, i need 3 full bathrooms to make it all happen

peacock

2008-02-04T17:34:00.000-05:00

this peacock frequently showed off it's tail for us while on vacation in the panama a few years ago. the amazing resort was picture perfect! It was called the Decameron and i'd highly recommend it. every picture i took was postcard worthy. i'm dreaming of tropical weather right now!

artistic heat

2008-02-03T18:50:00.000-05:00

Check out this amazing wall radiator that you can hand rotate each square for a unique look.. it's hot art personified!

tres cool by austrian designer Marco Dessi

self-photoshoot

2008-02-02T11:13:00.000-05:00

here are some shots i did of myself... with my bags... i attacked the pix with

photo shop

love it? or not so much?

etsy treasury feb 1, 2008 ~ grandma chic

2008-02-02T00:13:00.000-05:00

this is i think my best treasury to date. it's so me. i love 'grandma chic'. it's the mix of vintage with a renewed freshness to it. perfection!

Trixie and Radar

2008-02-01T19:39:00.000-05:00

oh boy! a new favorite seller... trixie and radar! hands off the clock below cause i see it in my future. this makes me want to be a decoupage diva. good work, tnr!

a sunny bike ride

2008-02-01T19:31:00.000-05:00

on our recent trip to the sunny south... we rented bikes and rode through nature reserves and along the beach front. i stopped to take a pix of these old bare tree trunks.. i think they are so pretty
if only torontos february could be this delightful!

great neighbourhood pub

2008-02-01T15:08:00.000-05:00

we went out the other night to a really cool local irish pub called dora keogh.

enjoyed a pint sitting on shin-high stools and copper wrapped tables.

there is a great funk band that plays there often. kevan sat in with them for a tune on drums.

it's cozy and fun for a cold winters night.

theres a sale going on

2008-01-31T11:23:00.000-05:00

serious sale! was $65 and now $49!

awesome large slouch sac! Using beautiful, quality vintage fabric with teal scrolls and a mustard rose design.

silver piping, 5 Indian bangles and a silver snap gives this bag sparkle! mustard lace print cotton lining.

strap is made from a mans tie in shades of navy blue and tan... just knot it any length you want it and let the end piece blow in the wind behind you as you go go go!

Isn't it great?

more sales at www.flyballbags.etsy.com
click over to see them all

student art

2008-01-31T10:47:00.000-05:00

how else can anyone afford art? this beautiful mixed media on canvas is from a student art show (my favorite place to find cool inexpensive art). i got it when i was in calgary last year at ACAD. as you know from previous blogs, i love trees! so i fell in love with this work... and i think it was only $50. come on! it's amazing.

cake

2008-01-31T10:41:00.000-05:00

so, the other night we went out for dinner and ended up ordering the 10 layered chocolate collossal cake. it was way too much goodness for the 4 of us... but it was pretty fun to see a slice of it.

cake card from pepperinapress

angel cards

2008-01-31T00:15:00.000-05:00

ahhhh... the angel cards. i friend of mine made copies of the originals (shhh) and now I get to enjoy them every day. i picked my card today and it said "responsibility"... i wanted to pick again

Princess and the pea

2008-01-30T09:56:00.000-05:00

this is some needlepoint i did from a new zealand designer, Jennifer Pudney. it's the princess and a pea story. very apropo since last night i tossed and turned all night in bed. my arms kept getting in the way. what a princess!

Jessica Jane

2008-01-29T11:05:00.000-05:00

rustic crater bird and faux bois magnet trio from jessica jane

tiny tiles

2008-01-29T10:50:00.000-05:00

i guess i collect things too because i look around my house and see these pretty tiles here and there.... this is my bathroom where a few of them live. i got the black and cream leaf tile from a shoppe in new zealand a few years back. now it stands in front of my mini tropical

this trio of tiles i got as a trade at the one of a kind show a couple years ago. i love love love trees so that one was a no brainer. the top one is bleeding hearts and the bottom is bird love. sweet!
i'll show off more of my collection soon....

photos

2008-01-29T10:37:00.000-05:00

reader.. you will soon find out that nothing pleases me more than organization. last night i tackled a project that i never expected to do.... and then, out of the blue, i'm knee deep in photos and negatives. it started with my scrapbooks. now, don't get me wrong.. i don't 'scrapbook' the way some people do. i stay far away from any inticing new products to make your photos look fantastic. my approach is simple and i like it that way.

my scrapbooks are for all the shows i've been in... it's strictly reserved for my professional ventures. i leave the ordinary photobooks for the rest of my life.

so, everytime i've had to find a photo in the last 5 years.. i'd go to my pile and sort through. i never thought to do any more about it... till last night.. yeah! at least it's all categorized so i can go through smaller piles if i want to find something. you don't know how happy that makes me. next project is to get the best photos into books. that'll be a cinch now.

Trianon

2008-01-28T18:44:00.000-05:00

i've driven by this beautiful shoppe for literally years. it's called Trianon. it's located on king st. east in downtown toronto. it was everything i hoped for and more! most items are imported from france ~ here's my favorite lights they stock oh la la!

the feather lamp above is one i'd like to recreate if possible... too girly? maybe. but it makes me feel all european cool when i look at it.

Here's yet another chandelier in a drum shade. i love it ~ especially the enormous crystals. i would prefer it in white though http://www.trianon-online.com/

my treasury jan. 28th ~ pink and raw

2008-01-28T11:43:00.000-05:00

This treasury was a little weird cause i snagged it but then there must have been a bug...
it never showed up in the listing.
i checked a whole bunch o' times.

then when i logged in this morning... there were a whole bunch of messages for me saying that it's been blank all night.
oh no!

well, here it is!

dining room lights 2

2008-01-28T11:32:00.000-05:00

so, in my search to get the perfect dining room light... i'm really stuck on this one here. i love that it's white and sparkly. of course it's a zillion dollars. so i'm trying to see if i can kinda do it myself. i love love the white mylar drum shade but finding that on it's own to purchase is not as easy as i hoped. i can only seem to order it in the darker colour (see my post 'dining room lights')
i will prevail!

my workspace

2008-01-27T16:41:00.000-05:00

this is my workspace... of course, this is it at it's cleanest.

yoga in the morning light

2008-01-27T10:31:00.000-05:00

this is a pix from a friends cottage.. don't you love friends who invite you up?

pottery

2008-01-26T17:54:00.000-05:00

i did a big artisan show in toronto before xmas called the one of a kind show. it's a serious venture. i found so many amazing artist there... and to top it off ~ bartered my ass off. i got ceramic mugs from kosoy & bouchard which were exactly what i was looking for

i want to add to my little collection one day with a platter or vase... it's irresistable!

i have a love affair with trees

2008-01-26T17:42:00.000-05:00

what more can i say.. they are magestic and wonderful. i connect with them. heres one from my travels to mexico last year. ahhhhh

dressing up

2008-01-26T17:36:00.000-05:00

as you may have figured out, i'm also an actor, dancer and singer as well as several other artistic sidelines. i thought you'd get a kick out of some of the costumes... here's a handful over the last 2 years.

Sillabub in Cats
Norma in Victor/Victoria
The Overcoat

soup

2008-01-26T17:26:00.000-05:00

when i cook, i cook hard. i love making soup. so today i made 3 kinds. a basic chicken and brown rice soup, a mushroom tarragon and a watercress potato soup. i tried out a new cookbook i got from my sister in law for xmas. it has pretty pictures of each recipe. i sampled each one and looks like I'll probably resort back to my favorite cookbook ~ moosewood restaurant low fat cookbook.
it has the best recipe for harira.. a spicy (favourful, not hot) vegetable and bean soup that i've been used for years. i add diced chicken and triple it so i always have some on hand in my freezer

2008-01-26T17:02:00.000-05:00

Black Toy Horse Earrings by Pink Graffiti http://www.lesleyanne.etsy.com/

Ribbon Ring by Kelly Bedeian

http://www.ruralabandon.etsy.com/

White and Black Wood Earrings by Giggling Goldfish http://www.gigglinggoldfish.etsy.com/

so many views

2008-01-26T11:00:00.000-05:00

as of today, this mustard clutch has 1478 views and 31 hearts. it's made it to the front page at least once and has been featured in several treasuries. it's a surprise it's still here ~ being a one of a kind bag.

at least it's getting the buzz going about my shoppe. http://www.flyballbags.etsy.com/

don't kill the kids

2008-01-26T10:47:00.000-05:00

i used to say i was single with plants. but now, i don't think kevan would agree. although, i take care of them 98% of the time, i'm always a bit surprised with all my travels that they stay alive. i say to kev, they are like my children.. don't kill the kids! that seems to work for him.

aussie patches

2008-01-26T10:33:00.000-05:00

i bought this print of the redhead in a kimono and framed it in a vintage tin ceiling frame. i love it. i call this corner of my living room.. parisian.
aussiepatches is from, you guessed it, australia. her artwork is always of pretty young women. the vulnerable faces really pull me in.

see her blog, featuring her artwork on my walls, and much more at http://www.aussiepatches.typepad.com

thanks colorada.etsy.com

2008-01-25T22:33:00.000-05:00

it's nice to be featured

i can smell spring

2008-01-25T21:52:00.000-05:00

it's so close! the spring season! i love falling in love with my wardrobe again as I pull out all of my spring/summer dresses.
of course, it's equally fun to find a new piece to hang beside my old favorites. These two designs are from i heart norwegian wood and i have to say, i'm a fan. the girl's got style! i'm such a sucker for an earthy print This ishi designed bracelet makes me happy
www.iheartnorwegianwood.etsy.com
www.ishi.etsy.com

Coonies

2008-01-25T19:37:00.001-05:00

with valentines day just around the corner, i think this is ~ well put.
www.coonies.etsy.com

best of flyball photoshoots

2008-01-25T17:21:00.000-05:00

my photographer is amazing. we met off craigslist and it was an instant professional connection. i love her work! her website is out of this world

www.michellegibsonphoto.com

bittystarr

2008-01-25T17:18:00.000-05:00

this work of art was cut by hand and is among several gorgeous pieces that this little shoppe features. i think i'm in love

www.bittystarr.etsy.com

mwilson

2008-01-25T16:49:00.000-05:00

Groovy inclinations has a wide variety of artwork in her etsy shoppe... here are some of my favorites.

this makes me want to get married.. the invite is rad! i could also work perfectly for a moving notice

http://www.mwilson.etsy.com/

cheesies

2008-01-25T16:35:00.000-05:00

oh no... i've been craving cheesies two days in a row now. can the evil effects be reversed with a bigger salad later on?

mmmm... so tasty!

our bedroom

2008-01-25T14:27:00.001-05:00

is my jewellery tree fun? or out of control... i haven't decided yet. i made it from driftwood I brought back from my trip to new zealand a few years ago. it'll stay for now
my weird little ya ya doll

bathroom ideas

2008-01-25T14:22:00.000-05:00

so over the next few months, we will be looking to renovate our bathroom. i've started to find inspiration from many sources... isn't this bath grande. yes yes yes

orange

2008-01-25T14:19:00.000-05:00

my happy little jade plant basking in the sun.

i found an old needlepoint kit from value village and framed my finished work in a vintage metal frame. lovely.

Forgotten Beauty

2008-01-25T14:14:00.000-05:00

I stumbled across this artist today... another etsian ~ forgotten beauty. beautiful fine art.

www.xenya.etsy.com

stratford festival

2008-01-25T14:01:00.000-05:00

i'm weeks away from starting my next gig at the stratford festival. i'll be in the musical cabaret playing fraulein kost. i'm really looking forward to it as the director has loads of buzz and is expected to have really fresh ideas. this is definately worth a special trip if you are not from the area. stratford is a very pretty little artsy town.... one of my favortie places to live.

http://www.stratfordfestival.ca/plays/cabaret.cfm

buttercup and co.

2008-01-25T13:54:00.000-05:00

here's the package going off to my latest store... buttercup & co. They are new and located in peterbourgh, ontario. an eco-chic boutique specializing in funky recycled and earth friendly designs. FlyBall Bags should fit right in!

www.buttercupandcompany.ca

the twins

2008-01-25T13:50:00.000-05:00

as promised... here are belle and marie and their mom... it's a floral print war between the dresses, couch and wallpaper. those dresses are fancy

i love the library

2008-01-25T13:47:00.001-05:00

where else can you take up to 50 magazines out at a time... for free. yeah library!

nesting dolls

2008-01-25T12:31:00.000-05:00

These are the latest purchase off etsy. from belleslettres... they are russian nesting dolls but she has decoupaged classic trench coats from different designers on them. they are adorable. She has other sets including her ex-boyfriends, f**k me pumps and movie stars from the 60's.
i love her little etsy shoppe... she's fresh and funny with her style. i long to get the 366-day self-portrait subscription promising to send a photo a day of the artist in absolutely intriguing settings.

www.belleslettres.etsy.com

dining room lights

2008-01-25T12:26:00.000-05:00

the search is on. Here are my top 3 pendant lights that make me swoon this one is simple and modern. I can also afford it.

this is the cadillac of chandeliers! the moooi light shade shade... i can dream

how original. i love nature and trees and i can see this just being the statement i want to make in the dining room.

our vaca

2008-01-25T11:55:00.000-05:00

We got away! yes!
We did a cruise. now, i used to work on one many years ago. I danced, sang and called bingo... among many other things! So, going back on as a passenger is really strange.
We went to St. Maarten, St. Lucia and St. Kitts. I would go back to any of these islands again. They were paradise! Here's some fun shots to give you an idea of what I was up to

Picture perfect tea at a quaint cafe on las olas blvd in fort lauderdale
shadows of my partner, kevan and i
here i am in st. maarten.....oooo

etsy

2008-01-25T11:40:00.000-05:00

you will see that I'm a big fan of etsy.com

i sell online there at http://www.flyballbags.etsy.com/ and I also buy from the fab artists as well. i plan to showcase many of my great finds all the time. enjoy enjoy!

Here is one of my first purchases from a super sweet seller on etsy. Her shop is Kitten Cottage and she made this beautiful paper mache birdy. He even came with a name... wiley! ahhh
Kitten Cottage also made these amazing frames too. I've been meaning to have more photos of family here and there, so these were perfect.
I should show you a close up of these shots. The main shot is my great grandparents from newfoundland.. probably in the 60's. The other shot has got to be my favorite old photo I own. It's of my two twin cousins and my great great aunt, also from newfoundland. It's priceless. the clothes, the wallpaper. i just love it! Again, the frame rocks it all out!

www.kittencottage.etsy.com

our new chairs

2008-01-25T11:35:00.001-05:00

Finally after looking for 2 years we found our dining room chairs. i love them. They are a white leather with stitching around the edges. The contrast with our table is really cool.

Now I'm just hoping to find or make a really amazing pendant light to bring it all together.