natural selection

the dreary spring weather we've been having finally took a turn for the better last week, and i managed to get outside with my camera a few times. the one thing i can say for all the rain we've had, the grass + trees + flowers are sure looking extra lush.

this month's installment of natural selection takes a look at some fresh late-spring blooms, along with some decidedly warmer-weather fashion.

lush amalgam tank :: anthropologie

the rhon pump in coral pink + beige :: john fluevog

forgiveness dress in sky :: nicole bridger

coin purse/wallet - metallic blue dots :: oktak

silk taffeta lorelei dress in organic green :: j.crew

extra chunky stone age cuff :: bead evolution

etta hat - pink linen :: piper and paisley

ruffled tie-front cardigan in ultra deep pink :: banana republic

izzy top in amethyst :: curator by she bible

sessun sumatra skirt :: penelope's

{don't worry, i wouldn't really suggest wearing these items together necessarily. a bit too matchy for me, just a fun exercise in pairing the colours with the pics. thought i'd throw that out there.}

natural selection

i'm excited to share a second installment of natural selection with you today!

let your wardrobe choices be guided by nature.

sunny soiree dress :: anthropologie

pink peony silk-lined clutch bag :: red ruby rose

stripe sunburst tank in agate | ivory :: j.crew

sugary...cream orange cotton dress :: after shower shop

military tunic in sweet moss :: j.crew

bhati beads silk planets bracelet in hot pink :: j.crew

{all nature photos are taken by me}

hunt + gather

i just wanted to share a smattering of the easter buckets i've made so far this spring. tomorrow [april 1 -- no fooling!] is the last day to place your order to receive yours in time for easter, so if you've been thinking about it, the time is now!

this is the second year i've offered choose your own easter buckets, and i must say, it is really fun to see what my customers choose for the fabrics! i've had the chance to sew in some combos that i wouldn't have thought of, but that i really like the results.

there were definitely some popular picks -- the wide blue + white stripe with the blue zoo fabric lining was the clear fave for boys, and the pink + orange fireworks sold out super fast over on the girls' side.

the two zigzag buckets shown on the bottom left were specially requested to be mini-buckets. i think that's a fun option, maybe i'll offer that next year, it's a nice size for the really wee kiddos.

anyhow, i've still got a few more lined up to sew over the weekend, and then they'll be gone for another year. up next for me, getting prepped for got craft -- it's creeping up soon!

natural selection

what if you let your wardrobe choices be guided by nature? i've paired some of my recent spring photos with a few fun clothes + accessories.

solar flare - golden curved discs and sterling silver necklace :: jaros designs

ecofriendly handprinted jellyfish pouch in sunshine yellow :: seaoats

bamboo purple short-sleeved cowl tee :: replicca

random raised line scarf, in orange :: yorktown road

bubble skirt in bamboo, in daffodil :: ureshii

lace for spring

very pretty vintage-inspired spring collection by vancouver fashion house dru's design. i love the tweed dress on the bottom right, very chic. visit dru's design to find out where to buy.

images via dru's design.

a saturday stroll

vancouver was showing off it's good side this weekend, and we made sure to get out and enjoy it as much as we could with two sick babes. they were feeling well enough for a leisurely stroll yesterday, so we headed to the harbour, just down the street. picture perfect, my city at it's best.

:: if you look closely, you can catch a teensy glimpse of mt baker in the top right photo, right in the middle. a perfectly clear day! ::

easter already?

i know, i know. rushing the holidays, can't we just have a break, it was just valentine's day...i know! but with custom items, you need a little more time.

what does this mean? it means that my build-your-own easter buckets are back in the shop, for both boys and girls! i'll be taking orders up until april 1st to ensure delivery in time for easter, which falls on april 24. i found some fun new fabrics that are perfect for spring, and i also brought back a few faves from last year. can't wait to start making some easter buckets!

you know, it's only six weeks until april 1. yes, spring really is just around the corner.

most of these images are from last year, with some fabrics still available, and others not. just some examples for you to see!

lemon + teal.

images via shops as listed below, clockwise from bottom left.

here we are again with a little sunshine + surf colour combo. it wasn't hard to find a whole slew of goodies that fit within this scheme, so i decided to start with the fashion today and move on to decor later this week. i love these colours, they are so cheerful + bright, with the promise of spring on the horizon.

seychelles flamingo in teal :: via 6pm.com

sun shades dress :: anthropologie

triangle top in turquoise cotton jersey :: out of line

clutch - starburst pleat :: yorktown road

seychelles out of office flats :: via nordstrom

peacock fan no. 1 :: marañon {spinthread}

sunshiny day

bright sunshiny day :: farouche

we are finally seeing the sun here in vancouver after a pretty long, dull rainy stretch. there's still a chill in the air, but i'm definitely dreaming of spring a little bit today.

the fresh lemon + teal colour combo in the print above by farouche is totally catching my eye today. i think i'll be coming back to these colours when the warmer temps are here to stay.

what is your fave colour combo these days?

a day in june

this is what a june day should look like. vancouver has had really rotten weather this spring. while i am not a stranger to rain + cooler temperatures

[i choose to live here, after all] i do look forward to some sun in the spring + lovely hot summers. today is the last day of june. it is finally sunny. it may even be warm enough to wear shorts - gasp! and so we are going to the beach. because tomorrow, it will probably rain.

a day in june - 8x8 - fine art photograph :: sherri conley photography

:: edit ::

20 minutes after posting this, there is the biggest, darkest cloud looming over north van. this spring has had the most unpredictable weather. ever.

flowers + a sunset

romantic. i love peonies, and must admit that they are part of the reason we chose june second for our wedding day. i absolutely love the delicate pink, the amazing scent, the large blooms. below is the bouquet i made for our wedding. i am sorry i haven't got a better picture handy, but i love it all the same. swoon.

who doesn't love a great sunset? living so close to the ocean, we are lucky to be treated to some amazing displays in our neck of the woods. i love the soft + subdued colours from our wedding sunset. nice, hey?

dead daffodils

i was gifted these two daffodils by my son a couple months back [so sorry to the poor gardener who was missing a few blooms back in march...] and i had put them into a vase with a little water. they have long since dried up, but i'm reluctant to part with them. i love the way they are all crinkled up and papery. how the stamens are still coated in pollen, perfectly curled and boldly yellow.

i've mentioned my fascination with dead leaves here before, and now here i am ogling dead flowers. the daffodils are the perfect complement to that particular shelf, too, all dressed up in black + white + grey.

i kind of like how this last one turned out, it makes me think of a watercolour painting, softly blurred edges and muted tones. i've been enjoying playing with my camera lately, i'd love to take a class or two, but in the meantime, practice practice practice whenever i can.

a bluebird afternoon

it was a picture perfect bluebird afternoon in vancouver yesterday, and like many other like-minded folks, we spent it at the beach. warm sun [cause we've been seriously lacking warmth here this spring], sand in our toes, family + friends. what more could a girl ask for, other than to do this every. single. day.

sand, picked up, poured out. over + over again.

shoes + hoody quickly discarded, boy heading off into the ocean.

bliss.

i had a great weekend, even though the sun waited until our holiday monday to make a really solid + lengthy appearance. how was yours?

spring pretties

just a few additions i would love to welcome to my wardrobe, now that warm spring weather has finally arrived in vancouver.


images via shops as listed below, top to bottom.

fresh current dress :: anthropologie

fully lined light blue pleated collar dress :: ananya

embroidered siesta dress :: j. crew

green linen dress with three pleats :: pamela tang

yellow tea dress :: sohomode

croquet party

today, i'm going to pretend that the sunshine outside my window is warm + soft + welcoming, rather than the wintery, blustery, freezing, crisp sun it actually is. in this glorious sunshine, i will go outside and have a cheerful croquet party. won't you join me?

i'll be wearing a sweet vintage seersucker dress

and a lovely little hat to top it off.

we'll have a croquet party with my painted croquet set

and pause for tea, from this delightful turquoise tea service.

we'll snack on pink macarons

and catch the crumbs with our birkin cocktail napkins.

we'll head home feeling refreshed + happy + free of worry.

wouldn't it be a delight?

nautical disaster?

maybe, maybe not. i've never been one to go for the whole nautical look, but i saw these striped rubber boots while i was at a grocery store last week [yes, there are clothes there. joe fresh!], and they caught my eye. so i put together a little collage. let's call it alternautical. one part blatantly nautical, one part tongue-in-cheek.

images via shops as listed below

{clockwise from top left}

le solitaire - sachet [blue] :: fric de mentol

striped rubber boots :: joe fresh

topography clock :: diffraction fiber

ring halter & button bikini :: gap

kids' converse allstar lo-top :: via gap

poppy longstockings nautical stripe :: poppy clothing creations

{centre}

peggy's cove lighthouse - nova scotia - fine art print :: broomhill pictures

this is where i'll be

i'm heading to the sweetest cabin on thormanby island tomorrow. seriously, one of my very favourite places in bc. there is a calm, relaxing pace to life on thormanby, it's absolutely idyllic. let's hope that little cabin is ready for 13 women to descend [i don't know if i am!!]. here we come.

i took these pics the last time i was there, maybe about six or seven years ago?

let's just say these were film. that dates it well :)