Craft Show

November flew by too quickly for me to write up a blog post. I just wrapped up a quick trip out west to Vancouver for the Make It! Craft show. It was our first time planning and setting up for a large 10 x 5 feet booth and it wasn't as daunting as I had imagined it to be.

I kept everything quite minimal and simple so it would be an easy set up and take down, with a black and white theme to match our branding. We also got access to electricity so I used this to our advantage, adding some vintage looking globe lights to make it look romantic, like an outside patio or garden dripping with lights.

It was nice to be back in Vancouver for a few days, you Vancouverites are so chill and sweet. Thank you to everyone who stopped by our table for the 4 days we were there. The other side of my job that I love, (besides designing and creating), is meeting and talking to all of the people that support local crafters and Canadian makers. You are the kindest and sweetest people that I have ever had a chance to meet and it makes my job so much more fulfilling, and the reason why I love to do these shows.

xoxo,
Sabrina

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A Giveaway

If you haven't heard yet, we are giving away one of our Lace Cat Floral Headbands for Halloween on our Instagram feed. We've recently reached over 2000 sales online, and to give thanks, we are giving away one of our Cat Ears Headband!

Here's how to enter:
1. You must follow us on instagram @loveatfirstblush
2. Re-post the image above (one repost per day!)
3. Hashtag us with #LFBcatears, and tag us @loveatfirstblush
Contest ends on 10/24! Good luck!

In the Studio: Cat Ears

Earlier this month, we were sent a custom request for a floral trimmed lace cat headband.

After searching along fashion district for some floral trims to add to the headband and coming up with nothing special, I decided to make the flowers by hand by sewing blush pink chiffon together and hand beading tiny rhinestones and pearls on the top.

We've gotten such a huge response from our Facebook post, I've added these to the our online shop.

Made in Canada: Etsy Pop-Up

Our table at the Pop-Up Etsy Made in Canada event 

photo credit: Ele Willoughby

I had such an awesome time popping up last Saturday for  Etsy's first Made in Canada event. It was so busy I didn't get a chance to instagram or live tweet from the event.

From the large turn out of people it's obvious that Canadians, and especially Torontonians, love handmade and vintage! If you had a chance to make it out, thank you for supporting small businesses and crafters. 

Crystal Obsession

So lately I've been obsessing over gemstones and crystal quartz stones. I've been experimenting with these two elements for a raw and refined look.

These crystals originate from all over the world in mining caves from Morocco, Mexico, Tibet and China. I've hand picked each of these gems for their shape, color and clarity so each one is one of a kind. My favorite is the Tibetan crystal quartz with the irregular points on each end, I'll be sad to let this one go.

In the studio

A photo blog of things happening around the studio lately.

1. Setting grommets into our Laser cut leather cuffs
2. Hammering holes into our newly designed Arm Harnesses
3. Newly designed Lace Bunny Ears
4. Lace Cat Ear Headbands for a special wholesale order

Inland

I haven't had time to update the blog in a while since my trip to New York City for some trim shopping. I've been busy getting inventory and our booth ready for this weekend's show, INLAND, which features over 80 Canadian Designers.

Come stop by and say hi!

Where: 99 Sudbury Street, Toronto
When: Sat 11-6, Sun 11-5
 

Road Trip

Taking some downtime this past long August weekend with friends at the cottage to explore the beautiful countryside. We took a fun road trip into Collingwood and made a stop at Blue Mountain village to hike up some trails. We managed to make it up to the top of the mountain to some spectacular views.

The sunsets and fields of wildflowers in the country side are so picturesque. I think road trips should be a monthly essential.
 

Soho House Pop Up

This past Sunday we 'popped up shop' at Soho House Toronto in collaboration with Etsy. We chatted for a few hours with Soho members who came by and other Etsy vintage sellers at the event. It was probably the most relaxed atmosphere and the most beautifully styled room to set up shop. I loved the free photo booth most of all, one of the perks at Soho House. 

It's always so interesting to chat with customers about what they do and they always have such interesting stories to share. Thank you to Etsy for giving us the opportunity to 'pop up' here!

For more photos, you can follow our daily adventures via instagram: @loveatfirstblush.

Pop Up Shop

We'll be 'Popping Up' at SoHo House Toronto this Sunday, July 27th from 12pm-6pm.
Come say hi and grab a drink with us!

Please RSVP here as this is a member only event with limited tickets available.

How I Survived the Rose Bowl Flea Market

I came to LA for one of the world's largest Flea Market for my buying trip. It was sensory overload as there were hundreds of tents offering up furniture, jewelry, clothes, shoes and plants to upcycled items. If I lived in LA, I would definitely furnish my apartment with all of the mid century modern furniture and art.
Rose Bowl Flea Market is by far the most massive flea market I have ever attended.

Here are my top 5 tips for surviving the Rose Bow Flea Market:

1. Get there early: It’s worth paying the extra $15 to get in at 8am. You avoid the crowd and can scope out the best items before anyone else. Plus if you get there early, the parking is free.

2. Have a game plan: Know what you are looking for. The place is huge and overwhelming with 2 large sections in the parking lot, and another wrapping all around the Rose Bowl. It was my first time there, so it was hard to know where to look first as I wanted to look at everything. Bad idea. Have a game plan and you'll be a bit more focused.

3. Hunt and Bargain: The fun of the market is the hunt for treasure, so spend a bit of time at each place that looks promising. Also, most vendors will give you a better deal if you ask for it.

4. Bring sunscreen, water and a hat: By noon, the sun overhead gets unbearably hot. Bring a hat and keep hydrated so you don’t get burnt by the sun.

5. Bring cash: Cash is king here, and you might loose out on something special if you don't have your cash ready and someone else snatches it up. Bring more than you think you need.

Follow me on instagram for a daily feed @loveatfirstblush

Travel Plans: Buying Trip

We're headed to Los Angeles this week to check out the markets and gather inspiration for our 2015 collection. A buying trip usually involves researching upcoming trends, buying product samples and taking photos for inspiration. I like to find most of my inspiration from vintage stores and flea markets as these places have the most unique pieces and details that I can incorporate in my sketches and designs.

I've been wanting to check out the Rose Bowl Flea Market for the longest time. It falls on every second Sunday and we just missed it last August when we traveled to Las Vegas for the MAGIC trade show.

I'll be posting more photos from our instagram feed. Follow us if you want an inside look at our finds from our travel diary: @loveatfirstblush

San Bernadino mountains

In the Studio: Metallic Leather

A few photos of what I've been working on in the studio lately. I bought some new leather in a splattered metallic copper and silver patterns to make some new designs.

The flat leather pieces don't look like much, but after I get around to cutting and sewing them, the pieces have a whole new life to them. 

Sun & Sol

Remember my friend Sun, the Shoe Designer, from my 'Her Closet' post?

Well she's moved to Mexico City since we last posted and she's been working on her jewelry line, Sun and Sol. Inspired by the colors and culture of Mexico city, her line incorporates woven threads, braided chains and candy colored skulls that she has picked up from the local markets. The skulls are a nod to the Mexican festival, Day of the Dead. She's even illustrated the fashion models with her jewelry.


While she is not wandering the markets to collect inspiration and materials, she works from her home studio with her mini chihuahua who keeps her company most days. She sent me a glimpse of her studio and her little mascot.

One Of A Kind

credit: photos by James Hsieh

The One of a Kind Spring 2014 show wrapped up last week and I'm still reeling from the excitement of meeting all you lovely folks and the media coverage from Breakfast Television and CanadaAM. I've never worked so hard for many months for just five days of a show, but I learned so much about designing my own booth display, lighting products, hammering nails, and hanging picture frames straight! I had an awesome assistant helping out with set up and take down, as well as someone who built my display. Thank you, you two ;).

I've come back with a lot of feedback and more ideas brewing in my head of what my next collection will be. I loved being everyone's personal stylist for those 5 days, helping choose what looks best on you. I wish I could do that every day.

Thank you for making it the best show yet!

In the studio: Gold and Silver

 Little pockets around my studio and home have collected gold and silver findings. All of my trims seem to be ending up in every living space. They seem to be traveling back and forth from my home to the studio as I'm forming new ideas on my commute.

 Sometimes I think in color, sometimes it's gold and silver.

Custom Project: Barbarella Cuff

via fanshare

Working as a leather accessories designer, I sometimes get special requests for custom made cuffs. When my schedule isn't as hectic, I like to take on these projects for a challenge.

This is the second time I've gotten a request for a custom Barbarella cuff and it's much sleeker and more true to form. The first Barbarella cuff I made was for a customer going to Dragon Con. Making it a second time around, I could perfect the flashing component making it more simple to use. The ball lights up from solid red, blue, green, and purple colors while the last option has an evolution of rainbow colors.

If you're interested in a Barbarella cuff or any custom Superhero cuff, please feel free to email me.

Spring Couture 2014: Craftmanship of Dior

via style.com

The beauty of Couture is the ability to make you dream. One of my favorite shows this season is the Christian Dior Spring 2014 show. Attention was devoted to the fabrication itself; the pleating, cutwork, and latticework of sheer fabrics and translucent overlays. The past collections were more extravagant and theatrical when Galliano was at the helm, but there is quiet power over this new and more intimate vision of Raf Simons, allowing the beauty of the fabrics to be the main highlight of the collection.

Dior is fastly becoming a favorite of mine.

Seascapes

Visiting the Aquarium for a few hours is a nice getaway from the city. Underwater landscapes make me wish for warm weather and tropical beaches. Beautiful colors of coral and tropical fish at the Toronto Aquarium inspire new ideas and organic shapes. It's nice to step inside here and marvel at the sheer size of the sharks or be hypnotized by the tiniest jelly fish beating their bell shaped bodies into the water.

It's like journeying to a new world.