Outdoor Markets: Kempenfest 2015

As summer winds down and we look towards fall, I wanted to update you on our summer adventures thus far. We've successfully survived our first outdoor market over the July break. We were lucky to have such awesome neighbors beside us to help us out during that freak thunderstorm. Several tents blew away, but ours stayed pretty grounded.

We have a few shows lined up for fall and the holidays and I'll be documenting our process more in depth. Stay tuned, it's going to be very busy season!

Follow us on instagram at @loveatfirstblush for more adventures and behind the scenes of our studio.

Design and Development: Sourcing the Finest Crystals

Lessons in Sourcing

When I worked for my last fashion design job, most of our trims and embellishments were brought to us on trim cards, all neatly laid with lists of color options. We would call our own in-house trim department to bring us several options of any trim we had our heart set on and in a weeks time, we would get an abundance of trims to choose from; from photos to real trims brought to us.
  
It was just as simple as a phone call or an email.

Having my own company presents its own set of challenges in sourcing as I don't have my own trim department and not everything is brought to me on a color card. Instead, I do my own shopping, locally and at trade shows, finding the right companies to work with that have the best quality and selection.

It's fun to pick out my own crystals and inspect them myself as each crystal is truly unique and one of a kind. It's like picking out a diamond, you're looking for cut, clarity and carat. For me designing and creating a product is about the process, always striving to continually perfect my craft. 
And because of this, I find I am very attached to most of my work because I know the story of how I bought each crystal and where it came from.

In the Studio

It's getting colder in the studio these days as my desks is right next to the window, which is looking mighty frosty outside. The wind chill in Toronto takes my breath away. I’m lucky I get lots of light, but it's a drawback in the winter months as it brings in the chilly air. I’ve hung my handmade dreamcatcher next to the window which catches lots of light and hopefully will bring spring weather soon.

Wanderlust: Santa Barbara and my Top 5

Last year I was lucky to get in some time to travel to the beautiful beaches of Santa Barbara. It's still cold and wintery in Toronto, so what better way to look back at my California trip than today.

Here are my top 5 things to do in Santa Barbara:

1. Butterfly Beach- this beach is away from the main downtown area so you can enjoy your time away from the crowd. Sometimes you might run into tourists with their cameras if you decide to photo shoot on this beach. While I was messing around with this billowy scarf, 2 Japanese tourists started taking my photo. Erm, kind of embarrassing.

2. Rent a Bike Cruiser- The best possible way to cover ground and see all of the beaches on foot would be to rent a bike cruiser for a few hours. Its fun and you get great exercise, especially if you can make it up the peak for the great view of the harbor. I recommend taking some sandwiches and snacks for the rest stops.

3. Pool hopping- Hands down, the Bacara resort has the most beautiful pool to dip your toes in. You won’t be disappointed with their picturesque pool especially when the sun starts to set.

1. High Tea at the Four Seasons Biltmore- A beautiful view of the ocean from the patio and sweeping fabric from the indoor courtyard remind me a Moroccan villa. I recommend the High Tea just so you spend a few hours soaking up the beauty of this place and the excellent service. You definitely need to spoil yourself here.

 5. Farmer’s market- Sunday’s are not complete without checking out the market for the colorful fruit and vegetables, picking up a bundle of Gerber flowers, and fresh herbs for homemade tea.

A few other places that didn’t quite make the cut, but are still worthy to check out:
• walking down State Street, the heart of the city
• the new public market for fresh and organic meals
• getting Mexican food at Playa Azul or Superica

For my most recent adventures and studio happenings, please follow me on instagram @loveatfirstblush.

Bracelet Stacks

Working on more leather bracelets in the studio. I love how the natural leather starts from a nude color and patinas over time to a tan brown. I love wearing mine stacked with other bracelets and rings.

In the Studio

In and around the studio these days at the Kensington market. I can't believe it's the start of a new year already, 2014 just flew by. My new year resolution is to stay organized. I started hanging up my tools on the corkboard and adding some green life to brighten up the studio and naturally clean the air. What are your new year goals for this year?