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.

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?

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

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. 

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.

In the studio

Working with chains and putting together some feather necklaces in the studio this week. One of the tasks I love the most is adding the final touches with our jewelry tags; it makes the pieces extra special. After they are attached to the feather pendant, they're are ready to go to their homes.

In the studio

It's been a blizzard outside, but I'm huddled up in the studio working on more stock of our Leather Butterfly fingerless gloves. I'll be attending the OOAK show this spring again and I dont want to run out of product this time around.

These gloves take the most time to cut and sew since they have tiniest little patterns. It's like sewing doll clothes.

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Jeweler's Work Bench

If you've been following us via Instagram, you'll probably have noticed some of my projects at my jewelers bench. I've been taking Casting classes at George Brown and learning how to make wax models, melting down sterling silver and casting them into rings and of course, feathered forms.

I've already learned how to cast a solid ring band through the lost wax process, but the most fun is making little wax models and inscribing tiny details. It's quite a process from carving the wax model, melting down the silver to form the metal, then polishing the finished piece to a bright shine. Melting the silver at 1000 degrees is probably the most terrifying task, but there's something quite satisfying about pulling out your finished product that you made with your very own hands.

In the Studio: Lace Cat Ears

It's been a busy few months as I've been busy working on some wholesale orders for the last little while. These cat ears were individually hand sewn onto each headband. Doing the same task repetitively put a strain on my hands, but that is the price of making handmade products.

So while making one product can take just a few minutes, making over a hundred pieces was another challenge on its own. Tasks that took easily a few seconds turned into a few days.

I am blogging less these days, but you can get our most recent updates on Instagram or Facebook.

Postcards from Los Angeles

There's nothing like a California sunset to breathe new inspiration into our next collection. The warmth of the city and the relaxed atmosphere has been greatly welcomed these past few days.

I love California beach culture- the grungy rock influence of Venice beach or the fun ambiance of Santa Monica pier.

Eating fish tacos, Thai iced tea on the beach, feeling the sand between our toes while the sun sets, or catching a midnight rickshaw ride with friends are these unforgettable moments.

Studio Space

My studio away from home is an old Elementary classroom shared with other creative designers located in the Mile End. I love the remaining chalkboards and lockers still in the hallway. The space reminds me of my fashion schooling at Ryerson. During deadlines we would be in the sewing lab all night, sometimes taking short naps underneath the cutting table. If we got caught sleeping, our profs would have shut us down.

I've been hard at work producing enough inventory for the One of a Kind show. Working, creating and designing in this studio space has proven to be very productive and inspiring.

This is where the magic happens..

New Year. New Plans.

As we look ahead into the new year, we have new plans, new goals and a new direction. I'm looking into getting a larger work space, and some new tools and equipment to help with production. That means that you'll be able to get your items faster to your door.

When I started this venture, I only had one design that I hoped would sell. I was working in my bachelor studio and fulfilling orders late at night. Now we are in several stores, have sold hundreds and we have yet to fulfill our new plans for 2013.

It's a new year. Hello 2013.

In the studio

The past few weeks, I've been making things and shipping out parcels. I can't wait until I'm back in Vancouver for a mini vacation. This is a glimpse of what my studio looks like these days.

In the studio: Feathers in the Making

Feather Earrings have been taking over my studio. This week I've been busy making a small batch run of feathers, hand gilding and cutting each of the strands to resemble feathers. They remind me of cookies baking in the oven.

Yes, I've been busy with the scissors.

I made this silver and black combination as a special request.

Behind the Scenes: The 'Love at First Blush' Photoshoot

Last week I was prepping for my photoshoot for the new Love at First Blush collection. I was running around in the rain, picking up some high heels and last minute supplies for my styling kit. I always bring a package of double-sided garment tape, clips and pins to cinch in waists, style the clothes on the model and prep for any wardrobe malfunctions. 

Even though it's not my first photoshoot, I always get anxious the day before. It was a great team and an amazing photoshoot. Here are a few behind the scene shots from Friday's shoot.

Items in my styling kit

A Trip to my Favorite Leather Store

A trip to my leather supplier is like walking into a bright large candy store. There's over 1000 square feet of printed, metallic, patent, and colored skins in every different animal you can think of. Sometimes it feels a little claustrophobic as the aisles are tight and I fear that a huge roll of cowhide will fall onto me.

I picked out a few different leather skins, but I was very tempted to buy more.

I've included the Selby's video of Mitch Alfus, one of New York's leather kings, as I thought it was fitting for this post. It's simply touching and wonderfully documented. If you have ten minutes to spare, you should watch it.

Behind the Scenes: The Ballerina Photo Shoot

I haven't been able to update frequently as I'd like to, as I've been caught in a whirlwind of custom orders, mini projects and assignments. Last week, we received a surprise rush order from a costume department filming a blockbuster movie in Germany. If we're lucky, we may see our cuffs in 3-D!

This weekend, I helped style a photo shoot inspired by the Ballerina in Motion images found here. I clicked a few behind the scenes shot of the magic in action. The model is a classically trained ballerina and she was extremely flexible, creating some really amazing poses. I'll post the final pictures when they are ready.

Behind the Scenes: Photo Shoot

Sunday was the big photo shoot day and I was happy that all my models showed up!

I was counting on a sunny day for natural light, but unfortunately the weather prediction was cloudy and overcast. This meant I had to rent lighting which would add another layer of complexity. I rented a few items that would create a simple set up in my apartment; a strobe light, an umbrella, a reflector, and a stand.

We had a ton of shoes and clothes to pull outfits from as each of the models brought some of their own. The outfits were an array of cosmetic pale pinks, silky greys and dusty nudes.

Each model had a unique style and look to the shoot, but it worked together cohesively. 
I'm now busy editing the photos for my presentation on Wednesday. I can't wait to show you the final pictures.