New move, New Studio

My last event was at the end of March and after barely recovering from that show, I had to pack all of my life’s belongings.

Yes, cue the excitement here! With only 3 days to go, I packed all of my possessions from my downtown apartment, as well as my work studio at the WhiteHouse in Kensington Market (lovely creative and friendly bunch of people here) to the east side.

Welcome to Studio 501.  This is where the magic happens!

Back to School

A few months ago, I decided to go back to school to learn some new skills. I signed myself up to Gem Setting Class to further develop my jewellery line. I’m someone who needs to be hands on with learning. Reading a textbook and having demonstrations are helpful, but the real test is when you apply those skills. I find myself being too quick with the processes and trying to get things done quickly, but the real art of gem setting (and metalsmithing), seems to be in taking your time; slow and with patient intention. In this case, it's not the bunny that wins the race, it's the slow moving turtle.

It’s almost counter intuitive for me to be doing things with such patience, but it’s such a welcoming way to work. Turning off my hyper brain to tell myself to slow down. Filing and sanding down sterling silver to smooth the edges with repetitious motion is pretty time consuming, but also meditative and hypnotizing.

On the third class, as we were making gypsy settings, (which are gems that are set flush inside the metal), I realize you need to be quite strong to move and push even micro millimeters of metal to firmly hold the gems. At the end of class, my right arm was pretty sore and it felt like I had been doing one-arm push-ups all day.

Embarking on a new path or learning something new is always a bit nerve racking. Will I do it right? Will I fail? Sometimes just taking that step in expanding yourself is just what you need.

via pinterest

Reflections and Insights from 2015

So 2015 just flew by.  It was a year full of saying Yes!, traveling to Crafts shows large and small and learning some big lessons along the way. I didn't accomplish all of the things I wanted, but here is what I took away from the past year:

1. I challenged myself.  It was our biggest year yet, and I signed up to 2 big Crafts at the end of the year.  Holiday season is nuts, and I thought I was prepared but I wasn't ready for the response. We ran out of inventory in our Vancouver show and I had to build up stock in 2 weeks for our next show. A big feat since all of our products are handmade here in Toronto.  A lot of late nights and lattes in November were had. It was exhausting but exhilarating and I'm definitely my happiest when I can tell my story and see the pieces come to life on my customers. (Thank you dearly for continuing to support me!).

2. Learned how to Build a Booth.  Dreaming up the perfect booth design for months and finally executing it paints a different story. Working under a budget and time constraints to construct a beautiful storefront for just a few days, then having to take it down, is sooo much easier said than done. Try setting up in 6 hours at 4 in the morning! A lot of lessons to be learned here but we managed to win Honorable Mention for Best Booth Design at the One of a Kind Show 2015.

3. Pivoting. My biggest lesson in 2015 is learning that the 'tried and tested' may not work the next year. Everything changes quickly, different platforms to social media, you name it, you have to  constantly adapt every year. Each year presents different challenges and you can't rest on what's worked in the past. It's about experimenting with the new and testing what may or may not work well for your brand. It's been a bit sad to see Canadian fashion brands go out of business in recent years, and perhaps they are not nimble enough to adapt to what is clearly a shifting market.  

4. Be Present. Living in a big city, especially one like Toronto, and having a business that runs online, it's hard to unplug and relax. It was nice to escape to Hawaii in July for some down time. The beautiful beaches, and gorgeous sunsets are amazing visuals and reminders to just be present in the moment.

5. Vision. I had a big to-do list in 2015 and not everything was completed. As a busy entrepreneur there are so many tasks to complete that it can be quite overwhelming. It's hard to take time out to plan for the bigger picture but it's also important to grow and evolve. This year I'm allowing myself to map out my path and to not feel guilty about taking time out. As I come into my 6th year of business, (it's been 5 years since I quit my day job!) I've set some new goals and taken a new direction of where this brand will go. I'll be going back to school this semester and I hopefully will be sharing more of what I'll be learning here.

xoxo,

Sabrina

California Sun

Playing on Butterfly Beach with this fringed cape I bought in Las Vegas. I styled them with my favorite turquoise feather earrings from my online shop.  It felt very Bohemian with feather earrings and flowers in our hair.

The drive through Malibu up to Santa Barbara was beautiful and picturesque. Every beach has a different vibe, a different feeling.

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.

Model for a Day

I took a day off to help a friend model some pieces from her collection. A full day was spent running up to the roof, back down into the foyer, in front of stairwells and doors scouting for the best back drops. It was fun to be a model for day. We styled and shot over 30 dresses over the course of 6 hours.

Collaborating with another designer and making creative serendipity are two of my greatest passions.

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.

2012 in Review

new website, new postcards

 blog collaborations with MyEdit & SparklinFootsteps

Italy

New York City

photographer Kara Lodder

A look back at 2012; It was a year full of blog collaborations, traveling to new design shows, wandering to new cities, and building our own website. I even collaborated on some wedding designs, got some press, and sent some pieces to a movie production, which was quite exciting.

Thank you for reading my blog and supporting our brand. This venture couldn't have happened without the continual support of our friends and fans. Every time I read a comment about how happy you are with the pieces, I am deeply touched.

Wishing you an amazing 2013 and to doing our best in each moment.

♥ Sabrina

Vancouver Granville Island

My Labour Day weekend was spent in my hometown of Vancouver to celebrate a friend's wedding. It was a short trip but I managed to visit my favorite spots, Granville Island and the Steveston Pier. I spent most of my time on Granville Island in the colorful farmer's market, but it's also home to a community of craft studios and art galleries.

Nothing beats a sunny day on the marina with fantastic views of the sea and mountains, or just wandering the farmer's market.

That Little Black Dress

I'm guilty of owning too much black in my closet. It's my go-to color when I can't decide what to wear. Or if I've raided my closet and declared there's "nothing to wear."

Having a black dress has been my saving grace. I can't exactly buy a new wardrobe for all of those weddings coming up in the summer, so re-accessorizing and re-heeling can alter the whole look.

I'm thinking of wearing this outfit to an upcoming wedding. I've paired this dress with teal satin heels and a statement cuff.

Black Dress ABS,  Peacock Cuff Love at First Blush, Shoes Badgley Mischka

*Photos by me and A. 

Secret Gardens and Wedding Season

Two years ago, I was at this beautiful garden at Hycroft Manor in Vancouver for my cousin's wedding. It’s the kind of Secret Garden you picture while reading the book with the same name. This year, I'm going back to Vancouver for my friend's wedding at the Queen Elizabeth Park, which is equally beautiful and picturesque.

BCBG dress, Vintage clutch

The Gardens at Hycroft Manor

Vogue editorial worthy, I know..

 
While I strive to capture moments with the camera, it's these special chapters in life that cannot be truly captured, only experienced. I know, I'm getting sentimental.

Let’s hope there’s a photobooth!

Weekends in Montreal

A glimpse of the past weekend around Jean Talon market. I'm hopelessly addicted to photographing food and flowers everywhere I go. It's hard to resist the sights and smells around the market.

This one is called the Mystery Macaroon.

Montreal tradition: maple sugar taffy on ice

Above the Clouds

While the rest of the world is gearing for spring, we're still in the middle of snow flurries. I was trying to take some artsy photos of the snowfall but my fingers were turning purple and I had to keep the camera from getting wet. It seemed like a good idea at the time.

I leave you with a photo I took of the Rocky Mountains while enroute to Vancouver a few months ago. Soft bokeh effect created by the tiny icicles collecting on the window plane. Sometimes looking at things not fashion related can be heaps more inspirational.

the Rockies

Heritage

Perhaps its the lack of Asian role models in mainstream culture or the fact that I was born Canadian that has attributed to the disconnect of my Asian heritage. Traveling to Hong Kong and Southeast Asia last year has proven otherwise...