Gifted

I am a bit behind on my Google reader, so you may all already be all over this new online mag, but I just discovered Gifted this evening and I love it!  It is published by Ez, the creative genius behind Creature Comforts blog.  There are so many awesome ideas, free printables, and fabulous gift ideas for just about everybody.  But the DIY's are of course my fav, and I grabbed a few screen captures.  Not that I had to - seems Ez is also a marketing genius.  She recruited A-list bloggers to contribute, which of course means mentions and buy-ins from the most read blogs out there.  And I mean this in the most admiring way possible - the stuff from these gals is great, and makes the mag worth reading as well, and the idea is genius.  She also has several cute buttons you can put on your blog to help spread the love, and a whole bunch of blog-ready images on the Gifted flickr page - where you can of course also upload your own take on any of the ideas in the magazine!  I love all of this almost as much as the magazine itself!  Bravo Ez!

Jr. Conductor

This video made the rounds at my work today (the Toronto Symphony Orchestra) and I enjoyed it so much I just had to share!

It is impressive just how well he knows the music - he has clearly heard this quite a few times before! - and I would hazard a guess that at least one of his parents is a conductor, he has so many of the perfect mannerisms.  But gosh - that JOY is so fantastic!  I have heard this piece sooooo many times and watching him 'live' it was like hearing it for the first time!

It also made me wonder... how many conductors have to deal with a REALLY itchy nose during their performance?  Respect!  :)

Lest We Forget

They say only 1 in 10 Canadians is wearing a poppy, which makes me feel so sad.  When I saw this on The English Muffin Blog, I just had to re-post.  Thanks for the image Bess. Excerpt from For The Fallen by Laurence Binyon.

Fortune Jewels

I have been trying to put my finger on what it is about this style of jewelry that I am so digging right now.  It reminds me of the Laura Lombadi stuff I love, or even the Spinthread designs, or Kate Miss's stuff.  Obviously I seem to be drawn to gold - weathered, brassy gold - and angular lines.  Maybe it is the juxtaposition of hard and soft? Dainty vs industrial,  pretty vs minimal, elegant vs edgy?  Who knows.  I just admire... and sometimes acquire.  These pieces are by New York-based designer Kim Dulaney, and are quite affordable!

 Check out her cool blog for more designs.  Discovered on Coco + Kelly.  Curious - do you like this style?

White, Bright Nursery

When I first started thinking about designing a nursery, I poured through books, magazines, and especially the internet looking for inspiration.  Even though my nursery-planning days are behind me, I am still kind of addicted to looking at them.  It's funny how they start to kind of resemble each other after a while.  Not so with this lovely nursery by Toronto bloggers Aubrey and Lindsay!  The room seems so light and fresh without being precious, and I love pretty much everything in it.  The print, the little owl in the crib, the CRIB, the little bird, the white walls, the Sharon Montrose photos... ok, you get it.  Even better, go see their blog for the before and after of the room and prepare to be blown away!

The Ballet Project

I just LOVE these photos by Dane Shitagi.  He combines his love of dance, fashion, and the urban landscape in arresting ways.  Having never danced in his life, he was inexplicable drawn to ballet dancers, with their amazing strength, physicality and emotion.  His Ballet Project now has 82,000 followers on Facebook.  I love the fluid, soft but incredibly powerful dancers in such unexpected locations.  For a great interview with Dane (and where I got most of this information) there is a great article here.

 Thanks for Kate of For me, For You for the images.

Ubabub

 I can't decide if I love the prints from Ubabub, or if it's just the awesome photos styling and adorable kids.  No, you're right, it's both.  Super cute, in a super modern way.

November

Don't mean to get all gloomy on you, but this is pretty much how November makes me feel...
"November has tied me
To an old dead tree
Get word to April
To rescue me..." (Tom Waits)

The Hubster cranks this tune without fail every November 1st - today was no exception. :)  I used to hate it, but now the sound of that saw at the beginning makes me smile.

We have a soft spot for Tom in our house - the following was the 'first dance' song at our wedding, and I include it here in case you think Tom is nothing but weird, gloomy, wackadoodle music (which 80% of it is...).  This one is the perfect wedding dance song - simple, heartfelt, and blessedly short - oh, and completely true!  xo