Material Archive

Shopping in Old Montreal

Bought some lovely things in Old Montreal. Particular stores to note:

Cahier d' Exercices for a great selection of Dries Van Noten, Celine and Rick Owens

Reborn for Natalia Brilli, Acne

Quai 417 for Antoni Alison, L.G.B. (& really lovely sales staff)

Ssense for Marni, Thakoon, IRO, Lanvin - plus many more

A Table for amazing porcelain dishes

 


 

Lastly, even though they broke my heart by being closed for summer holidays the exact weekend I was there, I would still recommend paying these Parisienne transplants a visit.

Rosenstein is right next door to Holt Renfrew and has a really great selection of hard to find Louboutin styles, Jimmy Choo and Repetto.

I took a pottery class

I post about ceramic artists I admire all the time on this blog, so it's likely no surprise that I finally decided to take a class in it myself!

Well, as would be expected, I loved it and found it to be much harder than I anticipcated. If you ever go to the pre-made pottery shops to paint existing pieces, that is not a real indicator of how much work goes into making something from start to finish. I truly have a whole new level of appreciation for the craft and definitely am more interested in it than ever. It was deeply gratifying to work with my hands in a new way and to make something with no input from anyone else.

The class I took was at Clay Design on Harbord. Over a period of several weeks, I learned how to wedge clay, make a number of pinch pots, dishes and bowls, and of course throw on the wheel, as well as tool and glaze.

Above are some examples of pieces I made. The first photo is of a nubby pot and a series of bowls drying upside down on molds and the second is a collection of items after they've been fired and glazed.

The black stripe bowl was one I was ready to pitch in the garbage intially because I warped it so badly on the wheel. But after glazing, it's easily one of my favourites. Glad I didn't give up on 'im! ;)

Below is a dark, moody plate I went to town on with little impressions and scratches. 

Ceramic tile never looked so cool

Designed by Yiğit Özer and Kütahya Seramik

A visit to Mjölk

 

Yesterday, after wrapping a TV shoot in the Junction, I luckily came across Mjölk – a store I've been keen to see since it opened. I arrived just as it closed for the day but the manager Lauren was kind enough to let me sneak in and take a quick look around and snag a great bag by Naoto Fuksawa.

With a laser precision curation style, Mjölk carries lovely furniture and craft products from Scandinavia and Japan. In their own words, owners, John Baker & Julie Daoust talk about their vision for the store:

"We specialize in Scandinavia because the north enthralls us. Soft, quiet snowy forests and streets in the winter. Glittery, blinding sunlight on colourful buildings during the summer. Fika (coffee break) at the Konditori, with a kaffe and Napoleon pastry in hand. Trolling the Helsinki open-air markets for treasures. Aalto building tours. S.O.S. (Smör Ost och Sill = butter, cheese and herring). Swedish style. Grass roofs. Hot dog streetside snacks. And of course, the Arctic. These are a few of our favourite things."

 

 

 

  

Angeline Tetrault's Hidden Animal Teacup

This post it is for Jaime, who was taken with the new teacups I bought for @itbitme at the Drake General Store.

I'm on a never-ending mission to find teacups large enough to hold the massive amount of tea @itbitme likes to drink in one serving. These hold a lot and are charming to boot.

Elephant Ceramics

 

 

If you read this blog with any regularity, you already know I am obsessed with ceramics. Design Sponge featured Elephant Ceramics this past week and I am smitten. The simple shapes, transparent washes and textured surfaces are so restrained and perfect.

Maria Kristofersson's Ceramic Art

I want every piece. I love the illustrative quality to all the items – as though they are drawings of dishes made real.

See more here.

Ai Weiwei's 100 Million Ceramic Sunflower Seeds at the Tate

 

Amazing.

Julie Moon

I've amassed a pretty respectable collection of Julie's ceramic flower brooches – I love them. You can buy them at Magic Pony and you can see more her other work here.

Paola Navone for Reichenbach

I went to the AGO today to see the Tutankhamen exhibit and afterwards saw these marvelous plates in their giftshop. Italian designer Paola Navone created the "Taste" collection for Reichenbach. They remind me of a more precise version of Astier de Villatte's dishware and as a set look really smart together. Since I live so close to the AGO, this could be a problem... ;)

Feeling a Whole Lotta Love for Love of Mine Boutique

My friend Adam and his lovely wife Anna recently opened a new home and fashion accessories store called Love of Mine Boutique and Friday night was their official opening party. Located on Queen west, nestled between the likes of Magic Pony and Buckler, the store is a wonderful addition to the neighborhood and really raises the area's level of sophistication. Carrying lines like Jonathan Adler, John Derian, Rebecca Minkoff, Canopy New York, Green Beads, Swallow, Heather Benjamin, Noir, Alexis Bittar, Pade Vavra, St. Kilda, Mercedes Salazar, amongst others – the store has something beautiful for every discerning eye.


I left at the end of the party with a soft wool throw for the chesterfield!

Fanny Laugier Ceramics

I love the look of these ceramic pieces – don't they look like those disposable fast food take-away paper cartons for fries? See more here.

Not your granny's porcelain

By U.K. artist Barnaby Barford
Found here.

Ceramic Pig Speakers by I.D.E.A.

Look who has finally branched out from his piggy bank job. Sadly, this cutie is currently only available in Japan from I.D.E.A.

Gesine Hackenburg Ceramic Necklaces

 






 

I flipped when I first saw this! Gesine Hackenburg's wearable art is so beautiful. I'd like a strand long enough to drape around the house like a garland.
 
 

Helen Beard Ceramics

See more here.

Claire Hecquet-Chaut Ceramic Jewelry

Aren't these lovely? Handmade ceramic jewelry by French designer Claire Hecquet-Chaut. Her collection is sold at Astier de Villatte and some online Japanese retailers – but I haven't found them anywhere that I can access them yet. If you see them somewhere, please let me know!

Astier de Villatte

 
While looking at PatchNYC's blog recently, I was reminded of one of my favourite tableware brands – Astier de Villatte. Designed by Benoît Astier de Villatte and Ivan Pericoli, the house specializes in handmade black terracotta clay with a milky glaze finish which is created with an old technique they revived called estampage. This method leaves each piece with deliberate little hiccups and imperfections that make each item one of kind. If you're not fortunate enough to visit their storefront in Paris, which was once home to Napoleon's silversmith, you can check out their very cool website which is unlike any other porcelain and earthenware company I have ever seen.

Caroline Slotte Ceramic Art

For the life of me I can't figure out how she broke this plate apart so strategically – it's remarkable!

Teacup Saucers Reborn

I know a certain butterfly obsessed mom-to-be that might like these ceramic teacup saucers from Lightly.

Loving these ceramic thingama-what-its or better know as "accents"

Le Petit Atelier de Paris is a charming little shop in, you guessed it, Paris! The little bunnie & owl kill me – so cute.

Robert Archard Ceramic Biscuit Boxes

 

Peek Frean inspired ceramic keepsake boxes by Robert Archard. Typical me, I want the pink one! Buy them here.

Some of my favourite items from Etsy this week:

Totes from LittleGlowingLights

 

Liberty prints from TheTopDrawer

 

Porcelain Mixed Nuts from KGrandey

Samantha Robinson Ceramics