Material Archive

Lyndie Dourthe's Handmade Paper Flowers

See more here.

My Custom Wildhagen Hat

I was out shopping one day 2 weeks ago when I saw a girl wearing the most charming hat. Usually, when I approach another woman about an article of clothing she's wearing, she'll tell me she bought it in Paris two seasons ago or at an antique market – leaving me with no chance of finding one for myself. Luckily, this particular girl, named Jade, proudly told me that she had made the hat herself and directed me to Wildhagen.

Already familiar with the brand after buying several hats from the Canadian company over the years, I beelined over and ordered a custom "Miniçoise" from Cheri Wildhagen herself. I chose the hat material and grosgrain ribbon and presto, a week and a half later, I picked up a made-to-measure (for my larger than average melon) lovely chapeau! A fun experience that I would recommend to all.

My first homemade ice-cream sandwich

After the oreo cookie had some time to chill in the frigo – it was the perfect balance of soft and crisp so the result was really good!

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."

 

 

 

  

Pip-squeak Chapeau Etc.

 
 

Pip-squeak Chapeau is a clothing brand for moms and kids based out of Brooklyn. I've fallen in love with their clean and simple style and literally want their linen dresses in every colour. And look at the dolls – I know I went a little nuts posting tons of them but it's because I think they're so charming.

So, a question for friends with little girls, if I gave one of your daughters a doll like this, would I get laughed out of the room? – Are kids now even receptive to something so handmade after Dora? Personally, I think every little girl on the block should have one of these beauties and a pair of those puffy linen shorts shown at the top.