Susannah's shop, The Curious Vitrine, is an "emporium of handmade art, curios & vintage collections". She's having a sale until June 9, so go check it out! As a fan of tone-on-tone, this cream crocheted cuff is my favourite item: it's "embellished with distressed vintage lace that has been hand-dyed with rosehip and hibiscus tea, and scattered with irridescent sequins". Charming! 

In other accessorizing news, I recently purchased this bow necklace from local artist Sarah Mulder, and today I stumbled upon an impressive array of hair tutorials. And in a final bit of foodness, if you're in Vancouver, go here for burritos post-haste! 

Susannah and I (also known as mutual hat-enablers) went to the antique fair on Sunday.  Out of the whole skating rink, this was the one item that needed to come home with me: a fantastical, freaky, yet totally-awesome pink feathered hat from the 60s - in pristine condition.

Over the last several years, I've thought from time to time about how, at least once in my life, I would like to have hair the colour of candy floss.  But... think of the maintenance; the commitment; the unprofessionalism.  And while I rarely go for novelty purchases - functionality is just too important to me - this seems like both a happy compromise, as well as instant mood enhancer. 

(The seller noted: "I was sure this would be bought by a drag queen."

Earlier in the summer, I found that elusive and coveted thing that is the perfect Anthropologie sale item.  I picked up this skirt for $30, knowing that it would immediately go into high rotation in the wardrobe.  As someone who has always struggled with what to wear in warmer months, I've finally nailed down summer dressing: comfortable flats, a lightweight skirt, bare legs, a colourful patterned handbag, and a comfortable sleeveless or short-sleeve top.  This is not exactly a hard code to crack, yet it took me until 2012 to get there.

This skirt has a pleated lace overlay (4 pleats in the front and  4 in the back), a white slip underneath, an elasticized waistband, and pockets.  It seemed like an easy enough style to replicate.

Here's my first attempt (why am I striking an embarrasing pose?  I don't know).  There's a contrasting trim at the bottom, and it's just one layer of pleated fabric.  No pockets, and no curvature to the front and back pieces (they started out life as large rectangular pieces).  I'm not entirely satisfied with how my elastic waistband turned out (and those two words sound so bad, even though I do think there can be a time and a place for elasticized waistbands on skirts).  And because I used quilting cotton, it's slightly heavier and bulkier and means that I will be committed to ironing this skirt with a frequency that does not normally apply to me and skirts and my iron.  I may do a tutorial next time; it really is an easy skirt to make and shouldn't take 3 weeks (yet somehow I managed to stretch out the sewing on this one; I am nothing if not slow). 

What's up next?  Perhaps it's time to get back on the sewing-with-knits train..  (And get over my fear of necklines on knits.  Here is a very cute way to go about finishing a neckline.)