Latest Poppy

Latest that I photographed at least - there are a few other ones, either ready to be eternalized in picture or just about to be ready. The biggest problem I am faced with in general is finding a good spot with good enough lighting to snap pictures and make them look good, so I only get to photograph the ones that end up at Freedom. I really wish for a decent studio space that would offer enough room for work but also some spare square footage to make pretty and photograph finished pieces. Unfortunately, for now this will have to make do. Not complaining, just putting the thought of a suitable studio space out there...

Dot Dot Dash

Tonight from 7-10 PM
Where: Freedom Clothing Collective, 939 Bloor Street West, Toronto
Who: Leah Gold
What: Leah's latest drawings and prints

I hope to see you there
Refreshments will be served

Booties are Beauties

I happend to have found myself downtown the other day, not something that happens often as my life revolves around my home studio, antique markets and shows and my store.
So since I happened to be there, I decided to take a mini trip down the memory lane and visit the shoe store that often offered retail therapy sessions when I used to work in that neighbourhood.
I walked in with a firm decision not to buy anything and to just look. M-hmmm - of course that is what happened. First thing I noticed was a pair of bright blue half boots. Maybe I will just try them on, just to see how they feel and if they fit, I would get them in the spring when they come on sale.
Do I need to spell it out? They fit perfectly, but bummer, they didn't have my size, not in that store, but they did in another.... and so the story went, I could not imagine my fall fashions without them.
I handed over my credit card and the next day they arrived in the mail, perfect, gorgeous and bluer than summer skies.

They came with a personalized note from the store manager

The Carrillos and me

This post was originally written by Karen Carrillo and was published on our blog Freedom Reconstructed

Every now and again we should do things for ourselves! Or, our friends and families. 

My parents (Karen) needed a console for their living room and had a truly tough time finding something that matched or was the right size. We stumbled upon the beauty below and bing bang everyone was excited! My parents were thrilled to finally have a piece that fit and Jelena and I were excited to have a new project to work on together. It was narrow and long enough for the space and had the potential for greatness. 

Before shot 

Sorry guys, I forgot to take a decent before shot and these were the only ones I could scrounge up

 The original plan was to paint the whole thing turquoise but after my dad sanded off, with great gusto, the depressing finish it came with, a wonderful wooden base was revealed. My family is a huge lover of wood grains and it was going to be too painful for us to just cover it up again. So, we decided to stain it turquoise instead. Stain comes in a myriad of superbly brilliant colours and what better way to add colour to a space while preserving the natural quality and look of this precious wood?

super sanded with a turquoise stained top

I'm not usually afraid to try new things, but I was absolutely feeling the heat while I was about to stain this perfectly sanded raw wood for the first time. Staining is not for the faint of heart. In essence you cannot make a mistake, otherwise you'll be sanding and sanding for days and or having to cover up the botched job with opaque paint. Thankfully it took! I think it went well because it was an exceedingly humid day so the stain stayed wet longer and didn't leave any visible streaks. Phew!

Jelena working her tape-off magic

Jelena came to paint the base with a very soft white latex, which was actually two old paints mixed together (we never waste!). She began by tapping off all the edges and was done in one morning! Amazing!

super sanded and awaiting paint 

drying in the breeze

We spruced up and used two of the original knobs and found some jazzy combinations for the rest.
Pretty certain it's very happy in its new location, we are definitely happy with it!