Allons à Montréal!

Hello friends! We're headed out to Montreal for an extra extended long weekend! This weekend is a three-day weekend for those of us in Canada (and in the U.S., too!), and both I and my beau are taking a couple extra days off. It's much needed after the truly crazy past few weeks that we've had!

Montreal is one of my very favorite cities, and we head down there every few months since we're lucky enough to live just a couple of hours away. I'll be back next week with new jewelry (at long last!) and a brand new blog column which I'm so excited to debut!

Alfie.

I'd like to introduce you to the newest member of our household, Alfie.

He is probably the most prolific aloe plant I've ever met in my life, and he came to live with us by way of our generous neighbor, Anita.

Alfie quickly outgrew his original digs, so I decided to spread the Alfie love around.

Which didn't come without its own challenges--some potting soil managed to escape the craft paper barrier I laid down...

And now there are five Alfies (Alfi?)...ready for new, loving homes. All of this pales in comparison to these little babies:

Which came from my the garden my beau planted just around the corner (at our local community garden). I'm pretty impressed with him.

Currently Coveting: Laura Amiss' Art

A little Friday afternoon eye candy for you. I'm completely in love with Laura Amiss' art. Is it any wonder--with the teapots, tea cups and the city scapes? So sweet & lovely.

Images all from Laura's Etsy Shop.

Music Monday: Lal Meri's 'Dreams of 18'

I discovered Lal Meri in a way that can only be described as 'through the wonders of globalization and the interwebs'. I did my master's degree in the UK and while slogging through my coursework and master's thesis, there were times where I desperately needed inspiration and a taste of home to make it through. Enter KCRW, an amazing public radio station out of Santa Monica, California, which has a show called Morning Becomes Eclectic. I would go weeks on end listening Morning Becomes Eclectic without fail every day, and it has introduced me to some truly amazing music, including Lal Meri. This group has achieved the perfect blend of downtempo beats and east Indian sounds, and their music is truly unique and addicting. Enjoy!

In The Studio: Idle Hands Sneak Peek

Just a brief little sneak peek of some new pieces we'll have available at Idle Hands tomorrow! Idle Hands is a truly fantastic indie craft show featuring 40+ seriously talented designers, artisans and bakers. It's seriously one of the best-curated craft shows in Ottawa and I'm insanely proud to be a part of it.

Idle Hands: 10am-5pm at St. Lukes in Ottawa's Chinatown (760 Somerset Street West).

Currently Coveting: Pigeon Toe Ceramics

It's official: I'm in love. I recently stumbled across Pigeon Toe's Spring/Summer 2011 collection and I'm completely smitten.

The clean lines...the pops of color...those geometric drawer pulls!?

I absolutely love the sweet detail on lid of that sugar jar.

Oh my. Where's my wallet!?