What are you doin?

It was 1 year ago that I started this blog. Even though I don't have many viewers it's been a fun! As for resolutions, I never got the abs of steel that I wanted but heck I'm still hoping ;) Have a great, safe night everyone!

Best part(s) of my day!

Things that put a smile on my face today.

Gotta warn you, I used a lot of well deserved exclaimations, and I mean everyone!

1. My good friends came by for breakfast and brought a yummy homemade Bulgarian dish, Banitza! it's pure egg and ricotta heaven, and it's fairly healthy too.

photo by ©J.Dias

2. Scored three pairs of Happy Socks for $6 each at a sample sale that I came across while loitering, yay!

photo by ©J.Dias

3. Saw this awesome packaging for vintage whiskey cocktail glasses, so awesome!! I wanted to buy it but I held true to my 'shoot don't buy everything I love' policy.

 photo by ©J.Dias

4. Tried an amazing Almond croissant at Nadge, a great bakery in Toronto. The second best one I've EVER had!

 photo by ©J.Dias

5. Dropped into the Art Gallery of Toronto's bookstore and flipped through the Cecil Beaton: The New York Years book. Soooo good! especially loved this photograph. It was taken in the 1920's people!!! staggering!

 photo by ©J.Dias

6. Ended my evening with a good friend at Woodlot restaurant. I tried the gratin potatoes and Jerusalem artichokes for apps, and for the main - best pork chop ever! Wow! Sorry don't have a pic for this one, I was too busy chowing down.

When I look back, WOW! a great day was had!

Smile for the Camera!

photo by ©J.Dias

For some reason I've ended up in a bunch of thrift stores this past week. Oh, I know maybe it's because I'm broke ass after Christmas, LOL! Na, not really, I've actually been pretty good with managing my funds this holiday season.

Recently I discovered that I don't need to spend money to be around the things I love, I know Hallelujah!!! Capturing them on camera is a great way to keep them around! I'm pretty sure it won't work on everything shiny thing that catches my Magpie eyes, but at least I'll save $$$, and best of all I won't end up on Hoarders.

I'm not sure why this pretty lady (see above) caught my eye, probably the vibrant colours.

Okay truth be told I didn't make it out of Value Village without spending, I couldn't resist a set of depression glass salad bowls. I'll post a pic of them soon.

Fair Isle

Must have a Fair Isle vest, preferably with a round scoop neck.

image via Make The Man clothing

image found via here

I really like the colour of this Ralph Lauren

image found via here

Defining Men.

Guys think about what it means to be 'Gentlemen'. Yes men too can have grace, style, and poise. You don't have to look much further than the effortless and refined Mr. Gary Cooper, my sartorial icon!

Today

I'll leave the shopping to the rest of the city. Maybe I'll just make myself a cup of tea, get cosy and think about art....

Merry Christmas!

©photo by J.Dias

Had a little time before meeting up with friends so I decided to spend it at the thrift store.

Got a bag of vintage ornaments and tinsel tree for $1 and change!!!

This sweet Santa was my fav!

So what are you wishing for this Christmas? I love gift giving but as I've gotten older I don't really think about what I want. That is till I saw this yesterday...

image via Klein Reid

Although I'm not a huge fan of gem inspired accessories I love this piece.

There are a few other things from Klien Reid that I love as well, like their Prime collection. The pieces are hand painted and come perched on a hand turned walnut base. I especially LOVE the striped version (shown below).

image via Klein Reid

So come on Santa!!! work yer magic!!!

Meditation.

 Azad Nanakeli, Destnuej/Purification, 2011

I liked this piece when I saw it at the Venice Biennale this past summer. The projection was larger than life but still felt quite intimate.

Surface meditation.

photo by ©J. Dias

While waiting for the subway to arrive at Union Station today I got caught up in all the beautiful patterns and textures on the walls. They are renovating the platform but I kinda like it the way it is.

Goin' GREEN 1949 style BITCH!!!

found via La Boheme blog

Love that Ice Cube is rappin' Eames, yes!!!

Festive Festivus

While everyone at my work get's into the festive spirit by decorating their office spaces with traditional holiday cheer, my friend Anne and I opt to honour the season with a Festivus ritual. First made popular on an episode of Seinfeld, Festivus is a celebration of a holiday season without the pressure and commercialism that usually ensues. Airing of Grievances and Feats of Strength are a few of the rituals that are commonly associated with Festivus. The tree or 'Festivis pole' is a pole wrapped in aluminum foil (for all you decor and design folks you can't get anymore minimal than that ;) So for those of you that are already a bit stressed over the holidays, release yourself with a little Festivus for the rest of us.

... but just so you don't take me for a Grinch, here a little magic I saw on my way home tonight.

photos by ©J. Dias

Winter Stout.

images via Muskoka Brewery site

Picked up a bottle of Muskoka Breweries' Winter Beard Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout. I don't really like flavoured beers, especially sweet ones, but the packaging on the bottle enticed me. I haven't been drawn to woodcut style illustration in a quite a while but I really like the use of it here. Maybe it's because of my love for referencing Canadiana in design. Can't wait to try this stout, hmmm let's see... what kinda food should I pair it with?

Vanitas

From January 2012 Vanity Fair via Socialite life

LOVE the Jan 2012 issue of Vanity Fair!

The photos of GaGa by Leibovitz are awesome, the two seen above are my absolute fav.

Also featured in the issue is an editorial on the romance between Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. The photographs in the feature are something special. I love that early period, she used to have such a beautiful smile and an almost Grace Kelly-like quality.

Found on Vanity Fair

Wrap it up!

photo by ©J. Dias

When I look at magazines or blogs that feature really beautiful things, I often think "who lives like that??" and "who has the time???" or "geez, I wish that was my glamourous life".  Still I think it's VERY important to be inspired and take the time to apply it to one's own life. At Christmas time I make time to get crafty and creative with my wrapping. Shown above are some things I've done over the years. Although I might not work in my dream job as artistic director of J. Crew, or have the most awesome clothing or furniture, I can still create. See, design is still a democratic venture.

Christmas Critters.

photo by ©J. Dias

Your never to old for toys. I love my taking out my Christmas Dunnys from Kid Robot.

Oh Christmas Tree.

I've Seen and Like my Christmas tree!

      

©photos by J. Dias

Green

image via West Elm

So many nice things at West Elm but these green jars captured my attention the most. It's these hues that make them so interesting.

Converging on Wheat.

A few weeks ago I posted my gilt love/obsession with vintage Italian wheat sheaf tables. Around that time I learned that the wheat sheaf was a personal emblem for Coco Chanel (as seen in her 31 Rue Cambon apartment. (seen below)

Image found via I am a Domestic Goddess, a GREAT blog post!

Then the other day I read this truly AWESOME post on Habitually Chic about YSL and noticed that he too had a similar table in his Rue de Babylone duplex on the Left Bank (seen below)

Image first seen via the terrific blog Habitually Chic

So I started researching more about the table but didn't have to look too far before I found this great post on  I Am A Domestic Goddess which gives a lot of good information. 

So now what??? Coco Chanel and Mr. Laurent had wheat on the brain.

This is one carb I just gotta have!

Breakfast Interuppted!

Awesome Bruton stroube studios video found via Bubbles On My Planet

The material based quality of this video is simply sublime!

Thread.

I came across Amanda McCavour's work when I participated in the Toronto Outdoor Exhibition a few years ago. At that time she was doing these beautiful hands made out of thread, the best thing I'd seen at that show. Besides the obvious beauty of these works there is something truly genuine about her field of inquiry. Trends come and ago, a few years ago it was self levelling glossy surfaces, today it's pyramids, gem graphics and outsider style loose hand drawn works on paper. So it's great to see an artist that is making contemporary work that is truly individual and personal.

found via The Jealous Curator

Back to the future: Mid-Century that is!

Ever since my little West German pottery obsession I seem to have rekindled my love of mid century design. I thought my little obsession would fade, but alas much time has passed and I've still got Warren Platner on radar.

via Dwell

via L'Esprit Nouveau

via Apartment Therapy

via The Brick House

Via La Dolce Vita

via Dwell

Caution: Illustrator at work

My talented friend Jeffrey Flores' work using the Sketch Club app on the IPad. A really neat feature that allows you to record the sketching process.

Hangin' with my homies.

images found on http://awesomepeoplehangingouttogether.tumblr.com/

Something so wonderful about these images. Audrey walking with Givenchy, Bacon and Burroughs, Madonna and Basquiat, WOW. Major icons but still just people hangin out! To me this this is the art of photography at it's best!