Category Archives: Friday I’m in Love

Friday I’m in Love: Instant Photos

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When I was a kid, my grandparents gave me a beautiful pink and grey Polaroid Cool Cam. I loved it. I was also terrified of using it, because at that age I couldn’t really afford the film…so it became a very precious commodity to be rationed and used, well, very infrequently.

But I loved the immediate gratification of instant photography, which I think still has an edge over digital photos…because with an instant photograph, not only is it instant (!), it’s instantly tangible.

So….this week’s Friday I’m in Love is dedicated to the instant photo.

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Once upon a time, I was the proud owner of one of these (somewhat cumbersome) Polaroid Cool Cams…truth be told…it was kind of huge.

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Which is why I’m loving the 21st century’s answer to instant cameras: the Instax Mini by Fujifilm (there are non-mini versions, too…but I like the idea of “mini”). This cute little camera remains small and portable (unlike some of its early predecessors…see above), and ups the cute factor by taking adorable credit card sized photos – instantly!

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Gratuitous beerfest photo taken by Norbert Hohmann at this years’ Oktoberfest in Munich:

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Over at Smile and Wave, Rachel Denbow has an ever changing wall of clipboards that she tries to update monthly…I caught the following photo on one of her guest posts on Under the Sycamore where…you guessed it…she’s ingeniously incorporated mini instax photos into her collage of clippings. Love the shot in the top left corner, where she’s got her instax face on top of someone else’s body.

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If you love the look, but don’t have an instant camera, nor the inclination to buy film…then you need to get Maxmilian Jaenicke (a.k.a. rawimage)’s polaroid generator Photoshop actions…then all your digital photos can at least look like instant photos. Grab version one, or his most recent version two on Deviant Art.

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One last instax mini photo entitled Red Slide, by Andreina Schoeberlein:

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Friday I’m in Love

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As a woman, I feel absolutely no need to excuse this week’s list of loves…shoes, shoes, shoes. As a slightly non-traditional woman, however, I might need to excuse the absence of any form of heel in the following list – I’m not much of a heel person (which is surprising, really, considering how short I am).

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I came across these beauties yesterday, and almost ordered a pair immediately….maybe it’s because my current slippers are in bad shape, or because I think the pattern will make me look taller….who knows. I like ’em. Made by Gypsy05, the high Gypsyz slipper-boot comes in a number of patterns, colours, and heights…Oh, and in case my boyfriend is reading: these would be lovely to pull on Christmas morning (I wear a size 6).

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There’s just something about spirocreations‘ handmade footwear in Gold Deer leather that always leaves me pining. Which is odd, because yellow usually isn’t my colour (but apparently this yellow is). This time I’m craving after their soft leather mukluks. I can imagine myself all snug and warm, running through powder white snow in these beautiful boots…and feel a distinct need to curse Montreal’s slushy winters which would destroy them.

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Darlingtonia is another maker of beautiful handcrafted footwear that leaves me wobbly in the knees. Like these Red and Brown Morning Star Moccasins with a gorgeous touch of turquoise on the inside. They’re everything a girl could ever want in a pair of pretty, casual and comfortable shoes. Check out more of Darlingtonia’s soft-soled moccasins in her shop.

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A little less girly, but equally casual, are Toms Shoes… Not only do I dig the bright touches of orange on their Poe slip-on, but I love the way the patterned fabric has been pieced together, so that it’s not all oriented in the same direction. What’s even better: for every pair of Toms Shoes sold, the company will give a new pair of shoes to a child in need.

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And no list would be complete (at least for me) without a pair of sneakers…and this particular pair fills another void in my list: they’re red (try as I might, I’ve yet to find a pair of really great red shoes). So maybe these Red, Silver and White KangaROOS will do the trick by merging two shoe loves together.

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Friday I’m in Love

Friday I'm in Love 6 Comments

I’ve been living in what’s supposed to be a temporary apartment for over 4 months now…Because there’s an expectation (or hope) that I’ll be moving again soon, non-essentials were left packed. That means I have no knick-knacks or mementos out, and my walls are bare.

As I look at the very light peachy colour of my apartments’ walls, I yearn for a time when I’ll be able to paint my own colour scheme, and decorate. This weeks’ picks for Friday I’m in Love are some of the items I’d love to put on my future apartments’ walls.

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Mixed media art always pulls me in, somehow…I love the combination of everyday ephemera, like scraps of newspaper or handwritten notes, with unexpected doodles, paintings or illustrations. This Mini Bluebird print by Dolan Geiman is the perfect example (and as if to emphasize its mixed media-ness, it’s printed on a block of poplar wood). See more of Dolan’s work on his website, or head over to his Etsy shop to see what’s for sale.

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I’m a huge Jane Austen fan….both in print and in BBC productions (!). When I saw this print of an original oil painting of just Austen Dresses (and no bias for any one story), I could easily imagine it adorning the wall of a little nook, with a wingback armchair and reading light…I can dream. See Janet Hill Studio for more lovely paintings of everyday scenes, or stop by her Etsy shop to get your own reading nook print.

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This combination of pink, balloons, bunting, and sweet treats by local Montrealer Eva Juliet won me over immediately. Her La Vie est Belle art print set has a wonderful sense of innocence and whimsy…it’d be adorable in a little girl’s room, or by your vanity. Check out her shop for more fantastic illustrations (including some that would look great in the kitchen).

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I love bright colours…this print entitled Three’s a Crowd really appeals to me with its bright red wellingtons and vibrant blue juxtaposed with the snowy white bird and black and white leggings….and I just love vol25’s style…to see more of her work, check out her website, or go peruse the offerings in her shop.

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I must have a weak spot for hearts in speech and thought bubbles.

What drew me to this digital painting by Brad Collins was the formality of the subjects’ attire, combined with the informality of the bubble gum…and possibly the combination of red and blue (again). The piece is aptly named The Love of Bubblegum and Red Dresses, and is just one example of Brad’s apparent bias for fun subjects: many of the pieces in his shop are of pop culture icons like Han Solo and Chewy, Audrey Hepburn and Doctor Who.

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Friday I’m in Love

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As the leaves form a yellow, red, and orange blanket over the landscape, the air becomes more crisp, and I start to see my breath when I go outside, it becomes more and more apparent that temperatures are dropping. It’s getting cold, and I need to keep warm. Here are a few things I’ve come across that would do quite nicely, if I do say so myself (from top to bottom):

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If I knew how to knit I’d be all over this adorable Deer with Little Antlers tuque pattern by Tiny Owl’s Magic Attic…it has got to be one of the cutest animal-themed hats I’ve ever seen.

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But considering I don’t know how to knit, I might have to resign myself to purchasing ready-made items, like this Knit Loop Scarf by Silvia66. Not only are the colours beautiful, but it’s got a cozy woolly look about it that says: “I’ll keep you warm and fashionable, but won’t strangle you.” Visit Silvia66’s Etsy shop or blog to see this and more of her beautiful creations, including more scarves, capelets, and shrugs.

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I’ve always had difficulty finding a great winter coat…I inevitably cave and go for marshmallow-proportioned practicality over structured, fashionable and drool-worthy. Like the Hazel Coat…or really, any other coat created by Vancouver-based Little Houses Clothing…I love ’em all. They’ve got great button and collar detailing, and many include beautiful little touches of lace. Give their shop a look if you’re in need of a new coat this season.

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I’ve never been much of a skirt person…if I was, though, I’d be sporting super cute crochet leg warmers like these on chilly days. Created by Mademoiselle Mermaid, they’re equal amounts practical and pretty.

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…But those who know me, know that I’m not really a skirt person (unfortunately). So instead of sporting cute leg warmers, I’d be more likely to pull on a pair of these adorable Stag, You’re It Socks by ModCloth. Love, love, love.

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And that’s it for the first edition of “Friday I’m in Love”…please note I am well aware that none of the items I’m in love with go together…that’s not really the point!

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