Midsummer madness

Oh, I lead a rather odd life. Over the past couple of days I've been checking out a flurry of previews for what retailers will be carrying over the Holidays. And last week, in the midst of an extra hot and sticky July day, I actually dressed my first Christmas tree of the year. So, to help you all cool off from this heat, I thought I'd share a quick take on what to expect to hit the stores as we plunge headlong into fall and winter. PC Home has some lovely cabin and craft influences, as well as tons of affordable sparkle. The Drake General Store has a lock on just about the coolest gear you'd want to gift or receive, including a standout gold-hatted gnome cookie jar (really). Indigo is all about charming chunky knit accessories (love those extra long reading socks!), as well as a fantastic selection of toys and specialty candies. Holt Renfrew has glittery gold covered, in everything from nailpolish by Deborah Lippmann to heels by Christian Louboutin. Sears has a covetable selection of countertop appliances, not to mention a swish washer and drier duo in a deep royal purple, plus they've completely re-vamped their Whole Home furniture and upholstery collection. It's now all made in Canada (yay!) and is uber-customizable, and did you know they also do a great line of Quebec made kitchen cabinetry? Me neither!

This all adds up to the fact that I've been kinda busy, so, with that in mind, I've stolen the extra-pretty shot below from my sister's fashion and style blog, Blink London, from her interview with talented floral designer Victoria Brotherson of Scarlet & Violet. Click here to check out the interview, and to see more gorgeous floral arrangements.

Guest blog / Julia Black: Art and fashion

Julia Black: I’m not going to pretend to be an art connoisseur by any means, but I do believe I know what I like, and I definitely like the work of Michael Adamson. I came across one of his fantastic oil-on-canvas abstract paintings at a weekend brunch at Holt Renfrew's swank Holt’s Café in Toronto, a few Tweets later (thanks to the Twitterverse!) and I'd tracked him down. Michael studied at the prestigious Emily Carr University of Art and Design in Vancouver and, since then, has been exhibiting in Toronto, New York, London and Tokyo. Now based in Toronto, his passionate work explores vigorous textures and magnificent colours, but, I thought it best to get Michael's inspiration in his own words, “ever changing confluences of art history, social actualities and (my) personal life”. Complex, thoughtful, and undeniably beautiful, take a look below at a snap of his breathtaking large-scale work (it's 50' long and 8' high and was created with artist, Nicole Katsuras) in situ at Holt Renfrew, as well as a piece called Far Shore, and you'll see what I mean. Now, I have to convince my friends to allow me back into the brunch circle because it seems I was rather absent from our table conversation!

To read more posts from Julia click here, and click here to check out her cool blog.

Popping and shopping

Just a quickie, since I so have to be somewhere else like right this second (I'm totally in the midst of wrangling my IDS10 project). Anyhow, people have been asking whether Bev Hisey is having another of her magic sample sales, and the answer is - Yes! So, check out the cool little flyer below, and expect to find Bev's trademark pillows, throws and rugs at sweet discounts.

Oh, and talking of what's happening, it seems we are having a bit of a pop-up shop mini craze. At least two swell affairs have landed in my in-box in the last couple of days that look definitely worth a check-check-check out. Holt Renfrew is appearing at the Fashion House condo (560 King St W) with racks of fashionable must-haves from Dec 2nd to Dec 6th, and then you'll find a whole slew of folks from the worlds of fashion, beauty and design setting up for the Burroughes Designer Department Store (639 Queen St W) from Dec 3rd to Dec 6th. Happy shopping!

More yellow (please)

I was at Holt Renfrew's press preview this morning for Holiday '09 and saw oodles of covetable bits and baubles but one of the things that most impressed was the three main colourways that had been set up - Black (sexy, sophisticated and slightly dangerous), Cream/Pearl (romantic and natural but with a sheen), and then finally my fave; Brights (juicy tints and unexpected combos of pinks, acid yellow and plum). I am loving the Brights since they just have the happiness factor down pat, and the yellows on show made me think of Tivoli Audio's latest iPal radio release that comes in a hi-gloss citrusy yellow. The sound on these little monkeys is beyond fab (we have a Tivoli Model One hooked up to this turntable), but if yellow isn't your bag then it also comes in a glossy black and red. Yum.

Gray matters

Luckily the weather has been grand, so bombing around town with the windows down and the stereo blaring the Black Kids has hardly been a chore over the last two very busy days. I taped a CityLine yesterday with Jeanette Hlinka and Karen Kayne that will air next Tuesday, have sorted out a Style Scout feature for this Saturday's National Post, as well as nailed down an upcoming Trendwatch for House & Home and worked on the Hershey's Milk Chocolate space. Phew.

Last night I spent an inspiring time at the Fall /09 womenswear preview at Holt Renfrew that included a capsule show by designer Joseph Altuzarra. I love hearing Holt's Fashion Director Barbara Atkins' presentation since she always puts everything clearly into perspective for the season, hitting on trends and high notes across all the lines that they carry (80's, big shoulders, statement necklaces, silver sequins, lots of leather and boots higher than you can imagine). But, if there's one thing in fashion that will definitely be having an effect on interiors, it's the prevalence of grays in every shade. I've waffled on about gray before here but wanted to share a bit more since we'll obviously be living with it for quite a while. In fact, I've picked Ralph Lauren Paint's dark and stormy Palais Royal for our media room.

The snap below shows a cool image by artist Damien Blottiere for Intelligent Life and is their pick of the perfect gray (Slate III by Paint & Paper Libray), which they contend can rub shoulders with any look, period or style you might pick for a space. What do you think?

House work

Buying and selling a house takes alot of time. Add in my crazy schedule, that this week included a NY press trip for Samsung, and then deadlines for Flare for October, Canadian House & Home for November, and the National Post for next weekend as well as August, and well, it's a wonder I know what day it is. So, thanks mostly to David's tenacity, we now have the keys to the new place (yay!) and have already popped a cork in celebration with friends. Now the work can begin...

After flying in yesterday from NY I managed to make it to the Holt Renfrew Holday /08 preview. There was, as usual, lots of fabulous things that ranged from blow-the-budget glam (like an Alexander McQueen gold skull and leather tassel keychain) to the affordable (organic spreads from Brit brand Daylesford Organic), and lots of fashionable must-haves in between. And then there was something I was extra happy to find - MOR Cosmetics. Now, before you get in a kerfuffle, no, this isn't turning into a beaty blog. Nope, the MOR line is, hands down, the most beautifully packaged collection I've seen in ages - the creators, an Australian couple, obviously have an eye for intense pattern, inspiring colourways and odd historical references. Love it.