LIFE
// Location: 127 Strachan Ave, Toronto
Broncos is keeping summer alive all year round and happy CKD has something to do with it. I swung by Broncos this afternoon to take some proper photos. Very happy with the way this mural turned out!
// Location: West Village, New York
// Photo: 2014, Sunday night.
At 4 pm the restaurant closes down to set up for dinner at 5 pm. It's summer in New York and the sweat under my white Maple Leafs hat had made its way to my face. That hat still smells like food, the restaurant was small and the smell the food left on me was heavy. 5 pm set up was simple; sweep the floors, put away the coffee, restock the fridge, clean the tables, refill the salt and pepper, clean the windows, refill the ice. Which I always hated because ice is heavy and I had to climb a tiny spiral staircase from the basement to get it. 4 pm set up was my favourite time. The restaurant was tucked away in the West Village with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the most handsome streets, and I had it all to myself. It was 2014 and Nico & Vinz "Am I Wrong" was popular on the radio. Whenever it came on I would turn it up grab the broom as my mic and literally dance around the restaurant while I cleaned. For those 4 and something minutes life felt right.
This morning I woke up with my usual feelings, slightly out of place, anxious, scared, and uncomfortable. I've been climbing new mountains and they just keep getting harder. I turned on apple radio and "Am I Wrong" came on. I turned it up and was brought right back to 2014 broom in hand, sweat dripping down my face. If only I could show that sweaty backwards hat dancing waitress what she'll accomplish three years later. It's hard to follow your heart. The only thing hard about it is keeping yourself in the right mental space. Focused and completely connected. But, there's no denying how alive it makes you feel. The places it will take you, the people you'll meet, and what you'll accomplish will be greater than anything you can imagine. Because of that ckd will keep pushing, slightly uncomfortable, out of place, scared, and anxious.
// Location: Toronto
100 hours of painting and a couple glasses of whiskey = my life lately. I've been working hard on Mary Be Kitchen's life size mural. Here is just a small section of the 40 foot long design. Two more weeks on the grind before I take off on an adventure across the pond. Fun things are happening, updates later! x -C
// Location: 127 Strachan Ave, Toronto
Sunglasses on because it was 8 am and I had only one sip of coffee. My eyes were tiny and tired. Broncos is up! Oversized hand-painted 1950's vintage cali inspired umbrellas, and creamy blue palm trees layered on top of an old photograph taken by my mother. It was 1984 and she was on her honeymoon in Greece. Thanks mom. I'll have proper installation photos up soon! x
// Location: Lower East Side, New York
A proper installation shot of Sel Rrose Cafe by Cristina Miranda
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Skateboard design for Ilich is completed! I took photos from my recent travels to Bali and Australia, layered them throughout the check ground, and added roses from Collection N Twenty Five. This was a really fun project.
// Location: 1 Delancey Street, New York
Flew with American Airlines Thursday night, expected delays got me into New York late. Didn't matter, the instant sticky summer heat on my skin put a smile on my face. Sel Rrose wallpaper is up. Love how the typical girly pink flower has been transformed into the chic-and-trendy pink flower.
I walked passed Sel Rrose Saturday night on my way to Public Hotel for dinner. The restaurant was filled with New Yorkers, eating, and drinking, some laughing - surrounded by ckd custom wallpaper. I stood there for a good couple seconds in awe. That feeling will never get old.
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I enjoy the entrepreneur life, it's fun, and fresh, always moving, not one day is the same, your growth is reliant on your work ethic. The only disadvantage - loneliness. Until I have the ability to build a team - it's just me, myself, and I dreaming up wallpaper prints. Lately CKD has been packing her bags and staying with friends, working from balconies and pretty sunsets. I like to believe that aside from the hard work entrepreneurship puts me through life is supposed to be lived. Yesterday Mich and I were in hysterics laughing over something - most likely something she said - and I remember thinking, this is life. These are the moments that I want to remember and keep reliving. I'm off to New York tomorrow for the installation of Sel Rrose. Maman just opened their newest market called Marche Maman. It's truly remarkable how those two have the energy to keep opening more locations. Below is CKD's first custom skateboard. Ilich wanted roses. So I made them fuschia pink and layered them on top of a checkered ground with hidden photos of beach towns I took while in Bali and Australia. Mmm and that's all. See ya in NY. x -C
