// ROAD TRIP

// Collection N Eleven - Studio Nights

Hello, happy Tuesday. Beach vibes, beach hair, bikini living, suntanned skin, and cocktails that taste like your view, is exactly what I need right now. I really just need a break from it all - a beach view would be a plus. My skin has turned almost green it's gotten so white. Roots sweats, glasses of whiskey on ice, and hitting my head against the wall on three last designs needed to complete the collection is whats up lately. I know exactly what I want the collection to look like, I just can't seem to transfer whats in my brain onto paper...not literally, that would be gross.

My boss has a stack of design books located on top of his desk that I've been eyeing since I started working at Holland & Sherry. Last week, while he was on his lunch break, I stole a bunch and left a sticky note on his computer "I stole your books and I'm not giving them back" for when he returned. One of the books was called "Russian Textiles of the 1800's". I loved everything about it. The detail was just gorgeous. So, I went home and started the entire collection over again. 

It's easy to keep motivated in this city. Imagine a constant battery recharge until your head hits the pillow. Creativity on the other hand, I'm finding very tough. I need a clear mind in order for new ideas to come through - which can explain my desperate need for a road trip to the middle of nowhere. Preferable some place hot. A music festive would do just fine as well. Let's just hope I can get this all done before the launch of this collection on May 5th. Wish me luck! [takes a sip of her coffee while imaging herself in a tropical paradise]

x -C

// HOLY RAD

// Location: Holyrad Studio, Bushwick, Brooklyn

Photo shoots, I've always felt really awkward during these things. This past weekend I shot with the wonderful Daryl Oh at her studio in Brooklyn. The shoot was for WTF Magazine who are doing a feature on the new collection [launching May 5th], as well as my work with Maman and Papa Poule. We blew up one of the custom prints from Collection N Eleven as a backdrop for the shoot. I must say, it looked really cool life size, and up against the beautiful brick walls and concrete floors it got me really excited to see the collection finally printed out on wallpaper. I will be working closely with Twenty2 wallpaper with this new collection. Their quality of work is beautiful, as well as their patience. Poor Robert has been trying to give me detailed instructions on how to set up proper files for production. I'm currently learning how to do murals - something that looks similar to this. Life size art on the walls guys. Ahh, I'm tres excited. I hope you had a lovely long weekend and very happy easter! x -C

// WEEKEND VIBES

// Sup

Adidas, and baggy jeans. That's whatsup. 

// WEEKEND VIBES

// Holyrad Studio: Bushwick, Brooklyn 

Good morning, happy Sunday and happy easter! Here's a photo from yesterday morning's set with WTF Magazine. We blew up one of the prints from the new Collection, and did a really fun shoot. Can't wait to see how the photos turn out! x -C 

// GLAMOUR

// Studio Life

 This is what it looks like in the studio. This photo was taken at a moment of - everything I'm doing right now looks ugly, so I'll take a selfie, heat up my coffee, and start again. I've finished up the story behind Collection N Eleven and the story behind the title of the collection. If you wish it, read both stories below. If you're on holiday like I am today, hope you enjoy the day off. It felt lovely to sleep in a little this morning. Happy TGIF and Easter for those who celebrate this weekend. Oh and P.S for those that do celebrate this weekend and are looking for a fun DIY way of painting easter eggs, see how Elisa and I did ours with Preserve.us Here! x -C

// 05.05.15

// Collection N Eleven

It's been one of those weeks when my work day ends, and my other work day starts right after leaving me with a 15 hour day. Thank goodness for the Real Housewives and my most recent favourite cocktail - whisky on ice. Collection N Eleven has only three more prints to go until it's completed. The last few prints are always the hardest eh? [yes Dan I noticed I said 'eh', I am Canadian and proud of it] <-- he makes fun of my family and I for this all.the.time. It's fine, I get him back with his Jersey Cawfee/slang on his 'a's' and when he gets a little bit of alcohol in him, he turns into Pauly D and says "Over there" like a true Jersey Shore-ian. 

N Eleven isn't just a textile collection that will be selling wallpaper and fabric. It has a whole story behind it, a very personal story. I will have that up for you tomorrow. Hope you're enjoying the day. It feels like spring one here in New York. x -C

// APRIL 1ST

// Farrah Brooch

Already April 1st. Man it's almost scary at how fast March went. One blink and boom, hi April. At least we are in 'spring' season. Even though I wore my winter jacket and scarf today to work. It's just around the corner I can feel it. Anyways, there are a limited about of the Farrah Brooch left! Click here to buy your very own Farrah. It looks beautiful with a plain white T and baggy ripped jeans with heels on a warm Saturday night out. I know because that's how I like to wear mine.

Oh, and there are new horoscopes up! Happy Wednesday! x -C

// SNEAK PEEK

// Collection N Eleven 

All right it's started! I've narrowed down the prints to a collection of 5 custom one of a kind prints- not including stripes and plaids. The idea of collection N Eleven is for all the prints to match when placed side by side. If you're decorating a new home or restaurant, you can basically buy a print for the wallpaper - and then by a print for the pillows and not have to worry about whether it works or not. I've already done all the work for you! Here is a sneak peak into one of the prints for Collection N Eleven - it's not 100% completed yet, the flowers still have too much blue in them, but almost there. All five prints, including the plaids and stripes will be sold as wallpaper and fabric! 

Can't wait for May 5th x -C

// WORK FOR COFFEE

// Monday Vibes?

A couple weekends back Dan and I were visiting his home [Jersey Shore] and went for a little drive to see Snooki, Jwoww and the gang. In doing so we drove by a little boutique. I forget the name. Anyways, I got this shirt for like $40 [was on sale] and I am in love with it. "Will work for coffee" it says, with a coffee mug stain printed over the 'C'. Simple and perfect.

Since then this shirt has got me thinking: Living in New York has taught me many different things - more so in the past couple months. Being aware of what life was trying to teach me was step one. It's so easy to move through the days knowing you're learning, but taking the time to actually stop and reflect [I KNOW that sounds super corny] will give you a much different result. Life moves extremely quickly, so quickly it's easy to lose sight of how you got to where you are. This is where my second lesson comes in - I had this false perception of "where ever you find yourself, there you are" [a quote I found on Pinterest and loved]. This isn't true. Not even in the least. Taking a step back, I've learned, to re-center yourself, re-evaluate, and re-calculate is so important. Does 'where you are' jive with where you see yourself in 10 years. This isn't about career, but the person you want to see yourself becoming... ok there is a little bit of career in there.

Saturday's New York Times had an article written in their magazine, called "A Moment In Time" written by Marian Mecvoy. The article was about Mary Russell, a fashion reporter and photographer based in Paris during the 1960' and 70's. Her subjects were often close friends - you know, Karl, Diane Vreeland, Rolling Stones etc, which were captured in "...un-self conscious intimacy rare among photos of the famous, and rich and frequently documented". Mary lived, what seemed to be, a very nonchalant lifestyle while creating incredible substantial work. She wanted to take photos, and loved fashion. She captured a time "when private moments were in fact private and snapshots truly intimate". How inspiring right? Take me back to this time life seemed glamorous. She was good at what she did, and was rewarded, but danced through life gracefully.  "But her real love affair was with her life in Paris. 'The world in which I navigated was private and closed to outsiders,' Russell says. 'There was no media frenzy, no social media. Politically correct behavior was yet to be invented. We drank champagne, and we were very naughty... We owned Paris. We luxuriated and played in it. I was in love with love, life, my jobs and the freedom of those times. Most of all, I loved taking pictures. My camera went everywhere with me - I took photos of almost everyone I met. I don't think anyone ever objected."

I've come to the conclusion that I want my life to be as a simple as this T-Shirt and Mary Russell's career. Coffee always makes me happy no matter what mood I'm in, and it never costs me more than $4, and that's a fancy cup. Private with no social media I'm afraid is impossible in my life time, I'm talking about the fact that her camera went everywhere with her - she took photos because she wanted to. Her life, and career danced in perfect harmony because she clearly was not a try hard, but rather a bad ass chick who is still taking photos in her 70's. Anyways, Monday thoughts. x -C