Flattered Platters the First

If you follow me on twitter (@StellarPolarity) you may have noticed that I've been alluding to a brand-new project that I've have been working on. This is something completely new for me and I find it's been really refreshing working with totally different materials from what I'm used to. Jewellery will always be my first love but I have so many other inspirations that I must feed. Without further ado, I give you my first completed set from a collection I am tentatively calling, Flattered Platters.

 Each plate is one-of-a-kind. I try to keep a certain palette in mind when I'm making them though so that they can easily be grouped into eclectic sets. I love this set; I think it would look so pretty on a table with fresh flowers and shiny silverware. You could always use them as individuals, as well, for setting out cookies, hors d'oeuvres or tapas. Right now I'm working on a more funky set that has bold patterns and bright colours that I think would be great for summer entertaining. It's all in the presentation.

I haven't decided if I'm going to put these up on the website. I fear shipping could get both pricey and perilous. That being said, I have successfully packed and shipped A LOT of glass in my day so I may do it after all. In the meantime, you will be able to purchase these pretty plates at Love, Me Boutique in Halifax within the coming week(s). They will be $15 each or a set of four for $50.

Well, that's enough for one day. I'm going to play outside in my backyard.



Actually, this is my neighbours' yard but you get the idea.


I do hope you are able to do the same; Happy Easter weekend to you all!

Fevers and Facebook Transgressions

This post has nothing to do with jewellery, fashion or anything else that I had originally intended this bog for. I am currently delirious with fever and unable to even attempt sleep. As such, I thought I would try and distract myself with something monotonous in hopes that it would make me drowsey so, I began cleaning up old files on my 'puter. In doing so I came across this cartoon that I drew a while back. I know you've all encountered someone as nauseating as this so I thought I would share.

On that note; Happy Easter weekend, all!!

And Now for Something (Almost) Completely Different...

It has been one hell of a busy week. No complaints here, though. I did, however, make a point to take time out to watch both the English and French debates between the political leaders of our nation. Well, four of them anyway. Apparently Elizabeth May and one million Canadians aren't worthy enough to be allowed to argue their points. Not that I'm pro-Green Party because I'm not really but it just struck me as quite undemocratic. I was also irked that not a soul addressed environmental issues and I'm pretty sure May would have forced that conversation. Alas, I digress.

I'm not going to lie, in the four hours that I watched Harper, Ignatieff, Layton and Duceppe duke it out, my mind wandered in and out of the debate. (Tune out is more like it; I am allergic to BS after all). Anyway, I couldn't help but be distracted by their uncanny resemblances to other people/characters/animals. I give you my take on what I call, 'Poli-Appearance Mash-Up". These mash-ups have squat to do with my personal political preferences; I feel I've treated them all equally unfairly. Enjoy.

Bill Gates + Robot = Stehpen Harper

Sea Turtle + Bon Homme Carnivale = Gilles Duceppe

Dracula (this one particularly) + Spock = Michael Ignatieff

                      Monopoly Man IS Jack Layton

You'll notice I spared Elizabeth May. Again, not because I care but she probably feels bad enough as it is. I encourage you to come up with your own mash-ups and send them to me either via email or on Twitter. I do enjoy such dailliances!

Finally, I must once again remind you to come down to Love, Me Boutique this Saturday (11am-1pm) and check out my trunk show. I'd love to meet you and chat arts, crafts and jewellery. I'm also making banana cupcakes with peanut butter icing for your pleasure. Don't forget to add Love, Me Boutique to your route this Saturday!

To You. Love, Me.

Wow, my package came in record time, for a change. Finally, Canada Post does me a solid! I just got the most beautiful shades of Swarovski crystal you have ever seen. Come down to Love, Me Boutique on Birmingham St. in Halifax this Saturday and check them out! I'll make you something sparkly. Got kiddies? Add their names to the sparkle and order yourself a Mother's Bracelet. Maybe grandma wants one too? I just finished a couple samples for the show. Have a look see..

Keep checking back, I'll be posting more samples as they happen. Eeeps! Is it Saturday yet? In the meantime I hope you're enjoying this fine day, wherever you are!

Show yourself (April 16th)!

Hello, Monday!

I am up early this fine day. I have spent the last hour or so with a tea, sitting by the fire. I can hear boat horns sound off in the distance and I am being highly entertained by the court jester who is watching the birds. He stops intermittently to look at me adoringly (because I just fed him). Not a bad start to what’s sure to be a busy week!

This Saturday, April 16^th I will be having a trunk show at Love, Me Boutique on Birmingham St. in Halifax. I blogged about this gem a few weeks ago and am really excited to be showing some work there. Come down and say hello; there’s going to be lots pretty things to be seen and inspired by! I’m going to be there between 11am and 1pm taking custom orders and I’m pretty much giving you free range over my collection of gems and jewels. Create whatever you like; necklace, earrings, bracelet, anklet, whatever. While you’re picking out something for you, why not get something for mom, too? She totally deserves it and Mother’s Day is like right there -> May 8th . May I suggest a Mother’s Bracelet?

 Get her kiddies name(s) in sterling silver blocks with beautiful stones and her favourite colour Swarovski crystals! She’ll love it! I’m also going to have my latest collection available at special prices so, if you see something you like on the website come down to the LM Boutique and see what it’s on for. Did I mention there’s going to be snacks too? There’s going to be snacks. See you on Saturday!

Thou art thy mother's glass, and she in thee
Calls back the lovely April of her prime.
~William Shakespeare

All-Canadian Fashion Magazines and Other Mythical Creatures

I’m an addict.

 My addiction; fashion magazines. I get such pleasure out of curling up with a cup of tea or glass of wine and a fresh, glossy mag. I love their collage quality. Each page is something completely different from the page before, much like each issue is completely different from the next. I can’t get enough of the clothes, the photography and the creative genius behind them. In my opinion, each issue is a unique piece of art in its own right. Also, for me, magazines represent a snapshot of a space in time that will never come again. I am and have always been a sucker for nostalgia. This month Elle Canada celebrated their 10^th anniversary and put out a retrospective issue. It was fun to look back at (and chuckle at) old trends, cover girls and styles. You should pick up a copy for yourself; it was an all-around solid issue! While I’m plugging magazines, I strongly suggest checking out an article in this month’s issue of Flare called, ‘Deadline Obsessed’ by Shawna Cohen.  Cohen asks the question, ‘Are your self-imposed plans ruining your life?’  Think about it. It’s a pretty powerful question, no?

I digress.

 I fell in love with magazines when I was 12 or 13. Back then I was into Seventeen and YM (R.I.P YM!). I remember sneaking them in and out of my house to share with friends; my dad wasn’t a fan of me reading anything that promoted me wearing lipstick and or ‘snagging’ my crush. Oh, the days of grooving to TLC and cutting out CK One perfume ads so we could save them to use for school dances. Wow, did I just admit to that? Huh. Naturally, my palate has since matured into publications like Elle, Vogue and Glamour. My absolute favourite magazines though, bar none, are Canadian; I’m looking at you Elle Canada, Fashion and, most recently, Flare.  As a (goddamn) proud Canadian, I am all about supporting Canadian anything in every way that I can. Magazines included.

 This brings me to the crux of this post; I would love to see a Canadian magazine put out just one issue that is front to back Canadian content. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some Marc, Louis and Jean Paul as much as everyone else but, they’re established and they’re everywhere.  It would be so refreshing to pick up a magazine and see totally new faces, names and their interpretations of fashion. Now, before anyone gets their designer undies in a bunch, I’m well aware that there is already a healthy inclusion of Canadian content in Canadian mags but what I’m talking about here is one issue that is coast to coast, cover to cover, Canadian domination. I’d like to take a second to emphasize the coast to coast bit. I find that the Atlantic Provinces, the North and the Prairies get almost squat exposure in fashion magazines. I often wonder why that is because I can speak for the Atlantic Provinces when I say that there are tons of talented, creative people at work here (I’m sure the same goes for the North and the Prairies) and I want to read about them too!

It makes me really proud that this country is crawling with such mad skills. I’m thinking specifically people like; Kim Munson, Veronica MacIsaac, Lisa Drader-Murphy and Yasmine Wasfy. Never heard of them? My point exactly.  I would love to be able to exclusively buy and wear new, diverse Canadian labels. I just haven’t got the time to traverse the country or trawl the internet looking for them myself. I know for a fact that I’m not alone on this.  That’s why we need a Canadian magazine to bring us more of our own brilliant talent.

I’m not asking for a magazine revolution here, just a one issue coup! Please?

(Sorry folks, no time for cartoons with this post. I’m getting really for a trunk show next week which will be the subject of next week’s blog – stay tuned)!

Take me to your bleeder!

Ok, I’m breaking a personal rule that I set for myself when I started blogging, namely; never blog about anything personal.  I’m not even 100% sure why I’m doing it. I think it’s because it involves me taking an enormous step outside of my comfort zone and if I tell you all about it then I’ll HAVE to do it. Hold me accountable, people! No backing out. Ok, so, here it is: I’ve decided to donate blood. Yes, that’s the big deal. Stop your eye rolling and let me explain, me voluntarily giving blood is like most people voluntarily walking in front of a bus.

For most people getting blood taken is much like this:

For me it is this:

The result is always this:

By nature, I’m pretty level. Things like spiders, bugs and rats don’t send me into shrieking, fan-handed hysterics like they do for a lot of people. I don’t like them, mind you, but I can deal. However, if you put a syringe inside my hula-hoop of personal space, know that I mean business and will kill every man, woman, child and animal in my path to escape (whilst shrieking, fan-handed). I know it’s weird but I have my reasons.

When I was ten I had a really bad accident that involved an icy hill and a tree that left me with a severely shattered right femur. No word of a lie the last thing my mom said to me before I went out the door that February afternoon was ‘don’t break anything’. Thanks, Ma! By the time I got to the hospital my thigh muscle was in a severe state of spasm as it had been nearly torn in half (bring it on childbirth, you got nothing!) so, they immediately starting pumping me full of morphine and etc. Whatever they were giving me wasn’t working so someone had the genius idea to use a syringe and inject relaxants directly into the muscle. This is about when it all went to hell. As the doctor was administering the drug my muscle went into full spasm and the needle GOT LODGED IN MY THIGH. Imagine watching a 200lb man trying with all his might to pry a syringe out of your body and it not budging one iota. I was too young to immediately grasp the full severity of my injury but I could understand that what I was seeing was extremely bad news. At that moment any shred of bravery and dignity I may have had left went out the window like a bullet from a gun. No one could get it out so I took it like any ten year old would; I went berserk and passed out.  The whole situation turned out to be really bad. In fact, I was lucky to survive and/or not have any permanent repercussions (other than a hip that aches like all hell before it rains). I was hospitalized for a month, had two surgeries, spent a full six months bedridden, was in a body cast for 3 months and on crutches for a very, very long time.  And THAT is why I’m terrified of needles. Still judging me?

So why, by my own volition, would I think of putting myself in the dreaded needles’ path? It’s because I feel so incredibly guilty that it's gotten to the point that I have to do something about it. Seventeen-ish years ago someone rolled up their sleeve, donated their blood and saved my life but I have never returned the favour. Also, Canadian Blood Services haunts me on a daily basis. They’re always emphasizing the shortage of O negative blood. Guess what my blood type is?  That makes me a universal donor and riddled with compound guilt.

Maybe I should stop listening to the radio? No, I should get off my ass and go donate some blood.