scout&catalogue BLOG

A FEW THINGS

2012-01-31T09:42:00.002-06:00

Things have been busy around here as we prepare for the Spring collection:

Sequins hurrah! We've been working to pre-sew most of our Spring items so that when you order the wait time will not be as long.

A night out at the Common (a place I discovered through Anabela) with the fabulous Julie. Julie gave me a lesson on Instagram which, once I get rid of my world's oldest and crappiest cell phone, I will definitely get on.

Clothes stacked and ready for the photoshoot this Friday.

A fabric test of many errors. I had high hopes for this design but the print quality is just not good enough. Some new options are in the works that I'm pretty sure will lead to better results...

ONE WEEK

2012-01-30T11:14:00.005-06:00

One week until we leave for Mexico! We'll be spending a lot of February down there visiting with V's family, eating delicious food, and meeting new people that can hopefully help out with Scout & Catalogue. I am beyond excited to get a break from the studio and this (thankfully very mild) winter weather...

AROUND HERE

2012-01-26T09:48:00.003-06:00

A few things around here:

Cutting sequins creates a beautiful mess.

A hat was found. This one came from a flea market which many of you recommended as the best and most affordable way secure one. Thanks to everyone that weighed in - all the tips were super helpful...

Possible outfits for the upcoming Spring 12 shoot. We'll now be doing it in Toronto before we leave for Mexico so the race is on to pull it all together.

A studio booked. (image from studio website)

MID WEEK INSPIRATION

2012-01-25T10:08:00.001-06:00

A few images that caught my eye. Found here.

GUARD CAT

2012-01-23T10:32:00.001-06:00

A sign we will never have to invest in...

HEAD IN THE CLOUDS

2012-01-20T09:28:00.002-06:00

V now travels with a camera to shoot clouds for me...

HAT SEARCH

2012-01-18T08:15:00.002-06:00

The last time V and I traveled to New York Rachel Bilson was ahead of us in customs wearing a hat like this. During the trip we looked for one (which we now call the 'Bilson Hat') but kept coming up empty handed. In February we're heading down to Mexico where I'm hoping to shoot the Spring lookbook and would LOVE to find a hat like this for the shoot. Do any of you have any suggestions as to where I can grab one before we leave?
Images collected from Pinterest. Sources unknown.

MESS

2012-01-17T08:29:00.002-06:00

Studio mess.

CASA CIELO

2012-01-16T10:11:00.003-06:00

We are planning another trip to Mexico this February! We'll be gone for 2 or 3 weeks working on some projects for Scout & Catalogue and spending time with family. I started looking through old Mexico photos and stumbled into some pictures of our little home we had there. We called it Casa Cielo because it was built high up the hills on the top of an apartment building - it was like living in a treehouse with a view of the city and the bay below. Such fond memories...

STUDIO

2012-01-13T09:56:00.000-06:00

Spring is starting to take shape...

LAST FEW DAYS OF SALE

2012-01-12T09:19:00.002-06:00

Thanks to the girls over at Bleach Black for letting even more people know about our sale. I'll be uploading everything I can find left in the studio over the next 2 days and the sale will run until next Monday. After that it will be a bit of a wait until the Spring collection launches so get it while you can!

SILK PRINTS

2012-01-11T10:01:00.002-06:00

A sneak peek at a new project I'm working for spring - printed and hand dyed silk scarves. These will be available when the new collection launches in February...

MES DEMOISELLES

2012-01-10T08:48:00.002-06:00

In love with the lookbook for the Fall/Winter 2011 collection of Mes Demoiselles. Found via Oracle Fox.

SPARKLE

2012-01-09T09:43:00.003-06:00

I know sequins are usually relegated to the holiday season but I may not be able to resist adding a little sparkle to my Spring collection...

DYE TESTING, AGAIN

2012-01-06T15:30:00.005-06:00

The past few weeks we've had a pretty major bathroom reno happening in our apartment. I missed the most of it (no toilet, no sink and giant hole in floor) when I went home for Christmas but it's still been a long slog of not having a fully operational bathroom. It also meant I had to hold off on Spring 2012 colour tests while 2 or 3 contractors did 8 hour shifts in my 'dyeing room'. I really need to get an external studio! Happily, we are in the home stretch with only the shower door missing which means my dye tests are back on...

SALE!!

2012-01-05T15:28:00.003-06:00

It's sale time! As the Spring 2012 collection begins to take shape I need to make some room in my studio. As I spring clean I'll be adding one of a kind samples, dead stock from all of my 2011 seasons and seconds - all marked down. Keep checking back over the next few days as new stuff will be posted as I find it. Fun times!! Click here to get shopping.

STAMP IN THE NEW YEAR

2012-01-04T09:56:00.000-06:00

A new stamp for a new year.

2012

2012-01-01T00:07:00.002-06:00

Happy New Year! Here's wishing everyone a happy, healthy 2012...

OAK + FORT

2011-12-28T18:04:00.004-06:00

Walking through Gastown the other day I stumbled into the lovely shop Oak + Fort. Filled with slouchy silhouettes, a gorgeous neutral palette and just right accessories I can only hope they open another location in Toronto. Pretty please?

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

2011-12-27T18:28:00.001-06:00

I hope everyone had a happy holidays. We spent ours at the family farm...

HO HO HO

2011-12-22T08:08:00.000-06:00

Home for the holidays today.

DYE TESTS

2011-12-20T10:05:00.001-06:00

Starting Spring 2012 dye tests with a bunch of new fabrics I've collected for the season...

SERGER

2011-12-19T10:07:00.002-06:00

Two years ago V promised me a serger for my birthday - I just got it yesterday.

It was worth the wait.

TANENBAUM

2011-12-15T16:46:00.003-06:00

I am a huge sucker for Christmas but for the last few years we haven't bothered with a tree since at least one of us has been traveling over the holiday season. This year we decided to take the plunge and purchased a tiny potted tree that fills me with joy every time I turn it on.

INSPIRATION

2011-12-14T10:44:00.002-06:00

We've been sick for almost a week now so I thought a little Wednesday inspiration was in order...
(all images found here)

HALL OF MINERALS

2011-12-13T09:45:00.002-06:00

Some beautiful geodes in the Natural History Museum's Hall of Minerals.

NYC

2011-12-12T09:10:00.002-06:00

The One of a Kind show wrapped up on Sunday and V and I rewarded ourselves with a short trip to New York. We managed to visit during some seriously rainy weather but as a result rediscovered the city for all of it's indoor potential. When was the last time you spent an entire day in the Natural History Museum?

We saw friends, ate great food, stayed in the world's smallest hotel room, fondled fabrics (thanks for the great tip Jenny!) and came home happy.

SHIPPING DEADLINES

2011-12-05T13:08:00.003-06:00

Just a reminder to all of my US customers - today is the last day to place an order with regular shipping rates that will reach you by the 25th. We will be out of the studio for the next few days so any order placed after 7pm EST tonight will not ship until December 12th. We are happy to arrange faster (though more expensive) shipping to those that miss the deadline.

Canadian customers - you have until December 13th to place your orders.

WINTER WOOL

2011-12-03T10:41:00.001-06:00

I've listed a few winter wool items we picked up in Mexico awhile back in the shop. There are only a couple of each style so get them while you can!

MYRTLE

2011-12-01T08:17:00.003-06:00

If you live in LA you can now purchase Scout & Catalogue goodies at the new Echo Park boutique Myrtle which is opening today! The store carries work from independent female designers (S&C is in some seriously good company) and was featured (as well as our clutches) in Refinery 29 today.
And don't forget Handmade Holiday goes live today! Your chance to snatch up your S&C silk turbans* and other wonderful gifts from some amazing handmade artists.
*When purchasing a headband please take the time to measure the circumference of your head as they are NOT one size fits all. If the response for these is good I'll be producing colours in distinct sizes for the Spring 2012 season.

OUR BOOTH

2011-11-29T09:27:00.002-06:00

We're half way through the One of a Kind show! Thanks to everyone that has visited (and purchased) so far. It's so great to meet people that follow the blog or have S&C items lurking in their closets. The show runs until this Sunday and is open until 11pm on December 1st. Make sure to come visit!

A PAUSE

2011-11-24T20:54:00.004-06:00

The blog will be pretty quiet as I spend the next 11 days at the One of a Kind show meeting S&C customers that live in the Toronto area. Come on by if you can - we're at booth G44.

HANDMADE HOLIDAY

2011-11-22T09:04:00.002-06:00

Many of you have been asking about how to purchase the hand dyed silk turbans I wrote about a few weeks ago. I'm excited to announce that the turbans will be exclusively available in the online pop-up shop - Handmade Holiday. The shop goes live on December 1st and is filled with goodies from some seriously talented handmade brands - perfect for holiday gifts or stocking stuffers. Take a peek here.

ONE OF A KIND

2011-11-21T09:56:00.002-06:00

Things have been a bit chaotic around here as we prepare for the upcoming One of a Kind show. If you live in the Toronto area come visit us at booth G44 starting this Thursday and continuing on until December 4th.

MEXICAN CHURCH

2011-11-17T09:22:00.002-06:00

Inspired by the shapes and colours found in this old Mexican church we stumbled across on our last trip down there.

OUTSIDE

2011-11-16T11:08:00.002-06:00

The best craft days are outside. I hope we have a few more nice weather days before winter truly hits...

BUSINESS CARDS

2011-11-15T10:48:00.000-06:00

New business cards!

FRIDAY INSPIRATION

2011-11-11T07:30:00.002-06:00

A little inspiration this Friday - all sources on Pinterest. I'm heading to LA for the weekend but will be back as usual on Monday...

BLUE

2011-11-09T14:04:00.002-06:00

Three new scavenger patterns in the shop - Blue Leopard, Blue Stripe and Blue La Dama.

SHINE IN THE SHOP

2011-11-09T12:49:00.002-06:00

Our holiday 'Shine' collection is now available in the shop!

STRATHCONA STOCKINGS

2011-11-08T08:58:00.000-06:00

Ryley over at Strathcona Stockings has launched her new fall/winter patterns. Can't wait to get my hands on the snakeskin!

TURBAN(D)

2011-11-07T09:03:00.000-06:00

This weekend my industrial sewing machine went on the fritz (pushing the launch of my 'shine' collection by a week) so I started playing around with some ideas that only required my regular machine. Introducing S&C's first hand dyed silk turban(d)'s! Blue, black and fluorescent pink in the first photo and purple, black and fluorescent yellow in the second. To help with fit they all have black stretch lace sewn in the back. I'll be filling you in on when and where they'll be available in the next week...

ISMAY OZGA

2011-11-04T09:07:00.000-05:00

The beautiful work of the UK based artist and illustrator Ismay Ozga.

CLOUDS

2011-11-03T08:30:00.001-05:00

Just sent off new S&C business card and hangtag designs using this gorgeous photo V took in the sky above Los Angeles. Can't wait until the finished results arrive on my doorstep!

FIELDGUIDED

2011-11-02T08:06:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I received my new Fieldguided tote in the mail! Anabela and Geoff make such lovely things and I'm excited to have a black tote to round out my Fieldguided bag obsession...

SHINE

2011-11-01T08:28:00.002-05:00

'Shine' - limited edition metallic lace and leather pouches will be available in the next few weeks. I'll let you know when they hit the shop...

HALLOWEEN

2011-10-31T09:18:00.000-05:00

Two of my favourite things from this weekends Halloween celebrations - the beautiful skull tees made by the Whelan sisters and a note V left behind (he was dressed as Spock this year) for our friends after staying at their place on Saturday night.

Happy treat day to all!

FACTORY GIRL

2011-10-28T08:42:00.000-05:00

I've been knee deep in wholesale orders which thankfully should be done by the end of the weekend - just in time for the holiday gift making panic to begin in earnest. How is it almost November!?

Happy Halloween everyone!

DESIGNSPIRATION

2011-10-26T08:53:00.002-05:00

Just got lost in Designspiration.

SHINE

2011-10-25T09:22:00.003-05:00

The last time we were in Mexico I purchased some metallic lace and just recently found some beautiful luxury leathers. I'll keep you posted on a teeny S&C 'shine' collection that will be ready for the holidays. And when I say teeny I mean only several clutches in each design - hopefully ready for purchase in the next few weeks.

AUTUMN DE WILDE

2011-10-24T09:05:00.003-05:00

The beautiful work of photographer Autumn De Wilde.

A FEW THINGS

2011-10-21T15:13:00.000-05:00

A few things around these parts:

Assembling S&C items for wholesale orders.

A new photo print by the talented Kate Miss.

Some new (and one classic) prints for Scavenger Series pouches. Thanks to the fantastic work by my 2 new interns these bad boys should be in the shop in a few weeks.

Last night I discovered Netflix has the original 90210 - prepping for the busy holiday season just got a whole lot saucier!

BEFORE

2011-10-20T09:14:00.005-05:00

I've been spending a bit of time gathering together work I was involved with before Scout & Catalogue...

MR. BIRD

2011-10-18T10:13:00.003-05:00

When I was 8 my grandfather took me to the mall and bought me a cursive gold 'Breanna' pin. I wore it for years until a few months ago when it fell off my blazer in Mexico City and was never seen again.

About a week ago my grandfather passed away and I've spent the last few days back home with family catching up, reminiscing and clearing out some of my grandfather's possessions. Without a doubt my favourite memento I was able to bring back to Toronto is this 'Mr. Bird' pin (that looks exactly like my lost 'Breanna' pin) which allows me to take a little piece of my grandfather wherever I go.

HONEY BADGER

2011-10-13T08:36:00.002-05:00

V has pointed out that I have a bit of a mug addiction but I might just have to make space for these hilarious Honey Badger mugs from the delightful shop Corduroy.

LIFE OF COURSE

2011-10-12T11:38:00.003-05:00

Some wood spoons we found on our recent trip to Mexico.

A new cart for my dyes. I have so many we actually had to buy 2 carts.

Did I ever mention that V and I originally met in elementary school? We lost contact for 15 years and reconnected in our late 20's but the last time I was back home I found this picture of us from Grade 2. Clearly matching sweat fleece was a real statement back then...

I never tire of the sky images V takes while working.

INSPIRATION

2011-10-11T09:13:00.001-05:00

It's been awhile since I've posted a few inspiration shots. All sources found here.

FUNDRAISER

2011-10-07T08:50:00.003-05:00

I'm sure by now most of you have heard of the fundraiser Kate Miss is having to help pay for some pretty hefty medical bills as a result of her boyfriend's recent cancer diagnosis. If you haven't click here to read more about it or just pop on over to her recently re-opened Etsy shop and buy one of her lovely photographs with all proceeds going towards the cause.

TEEPEE

2011-10-06T08:03:00.002-05:00

Yup, like almost every other cat owner out there we finally caved and ordered a cardboard cat teepee for Mouse. So far she has shown zero interest in it so it's been sitting unused in our living room looking cute and lonely.

GOOD TIMES

2011-10-03T09:48:00.004-05:00

My spirits have been a bit low over the past few months and I decided to treat myself to a little pick-me-up - this fabulous 'Good Times' banner from the sweet online shop Summerland. Every time I wander into the living room this message never fails to put a smile on my face.

Some of you might remember my couch cushions from the very first S&C collection and the cloud poster is, of course, by the talented Debbie Carlos.

AMIGOS

2011-10-01T18:47:00.001-05:00

Friendship bracelets are back in the shop!

NEW ITEMS

2011-09-30T16:47:00.002-05:00

A few new items picked up on our recent trip to Mexico. Get them while you can - they are all available in limited quantities and it's first come, first serve...

FALL COLLECTION ONLINE

2011-09-29T17:48:00.003-05:00

The online shop is now open! Click here to check out the stock. I'll be updating the Etsy shop tomorrow and a few small goodies I picked up in Mexico will also make an appearance in the next few days...

TAXCO

2011-09-29T09:45:00.002-05:00

We spent the last few days in Taxco, Mexico - a small mountain town known for it's beautiful Spanish colonial architecture and it's now defunct silver mines. We walked the streets, dodged the aggressive traffic and wondered at the crumbling city perched high in the mountains just a few hours outside of Mexico City.

We got back last night and, as promised, the shop will be opened later today. I also managed to grab a few Mexican goodies which should be in the shop in the next few days.

SEPTEMBER 29TH

2011-09-24T14:19:00.002-05:00

I know I promised to have the shop open this week but some unforeseeable family issues came up that required my full attention (also why there has been a serious lack of blogging around here). We are now headed on a lightening fast trip to Mexico City which makes the planned shop launch date Thursday September 29th. This time for real. I promise...

INTERN NEEDED

2011-09-20T11:54:00.003-05:00

My lovely intern Jemma will be leaving me at the end of September which means I am looking for some new help for the upcoming very busy holiday season. If you live in the Toronto area and are looking to learn more about the behind the scenes of running a handmade business please email a resume AND cover letter to info@scoutandcatalogue.com.

The details are as follows:

Duration : October - December, 8 hours a week, must have a flexible schedule

Duties include : material preparation, sewing, research, studio maintenance, packaging and shipping, trade show preparation etc.

Looking for someone with: design/fashion background, sewing skills, a passion for the fashion and design community, great customer service skills, attention to detail, pattern drafting education a HUGE plus, keen interest in running a small business

This is the busiest and most exciting season for retail - if you are interested in helping out please be in touch!

A NOTABLE ABSENCE

2011-09-14T09:16:00.003-05:00

I've updated and reformatted my very neglected tumblr, A Notable Pause. Images featuring our time in Mexico that I hope to add to much more frequently then every 10 months...

FALL 2011 LOOKBOOK

2011-09-09T14:45:00.004-05:00

The Scout & Catalogue Fall Lookbook is live! I realize that 'Fall' might be a bit of stretch with all the t-shirts and tank tops I shot but at least I'm staying true to my 'inspired by Mexico' roots! Thanks Sydney for the fabulous modeling job...

I unexpectedly need to return home for a few days next week and so the collection will be ready for sale in the week of the 19th.

A FEW THINGS

2011-09-07T08:52:00.002-05:00

Some sparkle for the studio.

A small eccentric house I stumbled across.

New dye tests.

A patch I found that made me smile.

MEXICO

2011-09-06T15:33:00.000-05:00

I was out sourcing clothes for my upcoming fall Scout & Catalogue shoot (happening this Thurs!) and found the most perfect/hilarious tee.

THE PAINTED COUCH

2011-09-05T10:23:00.003-05:00

A few months ago we purchased a very cheap couch. We liked the silhouette but the fabric was old and dingy. We didn't want to pay to get the whole thing reupholstered and so for the last few weeks V has been painting it. It looks great in the photo doesn't it? Before you get too excited about painting every piece of furniture you own there are few things I should note:

1) After 4 coats V has told me that this is the first and last piece of furniture he will be painting. It takes FOREVER.

2) There is an obvious paint/plastic feel to the piece which no amount of use diminishes.

3) The paint cracks with use. I actually like the look of this on the base but not so much on the cushions.

Moving forward I think we're going to get the cushions reupholstered in a thick painters canvas which will be affordable, feel great and keep the clean white silhouette we created by painting it.

JENNILEE

2011-09-01T08:33:00.003-05:00

The beautiful work of Vancouver based photographer Jennilee Marigomen.

THE END OF AUGUST

2011-08-31T09:27:00.004-05:00

Photos of life around these parts:

A new art table we put out on our unfinished patio.

A note left behind.

A new scarf for Fall.

This past weekend we went camping with friends. We had to paddle in canoes for 5 hours to get to our campsite which, I have to admit, was a new version of hell. The s'mores almost made up for the pain.

INSPIRATION

2011-08-30T08:45:00.004-05:00

A few things that have caught my eye. All sources can be found on Pinterest.

LAST DAYS

2011-08-29T11:25:00.001-05:00

Our summer sale is only on until August 31st! Just type SUMMERSALE in the coupon code option at purchase to receive 20% off the regular price.

FALL TEXTURES

2011-08-25T10:31:00.005-05:00

Recently V commented that one of my fall silks looked just like a photo he took above LA. I never really notice when something in everyday life creeps into my work but sure enough the colours and textures of Fall 2011 can easily be linked to our recent travels. Here are just a few comparisons from our recent trip to Mexico City.

TOP 10

2011-08-24T12:01:00.002-05:00

Clearly this falls under 'Top 10 thrift store finds of all time'.

FRIENDSHIP BRACELETS

2011-08-23T09:25:00.006-05:00

Obviously this has been the summer of friendship bracelets and one of the things I like best about the trend is all of the memories I am able to layer on one wrist. It's taken me all summer to get this far and with Fall showing no signs of curbing the trend I'm hoping to just keep on stacking.

1) Blue Elastic - given to me by my good friend Julie to wrap up a giant chocolate bar we had been devouring. I really like the colour and love having something to tie up my hair at the ready.

2) Orange Braid with charms - one of my El Mercado friendship bracelets which takes me back to our July trip to Mexico City.

3) Small Skull - I just bought this last weekend in Brooklyn and love how dainty it is.

4) Simple Black - The last time we were in Puerto Vallarta I visited with my Spanish teacher and she brought this for me to remember her.

5) Beaded Heart - The kids on our street were selling handmade jewelry (there are also daily lemonade stands) and V bought this one for me.

6) Copper Good Luck - A friend visited us in Mexico and we both bought these simple copper bracelets with icons of good luck stamped on them. Apparently in Mexico 13 is actually a lucky number.

NEW YORK NEW YORK

2011-08-22T10:16:00.003-05:00

I spent the weekend in New York visiting with friends. We kept the typical New York sightseeing to a minimum and instead spent the days eating delicious food and wandering the streets (mostly) window shopping. I was excited to finally see the OAK, Saturdays and Maryam Nassir Zadeh stores in person and to visit old favourites like Opening Ceremony and Isabel Marant. We even managed to make it to Brooklyn for a weekend flea market where we stocked up on dainty skull jewelry and vintage accessories.

NEW YORK

2011-08-18T10:21:00.002-05:00

We're heading to New York tomorrow for a weekend with friends and thought this Pamela Love closet tour was appropriate inspiration for the trip...

FALL TESTS

2011-08-17T10:32:00.002-05:00

Some dye tests for next season. Is it wrong to go pastel/neon for Fall? I hope not.

SUMMER CRAFT FAIR

2011-08-16T08:11:00.003-05:00

Last Friday evening and Saturday we were lucky enough to partake in the Summer Craft Fair in Hamilton. Held in a gorgeous storefront (with the most amazing tin ceiling) on James North Street and packed with talented vendors the experience was a success.

SUMMER SALE

2011-08-15T08:46:00.002-05:00

Everything in the online shop is 20% off! Just enter coupon code SUMMERSALE when purchasing.

SUMMER CRAFT FAIR

2011-08-11T15:52:00.004-05:00

Been preparing for the Beehive's Summer Craft Fair which is happening this Friday and Saturday in Hamilton. Come stop by and say hello.

LAURA LOMBARDI AUTUMN

2011-08-10T09:50:00.002-05:00

Loving Laura Lombardi's new Autumn/Winter Lookbook...

BEAUX MONDES

2011-08-09T08:53:00.003-05:00

Click here to check out an interview and fairly lengthy studio tour on the lovely blog Beaux Mondes. I swear I've cleaned my fabric shelves since this shoot!

MEMORIAL BEACH

2011-08-08T08:46:00.007-05:00

We never made it to Boston (although I can't wait to try out all of your recommendations when we do go) and instead spent the last few days of the week working and tidying to prepare for a weekend away at a friends farm. On our way back to the city yesterday we stopped off at Memorial Beach and had a quick swim before locking ourselves into the tangled highways filled with weekend traffic. Please don't go Summer...

STUDIO UPDATE

2011-08-03T13:19:00.002-05:00

A few things going on in these parts:

1/2 : Packing up El Mercado items sold over the weekend. Thanks to all the bought from our little market! It was a really fun thing to put together and I hope to do more in the future.

3 : A token from Mexico I couldn't part with for El Mercado.

4 : My lovely intern Jemma helped with some dye tests for Fall. The Fall collection is way behind but hopefully this September I'll have something pulled together for you guys to see.

5 : A day trip to Boston tomorrow! I've never been and don't know a thing about the city - anyone have any 24 hour visiting tips??

DAY TRIPPING

2011-08-02T08:17:00.004-05:00

A few weeks ago was the hottest day that anyone could remember in the last 50 years. Since we don't have AC in our house we decided to spend as much time as possible in our gloriously air conditioned car and headed an hour and a half out of the city to a small town called Orono. Orono has a bit of a reputation for antiques and we spent a pleasant afternoon poking around the shops leaving with a completely unused Champion juicer (if you were raised by hippies in the 70's/80's as we were you will understand the significance of this purchase!) and an old fan that's been helping keep my studio cool ever since. Capped off with a vanilla milkshake and our day trip was not too shabby...

DAY 2

2011-08-01T09:36:00.002-05:00

Another day in the Centro Historico of Mexico City.

I had never been to the Palacio Nacional - Mexico's parliament buildings and I'm so glad we went. There was an exhibition of 200 years of Mexico's history as well as some of Diego Rivera's more famous murals.

The used book stores in the Centro are amazing. So cheap and plentiful I wish I spoke more Spanish. Most of them do have small English sections which are worth checking out.

We were walking along the street one morning and came across a block of small printing press booths. You could walk up and commission letterpress work on the street. I was blown away but we were in a hurry so I wasn't able to order anything. Next time for sure.

The women in Mexico like big, bright and sparkly. They put rhinestones on everything, paint their fake long nails neon and apparently choose cinderella ball gowns for formal wear. There were stall after stall of these dresses and in most booths the mannequins twirled increasing the effect. It was mesmerizing.

MARKET DAY

2011-07-29T09:12:00.002-05:00

It's market day! Head over here at noon EST to get your hands on items from our El Mercado market. Pieces made by skilled Mexican artisans and a few limited edition items from S&C. El Mercado will be updated throughout the day as items sell.

FRIDA

2011-07-28T16:33:00.002-05:00

A trip to Frida Kahlo's house in Mexico City. We had never been and I'm glad to have gone but I'm not sure I'd go again. It was full of people and every single aspect was touristy. You even had to pay in order to take pictures! On the plus side you did get to witness the insanity of how she lived, the room where both Diego and Trotsky slept (albeit not at the same time) and some beautiful examples of her work.

EL MERCADO

2011-07-27T09:42:00.004-05:00

I've been shooting product for the the upcoming El Mercado this Friday and thought I would share in more detail some of the pieces that will be listed. Items come in various quantities but most found goods are one of a kind. I'll be updating the shop all afternoon Friday as things sell so make sure to keep coming back.
Here is the shop URL which will go live this Friday, July 29th at noon EST: http://scoutandcatalogue.bigcartel.com/

MEXICO CITY. DAY ONE.

2011-07-26T10:04:00.002-05:00

We spent the first few (rainy and cool) days in Mexico City's Centro Historico - right downtown adjacent to the main square. We wandered the streets visiting churches, old ruins and beautifully preserved Spanish colonial buildings while I imagined how our lives might unfold if we lived there.

The main church was first with it's over the top interior and hushed silences. You can see, attached to the red velvet box on one of the many altars to the Virgin Mary, how the charms I work with called milagros are traditionally used. A prayer or a thanks pinned in front of their most revered idol.

From there we headed to the Templo Mayor just a little ways from the main square. It is here that the most important Aztec temple used to stand until the Spanish arrived and built right over it. No one even knew the temple, once the ancient culture's literal 'center of the universe', existed until a few decades ago. Now you can walk among the ruins and feel awed to experience this already old city's even more ancient history.

A walk through the streets lead us through the perfume district and on to the Palacio Postal - Mexico City's main post office. When we lived in Puerto Vallarta I visited the post office frequently where a picture of this building hung on the wall. The girls that worked there recommended that if we ever made it to Mexico City to check it out for ourselves. It did not disappoint and is, happily, still being used as a post office to this day.

And finally off to the markets before heading home to quench our thirst and nurse our blisters.

EL MERCADO

2011-07-25T09:56:00.002-05:00

And....we're back! Mexico City was amazing - full of walks through museums, great food, cool weather and most importantly markets. I can't wait to share the experience with you this week and first up is the aspect of my trip that I am most excited about - El Mercado.

El Mercado (literally 'the market' in Spanish) will be my first ever online shop of other artisan's (and a few limited edition S&C pieces as well) work. I scoured the markets and brought home enough bags, blankets, cloaks, pouches and jewelry to share. The market will go live this Friday (July 29th) at noon EST and I'll keep you posted as to the what, where and when. Until then take a peek at the look book.

DISTRITO FEDERAL

2011-07-12T10:50:00.005-05:00

And we're off to Mexico City! You may have noticed the shop is closed while we're gone and the blog will be quiet as well. Both will be back up and running July 25th. I can't wait to share our trip when we return as well as the loot I'll be sourcing (cross your fingers I find the 'real' Mexican markets not the tourist ones). Have a great next few weeks!

LOOK!BOOK!

2011-07-12T10:00:00.008-05:00

Look!Book! was MIA in June because of a grueling travel/wedding schedule for both myself and Julie but this month Jules returns with another great recommend:

Full disclosure - I haven’t read this month’s Look!Book! In fact, it’s not even published here yet as far as I know. I ordered my copy from Amazon.co.uk and am waiting semi-patiently for it to arrive (I’ll lend it to you when I’m finished).

To Die For: Is Fashion Wearing Out the World is an expose on the fashion industry written by the Observer's 'Ethical Living' columnist, Lucy Siegle. In To Die For, Siegle examines the environmental and human impact of world’s insatiable appetite for mass-produced clothing. “Every garment has a back story,” she says, “even if it’s not very fashionable.”

I have a few friends in Toronto who work with fantastic seamstresses to make bespoke pieces and, ever since Bre launched Scout & Catalogue, I have been exposed to so many good independent designers. A quick look in my closet, however, shows me that high street brands still dominate the field. Rather than thinking about where my clothes are made, the vast majority of my buying decisions come down to fit, price and opportunities to wear.

When it finally arrives, I hope To Die For arms me with ideas on how to embrace a bit more stylish sustainability in my wardrobe (and helps alleviate some of my fast-fashion guilt). Until then, any tips?

~Jules

(Cover image, Photo by Clarisse Demory)

BIRD

2011-07-11T09:38:00.003-05:00

Over the last year or so many of you have written me asking about my tattoo, so today I thought I'd fill you in on it's history. For those of you who didn't realize I have a small tattoo on the inside of my left upper arm. It's so small that one of my friends calls it my 'Phoebe tattoo' after the Friends episode where Phoebe is too scared of the pain to finish getting inked and is left with only a single dot no bigger than your average mole. While I wasn't nervous about the pain I was nervous about permanently writing on my body (how can you POSSIBLY know if you will like something for your entire life?) so, contrary to most people's tattoo objectives, I decided to put it in a location you barely notice and have it be so tiny it could easily be lasered off. Can you tell I've always been a touch too sensible?

As for what I decided to get - my grandmother's writing of her last name 'Bird' which incidentally is my mother's last name as well. Both my mother and my grandmother have been extremely important people in my life and it felt like a nice tribute to both of them - a tribute that neither really wanted! Although I got the tattoo while still living in Vancouver I found it meant more to me when I left to live in Mexico and now reside on the opposite side of the country. A little piece of my family I take wherever I go.

Would I do it again?

Nope.

Am I happy to have done it?

Absolutely.

Am I excited to see laser technology improve with each passing year?

You bet!

FRIDAY INSPIRATION

2011-07-08T08:19:00.003-05:00

Friday inspiration - all images from here.

TREASURES

2011-07-07T12:09:00.005-05:00

A few days ago we took a trip outside the city to visit friends and stopped along the way to thrift. Our car was stuffed to the brim with globes, wooden boxes and chairs. I was especially excited to nab a long lace skirt, vintage Mason jars and some new fabric. The biggest score - our new couch (3rd picture) which our friend Tamar assured us we can 'update' quickly and affordably (more on our couch revamp later). The thought of being able to sit comfortably in our living room continues to bring a smile to my face!