I am living a on beautiful street !!!

Since 3 days ago this is the first thing I see when I leave my appartment. Yes, right in front of my door.
To add injury to insult just imagine the noise they make in the morning... they start working at 6h30 am...
it`s just great; you got to love Montreal and love the construction!!

At lease, know what the water pipes look like.

Tomorrow is... Thursday's vernissage!

There are days when nothing happens and there are days when everything happens.
For me, it has been so far a week of everything and that’s why I didn’t have time to blog. I am still adapting to my new schedule of being a working girl and I been passing my nights finishing this dress and my Halloween costume...
I just want to take a moment to talk about my next vernissage which is this Thursday; because I think it is going to be a fun night. The event will be in my favourite book store in Montreal; Drawn & Quarterly and it will showcase a double book launch of two writer/journalist/artists that I discovered this summer: Sheila Heti and Leanne Shapton. I am super curious about the book of Heti : How Should a Person Be?

This novel is described as being an autobiography of the mind, a postmodern self-help book and I love those kinds of books! I find it very interesting the mix up of fiction/no-fiction combined with topics such as art, friendship and sex.You can read the prologue here if your still not sure of coming.


The other author is Leanne Shapton, As soon as I discovered her I right away fell in love her the novel: Important Artifacts and Personal Property from the Collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris, Including Books, Street Fashion, and Jewelry. Her book tells the story of a hopeful young New York couple and their four-year relationship almost completely through their things. I highly recommend this book, you should look at it...

Well, tomorrow she will be launching her new book which looks more artistic and seems to be all about paintings. If you never have been to a vernissage night a D&Q, I think Thursday is the perfect evening to do it. See you there

Friday celebration

Yes, Friday was a celebration day; a day that ended a chapter for both my boyfriend and I.  It was the last day at work for my boyfriend and I am pleased as punch to announce that I am beginning to work at two jobs that are great!

It`s a clear sign of the beauty of life; I went from complaining about no work and being in a bad mood because of too much time on my hands to landing 2 jobs to balance a 50 hour work week.After having a good interview on Friday and lots of thinking; it seems that that I will have two very different jobs with completely different tasks. One that will require more patience as the tasks I`ll have to do I am not so much a fan of - but it could turn into an amazing career. While the other one can stop in a year and is interesting in its own right.

I don’t pop-up a bottle of “Brut” for just any old reason so I treated it like a birthday cake; I made a wish while opening the bottle. Now I don’t know if it`s luck, but the cork popped off in quite the bulls eye journey which was shocking and fun to discover.

Starting a new job is always a tad stressful but the people at both places seem so nice that I feel certain that they are going to make the experience very pleasant. I cannot wait to get started and what is almost bonus is that the two jobs locations are walking distance to my house.

Founderie boutique opening

Its Thursday and this means... Vernissage tonight!!!
I will go and celebrate the grand opening of the Founderie boutique. This new vintage venue is located in the little Italy repurposed furniture design and consignment clothing. The home furniture have been handcrafted by local designer Mitsuhiko Takahashi. All of Mitz' designs are made of recycled wood.

I quickly went into it last Sunday, on my way home after my last visit to Jean-talon. The place looks good and the selection of vintage clothing is really high-quality. A bit expensive for a girl like me who has been waiting for months for her first pay check, but I saw an impressive collection of evening dresses. There were also a lot of brand names: Yves St-Laurent, Valentino and one of my favourite designer from the sixties, André Courrèges.

This time, there will be free wine to warn you up and some cupcakes. The address is 6596 St-Laurent, just in front of the just in front of the amazing craft brewery Vice Versa.

One of my dream-goal would be to become a part-time freelance illustrator. While doing research on the web about it, I discover an amazing artist; Laura Mckellar. She is a freelance graphic designer living in Melbourne, Australia.

She does digital prints on fabric, which she then hand-embroiders.

And she also doing zines !!!

Perfect Fall Sunday

Fall is here and that means we can finally return to Jean-Talon market (it’s less busy).

This Sunday was the official kick-off market return. On our way there, we walked through a little neighbourhood which I think is part of Parc-Ex. It's a healthy mix of Indian people in a Greek community. We basically walked on St-Roch and discovered new grocery shops. Food lovers as we are, we visited an amazing Greek bakery with satisfaction. Look at those cuties: 

At the market, Lover and I both had a huge craving for cheese. However he is lactose intolerant this does not stop him from eating cheese that is OK for him. In fact today, we visited three cheese vendors and the people who work there took the time to explain which cheeses he can eat. We already knew a few but we discovered that we can never go wrong with harder cheese and most that are aged 24 months or older.

Once at home -after a stop at the SAQ- we wanted to bake something warm and cozy so we ended up doing a few small munchies like we love to do and eat. We made: four different little “pizza” snacks with our two new cheeses- Gouda with cumin and a St-Fidel Swiss mix with caramelize onions, pears and red wine, balls stuff with risotto and mushrooms, baked cherry tomatoes and spanakotyropita.

We ate while played games for our Rummy tournament. It was delicious and just the perfect amount to keep you from getting in too much trouble.

My story with Deerhunter

I can't wait for the Deerhunter concert at La Tulipe. Needless to say this night is going to be for sure my utopia. My love story with the band started in 2007 and I am still thankful that my friend Geneviève brought me to this concert.

I will always remember it; it was the beginning of April and the only thing we knew about this band was from Geneviève's boyfriend- who at the time was touring in Europe with his band Demon’s Claw- he said that we had no choice to go see them and that the singer was really skinny. The show was at the Sala Rossa and we were in the beginning of starting our business- MolyKulte- so we were really broke (we had beers in ours purses!!) but we still managed to get there. I remember, we were screening the crowd for the skinny lead singer and nothing was found. The funny part was – without us noticing- half of the group including Mr. Cox came and sat at our table and asked us if it was ok. He was wearing so many layers of wool sweaters that we never thought he was the guy we were looking for.

Bradford Cox, a gifted young composer and producer of hypnotic, droning noise-rock is the frontman for the band Deerhunter and Atlas Sound. He is able to give an unforgettable live performance. He is also well known for being very close to his fans and from my experience, I can say this is totally true. He is always ready for a pictures, he even put me on the guest list for the show in Buffalo and he gave me a bag and a t-shirt on the Microcastle tour at a show in Montreal.

Who knew this show would really change my life? Seriously I've been completely obsess with this band after seeing them. Wow, it was so good. It was so new and so special that after that day I ran to my record store and bought everything I could find about Deerhunter. Since then I cannot count how many shows I have seen from Deerhunter or Atlas Sound, I even have travelled to see them when I missed their live music way to much (Buffalo, Vancouver and Toronto).

So, I cannot wait for tomorrows concert. I hope that even if they are a well known band now I am still wishing that Bradford will recognize me and give me a nice big hug. My lover has already posted a nice blog about the band. Please, don't miss this show !!!

Girls night

On Friday night, I braved the weather and walked through the cold/pouring rain to attend a girls night at my friend Karyne`s apartment.The night was a masterpiece of conversation and friendship.

The table was layered with Indian food and my two best friends; all trying to find happiness or hold on to it. Everyone had some triumph and everyone had some trouble. We were talking about how to deal with: stress jobs, babies, relationships, sex life... all without the fear of being judged. Wise women through and through.

It really was a fantastic evening; amazing food, inspiring woman, molten conversation and lots of wine. Perfect ingredient in the recipe for life, love and friendship.

Vernissage tomorrow

I am participating in a collective exhibition call “Pied carré” at the Galerie Zone Orange in the Old port. All artists had do present two paintings 12”x12” and they are all 200$.The vernissage is tomorrow night and everyone is welcome to come.

Come have free drinks and try to guest which one's mine...

60's Oldies

It was the birthday of my boyfriends’mother this weekend. She was born in 1960 so the whole party theme was about this decade. We were in charge of the music and I made those CD cases:

I chose a selection of greatest hits from the 60’s and we danced/eaten all weekend long over: The Ronettes, Otis Redding, Petula Clark, The Everly Brothers... The key word was "pop" since that's what Motown did. There was nothing especially thought-provoking in this kind of music, whether they were spoken monologues, moody, sobbing songs, lush string orchestrations or self-confident songs about boys/girls within that glassy back-beat and Diana Ross pouring on the vocals like maple syrup. Perfect for a Thanksgiving weekend.

Looks like someone heard my complaints

Wow, what a surprising day!

In the morning I was trying to rent a car for the weekend when the phone rang. The lady on the phone asked me if I was free that afternoon for an interview. Of course, I am always ready for an interview!! On top of that the company was a few blocks away from my apartment. As soon as I hung up the phone I ran to my bedroom and tried to find a nice dress to put on and did a bit of research on the position/business I recently applied for. I`ve sent a lot of resumes and sometimes I don’t remember what the job is all about per say. Turns out it was for an significant dance company here in Montreal and the pay check was good too.

My interview was with two pleasant ladies asking me questions and it went very well. I was feeling very confident with my answers and the tasks for the position. At a certain point, they asked me to leave the room and five minutes after they told me with a big smile that I had the job!! I felt 10 pounds of stress drop off my shoulders. The lady who had called me gave me a tour of the place and presented me as the “new-soon-to-be” employee. Why she was calling me this way? Well, I discovered that to be able to get the position I need to be eligible for wage subsidies. It basically meant I needed to run to my local employment center and try to get a rendezvous asap!!

After waiting there for more than two hours, I found out that the earliest time for my rdv was going to be on October the 27. (which is way too far!!) After few phone calls I was able to get one on the 18th but I am really hoping to see my agent next week. Now I am just hoping and praying that everything will go well. I had too many bad experiences in the past with people who work at my local employment center and this time I can’t afford a new negative experience.

This is how my long Thanksgiving week-end has started. Tomorrow morning, Lover and I are hopping in the car and heading southwest to London Ontario. Nine hours of driving,talking, laughing and peepee-stop to eventually go see his family. I wish you all a wonderful weekend with your families and whether you're celebrating Thanksgiving or just hanging out.

The days are passing, nothing really change...

Sorry for not posting a blob in the past few days. I was feeling uninspired and tired of my current situation which made me generally annoyed. Right now my boyfriend is in New York all week for work; while I am grateful that I get the chance to work the next two days for a girl named Frédérique who is the designer I share my workshop with. It happens to be for the next Milk advertising. It really made my week pass faster and it felt so good to work!! I never thought would say that in my life, but it look like things are changing...

At lunch time I had a phone call from the well-know-Montreal-designer with whom I recently had an interview with last Thursday. She had a few more questions before she was to make her decisions. I am now crossing my fingers really hard to get the job. Which is kind of strange because I was disappointed after meeting her.( I kind of thought the salary was way low). Yet I am so tired of my routine and I am beginning to get scared of never finding a job....so I am willing to lower my salary expectations.

Maybe this is the job that I have been searching for the past four months? Maybe it could be possible that I will be so naturally talented with my tasks on the job that salary offer could raise very shortly ?

A other week without a job...

Today was not what I call a terrific Monday. I started my day in a mad/impatience mood because I still didn't find the right job mix with the guilty feeling of not wanting to go to my workshop...

I really don’t know what do to with this space anymore. My friend -with who I share the workshop- got herself a pretty good job and she doesn’t have time to come anymore. I had fun going there the past few weeks because I knew that I had to delivery my products at the end of each week. Since I don’t have new boutiques to sale my accessories and not feeling the pressure of finding some, there was just no reason for me to go to my workshop.

After a view hours fill with jobs search and small errands, I was still feeling bad for not going to the workshop. It's a pressure I put on myself to still create something everyday since I don’t work. I know, that's weird, I should enjoy my free time, but I can’t. So I went there and I try to make myself some cloths with old stuff I don’t wear anymore. I was a disaster.

Got home starving and I am currently snacking on some Halloween melt-in-your-mouth goodness chocolate’s bar. I find out too late that tiniest packages are dangerous...

The good news is that the other designers with who we share the workshop offer me to work for her from Wednesday to Friday. Perfect way to distract myself, get the sensation of being useful and of course, learn some money !!!

Look who's doing the October cover of Exclaim! !!!

I was so excited when I saw the last issue of Exclaim magazine!! You can reed the article here or get your free copie somewhere.

A part of my Pop aventure

Wouah... I am starting to feel a bit exhausted with all the events I went to. Each day has been filled with lots of walking, drinking, talking, and eating latenight snacks... Yet all of this has been so much fun so far that I cannot complain.

I did too many things this past Friday to blog; but assure you I had a blast. Yesterday was a great day which began with a trip to Puces Pop and it seemed like there was a good selection of new vendors. It also seemed that everyone in Montreal decided to go at the same time. It was insanly packed! I only walked through three aisles and I would get stuck blocked by the other craft hungry folk it sometimes seemed impossible to move forward ah!!

Yet to reflect on those crowds now it is indeed a good thing. It`s a clear sign that there are more and more art/craft lovers in Montreal and the event is now reaching a point that has prooved this concept really is a successful part of POP. On the flispide it could also mean the organizers should reconize this and think of a bigger venue next year... it would be a fundemental change but might be neccessary for the growth of the event.

Shortly after leaving the masses of craft crowds I headed to Phonopolis, a nice mile end record shop just in front of my house on Parc avenue. (also very convenient to drop off our goodies we both bought and layer up because it was getting cold!!). The record store always seems to do a series of free shows for Pop Montreal in their tiny basement and lucky me, the Silly Kissers were doing a free afternoon concert. It is the second time I experience listening to a concert there and every time, I get that small fear of not being able to escape and being stuck there! It was pack, no air and I couldn’t see much, but I am such a fan of Silly Kissers music that it was worth it.

After that, on our way to POP headquarters the Notman House for a vernissage and some free shows, we stopped at the Ukrainian Federation Basement for Record Fair. Lots of great vinyls new and old,  beers and a nice art installation.

On our way home we walked back from Sherbroke all the way to Bernard and I couldn't help but feel very lucky to live here in Montreal and to be able to enjoy the Pop Festival. It was so nice to see so many people dressed crazy, running around venue to venue, seeing great shows, and having a full day to discover, explore and have fun with music, art and film.

The winner of Fashion Pop 2010

Natasha Thomas is the big winner of this years Fashion Pop. I really like her style and if I had money, I will try to get one of her trenchcoat. One day, one day...

video from Dualité