Holiday Humour!

What's not to like about a good old-fashioned holiday greeting card that's mildly insulting and beautifully embossed on recycled paper? In this economy, this one says it all!

All photos courtesy http://www.carolleedesigns.etsy.com/

This year, with all the doom and gloom, we all need some laughter!
I was delighted to find a wonderfully sarcastic yet elegant card source on Etsy, by Carol Lee Designs, called Junkmail Greetings, and even more excited to find out this clever, witty Carol is here in Canada, almost in my backyard! Here are a few samplings of her holiday greetings...enjoy!



Card reads 'he sees you when you're sleeping.....kinda creepy'

Carol Lee Designs carries a full line of cards, for birthdays, congratulations, and even a desktop calendar for 2009. There's more to love: these cards are printed on recycled paper that comes with the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification. The FSC represents products produced from well-managed forests, controlled sources and recycled wood. To see more, click here to visit Carol Lee's Etsy shop!


Hey, Pam-in-law of the South, are you seeing these cool cards? They're so YOU!

Thanks for reading my blog! To read archives of my posting , scroll down and click on 'older posts'. Feel free to leave a comment by clicking on the 'comment' word below. You may also visit my website at http://www.housewears.ca/

November Shopping Odyssey

Photo courtesy of fashionandbeautytech.com

You gotta love holiday shopping....Is it the faint jingles of Christmas carols playing, dodging the clusters of bundled up shoppers braving blustery weather on snowy sidewalks, or circling around a jammed mall parking lot looking for a decent parking spot less than a mile from the nearest entrance? Maybe it's squeezing by the heaping shopping carts and zealous bargain hunters lined up by stores at the crack of dawn on 'Black Friday' for the doorbusting deals the day after American Thanksgiving? No, it's no picnic, but somehow, the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping gives me holiday spirit. It is a shopping ritual that, although hectic and downright exhausting, feels rewarding when I find the perfect gift, and kicks off the holiday season for me!
It's infinitely more enjoyable if you're organized and have time to shop ahead. Planning ahead allows one the luxury of lollygagging and browsing around the stores looking at the small details, and I'm much more apt to pick up things that a last minute shopper won't find, or can't be bothered looking for! I like to stock up on small trinkets that can be used for hostess gifts. Though I haven't hit the stores physically yet, my online search has been fruitful!

Here are gorgeous bottle stoppers that can be monogrammed from Pottery Barn.

I also love the look of these metallic embroidered sentiment pillows from Pottery Barn.

Photo Courtesy Harper Collins

Nina Garcia's new book, The One Hundred, was released this summer and is a great
addition to any fashionista's library!

This Lux Jewellry Box from West Elm is ideal for jewellry or other keepsakes.


Photo courtesy of Katespaperie.com

My holiday purchases need to be as stunning on the outside as they are inside, so the wrapping of the gifts is as important as the gift itself. I love plain paper and a lush satin ribbon, maybe a felt monogram, or I'll go with hip paper and solid ribbon to make an irresistible statement!

Katespaperie.com carries beautiful holiday paper, including this metallic baubles paper.

This amazing reindeer paper is also available thru Katespaperie.com. Wouldn't this be

chic used on some gifts under the tree with simple thick satin plum ribbon, and a few more gifts in solid plum paper with turquoise or chocolate satin ribbon? Love it!!!!

Thanks for reading my blog! To view my archives, scroll down and click on 'older posts'. Feel free to make a comment by clicking on the 'comment' word below. You may also visit my website at www.housewears.ca

Sensational Screens and Room Dividers

Farm 21 Room Divider/Folding Screen in Resin Rye Straw, by Trendir

Room screens and partitions are great functional design solutions because:

1) they occupy minimal floor space, yet maximize vertical interest in a room

2) they provide separation or delineation of areas, allowing for maximal functionality within a multi-use space.

3) they can hide unwanted clutter, cover up bad architecture, or create an attractive display area.

Here are some more great pieces!

Frederic de Delleywogg 39 Screen from Bonluxat

Serafina 3 panel iron screen by Arteriors Home

Gilded Wood Open Work Screen by Arteriors Home

This is a TV! Daewoo Digital LCD Screen from gizmodo.com

Stacks and Stacks room silver screen

Modern Living Room Divider by Laflat

Domino Shelving Unit by Laflat

Modular Light Screen from InMode

Articulated 3 Panel Mirror Screen from Century Furniture

Ring Screen by Kelly Hoppen for Century Furniture

Top: Derby Bookcase Room Divider by cantoni.com, Eames Folding Plywood Screen, dwr.com
Middle: Curva screen from plushpod.com, room divider/bookcase from westelm.com
Bottom: Armani Casa from furniturestoreblog.com, Flipper Room Divider Screen by Material Furniture at re-modern.com

Yabu Pushelberg - Made in Canada

Canadian, eh? If you've ever experienced their luxurious designs in swanky luxury hotels and restaurants, or enjoyed retail therapy in high end stores designed by this talented team , you already know our world is a more beautiful place because of two insanely talented designers from the Great White North.... the edgy, sophisticated, yet timeless look of
Yabu Pushelberg!

Tiffany & Co. Wall Street, and George Yabu, photos by Hirokoma Masuike for The New York Times

George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg in their New York residence, photo by Thomas Loof

The dynamic design duo, George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg, have propelled retail and hospitality design to towering heights by always 'thinking outside the box'. Both from ordinary beginnings, Glenn (originally from Kitchener, Ontario) attended Ryerson Polytechnic College for design, where he met George Yabu (from the Cabbagetown district in Toronto, before it was hip to live there). Upon graduation, they each pursued design on their own by freelancing, until a few years later, by chance, they met on a Toronto street in the upscale Yorkville area. They discussed renting space together, and eventually, they became partners in work and in life.

Their big break came in 1984 when they were hired by Joe Mimram and Alfred Sung for design of a new Toronto store called Club Monaco. Their fresh energy and enthusiasm was unbridled. Club Monaco became an international chain, and it was here that Yabu Pushelberg transformed retail design from chrome racks and patterned carpeting to the concept of store as a lifestyle, using props and theatrical lighting against a raw backdrop of stained cement floors and neutral hues to compliment the artfully displayed clothing.

Over thirty years later, with offices in Toronto and New York, this Canadian pair is among the world's leading luxury hotel and retail designers, with numerous accolades: the Platinum Circle Award for hospitality design, the prestigious James Beard Foundation Award for Excellence in restaurant design, named Designer of the Year by Contract magazine, and they were inducted into the Interior Design Hall of Fame. Their client list includes the W Hotels , the St. Regis Hotel in San Francisco, Bergdorf Goodman New York, Tiffany& Co., Neiman Marcus, Kate Spade, Victoria's Secret, The Hazelton Hotel in Toronto, the Four Seasons in Tokyo, Las Vegas' MGM Grand, and they are currently working on the posh Ritz-Carlton in Vancouver, scheduled to open in 2011. They have turned down projects of equal prestige; tired of department stores, they decided against taking on the refurbishment of Paris's Galeries Lafayette. Here are just a few photos of YP's brilliant work!

Yabu Pushelberg's residence, photo by Thomas Loof

Some Key Elements of the YP look:

-quality craftsmanship

-transparent or semi-transparent applications of glass, mirror, plastic or resin

-stylish furniture, often with clean lines

-unusual cabinetry or ironwork from local craftspeople

-experimentation with materials

-sculptural wallboard

The Hazelton Hotel Toronto, photo courtesy The Hazelton Hotel

Le Meridien Minneapolis photo courtesy of Le Meridien

W Hotel New York Time Square, photo courtesy Studio Annetta

W New York Time Square, photo courtesy Evan Dion

Opus Hotel, Montreal, Canada. Photo courtesy of Wallpaper Magazine

Tiffany & Co., Wall Street, photo courtesy guestofaguest.com

Hazel Luxury for Women, Yorkville, Toronto photo courtesy The Hazelton Hotel

Photo courtesy the examiner.com

St. Regis San Francisco photo courtesy Studio Annetta

Party with Christian, Hugo,and Judith!

Yes, it is that time of year again for festive fundraisers and glitzy galas! Once September hits, women flock to the dress shops and high-end department stores, scouring the racks for flattering frocks, killer shoes and accessories to turn heads for the party season.

One particular event, we'll call it the 'Governor's Ball' is held yearly right after Halloween at a country club, 'The Grove'. This gala for us has been too much fun because the attire is glamorous and the energy is high! A hip crowd with a few too many martinis makes for one fun fete!

Some highlights of this year's event were my friend 'Eva' Bella's lovely Louboutins, Mo's Boss lace ups, my little bag from Judith, and Jennifer's (aka Elizabeth) gorgeous red strapless gown. Some are so stunning, it's blinding, and, uh, not in a good way.... a few elegant fashionistas were ready to contact the fashion authorities to send some 'Bratz Dolls' back to Toys'r'Us...Let's give them the benefit of the doubt....maybe they were still dressed up for Halloween.

Who can resist those stunning red soles???? Photo courtesy of kristopherdukes.com

Photo courtesy of Saks Fifth Avenue
My gown of choice was this flowing Marc Bouwer Glamit!, and despite the numerous people who stepped on my train, miraculously, it is still fully intact for the next function (in another city with another crowd, of course!).