Wednesday 27 March 2013

Ms. Salomé's Neighbourhood

Salomé's 4th annual burfurtART sale came and went last Sunday.

She and her fab family live in a co-op building downtown, walking distance to practically everything. Since it's a co-op, the neighbours get to know each other more than they might do in a conventional apartment building. It's a really nice vibe there.

So it was great to hang out in the big, bright party room, stuffing my face with nummy nibblies we (mostly she) had provided and gossiping with her friends. Many of them looked familiar from stopping by Salomé's table, next to mine, during the summers at St. Lawrence Market.

We played dress-up. We munched and crunched. (Lots of lovely raw veggies, among other treats, and a fabulous dip with smoked paprika. Must get that recipe... ) We tested our core strength.

There we were, a handful of women slowly lowing ourselves to the floor by doing what amounted to a large plié with our feet crossed and our arms making a big circle in front of us. Of course, that's the moment unsuspecting male persons passed by the full-length window facing the hallway outside and saw our impromptu performance.

So it was a bonding moment. I say, you don't really know someone until you have tested your core strength with them while being witnessed by passersby.

It was a small turnout, but it was high quality. And lots of leftovers to take home! Score!

And a shout-out to Justin and Hunter. Hope to be hearing from you guys! Thanks for the nice chats!

And to Sarah! Thanks for coming!

Herewith the photographic souvenirs:

Patricia's new spring hat makes her very happy. As it should.

Adriana is one savvy shopper, I can tell you. I won't tell you where she got this amazing Teenflo coat that looks so very wonderful on her. And I had just the hat for her from my new spring collection, also at a fantastic low price for this one day only. If you snoozed, you losed. (Yes, spellcheck, yes, I know it's not a word...)

My table.

Salomé's tables, all Instagrammed, because that's how she rolls.

A "girl" festooned with Salomé's wonderful necklace, scarf and daughter's grade 8 (?) graduation dress.

Salomé's work table. She's either taking the picture or on the floor, testing her core strength. Pretty impressive, since she has pneumonia. What, didn't I mention that? She's on good meds, though. And yes, I still think she should have postponed the thing and stayed in bed.

And finally, me sewing, by Salomé the Instagram queen. Love that crazy arm.

Wednesday 20 March 2013

Contact and Customer Satisfaction

I have a Customer Satisfaction Survey out there through SurveyMonkey that is currently collecting responses. If you provided me with your email address when you bought something from me, I sent you an email asking for your participation. For the ones who have responded thus far, a great big thank you! It's invaluable feedback that helps me get better, so I can do better by you! Please please please keep the responses coming!

The survey responses are collected in such a way that I can't tell who said what. That's great for your confidentiality. Feel free to say what you really think. (Politely, please! I'm an actual human being with feelings, so no need to tear me into shreds. Just level with me and I'll listen with all due respect.)

If you have bought from me and would like to complete a survey, please let me know and I will give you the link. It's very fast and not at all difficult. And there are incentives and everything!

The confidentiality part has its drawbacks, though. One issue just came to my attention today. A customer has an issue with the lining of their hat. Since I don't know who you are, I can't fix it for you. I want you to be happy with what I made!

The person also said they had emailed me about this, but had not received a response. If you are paying attention to this blog, I hasten to assure you I never received such an email! Of course I would have responded had I known about it! I feel terrible that you didn't reach me!

So, please note, here is how you can contact me:

By email: annelivingston@lycos.com
By phone: 416-693-1295
In person: outside the north market at St. Lawrence Market on Saturdays, between early May and late October (presumably; waiting to hear back from them after submitting my annual application
OR by appointment at my house in the east end of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Address provided over the phone or by email when the appointment is made.

Is that clear? Email me if it isn't!

Thank you, one and all.


Friday 15 March 2013

Salome's Simply Superb Spring Sale!


Salome Cordeiro is my friend and St. Lawrence Market vendor neighbour. You've seen her often on this blog, especially during the May - October Market vending season. She makes the most fabulously exuberant jewelry which smart, sassy, stylish women snap up like snap-uppable things, under her company name, burfurtART. (Burfurt was a beloved kitty.)

Every spring she puts on a sale at Hazelburn Co-op, 178 Jarvis Street, to give her customers fantastic deals on winter stock and fresh looks for spring. This year she has invited me to bring my hats and join the party! What could I say but yes? Spending time with Salome is always a hoot and a half, as is any excuse to see my fabulous customers.

On Sunday, March 24th from noon to 4 p.m., Salome and I will be plying you with nummy nibblies, wine and tea while you replenish your wardrobes with happening hats and awesome adornments.

Hazelburn Co-op, 178 Jarvis Street (south of Dundas), entry code 118. Sunday, March 24, noon to 4 p.m.

RSVP-ing would be very helpful.

Please come, and bring your friends! It just won't be the same without you!

Thank you!

Tuesday 12 March 2013

Red

Tuesday's colour is red. According to the chromotherapy gurus, it stands for sacrifice and sex.

This Tuesday is also the beginning of the cardinals' papal conclave. Hmmm.... Significant? Coincidence? Only the cosmos knows.

While you're pondering, here are some cardinal, um, thinking caps.







Wednesday 6 March 2013

The Daily Colour

Did you know that days have associated colours? I didn't, until a moment ago. Chromotherapy isn't a hard science, but it's interesting to read about.

The colour for Wednesday is green. It's also associated with the heart chakra. That sounds pretty auspicious to me, and justification enough for this post.

I give you some of my favourite millinery interpretations of the colour green.




Sunday 3 March 2013

You Can Always Go... Downton*


* with apologies to Petula Clark

Like most people of the cloth (by which, of course, I mean people who sew and love costumes), I'm a huge sucker for "Downton Abbey." High class soap is all it is, really, but the class is very high, indeed (and lower, and middle). Fabulous era for style (currently in the story it's England in the 1920's). Breathtaking scale and sumptuous production values. Lots of "Yay!" and "Boo! Hiss!" opps. Lots and lots of eye candy. And, to top it all off, Dame Maggie Smith, as Violet Dowager Countess of Grantham, to say just the best possible thing at the best possible moment.

Swoon!

I would die (or, at the very least, plotz) to be a milliner for that show. But until that happens (or pigs fly, whichever comes first), I made a grey felt Breton that satisfied my Downton itch. For now.

I can see Mrs. Crawley wearing this. What do you think?