Archive for June, 2010
The Inspiration that is Frida Khalo
I think I speak for all woman (and man) kind when I point out the extraordinary woman that Frida Khalo embodied. Her passion for art, love of animals, eye for beauty and color, as well as rebellious personality make her one of the most remembered and cherished artists of all time.
Why exactly? Because with every whim she followed her instincts and her heart. With every experience she grew stronger no matter how negative they may have been. Jotting entries down in her journal, creating oil paintings infused with wildlife and heartbreaking imagery – if there was one main theme behind her artwork it was authenticity and acceptance.
What I love the most about her (and draw the most inspiration from) is how she was never anyone other than herself. Through good and bad habits she had a “take all of me or nothing at all” approach to life. She was passionate. She never settled.
Katharina, one of the lovely creators of KL goodness (a specialist when it comes to sewing machine embroidery) reminds me so much of Frida. While she is very much her own person, there is a wild beauty within her that is so refreshing and strong, you can’t help but think of Frida’s spirit.
Frida’s portraits were another highlight of her perception of the world. She did not try to beautify herself on canvas (in fact I find her much more attractive in photographs), but instead looked reality right in the face (sans alteration) and made it astounding. As a woman, this takes some serious guts!!!
Frida is a big part of what the KL team accomplish every day. The boutique is full of trinkets and prints alike that mimic or fully resemble this icon.
Kat even has this stuffed doll on her bookshelf…
My personal fave?
The Classic Hardware Frida bracelet, available for $55 at the boutique (There are also Frida necklaces and earrings). When I wear mine not only do I get heaps of comments, but it reminds me to stay strong and stay true.
xox
I did this embroidery on a vintage $2 bill in my early twenties.
The Queen is very important in hat-wearing society. I learned how to make bibi hats from Pauline Duguay, and the studio has recently released a new batch of bibi creations. I personally love the turquoise butterfly terrarium and the leaf.
Kat
Donna truly is a jack of all trades! Shown here modeling her beautiful cami’s (which she sews, cuts, chooses the fabric for, delivers to stores and manages the inventory for – phew!), this lady truly is a powerhouse if I ever did see one!
Donna’s cami’s are essential to the KL boutique for both their beauty as well as their simplicity.
You see, most of the KL creations have multiple adornments, bold patterns and intriguing cuts when it comes to their style – to which the perfect classic or racerback cami comes in to save the day! Tank tops have become the wardrobe basic, making them perfect layering pieces and colorful pops to any outfit – simple or extravagant!
We have the cami’s in-store for the small price of $26 (made completely by Donna the one-woman-wonder, here in Montreal folks) in a rainbow of beautiful colors for you to match with your favorite dresses, pair of jeans or KL party skirt!
It’s summertime! Stock up on DB tanks!
xox
It’s Monday morning… the moment everyone’s clocks set back and the possibilities of a whole new week lay ahead. Everything is fresh…
So before you get lost in the trials and tribulations of your day, why don’t you just take a moment to think straight and let at least one person know how much they mean to you!
It can be through the telephone, through a love note or simply through a nice gesture… anything to brighten their day and let them know that you have their back 
!
It’s easy to put people on our “to do” lists or schedule them into our days itinerary, but the real love comes from someone knowing that you went out of your way to show some love.
So happy Monday to you all, and I challenge you to do one good “friend deed” today in whatever form may hit you!
Spread the love!
xox
This is about Betsy. She said to me on the phone that she wanted a rainbow wedding dress. I was delighted. Just my kind of project. We talked and I got a sense of her personality and then I took the time to make my first three sketches.
Elements of all three dresses became her dress. We chose her favorite silhouette, neckline and mixed up the embellishments to create the boquet-butterfly-fiesta party dress. The butterflies that I used as sequins on her dress have also been used by Martha Stuart to make this fab rainbow butterfly cake.
Happiness can sometimes be hard to come by… life has a way of dragging us through the ringer at moments! The secret of the successful though, I have learned, is to consistently and always keep your eye on the prize! Always think big, never let your dreams outta sight, and keep working hard towards your end goal!
Here are a few of my favorite mantra’s that mentally free me during times of hardship and transform the ordinary days into extraordinary ones .
- Love yourself. By love yourself, I really mean WORSHIP yourself. I really don’t have any clue how anyone gets anything done in life while they consistently go on about insecurities and doubts. Stop working against your potential for greatness, allow yourself luxuries and all the love the world has to offer!
- Travel. Be it to the grocery store or China, sometimes a change of scenery is just what the doctor ordered.
- Surround yourself by amazing people. People you aspire to be, people who inspire you and who support everything you are in this world! Never imagine people being better than you – if you think of yourself as the best you will become it! Toxic people in your life need to be flushed, so stop hesitating and allowing them to poison your positivity!
- Spoil yourself. I know it’s cheesy because of all the cosmetics companies sport this as their advertising headers, but you know what – they’re on to something! Allow yourself the little extra’s and know your worth (now realistically multiply what you think it is by 1000 – that’s what your REAL worth is). Women are made to think of others first – realize that you cannot spoil others without spoiling yourself first!
- Set your feelings free. Be it anger, fear, happiness or excitement – let it go! Put emotions into actions and allow yourself to move on to bigger and better things via creativity and experiences! The moment you realize you are an entity who owns their emotions and not the other way around, is the moment you win.
- Listen to music. So many more times than not there is someone out there who has been in the same rough spot as you. Inspiration comes in so many forms, but music has the ability to feel like a good friend offering up the greatest advice. Soak up a soothing melody and let someone else’s experience get you through the toughest times .
- Take care of your body. Adorn it with lush fabrics, exotic colors and precious materials… be a goddess and feel like one! Feed your mind via books and philosophies, nourish your body with clean foods and rest your soul with peace and quiet. Rest and relaxation is the new luxury – true proof that some of the best things in life are free!
- Be creative. Paint, write, construct, solve… whatever side of the brain proves to be your strongest, use it to your advantage and indulge in the luxury of seeing something materialize from your own two hands. There is nothing more rewarding than being able to add your perspective of beauty to the universe.
- Do something that scares you. You have no idea how freeing it is to test yourself and succeed at conquering your fears. It is like a breath of fresh air! In my experience the things I am most scared of end up becoming the things I come to call my faves.
- Believe. Doesn’t have to be in God. Doesn’t have to be in fate or destiny. Believe in something you feel strongly for… be it your cat, car, neighbor or politics… being able to exercise your love for something and stand up for it without question adds to the intrigue of your personality and gives you a loyal edge.
Having said all of that… don’t you just love these gorgeous organza inspired prints?
xox
I have always been attracted to the myth and meaning of animals. We are so far removed from them in our urban day to day, that when a fox runs across the road in front of me, it is a profound moment. For years now I have been documenting all the animals that I encounter. Surprisingly, this happens without having to drive to the country. In Native folklore the meaning of these chance encounters are called animal medicine.
The Deer is gentleness:
Stop pushing so hard to get others to change, and love them a they are.
Apply gentleness and become like the summer breeze; warm and caring.
The Rabbit is fear:
What you resist will persist. What you fear most will be called to you by worry.
(But today we see rabbits as sweet and cuddly and innocent and edible. )
The Giraffe is the ultimate fashion model animal.
The exoticism of this animal is essential in it’s public perception of today. Seeing a real live giraffe is as unattainable in real life as the perfect body.
Regularly I see a beautiful woman trying on a dress in my change-rooms who sees herself as defective. Her eyes fixate on one spot: her hips, her knees, her shoulders, her tummy, her whatever….and she cannot see the whole picture of who she is anymore. It’s too bad, because the whole picture is a beautiful woman.
The porcupine is innocence.
Don’t get caught in the world of fear, greed, suffering. Let go of seriousness and severity.
Remember fantasy, imagination and COLOR. This will lead you to JOY.
May it be beautiful before me.
May it be beautiful behind me.
May it be beautiful above me.
May it be beautiful below me.
May I walk in beauty.
Now I am a very loyal gal when it comes to taking the metro here in the 514, but there are some cars that just grab a hold of my soul and don’t ever let go! Besides having a mega soft spot for vintage rides, when they are adorned or personalized I don’t stand a chance!
I know that when the day finally comes my car will be some outlandish showstopper – and not because of the brand. It will be an eccentric color and for sure have bold designs (if not totally psychedelic) ruling it’s entire frame . I gotta have some way of finding it in a large filled-out parking lot right?!?
Volkswagen hippie buses have a big section of my heart dedicated to them. Not only do I love and admire how people make these their homes/hangouts (I remember seeing them everywhere in Hawaii), but they are always adorned so creatively and positively. Living in a Volkswagen bus must be like finding God in some strange way… how could you ever hold anything other than hope with all those peace signs protecting you?
Aight folks, I must say… this one tops my list!!! A stiletto AND a car in one?!? Whoever made this definitely (subconsciously) had me (and entire womankind) in mind! If I could, I would be cruisin’ around the Montreal streets in this sweet thing… in my stilettos of course (and now that I mention it, how amazing would a Katharina dress look getting out of this shoe car?)
Even though this last one may be a toy car, I love the idea of covering (everything) in sequins. Bring the disco wherever you choose to go… and why couldn’t you get a custom paint job with lookalike sequins on it? All I’m sayin’ ladies and gents, is that we spend most of our lives
a) At work
b) At home
c) In the car, metro or walking
So make sure you adorn accordingly
Happy Friday!
xox
There are so many people in this world with great charisma, style and personality!
People who live their lives wholeheartedly, refusing to ever miss a chance at improving the way they or their loved ones live. Well rounded I guess you could say… but with a definite knack for cool!
These very same people bring the element of design to all aspects of their lives (ever notice how fashion designers and architects constantly seem to surround themselves with beauty?), creating above anything else a beautiful lifestyle. This is what the KL philosophy is all about. Finding love and positivity in everything you do, all day long (every day).
A beautiful lifestyle.
Be it finding inspiration via sandwiches or dressing up your bed for sweet dreaming, imagination is abundant and everlasting . It’s about the little things in your day that will take you the furthest… taking the time to have a bubble bath with your favorite scent, making a batch of cookies and letting the deliciousness intoxicate your home… even taking the time to feel beautiful in the morning and donning some extra zzzzz’s are all little luxurious touches you can relish and appreciate in a day!
On that note, how cool are these sandwiches?!?! Kids love ‘em, how could you not be inspired by them as an adult?! There are so many cool little trinkets in the KL boutique… imagine if they had a mini deli with these crazy creations? SO cool (but obviously not necessarily possible)…
Have a beautiful Thursday – get inspired by food!
xox
More food inspired art that takes another direction is Sandra Kadowaki’s Tatsuko sushi miniature jewelry made out of polymer clay. Sold out in store but always available by special order.
view from the studio around 7pm
These are some of the sunsets I love. On the beach in Thailand, from the windows of my studio and playing with eyeshadow. I have attached a cheesy video that I love because it was my first introduction to make up as a playful artform using colors.
Kat
Visit the Official Site!
