I love the Virgin of Guadalupe and I don’t really understand why.  I guess it is because she is such a stylish goddess.  She is always portrayed surrounded by glitter and pretty things and lots of colour.  She is the brown skinned Virgin and she is a Mother.

So I tried to make Virgin cookies…..not the best tasting cookies I ever made, but still kinda fun.

I also used the top of an old perfume bottle to emboss roses into the cookie dough.

And now, for a peek at a recent release of the new Fall collection:  the Guadalupe skirt!  Isn’t she just fabulous!

One that note, the Fall collection is starting to arrive in the store.  Come take a look!

It is time to start planning your veggie patch.  Have you bought your seeds yet? Please buy heritage NON GMO seeds from the last remaining independant seed distributers.  Here is a link to a local seed distributor from Lanaudiere:

http://www.ecoumene.com/

I wasn’t raised with any Catholic education, so I was unfamiliar with the Sacred Heart.   On this trip, as I began to see so many beautiful hearts all over town, in boutiques, on murals, and even just on keychains, I noticed I was really drawn to them.

We LOVE hearts at Boutique Katrin Leblond.  Just look at our logo.

The heart’s bursting over with flowers, just like many sacred hearts burst with flames.

They say that, in Catholicism, the Sacred Heart of Jesus represents Jesus’ divine love for humanity.   I like to think that when people enter the boutique, they are nurtured and inspired to show divine love towards themselves.   We want every woman to feel they are entering a temple that worships the beauty that exists in all of us, inside and out.

this hand embroidered pillow is available at the boutique

I left Texas with a little hand-made Sacred Heart made out of tin that I bought from a Mexican artist.   I’ve hung it over my work desk, so that the radiance of that divine self-love may carry me through my work days, and inspire me to be my best self.

Like a new dress or scarf, this little Heart of mine is a simple gift to myself that makes me feel special and loved.  Come on by the Boutique and you’re bound to find something that does the same for you!

Express your beauty as you are.  Dance in your kitchen, and sing to the stars.

Sarah Pearson

I love that I get to make her costumes.  I feel honoured that she chooses me time and time again as her costume designer.  This was our newest collaboration.  It ‘s for her wheel act.

It highlights her fantastically toned sexy-mama body and swooshes when she moves.  The body suit is a one piece with gaucho wing legs.  The back and straps are a-symmetrical with crisscrossing lines, ruffles and  an amazing beaded collar piece that I saved from one of my grandmothers old Parisian haute-couture dresses.  I am very proud of this creation.

Here are some casual pictures that she took backstage posing and looking adorable.  Room #6.

Krin on tour with her little munchkin circus child Ole.

Not only does she blow me away with her talent and showmanship, her amazing ability to entertain, but she is a great role model for how to have a kid and still be yourself.

Love of love to all the circus families that just do it!  -Kat

]]> http://katrinleblondblog.com/uncategorized/i-get-to-costume-people-i-love-presenting-krin-maren-haglund/feed/ 0 http://katrinleblondblog.com/inspiration/the-art-of-trees/ http://katrinleblondblog.com/inspiration/the-art-of-trees/#comments Mon, 18 Oct 2010 09:59:30 +0000 Krysten Seguin http://katrinleblondblog.com/?p=4169 Katrin Leblond’s designs are often inspired by nature.  No wonder, nature itself has to be the most beautiful art ever made and we are dancing however beautifully or destructively across our world sized canvas every day.   With the inevitable change of the seasons underway, I look out my window and I see the mascot of fall, the changing trees.  The colors are rich and bright, soon to be brown, tired and then bare.  I believe that trees are greatly under appreciated. They not only give us shade, oxygen and beauty, but they give us inspiration as well…

alive…

embroidered…

elaborate…

simple…

3D…

2D…

on your pillow…

Or on your clothes…

Be inspired.  Even though winter is coming, and the trees that surround us will be going dormant, awaiting the warmth and light of spring, we can celebrate them 365 days a year, in our homes, and in our hearts.  How will you capture the art outside your window?  Come try on one of Kat’s creations.  Wear a leaf on your sleeve.  We all love trees.

Put on your hat and your scarf on and take a walk up Mount Royal.  The trees are beautiful right now.

I wanted to take the chance to let you all in on my world.  I want to share with you, my loyal and beautiful friends, a part of who I am, and what I love.

So follow me on the journey of how a skirt becomes the embellished wonder that you, and I, all love…

We start with a Basic A-line skirt.  We call it the “Art Skirt”, because I am always embellishing it in new ways with new appliquées and top stitching.   All stitching is done in studio on the sewing machine, but it is what we call “freestyle”.  It is not a computer image being embroidered, so each line is improvised as we sew.

This was in the fall collection fashion show as a sheer skirt with a nude thong underneath. As the world is not a runway show, we needed to make the skirt more suitable for everyday use.

First, I draw an image and translate it into stencils that we can use to cut the same shapes out of fabric

The first layer of stitching is really just to tack the cut out shaped to the skirt.

Top stitching details and buttons are added.

Then, we make a top to match, of course.

The racks full of clothing in the palette Black, Grey, Pink, Coral waiting for their new coordinating skirt and top to fill out the whole look.

Now you can get the skirt, the top, the pants, the jacket, the…………

It can all come together or you can always wildly mix and match in unexpected ways from other racks of differing colour palettes all over the store.

See you at the boutique.

erin

Krysten

Kat

all photos in this post by Kat except the beautiful fall leaf colours was offered by Krysten.  This post was written for Kat by Krysten.

Weddings are the perfect place for fanciful dress-up, parading around in your finest and, best of all: a chance to see what everyone else is wearing.   This ogling of others attire is something I fondly refer to as “wardrobe scrutiny”.    Rather than going down the path of criticism I love to scan for the wardrobe statements I admire most.   It is like going on a visual treasure hunt and the reward is stunning fashion.

It was at the wedding of a cherished friend, that I saw a guest wearing a dress adorned with colorful and beautiful hand embroidered bugs.  I stopped the woman and asked if I could take a picture of her dress.  I could not pass up the opportunity to photograph them.  Thankfully she agreed.

It is truly sad to know that long gone are the days where it was very common to see embroidery on clothing.  It is always a pleasure to see someone who appreciates the craftsmanship and the love put into each stitch.

The wonderful thing about hand embroidered pieces is that no two are the exact same, each have their own personality.  These little critters are no exception…

This little dragonfly is the perfect example of the time and consideration put into embroidery.  The colors are bright and the details are exquisite.

This little bee was done perfectly, and with so much detail.  The shading of his body is an added bonus which adds realism to the piece. This little guy’s personality definitely shines.   The colors are more neutral, his colors may not be as bright as the dragonflies’, but that does not make him any less beautiful.  He is quite a regal being.

This little guy may be small, but he is just as perfect as the others.

Here is the front of the dress just below the bust. Individually, these little bugs are immaculate, but together, they form a rich tapestry of fall colors and life. It was an honor be be granted permission to photograph this dress.

The embroidery is perfect for fall.  The colors used definitely take into consideration the sights you might see while walking through the woods on a crisp fall day.  With the leaves a vibrant red, green, golden and rich browns, mother nature is definitely an inspiration for these little works of art.

_________________________~~___________________________

I found some more lovely embroidery being done today, courtesy of the internet.  One may think that birds and insects are better suited to spring than to the upcoming fall season, but done correctly; using neutrals, earth tones and sharp black lines, you cannot go wrong incorporating them into your wardrobe, accessories and home.

A simplistic design, but beautiful.  The use of black lines makes for a wonderfully delicate piece.  The birds may be flying south for the winter, but this one will stay behind as a reminder of the beauty and life that can be.

The monarch design is more complex and elaborate.   So perfect and realistically done, it is almost ready to pop off the material and fly away.  A very true to life piece of work.

Happy Labour Day

Your life is your most powerful art.  See you at the boutique.

erin

————————

While on my first road trip across Canada, with the man I later married, I wanted to record our travels.  The problem was I get car sickness.

Despite, the fact that I couldn’t write in my journal,  I found embroidery to be something I could handle even with the rock and roll of the road.  Embroidery became my traveling form of journaling.

I stitched the landscapes and the names of all the animals we saw along the way.

The coloured threads depict the story of our road trip  together.

I would sit in the passenger seat of our non air-conditioned van and stitch away.

The finished belt wraps around my body twice.

The needle pulled the thread in and out of the fabric stitching the moments I wanted to capture.   The van hit the road.  My needle pulled the thread.  The wind swept us away at the start of our journey.   The stitches became pictures.  The pictures began the story of our journey.  I stitched the flower called Indian paint brush.  Wild to Canada, this flower called out to be remembered.  I stitched the orange and yellow of it’s petals.  The lakes in Ontario were numerous  swimming pleasures.  There were so many lakes.  I painted with the blue of my embroidery thread just one to remember them all.  As we approached the prairies fields of Canola, also called Rape seed, danced yellow blooms that waved in the wind.  Dots of yellow thread floated across the belt.

The car broke down and we had to spend three days waiting for a part in Edmonton.  I stitched the part we needed  called a U joint.  We drove on to the Rockies.  Nights under the crescent moon were beautiful.

We took the fairy to Salt Spring Island and went swimming with purple and blue  dragon flies.

We watched boat racing on a Native reserve on Vancouver Island.  We walked in the red wood forest under the full moon.

Then we left Canada.  We hit Seattle and we went to the fish and flower market.  Four hours from Seattle, we spent two days at mount Saint Helen the mountain that erupted years before.

LOVE…….LOVE LOVE WAS EVERYTHING.  Our van was love parked in dry lands that had sage bushes all around.  I stitched a heart floating over our van.  I stitched my love.  My heart.

We drove through the Craters of the Moon and finally got back to the rivers of Ontario.  Eager to get home we drove and drove and drove…day and night.  We took shifts.

The road took us home.

]]> http://katrinleblondblog.com/embroidery/travelling-embroidery/feed/ 3 http://katrinleblondblog.com/boutique/leaves/ http://katrinleblondblog.com/boutique/leaves/#comments Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:00:50 +0000 Katrin Leblond http://katrinleblondblog.com/?p=2642 Nature has always been my greatest inspiration.  Flowers in the summer and leaves in the Fall.  It is so simplistic, but it returns to me every season and I never tire of these basic earthy themes.  Here is a sampling of some land art I find beautiful (all done by a man named Nils) and some of the leaf embroidery we are working on for the current Fall 2010 collection.

These leaves will be appearing on our Fall pencil skirt.  It is my new favorite skirt and I am super excited to introduce this cut as a recurring staple to the store.

The black and white feather appliqué is a perfect t-shirt for the graphically bold.  The feathers are delicately placed at the neckline of the v-neck.  (this photo is on it’s side)

The new Mystery jacket ($126) with tumbling red tulle leaves (pictured below).

Nature in red glory marching to the water.  I don’t really know what this photo is about I just like the walking red flowers.

Frost on the leaves is coming sooner than some of us would like to think.

The doorway to Fall.

The collection in store offers some fashionable ways to get ready before it  gets cold out!

Kat

Photo: La Presse Canadienne /Rafa Rivas       Corrida espagnole

I love the hot pink tights!  It is a moment of glory when hot pink tights are a symbol of masculinity and dominance.

The love and detail that goes into costume making is very different from all the assembly line of fashion production.  These garments are made tight so that there is less material for the bulls horns to catch on.  I love the embroidery.  I love the embellishments.  I love the tassels and pom poms.  The layers!  The capes! The little hats!  I love that there can be a ritual for men to get this glamed up and that this much pomp can actually contribute to their sense of masculine power.

black and white toreador portraits by photographer: Christian Courreges

The Catalan people have recently voted to stop bull fighting.  They are breaking with tradition and choosing to move forward into a cruelty-free world.  They are courageous and I have great admiration for the willingness to evolve.  Congratulations!

Down with needless torture of innocent animals.  Down with the idea that we are not animals ourselves.  Down  fear of the other.

Cheers to men in tights.  Cheers for playing dress up!  Cheers to ornate fabulousness.  Lets find a better reason for men to get this dressed up.  End the blood….. Keep the fashion!

Torro!  Torro!

WE LOVE THESE BECAUSE THEY ARE  fabulously embellished and brightly colored fun for your sunny beach times.

This summer is the first ever debut for swimwear in the store.  WE have lots of different styles to soak up the sun in.

We love these because they are SKIMPY!   Some times,  when  you are deep in vacation land, and you have had enough time to shed your northern inspired body issues and fears, and the sun keeps calling, and the sand is delicious and warm, -  you want to wear a little less.   You could, do like some of the locals in your paradise spot  probably do – GO Naked!  Or,  you could slip into one of these playful little numbers.   These beachwear pieces are high on style and small on coverage.   Tee heee hee !  Have fun! Enjoy the sun!

Miss Sara M discovered these gems for us,  in her home land of Columbia,  where the swim pieces are lovingly made and embellished by hand.   WE love the color combos and three dimensional elements.   The bikinis with the leaves have a particular KL flare that fits into the boutique so nicely beside Kat’s own swimwear designs.   Wear these mini pieces with some great cover ups like Kat’s flying vest $64 or Patricia Woods Beach Wrap Cardigans $ 115  (available in sheer black and Ivory and Gray).   Then add on a fun Pupina beach bag for good measure(available in store for $24 to $36 in variety of bright colors with floral ascents).

Katrin has equally playful options available in store that she designed herself that offer all the fun with more coverage.  Katrin Leblond offers her own designs in bikini and very covering tankini versions.

I personally can’t wait for the tankini to hit the shelves.   I’m looking forward to going with my daughter to Montreal’s outdoor pools and wading pools and not feeling too shy to get wet and have fun with her.

The Athena dress makes a great beach wear pairing  to which ever swim pieces you choose as the dress is actually made of highest quality swim compatible fabric.   Put on your dress and high heels,  grab a martini and jump in the pool!   The fabric is quick drying and light and stays great in water.   Kat is THE true goddess of swim and poolside clothing.  Many of her Art Skirts and Katrina tanks and mini skirts also make amazing beach or poll side cover ups for over your swimsuit.   No doubt you can be the best dressed  Pool side Party hostess in your KL ensembles.

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

Rebekah Crown has become a staple in both Katrin’s personal and boutique life.

I had the opportunity to interview her via e-mail for a little insight on the things that make her tick, and how she conducts her craft .

Enjoy, and soak up her love for the arts at her vernissage (flyer with dates and times at the end of the post)!

So tell me a bit about what you do!  Everything from Spiritual enlightenment to creating beautiful textiles and artwork it seems!  How did you get into all of these domains?

Fabric, red wine, warm weather, baby leaves, fall colours in this corner of the world, the desert.

What inspires you when creating?

Pretty much everything. The colours in nature, city shapes, architectural detail, Islamic art, other quilters. Also my own inner process. I am exploring genealogy and am working on a series on ancestors. Having ideas is never a problem. Having the time and technique to manifest all the ideas would take many lifetimes.

How did you meet Katrin?  When did you two begin your collaborations?

I met Katrin through a women’s spirituality group. We did magical activism together. One aspect of this was making ceremonial objects. She has worked in many media and we made magic wands, drums, goddess figurines in clay…lots of fun things. I think we share not only a love of beauty, but an appreciation of beauty as an important healing and spiritual force. Some consider beauty to be superficial and think art should express a concept. I heard an interview on CBC where Kat said “Beauty is a value in itself” I love this. I think our natural state is health and our bodies resonate to harmony and beauty in the environment.

What colours/fabrics/textures are you naturally drawn to?

Anything shiny. I also have been known as The Supreme High Priestess of Purple. Black should only be used or worn to show off colour. Purple goes with everything especially orange.

For updates on her upcoming show (right across the street from the KL boutique – be sure to drop in and say hi while you’re there!), join her facebook event page .

Portraits (especially self) are always interesting to see.  Someones perception and talent used to portray themselves or someone else through their own eyes…  Sometimes they expose a certain emotion or mood – possibly even a flaw or feature… and other times they are perfection.  An outsiders preconceived notions of a perfect life.  Here are a beautiful collection of hand embroideries (inspiration courtesy of Mr. X Stitch, the KING of Contemporary embroidery and needlecraft) bringing out certainly the best in the people presented .  Amongst ladies and gentlemen I could not help but add in some other beautiful forms of embroidery and needlework… I need to learn how to crochet/beautifully stitch – LIKE NOW!!!

I love the use of buttons, paint, beads and stitches that make this collage type of art so expressive!  The zigzag stitching reminds me so much of Katrin’s embroidered skirts and Emilie Desmeules (a KL boutique artist)  abstract detailed yarn color explosions.  Makes me want to grab a canvas and get to work!  Never experienced any of Katrin’s artwork?  Take a walk through the store and keep your eyes peeled for original KL masterpieces… or, grab a smoothie next door at all vegan Aux Vivres and gaze adoringly at the mounted printed fabric canvases that Kat created.  Divine!

Hope your week is everything you expected it to be and more!  This is the halfway point…

xox