Petals on my paws: boho bear

Please meet Mr. Boho Bear.

He's my latest crush.

I picked him up at an artisan show this weekend.

He was a steal: only $25.

Best part: he was made by a lady in London, Ontario from recycled wool coats. An older lady who works with her sews silk flowers on his torso, ears and paws.

Ain't he adorable?


Wish I could say you can find him online, or in a shop near you, but that's the nature of the biz with some artisans: they sell at shows only or out of their home, and have no website.

Still, I love this little guy so much, and the fuzzy bears made out of recycled fur coats, that I may just see if we can get these bears into some shops in T.O. Boho Bear needs a pal, bigtime.

I have the lady's card and email, so if you love what you see and want your own Boho Bear please email me and I'll pass on her phone no.

Have a great day!

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Looks like Anthropologie but it's not

I admit it: grunge queen DOES buy new on occasion, especially when the look is hot and the deal is screaming.

My latest shopping obsession is The Embellished Room at 2025 Yonge St. in Toronto (416-489-7222, no website).

It sells new clothing, all from France, everything at $29.99 EACH.

Yup, this pretty boho dress with a touch of West Side Story thrown in at the bottom was only $29.99. $29.99! For a cotton dress lined with cotton!

It makes me want to put on my heels, do a twirl and a leg shake, and sing "I want to live in Am-er-ica...."!

The shop carries mostly tops and not a lot of bottoms and for a while was carrying only size Medium, but the day I bought this frock the owner told me they were experimenting with sizes Small through Large.

Some of the looks are very a twenty-something, but there's still heaps for a thirty and forty-something to go ga-ga over.

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Good Goodwill haul

Ever heard of a thrift quick fix?

It had been, like, weeks since I thrifted and I was getting a definite ITCH.

But with a busy long weekend planned, I had little time to troll the shops. So on Saturday on my way home from errands, I popped into Goodwill. I gave myself half an hour.

For $20 I left with a happy haul o' goodies. On time, on budget.

I love tarnished silver - it has an old-world elegance and slight decrepitude that I find alluring. This urn was $2.99.




The bohemian look is still going strong in my decor books.

This pillow cover from India, pillow included, was only $2.99.

It's sitting on my "new" chair from the trash - see posts below.


Meanwhile this beautiful boho vase (wine holder?) made in Greece was $3.99. I love the colours and pattern.

I also picked up a long night gown for $2.99 and THE MOST STUNNING 1960s maxi dress with halter top and fitted bodice that fits me like a glove for $6.99.

Will have to get a pic of me wearing it as it's just a gem --- now I need someone to invite me to a red carpet event!

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Beddie By

I've thought twice about showing my bedroom, but heck, the magazines do it and you've most of my place already, so why not?

In truth I'm never really happy with how the bedroom comes together. Whatever I do, it just looks BLAH, never cohesive.

I love my brass bed, picked up at a junk store in Ottawa, Canada for $125 in 1998. I decided to leave the off-white duvet on (I have a bunch of duvet covers so I can change things up when need be) and jazz up the rest of the room.

You'll notice my blue antique Persian rug has been moved into the bedroom - that wasn't by choice. Dag, cat no. 2, has had a joyous time getting his scratching ya yas out on it. So before he destroys it and I freak out, the carpet will reside in my bedroom, which has a door that will be CLOSED when I'm out.

The carpet provides some contrast and actually inspired me to put together a shabby, slightly boho-Orient look, what with my silky fuchsia Kimono and small green silk carpet.

The rest, quite frankly, is just a comfy hodge-podge of stuff (where else but in the bedroom should comfort and clutter collide?). The floral pillow is from an old design company in Toronto - I found it at Value Village for $1.99. Velvet IKEA pillows also a la thrift shop around the corner for $1.99 each, and the German crystal lamp to the left was a big ticket item: $30 at my local thrift shop, Stretch Thrift in Toronto.

The dresser to the left I've had for years and the one to the right was a garbage find, given to me by fellow picker and pal, Matthew (I put new drawer pulls on it).

Oh and the Hermes scarf poster, tiny landscape above bed and self-portrait of a child were church sale and thrift store finds, all under $5 each!

A definite work in progress, this, but then again everything in my place is - joyfully so.

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