bye bye...

This is the last day of 2009. A year during which I discovered blogging and became addicted to it. Thank you so much for visiting my blog, thank you for your kindness and your encouragements. I wish you all the best for 2010!

food...

Ahhh! It is so nice to rest, to take it easy, read, watch movies or just do nothing. We had such a wonderful meal at my sister's on Christmas day. I made a bread and my brother in law took care of the rest. Those meet pies are to die for. So was the turkey and it's incredible chestnut stuffing. How I wish I had a stove like that!

How was your Christmas? How are you spending your off time?

Fantastic work by Kate MacDowell - via Accidental Mysteries.

merry...

So this is Christmas... wishing you the best holidays, full of good food, happiness and extreme fun!

fruit cake...

This is a family recipe that my mother (Gigi- or Gisèle) got from my grandmother (Yvonne). It's not a real fruit cake actually but more of a nuts cake. The original mix had only walnuts but I replaced some of it by almonds and pumpkin seeds. There's also a ton of dates, cherries and just enough batter to keep everything together. Miam!

I told you before about the wonderful work of Sophie Jodoin. Well my friend Johanne found this very interesting interview where she explains her approach. Sorry, it's in French, but you can see some of her work. Merci Johanne !

I am pretty impressed by the incredibly detailed work of Vasco Mourao - via Drawn.

les chapeaux de Noël...

I met Pea on MySpace about three years ago. She's one of the best blogger I know. The word that comes to mind is witty. Her writing and illustrations always have a tongue in the cheek quality, but also a great sensibility.

She sent me this little booklet of Christmas hats she drew. Aren't they fabulous? You can see her whole collection in her blog. Don't miss her misadventures with her wacky handyman (and here) and her lovely Christmas story.

boxing day...

I've been going through my things lately and thought it was time to make room for something new. So I decided to do a boxing day sale for my cards. If you click on one of the photos, it will lead you to this specific item in my store. I know you are solicited a lot these days, that's why the sale will last a month, until January 18. If all goes well, Tim and I will have new cards made, for Catle cat studio this time.

It's been so cold the last days. It's hard to go outside. I've been wearing long johns, two scarves, a hood over my hat, leg warmers... still very cold!

I'm not very often on the look out for object design (I had a very bad experience in industrial design class), but I find this book holder very cleaver - via share some candy

And the jealous curator had some kind of a theme going on this week about socks (Ali Cavanaugh) and shoes (Tiina Heiska) - very interesting work on both sides.

Stay warm where ever you are!

light...

I'm not a big fan of winter. Dressing up to be warm but not too hot so you don't sweat and then catch a cold is an art I have yet to master. But then again, if winter didn't exist, nor would this light...

The RCA secret is such a great project! Hundreds and hundreds of beautiful postcards to browse through- via Sophie Munns

inspiration...

I was very happy by all your comments on my giveaway about artists who inspire you. The answers were very different which was great. I made some new discoveries and revisited old faves. Here is a list of those artist, which I am sure will inspire you as well.

David Hockney, Gracia Haby from Gracia and Louise, Maya Bloch, Joan Miro, Paul Klee, Harry Callahan (not the dirty Harry guy), Francis Bacon, parents old photos, Katarina Trudzinski, Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, artisits of the blogosphere, Fra Filippo Lippi, Fragonard, Nicolas de Stael, Sally Mann, artists on Flickr, Amanda Smith, Roni Horn, Josef Frank and Sandra Juto.

As for myself, I have so many. They change with time. But I will always be inspired by the paintings of Giacometti, Tapies ad Lucain Freud. Lately, I also have been very inspired by two strong-willed artists who have very unique style of their own: Alexandra Hedberg and Camilla.

results...

And on this very sunny morning, the winner is... Line!

Thank you all for your participation. I will soon share your inspirations.

Have a wonderful weekend!

p.s. that funky bowl was made by a local ceramist, Christiane Paquin (sorry, no link)

cold...

This is an old photo but it is exactly what i see from my kitchen window this morning. It's really winter!

Don't forget to enter the giveaway, it ends at midnight tonight! Montreal time of course.

Aris and Laurie also have giveaways.

I have to run. See you tomorrow!

film...

Last summer I had a film in my camera that I completely forgot about. When I open the camera and found it, I closed it back really fast but thought the film was ruined. I started to shoot randomly, thinking nothing would come out of it. I think the ISO wasn't set properly either. What was my surprise to find that some shots came out of it. They were very grainy so I had to retouch them heavily but I find it gives them a little something. Plus, they bring me back to warmer days...

Thank you Mehallo! Visit his entire blog, it's full of great infos and inspirations.

Stunning portraits by Lu Cong - via the Lumper

snow...

We are having our very first snowstorm of the season today. We went for a walk at the market and for a treat at soupsoupe and took photos through the window.

And we updated the shop. Oh and don't worry, I won't bother you with this so often. It's just that it's all new and I'm happy about it.

I'm also very jealous of Miquel Wert - via the jealous curator

And finally, don't forget to participate in my giveaway. It ends Friday at midnight, Montreal time.

castle cats...

I have some news. I told you a few weeks ago that I was working on a project with my boyfriend. Well we finally got to it and open a new store with our images. This is just a beginning and will ad more soon. We also started a new blog dedicated to our love of photographic imagery. Please visit!

Oh and don't forget the giveaway!

one...

My blog is one year old today! Yay! I think that a giveaway is usually in order. The problem is I didn't have time to go through my stuff and decide what I would giveaway. But I won't be stopped by this petty little thing. I am hosting a surprise giveaway. So you have until Friday next week to enter your name on this post and tell what artist inspires you the most at the present time. I will draw a name on Saturday the 12th. Spread the word!

By the way, Cecilia has a very cool giveaway too.

blanc...

Most of the time, I really like my work. But I have a very difficult time with badly planned last second projects. It drives me crazy. I have to find a way to let go and accept to work on these frustrating projects.

Meantime, the best way to release my stress is to go for a walk. I usually start at a very fast pace until something catches my eye. Then I start shooting and finally calm down. If I find a nice store on my way, it's even better. These were taken last Saturday, just before starting work. On that walk, I also found a little Russian bakery full of herb teas, expensive ones like Kusmi, but also very cheap and as flavorful ones. The bread was delicious too. I have to go back and find out the name of the place.

I visit Pop Life Blog everyday. I think I never linked it properly since it's opening. Well I'm doing so today. You have to read this food for thoughts post. Tim, I think you will like this.

postman...

I like it when the postman brings other things than bills. Like this wonderful handmade book Collected - volume one by Olivia Jeffries. I love her work so much.

Recently, I asked if any of you knew bout the Annalemme magazine. No answer. So I decided to find out by myself. So the postman brought me the 4 issues available. The magazine is a collection of texts - fiction, essays... - each of them illustrated by an artist. The first spread shows a text by Dan Moreau (sorry, no link) with the photos of Josh Letchworth. The second one shows a text by Amelia Gray, illustrated by Laureen Nassef. Lot's of reading ahead!

holga...

Here are the last of that holga film. I took them on my last trip to Virginia.

Today is my niece's birthday She's 16! Bonne fête ma belle...

Found the breathtaking art of Brooks Shanes Salzwedel via My love for you...