Toronto Tuesday - Rush Hour

Rush Hour is a sweet little Portuguese restaurant that literally sits across the street from our couch house in Davenport. All that stands between me and a delightful dining experience, a quick pint or a bowl of comforting soup (for days when one of us is sick) is our outdoor loving neighbours and the traffic of Dufferin Street.

The restaurant is self described as Casual European dining but to a small town girl like me, it's pretty fancy. The atmosphere is relaxed with a mixture of antiques, a large gilded mirror (antique, not tacky), dark rich colours, a glorious wooden bar, flowing drapes, candles and wonderful soft music (that altogether avoids an air of cheese).

The food is always fantastic. From the heavenly fresh bread and hummus (that I always fill up on!) to the filet mignon to the pork tenderloin to the wide array of pastas to the $4 soups (large portions served in very unique bowls), you are sure to be pleased. They also have a varied tapas menu and even the fries are wonderful! The only thing I didn't absolutely love was the seafood. But to be fair I am an Island girl who grew up on the Atlantic and I am used to having the finest seafood. I would say the same about any restaurant here that serves even Pacific salmon. It's just different from what I grew up on.

I am not much for wine lists and generally go for a moderately priced white (never red) so it suits me just fine that they have a small menu of reds and whites and a Vinho Verde that is, to my pallet and wallet, divine. They only have two beers on tap, which to my hubby is a sort of tragedy, but sensible for a smaller establishment. They are always microbrews and for most Steam Whistle is a great choice here in Toronto. I prefer Mill St. but have noticed many visiting musicians from the East Coast with a green bottle in hand. Perhaps they do not know about Mill St.? Perhaps this will educate a few. Check out this feature from March on Rachel McAdams website Green is Sexy. which I was directed to initially by my friend Andrea. The other tap is usually reserved for a Barrie brew, Flying Monkeys, which my partner thinks is pretty darn good.

All in all it is a wonderful place to eat. The chef is very talented (not to mention CUTE) and the owner is extremely friendly and a wonderful server!! Our relatively frequent visits have put us in his good graces which often results in unexpected extras (such as surprise desert delights!!). It's nice to know your neighbours.

Finally Friday - Necklaces.

These lovelies were so quick and easy to make. I don't know how many will make it to my Etsy shop as I plan to keep most of them for an upcoming craft fair. Many do not yet have clasps (must return downtown to get more) but I will be looking for the lobster claw style. Sorry the pictures are not really the greatest. Didn't put much effort in, admittedly... It's just for a quick sneak peek after all! (Also some of them got turned sideways and I cannot get them back to normal...)

This necklace is a collar piece with a sweet vintage button in gold and blue. Strung on a brass tone chain.

This one is a venise lace bow with a white vintage button. Strung on a brass tone chain.


This is a large venise lace decal cut into a large and small piece strung on silver tone chain.


This is a simple left and right collar piece strung on brass tone chain. I may put something in the middle if I can find a suitable item.


A golden anchor decal on brass tone chain.


A large white venise lace decal on a silver tone chain with a soft yellow lace bow.

I never could get the hang of Thursdays.

Ugh. It's a nice day out and I should be looking forward to a long weekend with my honey but instead I am annoyed and uninspired (and highly unattractively sulky)!

I have a total lack of materials, which is perhaps what I deserve for buying so many things on Ebay. But it's so very hard to find reasonably priced hardware here in Toronto that is of any sort of decent quality. Almost none of the major shops sell sterling silver headpins or hooks. I would love to be able to make my own and am fully aware of the process but I would need a blow torch that could slightly melt the silver and that is entirely out of the question for this little place. Also I would have to find sterling silver wire and that would certainly prove impossible. Wah wah, I know. I really just need to make some good contacts in Toronto and find out about some shared studio spaces that I could get in on a couple of times a month. Hopefully the craft fair will prove useful!

Speaking of which. I am sitting on a large quantity of new pieces but don't know if I should bother putting them up on Etsy. I could just keep them until the craft fair (where I feel they have a damn good chance of selling) or I could put them on Etsy for the (almost free) advertising but maybe not have them move. (Once I get the shop full I will really have to invest in some advertising. There are a few sites already that I would gladly pay for exposure.) I have about 20 lace necklaces that no one has even seen yet. They are so quick and easy to make that every time I get supplies I use them up the very same day! I always end up with more ideas than supplies. Perhaps I could put up a few simple ones and save the very special ones (with vintage buttons or crystals) for my table.

Oh well. I will figure it all out eventually!

Wishful Thinking Wednesdays! Biscuit Quilt

A biscuit quilt! What I wouldn't give to be able to make a biscuit quilt! My hand sewing skills are limited to awkwardly fixing a small section of a seam and sewing on a button. To attempt this would leave my fingers damaged irreparably! But how sweet! Perfect for a baby! Soft and squishy! Click on the picture to be linked to the original posting and for instructions (additional instructions are in the comments section).

Toronto Tuesday! Fashion Crimes and Fresh Collective.

What do you do when you have a girlfriend coming into town? You go shopping of course! Obviously I am dirt poor right now, what with still not having found a job, but it's still so much fun to drool over locally made dresses!!

I would like to highlight two of my favourite stores from our downtown misadventures! Hopefully this will not take forever! The extent of my willingness to gush over these boutiques is legendary in its vastness.

The first is Pam Chorley's Fashion Crimes. The original Queen West boutique! Full of glamorous dresses for all ages, glittering accessories, loyal and enthusiastic employees and customers searching for a unique garment (or two). They always have amazing window displays and as soon as you enter it's like walking into a VERY large (and surreal) closet with dresses hanging from all available spaces. It's comfortable and cozy from the second you walk in but it is incredibily exciting each and every time you come back! 

This store is awe inspiring.

I was once lucky enough to get a gorgeous trench, 3/4 length sleeves, white with blue flowers and green leaves, matching fabric covered buttons and a waste tie for 50$ on sale from 400$. It's finally going to be nice enough for me to wear it as Toronto is on the verge of a freak hot spell (upwards of 25 degrees C!).


The second boutique I would like to cover is second only because it is newest to me. Certainly not because it is lacking in great fashion! Fresh Collective is a designer run collective with a bit of everything. Adorable dresses, silk screened t-shirts, baby clothes, re-purposed knits with witty animal appliqués and (my personal favourite) a lot of unique jewellery! After falling in love with a brown corduroy dress featuring a retro bird print in blue, green and red in a 60s housewife cut (a total steal at 49$) and a quasi sweetheart top with puffed sleeves (for 85$) I was informed the designer was none other than Laura-Jean herself, store owner and designer of  Fresh Baked Goods.

I did not end up with either of these items (although I am still kicking myself over that dress) but instead got a forest green sweater vest with a silk screened image of a deer with a tree sprouting from it's antlers and a deep v-neck shirt with a lovely layering of trims running from the bottom, up behind the neck and then down around the front once more. Marie purchased a lovely tote bag by Norma W in houndstooth with a little robot appliqué.

It was easy to fall in love with this shop. See the website for a complete list of designers!

Pearls and Lace

A few days ago I put together this sweet pair of earrings and am now becoming hard pressed to put together another outfit I can wear them with. I love them.

This pair is a vibrant green lace, with vintage faux pearls on sterling silver findings. The earrings look different when you have them in. They don't have wire through them so they hang like wonderfully large floppy bows!



I got a few compliments over the weekend which was inspiring. Having people who work at places like Fashion Crimes talk to you about how much they like your accessories is very VERY encouraging. I'm sure they are constantly seeing a lot of really fabulous things.

What a week!

I haven't posted at all this week. I was just too busy being sick! I think I got either a slight case of the flu or food poisoning or I ate too much. I can't be sure. I am on the mend now and armed with new supplies. Hopefully I'll have something to show you on Monday!