Cutting Ice to Snow (with your legs)

December 24, 2013November 11, 20142 Comments

I am currently visiting my family in Ottawa for the holidays. It has been one year since I visited my home-city, which seems totally insane, considering it’s only 6 hours away (bad daughter!). Needless to say, this time of year is always a special one for me. Snow and ice made it a bit of challenge to actually get here, but we made it safe and sound…until these photos. The snow in these photos was up to my knees, and about half way through taking them I really regretted my decision (like REALLY regretted). My finger tips still don’t feel right, and the snow literally cut my legs until they were bleeding. I came wearing pants, but could not get them back on because they had frozen from being wet. The pants-less trudge back home was a treacherous one. It was all around one of the less smart decisions I have made in my life. However, it’s sometimes hilarious to know the things that happen behind the scenes. Sometimes things look so right, and that they exist perfectly within their own realm. But really, if you saw what was happening during the whole experience you would A) wonder if I even had a brain and B) consider rescuing me from my own stupidity.

Anyways, it happened, I came away with some decent shots, and I still have all my fingers and toes…so not a bad day. I am now off to decorate our tree and wrap some presents for my family. I hope everyone has a very lovely Christmas Eve.

Dress: a little boutique in Toronto (cant remember name)
Headpiece: handmade by my Mother

Babel

July 22, 2013November 11, 2014Leave a comment

You’d be hard pressed to find secluded, quiet spots in Toronto, devoid of any humans. They sort of exist, but they are few and far between. Afterall, Toronto and the GTA holds 11.5 million people (Meg googled this yesterday), so it is perfectly logical that every bit of the city will have at least one other person there at any given time. It is strange for me, coming from suburban Ottawa, with a forest directly behind my families backyard, and having no trouble finding solitude. And god knows I needed it back then.

I fortunately live just a short walk away from a quiet(er) spot of Toronto (that is when Muzik night club is not blaring it’s music at 7pm, and everyone is wearing white and you wonder what happens inside there? And you’re probably lucky you don’t know). I was pressing my mind for quiet spots that I could snap some shots in the early hours of the morning. Scadding Cabin is always a safe bet (Meg and I took some film shots there in the winter), because I don’t think a lot of people know of it’s existence. In the summer it is hidden by large surrounding trees, and the only visitors are usually other photographers, cause there is really not much else to do there.

I was all by myself for quite a bit, which was a true pleasure. I could move about freely without concerning myself with quizzical passer bys: “okay, why is she crouching about, and how come she looks so sad, and why does she keep contorting her body every which way?” Eventually a photographer, make-up artist, and a woman in a giant gown showed up to snap shots of what I assume was for a wedding. Fortunately this cabin has four walls (duh!) and I could scoot around to the next part when I felt too much like a strange woodland creature.

Blouse: thirfted vintage
Skirt: thrifted
Bow tie: handmade
Sandals: Miz Mooz

Everyday is like Sunday

July 8, 2013November 11, 2014Leave a comment

It took a very long time for me to find a place in Toronto that I could call home. When I moved here 6 years ago, it took me about 2 years to stop going back to Ottawa so regularly to get my fix of “home”. I have moved six times since re-locating to Toronto. I couldn’t stay put for one reason or another – room mates leaving, unpleasant apartments etc. I’m now in a place that I love, that feels like mine, because it is only mine (and Gus’ of course).

Dress: from a bundle of vintage clothes a work friend let me sift through (some of which will be hitting the shop this week!)