all the best for 2010

Here's to a better year for all! Let's make 2010 a more inspiring and successful one – a year overflowing with creativity and great ideas :)

Photo by Young Jung

frank gehry : the art gallery of ontario

I was in awe of Frank Gehry's design of the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) in Toronto. I do love those unapologetic curves in his work. As a sidenote, I appreciated his work much more after seeing the documentary Sketches of Frank Ghery. The best space in the gallery is Galleria Italia (see the first two photos above). It is breathtaking. Gehry also designed the most beautiful wheelchair access ramp I've ever seen (see photos 3-6). I must mention, too, that the art collection in the gallery was really impressive. It's really worth a visit.

lexie and her cousins

I'm not sure how I will be able to pry Lexie away from her "cousins" in Toronto after the holidays. I've haven't seen her have this much fun since my last trip here. My sister and brother-in-law's dogs (Buddy and Jupiter) kill me. How ridiculously adorable are they together? Good lord.

blogging at amala today

I'm blogging at Amala today! Stop by and check it out.

holiday 2009

We're off today to be with family (including Lexie's doggie cousins). I'm taking a short break from blogging too, but will be back soon. I hope you all have a great (warm and fuzzy) holiday! It's been an inspiring and eventful year. Here's to a happy and successful 2010!

Catherine

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early christmas : the double tunnel ring

One of my multi-talented sisters, Christine, sent me an early Christmas present this week. Check out my new Double Tunnel ring by Boe! Gorgeous, simple and modern. It's perfect.

Thank you, Christine! See you in a couple of days! xoxo

the regional assembly of text

I just discovered The Regional Assembly of Text, a stationery shop/gallery/giftstore based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Great name. I absolutely love their aesthetic — the old school library/office. Below are some examples of the goods on their online shop. Their website is worth a look, so cute.

a single man and his house

I was so impressed with Tom Ford's A Single Man. I saw it last night. An impeccably dresses Colin Firth delivered an amazing performance – worthy of the Best Actor award at the Venice Film Festival and recent Golden Globe nod. The film was so well done. Much respect to Tom Ford for his direction, screenplay writing of the film. WOW. There was also a lot of eye candy (mostly male), some well-framed shots showcasing beautiful clothing and faces (of course) and beautiful cinematography. I loved the subtle (and selective) taking away and adding of color saturation depending on the mood of Colin Firth's character. Interesting that women were almost always shown in full color saturation. Anyway, such a gorgeous film and love story.

One element of the film that I really appreciated was the house that Colin Firth's character (George) and his lover lived in. My jaws dropped during the first few scenes. What an amazing house. After a bit of a search online for some information on the house, I learned that architect John Edward Lautner designed it. The Schaffer house (a private residence) is considered to be a triangle modernist style — I'd never heard of this before. I was also thrilled to find out that it's located in Glendale, CA where we lived when I was young.

**Update** I just learned that the house is up for sale for $1.5 million. See listing. Wow, I wish!

View my previous post on A Single Man the trailer here.

All architecture images from here and here.

i am blogging at amala today!

Manhattan Rooftop Honey (Yes, it's true!) Go check it out!

grey boot worship

My color this season seems to be grey. I like the idea of breaking up an all black outfit with grey ankle boots. I've gathered my favourites below. I'm conflicted about whether I prefer the idea of cozy ones vs sexier ones. What do you think?

I nearly fell over. HOT!

Rosegold Fold-over Ankle Boots from Saks

Rosegold Sarah Slouch Booties from Shopbop

Ok, it's black and white tweed and not technically grey but how cool are these?

Eley Kishimoto – Sectioned tweed shoe-boots from Farfetch

I love these wooly boots with the leather details!

80%20 Eliotte Charcoal Ankle Bootie from Eilatan

tom ford : a single man

Tom Ford makes his directorial debut with A Single Man. This film will no doubt be oozing with style and sex. It's how Tom Ford would dress the cast of Mad Men. I love the cross-pollination of the fashion world with film. Julianne Moore looks gorgeous. I can't wait to see this.

(via New York magazine)

audrey kawasaki : hajimari— a prelude

I'm not sure how it was possible to became an even bigger fan of Audrey Kawasaki's work, but it happened this weekend. I attended Saturday's opening reception of her much anticipated show entitled Hajimari—a prelude at the Jonathan Levine Gallery in Chelsea. Not surprisingly, it looked more like a rock concert than a gallery opening. It was a mob scene.

Upon seeing the work up close, I was in awe. The detail is amazing. Any brushstrokes are barely detectable. They are even more sumptuous in person. Her subjects seem luminescent. I think it celebrates a soft femininity that has an awareness (and isn't afraid) of it's own sexual – even erotic – power. Absolutely stunning work. She also showed newer pieces – pencil drawings with paper "frames" of intricately cut paper.

See my first ever blog post on Audrey Kawasaki's work. If you get a chance, go see the show.

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inspired cuts : artist dylan graham

My friend Dylan Graham currently exhibiting his work at Scope Miami. His work is currently part of the Slash: Paper Under the Knife show at the MAD Museum here in New York. You may have seen my blog post about it.

His large scale hand-cut paper work is incredible. I am perpetually amazed. There's always a geographical/political theme in all of his work (aside from the fact that they are gorgeous to look at). If you get a chance to see his work in person, it's a must.

Click image to enlarge.