Pluckyfluff Yarns

Less about just one yarn and more about a lot of wonderful yarns! I've long had a love affair with hand spun "art" yarns, I spend way too much money on them every year and I'm not really the most accomplished of knitters so I just make scarves and hats out of them, but they are awesome scarves and hats so it all works out. Anyway, the first spinner who sold online and got me addicted to 'art' yarns is Pluckyfluff and she's still making gorgeous yarns that I drool over (and sometimes am in time to buy) The yarn in the photo is currently available (if you're fast, because her yarns do sell quickly) it's called Abominable Snow Bunny and is $60.

Sylvan Scene Cardigan

If I have one e-window-shopping obsession it's Anthropologie, especially the sweaters. I love the giant buttons on the Sylvan Scene Cardi that offsets the pretty femininity of the knit just enough to be brilliant. Now that I've made a pact with myself to buy less, but more expensive, better quality clothes; it's only a matter of time before I finally own an Anthropologie sweater. $188

Fluevog Malibran Heels

I've been coveting things that are out of the usual for me lately. The first being these Fluevog heels. The shape is totally me, what's not so me is the fact that I want these in the bold yellow. Ever since I saw all the grey mixed with acid yellows and teals on the Izod fall runway, I've really started to think about how unfair I've been to yellow accessories and shoes. Yellow clothes might not work for my skin tone, but a nice bold pair of shoes and/or a fantastic yellow handbag might just be a welcome break from the pop of red rut I've been in.

The other out of character covet is this gold sequin skirt from J Crew. In general I don't like gold tone and I don't like shiny clothes, but oh how I want to add it to my wardrobe.

Helen heels

Is it a sign of some shoe addiction problems that I don't even know what I'd wear these with and I don't like wearing slingbacks and yet the detailing with the chains makes me want these? Probably, but who cares right? Cool shoes! $279 at Fluevog

Dustin Dustpan

I used to have this cute Koziol dustpan years ago, when Target was selling some Koziol pieces. I don't know what happened to it; I lost it during one of my million moves, but I'm tempted to buy another. $22.95 at Well Tempered Kitchen

random outfit #1

So work's been on the hell side lately and I haven't felt like spending much time post work continuing to stare at a computer screen. (I'm really getting to the point where by the end of the workday I have a major headache from staring at the screen)So this blog has sort of suffered of late, which sucks because I'd finally been really keeping up with posts. Today I discovered the joy that is polyvore by clicking for more details on one of the outfits posted on Omiru (one of my favourite fashion blogs.) Granted I could never in million years afford the outfit I just put together above, but it's kind of a fun experiment in trying to discover my style in a put together way. (I feel I'm good at picking up cool pieces, not so good personally at building a wardrobe that can work as a look.) So I'm going to try to do more of these random outfits.

Ebay find: Vintage Cherry Bakelite necklace

One of my obsessions this year is cool vintage necklaces, particularly vintage plastics. I've mostly been collecting vintage thermoset, since most of the time bakelite is out of my price range. I love cluster necklaces like this one because they're kitchy-cute without being too obvious and cloying. Auction ends: 15 May at 12:55 PST so get bidding!

Wall Strap by NL Architects for Droog

these funky rubber bands make a much cooler stuffed animal storage system than those ugly, ugly corner nets that we all had in our rooms in the 80s. $28 at Plastica

mini-vacation

swamped with work, back soon

Wilma Dishes

These are my new dishes. I got the salad plates in the orange though. The colours are even nicer in person than on the web, much better colour depth. I was quite sad that they'd discontinued the pattern on the other plates I had once I'd decided 4 place settings wasn't really enough to maximize dishwasher loads, but now I'm glad I was forced to branch out into a new style. Plus I love the off beat shapes. $3.95-$5.95 at CB2.

Reveal Lights

Now that I've moved to a loft with a jillion windows, I don't long for light and shadows, but I've lived in dank, mostly windowless basement apartments and they were depressing. If only I'd had one of Adam Frank Incorporated's Reveal lights back then! Yes, my imagination could have run wild imagining I had not only windows, but trees outside. $380 at Unica Home.

Subway Stations Buttons

It's been awhile since I was obsessed with buttons. I've always had a couple on the lapel of my winter coat, just to make it recognizable from the others in the sea of black pea coats, but that's about it for me this decade. However I love this set of buttons of the subway stations in Toronto at Spacing. They're hip without being hipster. $48 for the whole set, also availble in lines.

Hable Construction Spiral Top Notepads

So there are basically 2, maybe you'd call it 3, things I wanted to be when I grew up up until the time I was in high school. One was a Ghostbuster, and the other was a "girl detective," which sort of fit in with the possibly third career aspiration, which was to be Fletch. It wasn't that I wanted to be an investigative reporter; it was that I wanted to be Fletch (the Fletch from the books mind you, not so much the Chevy Chase version, who was slightly less believable and more schmucky.) Therefore I carried around a lot of top spiral bound notebooks in which I scribbled a lot of notes about fake scandals I was blowing the lids off of, if I wasn't killed by the bad guys or caught by my non-existent ex-spouses lawyers. None of my notepads were as sharp as these Hable Construction notepads at See Jane Work mind you. $16 each.

BinBin Wastebasket

I love things that are clever and functional at the same time. This wastebasket that looks like it's made of the scrapped pages of my ever-unfinished novel (with of course considerably less ink scratches and pain) fits the bill. $55 at Canoe

Zzz Mini Poster

Fabulously graphic print from etsy artist inkdesigner $40

Pink Chalcedony Necklace

Pink Chalcedony on a copper chain. This would look so great with a safari inspired look. $26 from etsy seller nutraj

Think Tank

I was first drawn to the work of etsy artist who runs Toodlepipstudios because her work, and especially this piece Think Tank remind me a lot of the works of a friend of mine. I love that they work both in 3D and 2D at the same time to produce many layers of meaning. I really should buy one. $150.

Mini-Vacation

Off this week.

handthrown bowl and plate

It's brilliant porcelain like this bowl and plate set from etsy seller Misslo who make me feel guilty for any melamine I might be harbouring in my cupboards.$65 per set.

Keyaki wood Tea Cups

I love these simple, perfectly shaped wooden tea cups at Rare Device. Perfect for a cold crappy day (like this week). $40

Invisible Cities Vladmaster

I love viewmasters. There's something both nostalgic and creepy about them. I have a huge collection (well OK, my mother, who never throws anything away has a huge collection that I remember from my childhood, and which I am planning one day to abscond with)so I really need to start collecting Vladmasters, because the viewmaster reel is such a underlooked artistic medium, and I must support it! $18 at Reform School.

Hanna Mugs

I love the rich designs from Hanna Werning on these colourful china mugs at Hasker. I can think of some great uses from them beyond the typical beverage consumption. $18 each.

Skateboard Clutch

Sometimes I think the biggest lure of green is seeing the brilliantly creative ways that people find to repurpose things that would have otherwise ended up in a landfill. Though I'll admit to sometimes being a little irked at the prices they charge for the resulting objets de consumer art, especially when the main materials were free/or really discounted. I'll cop to it, I'm usually irked because I didn't have the same hook up they did to get those materials, and I'd like to make my own rather than paying someone else. So it's not really because I think it's unreasonable to charge the money. Anyway, these adorable clutches are made from recycled skateboard decks. For just $105, you too can have a one of a kind statement handbag, feel good about one less item being in a landfill, and know that a small donation will also be made to help upkeep and support for a skatepark so kids don't have to run you over in the nearest city square. At Reform School.

Small Seam Vase

$39 at Clio Home

Vintage Lab Table

As far back as junior high, I can't remember a single science class (and there were a lot of them as I was a biology major for all but the final 20 credits)where I didn't think about how bad ass it would be if I could have that awesome black rubbery slate coated tables and counter tops in the seriously awesome fantasy loft I planned one day to have. I might not have an East Village loft, but thanks to Victory Vintage, I can have a real high school science lab table including actual graffiti for between just $125 and $275, plus shipping!

(this place also had the most awesome card catalog coffee table last year that I coveted to death, but if sold before I had the cash to blow on it. sigh.)

N Cluster Necklace

My employer is anti-business casual, which is fine really, except they were forced to go business casual because they had trouble recruiting in a city which is ultra-casual, so they implemented this form of business casual that's actually more restrictive than our business professional (unless you're male, they all love it) So now that all my shirts have to be collarbone or higher I've taken to collecting really graphic and funky necklaces to take the emphasis away from how mountainous crewnecks make my chest look. This n-cluster necklace at Modica is amazingly cool. It will look even nicer next winter when I'm running around dressed like a beatnik in turtlenecks =).

Tabasco by the Gallon

mmm Tabasco! That's really all I have to say. I think a gallon might last me a month i love this stuff so much. $38.98 at Tabasco Country Store

Alone print

I feel a little like the girl in this print from Etsy artist KatrineK today. (noo good reason, just one of those grey, bad weather mopey days) Regardless it would be a lovely thing to hang on the wall. Alone print $20. Only 1 in stock.

5 Beetles Print

I'm on an art kick right now, still having a few bare walls, I really love the prints at Etsy seller, Erin Lang Norris' shop Yellow Canoe(I'm even inspired to do something different than I was planning to do to organize my necklace collection thanks to her keyracks.) And I really, really love this 5 Beetles print. I shouldn't be telling you about it, there's only 1! $25.

Delicate Heart Paper Doll

I usually feature things I want to buy/ would buy if I won the lottery, but today I'm posting something I already own. This beautiful paper doll set from etsy seller Wool and Water is just waiting for me to find the right frame to display it in so I can add it to one of my walls of art. $12.

Mole Rat Nightlight

I have a long odd-shaped entry hall and it's badly in need of one of these amazing Happy Owl Glassworks fused glass nightlights available at Cog & Pearl. There's also a blue version with a bat, but I'm in love with the mole rat version. $45.

Polka Dot Tumbler

I've been in love with the ceramics of etsy seller Nathan William for ages. His store Hijacked Ceramics always features beautiful objects with wonderfully unique glazes. They remind me of the beauty you can find in urban decay. This polka dot tumbler is awesome and only $25. I'm determined to own one of his sugar cannisters one day.

USB Warming Mouse

My company merged my division with another recently and suddenly instead of the awesome building we were sitting pretty in, I'm in a Siberian gulag of an office building that I swear might fall down any second. To make matters worse it's freezing in my office, and thus I need one of these
USB warmer mouse to keep my right hand from being stricken with hypothermia. When you turn the switch to heating, this optical mouse warms up to 45 degrees to keep your fingers toasty. $23 at USB.Brando.

Erlanmeyer Flask

As a fan of good breath, I have a giant bottle of alcohol-free crest mouthwash in my bathroom, but as a fan of style, I'm not feeling it. i've been hunting for weeks for a good mini-decanter, but haven't found on I like. Suddenly it dawned on me, why not buy an awesome erlenmeyer flask with cork instead. Yes, that will be so much nicer than a horrible plastic bottle on my counter top and as a former biologist, so very, very me. from $2.50 at Indigo Instruments.

Mr Suicide Bath Plug

I know the Mr Suicide Bath plug has been around for ages and covered to death, but I curse every apartment bathtub I have that doesn't have a real plughole and thwarts my dream of Mr Suicide ownership. $26 at Unica home

Moving Time

Post.Modern.Mouse is still staring a a messy mountain of half unpacked boxes from this weekend's move so I'll be out til Wednesday.

Scando Coffee Table

In honour of Friday's double celebration of International Pi Approximation Day and Einstein's birthday; I present the most math-approximating modern coffee table on my wishlist-- The Scando coffee table at Hive Modern. What's not to love? It's sleek and it looks like a square root sign! (almost)

Float Tea Lantern

I have a bad habit of buying cool pitchers and tea pots and carafes and then never actually using them. Any time now I will probably buy this gorgeous tea lantern from Molo, but really this time I swear I'll use it. And if not, well it's like a piece of art right? $199 at Velocity Art and Design.

Carrie Shopping/Bicycle Basket

I'm moving to a loft downtown this weekend and that means those little runs to the grocery store at night to get the pint of buttermilk I forgot for the potatoes will now be on foot instead of by car (which is awesome, by the way, because I've missed living in a walking city since I moved away from the east coast.) Sure, I could just lug a regular plastic bag with my comestibles, but that's neither green nor cute. Instead, I want to make my grocery runs with this adorable Carrie basket by Design House Stockholm It comes in either a bicycle basket or a shopping basket with strap. $30-47 at Unica Home.

Eames Plywood Elephant

Sometimes there are things that can't possibly be cool enough to justify the price tag, unless of course you're filthy rich. If I ever win the Mega Millions perhaps I can justify owning one of these amazing limited edition Eames plywood elephant Only $1995.00 including shipping at Hive Modern (that snazzy red is actually sold out, but they have natural pine if you happen to want one)

Sugaahara Pebble Vases- Blue

These charming vases are perfect for early spring buds (if Winter ever goes away) or just grouping. $19 each at canoe.

WeeGee Floor Lamp

WeeGee Floor Lamp $319 at Velocity Art and Design.

Warm Tea/Coffee Set

I have been in love with this tea set for eons, it's so visually different without being kitschy.And I adore the play between the 3 textures. Now that it's backordered, maybe I should buy now under the guise that it's like I'm not really buying it since I won't be charged until it ships. Pre-order yours at Rare Device today. $150. Available in walnut and oak.

Merci Pumps

It's true I have a shoe addiction. Merci pumps. $235 at Fuevog Shoes

Camper Mary Jane Wedges

Camper Mary Janes $144.95 at Shoe Mall.

Deeply heels

The only thing better than a cute shoe, is a cute shoe on sale. Deeply pumps at Fluevog shoes. normally $239, but for you right now only $119.

Legna Table Lamp

There's not much else to say, but that I absolutely adore everything about this modern table lamp from JefDesigns at Velocity. $280 available in Teak or Zebrawood. The wall matching wall sconces and pendant lights are also drool-worthy

Splash form Aluminum Bowls by Melt Modern

I love things which are incredibly impractical and yet incredibly beautiful at the same time and this aluminum bowl by Melt Modern is one such example. I guess you could use it to organize my cotton balls in the bathroom, but most likely it would just sit alone on a shelf looking like a science experiment gone wonderfully wrong. Starting at $195 at Unica Home.

Multiple Diode Necklace

I hate going in Radio Shack because I hate being asked every 4 seconds if the clerk can help me find something, mainly because the clerk could not actually help me find anything if I actually wanted him to. This awesome Diode Necklace from Fractalspin makes me wish I spent more time braving the annoying clerks so I could have come up with a great piece of jewelry that is equal parts geeky, gorgeous and imaginative. $190. Only 1 left in stock, so hurry.

Esque handblown punch bowl

If I owned one of these delicate handblown Esque Punch Bowls, I'd build a little light box stand for it to showcase the charms of its little interior mountain range. $630 at Velocity Art and Design.

Elephant Kimono Romper

It seems like they put fertility drugs in the water bubblers at the office sometimes. It's all baby shower after baby shower. While searching the internet for yet another cute, unique baby gift to give I nearly spent over my budget and bought Lotta Jansdotter's über cute kimono onesie. It's neutral enough to work for a boy or girl and it's on sale, which is even better. You can also pick up the matching beanie and blankie at a mean sale price. Currently $25.60.

Bath Bees with Royal Jelly

Post Modern Mouse is back from the dead. It's been so hectic I barely even noticed I'd been gone for all of 2007.

Winter just won't seem to die around here and unfortunately for me that means dry scratchy Winter skin is hanging around as well. Fortunately there are Gianna Rose Atelier's Bath Bees bath beads with sunflower oil and royal jelly to soothe the skin while you unwind from a hectic day. Plus, bees remind me of flowers, which reminds me that Spring will eventually arrive. $25.50 at Unica Home.