Domino Magazine is back!

Few things capture my imagination as easily as a big, juicy design and decor magazine. Everything around me dissolves away and I feel I've shrunk down to mini-size, walking around inside the magazine. The great thing about an especially successful magazine is its ability to inspire me, even 8 to 10 years later. Good design is good design after all. So I have stacks of magazines that I refer to regularly for inspiration.

As a Christmas present this year, S gave me a subscription to Elle Decoration (UK). I probably don't need to tell you that this was my favourite gift! It's so exciting to receive something in the mail other than bills.

And a few weeks ago, I heard some pretty exciting news about an old favourite magazine of mine that has since gone out of print: DOMINO MAGAZINE IS COMING BACK!!!

Published from 2005 to 2009 by Condé Nast, Domino Magazine was one of the few magazines that featured achievable style ideas for non-millionaires. It its first year, Domino received many media awards for Best New Magazine. But sadly, in Jan 2009, Condé Nast announced that, because of the economic downturn, the magazine was folding.

So when I heard that Domino Magazine announced a "new guide to living with style," I was thrilled! A special edition, entitled Domino Quick Fixes, will be available at newsstands across the US (and hopefully Canada?) on April 17th. Quick Fixes will feature easy, inexpensive design and decor changes.

You can read more about it here.

Image from www.dominomag.com

Pop Up - Day 2

The pop up shop is behind me now and I'm looking ahead to a sale I have planned for the month of March. I want to clear some items out of the warehouse so I believe some price-slashing is in order -- stay tuned!

I'm also planning for Kipkoo to make an appearance at an upcoming Sunday at the St. Lawrence Antique Market, so watch for that as well.

In the meantime, here's a pic of two items that sold at the pop-up shop on day 2: the stocking forms and a lovely embroidered piece that once belonged to Lauren.

Thanks to all those who came out and supported Kipkoo! It was nice to see a few familiar faces in the East end.

Pop Up - Day One

I'm exhausted. Day One of the pop-up is over. The first day is always the hardest, because you're tired from all the setting up. Day Two should be easier.

There's lots of stuff left. The weather is keeping people away, so don't be shy, barter with me for the price you want!

Also, the other vendors are amaaaaaazing. I couldn't resist buying a few things myself.

The details again, for those who want to come and see:

The Cat and Fox Vintage Collective
Hearts on Fire Pop-up Shop
666 Queen Street East
(Queen and Broadview)
Sunday Feb 12, 10:00 AM til 5:00 PM

Also, can I just tell you that I have the best friend in the world? LS has devoted her whole weekend to these pop up shenanigans, including the set-up on Friday. Thanks, L, for being so wonderful.

J.I.T. Manufacturing

Just in time!

I finally finished my chair. It's been waiting to be stained and finished for months now. Also, I needed to put the finishing touches on the upholstery job: two little buttons. It always dresses up a chair so nicely.

A quick snap via instagram, taken at 6:45 this morning...

This chair has a sexy back!

So, this weekend is the Pop-Up Shop at 666 Queen East (near Broadview). I've packed LOTS of goodies that aren't on the site, some cool pieces I forgot I had. I think my "collector" self was hiding some items from "seller self" so that I could keep them! I'm going to be selling some items at a reduced price, because I don't like the idea of lugging them back home at the end of the weekend. So please come and take a piece of two off my hands!

Kipkoo pops up!

I'm very pleased to announce that KIPKOO will be selling its wares at Hearts on Fire: A Vintage Pop-up organized by The Cat & Fox Vintage Collective on Feb 11-12 at 666 Queen Street East in Toronto!

Be sure to check back to see how things develop. There are several vendors signing on, offering an assortment of cool stuff, including men's and women's vintage clothing, art, antiques, and yummy treats to eat! It'll be a great opportunity for Kipkoo fans to see pieces that haven't made it onto the site yet, including a favourite vintage chair of mine (if I finish staining it in time!).

Artwork supplied by The Cat & Fox Vintage Collective.

Bedroom Design Inspiration

If my bedroom looked like this, I'd never want to get out of bed:

apartmenttherapy.com

Wanna be in a quilting bee?

It's snowing today, and I'm dreaming of quilts. Soft, puffy quilts with intricate patterns, or scrappy quilts with fabric pieces from my childhood, something to whisk me away from the present.

I've always wanted to be in a quilting bee. I grew up in a small town in Southern Ontario, and Mennonite quilts were everywhere. I have this image of observing a group of Mennonite women sitting around a large quilt, focused on their work. I used to go to a quilt show every year with my mom, and we'd walk around and pick out our favourite.

I think a huge part of the appeal of a quilting bee, for me, would be to escape computers and cell phones and just sit and stitch with a bunch of people who's company I enjoy. Lately, I feel like I spend too much time in front of my computer, so the idea of sitting around with the room of crafty women (and men!) is so inviting.

I've actually NEVER owned a quilt, but now that I'm in the vintage business, perhaps I can keep a lookout for one that suits me.

I've been eyeing up some of the more modern quilts I've found online. The one that makes me swoon the most is 9 Patch Color Study by Eleanor McCain.

Left: Jack's Modern Quilt by Nancy Stoval.  Right: Roots Ginger Queen by Denise Schmidt 

Left: 9 Patch Color Study by Eleanor McCain.  Right: SkullFucked by Quiltsryche.

Left: Bedeviled by Regina Alexander.  Right: Snakecharmer by Denise Schmidt.

Look! Even hipsters (and their dogs) love a good, old-fashioned quilt!

Publicity shot for "The Rosebuds," a band on Merge Records.