Looky Looky

Here it is Part 1 of my sit down interview with LIV owner Joanna Goodman, hope you all enjoy and I hope you are all enjoying the new year!

LIZ: What was your inspiration to start a store like LIV that creates a fusion of fashion and home décor?

JOANNA: A lot of ideas come to us in our travels; from places like Europe and cities like New York. Something we had seen for years of combining not just home décor but accessories. I think it’s a natural evolution that a multi product store would get popular. It’s often called a lifestyle store, and I think its time has come; it’s really more than beyond just one stop shopping. Essentially the goal is that you come in and it’s a feast for the eyes. Fashion and home influence each other, they always have. As long as I’ve been buying linens the colours that are hot always come from the fashion runways, so to me it was so logical that they would be intertwined and together in one space.

LIZ: How important is it to you to stock Canadian brands and lines, you mention on your site that you travel to Europe and the U.S a lot?

JOANNA: It is very important. We carry a lot of Canadian designers. Jewellery, clothing, Snowflake is a Toronto designer that I adore, Kirsch from Vancouver; we do a lot of Canadian. Home décor is a little tougher, because the look we carry is very European, typically they come from France, but we manufacture all of the linens in Montréal, so we bring in the fabric and then everything is made in Canada.

LIZ: What is the process of buying and stocking for your store, do you follow what is trendy at any given moment or do you get what you like and hope it sells?

JOANNA: When I am in Europe you see what’s new, they are showing, whether it’s a colour or a style of furniture or it’s the clothing they are showing what’s new. Similarly when I am in New York or Vegas at a clothing show they are also showing what’s new, so I’m really calling from the newest trends and then I really do go by what I love, I have to, because when you are buying this many different departments, I have to be able to hone in, and for as long as my mom and I have been buying for the linen store we have a policy that we both have to love it, agree we love it, go... oh my god, and I really use that even for the clothing now. If I just can’t stand it but it’s super hot, which has happened, I have had to forego it, and typically when I don’t it doesn’t really work, because for the most part clients are very like minded, you know I am the client in a lot of ways I am the demographic. So if it’s just something I would never put on in a million years, even though it’s hot, I’ve got to leave that to the other stores.

Stay tuned for part 2 tomorrow...

Christmas = family time

This year as with every year we all make it out to my grandmother's house for Christmas day dinner, chestnuts, classic carols... I love looking through old picture albums, found my grandparents wedding pictures...just lovely.

I always thought my grandpa looked like Buddy Holly

DIY corkboard frames

Lately I have been writing notes to myself, you know notes that consist of shopping lists, future goals, New Year's resolutions and even some inpirational pictures. I am a writer so I have to constantly write things down. The problem is I have officially filled my planner and journal and have taken to writing on random things like take out menus and even the plain white envelope that my visa bill comes in! So I knew I needed to get a corkboard made and fast.

I decided to go with G (my man) to Walmart where I picked up 2 cork frames for $5 bucks each. I bought some black grosgrain ribbon and the rest (cardstock, white paint, hot glue) I had.

While I would love to say how super fast and easy it was to make, I would be lying. I found that the frames I bought were like shiny veneer so I had to prime them and paint them like 10 times ( okay maybe more like 7) before the paint would really cover the frames. So if you plan this sort of project I would suggest a frame that is unfinished because it would have saved me a lot of time and paint for that matter!

But from this point, after the paint had dried the process went smoothly. I had some Martha Stewart cardstock which went well with the greeny/blue accent colour in my room and I added the black grosgrain with hot glue inside the inner frame, banged some nails into the wall, and ta da! instant inspiration board.

I know it looks rather sparse but I will be adding to it daily :)

Merry Christmas!

Just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Peace on earth.
I've included some pictures of Christmas trees and decor for you all to enjoy :)

Silver beaded Garland

I felt as though something was missing from my tree...yup the title gave it away, so off I went in search of some tree filler or as I like to call it garland. I found this 100 ft. one in silver at Walmart, bought it and didn't think twice that 100 ft. is a lot to unravel. One hour later in the midst of untangling my new garland I was about to give up, but I kept on and am truly happy with the results. I love my twinkling tree, oh and by the way I did not use all 100 ft. although you may see the leftover in a DIY some time in the future!

Cork

Since making my own DIY cork board frames for my room office nook I seem to have nothing but cork on the brain! So I guess it only seems fitting that I should post some of my favourite pictures of cork board frames that inspired my own.

Wrapped with love

Here is a sneak at just some of the presents I wrapped for Christmas about a week ago. Yes they match my decor blue, white and silver! I even made the snowflake gift tags. Almost here can't wait!

Oh and guess who got a haircut? Yup Jenny, I think she looks so cute :)