On My Radar — February
A roundup of things that made me pause this month.
A rambly birthday-month edition. Better on desktop always. 𖦹
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1. A reflective birthday beach walk.
I’ve always treated my birthday as my New Year celebration. I like to find time to reflect on what I’ve struggled with and accomplished that year, and what I hope to bring into the next. This year, I spent the morning at the beach alone, looking for special rocks, shells, and sea glass. The sun had already risen, but was still slowly ascending from behind the clouds. It felt like everything was moving in slow motion, and I savoured my quiet time by the water.
My first sea star, a magical moment.
My first journal entry in a long time, something I'm trying to make more time for this year.
A slow motion sunrise to start the day.
A good rock haul.
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟
2. Now Playing
An album that’s been playing on sunny days in my office.
Accompany — Michael Nau
3. A Peek Into My Etsy Saves
Browsing Etsy is my favourite sport.
4. A Digital Archive
During my first (and last) year of university at OCAD I took a photography course. It was a night class that I joined quite last minute, and I was full of nerves and imposter syndrome after moving to the ‘big city’, so I wasn't sure what to expect that semester. Our first assignment was to experiment with using a scanner as a camera, as a way to practice photography through a different lens— or lack thereof. I remember being so excited to play with my scanner, and made some cutesy collages that fell a little flat. I got some pretty unimpressed feedback during my critique telling me I missed the mark, and never really touched my scanner again that year.
That class ended up being my favourite experience during my short time at school. I really admired my instructor, I met some cool friendly people that I still follow, and I pushed the boundaries of my art practice in a way I didn't think I was capable of.
Nearly 7 years later, I find myself drawn to that same old scanner whenever I have a rush of inspiration. I love being able to incorporate analog elements into my graphic designs, and am regularly archiving little trinkets and treasures that I’ve stashed away over the years. I’d like to think that after all this time, I have a better understanding of what that first assignment was trying to achieve. To explore composition and form, estabablish depth and contrast, and create a compelling image without the need for a fancy camera.
If you have a scanner lying around, I highly recommend gathering some special trinkets, photographs, fabrics, etc. and arranging them in an image that captures who you are at this moment in time.
2017. ‘Curtain Call’ is a series of self portraits exploring the evolution of the photo booth, from a physical experience to a digital application, and the continued performance of capturing yourself in a moment of time.
2023-2024. Experiments in archiving personal treasures and combining analog & digital design.
𖦹 ꩜ 𖦹 ꩜ 𖦹 ꩜ 𖦹
5. Modern Muses
A gathering of small brands & designers I love.
Chelsea Mak
‘Chelsea Mak is an ode to old-world elegance and rebellion, through the lens of nonconformist femininity.’ Designed in LA, handcrafted in Shanghai.
DIGO Studio
‘Intentional design and slow production, to create elegant basics you can lean on.’ All handmade in Victoria, BC. Juliana is a dear friend and inspiring maker. ♡
Salter House
A Brooklyn boutique with the perfect curation of whimsy and romance. I love that we share a last name!
Kairo Atelier
Responsibly made staple garments and unconventional statement pieces, made-to-order in London.
Autumn Sonata
‘A California-born, Amsterdam-based design atelier bringing a new lens to archival objects.’
Brooke Callahan
Whimsical one-of-a-kind jewelry & playful cotton clothing. Designed in LA.
Sonya Lee
‘Sonya Lee is dedicated to forming elevated leather accessories that communicate the natural language of leather. Made in Vancouver, Canada, the organic identity of each piece reshapes modern refinement with raw elements.’
Martha
Wearable postcards of beautiful scenery, designed and constructed from their studio in Gloucestershire.
✺
6. Buckle Up
I’ve been loving a good buckle lately– on belts, boots, bags, jackets, pretty much anything.
For years I despised the look (and feeling) of belts. They felt restrictive and made my outfits feel clunky, probably because all my pants were extremely high waisted and I don’t love how a belt cuts my torso in half.
These days, I’m drawn to a big statement belt slung on the hips, or a simple leather one with unique silver hardware worn just tight enough to keep my mid-rise pants from sliding down. If I am wearing it on my waist, it’s more of an interesting visual layer than an attempt to cinch or minimize my body. All it took was finding a belt that felt like an intentional addition rather than an uncomfortable eyesore.
7. Nature in Motion
A while ago I came across Iris Wildros’ captivating work on Instagram and have been obsessed ever since. Her calming, meditative visuals are such a special break in time.
“Passionate about making meditative animations and illustrations - Iris’ main objective is to create visuals that enhance experiences and channel stories. Based in Sweden, she gathers inspiration from the surrounding nature and her seasons.”
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That’s all for now! See you next time.
P.S. There’s a new vintage collection dropping soon! Sign up for the email list for more details.