IT'S OCTOBER WHAT?!

You know when you're super busy, and your husband is super busy, and your baby is turning into a tantrum-ing yet brilliant toddler, and your dog is getting on your last nerve, and then you look at the calendar and for the first time in a few weeks you actually, really, see the date—you see that it is 21 days into a month that you thought would be a slow one, a good one to use to prepare for the oncoming rush of the holiday season? Ya, that's what just happened to me.

So, needless to say that October has been a busy month on all fronts. But, it's a good kind of busy. I've had work from clients, and have been applying for the holiday shows here in Montreal as well as finalizing details for some new products that will be in the shop very soon. Charles is in the midst of job application season, applying for professor jobs is no joke. The amount of writing and thinking involved is quite astounding. He keeps at it though, and his applications are going all over the world, who knows where we'll end up! Edwin is wonderful. He is consistently the bright spot in our days. We're navigating around some tantrums here and there, but the flip side is watching his little mind grow and expand everyday. He can count to 10!! (proud mama!).

Despite our crazy schedules there's always time to step away from our desks and go out to enjoy one of Montreal's wonderful parks. This weekend we headed up the mountain to Parc du Mont Royal. The air was chilly, but we bundled up and enjoyed all the beauty that October has to offer.

xx Bess

Canadiana: lucky 14

Whaler Bay Warmer

I was going to save these lovely knits from the Vancouver-based shop, lucky 14, until the leaves had changed colour and we were well into the fall season. It seems, however, like fall arrived virtually overnight here in Montreal. For the past few days I've been walking around the house in extra warm socks and fleece sweaters, stubbornly keeping the heat turned off—this can't really be the end of warm days, can it?!


Cannery Cowl

If we must bid adieu to summer breezes and long sunshine-y days, then I guess fall does have its fair share of reasons to love it. Number one on my list, knits. I love a warm wooly scarf or sweater wrapped around my shoulders, and I think a lucky 14 cowl would be right at home in my wardrobe too.


Whaler Bay Warmer

An interior designer by trade, Beatriz Rempel began selling her hand knit scarves, cowls, pillows and coffee sleeves in her Etsy shop after finding herself with some unexpected time on her hands. She chooses soft comfortable yarn and uses simple yet beautiful stitches to create easy to wear, versatile pieces.

To see more knits from lucky 14 visit Beatriz's Etsy shop, and make sure to check out her blog too.

Have a great Tuesday!
xo Bess

Fall Leaves

I took a few photos of the pretty Fall colours when we were up north on the weekend.



What is it about leaves that make them so beautiful?



I think it's how delicate they are. Paper thin and each one unique.

Have a wonderful Thursday,
xo bess

Thanksgiving + Birch Bark Harvesting

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend, in fact, we had 3 Thanksgivings, all delicious and unique. The weather this weekend was absolutely perfect! Sunny, warm days and cool crisp nights, the perfect weather for being outside and working off some of those pumpkin pies.

On Saturday I went to visit Mjolk in Toronto and was overwhelmed, impressed and inspired by John and Juli's beautiful store. (I'll post photos on the blog later this week.) They had a gorgeous Finnish birch bark installation in their storefront and I was in love with it.

Big Chuck and I love natural wood, and the idea of using birch bark somewhere in our home was something I really liked. So, when we arrived at the cottage for thanksgiving dinner and I saw not one but two birch trees laying next to the wood shed, already sawed into perfect 16 inch logs the wheels in my brain started turning. And, before I knew it, Big Chuck and I were harvesting birch bark.

We have a big bag currently sitting in our backyard. I haven't figured out exactly what to do with it yet. I'm not sure if I want to do something on a large scale like the installation I saw at Mjolk, or something smaller and potentially sell-able. I'll keep you posted.

Have a great Wednesday!

xo bess

Happy Thanksgiving - gobble, gobble

It's a rainy day here in Montreal, but that's ok because later this afternoon Big Chuck and I are hopping in the car and heading west, to Toronto (and there it's 22C and sunny!). It's Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada and I am so excited to be back home for our first proper North American Thanksgiving in 3 years! Bring on the turkey and pumpkin pie (and ensuing belly ache).

I wish you all a wonderful weekend with your families whether you're celebrating Thanksgiving or just hanging out.

See you on Wednesday!

xo bess

ps. You've only got a week and 3 days left to take advantage of my 2011 Calendar Promotion. If you're not already on my Friends & Family mailing list, sign-up now!

image: Big Chuck

Bio-Diversity

I was on the New York Times website and saw the cute little image titled "tree-shirt" so I couldn't help but click on it, and look what I discovered. A lovely visual treat from the NYT's Abstract City Blog by Christoph Niemann.

To Market We Went

On Saturday we took a stroll to our favourite market in the city, Kutschkermarkt. I've posted photos from this market on the blog before (here and here), so this time I decided to have a little fun with them in Photoshop.

Here are the results.










(photos: Bess Callard)

I hope you had a lovely weekend :)
bess

Weekend in Vienna

Good morning! I hope you had a nice weekend wherever you were. Here in Vienna the weather was beautiful so Big Chuck and I decided to take full advantage, who knows how long it will be before we see sunny skies and feel warm temperatures again... ahhhh Fall.

On Saturday we strolled around the old part of the city. We actually discovered some new streets and even a new church. There are so many churches in Vienna, it boggles the mind!



There are also lots of courtyards. We glimpsed the super cute red scooter and just couldn't resist taking a picture.



On Sunday we went for a hike in the Wienerwald, or the Vienna woods. We hiked up to Kahlenberg and enjoyed winding our way through the vineyards.



There were some really cute houses on our way into the woods. It would be such a lovely place to live, barely any car traffic and only minutes from the vineyards.











The goal of the hike was actually to find a Heurigen (a little pub/tavern in the woods, as seen in the picture above)...



...and ultimately two glasses of Sturm. Sturm (storm) is the "new wine" from this year. It's only available for a few weeks in the Fall after the grapes have been harvested. It's sweet and light and goes straight to your head, well at least to mine. I must confess I was a little wobbly as we began our trek back down the hill.

Have a great Monday!
bess

Red! The Colour of Fall

WHOA Necklace by Quite Lovable
Fora in Red II Bag by Bayan Hippo
Hand Sculpted Roses by Made By Mavis
Atmosphere - Art Print by JKLDesign

Continuing with the theme of Fall colours from over at Poppytalk, today is devoted to red. I skipped brown yesterday, just didn't feel like I was ready to delve into the more somber colours yet, there will be plenty of time for that.


Japan Blossom Corsage Brooch by A Alicia Accessories
Spatula Tote by Sarstar77
Orange Crush Capelet by Kate Towers
COPCO Kettle by Found Vintage Style

In other news...It's getting pretty chilly in my neck of the woods, I've doubled up on the sweaters, ok, cardigans. I hope this weekend we might make it out for a nice fall hike, we'll have to see how the weather is. Today, Tyke (our dog), is going to have his teeth cleaned, looking forward to no more doggie breath, phew! And tonight Big Chuck and I might even go on a date. Date?! What's a date?!

How about you, any plans for the weekend?

I know someone out there is getting married!! All the best Linda :)

Happy Friday!
Bess

Orange! The colour of Fall...

Candycorn Bunting Flags by Pamwares
Porcelain Cups by Clayswan
Pumpkin Miniskirt by Jessjamesjake

I was going to post some pictures from our bbq last weekend, but they look so Summery and just don't fit with my Fall mood today. The weather is cooling down and I am cozy and warm in my jeans and sweater. So, what to post? Well, my answer came while I was over at Poppytalk. The lovely Jan is posting her favourite things in different Fall colours this week. Monday was yellow, Tuesday green and today is orange! Have a peek at the orange goodies I've found, and when you're done head on over to Poppytalk and to the Flickr Autumn Colour Week group for more Fall-spiration!

Rainy Night Print by blancucha

Happy last day of September!
bess

Joe! I missed you

Ahh, home sweet home. One of the best parts of coming home, besides seeing my family, friends and listening 24/7 to the CBC, is visiting Joe! And, as if I ever needed a reason to stop by, this time I really did have to purchase a whole new wardrobe. Air France lost my luggage, grrrrr! It's not so bad, as long as I get it back today or tomorrow, it will only be a minor headache. Lucky for me, my mom and I pretty much wear the same size - and her clothes are way cooler than anything I had packed in my suitcase. Thanks Mom!

So, guess where our first stop was yesterday after I got home, that's right - Joe Fresh. For those of you unfamiliar with Joe, it is a clothing store owned by one of Canada's largest supermarkets, Loblaws. I know, clothes at the grocery store... a bit odd, but I assure you, it's really genius. Especially when the designer behind all these low priced pieces, is Club Monaco's Joesph Mimran.

This fall, at Joe, I covet:

cute plaid shirts and layered sweater vest

I think I might need to go get this jacket

or maybe this one...

And of course, we can't forget Big Chuck

Check out the mix'n'match feature on the website too - it's fun!!

Photos: Joe Fresh Style

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here's a pic from our own Thanksgiving on Saturday. We had a lovely Canadian/American/Austrian feast chez Ben et Nina!

Happy Thanksgiving!

ps. Monday Muffins will resume next week :) b

Butternut Squash

(illustration by Bess)

Guess what I had for lunch.... Butternut Squash soup!

Goodbye Summer... Hello Fall!

It's a rainy day here in Vienna (sigh), but the promise of warm soups, sweaters and slippers is what Fall is all about. Above is a picture from the Naschtmarkt, I think this squash is definitely worthy of first place at the county fair.