This past week the two of us went on a much needed shopping break and discovered something else at Nouvelle Nouvelle in Gastown.
Ada instantly fell in love with this flowy tunic:
While I bagged this piece:
It was a very happy shopping day. 
Can’t wait to play stylist!
This past week Ada and I went to check out the closing sale of Sophia Books, a great little book store with an extremely relaxing atmosphere where we occasionally browse books to gain inspiration for shoe ideas. We were extremely sad that this bookstore, which has been around for as long as I can remember is closing because they simply cannot afford their rent anymore. What’s more upsetting is that it will probably be replaced by another big chain store.
I have nothing against big chain stores…they employ a lot of people and drive prices down for consumers who like to save but at what cost?
In the past year or so a lot of the little independent stores we like in the Gastown area have closed shop. It seems that our little city just does not have the consumer culture that supports interesting and independent stores. With the price of downtown real estate going up, I’m sure more small independent stores will have to close shop or move to other areas of Vancouver. I wonder what it would take to make more people aware of these interesting independent shops…..
The sale is 75% off all books except for English Magazines. This is your last chance to experience what Sophia Books has to offer. Sophia Books closes at the end of May.
I don’t know why…but lately…I’ve been really into stamps. Especially ones with crazy color combination like this:
and this:
These are going to heavily influence my next pair of shoes! Stay tuned!
For my upcoming whirlwind trip to Japan, I’ve been making a list of cool stores I must visit and Village Vanguard is one of them. Their website is entirely in Japanese but that doesn’t stop me from taking a quick browse and making a shopping list:
The Book of Bunny Suicides 1260 Yen
Funky T-Shirt 3360 yen
Camera Bag 1470 Yen
Unfortunately, the Village Vanguard online store does not ship overseas. I will have to mad shop when I get there in person.
Being a hero is not hard! Here’s how:
1) Show your pretty face at the Typhoon Ondoy Fundraiser on Tuesday Oct 6, 2009 at Box Studios (1622 Frankin Street)
2) Bid on the pair of custom Cocopunkz that we donated for the silent auction
3) Enjoy envious stares when they announce your winning bid for our one-of-a-kind hand-painted shoes!
Remember the Cocopunkz Submit Your Own Shoe Idea Contest on facebook? Well, here are the winners and their shoes!
This first design came from Sheila’s concept of leopards running in a jungle/dessert. I decided to go with the jungle as the colors served as a nice back drop for the leopards to really pop.
Here’s Sheila with her new shoes!
This next design came from Tracy who wanted shoes which are professional in the front and party on the side. The shoes would have a look of classical elegance meet a little bit of Divaism. The front of the shoe would look “Classy” with Blue Teal coloured tips. On the side there will be a funky Demask pattern in black and white. Ada changed the color scheme a little and did the sides in teal to give it a lighter look.
Here’s Tracy with her new shoes! Look how the shoes matches the shirt she’s wearing completely! :O
We hope you girls enjoy the new shoes! Send us some pictures of you wearing them!
It doesn’t get fresher than this! Just finished custom hand-painted shoes:
First off, a mix of Raincity and Obsession by Ada.
Then we’ve got a reversed version of Peonies, Nightfall by Miranda
And finally, Miranda’s (failed) watercolor effect test project:
Not only was I unable to achieve the watercolor effect I was hoping for, but these were also one of the most time consuming pairs I’ve worked on ever! The headpieces on the girls head were so intricate and detailed that I my face was literally 6 inches away from the surface of the shoe the whole time. It didn’t help that I saw a whole buncha cheap mass-produced printed-on canvas shoes at the shopping centre today (some were just awful, though the Reebok ones were kinda cool)…not a big bang for a whole lotta work. Never again will I work on something this intricate unless my reward is a three hour massage at the spa to alleviate the resulting back-pain. But I did enjoy wearing them today though!
Last Monday, I went down to Live Stock to check out the “Smile On Your Brother” exhibition conceived by Mike Giles and Annie Lam and co-curated by Bob Kronbauer. The art show centered around original artwork done on to skateboards.
The idea behind not only the show, but also overall project is to hopefully inspire people to think about their first skateboard and what it meant to them. For many skaters, this still represents a pivotal moment in their lives, with every last little detail, fresh in their minds. Bringing together contemporary artists both in, and affected by the skateboard industry to help raise funds to go towards the first goal of Contributor which is to donate 100 skateboards to disadvantaged youth across Canada in 2009/2010.
Here are some of my favorites:
The show is on in Vancouver until August 31, 2009 at:
LIVE STOCK (VANCOUVER) in association with KNOWSHOW
239 abbott st (gastown)
Vancouver, BC V6B 2K7.
Then it moves on to other Canadian cities:
Sept 4th-6th 2009
LIVE STOCK (CALGARY)
103-2115 4th STREET SW
Calgary, AB, T2S 1W8
calgary@deadstock.ca
T: 403 245 1444
Sept 11th-13th 2009
MOMENTUM (SASKATCHEWAN)
2-960 attridge dr,
Saskatoon, SK, S7S1P1
T: 306-341-2743
Sept 25th-27th 2009
LIVESTOCK (TORONTO)
116 spadina unit G1
Toronto, ONT, M5V 2K6
toronto@deadstock.ca
T: 416 360 5483
October 1st-4th 2009
OFF THE HOOK (MONTREAL) in association with POP MONTREAL
1021a Ste-Catherine Ouest
Montréal, QC, H3B 1H1
T: 514-499-1021
October 16th-19th 2009
MORGAN BRIDGE GALLERY (QUEBEC CITY)
Galerie Morgan Bridge
367 rue du pont
Quebec , QC, G1K6M5
T: 41 85 29 16 82
Check out Funky Trends, a blog dedicated to all things funky. We’re loving the bottle cap jewelery and the ink filled glasses!
