Grading season has begun.

There will be less rambling until it's all conquered.

What my life will consist on during that time (especially that the Devil is away):


This:

And this.

See you on the other side!

Spread your love! A Valentine's day biking guerilla

Even though Montreal isn't at all the most bike-friendly city (despite having BIXI stations everywhere) as car drivers are probably some of the worst on this planet, I have a little something inside me for pretty bikes (read here: modern but vintage looking) and the series of accessories that goes with it.

If your city is not covered in snow during Valentine's day, these overly cute tire featuring a 3D heart-shaped bump creating a love path in the streets. Not sure how well it would actually imprints with just water or even only in the mud, but what about paint? LOVE GRAFFITI!

'Spread your love' by Hamed Kohan from Iran is one of the shortlisted design entries
from more than 3000 participants in our recent designboom competition,
'Seoul cycle design 2010', organized in collaboration with seoul design foundation.
All pictures belongs to Hamed Kohan. Via.

Down Under.

They talked to me like the waterladies in my sleep, the troublesome, weirdly beautiful wood painting of Nicoz Balboa...

My paintings are bursts, brief glimpses like when you look at a landscape from the window of a moving train, instants frozen in time, of a dream we will never dream again. They are fleeting glances at a parallel reality where animals know all. Nature lives and protects and the little girls can decide to love, kill, or die.

This strange land, inhabited by semi-ordinary creatures and little girls who are too elegant for our times, is the place where I’d like to wake up every morning and it’s the first place I see at night upon closing my eyes. The peaked cliffs by the sea fill my heart, that’s why they’re so recurrent in my paintings. For such a long time I had chosen the road of self-destruction (physically and pictorially) and now I want to put my faith in nature and its regenerative powers. The caress of the wind and the exhilaration of a distant horizon have become the new points of reference in my paintings. As well as the animals, these kind and mute presences.

In my paintings, nature and animals are solid and present and they will always remain even when the little girls have become women, then elderly ladies, and finally ashes. They will always remain even when that land has been deserted.

All images belong to Nicoz Balboa

Paper Magic.

I am completely blown away by Isabelle de Borchgrave and her paper dresses! Everything is perfectly historically accurate, handmade and hand painted. Her latest project was in association with Versailles Palace where she recreated several of Marie-Antoinette's dresses (and some of her maids as well) that are currently part of a permanent exhibit called The Livingroom of Marie-Antoinette.

Isabelle de Borchgrave – Eleanora of Toledo (Details), 2006

“Isabelle’s favorite Medici painting, is this Bronzino portrait of Eleanora of Toledo and her son. She was particularly enthralled by the richness of the jewelry, noting that “all the jewelry created by Fulco di Verdura for Chanel in the 1930s was inspired by the dress in the Bronzino portrait.” Eleanora was Duchess of Florence in the 16th century, and is credited as having been the first modern consort.

A pervasive myth tells that this exact dress served as Eleanora’s shroud, or burial gown. When her body was exhumed in the 19th century, the dress was quite similar to the one in Bronzino’s portrait. New research has found that it was a different dress, but that Eleanora was buried wearing a nearly identical pearl encrusted hairnet.

The story begins in a little house in Sablon, which Isabelle turned into a studio. There, she gave drawing classes to her friends’ children and other neighbourhood children and, thus, was free to think about her own designs. It was the seventies and, so, La Tour de Bébelle was set up there. Processions of hand-painted clothes, rolls of fabrics strewn about, pigments, brushes, gouaches, canvasses, pastels and travel journals. Everything alongside each other in a friendly, colourful and modern setting.

Journeys followed, one after another, all over the world. Isabelle discovered different cultures and began to see the world in a new light.

Following a visit to the Metropolitan Museum in New York in 1994, Isabelle dreamed up paper costumes. While keeping her brushes in hand and her paintings in mind, she worked on four big collections, all in paper and trompe l’œil, each of which set the scene for a very different world. “Papiers à la Mode” (Paper in Fashion), the first, takes a fresh look at 300 years of fashion history from Elizabeth I to Coco Chanel. “Mariano Fortuny” immerses us in the world of 19th century Venice. Plissés, veils and elegance are the watchwords of that history. “I Medici” leads us through the streets of Florence, were we come across famous figures in their ceremonial dress. Figures who made the Renaissance a luminous period. Gold-braiding, pearls, silk, velvet … here, trompe l’œil achieves a level of rediscovered sumptuousness. As for the “Ballets Russes”, they pay tribute to Serge de Diaghilev. Pablo Picasso, Léon Bakst, Henri Matisse, … all designed costumes for this ballet company, which set the world of the 20th century alight. These dancing paper and wire figures play a very colourful and contemporaneous kind of music for us.

It’s true that, today, Isabelle de Borchgrave has become a name that is readily associated with fashion and paper. But her name is also closely linked to the world of design. By working together with Caspari, the potteries of Gien, Target, and Villeroy and Boch, Isabelle has turned her imagination into an art that’s accessible to anyone who wants to bring festivity into their home. Painted fabrics and paper, dinner services, curtains, sheets, decor with a personal touch for parties and weddings,… All this tells of the world in which she has always loved to move.

Gilet d'homme, 1760. (It's not actually a gilet, more like a justaucorps.)

Men's cardigan in paper created for the exhibition Papiers à la Mode in Japan in September 2001.

Détail de la robe de Madame de Pompadour, 1755.

Detail of the dress of Madame de Pompadour.

Dress created in September 2001 inspired by a painting by Maurice Quentin de la Tour (1755).

Isabelle de Médicis (1542-1576) et Henri II de France (1519-1559)

Paper costumes of Isabelle de Medici (daughter of Cosme I and Eleonora de Toledo) and of Henri II (King of France and husband of Catherine de Medici). After two portraits respectively painted by Alessandro Allori and François Clouet (both in Palazzo Pitti, Firenze).

La Reine Polyxène d'Assie (+1737) et le Marquis d'Ormea (vers 1730).

Paper costumes realised after the portraits painted by M. van Meytens and Madame La Clementina (La Venaria Reale, Turin, Italy, October 2007).

Les filles de Charles Emmanuel III, vers 1730.

Two paper costumes of Charles Emmanuel III 's daughters, part of a series permanently exhibited at the Venaria Reale (Turin, Italy), October 2007.

Source of the first 2 pictures and text:
http://ornamentedbeing.tumblr.com
All other images and text from http://www.isabelledeborchgrave.com/en_home.php

Riding habits

Riding outfits where originally all for men, women expected to not engage in activity requiring riding as it was considered not womanlike.

But during the mid-XVIIth century, we suddenly see a peculiar outfit making it's appearance: a tailored outfit, modeled exactly after menswear, complete with tricorn, gloves and necktie, but with a close-fitting bodice worn with corset and petticoat underneath, exactly like their everyday wear. The first riding outfit was born, mixing both the need for a proper protective apparatus and the excitement of dressing up, slipping into men's accoutrement and for a moment pretending to have the same authority.

Portrait of Anna-Maria Luisa de Medicis in a hunting dress, by Jan Frans van Douwen

Thoughout the century it will keep following what's in fashion for menswear, from to colors to the type of ornamentation. Reds and gold baroque's bold colors left place to a pastel, more bucolic palette... When we look at Baroness Ulrica Fredrika Cedercreutz, even her hair is made up after a man's wig up-do called catogan and worn with the feathered tricorn.

Baroness Ulrica Fredrika Cedercreutz by Gustaf Lundberg, from TheOrnamentedBeing

Little to no differences appears from Rococo to romantism. We moved from a monarchist, oversaturated costume to a more democratic one as we were entering the Industrial revolution, therefore exchanging silver and silk embrodery for velvet or cotton, and the tricorn for the top-hat, symbol of our newly acquired urban ideas. There is still no mistake to be made here, with the addition of the hat-veil and the excessive length of the skirt: it's still only play, we are still only pretending... No one would be fooled by the message here: the woman still needs a man and can only ride with a side-saddle.

Fashion plate from Le Journal des Dames et des modes, March 1830. To learn more about fashion plates from the romantic era, click on the plate to read a little snippet...

Nowadays we don't tend to ride that much... Well, at least not horse. Bus, car, bicycles... people? There's Jean-Paul Gaultier's take on it from the mind blowing exhibit at Montreal's Fine Arts Museum that took place last summer (2011). The essentials are still there: top-hat, gigantic neckwear inspired both by feminine rococo period's bows and the gigantic cravat of the romantics, then a twist with the bottom part of the outfit: not a skirt as we can find in the other periods, but pants with side buttons worn with high-knee leather boots. Notice here the uselessness of those buttons, turned into something purely aesthetic and losing their practical aspect, as it's often the case when a piece a clothing transition from a practical usage into fashion.

Is Gaultier, by leaving here the skirt, telling us that the women are not only dressing-up as a game, playing on their masculine side, but actually taking the reins and leading the way? Taking their own path and riding with men as equal? Or is this last picture opening the dialog on an even deeper way?...

Last pictures by yours truly, taken at Jean-Paul Gaultier exhibit at Musée d’Art Contemporain de Montréal at Musee Des Beaux-Jean Paul Gaultier Exhibit..

On sartorial diversity

Image from : LURIE, Alison, The Language of clothes, United States (University of Michigan), Vintage Books, 1983,

Setting its foot in late Middle-Ages and early Renaissance, the idea of owning a lot of different garments as a display of fortune and power was at its peak in the Edwardian fashion, when not only owning a lot of clothing was important, but having a particular costume for different times of the day was expected; when you were of good society of course. The gentleman was expected to own at least 16 outfits to be considered to have a full wardrobe. Even the low-class man needed at least a couple of work clothes and his Sunday best.

As of now, this concept often seems a bit foreign, as if it didn’t age well. Changing outfit four times a day? Frivolous! But when we look more closely, we can find some sort of common ground. Look in any women magazine and you’ll find at least one page giving tips on how to transform an office outfit into a happy hour outfit… Then, if a more official evening will take place, the gal is expected to transfer into a more elegant gown and maybe more expensive jewelry. And the next day, shame on her if she would come back to work with the same outfit she was last seen wearing at the happy hour: she would be giving the impression to have spent the night maybe at a colleague, expressing lousy manners or no self control over alcohol.

So then, other than work outfits (which we assume we want to have at least five to not challenge our inner Wendy who has a Monday outfit, a Tuesday outfit, etc), what else are we expected to have in our wardrobe?

Some, like Marilyn Monroe, claim to sleep in nothing but Chanel #5 but the tradition of pajamas of nightwear is still alive, considering from the traditional 2 pieces, one-piece (!) or some more sexy forms or clothing. Then most likely a robe for colder morning and late tv nights, the equivalent of the chambrelouque (think Dracula's robe, or more contemporary, a long Hugh Hefner's coin-du-feu) from early 19^th century.

On top of that, we’ll also consider what we use to cover ourselves like coats, cloaks and other forms of outwears, and what we put underneath our costume, supporting or covering our intimate parts.

Then between 3 to 8 different everyday outfit (I already hear fashionistas yell: only 8!!), constituted of top and bottom that we can mix and match as we go. To that we can add different accessories (hats, jewelry, hosiery) to modify the said look. Most of these are expected to relate to the communication and psychological functions: to express who we are and what we believe to be esthetically pleasing. To those can be added work-related outfits, they may be extra casual, suit-looking, to uniforms or painting clothes and, as mentioned before, one or two ballroom-type outfits (or wedding outfits as ball seem more and more rare these days…)

One of the elements we keep from historic periods are sports related costumes: from the classic track suit (that is now creeping its way into the everyday outfit) to the tennis skirt, and the necessary wetsuit of surfers, bikinis and other contraptions.

Considering all of that, would you consider that we are much different than the Edwardian man with his 16 different outfits? Are our codes now less strict as to what to wear in a specific situation, but everyone expected to own a lot of different garments (in style!) to be considered well dressed? Do you think that the proliferation of cheap but trendy shops like Forever21 contributing to that phenomena?

Yarn Guerilla

Some shots of FiberGrenade in action during the summer... Guts & Yarn!




There's Christine Fiocco from MétroBoulotTricot who dropped a line about us on her blog... Special points for her tshirt! (I'm so crafty I make people!)

The shadows beneath us

“To rid ourselves of our shadows - who we are - we must step into either total light or total darkness” Jeremy Preston Johnson

Creating happiness

Quebec in the time of summer

Have you ever wondered where is the happiest place on the planet (during the summer)?
Québec city.

Ever wondered where you find the only winter festival in the world that could manage to make me smile?
Québec city

And the best general tso's chicken outside of Asia?
Thang long, in Québec city.

Although, as reading the name with a French accent (Thang long : temps long, meaning long time), you can then plan ahead: it's one of the longest, most horrible table service I've ever had. That's why you bring wine, a lot of wine. (As you would have guess, it's a BYOB.) And friends. As much friend as you can manage to cram around the small tables. And don't forget to make a reservation or you'll be uncomfortably standing around for a long, long time.


Don't let them convince you with their doubtful looks: the menu is amazing. From the sweet and salty soup to the gigantic summer rolls, there's a lot to choose. I would personnally recommend to not miss the chicken in peanut sauce, nor any of they seafood soup. And be prepared: it comes in 'bucket size'.


Marie-Pierre is stuck between the heavenly sight of the steaming dishes coming from the kitchen and the delirious idea that she'll have to eventually make her choice.



See, beer. It works as a perfect replacement for wine.


Yes, we did take a while to take decisions... so much choices to juggle with!


Woops more beer. Move along folks, nothing to see here.



Now, for the best sandwiches in town. Head to Nouvo Saint-Roch, right in front of the trendy *ahem* bar Le Dauphin, you'll find La Boîte à Lunch. With their 20+ sandwiches ranging from liverwurst to avocado&shrimp, without forgetting more traditional ones like chicken salad or roast beef, this urban sandwicherie will charm you.


Always leaning toward locally produced item, they serve the amazing beers from Archibald, a microbrewery located in Lac Beauport, about 15 minutes away from downtown... Grab a can or a glass from the tap of the moment!

NSFW : Goth body *ahem* massager

Gothic lifestyle, you said? Well there my friend, I present you...
Death by Orgasm !
Officially truly the apotheosis of the goth arsenal. It would only half surprise me if it would come with a set of velvet drapes and a bunch of candles.

For your crimes against pleasure, we sentence you to Death By Orgasm. Let the gothic-inspired range of sex toys crawl out of their coffins and treat you to a range of hauntingly pleasurable vibrations - whether it is the bullet vibrators or vibrating cock rings you decide to unleash.

Will you choose the 10-Speed Scorpion Bullet to deliver deliciously poisonous titillation? The Fang Banger Vampire Vibrating Cock Ring to make you scream with pleasure? Or perhaps the Werewolf 3 Speed Bullet to unleash the orgasmic beast within?

Whichever toy you choose to deliver your Death By Orgasm, you can guarantee you'll be waking up the streets this Halloween with your howls of pleasure.

Althought I have to admit that once you remove them from the box they present very sleek lines and a pretty alternative when you are looking for a black, grey or red implement.

Hum... bite me?

I guess it does makes a perfect gift for the opening of True Blood season.

A scorpion... really?

Gone Maschinenfesting

Taking off for Maschinenfest tomorrow!
On the menu:




+ feasting and our traditional gigantic family reunion!

See you in 2 weeks!