Treasure Trove at Salt Spring Island Market

I'm back!! Spent a wonderful long weekend at Salt Spring Island which is a couple of hours by ferry away from Vancouver. It was very relaxing and felt like a world away, yet we were always busy in the sense that there was always something to see or do. I'll do another post with some of my fave pics on the trip, which was full of hiking, checking out arts and craft studios, visiting organic farms, swimming, and of course culinary delights!

I'm going to focus this post on one of my favourite things to do on Salt Spring - the weekly Saturday market. The market brings together all of the artists, craftspeople, farmers and other entrepreneurs on Salt Spring to hawk their goods. Here you'll find delicious home made tarts, organic produce, local smoked salmon, jewelry, hand-thrown pottery, soap, and just about anything else that might be artsy, hippy, whimsical and even wacky. It's a chaotic few hours when the market is on, and it's the place to be on a sunny Saturday. Shoppers jockey for space amongst the booths, and visitors and locals alike are eager to fill their reusable shopping bags with organic goodies like heirloom tomatoes, cheese, and spring greens.

Delectable tarts...

Giant heads of purple garlic...

Colourful Provence-inspired fabric...

Pendants featuring wild daisies...

Natural, hand-made soaps...

I came away with some fantastic treasures: a custom hammered silver cuff by Salt Spring Silversmith, stackable silver rings by Mint Jewellery Design, olive-oil lavender soaps from Bare With Me, and something I had never heard of before: Rose Petal Bead jewelry.

Creator Marcus Knox takes rose petals and cooks them down into a moldable mash, from which he hand rolls each bead. The colour of the bead is black no matter what colour the rose was in its former incarnation. The beads retain a faint rose scent for the duration of their life.. The sweet fragrance is enhanced when warmed by the wearer's body.

The history of the beads is fascinating. The origins trace back to 15th century India where monks made them as prayer beads for counting during meditation. It was adopted by the Catholics and rose petal beads were commonly used in the Rosary.

I couldn't resist picking up a bracelet with an uneven pearl, and a rosary with a mother-of-pearl cross. Not only do I love the romantic symbolism of the rose, but I feel connected to the spiritual origins. Stylistically, I'm digging the dark, edgy feel of the black beads, yet the pearly accents sweeten it up. I put the bracelet on at the market and have worn it ever since.

I'm sorry I don't have better pictures of my sundress dress, which is new from Fine Finds. I'll post my outfit properly soon but these are the pictures I had on hand for now. Here are a couple of pics of my cousins though enjoying the market.

Cecile smiling in her embroidered number

Tracy sparkling in a glittery dress with the shades of the ocean

Can a piece of coral...

...really inspire a whole outfit?

In this case, the answer is overwhelmingly, YES.

Ever since I got this remade vintage coral ring from my momma, I can't stop crushing on all things coral. The ring is even extra special because the coral was originally one half of an earring mom wore on her wedding day. My sister-in-law has the other half, made into an identical ring surrounded by white and yellow tiny diamonds.

I wore this same dress earlier in the week to JK Model's Anniversary Party held at the upscale LEONE boutique. It was a fun night hanging out with some local bloggers, including Kelsey of The Anthology, Nicole of Le Mode Du Jour, Aces, Nikki of A Haute Mess, Olivia of Stylestruck, Lisa of Solo Lisa, Raul of Hummingbird604, and Erin of Haus of Hybrid.

Wearing:
Strapless dress with diamond back cut-out, by Elizabeth and James
Brown leather jacket, by Blues Heroes
Gypsy macrame thong sandals, by Elizabeth and James (available at ShopBop.com)
Remade vintage coral ring, gift from mom
Silver seahorse pendent, custom
White bone carved flower pendant, Simply Sublime
Mother of pearl cuff bracelet, from Knysna, South Africa
Bronze cuff, from Morocco
Floppy hat, American Apparel

Is It Summer Yet?

How was your weekend, lovelies? Mine was good; lots of chilling out with a movie and take-in dinner (District 9 and sushi), dinner party at a friend's (yummy slow braised beef short ribs papparadelle), and coffee and crepes on Sunday.

I know I just got back from a beach holiday, but I'm already itching to go somewhere hot again. How can I not with all these sizzling hot resort styles tempting me? I've decided that 2010 is the year that I will get a real classic Brazilian bikini, and I've been enticed by some of the hot looks from Look Swimwear. Of course, I also love the Reef swimwear that makes your butt look so good. So, if you're going somewhere hot soon for a mid-winter break, I envy you.

While I was surfing for hot bikinis, Teresa from Senses and Style pointed me to Anna Kosturova, a local Vancouver swimwear designer. Her designs have been featured in Sports Illustrated and Lucky Magazine, and they are sexy yet classy. I wish I had known before I went to Kauai!

Above: Golden crochet cover-up by Anna Kosturova

This Marley bikini by Red Carter brings out my inner rasta girl. A turquoise and pink tunic by Anna Kosturova works as cover-up or a mini dress.

Below: Twelfth St. by Cynthia Vincent thong sandal and a demure white crochet cover-up by Anna Kosturova.

Loving the bright orange hue for this Marc by Marc Jacobs bandeau bikini and rounded aviators from Ray-Ban (orange is sold out boo!).

For sundown drinks, I might slip on this cotton jersey white tunic by Anna Kosturova as a little dress and carry this colourful hobo by Twelfth St. by Cynthia Vincent.

I don't care that I'm clashing patterns with this Aztec-inspired Mara Hoffman string bikini and Shoshanna psychedelic cover up.

With jewels like these, who needs accessories (other than arm candy)? Elizabeth and James Jewel Thong Sandal and Red Carter Jeweled Bikini (top sold out now - boo!).

Finally, watching the sun set is a breeze behind these oversized retro Chloe Tilia pink shades. Keep warm with this ombre wrap by Brette Sandler.

So, while everyone is thinking of the 2010 Winter Olympics, happening in my humble town in less than 4 weeks time, I've got beaches and bikinis on the brain.

Images courtesy of Shopbop.com and Anna Kosturova.

A New Crop

Fashion, like the seasons, come and go, but I surely did not expect I would try the latest rounds of cropped tops. I picked up this lovely black racerback crop top at Simply Sublime last Friday, and I pulled it out for a holiday-Monday brunch with one of my besties, Sam, visiting from out of town. These pics were somewhat hastily taken, and I forgot to snap my paint-splattered purse, a notorious item that some of my friends have called the ugliest, most hideous thing they have ever seen, while others just love it. Ah, another day.

Above: Sam and I taking a stroll on the marina walkway after brunch.

The new crop has come a long ways since the old belly-baring-low-rider days; the new school are draped, asymmetrical, cut and layered in creative ways.

Along with the crop top, I brought home a slinky gold snake - my come-hither power piece.

Layered underneath is my new multi-coloured neon, leopard print bikini from Roxy (I hit the beach later that afternoon). The bottoms are reversible. Neon has been strong all year, and I see it carrying into the next season.

As the hazy days of August meld into the first Fall leaves, we can look ahead to some exciting style trends. I was polled on Twitter by the lovely Dream Sequins on what Fall trends I'll be rocking - check out my answer here along with the results from other Twitter stylistas.

What Fall trends will you be rocking?

RIDDLED REVEALED: For those wondering, the answer to the handbag riddle in this post is....Chloe!!

Wearing:
Black Racerback Crop Top, KZ Jerzey from Simply Sublime
White High-Waisted Bloomer Shorts, American Apparel
Neon Leopard Bikini, Roxy
Electric Yellow Wedge Peep Toes, from Hong Kong
Snake Necklace, Simply Sublime Jewelry by Constantina James
Floppy Hat, American Apparel

A Beautiful Long Weekend

I almost named this post Happy Happy Long Weekend but then I realized it sounded like a Cantonese nail salon or dim sum place.

It's going to be hot and gorgeous long weekend, and I'm thinking of hitting up the beach. I got a new bikini, flip flops and a Billabong rashi all on sale, and I'm soo wishing I was surfing somewhere in the world.

Speaking of, I want to check out this art exhibition and surf movie, Dear & Yonder. The trailer looks beautiful and I love that it's all surfer girls! The exhibition is coming to Vancouver next Thursday, Aug. 6 at Antisocial.

Images credits: Dear & Yonder (photographers John Smart and tmc)

Hot Heat Needs

Found some cool ways to stay cool amidst the hot summer heat. Really dig the colourful throwback watches below and love the funny trapeze-shaped cropped tank above.

A sporty grey racerback dress I would rely on for any hot summer occasion.

I've been wanting a dramatic fringed necklace for a while now...love how it makes a simple beater look instantly updated.

All these lovelies can be found at Need Supply Co. and at reasonable prices. Thanks to my friend Teresa for this tip!

Sorting out my pics from the horse show from this weekend, so will have an update shortly!

It's not too soon...

I couldn't resist picking up this cute oversized floral tote today from Fine Finds.   Lucky for me, it only cost $36.  Perfect item for spring and going into summer...I can't wait to pair this up with bubble shorts, light denims, and strappy cut-out sandals.

The sun today also got me thinking about some new shades (an ongoing obsession).  Some of my picks at the moment:

Rayban Tonal Wayfarers

Oliver Peoples Sofiane

Marc Jacobs Retro

All sunglasses pics from shopbop.com