Summer 2011: Thus Far

I really struggled with the title of this blog post.  I feel like since it's been OVER A MONTH since my last post, that most fitting title would acknowledge how much I need to catch up on...as in the entire summer.

In a nutshell, these last few weeks have been a total blur.  Between my actual moneymaking job, plus the new money sucking business (I finally went to City Hall and registered it too, so exciting!), patternmaking, seeing friends, celebrating a grillion birthdays (a LOT of people apparently get busy in October, because July is just one long birthday jam), and my recent trip to Toronto, I legitimately can't even remember all the finer details of it all.

My Toronto visit was so amazing because of how much I was able to accomplish in only about 24 hrs.  First, I picked up this ginormous roll of manila paper that I need for my patterns.  This thing weighs over 100 lbs and is apparently going to last me years of patternmaking for my swimwear.  Which is both fantastic AND frustrating seeing as I think I have mentioned before the lack of space in this apartment.  I genuinely welcome any suggestions on how to somehow integrate it into my living space without it just being a huge totem pole of paper in the middle of the living room.  Then, I drove to Newmarket to meet my most favourite person ie. the man who knows everything about manufacturing fashion designs.  This meeting was particularly important because I was showing him what I have so far with my patterns and if he told me that I was doing it all wrong, then these last few months would have been a total waste of time and resources.  Fortunately, he gave me only positive feedback and reinforcement for my plans.  By the end of this month, I will have sent him everything he needs to create my sample collection, and from there it will be under a month before I receive it in its glorious completion!  INSANITY!  From that meeting, I travelled back downtown to Queen St. West's garment district to go fabric shopping.  Not even the disgusting stop-and-go traffic could slow down my great mood.  I managed to find 4 fabrics I loved and bought them in under 2.5 hours.  I've never been so decisive!  Finally, Tuesday evening I met with my girlfriend and PR/event marketing extraordinaire Marie Chevrier and a group of talented musicians/artists and venue scouted for a show we are planning for the end of August.  I don't want to say too much yet about the event before all the details are ironed out, but it will be amazing.  We found some great spaces and met new friends and I celebrated my fabulously productive day!

So, that's the latest and the greatest.  Sorry I've been such an epic failure with the posting.  I can honestly say that the only thing suffering from my loss of day job is this blog.  I just don't sit in front of a computer anymore, which is indescribably FANTASTIC, but on the other hand I really enjoy blogging and just haven't been keeping up with it.  I hereby make a promise to myself that I will try harder now :)

I will cap this post off with some pics from the one night I was able to go to Bluesfest!

Metric Played!

Photo credit:  Greg Kolz
Emily Haines is such a hottie.

Yes, beer and live music!
Blouse-Pink Violet, shorts-Aritzia, sandals-Urban Outfitters, watch-Michael Kors, bag-thrifted, necklace-gifted and made by my talented friend.

Oh, look who I bumped into!

During My Morning Jacket...loved!

Well, that's it for now friends!  Hope your summer has been as great as mine so far!  

xo Amber