Spring Thaw*

Some heart graffiti found just outside of Kensington Market in Toronto

Hello all! It is officially Spring!! I saw the Canada geese fly overhead about an hour after my last post! It was very magical. These days I am gearing up for Spring Thaw this weekend!!  It is an indie-Artisan fair happening Sunday, March 28th at the Routhier Community Centre (272 Guigues Avenue, 10am-4pm).  There will be lots of artists there and I am looking forward to seeing what they are up to these days.  Sugarbum will be selling dresses and the like all ready to add sparkle and light to each Spring day.  It is going to be a blast!!!  

In other news, I am still getting caught up on what has happened on the runways this past February (which is only okay in an ironic sort of way since I am already catching up on Fall 2010).  And speaking of getting caught up with fashion, I am still processing the loss of Alexander McQueen.  Since his passing I have seen the September Issue (a documentary on Anna Wintour and the making of the hefty September issue of Vogue magazine).  The documentary shows part of the funeral service of Isabella Blow who was a close friend with Alexander McQueen (not to mention Jean-Michel Basquiat).  It is insightful to see the fashion world mourn.  They are creative people and are moved deeply, like majestic Elephants with the passing of one of their kin.  

Spring is an interesting time of death and rebirth ("April is the cruelest month" to quote T.S. Eliot).  It is an in-between time where the veil between the dream-world and the real-world seems even more transparent.  Interestingly, I am not the only one who is feeling such an apparent unsheathing and juxtaposition of the two worlds.  The Mulleavy sisters of Rodarte have also expressed this feeling in their Fall 2010 collection.  You can see a Wonderful depiction of the Rodarte Fall 2010 runway show at the tents in New York on Tavi's blog (my absolute fave): Tavi's blog

With Love, Light and the magic of Spring.

XOXOXOXO

Sugarbum.*

Spring*

Well, good day to you!  It is Spring, not official equinox Spring, but a Spring of soul, mind, body, and well, weather.  I haven't seen or heard any Canada geese returning home yet, but I am sure they must be thinking about heading this way soon enough.  There is a festival of fun happening outside the window where I type, as people are walking their dogs and jogging their little winter buns off.  Most heart-tugging of all is a Mom playing with her two little sons, placing one up on the low branches of a tree for (seemingly) the first time in their lives.  Oh, and the youngest one is on a little red wagon, of course (but he was just usurped by his big brother).

In any case, Spring means Spring cleaning, and I have been tidying my sewing studio like it is everyone's business!  I have friends and acquaintances coming over to explore the world of Sugarbum.  Some are past models turned PhD's (for real), and some I have just met but adore. 

Model-turned-PhD on the right, and myself wearing Sugarbum on the left.

So, I have begun the Spring clean of my Sugarbum studio.  Winter fabrics into their own compartments and Spring fabrics have come to breathe new life into the new Sugarbum creations.  It would be Amazing if one day my studio could come to resemble this, but with more delicious garments:

I saw an interview with Karl Lagerfeld once and his home was this streamlined and clean.

Clean is definitely the theme of the day.  I even went to visit the accountant today so that I could brush up on my book-keeping skills.  Now that is taking it to the next level.

Love and Light and Fun in the Sun,

XOXOXOXO

Ashley and Sugarbum.*

All you need is Love*

I heard this song twice today (once at work and once on the radio).  (Yes, there appears to be a Beatles influence flowing through this blog, but the theme is truly Love and Happiness.) After attending to my stomach-flu plagued boyfriend, giving my Grandmother with a healing broken arm a manicure, visiting with my Mom, Dad, my adorable kitty, Lucy, and having had a bit of a tough end of the day myself (and doesn't the 'end of the day' just seem to cast such a strong feeling over the whole 'how was your day?' answer?), I realized in a tangible fashion that really, what we are all looking for is Love, plain and simple.  We want to be well (yes, food, shelter, warmth) and be Loved.


I find it such a Wonderful relief and miracle that by helping someone, you actually lessen your own pain, whatever it may be that you are going through.  If you had a tough day and you give some Love to someone or to your pet, your garden, what-have-you, you start to feel better yourself.  It is His Holiness the Dalai Lama that said "Happiness is cherishing others."  By taking the focus off of ourselves and genuinely caring for others, we remove our attention from our own suffering.  It is actually healing for us to help others.  I like this quote from Gulsha Fawzia:


Cherishing others is the supreme protection from pain and problems, and empowers us to remain calm and serene all the time. 

This is my Granny and I LOVE her so much.*

Okay, well it is time for me to gather some slumber.  I wish you all many beautiful blessings.  May your days be filled with perfect rays of sunshine and your dreams be filled with your heart's desire.

Love Love Love

XOXOXO

Ashley and Sugarbum designs.*