Flyball booth.

I spent the last few days helping out at the Flyball Bags booth at the Toronto One of a Kind Show.

The new clutch.

Diana’s clutches, shoulder bags, journals, change purses, and her new exquisitely tailored jackets were flying out of the booth!

So many to choose from!

It was wonderful to see months worth of sewing and preparation come together for her.

Angora and cashmere change purses made from recycled sweaters. So soft.

If you haven’t been to the show, and you are in the Toronto area, it’s a great way to spend an afternoon and get some holiday shopping done. Even if you are not there to shop, go for the inspiration!

Grey shoulder bag with lace.

There are hundreds of vendors there from across Canada selling one of a kind/ handmade items including clothing, paintings, cookies, ceramics, jewelry, jams, footwear, pajamas, birdhouses, pillows, cards…well the list is endless.

Hundreds of handmade headbands.

This is the time of year to be on the lookout in your city for art and craft sales. It is a great way to support local artists and to give a gift that is handmade or that comes with a story about the maker and where you found it.

The tailored jacket.

Pop in at Flyball for a visit if you are One of a Kind in Toronto and say hi to Di. She is at W-03.

Vintage barkcloth journals.

The sun is out! Happy Monday.

mmmmorning!

Why not make a little breakfast in bed for someone you love this weekend? It’s so simple and yet so decadent.  Perk some hot coffee with toast, some scrambled eggs or oatmeal, a smoothie or some pancakes. Add a napkin, a tray and you are all set.

Coffee!

Surprise your sleepy mom, your roommate, your sister or your lover on a Saturday morning. Or make breakfast for yourself and crawl back into bed with it and your favorite book. (It feels very fancy!)  It’s the loveliest way to start your weekend.

I fell in love with the bikes in Hong Kong.

While the idea of the cargo bike is just starting to hit the mainstream in North America, it is clear that this way of transporting goods on bicycle has been going on for a long time in Hong Kong.

These sturdy, heavy, utilitarian bikes are rigged with planks of wood, polystyrene coolers, plastic baskets and home made carriers of all varieties to transport goods from A to B.

They are even used for advertisements.

These bikes look sturdy enough for a Toronto winter!

They have an elegant simplicity to them.

I think this one was more for display than transport.

Have a great Thursday!

Not again.

We have been back almost a week and I still cannot seem to reset my body clock. I have heard that you need a day for every hour of time difference. If this is the case I have about another week of sleepless nights, afternoon naps and early mornings ahead of me.

Street scene.

On the upside, it’s pretty cool to be up everyday at 5am to see the sun come up and to sit in the deep, damp quiet of the morning.  It’s silent apart from the hum of the streetlights.

Good morning Cleo.

By the time 8am rolls around, I have eaten breakfast, posted, prepped the following day’s entry, sent e-mails, fed the cats and had a run.

The skies change....

The downside is I am back in bed by 11am and then 4pm and then 10 pm….

Oh please make it stop.

I love to window shop. With so many beautiful, fun displays it’s easy to gather inspiration for art projects and greeting card ideas. I have been collecting these pics for a while now. Hope you like them. Happy Tuesday!

My local flower shop at night.

A new shop opening soon.

A Macau department store.

Kensington market.

A cafe in Hong Kong.

HI!

The G O D store in H.K.

Pretty paper at Yonge and Bloor.

Fabric samples in Kowloon.

This was a hard shot to get. It is an Hermes bag, but ceramic. Pretty neat.

Plate dress.

We are back! Thanks for all of your comments while we were in Hong Kong. I love to travel but it feels good to get home after some time away. Traveling always makes me appreciate my home, my friends and family a little more.

The ingredients.

So back to some regular posting! Our house was pretty musty when we returned home. I called my friend M and asked for the recipe for the natural air freshener that she has been making for years. Her house always smells warm and inviting. Perfect for this time of year.

You will need:

A few cloves. (Add some allspice if you have it as well.)

A cinnamon stick.

A few slices of orange peel.

Bring some water on the stove to boil, add ingredients, and let simmer!

Make sure to keep an eye on the pot as the water evaporates quite quickly and you don’t want to burn your ingredients or your pot.  I added more water as I went along, and even carried the pot through the house from room to room to spread the deliciousness around the house!

Thanks M for your amazing recipe!

On our last day- My first high tea at the Peninsula Hotel in Kowloon.

I will be away until next Monday. I need some time to adjust to the time change and to write up some great new stories for my regular posts. Have a great week and thanks for all your comments while I have been in Hong Kong!

From a distance...

We went to visit the Tian Tan Buddha this morning on the island of Lantau. It is the world’s largest seated outdoor bronze Buddha.

A little closer...

It was very foggy on our approach but as the day wore on, the fog dissipated and the skies turned blue.

Detail.

This visit was a trip of a lifetime.

The fog clears.

A beautiful day.

Stunning!

Have a great weekend. It is our last one in Hong Kong!

Construction in Kowloon.

Bamboo scaffolding is everywhere in Hong Kong. It is so intricate, strong and beautiful!

In the middle of the hustle and bustle of Central Hong Kong there is a beautiful park, which is quickly becoming my favorite place in the city.

Hong Kong Park is a place to get away from honking horns and to enjoy a few minutes watching parrots in the trees or fish and turtles in the vast ponds.

I love to watch people practice Tai Chi on a morning in the gardens or to have a cup of tea at the tea house. (We took a tea appreciation class there this afternoon! Very cool!)

I know I only said 1 picture a day while I am away, but it is so pretty  I wanted to share!

Happy Tuesday!