Saturday, July 31, 2010

It's That Time Of Year Again!

Well people, today is Caribana in Toronto. For all of you who don't know what Caribana is, then I'll fill you in.

Caribana is the largest Caribbean festival in North America. The actual festivities take place over the course of about 3 weeks or so. But today is the highly awaited parade. It's a celebration of Caribbean culture, where you are immersed with amazing music, costumes, steel bands, food and you can't forget the dancing!

As a Toronto native, I have memories of going to Caribana as a child. I miss it and wish I was there to "whine up and jump up"!

I'm going to make an effort to be in Toronto next July/August.

Here's a recap of Caribana 2009 - Enjoy!



1luv

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

What A Ring!

I was doing a bit of blog reading this morning and discovered the coolest ring. Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen are the creative mavens behind the line Elizabeth & James (named after their siblings)

The 2 finger feather ring (either blinged out or not) has officially got me in love! You can find other adorable feather inspired pieces from their Fall 2009 line.

The diamond-free version was available at Bloomingdale's online for $150US (not too horrendous for a celebrity designer piece). I guess other people felt the same, because this ring is currently out of stock on various sites.

The diamond version is bit too pricey for me at 450US but so lovely~



If you're not down for the two finger rings and like a little bling, then the ring below might be your style.



I also discovered another Elizabeth & James ring that I'm lovin. Check out the cantilever bar ring





1luv

Monday, July 26, 2010

Wow What A Week-End!

I had the most amazing week-end filled with fashion & festivals! I attempted to make it to the House of Nonie show at West to see the JR2010 collection, but I was late and missed the entire show on Saturday! I've got to be honest with you, I am not the most tardiest person. I am late (sometimes it's by a little and other times by a lot).

Well the event was from 5 until 7 and I really thought that the fashion show would have started around 6ish, but I was dead wrong. I showed up at 5:45 and the show was done. Although I can't comment on the show itself (which I'm sure was fab), I've gotta say that there were definitely some "stylistas" & "stylistos" in the house. I even caught a glimpse of Adejoke Taiwo (a local designer) showing support.

Now Sunday was quite the day. It started with some fun at the Sun & Salsa fest in Kensington. This is my second year attending and it was fun. The sun was blazing hot and I loved every minute of it. I'd say that Calgary has experienced a crappy summer so far, so it was so nice to experience some serious heat.





Then I headed down to Olympic plaza for the Latino Festival. It was the first time that I have ever been and I had such an amazing time! Being surrounded by Latin music, dancing & food was wonderful.






To end such a fabulous day, I had the pleasure of soaking in the soulful sounds of the legendary, ever most talented, Ms. Roberta Flack!!! I was lucky enough to be hooked up with folk fest tickets from a friend.

All I have to say is - Roberta Flack did not disappoint! She was absolutely amazing. She had me dancing and everything - priceless:)










I just had to leave you with a little "Killing Me Softly"


1luv

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Amber Leigh Clothing = Lovely

When I think of summers in Calgary, I don't think of "heat waves". Instead, I remember what Spring felt like when I was younger. It's just a tad bit hotter here in July & August, (and I mean a tad)

So my version of summer wear is slightly different from people in other parts of the world. I actually wore a jacket yesterday, and I was still shivering!

Calgary designer Amber Leigh Hebert has designed clothing with our cooler summers in mind. Her 2010 collection has a vintage vibe, caters to the feminine side and looks ever so comfortable.

Check out her site by clicking HERE










1luv

Monday, July 19, 2010

Has It Been A Year Already???

Well, I can't believe this, but it's true. The Creative Mixx officially turns one year as of today.
It all started with my desire to introduce creative individuals to the masses. Sometimes you got a bit of my randomness, along with interviews, fabulous finds, event coverage, videos and more.

I've met a lot of wonderfully talented people because of my blog and I am excited for the future of The Creative Mixx. I have made a list of goals that I'd like to accomplish this year and it got me thinking......

Have you done the same at some point? If so, I'd love to hear about it.

Basically here's a glimpse as to what I'd like to do over the next year.

*get blog business cards printed
*change the layout
*there are a few key people that I'd like to interview this year (I'll keep that as a surprise)
*incorporate street style photos (both locally and worldwide)
*reconnect with fellow bloggers (I used to read and comment on my fave/new blogs religiously and I want to do that again)
*encourage comments either with polls, questions, suggestions - I'm definitely up for ideas to improve

To celebrate, I have an interview tonight and hopefully a giveaway & "etsy shop" showcase later on this week.


I heard about Nina Rahal-Kharey (a Calgary-based designer), through her publicist during Alberta Fashion Week. I had been invited to her Fall/Winter 2010 show back in March but was unable to make it. After a bit of Internet researching, I learned that House of Nonie designs are a perfect blend of contemporary & vintage glam. So, for those that have been following me for a while, you know that I have a "thang" for vintage "anything" - which means that I was pretty bummed out for missing it.

Well I now have another chance to catch a House of Nonie Show. This Saturday at the newly opened nightspot West, I'll have the pleasure of seeing "JR2010". There's a special story behind this collection which Nina has gracefully shared on The Creative Mixx.

I am pleased to introduce you to very talented Nina Rahal-Kharey.



What is the inspiration for your latest collection JR2010?
My older brother. I lost him 5 years ago to violence and my life hasn’t been the same. The pain of losing a sibling is extremely difficult to cope with for me, but finding ways to keep him alive bring me peace. I’ve been wanting to do this for him for so long now, and I finally feel ready to handle it.

Describe the colour scheme & fabrics used in this line?
I used a lot of black silk and some black wool. I wanted to keep the dresses simple, bold, and timeless. You can never go wrong with a little black dress. I do have a red dress dedicated to JR (something that will be consistent in every JR Holiday collection I do). I also have a soft classy grey chiffon dress to represent more of the delicate nature of life and peace it needs to flourish.

Will you be pairing accessories with this collection?
I won’t be for the Calgary show. I want my brother to shine that night, and the way to do that for me is to have all the focus on the art in the dresses.

JR2010 will be showcased at a Charity Fashion show on July 24th. Why have
you decided to host a show this summer?
I wanted to do something special for my life and my family. I didn’t want the collection I dedicate to love to be mingled with spring/summer, or autumn/winter. I wanted it to be on its own and work on delivering the message. Presenting it in the summer let’s me sell it in the winter during the Holidays: what better time for peace and love?


It seems that the recent "House of Nonie" show in Toronto was a huge
success with many celebrities in attendance. Can we expect the same for
Calgary?
Calgary being the home town of Nonie will be nothing short of a success! There’s a story for the city in this collection as well and I hope it will touch a lot of peoples hearts.

How would you describe your personal style?
Simple. It really depends on the mood I’m in, but most of the time I like to have on something simple, but with some sort of an odd twist. I don’t like to look ordinary, and I don’t like to have too much going on. Just simple and sharp with something to talk about.

Name one thing that you can't live without.
My husband. He’s my strength. He keeps me going on this. Without him, there’s nothing in me.

Do you incorporate "trends" when designing?
I tried not to. Trends come and go and are great at the time, but I wanted to focus more on the art of fashion. I wanted to keep it timeless and have the message live forever.

Other than your site (www.houseofnonie.com), where else can I get a "House of Nonie" item?
Coco&Violet will be carrying the line in Sept 2010. I will also be looking into boutiques in Toronto soon.

Do you have any advice for up & coming designers?
Do it because you love it, not for the fame or recognition. If you love something, you shouldn’t let any fear hold you back. Work hard at it and keep yourself going...the world really isn’t as big as it seems.


The photos below are from the JR2010 Holiday Collections (photographer Christine Buijs).







If you are in the Calgary area this Saturday evening, then get down to "West" to see the show!




1luv and thank you for all your support:)

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

As of Today....

My computer is up and running,(at least for now). So peeps, I'm back and it feels good!!!! I have definitely missed blogging and reading your blogs, so trust me I will be catching up.

Last week, I was off from work, enjoying a "staycation" in the city, (which meant ample time to spend on blogging). Boy was I wrong!

The viruses that have been attacking my computer over the past month (or so) successfully shut me down last Monday. I actually panicked for a few moments but soon remembered that I live within walking distance of an electronic repair shop (that happens to do computer repairs)

I'll condense the situation by saying that I picked up my computer after 6 days, paid $21.00 (for a price quote - which was a surprise to me) and brought home a computer that still had not been fixed.

Anyhoo, I hooked my computer back up and miraculously got back online. I don't know how long this will last but at least I'm back at work and can blog during the day if I have any further issues.


Now for some local news.......

My city has been once again hit with the annual "Stampede" festivities. We call it the "greatest outdoor show on earth" - think rodeos, chuck wagons, stage shows, agricultural competitions, midway rides and a whack load of beer drinking. Now I don't think I have a "country" bone in my body. But I did see a few cowboy hats, designed by Meaghan Cameron & Liana Robberecht of lollipop girl accessories that I had to post.

A limited quantity were made specifically for Stampede 2010. The hats shown below were actually designed exclusively for Zsa Zsa's Hat Salon on 17th Ave SW





Well I'm out y'all!

1luv
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