WEEK 15 FEELS

Tonight is the first night (and seder aka. the dinner) of the Jewish holiday Passover.  This week I'm feeling (and dreaming) of beautiful tables, entertaining, and food that does not include basically any type of wheat. Passover brings family together for a big (and long) meal where you are supposed to feel relaxed. This has inspired some of my WEEK 15 FEELS:

What I’m Pinning - Visual Inspiration:
Terrific Tables. If I were hosting a Passover seder (but I’m not)… this is some of my table inspiration. Passover you're supposed to be comfortable so I’m especially feeling the pillows on the floor vibe. I also always like a more casual (rather than formal) table. 

I Made It:
This chocolate covered Matzah is from last year. I haven’t had a chance to make this year’s batch but I have a lot of new and fun toppings I am going to use. I individually wrap these guys and attach a name tag and use them as place cards (and take-aways/dessert!) It’s becoming a bit of a tradition.

What’s Cookin’:
I'm definitely going to be making this Passover Matzah granola this week.
Recipe by Leah Koenig for Williams Sonoma and can be found on their website.

Who you should be following: 
@casadeperrin - a Los Angeles based luxury tabletop curation and design brand. They do event rentals and have a shop and the ship worldwide!! These guys have grown tremendously since I have began following them. Casa de Perrin is really a tables dream come true.

What's On My Coffee Table: 
STYLED by Emily Henderson is on my coffee table this week. This book was gifted to me from one of my besties - Steph who knows me too well. Emily began her career as a prop stylist (like me!). She has amazing tricks and tips for making your home and photos look on point You can spend forever staring at each page because the details are so dreamt! Emily Henderson = some serious styling #GOALS! #rmreads

Words I’ll Leave You With: 
Simply put: make it happen.

xo -
rayna marlee

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WEEK 14 FEELS

As a freelancer my workflow is often weird and unpredictable. For as many years I can remember around this time I would have to come up with Easter content, usually DIYing hundreds of different eggs. This year I have found myself with ZERO Easter related styling or DIYing gigs - weird? Nonetheless, it is been on my mind (naturally) and here is what I am feeling ... WEEK 14 FEELS: 

What I’m Pinning - Visual Inspiration:
Right now it is all about Au Natural. Natural eggs, natural dye, natural elements. I love the springy feel and all the magical colours that can be created from food and nature. One tip: always wear cloves when dyeing or else you'll have rainbow fingers (unless you're into that? could be fun?)

Etsy Shop Love: 
Natural dyed eggs always reminds me of linen - like they need to be placed side-by-side or something. Is that weird? With warmer temperatures ahead it seems to make sense that I've been searching for some lighter clothing options and I found this Etsy shop and I'm LOVING IT. not PERFECT LINEN is the most stunning small shop based in Lithuania. They use simple forms, simple colours, simple seams, and natural fabrics to create their product. They often have to close their shop (usually on weekends) to keep up with their orders, so be patient.

DIY: 
How cute are all these eggs? Which one is your favourite? Try to choose just one - it's hard!

I Made It: 
These are some past Easter DIY projects I did. The thread wrapped eggs were the first project I ever did for Chatelaine Magazine! The neon eggs for Today's Parent Magazine were super fun to make. Can you believe I used shaving cream to create the marble effect? One year, I made so many different eggs for The Loop and they created a short video jammed packed with all of them. I loved the colour palette (blush, coral, silver, gold, black and white) for the eggs for Chatelaine Magazine. The marble ones are purdy but they were SO messy to make.

What's On My Coffee Table: 
MY SWEET KITCHEN by Linda Lomelino is currently on my coffee table. Linda Lomelino was one of the first food focused Instagram accounts I followed way back when. Her style was so fresh and really spoke to me. I love how she is a self-taught baker and photographer and still works out of her home. This is Linda’s third book and is just as inspiring as her Instagram feed. It has so many fun components like cute DIYs and even a section on tabletop styling (right up my alley!) You’ll want to make (and eat) everything in this cookbook #rmreads

Words I’ll Leave You With: 
Change is good. As a freelancer, nothing is ever consistent, regular or the same…. so embrace it.

xo -
rayna marlee

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#OOAKS17

Last Wednesday I visited the One of a Kind Show in Toronto, Ontario (OOAK). Every year I visit to see the works of over 500 Canadian artisans, designers, and craftspeople. This year the show celebrated it's 39th Anniversary! I love to meet and see what other Canadian makers are up to. There are a lot of booths that have been a part of the show for years and years (and years!) but I personally always love to see the new and first time vendors. New to the show this year, The One of a Kind Marketplace was a space to showcase new and emerging makers who are looking to grow their business. At the show there were 132 new makers! Here are some of my show favourites and a few of my purchases:

Shops:
The Wild (Modern Apparel for Hip Kids) = the cutest hand drawn graphic animals printed on kids clothes and turned into stuffies... and everything is black and white!
Pepper B. = beautiful homegoods ... think pillows, tea towels, and pouches. The pom poms are the best!
Your Pal Al = marbled, dip-dyed, metallic concrete planters with the most adorable cacti plants.
Eikcam = the most beautiful, unique, and fun ceramics. I will take one of everything gladly! 
Wrinkle & Crease = simple, clean, neutral, and metallic stationary - need I say more?

A few cute close ups:
Alicja Confections = the prettiest and funnest flavoured chocolate bars, and that's not even the best part... they are postcards too!! Say what?! My heart (and tummy) have been captured. She even has a monthly subscription service: The Confection Club.
Lou Brown Vintage = the funniest repurposed china plates. "No Fucks Left" says the ostrich. 
Hinkleville Handmade = Janet makes the sweetest ceramics. I've been a fan for a long time!

A Few of My Purchases:
Whatever! chocolate bar from Alicja Confections
Pear Loves Thyme flavoured jam from Penny Candy Jam (this stuff is addictive!)
You're Kinda Weird, I like it from Wrinkle & Crease

If you missed this show, make sure to check out the next: 2017 One of a Kind Christmas Show from November 23 to December 3 or shop online. Makers Make It Better! #OOAKS17

xo -
rayna marlee

 

WEEK 13 FEELS

Spring is here! Spring is here! Officially but not weather wise. Fingers crossed we get some real Spring weather soon. So with spring on my mind, I’m feeling: flowers (and lots of them), brighter colours, and some fun personal projects. So here are some of my WEEK 13 FEELS:

What I’m Pinning - Visual Inspiration:
Flowers and more flowers. Look at all these ladies holding oversized bouquets of flowers… what a dream. 

Props I need in my life:
All these colours are so fresh. Love the pattern play and colour combos. I'd like the tumbler to sit on my desk permanently.

1+1 = My Fave Combos: 
Flowers + black and white graphic patterns. This combo fave began awhile back when brainstorming for my wedding. I love the way flowers pop against the black and white dots and stripes.

What's On My Coffee Table: 
I have so many beautiful “coffee table” books (that I started to collect even before I had my own coffee table) from amazingly talented creatives. Unfortunately, most just sit on my shelves collecting dust). So I’ve started something new… Each week I am going to place a different book front and centre on my coffee table and make a point to flip through and take in the pages.

So here is what is currently on my coffee table: Beaches by Gray Malin.

I am OBSESSED with BEACHES by Gray Malin. Everything about this book is SO mesmerizing and inspiring. I just get in happy mode when I open this book. Nevermind Spring...  I’m SO ready for summer and to hit the beach!  

What are some of your all-time fave coffee table books? #rmreads

Words I’ll Leave You With: 
Spring is a time of plans and projects - Leo Tolstoy. So get busy and enjoy the weather!

xo -
rayna marlee

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WEEK 12 FEELS

St. Patrick’s Day or St. Patty’s Day (or as we used to call it St. Party’s Day) just passed (and no I did not dress in green and go out this year… yes it was even on a Friday!)… I’ve had a few things on my mind: parties, luck, and rainbows (specifically pastel rainbows). 

So here are some of my WEEK 12 FEELS: 

What I’m Pinning - Visual Inspiration:
Pastel rainbows in all shapes and forms: rock candy, lucky charms, and amazing rainbow texture (what even is this?) 

Party Time: 
If I were to have thrown a St. Patty’s party this year I would have done a rainbow theme (over the traditional green everything theme). Pastel rainbow partyware (how great is this collection from Oh Happy Day), candy necklaces (doubled as napkin holders or I would probably use them as drink identifiers and loop them around the cups), and oversized lucky charm shaped pinatas.

What’s Cookin’:
How good do these Breakfast Cereal Fudge squares from Paper & Stitch look?
Recipe by Linda Jednaszewski for Paper & Stitch and can be found on their website.

Mini Style:
YouAreSmall shop based out of London, UK “handmade apparel for small people” 

Their colour selection is on point and it’s all hand dyed. Can you believe these are baby tights? The Cotton Muslin clothes are so good.

Who you should be following:
@fluffegram - An Australian who makes fairy floss (aka. cotton candy as we Canadians call it). Basically all of your cotton candy dreams will come true in this feed. Here’s some rainbow magical toast for your week! Images from Fluffegram Instagram

CREATIVITY IS CONTAGIOUS (go catch it). Words and art by Brittany Luiz

See you next week. Same time. Same place.

XO
-rayna marlee

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