Brilliant Friends

I know some of the most brilliant people!
The gentleman that made this chair- and yes he is a true gentleman as well- is a brilliant artist!
I am presently begging him to allow me to post some images of an incredible dining table he has made- but it is "just not finished yet". Artists!
For my little story on chic cheap offices, he had to show me his version of the old door turned into a desk. OMG- it is almost impossible to take an image of it because it has such a high gloss sheen to it! An old door, a very old door, the panes filled with resins, polished with little treats and surprises hidden within the various panes! I must get you an image!
Then, he is also working on a major art production that will bring a type of modern earth friendly, inter-active sculpture to the masses!
We must wait for that- trust me though I want to put my commission in already!
In the meantime- while I beg and cajole with him- the image above is a piece he made with layers of wood veneers, polish and an old metal chair!

Talk about re-purposing, re-using! This chair is so comfy, so very neat! In, addition, it was saved from a landfill! Now this is an artist that deserves some of that art grant money! His art, most of it, uses scraps of woods, vaneers, old wood furniture turned into art and saved from the land fills !

Do not eat too much lettuce! Save room for your chocolate

Cafe DeVille

http://www.cafedeville.com/

101 Avenue and124 Street Edmonton

Oh I went to one of my favourite restaurants in Edmonton last week, and for the first time this 'summer' sat outside! It was already September- maybe I work too much? Anyway, I had my favorite salad- and was grouchy!

So, when the waitress asked if we would like to see the dessert tray, I said "Yes, of course" Now I normally do not eat dessert, and I said to my companion," Just to look of course."

He laughed

He had every right to!

This is one of the restaurants in Edmonton where you must eat dessert first- or at least make sure you have room for it!

The pastry chef here is incredible! I am a chocolate fiend, and I do not like/prefer white chocolate ( I eat any colour of chocolate if desperate) but this lady makes a white pear truffle that should be served in Paris! OMG!

I digress- so I my fav of all favs is chocolate mouse, so she had to tell me one of the concoctions was a dark chocolate/cherry mouse! Was I in or what?
I left a very happy girl- guess the salad just did not bring my chocolate levels up to par!

The Brag Girls

Yes, I got my new Brag panty pak.... it matches my 'Brag' and is made just as well! .....cute little inside pockets- nicely named even- 'Clean' and 'Not so Clean'- how sweet! The 'not so clean even has a solid pocket lining- keeps the other side 'fresher'.

Pockets on the outside as well -- too cute!

Perfect for a friend that has everything and likes to travel- or for you and your travel dreams!

thebragcompany.com

Let them know you heard about them from Raine!

Perfume Cabinet in bathroom

Kerstin's Chocolates Edmonton

Chocolate!
The true gift of the gods, the forgotten major food group, the medicine to reward the soul (and women’s hormones) Chocolate!

In my ever expanding world of chocolate I have discovered yet another little chocolate place.
Kerstin’s Chocolates
10139 112 Street
Edmonton

Tucked away in the lower level of a residential/commercial condo complex this is a delite as you enter the door. The décor is friendly and cosmopolitan, the layout of the delicious little lumps of chocolate are (excuse the bad pun) tasteful and elegant. The merchandise is unique and lovingly displayed….

Now, what about the taste.
I sample a few of the creations, ginger dipped chocolate, pears, pepper infused ganaches, ginger and chocolate delectables. Very unique flavour combinations, chocolate caviar and the cacao buds---! These were a surprise there was none of the bitterness we would expect from this single sourced chocolate rather a exhilarating taste of roses, or was it cherry, or was it….? It was sweet but wonderfully so!

The combinations of the chocolates found here come from the owner’s travels and life experiences in Tokyo and New York. Once I heard this all these strange and wonderful combinations made sense.

Certainly a place to drop in an visit for unique chocolate combinations!
I will be going back!

They also have chocolate tastings (which I highly recommend one takes at least one chocolate tasting in their life-----. I had one booked but it ended up being on the only nice weekend we have had in Edmonton this summer- so I canceled! I do think, the Single Source Chocolate Tastings at Kerstin’s would be well worth it!

Tell her Raine sent you!

http://www.kerstinschocolates.com/

Ryan's Room- Desk Area

Where his 1920's re-purposed hutch used to sit- is his nice big new desk!

He loves this huge office sized desk, it was his one real begs of me when I went to redo his room-"Please can I have a big desk and a leather chair". Well he did not get the big leather chair but a very nice, simple dark stained shaker influenced desk is his!

The round bed side table was re-purposed from my bedroom, the art over his desk was relocated from an area going to the basement ( and did not really work with the decor there! ) Hard to see from my images but the walls are a yellow toned taupe which works well with cork floors and compliments the red of the wood and of course is the same tone as the taupe on the bed.

Ryans New Room- Closet- One of the Saves!

This is the new closet- doors are not in yet- but are coming!

I had quotes from a few custom closet companies and sorry $3,000- $4,500 was not in my budget for the interior of his closet. I had enlarged the closet by removing the built-in desk that was on the far side of the closet closest to his window-- and the price for custom closets was simply too much.

The dilemma then- as I personally hate those Rubbermaid wire organizers, and also do not think they would hold up under the rough and tumble style my son has. I needed strong, durable, good lookin', and a product that we could reconfigure as needed.

Voila, store display systems. This is a store display system that is stand alone (needed no installation) is sturdy, durable, cost effective and he can take it with him when he moves out! There is a storage shelf on the top- hidden behind the wall header area that is safely storing his childhood memorabilia - out of sight!

This was an excellent solution for us- flexible, room for shoes, clothes, long coats, and sports equipment!

In addition, I needed space for his clothing items that formally lived in his dresser, as we did not have room for a dresser and a new desk in this space. Solving that issue with the blue pull out storage containers that now house his socks and other personal clothing items.

All at much less the original quoted prices for custom closets, Ikea inserts, Rubbermaid solutions!

This is one of the 'saves' in this room! Would of loved to splurge on a custom closet but not in my budget!

Ryans Room before

Okay, maybe I should have had the pictures taken before I started to empty the room. You would of had a 'fuller' look into the clutter of a young man that spent his childhood and teenage years in the same room! Strangely enough- the colour of this room is the same colour it was when we moved into the house. My son liked the colour of his 'new room (when he was 8) so much I simply repainted it the same colour-- years ago!

Finally 12 years later he was at the stage where the little built-in desk did not suit his late teen years and home work.... more space was needed. Also, his room well frankly was a lot of re-used and repurposed furniture.

A few things needed to be kept- his very expensive bed- which was a gift from my best friend after she passed away, his hand-made denim duvet cover-- and well that was about it- oh his wood blinds!

I wanted him to have more storage space in his closet, nicer desk and a more grown-up space to call his own. Peaceful and functional for him to study his heart out and relax in!

New Camera

Finally, I am getting a digital camera- I know just a few decades 'out of style'.
I am just a little technophobic- and also a tad 'cheap' when it comes to electronics-- silk drapes make perfect financial sense to me- expensive electronics that always drop in price by 70% the day after I buy them- not so much!

So, finally getting the camera, can hook it up to computer and start supplying you my wonderful friends, with original images of some of the cool places here in Edmonton! Video too--- great for restaurants, and some of the shopping places, cooking and gardening ideas-- and soon how to fix the drip in your bathroom faucets!

Decorating hits and misses, the places to splurge and some of my favorite haunts on the places to save. We all need to save- while splurging on our homes and ourselves!

New Chanel Ad!

I found something else for my favorite "artsy" designer

its the new chanel commercial
they used 22 artists to design this commercial... it shows
take care hope things are good
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-ngh-9eeMo

Maggie Walt Spring Fashion Show! YAHOO!

Maggie Walt Design Presents
Spring/Summer 2009 Collection
Fashion Show
Sunday May 31st
11217 Jasper Avenue

Maggie unveils her wonderful new seasonal collection Sunday May 31st.

The cost of admission is $10, with tickets available only in advance. All proceeds from the tickets are donated to the just-one organization in Nepal which works with the street children of Kathmandu to get them off the street, into school and back with their families.

We are very excited to have this season’s show feature live musical accompaniment by the very eclectic trio of Anna Beaumont (vocals/keyboard), Martin Kloppers (electric cello) and Dwayne Hrynkiw (percussion). It’s going to be a good one.

We encourage you to purchase your tickets soon as there are a limited number available. Just drop by the store, or have your credit card handy and give us a call at (780) 482-1238.

Noon - Doors Open
Refreshments, snacks and shopping.
1:30 pm - Fashion show.

I am a cheater!

http://www.chocolateexquisite.ca/
chocolate exquisite
11238 104 Avenue
Edmonton Alberta
780-488-7852


I am/was in love with Bernard Challebaut chocolates for years----- I have strayed a few times for a certain Pear truffle from Cafe Daville- but now I think I am going to have a full blown affair with a new love!


Chocolate Exquisite! YUMMY- just had some of these given to me for my birthday and they are the MOST devine ever!


They use no preservatives and I am seriously going to have an affair!

container living

With this long exagerated winter, the falling economy and my son finally just about ready to go off and flee the nest- I have been indulging my mid-life crisis life!
How did I get stuck here in Edmonton? Don't get me wrong- normally I love this city but this winter has me examining my thought processes!
Why are I still here- where can I go? No money, snow, getting old- husband grown and gone- kid just about grown and gone!
So, I have been checking out the cheaper shores of South and Central America-- and then housing!
How about living in re-purposed train-car container-- or 3 of them?
Sound wonky but some of these are pretty cool. Have not found the one I want yet- but maybe- gosh I will just have design my own!

Tammy at Go Design!

Go Design is at it again!
These girls are fabulous --- Tammy was one of my teachers at university- and actually successfully taught me how to draw!

http://www.northamerican-design.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=535&Itemid=31

Customized Glass Ceiling lights

WOW- these are custome made ceiling lights- made in Calgary upon request- and the pics do not do them justice- you have to see them to believe it !