Backless Beauty

I'm absolutely in love with these dreamy dresses from fashion designer Alexandra Grecco; I'm especially enamoured with the sheer patterned panel on the dark dress, so nonchalant!

The true piece de resistance for me though is the stunning new shimmer slip dress:

With its low swooping back and soft stretch matte silk, this statement piece must look and feel like heaven!

In case you missed it earlier this month, I gushed over some of Alexandra's other designs in a guest post for The Hip & Urban Girl's Guide featuring all of my favourite Etsy finds for spring. Hop on over and check it out!

Images via Alexandra Grecco

Geometric Perfection

My heart skipped a beat when I saw these unique faceted origami candlesticks featured on Kersey's blog, ardor. Constructed from a sheet of maple wood veneer or mother of pearl cardstock, the polyhedron is precision cut and carefully assembled around a solid structure for extra sturdiness.

Would these minimalistic beauties make it onto your dining room table?

♥

Image: Revisions via ardor.

Hetterson shop is now re-open!

...which is wonderful news if you are coveting this oh-so-cozy sweater with creamy stripes and adorable suede elbow patches like I am! I especially love the rounded hem and the way it looks like it goes with everything.

Lucky for us, it's also handmade with organic NZ merino wool, which means it's wearable all year round and that none of these guys were harmed in the process:

Hip hip hooray, it's almost Friday!

♥

Image 1: Hetterson 
Image 2: Wikipedia.

Neapolitan Delight

Today marks day seven of my recovery from a wisdom tooth extraction, and I am seriously craving some good ol' fashioned Neapolitan ice cream!

The simple yet satisfying combination of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry hits the spot in a nostalgic way, before things got all complicated with 'mixed to the max' formulas crammed with extra sugar and fat.

Maybe that's why modern confectioners are also taking a cue from this childhood favourite with their own interpretations of Neapolitan delight.

Over at Chocolate Editions, Mary & Matt make a luscious 3 oz. Neapolitan chocolate bar comprised of 72% dark chocolate, 36% white chocolate, and natural strawberry ingredients.

Don't you love the sleek and modern look of this bar? I'm especially fond of the way the smooth tablets of dark and white chocolate contrast with the grainy (i.e. extra tasty) deliciousness of the strawberry tablet.

Not to be outdone, Fusion Sweets also offers up their own take on the Neapolitan trend with fluffy handmade marshmallows!

Claiming it really is like "three marshmallows in one", this jumbo (and gluten free!) treat builds its tower of flavour with Papua New Guinea vanilla beans, fresh strawberry preserves and strawberry juice, and a decadent chocolate marshmallow base swirled with dark chocolate.

If your mouth isn't watering yet, consider the possibilities of adding this triple knockout of flavour to your favourite s'more or hot chocolate recipe for a little Neapolitan alchemy of your own :)

♥

Image 1: Chocolate Editions 
Image 2: Fusion Sweets

Wabi-Sabi

Discover the art of wabi-sabi, or finding beauty in imperfection, at Open Studio’s Annual Artist Proof Sale! Known as one of Canada’s leading contemporary printmaking studios (and producer of the very popular Printopolis symposium), artists will be offering original, one-of-a-kind screenprints, etchings, lithographs and relief prints ranging from $50-$300. The sale kicks off on December 2 and runs through December 18, Tuesday through Saturday, from noon to 5:00 pm.

♥

Image: Open Studio