There are so many adorable things in the shop right now, friends, that I barely know where to look and I don’t even really know where to start! This is your peeing-pants trigger warning: you may want to go to the bathroom before we dive in with our first special treat…… an awesome, silk Ted Baker top! I know that despite my warning some of you have ALREADY peed your pants, but that is totally warranted and I accept you as you are!

I didn’t even spot that these are cranes until I looked closely, and that made me love this one even more!

Weeeeeeeee, my first love: Smoking Lily! This Carside Dress has pockets!

And check out the great tiger print! I thought I had seen this print on some of their other stuff, so I helpfully spent 45 minutes procrastinating -I mean- RESEARCHING the Smoking Lily site and found that they are very diverse with their tigers, and although they have tiger prints, such as the flaming tiger, they don’t seem to have reused this particular tiger print. (Oh, and also, they still use the periodic table print that we get into the Red Pony sometimes!)

Didn’t I just say last week that when Smoking Lily comes into the shop there is never only one of them? Aha!

The Classic Tee made from bamboo and cotton with a simple bird/branch print. Adorable.

There is nothing on these to tell me who created them. but in a way I feel like if Smoking Lily made earrings they would look like this too!

I feel like if I point out that this is another special treat doesn’t do justice to all the other great things we have who are *also* very special treats, but, well, this is a Kate Spade top!

Hello, elegant blossoms!

Whimsical brand Palava is inspired by illustrations, and you know I love a good woodlands creature theme! The squirrels here are fun and adorable (and NOT scary and rodent-like), and I love how the rest of the cardi is all serious with the navy and contrasting mustard yellow. (Mustard yellow! My favourite!)

Can’t….tear….myself…..away!

How’s the colour on your screen? These Keds are actually gold!

There are many reasons to love Ursa Minor: Made in Canada, use of natural, eco-friendly fabrics etc. All great things, but why Ursa Minor is EXTRA extra-special is that designer Elizabeth Hudson was part of Nokomis and Vera Véro!

Also in Quebec (did I mention Ursa Minor is based in Montreal now? That’s the tie in), also hand-made and completely new to me is Coeur de Loup. And what else does Coeur de Loup have that is unexpected and amazing? Wellllllllllll, all shipping is free (a special treat we rarely get in Canada) aaaaannnnnndddd, she will custom make your garment to ensure size inclusivity! I think that’s great! I love the warm pink of this top, which is a soft brushed wool.

Check out how the look is simple deconstruction with frayed edges, but note how she has added a life-line (stitched seam above the hem) so that the garment won’t completely fray and fall apart. That’s great attention to detail and quality craftship without compromising on the design!

I love these tags that have a true human touch!

This gorgeous, spacey felt wallet looks handmade to me, but I have no idea by whom!

There’s lots of room inside (and our next clue to who made this is that it’s made in Canada)….

…..and an extra zipped compartment for change…..

….but who is this?! It looks familiar, but I can’t put my finger on it, so come in and let me know, friends, because you know that crediting artists and makers is very important to me and I’m breaking out in hives from not being able to ID this one!

From the mens section and Dutch brand Scotch and Soda, this jacket has gotten ALOT of attention, friends!

Scarf weekly:

This reminds us of He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named, right? I used to date him. Not really a great guy, though.

Here’s what I found in the sales section, and frankly I have been eyeing this brushed cotton skirt since the day it arrived in the shop! And now it’s on sale for $15!

Banana Republic skirt; Size 6, $30 (on sale for $15!)

Friends, we have someone new working in the shop: Kennedy! Like you and I, Kennedy went through that soul tearing, spontaneous nose-bleeding moment when you are standing in [insert favourite fast-fashion store] holding a $5 tank top and suddenly all the synapses in your brain start firing at the same time while you mutter “Wait a minute…..if this costs $5…..then who made….how did…..arrrrrggggggggg I’M BLEEDING!!!!!!”. Like me, she loves to talk about this stuff, and UNLIKE me, she has a very different, very cool fashion esthetic, so you’ll have to come in for a visit to make a full analysis.

Phew, that’s enough action for me for one week! I’ll be in the shop on Saturday if your head is also reeling and you want to talk about squirrels, crane prints and your own $5-tank-top moment!

I wrote this at Remedy Café, another independent, locally owned business. When we support independent businesses we make an immediate positive impact on real human beings in our community.