everyday deelights

Peace All Around...

2011-12-23T19:51:00.000-08:00

It was close to our annual Christmas card meeting regroup of the year...when I had the idea of creating a viral Christmas card and sending it along to our family, friends and clients. My plan was to send them something that related to where our company was located, in the beaches of Toronto, involve everyone in the agency and send a message of peace.

Let me tell you, it took a lot of planning. Weekends in cold weather finding rocks and sticks, a bunch of freezing co-workers, but a lot of passion, confidence and creativity. Oh and did I mention that I had foot surgery while all of this was taking place! So a big thanks to my husband for all his help carrying props for me and to all my co-workers who woke up super early to film this.

Here is what my team and I over at Top Drawer Creative created for you.
Enjoy the video here.

Here's some pics while on set, or look over here. It was a very peaceful sunrise.

Peace all around...

Road Blocks + Hot Summer Walks

2011-10-15T15:40:00.000-07:00

This was such a fun shoot! My friend Jane and I headed north of the city, to capture some sunny evening shots. We had a great time and it gave me a chance to play around with some lovely vintage scarves I purchased at a thrift store. We played around with the turban style wrap and some cute bows. I think they look great and I may need to go and add a few more scarves to my collection! If your like me and you love hair accessories, give this wrap a try.

Here are a few links that offer tutorials and some really great ideas. here here + here
and to check out more pics of the lovely jane look here

It's Magic

2011-10-14T18:12:00.001-07:00

I am super excited to share these photos with you from my last engagement shoot. They were shot north of the city, at Camp Robin Hood. Thank you Camp Robin Hood for letting us use your camp. I have to say, this location was the perfect spot for this couple. Both active and sporty, the pond, the mini putt and the great outdoors was the ideal location. Not to mention it's autumn! The leaves were just starting to give off their lively colours and the cornfields were golden. Magic was in the air and you could feel it. This couple is so in love and you can tell by the photos. You both look great! check out some more pics of this cute couple here

Wedding Bliss

2011-10-13T19:05:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm finally back with a bunch of posts to come. This summer has been pretty hectic with weddings, engagements, baby shoots, stationary design and the cottage. So here's a little taste of what I've been up to lately! I shot a wedding earlier this summer for Heili + Tarmo and have been meaning to post these puppies for a while now. It was a really fun wedding and who knew the bride would get stolen! Enjoy! see more pics right here

The Art of Type

2011-04-01T04:42:00.000-07:00

This month has been extremely busy, as I am designing invites for a few weddings, and getting ready for a few photo shoots. But I wouldn't change a thing!

I was also able to attend a letterpress course, which is something that I have wanted to do for years. It couldn't have come at a better time, since I am planning on offering letterpress design for my wedding stationary. Who doesn't love a good deboss!

I took my course at a place called KOZO Studios, in Leslieville. The studio owned by my instructor Akemi, was amazing. Shelves covered in type and beautiful prints everywhere. I'm thinking a photo shoot is in order here! Akemi is a graduate of the former OCA, now known as OCAD and has been studying letterpress for many years. Please check out her blog here!

Here are some pics from my workshop. I am giving one of the prints away as a birthday present and the first to comment gets the second print free! Say something nice! lol

The final piece says, "A photograph is a secret about a secret."

Enjoy the pics and thank you Oksana for taking them. Letterpress truly is a beautiful art. Long live moveable type!

Enjoy!

xoxo dee

Thistle & Frost

2011-02-06T17:59:00.000-08:00

Well hello there! It has been quite the busy new year with lot's of photo shoots and design work on the go. Here's a shoot I did this winter called, "Thistle & Frost." My model was absolutely amazing! Thanks Jane!

You can check out the whole photo shoot on my flickr account, by clicking here.

The most exciting news this year, is that I have started my own wedding design company called, Everyday Deelights! I will be offering save the date cards, wedding invites, place cards, seating arrangements, coasters and so much more. The super exciting part, is that I will also be offering my photography services. Everything from engagement photos, wedding photos and who knows…baby photos! haha I can't wait to work with you! If you know someone getting married please refer me, I'd love to help.

Enjoy! xoxo dee

Turkey Deelight

2010-12-20T20:50:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays everyone!

Since it's the holiday season, my new blog post is about how to make a turkey! I decided to have both sets of grandparents over, to celebrate Christmas a little early this year. This was the first Christmas in years, that my grandparents stayed in Canada. So what better time to learn how to cook a turkey!

I was surprised at how easy it was! I can't lie though, I did have help from my mother who made this possible. Follow the step's below.

***Important
Fresh Turkey - I used a fresh turkey. It was not frozen.
Frozen Turkey - If you are cooking a frozen turkey, make sure you defrost it in your fridge. Allow 5 hrs per pound. Another quick method is covering the turkey with cold water in the sink. Changing the water every 30min. Allow 1 hour per pound.

Start early in the morning, if you plan on having a dinner at a normal time. The time in which you start cooking will depend on the size of your turkey, the time you plan to have dinner and also the temperature of your oven. I started cooking my turkey at 10:30am, it was a 15lb turkey and it was done by 6pm.

Step 1: Prepare the turkey by removing giblets and neck. Rinse and wipe the cavity; sprinkle with salt to disinfect the inside of the turkey. Rinse out the salt thoroughly with cold water. Pat dry. Place the clean turkey into a turkey pan or disposable aluminum roasting pans. Set aside.

Step 2: Dice up onion and celery. I used a cup or more for each.

Step 3: Put a 3 large tablespoons of margarine or butter into a frying pan and pour in your onions and celery. Sprinkle a few table spoons of poultry seasoning into the pan with everything. Saute the ingredients until they turn translucent.

Step 4: Pour the sautéed onions, celery and poultry seasoning onto your bread for making the stuffing. Mix all ingredients around well until all the bread has been covered. Do not over saturate the stuffing, you don't want it to be too mushy, but you don't want it to be too dry.

Step 5: Pour about a half a cup of orange juice over stuffing. Mix well and make sure that the stuffing is not mushy. Just enough OJ to lightly coat all the bread. Add a few dashes of pepper. You can add other ingredients, but I like my stuffing fairly simple and traditional.

Step 6: Open your cleansed turkey breast side up, so that it lays flat against the roasting pan. Stuff your stuffing into the inside cavity of the turkey, making sure not to go outside of the cavity, or it may burn the skin. Pack the inside cavity well and tight. Once packed, turn the turkey around and pack the neck until full.

Step 7: Once both ends of the turkey have been stuffed, gently pull the skin together over the cavity and fasten with skewers. It doesn't have to close completely, but the less stuffing exposed the less dry it will be. Also, less of a chance of burning.

Step 8: Lightly brush olive oil over the skin of your turkey to prevent tin foil from sticking to turkey skin and burning. Make sure you get all sides of the turkey that are exposed, especially the legs. Tent the turkey loosely with foil. Roast in 325F oven for about 20min per pound, or until juices run clear when turkey is pierced and when thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 180F (82C) for a stuffed turkey or 170F (77C) for an unstuffed turkey. Remove tent for last hour of roasting.

Bon Appetite When turkey is done, transfer to warm platter. Tent with foil and let stand for 20 to 30 minutes. This allows time for juices at the surface of the bird to distribute evenly throughout the meat.

Keep in mind that all ovens are different and that you should check on your turkey and baste the turkey at least 4 times throughout the cooking process to help prevent burning and to give the skin a golden brown colour and crispiness. Click on link to take you to my flickr site for larger images and descriptions.

I hope you enjoy my family recipe as much as I do. Believe me, if I can do it so can you! Here are some pics from the winter weekend. Tree hunting and all. =)

Merry Christmas everyone!
xoxo
dee

The Graveyard Shift

2010-11-08T20:27:00.000-08:00

It's here! The Graveyard Shift, from my fall photo shoot session in the woods. Click here to view all the photos on my flickr site. I also have another new shoot called, Down By The River. Check it out here.

I had a great time on this shoot and finally got to shoot my cousin, who is stunning! I love love love her auburn hair!

So much has happened since my last post that I can barely remember. I was asked to shoot a jewelry line for, Covet Originals, by Andrea Brent. Andrea's jewelry designs are beautiful and one-of-a-kind. She truly is an amazing designer. I can't wait to work with her. Check out Covet Originals here.

I hope to get my new pottery up here soon and I am currently working on a bunch of Christmas gifts. (I can't say what they are yet…but hopefully they will turn out). I'll show you them after Christmas.

Life is a little overwhelming for me at the moment with work, freelance, blogging (sort of), photography, pottery, guitar, yoga and friends! I'm just trying to stay focused and enjoy everything that I'm doing. Life is to short to hold off on the things you love. Maybe I've gone a little overboard with activities, but I think it's what keeps me creative.

I went to see two great bands the other night called, The Rising Hedons and Faye Blais. The two artists put on a show together at, The Cameron House and it was amazing! I now have a few new albums to listen to. I absolutely love Faye's voice. She's sounds so unique.

Well have a deelightful week everyone. Hope you all enjoy the pics.

xoxo dee

Autumn Feeling

2010-10-17T18:56:00.000-07:00

Well hello there, it's been a while! I'm glad to say that I have been having a fabulous fall. I have been apple picking, vintage shopping, working on my NEW COTTAGE, celebrated Thanksgiving, went to DOMINICAN for a wedding, started guitar lessons and had tons of photo shoots! So here's the scoop. Since my last entry, I got a cottage and have been busy working away with ideas and demolition…my husband and I spent the long weekend (Thanksgiving weekend) up north tearing apart our little 3 bedroom cottage. Well at least he was doing the tearing apart and I as having a wonderful photo shoot at a nearby graveyard. Spooky! Those pics to come soon. Just in time for Halloween. ;)

I also got to go apple picking, a yearly ritual I have with my mom and my sister. Unfortunately, they weren't able to make it this year, but that didn't stop me! I took Cashew, my dog and we had a great time. We went to Windreach Farm, a charity farm located in Ashburn right off of Lakeridge Rd. and nestled in a rolling countryside near the slopes of the Great Pine Ridge. You can check out the pics of the farm I took and my lovely bushel of Northern Spy apples…so yummy. They make a deelightful apple pie. Click here to view pics.

I started taking guitar lessons which has always been a dream of mine. How do I have the time you ask? I have none, but seriously I have come to learn that I just love filling my life with creative and fun things and so for now I am happy with the chaos. Sorry husband!

I also took some shots of our little cottage and I can't wait for the spring, so we can renovate and start using it to make great memories…like playing the guitar around the fire! ha Click here to view our little cottage.

Finally, I was fortunate enough to be able to go on a little vacation to the Dominican, for a good friends wedding. We all had an amazing time down south and I got some great shots of the ceremony. Those to come as well.

That's all for now folks. Graveyard photo shoot pics to come next. Stay tuned and have a lovely autumn.

Graffiti Fairytale

2010-09-24T04:06:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's been way too long since my last post and I have a lot to catch up on. I had the honour of working with two friends on a recent photo shoot, that brought us to the graffiti alleys near Spadina and Queen St. in Toronto. I knew that I wanted to check out the graffiti alleys around Toronto, but I needed a muse and I knew just the gal for the job! My dear friend Patty is always up for adventure and wow what a stunner! My friend David also came along for the ride and we took some great shots and had a fun time learning how to shoot in the dark. With some careful lighting technique's (thanks to David) and cool angles, we were able to capture just the right look. We had some laughs and even got to check out some real life graffiti artists in action. Take a peak below, or look at the whole shoot on flickr. Enjoy my Graffiti deelight!

I hope you enjoy the photo shoot, we sure did!
xoxoxo Have a deelightful weekend.

Crocs, Docks, Wool Socks, and A Red Canoe

2010-08-29T19:34:00.000-07:00

What better way to spend time with the ones you love, in crocs, on a dock, with wool socks, and a red canoe... My husband and I spent the weekend away to celebrate our belated second anniversary. We stayed at a cabin in the Haliburton's, in a small area called Irondale. The cabin and surrounding area was the perfect weekend getaway. It was great to get back to Mother Nature and spend some time together. We spent all our time relaxing on the dock and swimming with our Golden Doodle, Cashew. The canoe rides were tranquil and the full moon was beautiful. It's funny how being around the tree's and fresh air give you that needed energy to take on a new week. Well, I am going to really need that energy to get through this week. Although it's a short one for me, I have a wedding up north, our friends/families annual LD weekend, antiquing, oh and this thing called WORK!

Here's a little taste of Mother Nature, enjoy! Click here to view photos on Flickr.

Before The Storm

2010-08-24T18:19:00.000-07:00

So it's been a while since my last post and a ton has happened since then. My sister and I recently went on a mini photoshoot on our way to the cottage. We did it to celebrate her birthday and to work on my photography skills. We had some laughs and found tons of great spots to shoot. It went so well, that we are planning another shoot this autumn! Imagine all the colourful leaves. It will be great! Click this link to view the whole shoot, "Before The Storm."

Here is a peek of some shots!

I have been working on some silk screening, another passion of mine! In which I have a ton of things that I plan to have on my Etsy site….soon….I hope. Here is an owl screen I made for my friends baby shower. I applied the screen to a plain white baby tee and I also made a screen for the little bib! The baby will be born in the fall, so I went with yellow to be festive. I think it turned out quite well. I just love owls…so wise. Can't wait to show you more of my screen prints, soon!

They finally arrived! My pottery has returned from the kiln. I am so excited to show you some of my new creations. I am learning it takes a lot of patience and practice to do pottery. I love my new pieces. I made the pie plate for my grandmother's birthday and she loved it. Check it out!

Hope you enjoy my deelights!

I'm All Washed Up!

2010-08-09T17:45:00.000-07:00

Okay, well not really…but I sure am tired! It's been a long few weeks and I finally have some time to write. My husband may have left me to go on vacation, but I have kept myself quite busy! I had a visit with my wonderful friend Allison, who has been inspired by the ocean shoreline and has begun designing a beautiful line of jewellery that she calls, "All Washed Up." She uses some found objects along the shore, such as feathers and stones, as well as gems she picked herself! Much of her inspiration comes from her recent trip to Newfoundland and her connection to nature. Guess who got her very own necklace…me! Here is my very own All Washed Up necklace. It has a beautiful Fluorite stone, encased in a twisted weave of wire.

Thanks for being a huge inspiration in my life Al Gal and for encouraging me to start this blog!

I also had the wonderful opportunity to visit two elephants earlier this summer, when I was already practicing for my EDee Photo Challenge, so I couldn't help but post this photo as my 2nd EDee Photo Challenge shot. For those of you who don't already know this. I LOVE elephants. I believe they are the most intelligent animals. You can look into a elephants eye and it feels like they could tell you a million stories. Enjoy!

I was busy this weekend on a mini photo shoot with my sister. We had a great time and I can't wait to show you some of our shots. Stay tuned… xoxo dee

Sisters are Gifts to The Heart & Spirit

2010-07-28T18:37:00.000-07:00

"A sister can be seen as someone who is both ourselves and very much not ourselves - a special kind of double." ~Toni Morrison

A few months ago I purchased a Nikon D90 (the camera of my dreams). It has been an amazing addition to my creative pursuits and I wish I had purchased it long ago. I decided that I would create a photography challenge for myself, so that I could learn how to use the camera. My personal photography challenge is called the EDee Photography Challenge (EDee-Everyday Deelights). My goal is to take one photo a week that I personally feel is deelightful and inspiring. I hope to learn some photography techniques and tricks and to also find my own deestinct style.

Here is a taste of my 1st EDee Photo Challenge shot. It's a shot of my sister on Easter. I used a Nikon 60mm f/2.8D AF Micro lens and I love the way it turned out. So dreamy!

Over the weekend I had the opportunity to go to the Lilith Fair concert with my sister in-law, mother in-law and mom. Although I couldn't stay for long I was able to check out the Court Yard Hounds and Chantal Kreviazuk. I love both artists. They are all so talented. I love the song, "Walk Away," written by Chantal and sang by Kelly Clarkson. I have to admit, I prefer the Chantal version...this is dedicated to my sister. xoxo

Chantal Kreviazuk singing Walk Away

Accept Your Imperfections

2010-07-25T19:59:00.000-07:00

Lately I’ve been feeling the need to get crafty. I’ve come to realize that a creative person needs a creative outlet and so here I am. I have many hopes and dreams for the purpose of this blog, but let’s just try to stick to one thing at a time. Join me on a journey through my everyday deelights. I hope to teach myself a thing or two, or maybe even you!

A lot has happened this past week. I got attacked by a homeless man…(seriously, I did) Not cool. I am fine though, but it was totally strange. I also went to a psychic and a handwriting analysis expert. All in one day! It was actually quite interesting and I think I may have gotten something pretty groundbreaking out of it. You know…one of those AH HA moments. I always knew I liked to work independently. But I never knew it was okay. I thought that was a negative thing. Well, apparently it’s not! Phew! Don’t get me wrong, I love teamwork, but sometimes I love to do things a certain way, without the criticism. Well anyways, according to this handwriting analyzer I excel in these conditions. Good to know. “I’m a spring that has sprung and I can’t go back into the box,” that’s what I was told!

Most of you already know I am taking pottery lessons. Well, I have to say I just love it! It’s funny though. Before I started taking classes I thought it looked so easy. It’s NOT! I am in a class with people who have been doing it for years and I am nowhere near their level. The funny part is, I love the stuff I am making. I know it’s awkward, rough around the edges and uneven, but I don’t care. That’s what intrigues me about pottery. I like the fact that it looks made. It feels creative and raw and I don’t want my style to be perfect. I want it to be DEEstinct! I can’t wait to show you my first piece, but you’ll have to wait for it to come out of the kiln. I thought I’d share with you a taste of some rejects pieces, that I believe are deelightfully deestinct. Enjoy!

My Icon!

2010-07-18T13:35:00.000-07:00