May = Streamlining

May always becomes the month of editing for me at home and at the studio. Packing up our winter woollies at home always leads to me turning the house upside down as it always involves a lot more than simply our clothing. I wish there was a more graceful weaving of weather from frigid to pleasant but it generally just seems to go from nought to twenty overnight and I’m always left caught out for the first week or two! 

I like to pack away all my winter clothing like I would for a dear friend or loved one. Some years its harder than others, and I can always tell my state of mind, how rushed or not I was when I unpack all in the fall, so I like to think of my future self and how happy she’ll be to have all in order. Cashmere sweaters are packed up with cedar balls and I like to give them all a clean and de-bobble before they are packed away. Boots and winter footwear are all cleaned, polished and protected and my coats which were overworn this year have all been cleaned. 

One thing I have come to realise is how much I love what I wear. Gone are the days of paying attention to the old myth of if you have not worn something in two years to donate or dispose of it. I have clothes that I now rest – they come out of the circuit of wear for a few years and are then added back in. This really extends the pieces wear time and after I have not seen it for a couple of years it always feels so nice to put it on again. I don’t love shopping for clothes, I have my one favourite boutique in Toronto and the remainder of my clothing is purchased on my travels where I can find different things when I am not necessarily looking for them.

A wise woman once said to me that sometimes it can take a season or two for something to really feel like yours and I have had this happen to me. Purchase a not inexpensive jacket for it to sit in my closet for several months until I saw it through the lens I did in the store, then I wore it weekly for a while and now its having a holiday in the back of my closet until next year when it will feel new again!

A closet edit for me, streamlines far more than my closet, it helps me get out the door in the morning easier and also plan for my trips better. It also does extend the enjoyment and wear time for my clothing and in my humble opinion justifies the price tags.

Its easy to take my closet wisdom (if that is even a thing) and relate that to your home. From art to accessories, cushion covers and bed linen, swapping things up and out really keeps your home looking fresh through your eyes – as the homeowner we are always the most critical of our spaces as we love and live in them every day and can get tired of what we see sometimes. 

Grasscloth and heavily patterned wallpaper to me is an absolute godsend as it allows me to move art about without having to worry about creating lots of visible holes in walls. Periodically I’ll empty a couple of rooms of accessories and start again – seeing things in different light can make them take on a whole new life. 

Puttering in my home is something that I enjoy – I just need to make more time for it so that its enjoyable and so that I don’t run out of steam part way through!!  

The Butterfly Ball

Last week the annual Butterfly Ball in support of Boost was held at the Ritz Carlton in Toronto. GGI was delighted to be asked to take part and we designed the most gorgeous table – even if I do say so myself. 

As written about in the April edition of the Journal we called our design Spring Flowers and spring-like it certainly was. 

To recap this was our concept design and what the design selections were all tied back to. 

We sought design inspiration from a Mexican designers textile exhibition in Oaxaca and paired that with wanting to incorporate craft and embroidery on the chair slip covers. The floral wax candles are truly works of art and these I brought back from Oaxaca in February. 

For textiles we worked with two British greats – Christopher Farr Cloth and Romo and our drapery – Wesley Seto and upholstery workrooms – Robert Custom fabricated all for us and also assisted in the install on the day. 

The table centre piece was a collaboration between myself, Oeno Gallery and Paula Murray the Canadian ceramicist. 

I have procured several pieces of Paula’s work for client projects and it was such an honour to work on a piece with her for this event. Entitled ‘’Where Light Takes Root” we took the symbol of the chrysalis as the starting point for growth, healing and expansion. The sculpture was nestled within a wild garden of flowers that danced under the candle light. 

Below is the completed table on the evening!!

Fogo Island Feelings

In last month’s journal I wrote about my upcoming trip to Fogo Island Inn and included links on it and its founder Zita Cobb. 

Well having spent four nights on the island I am forever changed and I have to say its life changing. 

We flew to Gander via Halifax but direct flights to Gander are available during more peak times. A quick 45 min drive takes you to the ferry and then after a 45 min ferry you are on the island! The island was larger than I expected and its made up of eleven different communities. The scenery is truly breathtaking and our trip was even the more special as there were Growlers – small (still quite huge in my humble opinion) floating pieces of glacial ice in the most magnificent shade of ice blue. The ice is harvested and used in cocktails and there is even an ice cream store on the island called Growlers – with yes, you’ve guessed it glacial ice as part of the recipe.

The people, the kindness, the hospitality, the food and the wealth of history, knowledge and craft makes a visit to Fogo Island definitely one not to be missed. Zita Cobb is a true visionary, seeing all that she has achieved on a small rock perched on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, when most people thought it was an impossible task is one that I shall never forget.

Looking Forward

June brings completion of a new build home that we have been working on for almost three years. A home built in the passive home style for a family of five, its one that I am so looking forward to seeing completed and my clients all moved in. We have cheeky loft spaces in the kid’s bedrooms and lots of colour, pattern and play. 

Follow us along on Instagram to keep up to date on all. 

I look forward to connecting with you on our socials, in person or in the journal next month, thank you, as always, for reading.

Warmly, Gillian

Credits, images, musings and some more contents of my head.

Trio of header images all sourced from Pinterest – we have no credit for the hat image, but the middle one is a bedroom at Stockholm’s Et Hem hotel and the bold wall with handbags is from Elle Sweden! Image 4  is from Kirkby Caldwell. Image 5 is from Mimi Shin. All of the Butterfly Ball images are by GGI. The Fogo Island images of the map and the growler are from Fogo Island Inn and the table setting was where we had dinner on our first night at the Punt Premises. 

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