i want to ride my bicycle... in this!

The added hours of sunshine and hints of green vegetation are telling me it's finally time to emerge from my winter den.
HURRAH!
My thoughts immediately turn to my beloved bicycle and all of the outdoor adventures that are just around the corner... Time to get these pale legs out of jeans, into a cute pair of shorts, and start peddling! This is my dream outfit for a lazy morning ride over to my favorite cafe for an epic brunch outside in the sunshine. I can just imagine riding over the bridge with my 'myrtle & pearls' feather earrings streaming behind me as I race the pigeons who make their nest in the girders.
I adore easing into my day with coffee, newspapers, magazines, & the perfect pair of sunglasses. After brunch I will be sure to pop into my favorite book & antique stores until it is time for my friends and I to meet up in the river valley for a leisurely game of bocce (the only sport i'm good at!). It will undoubtedly last until dusk, so my satchel will have to be large enough to fit a cardigan (like this sweet 'cocoon' cardi by paperbird) and a bottle of wine...
Is there anything more perfect than being with those you love while the music & laughter mingles with the warm summer air?
ah!
I cannot wait...

Royal Bison

This weekend is the Royal Bison Art & Craft Sale! It's just down the street from nokomis, so make sure you stop by to check out what local artists, designers and crafters are up too. It's only two bucks to get in and may I also note that Mother's Day is around the corner?

Since we love Royal Bison, and you, mention this post, or grab a flyer at the Art & Craft Sale (Elizabeth will be handing them out at the door) to receive 15% off your purchase at nokomis on either Saturday May 3 or Sunday May 4.

And so it begins

Well, I'm sick of long pants and sensible shoes and tights. I could do without coats and toques. Warm mittens--psh, so over them. I don't want to carry any more bags to keep my indoor shoes in and I certainly don't want anymore of winter boots. In fact, I'm over winter altogether. Bring on the frivolous footwear and summer playsuits!

In an effort to preserve our sanity till the time comes when we can dress up in real life, we're working on an imaginary dress-up project at the studio, choosing one piece we want to own from our store (in my case Eve Gravel's feather-print pullover) and imagining a perfect outfit around it. This is my walking down the avenue with my hubby to the farmer's market outfit. It's a July outfit, a lazy morning outfit, possibly a hangover outfit, a giant coffee in hand and swinging my purse and flirting outfit.

Can't you just see me now?

d a c e

Genevieve, from the studio, has been harassing us store girls for weeks. "When is Dace arriving??" she keeps asking. Today her prayers got answers. The final shipment from Dace's Spring 2008 collection arrived today. Dace Moore, from Vancouver, stole our hearts long ago. Her collections are always clean, subtle, and full of oh-so wearable classic pieces.

Here are a few of the pieces that arrived today:
Candi Dress, 220

Crisann Dress, 246

Isidro Dress, 134

Monica Blouse, 150

Adana Dress, 254

So now that the sun has decided to shine again, it's a good time to check it out for yourself. And you can bring us candy too if you feel like it.

spring stock. 04.22.08

paper bird pleat top for 135.
with jude tulip skirt for 172.




jude silk shirt for 174.
with maked jump dress for 118.
and maked cover sweater for 163.

uh, i lied.

spring has not arrived. it's cold and snowing and feels like january. here's elizabeth shoveling our front walk. but we still have lots of new spring stock arriving in the store, for whenever the snow melts, the sun shines, and we can frolic in the fields.

stuffed staff

Here's a few snapshots of us noko store girls (past and present) dining at the lovely Cafe Mosaics a few weekends ago.

JUMA

This is our first season carrying JUMA and we're really excited about the line. Based out of Toronto, brother and sister Alia and Jamil Juma have been creating the line for five years. They have many prestige accounts including Fred Segal, whoot whoot, so we're thrilled to have it in our shop too. Miranda just opened up the latest package from them which has this beautiful racer-back tulip dress. Which is kinda perfect for prancing around in the summer.


This week we also got a new shipment from House of Spy so stop by on the weekend to check it all out. It's supposed to be +20 this weekend, perfect for bike rides in the river valley, strolls down Whyte and maybe a few pints with pals. Enjoy!

Ashley Watson

We just received our first shipment of Ashley Watson bags. She's based out of Vancouver and uses all recycled leather for her bags. Our Canada Post delivery woman had barely placed the package on the counter when Elizabeth dove into the box. I'm pretty sure I started to clap my hands together and squeal as she pulled them out.

Oh, and since they are from recycled leather, they are all one of a kind. You're just gonna have to stop by the shop to check out what we have for colours.


And she does wallets too. I'm so torn between the two styles. The clutch is so cute and tiny, and I love the tie closure, but the knotty wallet is just so practical. It has two zippered pockets and lots of places for cards and cash. Ack, life is hard.

spring stock.04.05.08

maked roll dress for 138.


eve gravel jag blazer for 210.
with jude top dress for 248.






i clothing carlotte skirt for 139.
with men's preloved amos top for 115.



paper bird silk shift for 365.



pyrrha letter m pendant for 86.

nokomis leather coin purse for 35.

Beginning of the end and happy sunshine

Last week at the studio was like the eye of the storm, it was a lazy week devoted mostly to firming up details of the Fall 08 Nokomis line and waiting for our last orders to trickle in.
This week grading begins, ugh, the world's most tedious, time-consuming, mind-numbing task of all in which I change each sample pattern into an additional 4 sizes for production. The task consists of making 1/8 and 1/4" adjustments to each size in specific places and re-tracing each piece over 4 times. So this year we have 18 patterns, the most complicated of which has maybe 9 pattern pieces which means I'm going to be busy for awhile.
Just saying, if anyone feels like stopping by to bring me juice or pastries, maybe a booktape by all means do--I'm just up here whining for the next two weeks.