Thanksgiving!

We're closed Thanksgiving Monday (Oct.11th) but open again regular hours on Wednesday. We'll have a nice assortment of winter coats coming into the shop next week- some suede trenches, fur collared swings and short jackets, so come by early and check out the site to get first dibs on your winter gear.

And in the spirit of being grateful, we'd like to express our gratitude to all you lovely customers who not only support our endeavour but make our day with your presence. You are appreciated. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Nuit Blanche- 8mm style

we're running some 8mm film over at upsidedive tonight in honour of nuit blanche. come by and check out some fun vintage footage. its on until 10pm -midnight if crowds are interested. who knows what footage you'll see. we'll be rotating a slew of mystery material and some staples- you know, babies gurgling furiously, men in short shorts boating furiously... dat kinda thing.

over n out.

Upside of fall - 30 footwear picks to Dive for!

In these darker times, we're obsessed with texture - suede, embossing, metals, perforations.  It's fall and it's all in the details - fringe, scallops, two-tone, folds. Here's a peek at fall footwear at UpsideDive, and lovelies, this is just the start.

Brand spankin'!

Took some quick shots this morning to show you the newly painted store front. We also got new vinyl signage care of the ever lovely Tina Chou. Now all we need to do is paint out the door. Joe from Eco-Stems next door suggested we go with the orange or yellow from our logo, and I think I'm liking that idea. Whatchu think? Any suggestions on colours?

I've also included the current window displays seeing as we'll probably be changing them again within the week. The decor side has a gorgeous teak dining set of four chairs by Poul Volther for Frem Rojle Denmark and the table in a lovely teak with two pull out leaves. No markings on this piece, most likely Danish but we're still a searching. The set is priced at $695+tax. Not bad for a full dining set, not bad at all.

The attire side is an homage to beach parties, more of the pyscho kind, but definitely kitsch. In the second photo you can see a close up of Dinah and her eat-your-heart-out-but-I-still-love-you-always-Isabella-Blow headpiece. What's that you say? A brass crayfish I tell ya.

Upside on Better Business

We romanticize about ways to change up the retail format. Daydreamers at heart, we rant and ramble on about business ideas that wouldn't feel so...businessy - shops that made a deeper connection with the customer. The first time we took a day course at the workroom in Parkdale, I new right away this was the change, or at least a turn to it. If you've never been to the workroom(first off you should go asap!) you'll be pleasantly surprised at a mixed use of workspace and retail area filled with product for which to create wonderful things. Sewing machines can be rented by the hour, and if you sign up for their newsletter you can keep up on the many classes held there. We took the pillow cushion class and were pleasantly surprised with the ones we made, and we hope to take the box cushion course next. Some courses are seasonal but there's always a good variety, from attire to decor. One of the best things about the workroom is the staff are super nice, and oh-so patient, making the whole experience amazing. I just recently found out about this lovely french spot, called Sweat Shop, that also offers crafting courses and doubles as a cafe, but while you're a-knittin' they teach you french lessons to boot! Not sure when the next time I'll be in Paris is, le sigh, but I'm definitely hitting up this place as soon as I can.

I just think it's such a great business practice to open up a space that helps support your customers just as much as yourself. Now I'm sure few of the customers go on to sell their handmade products but the opportunity is definitely there. Money aside, the customer is learning valuable hands-on information and with a slight push there's the capability to create. They're definitely getting something more than just a tangible object, there's a deeper experience here.

Heard of/been to any like minded businesses in your area? Let us know, we'd love to hear about them.

Upside on skilled trade

We get crushes on customers. It's true, someone comes in and wows our socks off and we want to be BFF's with them instantly.  Often they're quirky, crafty, lively - they pique our interest and inspire us fully.

Donna Kim is one of those lovely muses. A few weeks back she came in and bought 5 rush seat dining chairs, to use in her home and as seating at her studio, Edge Of Your Seat, where she restores woven projects. A master at weaving - cane, reed, cord, you name it - Donna is bitten. Within the first minutes of our conversation, she had already mentioned that she was simultaneously studying my scarf and trying to determine how it was made. And of course we love when we meet people who are passionate about something, and have the opportunity to make a living from it! Donna's prices are very reasonable, it is a labour intensive craft and unfortunately one of many dying art forms, but it's the quality of her work that stands out. When we delivered the chairs, we got the privilege of peeking into her studio and ogling the pieces and definitely got a deeper sense of who she was through her work. The whole time she was very open, bright, informative and sincere(all the best qualities in a BFF of course) and afterward we couldn't help but feel as if we had met her before. And comfort should be the key right? This is the path toward better business practice, building relationships between client and entrepreneur. So if you have an investment piece(s) kickin' about your place, something perhaps a lil' beaten,  something woven in need of a lil' TLC, get in touch with Donna. Your furniture has never been in better hands.

Upside of Daydreaming...

And I felt something real - my fingers brushed the square by square of hanging fabric. A sense of love and hate, fraying and collected.

Daydreamin' a Grant Heaps Remix can be viewed at MADE, 867 Dundas St. West until June 12th, 2010.