So Long, March

I'd like to officially say "adios" to March. It's one of those months that during the winter I mirage as full-on spring and this never happens. So hello April!

I've made some jewellery for you to wear:


Hope you like them!

xoxo Amarina

The only time I ever want to hear the word "Craftastic"

Leslie Hall is a dream come true. To celebrate the creation of the largest gem sweater in the world, she has created another beautifully absurd music video:



Enjoy!

xoxo Amarina

New Jams

This is just one of my new pieces being added to the Hibou Accessories Etsy store. I've been working hard to create darling new duds for spring, but I really just want to keep most of them for myself. This is not going to happen for two reasons:

1. I have actually reached a previously unthinkable limit of jewellery in my bedroom (and ahem bathroom, dining room and living room). This I assure you is not an exaggeration, I've had to start putting jewellery boxes on top of jewellery boxes in order to not completely cover the walls with necklaces on nails.

2. There is definitely a skill to be learned of letting your creations go. Heavy emphasis on to be learned, as I clearly haven't mastered it yet...but I'm working on it!

xoxo Amarina

Etsy Inspiration

Check out this video by fellow Etsian Julia Pott. Hailing from London England, her unique art is mostly love stories between various animals and I find it evoking hilarious/mortifying flashbacks of my teenage years, among other things. Some of her favourite characters appear in this music video for Casiotone for the Painfully Alone's song White Corolla.

xoxo Amarina

Amarina Wolf

Patrick Wolf - Vulture


So check out the brand spankin' new video from Patrick Wolf's forthcoming album The Bachelor. The song is "Vulture" and I feel like it has a little Nine Inch Nails "The Perfect Drug" flavour, which nicely compliments the imagery of Patrick Wolf writhing around in a hot bondage outift that's nothing more than a few leather straps. According to Pitchfork this is inappropriate for work but according to me it's all good...just a bit of bum and some man nipple.

Happy first day of Spring!

xoxo Amarina

Amarinyeah Yeah Yeahs

Dear Karen O,

For some reason you have decided that screaming as often as you can in a song was not a good idea and I don't know how I feel about this. It probably has something to do with the overwhelming success of your single "Maps", a song that had zero screaming on an album full of delicious screamy songs. I certainly have a bond with "Maps", considering the shameful fact that I once included it in a mix tape for a guy that I was not dating. Over time, I have realized that it is 100% the creepiest possible song that you could choose to throw on a mix tape. Maybe ever. It's pure madness that I never realized it at the time.

I'm getting off topic here, the reason for this correspondance is that I'd like your permission to use the new Yeah Yeah Yeahs song "Zero" as my new theme song for everything. Certainly including, but not limited to entering the octagon, opening credits for my upcoming sure-to-be-successful-but-yet-to-have-a-theme reality television show, and running down the street in slow motion chasing after my dream. I can't pay you, but I can promise that I will buy your new album instead of downloading it. What do you think?

xoxo Amarina

Walking and Peeking

Now I would never consider myself to be a photographer, as my photography "skills" are limited to happy accidents. These two photos however, were taken on a random walk down Pape Street in my lovely Riverdale neighbourhood and I really really like them. I'm sure locals and those familiar with the area have wandered by this residence (maybe a residence? I took these shots through a semi-boarded up store front) and wondered what the hell is going on inside. Wait. Does anyone know what's going on here? Tell me, I'm dying to know! Is this some kind of landmark that I've somehow missed?

So in front of the portrait above is a case that I like to call "The Skull Factory" (pictured here) ignoring of course, that the skulls never change, nor have any new ones been added since I began peeking in the window. Here's where I get all detective on your ass: the plants seem to be well-watered and the skull display case looks shiny and dust-free while the exterior appears to have had it's last coat of paint in the 40's and has certainly seen better days. Who lives and/or works here? I need to know them.

Also, there is a small part of me that is fairly certain I'll wander by one day and see the soles of an old pair of boots (attached to feet) sticking out on the floor by the portrait. I've actually convinced myself that of all the locations in all the eccentric places in Toronto (some of which I've lived in), THIS is the place where I will accidently stumble upon a crime scene.

OK, this has been all very revealing. Have a great night, I'll be cozied up watching Project Runway Canada with the man and our cat-daughter!

xoxo Amarina