I brought back some new Allison Wonderland pieces from my trip to Vancouver.  I always love visiting Allison at her studio (which has the greatest poster on the door featuring someone's lost unicorn) because not only do I love her designs but she's also just a fantastic person.  Here's the Ivy dress and the Wiltshire skirt - we got both styles in a gorgeous sage linen....

And this is the Laurel Canyon dress which we have in both olive and denim.....

There are a ton of other new arrivals in as well......I'll post more photos soon!

Birds of North America is a new line for us and I have to say, I'm already in love.  The designer, Hayley Gibson, grew up out here on the west coast and currently works out of a studio in Montreal.  Her spring collection consists of really gorgeous "tailored feminine cuts taken from vintage sportswear and 1950's summer sun dresses....with a palette of colours from a sun bleached cloud wall".  Here are a few pieces we have in from Birds of North America.....

I love this dress with it's great patch pockets and we have it in light grey and moss (eep!....can't decide which colour I want more!).  The dress and the Oriole Pant below are both made of 55% linen and 45% cotton.  We have the pants in a dark grey colour and they have an incredible fit and super cute back pockets.

The Roadrunner Dress below is 100% cotton eyelet and we have it in a beautiful cornflower blue.  It's fully lined, has an invisible back zipper closure and inseam side pockets (you know how we love our pockets!)....

I think Hayley just may have gotten more than her fair share of artistic talent.  Not only is she an incredible designer but the girl can also write!  Here's part of the intro to her spring collection....

"I work in a studio in Montreal in the crook of a bend in the railroad tracks. Meat packing businesses and car repair shops still outnumber artist's studios. On a bright day the sun can blind you as it beats on the walls of the blank industrial buildings. There is a curious bag of sun-bleached animal bones by the railroad track where I walk my dog and a white wall graffitied with cartoon-like clouds.

"On Tuesdays painted car body parts, unidentifiable out of context, lie glinting in the sun on the sidewalk for the scrap metal man to pick up in his rusty truck. Sundays, the area is a ghost town except for the stray cats who live in abandoned cars. I find this landscape stark, silent, and comforting in it's functionality. It is like living in a warm eddy where there is a steady loop of strange but familiar things that pass by your door. One can be fooled into thinking that life is predictable and simple.

"The Birds of North America Spring/Summer 2011 collection harkens back to what we thought was a simpler time as well..."

See what I mean?!!  And let me tell you, I've just had a peek at Hayley's upcoming fall collection and you're gonna LOVE it too!  I know, I know, let's not even mention next fall until we get some spring and summer - I'm with you.

Marie Cristine Jewellery is handcrafted by an amazing artist in Campbell River, BC.  For my birthday last year I was given a gorgeous Marie Cristine necklace (thanks Mom!) and knew that her unique designs would fit in perfectly here at be (and not just because of my personal love of all things tree).  Here's a peek at some Marie Cristine Jewellery but you should definitely come in and see for yourself.... 

We have several different necklaces and earrings, a couple of cuff bracelets, and a good selection of Marie Cristine sterling silver rings in the store.  Have a lovely weekend! 

New pieces in from two great island gals - Sky, the designer of Mandala Sky, from Salt Spring Island, and Shirra, the designer of Super Craft Star in Parksville.  Here's the Selena Dress by Mandala Sky.  It has raw edge seams across the top, three quarter sleeves, and a curved hem (available in black and teal).....

For you long dress lovers, the Sunset dress has a long asymmetrical hem and raw edge seams down the dress at an angle.....

Sigh.....we could sure use some beach weather that doesn't require so many layers!

We have several new one-of-a-kind tops in from Super Craft Star - all made from 100% recycled clothing.  Shirra has added a couple of great new screen prints to her collection....

This is such a sweet little sweater.....

We've got news bags from Super Craft Star as well - also made from 100% recycled materials - including this one in vinyl.....

I don't think there's a more eco-friendly way to make clothing and accessories than using cast away, recycled and reclaimed items to make fantastic new wearable pieces.  That's what makes Super Craft Star such a super star!

New tops by one of our very favourite designers have arrived (with more to come next month).  Here's the Yulee top by cinder + smoke..... 

And the Millry top.....

Spring's gotta come eventually right?!!