Return Of The Lego

In the past year I’ve noticed that Lego’s are making a come back. My favorite toy of all time is back but in a way I never would have imagined. The influence of the Dannish toy is seen all over from furniture, art, even fashion.
My personal favorite are these Jean-Claude De Castelbajac watches.
X-Mast is coming, hint !!! hint !!!

Ode To My Bag

I've had this M0851 bag for over 2 years now. It's aged beautifully, the leather darkened, yet retaining its shape. This bag brings me everywhere from weekends up north and NYC, from work to shopping (i don't like plastic bags). I have several bags but none give me the joy this particular one does. best part is that they are all made in Montreal.

M0851 is having a sample sale.

Its Christmas party time all over again. What to wear? OMG shoes! You need to make an impact and you must look better than everyone else at work. If you want to be the belle or beau of the ball, trust VELENO.

Working with your budget, taste, and event we will do all the shopping and styling for you.

Don't hesitate to contact us for a consultation on current and upcoming trends. You wouldn't want to be out of date!

This is a recent photo shoot i worked on. Thank you Gabriel ( model) and the fabulous photographer Nic Small.

Retro Chairs

Veleno is proud to present its new furniture entry. I came upon these retro chairs a few months back. They were in a very bad state, having probably spent the last 25 years in a dusty dirty basement. I've restored them to the best of my abilities. They were made in Montreal back in the 60's. The orange chair is a little damage but still in good condition.

I want to sell the pair for $80, if anyone is interested contact me.

Alice

I've always been a fan of Alice in Wonderland. Controversial since its first publication in 1865. It tells the story of a girl named Alice who falls down a rabbit hole into a fantasy world populated by peculiar and anthropomorphic creatures.

When logic and proportion

Have fallen sloppy dead,

And the White Knight is talking backwards

And the Red Queen's "off with her head!"

Remember what the dormouse said

Feed your head

Feed your head

(Grace Slick, 1966)

The movie is only coming out in March 2010 but I just can't wait. I've been languishing since I found out back in Feb. Who could ask for more than a Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland featuring Johnny Depp?

Tokyo Correspondence

We live in a mass consumption society. Everything must be made fast and cheap, compromising quality and craftsmanship for $$$. We have lost originality and the beauty of carefully crafted objects, hence making everyone and everything aesthetically boring.
My good friend and correspondent, Dan (cool hunter) Morin, whom is presently living in Tokyo, found this beautiful door handle of some random shop in the back streets of Harajuku. I like it so much I’ve decided to make it my pick of the week.
America take notes!

The Beauty Of Nature

Who knew??? That is what I’m told
Is it such a surprise????
Last weekend I was in a chalet on Lake Baribeau near St-Donat. I could not have dreamed of a better weekend get away.
The plan was not to stay in the chalet the whole time. Paul and I sure didn’t stay in. Saturday at 5:45AM we were up after not sleeping very well. Hard to sleep with the worst snoring in history in the next room. By the way for someone who didn’t sleep we sure heard you!
At 6AM we were eating bread and Nutella watching the sunrise. By 7AM we were out hiking, exploring the mountains behind the chalet.
It was pure magic. No traffic noise, no construction, just the melody of the wind in the leaves and rain falling. Despite bear alerts and hunters we kept walking. We hiked for 10hours but hunger got a hold of us and made our way back to the chalet.
Sunday 7AM we were out exploring the lake and enjoying our last moments in this mountain paradise.

But who knew right?? Who knew I could hike up a mountain? Who knew I could start a fire? Who knew I could paddle a canoe?? Who bloody knew??? Am I such a city boy to you all?? I guess I’m full of surprises but if you guys had seen me growing up it would not have come as a surprise but more a conviction that you can take the boy out of the wood but the call of the wild never dies.

I was in my element. It rejuvenated me and made me look at city life in a very different way.
I have a question to you all?? Is Physical labour become outdated? Is walking not cool? Have we become so lazy that we have forgotten how to use our bodies? I mean escalator, automatic doors, taking the car to go down the street. Have we forgotten that in some not so distant past our ancestors worked the land and got off their ass to survive?? But who knew that physical labour was un-cool?

Boy and girls, I cannot stress enough to get ready for the cold and snow. There is nothing more pathetic than people who think they are cool by wearing thin clothes, summer shoes, and no hats and gloves in winter.
Be cool, be warm, and be prepared! Embrace winter it’s a lovely season.

My pick this week is Alpaqa.
Situated at 533 Duluth in Montreal, http://www.alpaqa.com/

They have the perfect winter clothes. Sweaters, gloves, hats, socks ect... all made of alpaca and all their products are had made and fairly traded in Peru.
Ban synthetic fibers, all they do is pollute and feel nasty.
Go natural this winter, it feels good!