Land of Gawk

Rock Me

2011-12-19T06:30:00.000-05:00

Photo by Merrill Campbell Kost

So rock me mama like a wagon wheel
Rock me mama anyway you feel
Hey mama rock me
Rock me mama like the wind and the rain
Rock me mama like a south-bound train
Hey mama rock me

- Old Crow Medicine Show

Vertical Ribbed Cowl

2011-12-18T10:15:00.001-05:00

Something I've been working on for my Etsy store. I'm hoping to perfect the design with the next one I make. This one didn't turn out exactly as planned and won't be for sale, but you can get the jist of what I was going for in the photos below.

The photos make the colour look very purple. IRL it's more gray.

My beautiful friend Karine modelling.

How it will ship.

Me label.

Happy Holidays everyone!

Rav Stash

2011-12-13T14:11:00.004-05:00

Uploaded my yarn stash to Ravelry today. Pretty pleased with myself :)

Anyone want to buy/sell/trade?

Framing for Etsy

2011-11-24T06:30:00.000-05:00

Lovely new paintings are being framed for my Etsy shop! See the progress:

Made from furniture grade pine. It smells so nice going through the saw!

Checking our angles and making adjustments to get it just right.

Dad sent me this picture yesterday morning. He's finished gluing and dowling.

This weekend we'll sand, paint high gloss black, craft paper the back and add the framing wire! I'm very excited to have these ready for the store!

First Snow

2011-11-23T12:30:00.001-05:00

First snow in Ottawa this morning. It's so beautiful. I love the way fresh snow muffles the sounds of the city.

View from my balcony this morning

My plants don't care that it's winter. This orchid is blooming anyways :)

Brie - The Reason I'm a Bad Vegan

2011-11-21T06:30:00.000-05:00

I've been what you call a vegan for almost five years now. Some may shun me from their strict definition of veganhood for my occasional transgression involving a certain lactose-rich dairy product called Brie. I don't know what it is about this gooey, delicious substance that, when paired with red pepper jelly, wrapped in breading, and baked at 400°F for 25 minutes, but I lose the will to abstain.

Oh, the blemish on my otherwise prestine record of meat- and dairy-free living! What will I do? Normally I have to run to the ladies' room, considering my body can't digest dairy to save itself anymore :(

Guilty Pleasure - Justin Timberlake

2011-11-20T06:30:00.000-05:00

I know I'm supposed to be a craft-making hipster, but what can I say? I can't get enough of Justin Timberlake. Sure, he's not the best actor, but you've gotta give him credit for breaking out of that whole N'SYNC thing and making it on his own as a solo artist. Not easy.

He's hilarious in the SNL 3-Way (The Golden Rule) video with Lady Gaga. My favourite lyric is "Wanna impress a chick? Do the helicopter dick."

Centretown Movies Web Design Contest!

2011-11-19T06:30:00.000-05:00

Hi kids! An organization that I hold near and dear is having a web design competition! See details below:
Centretown Movies is an outdoor film festival in centretown, Ottawa. Every summer, we show movies in Dundonald Park with pay-what-you-can admission. Centretown Movies (CM) is a completely volunteer-based event and all donations are spent on paying the associated costs like license fees and equipment maintenance.

As part of an effort to improve and expand our operation, we would like to invite all community members, artists, designers, students, and others to participate in a web design contest for Centretown Movies.

Prize
The selected designer will receive $100 and a Centretown Movies T-shirt.

Submission Guidelines

Your design should reflect the main principles of CM which are movies, community, and use of public spaces for healthy/cultural recreation.
Your design should provide the information available on the current website, but you may include other content and information.
Your design should avoid depending on special web technologies, as much as possible.
You may submit a website wireframe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Website_wireframe) or the URL/files for an actual site.
All submissions (files or URL to the designed sites) must be emailed to info@centretownmovies.org

Important Dates
Submission deadline: January 1, 2012
Notification of results: January 15, 2012

Copyright
CM will own the selected design and reserves the right to modify it for actual implementation. The designer will be credited in a manner decided by CM. All other designers will retain the ownership of their submissions.

LUSHious Indulgence

2011-11-18T18:30:00.000-05:00

For those of you who know me well, you’ll know that I used to work at LUSH Handmade Cosmetics. Probably the best, most fun job I ever had, but that’s beside the point. I was a huge fan of LUSH before working there and working there just solidified my love, if not making it stronger. So today, I share with you, something I cannot live without: the LUSH Bath Bomb. Bath time is just not the same without a little fizzy friend.

Note: I’m not a specialist in any of these areas; below is simply my personal experience shared with hopes that it will help someone else!
This may be a little personal, but I suspect a problem for many women, so I will share. Being prone to “down-there” infections and loving bath time are two dispositions that don’t mix well. Certain chemical ingredients, such as common foaming agent sodium laureth sulphate, found in most bubble bath products can cause urinary tract infections in those of us who are predisposed. LUSH Bath Bombs are super-natural and contain nothing but baking soda, dried lemon juice and essential oils (and the odd sparkle or rice-paper flower too). Since I love bath time and hate infections, LUSH Bath Bombs and I are a match made in Heaven! I generally stay away from any bath product containing honey or sugar as well. I’ve heard sweet stuff can make your whooha unhappy.

At $6-7 a pop, LUSH Bath Bombs are truly an indulgence, but something I splurge for because I just love how my bath experience is enhanced. Baking soda leaves the skin soft and deodorized and the essential oils are powerful to affect my mood (usually improving it). I like to leave the water in the tub for a while after I get out making sure the bathroom gets good and smelly!

My favourite bath bombs available in stores right now (because there are some that I love that I have been discontinued or are available online only):

Sex Bomb (of course)

Avobath

Space Girl

And just in time for Christmas, I'd have to say that Lil' Lush Pud is one of my all time fav's. I always stock up this time of year!

Some of our friends over on Etsy are making Bath Bombs as well! Check out:

Kristen Schaal is a Horse!

2011-11-12T06:30:00.000-05:00

I effing love comedian Kristen Schaal. She's not your regular female comedian, that's for sure. You may remember her as the crazy stalker fan from the Flight of the Conchords television series or from her hilarious Sony Xperia Play commercials. Have to say the Kristen is Killing It one is my favourite. There are also some outtakes that almost made me pee my pants. I first saw these commercials whilst watching StarCraft II tournaments on MLG. Call me a nerd if you must, but I actually find it more entertaining then our national passtime, watching NHL hockey... I'm going to get crucified for blogging that... but I digress.

I first heard of the video in this post, without seeing it, on WYNC's Radiolab. In the Loops podcast, they describe what they perceive to be the emotions go through a number of different emotions. At first they're like, "Oh! This is going to be a regular comedy skit. Kristen Schaal is a horse?! Look at her silly dancing! Ha ha ha!" and then after a couple more repeations they're like, "OK, OK, you're a horse." and then they start getting a bit upset, "Really, you're still singing and dancing like a horse? When will this END?" But something happens, and eventually, it's just plain hilarious. The comedy doesn't really fit with expectations, and all they can really do is laugh! Of course I had to watch the video after listening to the podcast. You can definitely tell the audience is transitioning through a range of emotions. I heard somewhere that Kristen and Kurt Braunohler once kept that skit going for 10 minutes! You you imagine?

Remember

2011-11-11T11:00:00.000-05:00

National War Monument in Ottawa

11/11/11

How will you remember?

I have a midterm tomorrow morning, so guess how I'll be remembering? By exercising my right to cram all day.

Trend: Bold Brows

2011-11-11T06:30:00.000-05:00

Style Inspiration: Emma Watson

2011-11-10T06:30:00.000-05:00

Since her feature in British Vogue, I’ve noted Emma Watson among my Style Inspirations. Before then, she was just that girl who played Hermione in the Harry Porter series to me. Maybe I was out of the loop. I’m loving her super short haircut right now. Her features are strong yet feminine enough to carry it well. I can’t help but be reminded of Twiggy. Perhaps it’s the short hair/British Vogue association all swirling around in my mind, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Ms. Watson counted Lesley Lawson as one of her favourite fashion icons.

Watson’s style right now is all about a feminine palette, lace, and just the right amount of sparkle.

Trend: Felt Hats

2011-11-09T06:30:00.000-05:00

In case you didn't know, I love hats. I think they bring a touch of class to any outfit. In Saturday, October 29th's edition of the Style section of the Ottawa/Montreal Globe and Mail, there was an inspiring spread of floppy felt hats.

I got mine in brillant blue from Olam Boutique in Montreal of $59.99CAD.

Here's some I'm drooling over:

Style Inspiration: Charlotte Gainsbourg

2011-11-08T06:30:00.000-05:00

Whilst living in Australia in 2008, I had a lot of free time on my hands. I went on a journey of musical discovery to find, among other artists, Ms. Charlotte Gainsbourg. I become hooked on 5:55. How could I not? She collaborated with Air, another of my very favourite French musical ensembles, to create an album of strange love analogies with her whispery voice reminisent of best girlfriends amateur attempts to sing with acousitc accompanyment. The critics may be harsh, but I love her for her simplicity and honesty.

Since then, the French actress/musican has always caught my eye whenever she (frequently) graces the pages of glossy North American magazines. Her natural, low-maintenance style has defintely been a style inspiration to many in recent years. Noteably, Gainsbourg is the face of Balenciaga Paris fragrance, running elegant campaign that's not over-defined. More details on the fragrance & history of the campaign on Wendy Lam's blog, nitro:licious.

What I love about Charlotte Gainsbourg’s style is that it’s not over-defined. You get the sense that almost anything would fit, yet there’s something very Gainsbourg about everything. Her unfussy brunette lochs insight envy. For me, she embodies modern French elegance.

Leslie Feist: Metals

2011-11-07T18:30:00.000-05:00

Not long after the album's release on October 4th of this year, I purchased Leslie Feist's newest album, Metals. I blog about it only now, more than a month after, because I had to let it sink in. Metals has been in an endless spin on my turntable ever since I got it & I have to say: I love this album.

It's so different from her previous albums, but it's so Feist. The vocal harmonization on Bittersweet Melodies gives me goosebumps... & I can just picture a crowd of friends swaying in unison & singing along to the la la la parts. The lyrics to Comfort Me ring so true to me. A Commotion is another of my favourite tracks because of it's Andrew Bird-esque arrangement. I'm not sure if she's using violins through the Janus Horn (a spinning phonograph style speaker) to get the effect, but it sure sounds like it - sounds like awesome. Potential hipster anthems include: Graveyards and Comfort Me.

Stream the ablum here.

I'll be attending her show at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa on Monday, December 5th, 2011 & so should you. Tickets are still available. I'll let you know if it's as good as her Reminder tour :)

Scoop Coater

2011-09-18T21:26:00.001-04:00

Scoop coater, scoop coater, scoop coater! I can't say it enough! If you're thinking about trying photo emulsion screen printing GET ONE. That is all.

Second Sale & Screen Printing Update

2011-09-07T13:52:00.000-04:00

YAYAY! I made my second sale on Etsy and the buyer left amazing feedback! I'm feel as high as the ocean is deep!

Only problem is now I have to build some more inventory. If only I could do this screen printing thing right. Last time was another fail. I think the emulsion was a bit uneven (due to application with a squeegee that's too narrow) and that I didn't expose my images for long enough. But at least this time, no light bulbs exploded and I had a bit less of a mess on my hands. The image actually was printed on the screen, it's just that is go washed out in the areas where the emulsion was too thick.

I think I'm going to be able to reclaim the screen as well (I haven't done it yet because I can't even look at it right now I'm so upset. I put it out on my patio that I never use). There's nothing worse than working on something for 8 hours and achieving a negative result. FML.

Solution: order a scoop coater, wait for it to ship, try again. Three times a charm, right? If I fail after all this, I'm taking one of Spins and Needles' Silk Screening Workshops in October. Who am I kidding? I'll do the workshop anyways. I lurve those guys :)

Screen Printing Adventure

2011-09-02T19:51:00.000-04:00

Feast your eyes on my "Ghet-up" (my ghetto set-up). Yes, that's my bathtub, so I should probably explain... This is the beginnings of some new items for my Etsy store. I'm attempting to screen print and this is attempt number two. My first attempt involved WAY too much photo emulsion that never dried, a burn out 250w bulb and a huge mess. So far, this attempt is going a little more smoothly, but I'm not out of the woods yet.

Update to come!

Custom Ribbons

2011-08-28T13:55:00.000-04:00

Name Maker may not have fully customizable clothing labels, but they do have awesome ribbons with customizable text! I had some made for Land of Gawk to make my shipments extra special. Cost me roughly a dollar per yard, gets cheaper as you order more. No duty!

Visit Name Marker's ribbon page by clicking here.

Clothing Labels 4 U

2011-08-26T18:12:00.002-04:00

I wanted to have some custom clothing labels made, so I did a bit of research and found a few online that looked promising:
www.clothinglabels4u.com
www.namemaker.com
and I have subsequently discovered that Grand & Toy has an agreement with a third party company to make custom clothing labels as well. Who knew?

I ended up going with Clothing Labels 4 U because they were the only company I could find that does fully customized labels (any size, and material, any font/image). Other companies, Name Maker included, only seem semi-customizable (i.e. you can customize the text and font but it come on a standard template). Clothing Labels 4 U sent me A TON of samples with the wide array of labels they can produce. I chose to have printed cotton labels.

The company is in the US, so I had to pay $40 shipping. Overall the labels cost me about $325 CAD for 250 labels. Not bad considering they were EXACTLY what I wanted. The only thing is that the whole process was a bit slow. My first contact with the company was June 17 and I finally got my labels on August 24!

Overall I'm very happy and recommend Clothing Labels for you if you need custom labels, but are not in a rush (I just hate to rush).

To the sewing machine!

Embossing Seal Update

2011-08-26T17:49:00.000-04:00

After much deliberation and research, I ended up ordering my embossing seal at Grand & Toy. They didn't alter my design at all! It cost about $140 and took less than a week to come in.

Very happy :) Now I just have to make some prints!

First Sale!

2011-08-16T10:28:00.002-04:00

Made my first Etsy sale yesterday! Weee! Now I'm official :)

Busy Busy Business Cards!

2011-08-02T12:32:00.001-04:00

I'm having some made at G&T!

I'm No Graphic Designer, BUT...

2011-07-29T19:14:00.001-04:00

I designed what I think is a pretty cool looking template for the customer embossing seal I plan to order (to emboss my water colour and ink prints).

What do you think?

I'ma get me one of these:

Starting Up

2011-07-29T15:35:00.000-04:00

So, I've decided to start a small business. I know, I know: I'm the business student who thinks she can run a business without ever having run a business before... *groan* But, I'm determined to do it right and I'm starting very, very small.

I've got myself a master business licence with the same namesake as this blog, a small business bank account and an Etsy account. It's very humble! And of course I'll report all my income, however feable.

I'm hoping to use this blog as a platform for creativity and driving traffic, so tell your friends :) I better figure out how to make this blog look more professional in a hurry! I have no idea what I'm doing with HTML. Maybe Lindsay at the rookie's nest can help me. Her blog always looks amazing!

What will I sell, you ask? Stuff I make; and I'm leaving that wide open. I'm hopeful that I will hone in on some kind of specialization. Presently, I'm working on watercolour and ink prints (photos soon).

Words of support and sage advice about starting a business welcome.

Happy long weekend!

Bitch & Switch

2011-05-30T17:34:00.001-04:00

I Love Making Stop-Time Videos

2011-05-27T16:27:00.000-04:00

Music by Wilco - On and On and On

Please view full screen even though blogger doesn't upload in HD. It looks better that way.

3-5-3

2011-05-19T17:25:00.000-04:00

Touch & go
Out the door to learn
What you know

Trans CanEAUda

2011-05-19T10:48:00.000-04:00

A very good friend of mine, Karine, has embarked on a journey that most outdoor enthusiasts would consider unfathomable. On April 30, 2011 at approximately 3:00PM EST, Karine and 5 of her close friends began a 7000 km canoe expedition that will take them from Ottawa North West to Inuvik in (hopefully) just under 6 months. WHY? You make ask… each one of the adventurers has their own personal reason for participating in such an epic feat of willpower and physical endurance, but as far as I can tell, it’s all about passion for activism and raising awareness about the importance of artic watershed conservation.

The group is encouraging donations and memberships to two non-for-profit organizations, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society and Ottawa Riverkeeper, which work towards cleaner and healthier watersheds.

For more information about this amazing project or to see where the gang is paddling right now, check out this Website, available in both official languages, by clicking here.

Dropping Everything

2011-05-18T16:15:00.000-04:00

Dear Readers:

I'm participating in The Ottawa Regional Cancer Society's Underwear Affair to raise money & awareness for cancers below the waist (prostate, ovarian, bladder, etc.) I'm doing the 5K walk in memory of my very good friend Lauren's mom, Mary, who died of ovarian cancer and also for my Grandfather, Basil (pictured), who's late stage prostate cancer has spread to the bones in his back, severely limiting his mobility and quality of life.

Here's a fun YouTube video from last year's event.

And here's my personal Underwear Affair page where you can donate.

Thanks for your support!

Two Lips

2011-05-07T09:21:00.000-04:00

May 6-23 is this years Canadian Tulip Festival! Get out there!

Cute Things

2011-05-05T19:00:00.000-04:00

Cute Roulette

Live Puppy Stream!

Cute Overload

F is for Fox: Flickr Blog

Image by [visiblemusings] on Flickr. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

Kitty Wigs

Blooming

2011-05-05T07:56:00.000-04:00

My crazy orchid wants to grow another stem. It's not the right time of year, but I'll take it! Can you believe it, this plant has pushed out five stems with blooms in one calendar year. Incredible.

A Delicious Way to Use Leftover Rice

2011-05-04T20:47:00.000-04:00

I saw an article in the Spring 2011 issue of Ottawa Lifestyle magazine about gluten-free food. There was a recipe in there for Maple Walnut Rice Cakes (instead of pancakes) that I thought was brilliant! The recipe totes, "an unexpected and delicious way to use leftover rice."
So I thought I would share with you the way that I like to use leftover rice. It's not as "unexpected" as the Maple Walnut Rice Cakes but it's certainly delicious!

Genna's Vegan Leftover Rice Pudding
Ingredients:
- About 2 cups leftover rice
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 3/4 cup sugar
- sprinkling of cardamom
- sprinkling of cinnamon
- raisins (optional)

Method:
- Combine rice, almond milk and sugar in a pot. Bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat. Add cardamom, cinnamon and raisins to taste.
- Remove from heat.
- Cover and let cool.

As with many things, this rice pudding tastes better the day after it's cooked. The cardamom flavour will really come out and the raisins will be plump!

Waste Not Want Not!

Let's Tauk Sofas

2011-05-04T14:23:00.001-04:00

Meet Big Ben

Yes please.

A Montreal based company, Montauk Sofa's goal is to provide the most stylish, comfortable, fashionable sofas with no impact on the environment. They use closed-loop recycling which means that when you what to get rid of your Montauk, you call 'em up and - with their reclamation program - they reused every bit and piece they can to make something new.

Floppy Sun Hats - Yes Please!

2011-05-04T11:10:00.000-04:00

Being someone of very fair hair and skin, I have many times suffered the pain of having sun-burnt scalp, face and shoulders. In 2009, I bought myself a very lovely sun hat at Bonnaroo and I've never looked back! Sun hats are fantastically classy and practical and seem to be very stylish this year as well.

Here's my hat in action:
A couple of weeks ago, I came across a spread in the Ottawa/Montreal edition of the Globe and Mail on sun hats and I fell in love with one that I think is from Kokin New York. It's the red one below.
I also love these two from the same company:

For those of you who follow my blog who are stuck in Ottawa, Kokin hats are available at Holt Renfrew.

There are a couple of other places to get sun hats in Ottawa. In the past, I've seen excellent selections at the Bay, of course these ones are more reasonably priced than the ones at Holts. There are a couple of boutique shops that sell hats in the market, but not so much big floppy sun hats.

Chapeaux de Madeleine
47 Clarence Street Suite 127
613-241-8741

Here's a couple of hats I like from the Fall/Winter collection (I wasn't fond of the Spring/Summer hats):

Here's another place to try in Ottawa that seems like you could get any kind of hat your little heart desires, but it's appointment only, so plan ahead:

Maxine's Hats and Accessories (no website that I could find)
46 Murray Street
613-241-5827

Let's also just take a moment to appreciate how lovely our fellow Canuck, Kim Cattrall, is:

HAPPY HAT HUNTING! and stay sun-safe!

Why I Love David Rakoff

2011-05-02T19:12:00.000-04:00

A quote, admittedly removed from it's context, but awesome none the less, from Mr. David Rakoff in his book Don't Get Too Comfortable:

"If, for example, it came to light that the dangerously thin, affectless, value-deficient, higher-aspiration-free, amateur porn hauteuse, Paris Hilton was actually a covert agent from some secret Taliban madrasa whose mission is was to portray the ultimate capitalist whore puppet of a doomed society with nothing more on its mind than servitude to maman and celebrity at any cost, I wouldn’t be a bit surprised."

The Tailban reference seems timely, as - I'm sure you know - Mr. Osama bin Ladin's death was widely publicized in the media today.

Mr. Rakoff writes in this way that when he gets going, his ideas and sentences become so complex that you must listen to them multiple times before getting that lovely, "ah ha!" moment when you fully grasp his idea. I realize that Mr. Rakoff is, in fact an author, but I write the verb "listen" instead of "read" since most of his material I have been exposed to has been on NPR's This American Life, a favourite radio show of mine, hosted by the lovely Mr. Ira Glass. I also have a propensity for audiobooks, since I enjoy multitasking. Reading a paper bound book while knitting is extremely challenge, I'm not sure if you know how much so. And the solution is audiobooks and brilliant public radio. This is why I love David Rakoff.

Dear Summer:

2010-09-01T19:48:00.000-04:00

Never turn to fall.

Why parties (used to) be fun

2010-06-30T14:15:00.001-04:00

you (used to) like drinking to excess
you (used to) be not boring
you (used to) like your friends
you (used to) be comfortable in your own skin
you (used to) laugh
you (used to) be carefree
you (used to) love life.

New Haiku

2010-05-10T14:06:00.000-04:00

Softened lips
I feel yours with my
fingertips

365 - An exercise in self-love

2010-04-07T15:31:00.000-04:00

Lately, I've been toying with the idea of doing a 365 project. It's a major undertaking and I'm really awful about commitments RE: Self Betterment (remember that New Years Resolution about going to the gym every day? ...Me either). But I'm going to give myself the benefit of the doubt this time. I've been brainstorming for quite a while know. All these odd and end ideas in my head will find themselves a home in my 365 project.
WHY? you may ask... well, first and foremost, the reason anyone does it, in my opinion, is pure and simple narcissism. The need to have other people recognize how beautiful and amazing you are in body and skill. It about loving yourself. Fringe benefits being nostalgia and honing of photography skills.

Find my project at www.flickr.com/photos/genevievegood

I've been writing a lot of haikus

2010-03-26T16:14:00.000-04:00

Growing up
Is getting me down
Now and then

Another, Shorter Haiku for You

2010-03-24T11:27:00.000-04:00

Orange-blue light
Droplets of dew shine
On my skin

Haiku for You

2010-03-23T09:05:00.000-04:00

I drifted to sleep

In your dirty red t-shirt

Engulfed in your scent

Ellen Von Unwerth

2010-01-15T13:49:00.001-05:00

Model turned photographer who captures provocative images of her subjects without making them sex objects. Earned her stripes photographing Claudia Schiffer for Guess. I love the way her work has evolved over time.

Body Below

2009-12-11T16:59:00.000-05:00

There's a story I could tell
When the cold wind starts to blow
Like a whisper in the night
From a friend that you know

It says "keep holding on
To my body below
Forsake me not,
Don't ever leave me alone"

There was a time when the sun
Gave it's life to the trees
And the air it smelled sweeter
For the honey & the bees

The ocean rolled salty
& wild & free
The fruit swelled & ripened
& burst with their seeds

But what starts with desire
Can turn into need
The chest gets all tight
Like it's got some disease

What burns in the fire
Just ends up as coals
What floats on the water
Can sink like a stone

Now i want to believe
Every word that you say
I want you to need me
To not go away

Have trust in the nighttime
& faith in the day
To walk on the water
Be never afraid

Can you bear it upon you?
My love has gone under
Above all the stars
Have forgotten to glow

But if you keep holding on to
My body below you
I'll warm you & keep you
From feeling alone

Leif Vollebekk

2009-09-09T10:20:00.000-04:00

If Jeff Buckley were not dead and grew up in Ottawa, he would be Leif Vollebekk. I attended an intimate show last night at Raw Sugar Cafe and Leif did not disappoint: his vocal range gives me goosebumps and his lyrics are comfortable and familiar. Since the release of his first album, Inland, is songs have evolved beautifully. He has even created a rock (guitar) version of his song 1921 since have has discovered that he cannot produce a piano wherever he tours. It was quite fantastic. He hopes to record another album this Fall and tell me he has plans to press vinyl, resources willing. I'm all over that! Check him out. Sponsor him even. He's ever-so-talented and needs support!

Photo credit to J B Hildebrand, misappropriated from Myspace.

Nan Goldin

2009-08-22T18:56:00.000-04:00

The photography of Nan Goldin explores love, gender, domesticity, sexuality, obsession, and dependency. Her shots are so candid. When I look at them, it's almost as though I have permission to look into these intimate moments in the lives of the people captured.

Oh No! Oh My!

2009-07-30T08:36:00.001-04:00

I discovered these guys on my SXSW 2008 mixtape of awesomeness. The booty just don't stop with that playlist! All the way from Austin, Texas, meet Greg, Joel, Daniel & Tim the self-released wonders of Oh No Oh My. Their song Walk in the Park is reminisent of the Beatles, featuring the flute (what an under-represented instrument in the world of indie-rock!), and ironic lyrics, such as "it's a nice day for a walk in the dark/it's nice day for a drive-by shooting." Give 'em a listen on Luxury Wafers.

Why Hello There

2009-07-29T07:50:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the family.

Umi Café

2009-07-28T08:52:00.000-04:00

Found at 610 Somerset St. W, in Chinatown, Umi serves delicious fairly traded organic coffees and gastronomical delights to please the most discerning palettes. The front stoop is often crouded with all manner of fixie riding hipsters. This quaint coffee shop also boasts exciting events, such as vegan bake sales, live music, tarot card readings and seed exchanges. The atmosphere is young, energetic and hip. Local artists are often featured on the brightly coloured interior walls. Last time I visited, I chatted up the co-owners, who were getting dirty out back in their beautiful community garden. All in all, Umi Café is a most fantastic place to kick back and relax with a steaming cup of joe.

My Manic & I

2009-07-24T08:51:00.000-04:00

He wants to die in a lake in Geneva,
the mountains can cover the shape of his nose.
He wants to die where nobody can see him,
but the beauty of his death
will carry on so I don't believe
him.

He greets me with kisses
when good days deceive him
& sometimes with scorn
& sometimes I believe him.
& sometimes I'm convinced
my friends think I am crazy,
get scared & call him,
but he's usually hazy.

By 1 in the morning day is not ended,
by 2 he is scared & sleep is no friend,
& by 4 he will drink but cannot feel it,
sleep will not come
because sleep does not will it
& I don't believe
him.

Morning is mocking me.

I'll wander the streets
avoiding them eats
'til the ring on my finger slips to the ground.
A gift to the gutter, a gift to the city
the veins of which have broken me down.
& I don't believe
him.

Morning is mocking me.

Oh the gods that he believes
never fail to amaze me.
He believes in the love of his god of all things,
but I find him wrapped up in all manner of sins.
The drugs that deceive him
& the girls that believe him.
I can't control you
I don't know you well,
these are the reasons I think that you're ill.
I can't control you
I don't know you well,
these are the reasons I think that you're ill.

& since last that I saw him
last that we parted
down by a river silent & hardened,
morning was mocking us.
Blood hit the sky.
I was just happy, my manic & I
He couldn't see me
the sun was in his eyes
& birds were singing to calm us down.
& birds were singing to calm us down.
& I'm sorry young man,
I cannot be your friend.
I don't believe in a fairytale end.
I don't keep my head up all of the time.
I find it dull when my heart meets my mind
I hardly know you
I think I can tell,
these are the reasons I think that we're ill.
I hardly know you
I think I can tell,
these are the reasons I think that I'm ill.
& the gods that he believes
never fail to disappoint me.
& the gods that he believes
never fail to disappoint me.
My happy man
my manic & I
have no plans to move on.
The birds are singing to calm us down
& birds are singing to calm us down.

Diana

2009-07-15T17:56:00.000-04:00

How I love thee.

Tracy Reese

2009-06-28T17:41:00.000-04:00

Yes please.

Roo

2009-06-16T14:27:00.001-04:00

We rose early every morning (to avoid baking in the tent under the hot Tennessee sun) to be greeted by friends, old and new. Music drifted through the air like wisps of smoke (of course, there was smoke in the air too). The acts did not disappoint! Jimmy Fallon pleasantly surprised me with his humour, the Decemberists wooed me with their melodies, and the Silent Disco moved me.

I loved and was loved at Bonnaroo 2009.

Bell Mobility

2009-05-29T10:36:00.001-04:00

...to switch to a different service provider, no doubt.

I Love Sleeping In.

2009-05-20T08:38:00.000-04:00

My love becomes especially obvious when I'm deprived.

Music for Tourists

2009-04-30T11:14:00.000-04:00

Chris Garneau is exquisite. He's certainly not "grindcore" as a first glance at the top of his myspace page might have you believe. Listen to Castle Time. Mr. Garneau has such a wonderful delicate voice. His songs are simply, starkly, beautifully arranged with piano, cello, light percussion (& sometimes accordion). I'm inspired by his cellist, Eleanor Norton. I've been meaning to pick the instrument up for years.

I discovered him in 2007 (Monday, July 25th) when he played with Xiu Xiu and Fucked Corpse at Babylon in Ottawa. I have a pretty sweet "Music for Tourists" tote bag from that show, which proudly carries my groceries from time to time.

He's from Brooklyn (so is Xiu Xiu... I assume that's why they played together). Apparently there's much wonderful music in Brooklyn! Also home to another of my favourite groups, As Tall As Lions (who I saw perform in Sydney, Australia, of all places).

I'll leave you with one of my favourite Chris Garneau lyrics from his song, Relief:
Nose to nose, eyes all closed

Fisheye

2009-04-29T15:38:00.000-04:00

I rented a fisheye lens (Canon FD 15mm/f2.8) from the lovely folks at Headshots for the week. Here's a photos that I took of some gelato (it had a tragic death, to my gastric delight, shortly after this capture).

I'm having so much fun with this lens! I wish I could afford my own, but alas, I cannot. Someday. Did I mention I have a Flickr account? Well, I do. There will be many more photos from my fisheye adventures posted there.

Where Are You?

2009-04-19T22:56:00.000-04:00

Everyone is going to be there.

Eve Gravel

2009-04-11T16:04:00.000-04:00

yes please.

Me and You and Everyone We Know

2009-04-09T07:40:00.000-04:00

I love Miranda July

Alas...

2009-04-06T02:02:00.000-04:00

I am in love.

I've just returned home after a glorious weekend in magnificent Montreal, where I saw easily one of the best live shows I've even seen. Andrew Bird performed at Le National this past Saturday night. A Hawk & a Hacksaw (also I surprisingly amazing group that consisted of an accordion, a violin, a trumpet, a tuba, and some percussion) opened. The crowd was very mild mannered, but after my fourth Boreal, I stopped caring whether or not my friends & I were annoying those around us with our jovial jigs. We danced the set away to backdrop of plucked violin strings skillfully layered over & over with a loop pedal, bird-like whistling, fantastic fiddling, & Buckley-esce vocals, accented by spinning gramophones that created a Doppler-like effect.

I'm really into alliterations today.

& I never said who I was in love with, & I bet you can't guess.

A Book Like This

2009-03-31T19:21:00.000-04:00

Close to 20 years ago now, my Godmother asked my parents to hold onto some things of hers, temporarily of course, while she traveled & taught English in Japan. The story goes she fell in love with a European man & never came back. Safe to say, she's not coming back for her things, so I took a look through a box of her old books.

& behold: TREASURES! I've got the whole summer to brush up on some classic literature. Saves me a few trips to Chapters ^_^

-- click here --

So Good

2009-03-29T23:05:00.001-04:00

frankie

2009-03-29T08:19:00.000-04:00

After an eight month stint in Australia in 2008, I came back with in injured line of credit and an intense love for frankie, a by-monthly dose of ric-rac splashed pages of magazine bliss. Every two months, I anxiously make my trek to Mags & Fags to pay an exorbitant amount of money for this publication (two months in arrears) & it's worth every penny.

Nestled in it's glossy pages are elloquently written articles of substance (scattered with cusses), definitely Australian vintage-inspired fashion, exceptional photography, DIY crafts, home decor, & music; all arranged around the scribblings of the issue's featured artist.

First

2009-03-29T00:18:00.000-04:00

Hello

I'm a long-time listener, first time caller to the blog-o-sphere. I've been thinking a lot about starting a blog over the years, but could never think of a theme to write about frequently & worried that no one would read my blog. I've realized that it doesn't matter. Most of the blogs I appreciate are totally random & I see this as an outlet for ideas & creativity. If no one else reads it, at least I wasn't wasting my time on facebook!

A little about me:
My name is Genevieve (anglicized nickname: Genna), a young woman at the ripe age of 22. I've lived in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada my whole life. I have a love/hate relationship with this city. The more I travel, the more I experience, the more I realize how lucky I am to have grown up in a community that breeds such diversity & acceptance. The city is nearly a million, but feels like a village. I never pay for Bridgehead coffee. I see someone I know around every corner. It's bitterly cold in the winter, & swelteringly humid & hot in the summer. I can see the stars clearly from my back yard on a clear night & white-tailed dear have eaten every tulip bulb I've planted in the fall. The government offices block out the sun on the sidewalks downtown, but their employment keeps the city's economy from crashing during times of recession.
I live in a happy little bubble where everything bad in the world seems detached & far away, yet protests & politicians are at my doorstep.
& I love it.
I also love contrast filters (for developing black & white photos in a dark room); unnecessary scarves; vocal harmonies; vegan baking; big socks; hot yoga; sleeping in (although I'm finding it difficult to sleep past 9:00 these days); bamboo knitting needles; & being in love. I could go on, but many more things about me will become evident through my posts (I don't want to give away all my secrets in the first post)!

How I See This Blog:
As you may (or may not) have suspected, the title of my blog "Land of Gawk" is a tribute to a Montreal band that I'm really into right now: Land of Talk. Ah, Montreal... what a great city to have as your neighbour. I chose the word "gawk" as it means "to stare stupidly" which is what I image most people will do should they happen to stumble across my internet ramblings. "Gawk" can also mean "to rubberneck" which is apt, given the traffic situation in this lovely, urban-planning nightmare of a city I live in. It can also mean "an awkard or foolish person" as I can be. I'm probably going to use this blog as a place to collect ideas & creativity. I see myself posting photo projects, shows from around town, interesting links, home decor, recipes... just anything I gawk at really.
& most of my entries will be much, much shorter than this one. Promise.

I'd like to find other Ottawa bloggers to swap ideas with. So if you like my blog, & you live or blog about Ottawa, contact me.

Thanks for reading.
-Genna