November 5, 2009 – To my daughter, who just turned four, everything about underwear is funny. And I have to say I kinda agree. The very word “underpants” makes me smile. So I say go with it (the sillies) and have fun with your undergarments. My favorites – the Candi Factory undies of course! Candice Levine is the artisan behind (he he he) these fabulous underwear for men and women. She has a keen sense of colour and has crazy fun with print and pattern.

Adorable, non?? But(t…seriously how old am I?) the best part is the fact that are super comfy.  They are made with suplex. This man made material is the same stuff that athletic manufacturers are using to prevent chaffing and encourage wicking – good stuff, I assure you.

We have been carrying this line since we opened and have only heard and experienced really great stories. One male customer was given a pair by his girlfriend and subsequently asked for many pair for Christmas and birthdays. One female customer purchased a pair, wore them the next day to work and returned to the store on her way home to buy two more pair b/c “they are just so freakin’ comfortable – and cute!!” And if you are like any four year I know, it is important to have the undies drawer filled with fun & happy undies because you never know when you’ll want to peel off your clothes and dance around in your favorite underwear.

I don’t really want to drop the H bomb on you but.. it wouldn’t be right to not give you adequate warning. These babies sell out fast – especially as – here it comes – holiday gifts. These are great gifts for lover, brother, sister, mother, best friend – you name it. Great gift idea. Because as Candice has said, “they’ll love your bum for years to come”.

For those of you who like to follow Federal politics, we have something hilarious new in the store:

They’re politician finger puppets by Fish on Fridays. We’ve got all five party leaders, some cabinet ministers (like John Baird and Jim Flaherty), and a few other political household names like Bob Rae, Justin Trudeau, and Stephan Dion.  And there are two Nova Scotia MPs in the mix: Scott Brison (in red) and Peter McKay (comes in NS tartan).

These will make great stocking stuffers for political junkie in your life. Or for yourself. In case you’re wondering what you’d do with one of these puppets, here are some ideas:

• have a leaders debate (with or without the Green Party – it’s up to you if Elizabeth May gets an invite)
• grill the PM on the issues of the day in your own Question Period
• pass your dream budget
• have a no confidence vote
• start a coalition government
• stage a musical variety hour starring the party leaders

It could be fun for the whole family! Or just look awesome on your desk at work.

And they’re not the only new things in store. We’ve got some really pretty reversible hats from Meversible and more cards than we can fit on our shelves.  The postcards by local artist Joanna Close are new to the store and we’ve replenished our stock of cards from artist Katie Muth and The Regional Assembly of Text. Stop by to pick up that perfect card for someone special.

There’s something new and cozy on the shelves today:  a new shipment of hoodies from Clothing Brand Experiment (CBE).

CBE started as an experiment to make a perfect hoody that is locally made using locally sourced fabric. Owners of that original neon hoody (which we’ve sold out of) get to join the experiment and become “wearholders“.  The experiment with that first hoody must have been a success, because they’ve got a couple of new styles out for Fall 2009 – and we’re carrying three of them.

Freeman Classic:

Freeman Slim:

The Freeman style is named after/inspired by Freeman Street in Greenpoint, Brooklyn - the northernmost neighbourhood in Brooklyn.

The third style on our shelves is the Humboldt Classic:

We’re carrying this one in grey.  The Humboldt is named after/inspired by the Puerto Rican Festival in Chicago’s Humboldt Park.

These hoodies need to be tried on to be believed. They are super cozy and warm. The thumb holes in the sleeves are a great touch.  They might just be the perfect sweatshirt for a chilly Saturday afternoon.

The weather is all over the map today. Drizzle one minute, sunshine the next. I guess that’s Halifax for you. One thing it was consistent about was a nip in the air. Even when the temperatures get into the teens, the air still has that fall chill to it. And while some people might get sad about that, others embrace it fully because it means Sweater Weather is here!  And we’ve got just the sweaters for those chilly days.

Based out of Toronto, Paper People Clothing is taking unloved sweaters and turning them into something lovely and cozy. Like this cowl neck sweater:

It’s the sort of sweater that makes you feel like you’re giving yourself a hug.

The double breasted military sweater is not only made of recycled sweaters, but pants and vests as well:

What’s great about this is that you can pair it with a pencil skirt for work or jeans for the weekend. Either way you’ll look great.

Fall doesn’t mean you have to put away your favourite tees or tanks. Paper People has two great shrugs that help you keep those pieces going well into the colder weather. First up is the boatneck shrug, which really is perfect for wearing with a tank top:

And for a slightly fancier look, the Doillie Shrug uses a vintage doillie as embellishment:

And last, but not least, a mini skirt that does double duty by being reversible (front to back):

Two skirts in one! This wool skirt is made for Fall weather – just add tights.

September 29, 2009 – Well…there is no denying it any longer. Fall is offically here. This morning I was well aware of all the wet leaves in fall colours sticking to the pavement and took note that I am wearing a turtleneck (albeit cotton) for the first time since early Spring.

Some of you lucky ladies have already been in to touch and take home some the newly arrived Smoking Lily. But there are still plenty of SL goodness for you all to partake in.

I am lacking in images for this entry; I am hoping my enthusiasm for Smoking Lily will translate into some great visuals. Plus – they are way cuter in person.

While I love all the pieces, I do have special affection for a few sweethearts. I love the jersey DC skirt which will pair up with some tights and boots so fabulously. The side panel in the skirt creates great swing and sweep and keeps the jersey from clinging. The love the Petra top whose 30% wool appeals to my always cold self. With a stunning cowl collar and simple draped body, this is a great work piece. (But the great subtle nuts and bolts print on the cowl will indicate that you are not an office monkey!!) I am also quite smitten with the Ship Disturber which might become my favorite “time off” “casual” go to. It is perfect for those casual gatherings that you agreed to attend but as the day approaches you would rather just put on your jammies and curl up on the couch. It is like an adult / dressed up version of a sweatshirt but it has amazing contours and great printwork. I love that it is long-ish and has a thick waist panel. Stellar piece! My other love is the tshirt dress. The printed tshirt dress is perfect for a gal who needs options. It can be a summer bathing suit coverup. It can be a slouchy tshirt. It can be a dress over pants. It can be layered with a longsleeve or turtleneck underneath. It can be worn with tights. It can be worn front to back or back to front. It is the easy peasy no effort but super adorable tshirt dress! (And super affordable BTW.)   

Oh…and before we part…check out this shop review for HGTV’s blog: http://www.hgtv.ca/BLOG/archive/2009/09/27/shop-review-love-me-boutique-in-halifax.aspx

September 25, 2009 – One last Handmade Nation post and then we are done, ok??

I wanted to just give a big thank you shout out to Rose at the Atlantic Film Festival who jumped when I bombarded her with ideas to make the screening a bit more fun with parties, demos and draws. She rocked this event with her organizational skills and enthusiasm.

Who kinda dropped the ball? Me … a bit. I intended to mention all the artists who donated at the screening but the feeling like we had to rush through the prizes, my sudden blindness due to the lights (and not be able to read any of my notes), and sudden amnesia as to what was in any of the four goody bags Love, Me handed out, all combined into a “forget it. move on.” moment. So here I apologize to any artist who was all “hey I thought I’d get a mention”. Your donations were much appreciated. Every goody bag had a Cinnamon Heart Love, Me soap and Love, Me “Make Art” button. And then each bag had 2 or 3 goodies from local artists like a punctuation mark embroidered hankerchief from Hello Pineapples, leather “feather earrings from Cotton Candy Cupcake, a pouch from Louloubell and a hair clip set from Louloubell’s side project Fussed, art prints and buttons from artist Shelagh Duffet, a “broken heart” pin from Kat Miller – and here comes the brain freeze again… I hope I am not forgetting anyone.

Anyway thank you – all who helped, all who donated, all who attended.

Last bit of Handmade Nation news: the shop will be receiving a copy of the Handmade Nation book to “sample”. Please come in and take a look – and then let us know if you want us to order you one.

Ok Handmade Nation discussion OUT.

September 23, 2009 – Well craft enthusiasts…we have a winner (actually two – I realized I had two pair of tickets to give away!!) Ashton and Shelagh are the big ticket winners. You each won a pair of tickets to the screening of Handmade Nation. You must come to the shop to claim them by 8:30 or else we are gonna give ‘em away to some people on the streets.

Thanks to L-A and another contest commentor, I saw this treat which I think you will all love.

September 22, 2009 – It has been a nutty few days here at the shop with a wee leak and having to be closed or running massive dehumidifiers. I apologize to anyone who came by looking for wonderful goodies only to find we were closed.

Anyhow…moving forward…Handmade Nation Ticket Contest

Handmade Nation is a US documentary about the increased/increasing popularity of handmade, craft/art, DIY. The film will be screened at the Atlantic Film Festival on Thursday, Sept 24 at 9:30pm in Park Lane. Love, Me will be hosting a pre-screening party from 7-8:30pm. So please stop in and say hello. Do you have your tickets left?? Well, here is an opportunity to win two free tickets.

To win to free tickets to the screening of Handmade Nation you need to leave a comment here on this blog about your favorite handmade purchase, gift or DIY project. One comment per person. I will draw the winner Wednesday (tomorrow) at 5pm. Make sure your comment has an email for me to contact you at. And then be sure to check your email Wednesday night.

Here is a trailer..

OK…get commenting…

September 15, 2009 – Looking out the window of the shop and seeing the rain pelt down and the leaves blowing off the trees, I am glad I opted to put my daughter in tights today. It is a funny time of year, bare legs are great for an afternoon like yesterday – hot & sunny, but the next day there can be a cool wind or a cool rain that throws you off. Personally I heart the tights. And I love fall and winter because I break them out of their summer hibernation. Why am I going on and on about tights? Well…what to wear with tights? Lovely dresses and skirts of course.

New to us at Love, Me Boutique is Meghan Irish’s Vancouver-based line Dru’s Design. Her fall ‘09 pieces are made for tights and boots – yah!! What I love about the Dru line is how simple yet feminine her cuts are. They are truly easy to wear. They can be worn solo or layered, with heels or with flats or boots. They are stylish form and yet completely practically functional. (Oh yes – the girl does pockets!!) They are the kind of pieces that you wake up late after sleeping in after hitting that snooze button one time too many before realizing you have a meeting or a “thing” that calls for more than your everyday. Crappy day or not – I would reach for a Dru’s.

My favorite piece is this beauty:

The houndstooth pattern has three shades of grey and gold in it. It has simple shoulder detailing, a no-fuss gathered waist and (yes!) pockets.

What about this cowl neck and dramatic circle pocket detail on this cocoa number? This dress can be subtle or can be “wild-ified” with some rockin’ patterned tights.

And finally this skirt puts a little punch in your weekday basic black. Again – easy to wear, easy to throw together but creates great impact!

Now dust off those tights and get in here and try on some Dru!

September 11, 2009 – Boxes! Every day a new box is arriving with great new product – much of it fall fashion. So I am going to do mini reviews of each designer so all ya’all are up to date. First up – local favorite Deux FM.

I had the opportunity to see Deux FM’s fall preview at Atlantic Fashion Week this past spring. I had just spent the past winter wrapped in a favorite cardigan and I think I could have been possibly wearing it that night. And so when the Deux FM wooly cardigans made their way onto the stage, I mentally did golf claps. A big “Bravo” and kisses to the gorgeous blue colour – completely stunning. In either black or blue, this is a key investment into any gal’s winter wardrobe.

You all know Anna’s Deux FM line is eco-chic right? I mean this gal really thinks through what a garment is to be made from and how it is to be made. Even her hang tags are ecologically friendly. Seriously! So it is no surprise to me that Anna thought out the addition of wool to collection. The wool is baby alpaca. Alpaca is sustainable as a fiber and is naturally organic. Alpacas as animals are soft on the environment and their wool fibers can take less dye. Anna sourced her Alpaca wool from a green farm in Peru where the women knitting the sweaters are part of a knitting co-op are paid fairly and provided schooling and day care for their children.

Another stunner in the Deux Fm Fall Collection are the Elsa Trousers. I like these because they have the look and fit of a great pair of jeans but are sophisticated enough to wear to work or in the evening. Check out these babies.

And then there is the Eliza Dress…

Nothing gets my practical meets creative personality going like a “multiple wear” garment. The Eliza Dress, available in black and oxblood, can be worn many ways. Come on! This dress is so amazing!

This piece is so sexy and grecian with a pair of heels. And paired with some stunning boots and expert layering this could be less formal but equally gorgeous.

Love, Me also has a lovely silk shirtdress and a fun “chain” printed tee by Deux Fm in stock.