The year that was...

2010 was an exciting year for URBANITY.  We started the year in anticipation of the coming Winter Olympics, and in the wake of the OLEANA exhibition, Beyond Borders that had brought a lot of attention to the OLEANA collection. Then, at the end of March I made the decision to move the store away from Gastown and closer to my customers.  The decision was not easy, but as the months have gone by I am really happy to be on Granville Street, in the South Granville shopping and gallery district.  Thanks to all off you who have been a friend and customer of URBANITY whether for 6 years or one week -- may 2011 see your wishes come true.

God Jul! It's Christmas!

opening hours are posted on our website www.urbanity.ca

Lille Julaften

Christmas Eve is quickly approaching.  In Denmark,  December 23rd is called Lille Julaften  - little Christmas Eve.  Christmas in Denmark is really magical and making the day before Christmas eve a special day just makes more room for all the magic.
Oleana's motto is that the world needs less, but more beautiful things.  Here at Urbanity we too believe this, which is why we have only luxurious items that will last for a long time, bringing pleasure for years to come.  We are open to 8pm on lille julaften.

Carol singers in URBANITY

What a wonderful Saturday surprise!  'Fandango' came into the store and sang for us!

OLEANA for Christmas

The last Oleana shipment before Christmas has arrived.  So many pretty cardigans and pullovers made from cosy alpaca, and easy to wear merino-silk.  From wristlets to sweaters Oleana makes something for the very perfect pretty gift to give -- also to give yourself!

Follow us on Twitter, and Facebook -- find the links on our website

New arrivals from Pernilla Svenre

After sitting in a box in customs for almost two months we have finally received a selection of merino 'jackets' from Swedish designer Pernilla Svenre.  Pernilla's soft merino one colour cardigans are a regular in Urbanity, and this year I added a few leaf pattern and lacy knit models with matching scarves.  Pernilla works with a team of 5 and also sells from her Stockholm butik.

Beautiful scarves by Kate Barber

We carry the work of local textile artists -- one-of-a-kind wearable art from BC.  Last week Kate Barber brought in three exquisite scarves woven with very soft wool and linen.  Kate has developed a complicated method of fabric treatment that results in exquisite surface design.  Please visit our website to see the artists we represent. 

Our Christmas 'Julestue' is on Sunday

Tradition will have it that we start our Christmas celebration this Sunday, the first Sunday in Advent.  We will serve warm Gløgg, something yummy to eat, and give you the opportunity to make a Christmas decoration.  On this day we invite you to make a donation to the Union Gospel Mission either through a purchase, or just as an offering.  For the cost of an Americano, you can buy a full Christmas dinner for a person in need.  Drop by between 1 - 4 Nov. 28th.  We look forward to seeing you. (click on the image to see a larger version.)

Its sweater time :-) !!!

From my window I see a healthy dusting of snow on the north shore mountains, and the radio tells me that is cold and getting colder.  It is sweater time!  Oleana has introduced two new Alpaca styles this season.  This beautiful cardigan is also available in shades of red.  It is a longer version of one of my favourite woolen cardigans from 7 or so years ago.  The grey colour is new. 

Just Arrived! Lots of slippers from Pia Wallén

The perfect Christmas present for the whole family! Woolen felt slippers from Swedish Pia Wallén in ALL sizes, from Baby to Dad. Black, grey, blue, red - unisex and slip-ons. Slippers are priced from $48 to $75. For babies we also have Oleana blankets and b.ella socks.

Christmas Recipes

Crackerjack opened last night in West Van, and to help with the evening's festivities I served Stollen and Apple Gløgg.  Both were such a hit that I promised to post the recipes here.  The Stollen was made following a recipe on-line with reference to the Stollen recipe in the Larouse Gastronomique.  I used less than half the sugar for the marzipan, and I added the egg yolks from making the marzipan to the dough.  The apple cider gløgg recipe is as follows:

Apple cider glogg (no alcohol)

1 organic orange

1 ½ liters of organic apple cider

50 g. sliced fresh ginger

4 star anis

8 cardamom pods

50 grams big light raisins

Slice the orange.  Boil the cider with the spices and orange slices.  Reduce the mixture to 1 liter.  Strain over the raisins

New arrivals

This has been an exciting week in URBANITY!  We received some wonderful coats and triangular scarves (pictured) from Ivko.  The colours are amazing and attracting a lot of attention (click on the images to get a closer look.) We also received some really funky coats from Swedish Olars Ulla.  All items are not available anywhere else in Vancouver.  A variety of very cute alpaca scarves that I bought back in March arrived --  fabulous for Christmas presents -- so soft and colourful.

Our Halloween window!

Thanks again to Hills Native Art in Gastown for providing us with a mask for our Halloween window.  This year we only had one mask because we only had one mannequin in the window.  The mask was carved by William Watts, and is astounding!

Tomorrow is VIP night in South Granville.  Click on the link to see who is participating.   Bring your friends for a great evening.

VIP shopping night Nov. 3rd from 5.30 - 8.00 pm

An evening of shopping on South Granville with refreshments and specials.

We have invited Lemon Park to hold a trunk show as part of the VIP shopping night in URBANITY.

Lemon Park is a Vancouver based jewellery design business that started in the fall of 2006.  Created by two sisters, Penny and Tania Gleave, Lemon Park takes a bold, modern and adventurous approach to their jewellery designs.  Their unique pieces are designed and created in their studio in Vancouver.

We've got a name!

This morning, bright and early, our name got put on the building above the window!!!  It was a day to celebrate!  With the sign came a new energy, and people have been streaming in all day.  There is nothing like having a NAME!!!

I often get asked the question.......

...what should I wear under my Oleana cardigan?
Oleana makes matching shells, and short sleeved tops in the same colourways as the cardigans, but some people prefer to wear cotton.  The designer, Solveig Hisdal  often wears a blouse casually, over her skirt or pants, as can be seen here when she was in Vancouver last year opening the exhibition "Beyond Borders"

and socks for babies too!

Today I received the long awaited leggings (footless tights) that I had hoped for in July!  And in the box were tiny little baby b.elle socks for boys and girls made from cashmere, angora, wool, viscose.....  they are just tooo cute!  Remember that we still carry baby blankets from OLEANA!!

Treading lightly into Autumn

                                 

It always amazes me how trees begin to change colour on the Labour Day weekend telling us that the season has officially changed!   We have had a wonderful summer and despite the changing leaves, we can expect to enjoy late summer for a while yet. 

We might not be ready for sweaters and winter coats, yet everybody is getting ready to layer, and even though it is nice for our toes to be bare, colourful socks are a lovely way to start getting ready for winter.

Just arrived are wonderful coloured socks from b.ella made from wool, cashmere, angora.  More cotton socks have arrived from Ozone.

Along with the wonderful array of tights from Danish Sneaky Fox, we have almost everything you might wish for.  I say almost, because I am getting a lot of requests for leggings!  So leggings are on their way.

These items make great (Christmas) presents!

Join the Sketchbook Project!

Some while ago Patsy found this link to the sketchbook project and put it on Facebook, and I am so glad she did!! Now I have my lovely red sketchbook, and am all ready to go!!! You can join the project too!
click here

A hidden treasure

OLEANA has their own shop in each Scandinavian capitol. I had never seen the shop on Gamla Stan in old Stockholm, which is also the home of the Royal Palace, so I set off to find it and take some pictures.  Nestled between shops and a cafe on Jarntorget, I probably walked past at least 4 times before I counted house numbers and then the sign jumped out at me.  The shop is small and very pretty--and very worth a visit!

Copenhagen style

Copenhagen women continue to embraced layering their clothes. Baggy pants seem to have replaced leggings.  These are worn under long tops, or dresses.  The pants often have interesting details, and no matter what, the look is tall, casual yet elegant on every body type.

One of my favourite places

Sometimes I am overwhelmed by the beauty that people create. One of my favourite place to wander is amongst the Alabama Chanin pages on Facebook where I randomly found this amazing image.  I just want to clip it out of the screen and put it somewhere where I will see it all the time!  It has such serene beauty.

Facebook also offers me another daily treat--Jessica Bell has pledged to post an image a day during her 33rd year.  The image is two joined images--"one look through each eye".  You can see them here 

Saturday on THE RISE.....

Saturday is the day where good friends, who work during the week, get to hang out together having lunch, going shopping, maybe taking in a movie......

I used to suggest Jules Bistro for lunch when URBANITY was in Gastown.  Now I suggest 'Salade de Fruits' which is the local French Bistro just down on 7th.

URBANITY celebrates 2 months 'on the rise' today!

One-of-a-kind linen dresses

I was at the NW Trendshow in Bellevue in March where I saw a few samples of unique dresses from Poland and coats from Sweden, so I bought a small selection of each.  After waiting more than 3 months, and almost forgetting that I had placed an order, the linen pieces arrived.  Shown is an appliqued dress made from three different linens.  This dress is made by Mara Gibbucci--each piece is unique.  You can visit her website at http://www.maragibbucci.com/

Perfect with this dress is the treasure chest necklace in shades of brown made by Connie Wright from Bowen Island.  Each necklace that Connie makes is totally unique, made up of beads and trinkets found from her travels to her grandma's button box.

Fashion at Granville and Broadway

10 models walked the cross walk at Granville and Broadway wearing clothes from URBANITY and neighbour Babs as part of our meet and revisit evening on June 29th.  It was a wonderful summer evening.  Thanks to all who came!

Party tonight!

You are invited to join URBANITY and my neighbour BABS as we have an evening of goodies, and fashion.

A colourful update

The shop in the new location continues to be beautifully busy.  I have been wanting to share these wonderful brooches with you (before they are all gone) made by Peruvian Vacide Erda Zimic.  And speaking of colour, the incredibly colourful Ozone socks I ordered back at the end of March finally arrived!  They were meant for the cool spring days, but it looks like summer might just have arrived in Vancouver!

A summer Wedding???

OLEANA skirts and tops make the perfect wedding dress, or any dress for the wedding party.  Made from silk tafetta, or silk damask, they are available in a multitude of colours and styles -- long A, short A, or pleated in three lengths.  The tops are all sleeveless.  You can mix and match, and use the belt to accent or change the look.  

URBANITY on Twitter

I am a newcomer to TWITTER (my username is 'myurbanity') so I spent some time this morning looking for people to add to my network.  I found this fabulous cookie company called "a couple of squares".  The cookies are wonderful pictures!

Fine cotton knits from Serbia

On this rainy Vancouver Tuesday, I received a small selection of soft cotton knits from IVKO!  I first saw these knits around 3 years ago, so I am thrilled to have this cotton collection, in a variety of sizes, in the store.  The quality of the cotton is amazing, and the colours are VERY colourful!  I have put a coat in the window that is made from embroidered linen and knitted cotton.  If you go my FACEBOOK page you can see an image of one of the three dresses.

Daydreams

The shop is closed today because it is Monday.  I have enjoyed my day wandering in my thoughts and in my neighbourhood.    I do love what I would call the 'craziness' of my 'hood -- it is full of opposites.  I enjoy juxtapositions and contradictions.  For this reason I got excited when Patsy posted the website of Danish designer Violise Lunn!  Violise makes shoes and dresses from paper.  Her shoes make feel amazingly happy and contented too, because they are such beautiful pieces of work.  Some years ago I saw an exhibition in Hove, England called Princess SuSu.  It was an exhibition of 'unwearables' that I often think about!   If you search, you may find more images from the Princess SuSu exhibition.

In the meantime, make sure you visit the exhibition of Vancouver 'real' shoe designers John Fluevog and Peter Fox at the MOV.

URBANITY is now open on Granville Street!!!

It has been such an exciting 4 days!  So many people coming into the shop, so many people passing by, telling their friends!!!  I am thrilled to be here in South Granville!!!    There has not been time to finish setting up, so we are bit of a work in progress, but it is ALL GOOD!!

Ready....set......

Today was the turning point at the new shop.  My friend Judy came to help again today and finally the paper was taken down from the window - at least for a while -  and when we left at 9pm I took a photograph from the outside.  Tomorrow the mannequins will get dressed, and the displays will be made.  If you are in the neighbourhood, please come in--!!  It will be great to see you!!!  Otherwise OPENING DAY is TUESDAY, May 11th at 11 am!

Opening May 1st???? Sorry.....we are delayed.....

I am really starting to get anxious...and excited about getting the store open.  It has been a huge job for my one man and an electrician.  BUT it is looking GREAT!
The Chandelier is in the window just waiting for the paper to come down so we can greet the world.
Although the shop is not ready I am happy to make an appointment with anybody who is needing something in particular.  It is best to send me an email - julia@urbanity.ca

OLEANA and PKK design Jewellery

Patsy recently did a photoshoot of her jewellery using models wearing OLEANA and other URBANITY items.  You can see more on Patsy's website and blog.

The new URBANITY is taking shape

I want to give you an update on the progression of URBANITY 'on the RISE'.  As you can see, we are not about to open in the next week!!!  We are waiting for the materials for doing the floor, coming from Dartmouth, N.S. -- that got delayed in Toronto!  When the floor has been finished the walls can be painted, and changing rooms made. In order to get open as soon as possible, no changes will be made to my display system, for now. I am growing really fond of the space, and getting to know the neighbourhood.  I think you are going to really enjoy the New URBANITY.

U R B A N I T Y is on the MOVE

After pioneering Abbott Street in Gastown for 5 1/2 years, URBANITY is moving away from the neighbourhood.  I left Denmark almost 6 years ago because this neighbourhood had won my heart, and I had decided to both live and start my shop here.  My fondness for my neighbourhood and all those who live here and start their business here has not diminished, so leaving has been an emotional struggle.  As I distance myself from it though, I think I am making a very positive move.  URBANITY will reopen towards the end of April at 2412 South Granville Street.  Phone number and email address will remain the same, and although I might not be taking calls, I will be checking emails.

Where Oleana blankets are made

There is no end of beautiful images on Lene's Blog from the small town of Roros, where Oleana blankets are made.  From the annual winter festival held in the third week of February to images of Roros' own blankets, akvavit, and rows of brightly coloured houses, they make your mouth water.  Scroll down past the Copenhagen Chocolate festival to where the Roros images begin.

The Danish Curling team's clothes

The Olympics are over, but curling has set the scene for fashion statements.

The Danish curling team wears short pleated skirts, tights, and leg warmers.   I wonder if they are from Sneaky Fox?

Norwegian Colours!

The Norwegian Curling team are wearing the flag on their pants! 

The 2010 Winter Olympic games have started!

The 2010 Olympic games have started in Vancouver.
You can support your team wearing a beautiful red and white alpaca cardigan from Oleana.  Go Canada!

New Textile Jewellery

I found the work of Peruvian Vacide Erda Zimic when I was in Toronto at Christmas.  She makes these amazing necklaces of wrapped bundels of fabric.  She also makes felt flowers from waste industrial felt.  The flowers come in the forms of brooches and rings.  We have a wonderful selection of colours and designs.  Yummy!!

Happy Birthday Ole Bull!

Today, February 5, 2010 is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Ole Bull!!!  The handsome violin virtuoso was born in Bergen, and has provided the inspiration for Oleana - the Norwegian Story.  He created a settlement for Norwegians in Pennsylvania that he called OLEANA -- Ole after his father and Ana after his mother.  It was Ole Bull's dreams that inspired Oleana - the Norwegian Story.  Click here to read more about Ole Bull and his music.

OLEANA blankets

I found these images on a blog. 

They are from a Swedish magazine.

'W' returns!

The Woodwards 'W' is once again rising high inviting everybody to come down to Gastown!!  The population of the Woodwards project seems to mean that more people are walking around and discovering the neighbourhood.  Its GREAT!

It's 2010...and the Olympics are coming!!

The Winter Olympic Games are coming to Vancouver and we are going to see lots of SCARVES!  Here is a picture of Anna who lives in Copenhagen.  She is wearing a scarf Copenhagen style!  Lots of scarf make great summer and winter accessories.  And URBANITY has lots of SCARVES!