Hi, I'm Trish Papadakos.

Berlin: new friends (post 6 of 6)

Berlin: Typography & Signage (post 1 of 6)

Here are a few of my favourite examples spotted during my explorations last week…

{ More photos here }

What I’ve been listening to this month…

Bits of spring 

A few early signs captured lately… 

Growing up as a child in Greece, my mom remembers Easter as the time that her and her siblings would receive new shoes. She upheld the tradition while my sister and I were young. Even though my feet are no longer growing as an adult, there’s still something special about new spring shoes. 

Jars of Sunshine

Late last summer I took part (for the first time) in the peach canning tradition at Two Century Farm; Alan’s family’s 223-year-old fruit farm at the foot of the Niagara Escarpment. I wrote about the experience and shared some photos that appear in the current volume of Kinfolk Magazine, volume three.

Here are some outtakes, and some serving suggestions adapted from Gran’s favourites:

How to serve canned peaches 

Morning 

Sliced on top of cereal or yogurt, or—when you have a little bit more time—with pancakes or a fresh–out-of-the-oven crumble. 

Afternoon 

Swimming in their preserve juice with a splash of milk or rich cream (a peach’s best friend) and a sprinkle of cinnamon or brown sugar. 

Evening 

In a salad with some stinky cheese (if you like that sort of thing).  

Soaked in vanilla syrup, and topped with toasted crushed almonds (or toasted coconut, if you’re really missing summer).  

For extra-celebratory evenings, chopped up in a glass of bubbly with fresh orange juice.  

And of course, when you’re not looking to warm up, slices served on vanilla ice cream may very well be the perfect dish (grandchildren-approved).   

There’s a point when birthdays/getting older becomes less fun, but turning two is pretty darn exciting. This is my beloved nephew, giving me his best smile.

What I’ve been listening to this month…

via Shiro to Kuro

What I’ve been listening to this month…

Bringing some spring indoors, as the temperature drops in snow-covered Toronto.

Radiant Dark — The Devil is the Details

It was a pleasure to collaborate with a pair of my favourite Canadian business owners, and designers, on their upcoming show in Toronto. MADE has curated a collection of new Canadian design works for their annual exhibition, and the catalogue above (designed by yours truly) prepares you for what you can look forward to seeing at the show.

859 Dundas Street West | January 26 to 29th, noon-6 pm daily

First mix of the year!

2011. A year in review.

The year before last involved so many new changes (the biggest being the move from London, UK, back to Toronto after two years), that it made this year feel a little less exciting or eventful. Until I reflected more deeply…

• Alan and I reconnected with Toronto, and felt a strong sense of home again.
• Celebrated my 7th anniversary, with my one and only.
• I finally (after deliberating for nearly two years) invested in a digital SLR camera, and made some progress in learning how to actually use it.
• I started documenting my days through photographs halfway through the year, using Instagram, and haven’t stopped.
• Before hitting the milestone of turning 30, I hit another: getting engaged to the love of my life.
• I shifted gears to a more creative and fruitful business opportunity, than the one I was previously focused on.
• Cooking and baking provided another outlet to be creative and “make things”. I learned a lot in that capacity this year.
• We traveled back to London for the first time since leaving our home there, and I surprised myself by not crying. I only smiled.
• A second trip back to Barcelona reminded me of why I loved it so much the first time.
• A quick jaunt to Milan made me less enthused to return, but satisfied a long-held curiosity.
• Time in Greece this year allowed me to reunite with friends and family that I hadn’t seen in many, many years.
• I spent quality time — every day — with the person I love most.

Some hopes for 2012:

• Overcome a childhood fear I’ve avoided challenging or working on until now.
• Focus on my own creative projects, taking time to follow my heart, and listen to my own voice.
• Take my culinary enthusiasm to new heights, by continuing to gain more confidence in my kitchen.
• Become better acquainted with my camera.
• Do more reading.
• Begin wedding planning (in earnest) halfway or so through the year.
• Plan an epic summer trip.
• Spend quality time with my best friend and partner, on a regular basis.

Happy 2012! May it be better than you could hope for.

Christmas came early, thanks to a special friend visiting from Switzerland, and hand-delivering the tastiest gift!

A little something to listen to while roasting chestnuts, sipping hot cocoa, and wrapping gifts this month…