Category Archives: Sophster-Toaster Brand

River Mermaid

Posted on May 8, 2018August 23, 2020 by Melissa Harrison

I love living where I do in the Niagara Region of Canada. I’ve always loved being near water and I’m so happy to live so much closer to the great lakes than where I grew up. When I was a kid, I would see them every couple of weekends in the summer, now I could go see Lake Ontario whenever I want. I also love that I live two blocks and a short hike down a small ravine from a stretch of water that was originally a small creek, historically a shipping canal, and now a large river flowing into a small delta before meeting Lake Ontario.

This creek is one of my favourite places in the whole city to visit because it offers so many different types of water eco-systems. Like most of the waterways currently cutting through the city, it’s a remnant of the city’s industrial legacy, so the point where I always begin my explorations is an old, decayed and long forgotten lock from when the creek was dug out and transformed into a now-obsolete portion of the Second Welland Canal in 1841 . The water here is deep, cold and thunderous with dangerous, quick moving rapids but if you walk a little further down, the water widens and slows into a calm looking river that nature has almost fully reclaimed from it’s significant nautical past. As a result of the river’s past life as a canal, the area is littered with small reservoirs and spillways for the operation of the canal that have now become little ponds, teeming with fish, frogs, ducks, geese, turtles and beavers. If you know where to look, you can even find the small stream that used to be the First Welland Canal! As you hike up the incline of the old towpath, now converted to a walking path, you get a spectacular view of the delta wetlands that this river gracefully transitions into before flowing to Lake Ontario.

The whole hike takes about an hour from bottom to top and back again. Since it’s in the middle of the city, the path comes out into a light commercial area with a Starbucks about a block away. Pepper, the husband and I love walking the trail on sunny Saturday mornings and stopping in for a tea, coffee and puppuccino before heading back home.

Top Sophster-Toaster
Sweater ModCloth
Shorts ModCloth
Socks McGregor Socks
Shoes Keds
Earrings street vendor in Panama
Necklace gift

Photos by me and Matt Harrison.

T-shirt Weather

Posted on April 24, 2018April 23, 2018 by Melissa Harrison

It finally feels like spring is here in Canada. There’s a still a bit of snow kicking around in the shadows, but it looks like we’ve seen the last of the under 5°C days. After a very long and drawn-out winter, it seems like we’re jumping right into late spring/early summer. It’s officially safe to put our boots and shovels away and pull out the sundresses and lawn chairs. It’s perfect timing, since my first t-shirts of the spring/summer season are just coming out and my first market of the season is this weekend!

I’m so excited about my first new screen print shirts of the year! I hooked up with an amazing North American made t-shirt brand for my nostalgic, double binding ringer tee and paired it with classic Cooper Black for a fun vintage vibe. I used a really neat UV ink that looks nearly invisible indoors but shows up the second you walk out into the sunshine! I had so much fun wearing this shirt around and seeing how the ink responded. I’m also planning to make a regular ink version in the same golden yellow colour for a lower price-point tee for anyone who likes the print so much, they want it to show all the time.

T-shirt Sophster-Toaster
Jeans ModCloth
Socks ModCloth
Shoes Keds
Earrings Nicole Gagnon / Craft Arts Market
Sunglasses The Bay

All photos by me.

Come shop my tees in person, this weekend, at the Etsy: Made in Canada: Niagara Spring Market!

Girl’s Best Friend Skirt Remix

Posted on April 12, 2018April 12, 2018 by Melissa Harrison

I’ve loved this skirt since I first made it a couple of years ago. The fabric is so light, the print is so cheerful and the colour is so perfect for spring! I love having this design in my booth at local markets because people’s reactions to it are always so joyful and genuine. They’re drawn to the colour and cut but then they look at it closely and see little corgis tied to colourful balloons and they just melt into a puddle of delighted squeals.

Last time I shot this skirt, I styled it for a typical dreary spring day. Today, I remixed it for one of those fabled warm and sunny spring days we have yet to experience here this year and asked my best friend to join me and show off some of her newest tricks!

Skirt Sophster-Toaster
Top H&M
Shoes ModCloth
Earrings Claire’s
Necklace & Ring gift
Pepper’s Bandana Sophster-Toaster

Photos by me and Matt Harrison.

New Vegetarianism vs Old Leather Shoes

Posted on April 10, 2018April 9, 2018 by Melissa Harrison

My one year anniversary with pescetarianism is coming up next month. I feel like I’ve really gotten the hang of what I can and can’t eat, how to order at restaurants, how to get the right ratio of macronutrients, and how to spot the sneaky sources of animal products over the past few months. I’ve been trying to extend my vegetarian values to all areas of my life, including what I wear and how I shop.

When I first committed to going pescetarian, I was very aware that I was turning down hamburgers, bacon and jello while sitting in leather sandals. I had to take some time and seriously consider how I felt about this hypocrisy. I ultimately decided that I would try my very best to avoid buying new items made with leather, or any product the required the slaughter of an animal, in the future but that I would continue wearing the pieces I already owned until they were worn out. It felt a little selfish, deciding to keep my favourite sandals, but I thought it felt more disrespectful to the animal to throw them away before their time, or donate them and have someone else do the same. My thoughts and feelings may change in the future but, for now, this is what I can live with.

Top H&M
Skirt Sophster-Toaster
Shoes thrifted
Necklace Emery & Opal / Craft Arts Market
Barrette Oh Hello Bug / Got it Made

All photos by me.