Dreaming of a White Christmas

Posted on December 19, 2017March 13, 2018 by Melissa Harrison

I once read that we imagine Christmas as snowy thanks to Charles Dickens. All of his Christmas stories feature a cold, snowy Christmas season, even though the holiday is only a few days into winter – and rarely sees more than a slight dusting of snow in reality. Scholars think this is because Dickens’ childhood took place during an unusually cold decade and he grew up seeing more Christmases with a heavy blanket of snow than not.

When I first learned this fact, it remind me of my own childhood, growing up in the snow belt of Southern Ontario. It was normal for us to get a few big snow storms in November, I even remember having snow ball fights with my brother on his birthday at the end of October, and have that snow stick around and build through March and sometimes into April. My mom had a running joke about dreaming of a green Christmas and I remember wondering what that would be like, since I had only known white Christmases. As a teenager, the snow seemed lighter, but it was still always there. Then I moved to where I live now in the Niagara Region microclimate where most Christmases are brown and a snowfall before January is highly unusual. Sure driving is safer and there’s no shovelling to do, but I find myself missing the snow very much at Christmastime. There is just something so magical about a soft, fresh, downy blanket of snow covering the houses with colourful Christmas light glowing from underneath and the way the city seems so quiet and still before people have left their warm homes and covered the snow in footprints.

That’s why I was so excited when we got a big snow storm last week! It’s nearly all melted away now, but I made sure to get out and enjoy as much of it as I could while it was here, starting with grabbing my camera and heading out the morning after the storm to capture the city all done up for Christmas.

All photos by me.

Lots of Time to Get it Right

Posted on December 12, 2017March 13, 2018 by Melissa Harrison

Now that the puppy is getting older, more mature and more laid back, I feel like I have a lot more time, or energy, – somehow more than I had before – to explore my creativity. I’ve been setting goals for myself lately to not just use this extra energy to explore and practice my photography hobby, but to also have more fun with it. Sometimes the more structured and planned out photo sessions, like this one, can be really stressful. I tend to put a lot of pressure on myself to be perfect and get the right shots before the sun goes down, I get too cold, I get too frustrated and lose confidence in myself, etc., and it can really take the fun out of it.

I’ve caught myself saying the title of this post to myself and those around me nearly every time I pull my camera out. I’m encouraging myself to take it slow, take a chance, and not worry about getting something worth sharing with anyone. Just doing it for me. Strangely, I feel like this push to be creative, more than striving to be good, is inspiring me to grow as an artist, even after a lifetime of exploring this hobby.

Dress Larmoni
Coat Old Navy
Scarf H&M
Tights ModCloth
Shoes ModCloth
Mittens Roots
Button Sparkle Collective

Photos by me and Matt Harrison.

The Gamble

Posted on March 16, 2017March 15, 2017 by Melissa Harrison

The Gamble | Sophster-Toaster Blog

I would never have picked this coat for myself. I purchased it as one of ModCloth’s Stylish Surpirses a year or two ago – so I didn’t know what I was buying until it arrived at my door. If I remember correctly, it was offered as a surprise from the outerwear category. I figured, no matter what I get, $15 is an amazing price for outerwear; and hey, I might get lucky and get a warm winter coat.

When the package came, I was excited by the weight of the box – it had to be a coat or boots. When I opened it, however, I was crushed. I hated it. The towel-y texture of the coat, the obnoxious gold buttons and the tacky faux fur trim just weren’t my thing. Figuring, by the look and feel of it, the coat had to, at least, be warm, I tried it on. My mind was immediately changed. Putting this coat on felt like stepping out of a warm bath and into a heated bathrobe. I coyly approached the mirror to see how it looked. I looked like an aging Hollywood star from the golden age, now playing the villain instead of ingenue. I felt like Bette Davis. I loved it!

This is now one of my favourite coats. It’s so warm and cozy that I can only wear it on really cold and stormy days like this. I was actually disappointed during this past mild winter because I had to wear my lighter and less glamorous winter coat nearly everyday.

The Gamble | Sophster-Toaster Blog

Coat ModCloth
Pants ModCloth
Headband Plexida
Sunglasses The Bay
Earrings Designs by Amber
Scarf gift
Mittens Roots
Socks Roots
Boots Bakers

Portraits by Matt Harrison, other photo by me.

How To Care for Knits

Posted on January 20, 2017January 25, 2017 by Melissa Harrison

I went thrift shopping for second hand sweaters recently and was somewhat shocked to see just how poorly people were taking care of their knits. Many sweaters, no more than decade old, were falling apart while those made of similar materials from 20 and 30 years ago were holding up just fine. I had to turn down several cute sweaters that had clearly been washed and even dried (gasp) with the regular laundry and then hung up in the closet. These sweaters with pilled, stretched and distorted to within an inch of their lives. Luckily, I still found plenty of well cared for pieces to choose from.

I wasn’t always a good knit respecting person. When I was a teenager I threw my knits into the regular wash without thinking, but I always pulled them out to dry, sometimes flat, sometimes on the clothesline – though I’m sure my brother just tossed them in the dryer when he was on laundry duty. I only started folding my sweaters instead of hanging them a few months ago when I realized it was the best way to avoid stretched out sleeves and shoulder dents. Here’s what I’ve learned since coming to respect the wool, cotton and acrylic yarn of my sweaters, knee socks and knit tights.

How To Wash Knits

Sort your knits like you would your other laundry, into at least two different washes: lights and darks. This is especially important with knits as your lighter coloured items will pick up fuzz and pill in the darker colours with age.
Use a laundry detergent compatible with knits/delicates, I use Woolite for everything.
Wash on a gentle or wool setting (I wash my knits with my dresses and other delicates) with a low spin so your wool doesn’t get stretched.
Remove promptly before weird creases can set in.
Dry flat no matter what the care label says! Never hang a knit to dry. (I use a clotheshorse drying rack with a flat top.)

How To Store Knits

Once dry, fold up your knits and store them in a drawer or on a closet shelf with good air circulation. You can hang chalk in your closet to decrease humidity or cedar chips to help prevent moths.

Knits will take a little bit of damage every time you wash them, so try to wear them a few times before tossing them in the laundry basket. Follow these steps and your knits will look new for years!

Top H&M
Cardigan ModCloth
Skirt Sophster-Toaster
Tights Shopper’s Drug Mart
Shoes ModCloth
Necklace Craft Arts Market / Sweetheart Jewelry Box

All photos by me.