All Dressed!

Our latest contribution to the Mardi Bras silent auction arrived this weekend from Arlen of All Dressed couture!

It's a gorgeous scarf , hand made, using a silk blend velvet lined with 100% silk charmeuse and chiffon. She does the burn out pattern herself by hand and as always, her work is absolutely flawless.

All Dressed is Arlen's own label. She is an accomplished couture with an education in historical costume and can handle any kind of special request. Arlen has created everything from original costumes for bands, film, television, tiny puppets, enormous mascots and replicas for those of us with a taste for authentic Halloween costumes. She also handles custom fit corsetry, bridal and evening wear.

Arlen is one of our very talented bra-artisans and I can't wait to see what she comes up with.

Thank you so much Arlen of All Dressed!

Body Blitz!

We have a fabulous new sponsor to add to Mardi Bras!

Body Blitz Water Spa has generously contributed a gift certificate to a day in their therapeutic waters!

Health by water" is the very well chosen theme for this magnificent treatment center. Putting a modern twist on ancient restorative water practices, Body Blitz features a warm dead sea salts pool, cold plunge pool, hot green tea pool, steam & infrared sauna, body scrubs, body bakes, and 3 different kinds of massage!

They have the most delightful staff, organic juice bar and a to-die-for product line that is free of dyes, animal by-products, contain no artificial fragrance, are not tested on animals and are 100% Canadian made! (I couldn't leave without the mint-lime body lotion.)

It's a relaxing, warm and wonderful, but also very healthful. Each treatment is designed to aid in de-toxing and enriching the body as part of a healthy lifestyle.

"By removing and eliminating toxins, then feeding your body with healthy nutrients, you can help protect yourself from disease and infection and renew your ability to maintain optimum health. While detoxification and replenishing are a great starting point, it is just part of the process of helping our bodies maintain good health. It is important to eat well, exercise on a regular basis, drink plenty of fluids, rest, laugh and of course enjoy life.
relax ~ detoxify ~ replenish ~ live well"

Thank you so much Body Blitz!

Keeping Clean!

We received another terrific contribution to the Mardi Bras silent auction today!

Rebecca Young of Enjo Canada, who was also a major supporter of our efforts last year, has donated an Enjo Bathroom Set!

For anyone unfamiliar with Enjo, they've created a micro-fibre, chemical-free, cleaning system that is really fantastic. No more harmful chemicals in the house or flushed into the water tables, a much safer and healthier way to care for your home and family.

I've been using them exclusively for almost a year now and really prefer them. They do a great job and once you get used to it, you'll never go back to smelly, expensive cleaners.
Check out Enjo at the website or drop Rebecca an email (ryoung@enjo-canada.com ) and set up an Enjo demonstration!

Thanks so much Rebecca and Enjo!

Pizza and Udon - Do those go together?

Pizza Rustica on Wellington St in Toronto, has very generously offered to sponsor our food for the Mardi Bras Party!

Voted Best Pizza In Toronto and regularly visited by celebrities, Pizza Rustica is an altogether unique and wonderful trattoria. (seriously, if you haven't been there yet, stop whatever you're doing and go right now.) Their menu includes the most delicious salads, I had the Fragola salad last time I was there, with the Mediterranean pizza. (Yum!) Their staff are delightful, the decor is charming and the prices are really reasonable.

Thank you so much Pizza Rustica!

We received some really fun stuff from Udon Entertainment this week, for door prizes and to add to the silent auction. Comics, prints, a really nice, hard cover edition of Street Fighter - Eternal Challenge, but I think my favourite prize in the box is a set of the annual company sketchbooks! These are great little booklets full of original artwork by the amazing talent of Udon Entertainment. You can check out their work on the Udon home page or on deviant art.

Udon is a Toronto based creative services company that handles some surprisingly big titles. Perhaps most known for their work with Capcom on the Street Fighter series, they've also been involved with DC and Marvel comics, Alliance Atlantis, Hasbro, Atari and Nintendo, just to name a few.

Thanks so much Udon!

These wonderful little guys came to us from Banjo Puppets! Banjo Puppets is another up-and -coming Toronto based business specializing in fabulous hand-crafted puppets that have been featured on television, in music videos, live stage and festivals.

Thanks so much Banjo Puppets!

The First Mardi Bra!!

We received the first TWO artisan bras for the Mardi Bras fashion show today along with a really cool contribution to the silent auction by Jennifer of the Paper People Clothing co!
We're not going to post photos of the Mardi-Bras she made, we're going to keep those top secret for all you wonderful people who attend the show to see for the very first time on our glamorous models!

We will tell you a bit now about the sweet nickers Jennifer made for the auction! Jennifer is a very gifted, up-and-coming, Toronto designer, who hand-made these super-soft and stretchy panties. (they look really comfy and darn cute!) The really cool part is that she hand made each and every sequin from recycled pop cans! Score one for the planet!

To check out more of Jennifer's work visit the Paper People Clothing co. online or check out one of the retailers carrying Paper People couture!

Hand made every single sequin from pop cans!!

I'm not a photographer, so my photos really don't do these justice, but you can check out similar sets that Jennifer made for The Toronto Wildlife: Sustainability Fashion Show (here)

Thanks Jennifer! Awesome work!

Admission and Grand Prize Raffle!!

Mardi Bras tickets are now available!!

Admission tickets are $20 and include the Artisan Bra Show, and reception plus a ticket to our GRAND PRIZE RAFFLE!

Raffle Tickets can also be purchased separately - $10 each or 3 for $20

You could be the lucky winner of :

An evening of cultural enlightenment including Tickets to a 2008 performance of the Tapestry Opera Company

OR

A brand-new, never been opened copy of Guitar Hero 3 for Wii

We do have more prizes to confirm, and they will be announced here, so check in often and send your friends!

All proceeds from Mardi Bras and the Raffle benefit The Princess Margaret Hospital Weekend to End Breast Cancer 2008!

To purchase tickets to Mardi Bras and the Raffle, or to make a donation for a tax receipt, please comment to this blog or contact Julie (jrfaulkner10@gmail.com) or Carolyn (carolyn.elston@gmail.com).

Getting Sorted Out

Ok, anyone who's not new to our lists will already know, we hit a wee snag with the initial planning, but we're back on track for the party! So make sure to correct all of your calendars:

Mardi Bras is officially on,

Saturday June the 7th, 2008

7pm-1am

Bra show starts at 8:30

250 Wellington St W

Toronto

Tickets are $20 - Buy in advance or at the door!

Dress is Formal

All are welcome! This is a benefit so please, spread the word! We have a ton of fun things planned. There will be music, raffles, snacks, a cash bar, silent auction, door prizes and for the main event, (da da-daaa!!!) At 8:30 our glamorous models will take to the runway in a dazzling fashion show of the most unique and original bras created by elite artisans from all over Canada! These fabulous creations will added to the silent auction so you'll have an opportunity to take home an original, hand crafted piece of artwork to add to your collections!

All proceeds from Mardi Bras go to the Toronto Weekend To End Breast Cancer, benefiting Princess Margaret Hospital and The Campbell Family Institute.

If you'd like to become one of our artisans or models, please drop me a line, jrfaulkner10@gmail.com or comment to this blog and we'll get back to you with the specs. All of your work is welcome and appreciated.

If you have a product you like to donate to our silent auction or door prizes, please contact Carolyn, carolyn.elston@gmail.com or comment to this blog and we'll get back to you. We can't provide tax receipts for gifts, but we can provide proper participant letters for you to use at tax time and we'd be delighted to add you to our links and credited list of sponsors (see blog sidebar for current generous sponsors!) All gifts are welcome and appreciated!

If you'd just like to come to the party for a good time, you will not be disappointed!

If you're not up for a party, please consider making a donation to the walk. With your generous support the WEBC raised a record 17.3 million dollars last year, providing research, support services and a path to an eventual cure. Pledges can be made at the secure online sights:

Julie - Here

Carolyn - Here

Sandy - Here

(The links are also on the sidebar)

If you're not comfortable pledging online, but would like to help, please comment to the blog or email us and we'll make arrangements for post or pick up.

Thanks to everyone who is already donating your time, artwork, gifts and pledges! I sincerely believe we can see a cure for cancer in our lifetime, and by taking part in this very worthwhile event, we're all becoming a part of a much needed solution!