Happy happy March- almost spring here in TO!!!

You can feel the anticipation all around the city- even though it has been the mildest winter we are all ready for a hit of warmth and green- ready to put away our winter coats and crack into some cute spring outfits!!!! February flew by! It was a fun month. I had a birthday flower bonanza moment as I do every year- filled the house with flowers and spent days (weeks!) admiring these beauties!!

Cut hellebore was a revelation this year!

I also couldn't resist the lilac- even though I have some lilac trees that will bloom in May it was so nice to have a little early preview!!!

Another highlight of Feb was that Ana, KAD's incredible studio manager (and occasional super-model!) and I went out for Kate Austin Designs Staff Appreciation Lunar New Year High Tea at Holt's cafe on Bloor St west here in the city. They have this very cute menu for a month or so to celebrate the lunar new year with delicious and lucky treats.

Have I mentioned that High Tea (aka Afternoon Tea aka Cream tea) is one of my all time favourite meals? I got hooked because of Eloise, the classic children's book about a precocious 6 yr old who lives in the Plaza Hotel in NYC -she's a bit of an afternoon tea regular.

I just love the attention to detail in a high tea menu and all the flavours plus of course a delicious pot of hot tea. One of my fave spots in the city that serves year-round is the Shangri-la hotel- the food is delicious, the vibe is chill and it's a pretty fun scene.

To be honest though I am equally happy with a strong cup of black tea and a piece of homemade cake- we had a memorable afternoon tea moment in Dorcester Abbey after a gorgeous walk up the Wittenham Clumps (cant get enough of british geologic designations) a couple of years ago.

This is the view from one of my fave tea spots -- where I had many delicious afternoon teas with my grandmother in her garden:

and here at home in my own garden too is pretty sweet (this pic features the lovely and fabulous Ana too!!)

Should this month be called Tea with Kate??

Anyways other March musings... I'm still working away on my mural and it is definitely coming along!!! The snakes got a new coat on and there's a butterfly in the mix now :) Here's a little update for you!!!

And of course the universe always seems to pick up on themes-- so I recently learned that my design has been chosen for a mural in Toronto as well! On King St east... I'll keep you posted when I know the dates of the launch, and then we'll do a reveal of the design for that as well!!! Very fun!!

In other news, February has been a busy design month and I've LOTS of new prints and styles in the works. Here's a sneak peek of KAD's latest quilted jacket, Camille, in muslin- I love it so much-- and I even love it in this natural white-- I'm quite tempted to do a white on white print for this one!!! We shall seeee!!!!

Camille is named for the sculptor Camille Claudel. I first saw her work many years ago in Paris and I'm excited to go back next week and visit her pieces encore! If you have any fave places in Paris I need to visit- please tell me!! I'm excited to have a good chunk of time in the belle ville this spring and I'm always looking for suggestions and tips!!!

Time to get back to the drawing board- thanks for having a coffee (or Tea!!!) with me-- here's me on my birthday this year LOVING the sunshine - it was (scarily) the sunniest and warmest Toronto Birthday I've had so far in all my 52 years!!!

I hope you had a WONDERFUL February and you've got lots of great stuff lined up for March as well.