November 21, 2012
Farm Heaven, ON

I have escaped the big city for some country air. It was seriously necessary, and quite overdue.  I can feel the life force creeping back into me at last... molecule by molecule, breath by breath. It lives! I'm all curled up by the wood stove, coffee cup and laptop, with a fine view of the bird tree through the old farmhouse window. We've had many feathered friends come to visit today, and I'm getting to know them all by name. Two beautiful blue jays abound, one hairy woodpecker, a black-capped chickadee couple (who sing my favourite song...) and our newest little amigo, the handsome dark-eyed junco.

Not to mention the red-tailed hawk I found out in the back field. Well, first I found the wing. Then the other wing. Then the talon. Then the head. Something mysterious happened in those woods, I reckon. And I am putting the pieces together... Last time I visited Farm Heaven the hawk gave me the gift of a tail feather. I have honoured it ever since. This time the gift was more significant. Captain Dirt hauled out the bucket and is now preparing the remains for display in her illuminated bone case. But I claimed the talon as my own. Besides its pointy prowess at putting my guitar nails to shame, I could not help but notice that it formed a perfect flamenco hand.

It was a beautiful drive up from Toronto on the weekend. The stark palate of winter field and sky was magic through my rose-coloured glasses. I forgot how much I love this time of year. It was a celebratory voyage for Ladyship the Van and I, as she just turned 22,222 kms on her one year anniversary of being mine! It's a magical life. We had a fabulous time together and listened to my Amelia Peabody mystery audio books all the way... As always, I am brushing up on my detectival skills for practical purposes. For there may be a mystery waiting just around the corner, dying to be to be solved.

However, I haven't solved too many cases yet this trip -perhaps one or two- as I've been focusing primarily on the revivification of my person. This called for a hearty batch of magical warty pumpkin soup, the cure for everything that has ever ailed me! I have been caring for said magical warty pumpkin ever since I adopted her at the St. Lawrence Farmers Market a month ago. She was the mascot for our Halloween Masquerade show and shall live forever in memory, if not in photographs. She was delicious.

Beyond culinary creations, the agenda for my country convalescence reads as such:

- Take leisurely walk through crisp sunny woods
- Listen to classical music while sipping cranberry toddies (feel rather pleased with yourself)
- Practice guitar
- Set up photo studio for Captain Dirt & The Skirt photo shoot tomorrow night!

I think I can handle it.

And speaking of photos, and detectives, I have just begun my newest Adventures in Sweetland photo series "Sherlock Sweetland." (Obviously.) Thus far the camera has caught me at the scene of the crime, and in transit to my secret agent Russian power plant meeting, or about to get beamed up by a spaceship. You decide. Even more mysteries coming soon...

Scene of the crime. More Sherlock Sweetland here. 

This letter may self-destruct, or not.

xo

La Sweet

November 7, 2012
Toronto, ON

It's been quite a month. One for the books, really. It's my first morning at home alone in as long as I can remember, with nothing to do but drink my delicious black coffee, and tell you all my secrets. And so it shall be done...

I had crazy dreams last night. Fell asleep half-reading my new Nancy Drew book, and half-gazing out the window at the church across the street. Somebody left the lights on in the bell tower again. I like to make up stories in my head about what they may have been doing up there. As I certainly didn't hear any bells ringing. I did get to climb up the tower once before. They even let me ring said bell! And really, there's not too much up there besides a ladder and a rope. Then my brain goes all Hitchcock on me, and I realize I've been watching too many movies. 

Yesterday I took myself to see Hitchcock's Dial M for Murder in 3D at the Bell Lightbox. It was officially better than no Hitchcock 3D! And popcorn makes a delicious lunch. It was the first of three exciting dates I'm taking myself on this week to celebrate all my recent victories. Tomorrow night I head to the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts to behold My Name Is Not Carmen, a fusion of flamenco, poetry, and philosophical discourse. (They've got my number.) And on Saturday I go to the Royal Winter Fair! It's one of my favourite events of the year. I get unreasonably excited about the giant vegetables. Not to mention, the cowboys. Will be going to see the Canine-Equine challenge on Saturday afternoon for sure. Because, as we all know, I'm a bit of a dog nerd.

And speaking of my recent victories, many thanks to all of you who came out to A Halloween Masquerade Cabaret, and helped make it a massive success! It really was the best party I've been to in ages. If I do say so myself. Amazing photographer Sean Ryan managed to capture some of the evening's magic... You can peek at his photo gallery from the event here.

And in other news, all has been going well with the new album. We get a bit closer every day! Had the dashing Mr. Gary Craig in to rock some more drums for us, and Ken Whiteley -brilliant instrumentalist/producer of my first two albums- came in for some mandolin, banjo, accordion, and bass harmonica. It's gonna be badass. The tracks sound so beautiful, and we can't wait to share them with you all.

Between now and the holidays our work is to get the new Captain Dirt & The Skirt website up and running, then start in on the album artwork! Soooo exciting. I do love me some costumes. And a camera. More on that front soon...

In the meantime, feast your fabulous eyeholes on all the latest photos from my eternal Adventures in Sweetland here.

Love,


xo
KS

Sweet secrets ... More here.

October 10, 2012
Toronto, ON

Mes Amis,

My goodness has it ever been an adventurous few weeks - and so busy! I have lots and lots to tell, but sadly not enough time to tell it... Soon, I promise. Today was another glorious day in the studio with my dear Captain, Lyndell Montgomery, in the name of the glory of our new Captain Dirt & The Skirt album. The tracks are sounding SO beautiful, and we can't wait to share them with you soon.

Tomorrow we rock out once more in the stude with brilliant drummer Gary Craig. Then it's off to the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals Conference in Mississauga where I'll be hositng A Sweet Soirée showcase on Friday and Saturday nights. If you're heading to OCFF, see you in room 211!

Till then... Je t'aime.

xo
La Sweet

September 4, 2012
Toronto, ON

Good morning glorious world! And happy back to school day... It's quite impressive that I appear to be so spunky on this thunder-rumbly morning, as it was quite a late one last night. Seriously. Spent the better part of the evening at beautiful Loft 404 for the Labour Day Underground Art Party! My gorgeous friend Andrea Ramolo put on a bit of a shindig for her birthday, and was it ever an incredible thing. Got to play a sweet set swapping songs with the magnificent Melanie Brulée, and then chilled in the aftermath to the sounds of Sarah Burton, Faye Blais, Scarlett Jane, and Picture the Ocean... Not to mention all the amazing visual artists, burlesque dancers, and other sultry in sundry!

It's sad that it is over, but I'm so happy to announce that I'll be hosting the next big Art Party at Loft 404 on Saturday, October 27th, in honour of Halloween! This time, it's a Masquerade Cabaret. Lineup includes Captain Dirt & The Skirt (of course), The DoneFors, Jaron Freeman-Fox and the Opposite of Everything, the lovely Melanie Brulée with her amazing band, and my magical musical road sister... the one and only Darlene! And there will also be burlesque performances by Loretta Jean and Bella Fox from Nerd Girl Burlesque, as well as additional dance performances by ShoPony, The Skirt & Her Ladies (that`s me) and more! Hope you will all put it in your calendars now, and come be a part of the dream!

Hope to see you there...

As for this month, I shall be celebrating September by going back to school in my own way. I have a couple more weeks of intense study and rehearsal, then it's back in the studio to finish up the new  Captain Dirt & The Skirt  album. Wooooohooo! As well, classes start up for me again this week at the Academy of Spanish Dance. And I have a gorgeous new red flamenco skirt to go along... Photos to follow shortly. To be sure.

Today my grand Herculean goals include: civilized breakfasting, then a jean shopping mission with dear pal, tall handsome Irishman -and brilliant songwriter- Andy White. Who desperately needs a pair of man-jeans worthy of his glory... and is currently still totally passed out on my couch after last night's exploits. If only I could sleep so soundly! With the streetcars roaring, sirens wailing, thunder rumbling, and the clickety-clack of  Sweetlandish nails on the keyboard, it is not a quiet morning in the neighbourhood. However, it's officially time to peel myself off my polka-dot bed and make manifest my fantasy of cheesy eggs. Let's see him sleep though the sniff of softly sauteing onions and cheese... I dare him.

Fromage,

xo

K

August 19, 2012
Sweetland, ON

Gentle readers,

Now that I'm back in the blogosphere at last, you shall not be able to get rid of me. Today, I'm taking a load off at the Sweetland family ranch, after an epic excavation down in the basement. An incredibly successful excavation it was, enough to make Indiana Jones and Sydney Fox proud! Up to the point where a framed photograph I took at the Burning Man Festival thirteen years ago, fell from the top of a cardboard box tower right onto my toe ... Ouchy.

However, it did not diminish the joy I felt upon finding everything I had been searching for! Missing photographs from the early days of my self-portrait series, old journals, and a pair of pink sparkly running shoe roller skates. The purpose of retrieving said articles -sparkly roller skates excepted- is for the glory of my new "Adventures in Sweetland" book of  photography and magical road stories! In moments like this, I am deeply grateful I have been a record-keeper all my life. Right now I'm focusing on researching myself during the early days of my portrait series, and endeavouring to determine at what moment I evolved from "photographer" into "self-portraiteuse." Although I discovered two very early photographs of "my feet and the scenery" -One in 1994, atop a mountain in Idaho, and one in 1996, enjoying the midnight summer solstice sun in Arctic Norway- I reckon the "first self-portrait ever" award goes to me in a red dress on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, October 1996.

I remember it well... More old self-portraits here!

So now that the Captain Dirt & The Skirt new album project is well under way (and almost appears to be recording itself...) I have some creative time and space to finish putting the book together, hopefully in time for Santa! It's a plan. And I will definitely keep you posted.


Besides the aforesaid excavations, I spent much of the weekend with Ursa the family beast. We like to go out and wander gaiely through the sun-speckled woods of my youth. We venture down under the bridge, along the river, through the forest, and all the way to the secret clearing behind the old Sanatorium. This route has been a tradition with me, and every Sweetland family beast in history. A long winding path lined with wild carrots, creeping jenny, and stinging nettle opens up into a old willow grove... There, in the middle, stands a prehistoric basketball court that has been completely reclaimed by nature. This is where we sit, and I throw the little dog ball, over, and over, and over again...

Ursa and I in the secret clearing... More new photos here!

It's quite the forgotten world down there, and at times I've wondered if I'm actually the only one who can see it. But yesterday, for the first time ever, I came upon someone else in the secret clearing! I saw her from a distance ... A small, round, older woman picking little yellow flowers from a shrubby bush. (St. John's Wort, I soon learned.) Then she, a herbalist with a mysterious accent, then proceed to clear up all my questions about the local vegetation, and its medicinal properties. Thank you stranger! But now that I think about it, I'm not convinced she was entirely human, or even really there at all. Fae perhaps? I did go home with a handful of St. John's Wort, but not to consume for its medicine. Instead, I pressed the little petals in my journal so that in 20 years, when I'm writing the next book, I shall remember that day well. And fondly.

This afternoon it's back to the big city once more! And just in time for my True Blood date tonight. (Fang face.)

More new album info, gig announcements, photos, and other exciting news coming soon!

Stay tuned,

x
K

August 11, 2012
Farm Heaven, ON

It's one of those rainy afternoons in the old farm house. The kind where you're stuck inside with the cat and start looking for a hidden room to explore... I've crawled inside the old wardrobe in my bedroom, in hopes it may open up to another world. Somewhere beyond these boots and bunny fur coats there surely lies a secret passageway to Sweetland. I've been up in Farm Heaven for the past week, resting, healing, practicing, studying, and engaging in highly attractive farm chores. Captain Dirt, my partner in musical crime, has been putting me to shame with her gardening prowess. But I do a great job of holding the umbrella and taking photographs. At the same time! Mostly, however, I just wander about the garden and contemplate my life. Me and the farm flies, the bumblebees, the blue jays, the blackbirds, and all the little butterflies. My favourite is the ruby-throated hummingbird who always comes to visit. Today I wore fuchsia so she'd think I was a flower. It worked.

Beyond the glorious world outdoors, there has been much action inside in the band room. I've been diligently rehearsing two of Lyndell's gorgeous hymns for our new instrumental album! I'm back in the studio next week to record them, as well as a couple pieces of my own from a Sweetlandish suite I've been composing. The Adventures of Captain Dirt & The Skirt... coming soon!

Tonight, pesto-making and picture-taking! Tomorrow, all roads lead to Toronto... Where I will once again be a dame-de-ville.

xo
Lady Sweet

Farm chores are hot... More photos here.

August 3, 2012
Toronto, ON

Hello My Darlings! I'm back from the dead and out from the hole in which I've been hiding... And in fine form, obviously! It was a deep, dark, delicious hole, thoroughly replete with summer sun, glistening jewels, new shoes, fancy oysters, fluffed pillows, rose gardens, old movies, nylon strings, magnificent feasts, puppy kisses, and lots and lots of flamenco dancing! There is much news and excitement in Sweetland these days. Things are going incredibly well for Captain Dirt & The Skirt, my duo with brilliant bassist/violinist Lyndell Montgomery. We've been hard at work in the studio with the amazing David Travers-Smith and are just about half way done recording our brand new album. Woooot! We have a new website on the way as well, but for now, feast your eyes upon our lovely landing page. Here you'll find some links to where you can listen to our new Captain Dirt & The Skirt theme song "Tight Little Sweater." Can't wait to make the video for that one! Seriously. Every girl needs a poodle skirt. 

New website, coming soon!

And even though I haven't been telling you all my secrets lately... I can at least show them to you. You'll find all the latest photos from my eternal Adventures in Sweetland here!

Ahh l'été, je t'aime.

More secrets soon, I promise.

Till then,

xox

La Sweet