// TIKI BAR

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How is everyone doing? 12 more weeks of staying home. I hope you’ve been taking the time to relax or self reflect, or take up tik tok.

CKD continues to operate as usual, shipments have just slowed down slightly. I’ve been working on Groot Hospitalities newest Komodo. Lots of detail, so I’ve been enjoying getting lost in the creation of the prints. Last Friday I decorated the kitchen in tiki theme with a live ocean backdrop from youtube projected onto my mom’s silk curtains. I hung lights, we made margaritas and mojitos and pretended we were on vacation. Turn staying home into an adventure and get creative. We actually had a really fun night in.

Aside from tiki parties and all the work, I’ve been journaling a lot lately. I downloaded this app called The Pattern. It tells you your personal pattern in relationships, outlook on life, how to expand your perspective etc based off your birthday and time of birth. I’ve actually become pretty obsessed with it. Something to look forward to each morning, the pattern and my morning coffee. It tells you what you need to flourish in your life, or how to break down walls in order to move forward. I’ve come to realize that certain things are actually much more important to me than I think, and why ignoring certain things in relationships for example will actually not work for me. OK, just wanted to say hi! xx C

// QUARANTINE WATERCOLOUR CLASS

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for the past two Saturdays I’ve been teaching a watercolor class live on ig. It’s my heart to just spread some creativity and allow anyone who feels like zoning out from all the noise to join in and have fun with paints. I’ll be doing these every Saturday until quarantine is over. join me this sat at 1 pm eastern. sending my love to you and your families.

// WILL NEVER LOOK AT A VIEW THE SAME WAY

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I quietly slipped away to Cabo awhile ago and took my computer with me. CKD has been so busy with multiple projects at once, I needed a change of scenery that would allow me to work in peace and quiet with the sound of the ocean/ leave reality for a bit. Cabo was beautiful. I look back on these photos now and feel thankful for the opportunity to get on an airplane without feeling anxious. What crazy times. I hope everyone is keeping safe, staying home and washing their hands. Praying for this time to pass as fast as possible. x C

// LA LA DREAMING

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I remember the moment I knew I wanted to move to New York. I was sitting at a bar in the West Village, I remember there were no tables available so we were sat at the window with a ledge big enough just to hold our drinks. The windows were open letting in that New York summer air. Something about that night felt like a movie set. The trees didn’t move, the weather was perfect and I knew, I knew that I would one day live there. The vision was so clear. Betsy and I were recently in LA for our collab with her swimsuit company Unika Swim. Unika specializes in bespoke swimwear which pairs perfectly with CKD. We sourced in the garment district finding chains, rings, and finishes for the collection. And took the time to meet up with as many people as we could. I met so many new people. Their outlook on life and simply how they live their life taught me so much - just from a simple conversation. For the first time in a long time, I started to feel like I was getting a glimpse into what I want my next evolution to look like as a woman, as a business woman, as a brand, and as a company. I haven’t felt this way since that night in the West Village. Lots of vision writing lately! I can feel a shift coming, and I feel like I’ve been hiding from it for a while. I was having breakfast with cinematographer Jordan Oram over the weekend. And we were talking about success, and how fear wants you to hide from it rather than embrace it. He said, “it’s like success has been knocking on my door, and I’ve been too scared to open it, until one day I decided to embrace it. So I opened the door, invited it in to my house and learned to get to know it.” This hit home for me. I feel like I’ve been doing the same thing. My company has been growing in ways that on one hand I always knew was going to happen because I have been envisioning and manifesting these moments for a long time now. But on the other hand I still can’t believe what is happening. Jordan is right though, I’ll miss too many opportunities if I keep ignoring the knock on the door. Well, I too have opened it. I’m no longer afraid of the growth, anything is possible.

// MIAMI W/ CB2

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Miami with the cb2 fam shooting something fun at the South Beach location. I fell in love with every single one of them, just made me fall in love with the brand even more. The capsule collection came out so beautiful, really happy with the quality. I stopped by Planta’s new location opening in Coconut Grove to test scale. I love Miami. So many cool pockets I am learning about.

Feeling tired and depleted mentally this week, but couldn’t be happier. The life that is unfolding before my eyes has been the most incredible to watch, I am doing things I dreamed of doing. 50% of the time it feels normal - as if I am supposed to be here, and the other 50% of the time I am just mind blown. So much more is coming too, this is just the beginning. Feeling thankful. Have a wonderful weekend. I am off to LA with Unika Swim next week. Talk to you from there. x C

// CURLED UP

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Curled up in my studio wearing my favourite studio sweater. It’s big and fluffy and warm with paint marks all over it. I’ve had it forever. Thought I’d up date you and say hi. I am working on a new Food Dudes project opening very soon in Toronto. I’ve only just started the painting process and can already feel the energy come through! there. is. so. much. going. on. right now. CB2 officially has the capsule collection in full swing. It’s weird seeing my face in their windows. Unika Swim and I have circled back to designing the capsule collection together. The founder Betsy and I will be in LA the next couple weeks scouting locations for the shoot! Also, I saw Hamilton for the first time last night. Ya, um, so it changed my life. It was brilliant, and genius, and magical. As the work load picks up it’s important for me to keep myself excited, inspired and calm. The moment i get worked up and stressed is the moment my ideas get blocked. Nights like last night help remind me why I started CKD.

I’m working on a really cool project with Seneca College. I never really enjoyed school growing up. it wasn’t until I went to FIT when I started to enjoy going. I was inspired and loved new york city. It is my mission to bring this same energy to this project.

Park Hyatt hotel and June Hotel, Sauble beach location are well underway! umm am I missing anything? i think i am but my eyes will no longer stay open. early morning tomorrow. working on something special! x C

// CB2! & LATELY

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CKD X CB22222 Capsule collection has arrived!! Shop the full collection here! I also sat down with CB2 to talk about the collection, the differences when designing for commercial vs. residential, some of my mentors and the process! If you feel like reading, click here!

I just got back from New York. Three quick days in meetings and catching up with friends. Kristin (owner of Sel Rrose) and I are doing something really fun for her speakeasy Figure19’s banquettes. I love how the bespoke wallpaper is finally trickling onto the fabric. Things are busy busy lately. Time to put my head back down and get to work. Just wanted to say hello. x C

// NOVEMBER 5TH, 2013

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I’ve been writing and collecting/ taking photos since 2011. Not the best writing, but I wrote everyday for years before I started Candice Kaye Design. I rarely missed a day. It was my happy place - my own little world of magic I carved out for myself. I’m sipping on my second glass of red wine and have spent the last hour reading through my old iCandi posts. Firstly I can’t believe I was that brave to write and share as many photos as I did. iCandi was before Instagram. It was not cool to take your camera out back then. Haha, but I did. All the time. Anywhere and everywhere. I have always wanted to turn iCandi and this “life” section into a book. I imagine the book taking place in real time. Like a biography, a biography of a normal girl with a huge dream going through the journey now - not after the fact. A large coffee table book filled with life lessons, my journey, my clients that helped build me, my hopes and dreams and goals and the people i’ve met along the way with photos to prove it all.

This week is going to be a big one for CKD. One of my biggest collaborations launching this Thursday. Can’t wait to finally tell you about it. Happy weekend x C