Colour Cool: Julie Thevenot

It always blows my mind when a designer has a collection that spans several different mediums. How awesome is it to be able to design art and jewellery and clothing and do each so well? Taking a look at Julie Thevenot's shop proves that he work is really about designing a lifestyle and she executes it from top to bottom.  My favourite pieces were the Spirit Giant wall display and the Small Exile necklace. Both would fit quite nicely in my imaginary lifestyle.

Discovered over at Pennyweight.

Visit Julie Thevenot for more information.

Crafty Things: Peaches + Keen

Loving the fun objects from Melbourne duo Peaches + Keen. These happy pieces are original and hand-made by Lily Daley and Lucy Hearn and I think the colours and textures are just plain cool. My favourite piece is the hand-embroidered art work in the first photo- I love the contrast of the gradient image and neon threads plus there's a cat and that's pretty nifty.

Visit the website here.

See the whole line and shop here.

Spotted here.

Sneak Peek: West Elm Spring 2012

On Wednesday night, I had the pleasure of an intimate tour over at West Elm, in honour of their spring collection. Neil Gazmen, the Toronto Store manager, guided us (little ol'me and some other lovely bloggers) throughout the store with some real warmth and enthusiasm. It was great to preview all of the fresh ideas bouncing around the place for the new season.

It was also seriously great to hear about how West Elm is looking to highlight their support of one-of-a-kind design and trying to bring craft and design to a whole other level of accessibility and visibility. In addition to their artist collaborations, the company also has several partnerships set up to support local economies around the world - whether it's hand-picked Kantha throws, hand-made by women in India or paper-mache wall art that supports communities in Haiti. West Elm proves that you can be a successful corporate company, be passionate about craft and design and still do some good - you just have to want to!

Some favourite moments of the night:
1. Fantastic installations - they really take their visual merchandising beyond retail and straight into whimsy.
2. & 3. Designer collaborations. Check them out here and here.
4. & 5. My favourite colour combination of the night - coral and stone. It feels modern and inviting, with just the right level of punch.
6. Detail shot of the Kantha quilts. Each is completely unique and hand-selected.
7. & 8. Paper-machier art from Haiti and hand-blocked pillows from India. Both items are produced in partnership with Aid to Artisans.

Symposium News - 10 March 2012

I have had the supreme honour to volunteer at the Ontario Crafts Council this winter. It has been lovely to work in a space that is so creative (every time I go in there's a new exhibition up) and so supportive. When I contacted them this past summer for a volunteer position, I expected to be stuffing envelopes or maybe helping out at their retail location, The Guild Shop. Either of these would have been okay since I understand the amount of effort it takes to keep an organization like the OCC running and I would have been happy to do anything since my main goal was to support the crafts community and basically just help out. I was pretty ecstatic when I got offered a position that involved online design, blog support and campaign promotions. The OCC let me jump in with both feet to help work on the publicity end of their upcoming symposium, Craft and the New Economy.

Craft and the New Economy is a one-day symposium that brings together international, national and local speakers to address the relationship between craft and issues of sustainable business practice, technology, DIY and social responsibility. The term ‘new economy’ does not simply address issues of recession and global connectivity, but the development of new tools, processes of engagement, and the role of craft in the 21st century. Craft and the New Economy is an opportunity to explore the complex terrain of craft as object, profession, and cultural intermediary.

It's taking place in Toronto on 10 March 2012 and registration for the event closes 07 March so click here to get your tickets while they are still available.

The speakers are pretty impressive - I've spent much time going through their individual bodies of work so I can tell you that their varied disciplines and backgrounds will surely make for interesting discussions across each of the panels and presentations.

If you can make it, I urge you to check it out and help support it through your blogs, twitter or facebook.

Craft and the New Economy Symposium.

Buy tickets for the symposium event here.

Event Facebook page here.

Event Twitter page here.

Ontario Crafts Council Facebook page here.

OCC twitter page here.

Happy Valentine's Day

A hundred post-its.
A hundred reasons why I love my love.
One very full heart.

Power Images: Doug Keyes

Thank you for all the kind words on our little announcement. We're pretty ecstatic and it feels so sweet to get such lovely responses from family, friends and internet friends.

Today, I want to showcase some photography that just about blew my mind. I am in awe of Doug Keyes' double-exposed images. A little bit haunting and graphic, their are fresher than anything I have seen in the last little while. Aren't they ridiculously good? They would be at the top of my list if I had anything resembling an "art budget."

All images Doug Keyes.

Discovered here.

Art Love: Dorie Millerson

When I first posted about the Household Notions exhibition last week, Chris' first reaction was, "Where is the mini house?!" Out of everything that was shown, this duo by Toronto artist Dorie Millerson, was his favourite. As he stopped in front of it, his exact words were, "This I like," which made me and the artist laugh out loud. 
I really liked it too - there's something really charming about her work, isn't there?- so I decided to share it. 
I actually kind of wish we had the budget to take this little home, well, home.


Check out the rest of the exhibition at the Telephone Booth Gallery.

Art Love: Lizz Aston

As promised, some detail shots of Lizz Aston's work; the first two images are paper burnouts and the last work is done in porcelain . I snapped these at the opening of the Household Notions exhibition at the  Telephone Booth Gallery in the Junction, Toronto. The show is on until Jan 28, 2012, for any locals and their curiosity. I highly recommend it.

Jean Paul Gaultier

While in Montréal, I had the pleasure of catching the Jean Paul Gaultier exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts. It was the last weekend of the show and I was completely blown away by the beauty, the art and the work. There's nothing quite like looking at couture up and close - seriously, one of the pieces had taken 1060 hrs to make. 
It was amazing to spend some time inside the head of a designer I have always admired. And the exhibit was really well-rounded and showcased his full career, though it was probably heavy on the couture creations. 
The whole exhibition was super cool - especially the talking mannequins (seriously, they used projectors to give the faces actual features and had some blowing kisses, singing and two were even arguing with each other). 




We went with my parents-in-law and I first I was feeling a little bit nervous about dragging them to something I thought only I would enjoy but I actually think my mother-in-law liked it better than any of us. She sews and whereas I can't even imagine how you begin to plan those kinds of couture gowns - she knows exactly how much work goes in so it was an even bigger "that dress is crazy" moment for her.

Bold Photography - Joshua Scott

I want to live in these images by Joshua Scott.
Really, aren't they superb?
Check out his website for more awesome work.


Found over here.

Inspiration: Sprouted Kitchen

These modern images of Sprouted Kitchen's COCOA LAYER CAKE WITH BLACKBERRIES + MASCARPONE CREAM  really make me want to get my act together and start baking more.
Baking is a bit magical - basic ingredients combined just so for a wonderful and tangible result - and then you eat it!


I haven't delved into the world of food blogs too much but this may be the start of a beautiful relationship. Thanks, Natasha!

Terminal Mirage by David Maisel

Silent and stunning.
These images by David Maisel obscure any obvious details of location or time but their beauty resonates, doesn't it?


I'm really, really in awe of his work.


Discovered here.
P.S. They're taken above the Great Salt Lake in Utah.

Art - Solid Frog

How happy would I be to hang one of these on my wall?
I really love strong colour and form and while I have seen lots of "horse" art, the execution of this piece is refreshing and modern.  Art by Solid Frog!

I really need to sit down and take a bunch of images off my camera but days are a bit crazy and I've just gotten into The Tudors. Haven't fully decided if I like it yet but it's a good lazy tv night companion.

Fresh and Simple - Kiki and Polly

It was a full weekend with lots of walking and fun.

My sister's bridal shower was a very posh afternoon tea and I swear I've been eating the take-away scones for three days now. Seriously, I've never had such tasty scones. 

Since I'm having a nice little morning (eating the last of the scones right now!) I thought it would be nice to share some pieces by Kiki and Polly. Aren't they simple and lovely?

Lisa Golightly's art is mainly inspired by her family but I think the compositions and nostalgia are just perfect. Plus, you can get her prints at pretty affordable rates from her Etsy shop.

Spotted here.

Beautiful Garbage - Liz Jones

Collected on shores and then colour-coded, these "Rubbish Rainbows" from Liz Jones really put a bright spin on recycling! I had spotted these here before we left for the cottage and couldn't get them out of my mind. I love how carefully she's categorized everything - who knew garbage could be so punchy?
Some vibrant art is exactly what I need for this morning, a little tired from a nice out with friends.