April 29th 2010

I take a lot of trips to the local Post Office. Quite often, I'm bringing small packages, and could easily ride my bike there, but instead usually choose to walk.

I love taking walks through our neighbourhood. In that short distance between our front porch and the Post Office 10 blocks away, I walk through a few different neighbourhoods.

I have a bad habit of forgetting to bring a camera with me when I head out of the house, but (finally!) remembered to bring it with me the other day. There is a tree on the corner of our street that blossoms with the prettiest deep pink flowers, and I wanted to take photos of it before the wind blew the flowers off the branches. (It's been very, very windy here lately).

It was such a beautiful day; so sunny and bright, that everything had richer, more beautiful colour. (I turned these photos in to "polaroids", but you can see the actual photos on my Flickr photostream).

I'm going to have to get in to the habit of doing this more often.

April 27th 2010

My goodness! It's been a week since I posted last. It's been a busy week!

I'm going to make this something of a catch-up post. So it may reach epic proportions. I'll try to keep it short and sweet.

I've been helping Chris make the frames for Lauchie's upcoming show, That Hideous Strength, at Narwhal Art Projects. The show opens next Thursday, and the work is looking amazing. If you're in the city, you should definitely make a point to stop in and see it.

I also went up to Muskoka to visit my family over the weekend. It was warmer up there than it was here, and so sunny. We sat outside knitting and eating and getting much needed sunshine. It was such a great weekend away.

I'm a big fan of Jen Bekmans' 20 x 200 project, and really enjoy the work that she includes in the collection. I love Chad Hagen's Nonsensical Infographic series, all of Sharon Montrose's work, and the silkscreen-inspired prints by Tatsuro Kiuchi, but was unfamiliar with the work of William Lamson until last week. His work was featured on the site, including a photo of Dandelions hanging on a clothesline in Santiago, Chile. I'm in love. It's one of the most simple and beautiful photos I've ever seen. At first it looked like decorations set up for a party, but it wasn't until I read the title that I realized what the photo was of. I love the way the light comes through the couple in the middle. It's perfect.

The 20 x 200 project has been a great resource for finding out about many of the new artists I've become interested in, in the last while. If you're unfamiliar with it, you should check it out.

Finally, Karyn from the workroom posted some sweet photos from the Trunk Show two weekends ago on her blog last week.

You can read all about the other vendors and see some of her lovely photos, (taken with her new camera!), here.

While I may still be a little absent the next week or so, but will be back into the full swing of things and posting again soon!

April 19th 2010

The Spring Trunk Show at the workroom yesterday was so much fun. Chris and I met lots of new people, and got a little sunshine in the process. We grabbed the table up at the front of the space so that we could be near the bright sunny window.

He brought his new birdhouses, (small and a triple-decker bird apartment!), and a sweet letterbox for storing your mail and bills in. They looked great. I want to put them up everywhere!

As promised, I brought a new print along, which you can see at the bottom of the post. I've listed it on my website now too, if you're interested in purchasing it.

April 16th 2010

How exciting! I found out that I was featured on Design for Mankind this morning!

Design for Mankind is the blog of writer Erin Loechner. She's based in Los Angeles, and writes guest posts for lots of other design blogs, as well as her own. I was so very flattered to be featured along with so many other inspiring artists and designers!

I just finished making another batch of something; a surprise treat for Sunday. It'll be tasty. Hope I don't eat them all before then.

I also made a new print for the Trunk Show that I'll hold out to post until after the event.

This is probably the last post I'll make until after the show this Sunday. Things are wrapping up, but I've still got quite a bit to finish up before then! I'll be sure to take lots of photos and post all about in on Monday!

Until then, have a great weekend!

April 14th 2010

I've found a new favorite blog. It's called For The Love Of Bikes. I wouldn't say I'm an especially avid cyclist, (though I probably would be if I owned this bike!), but I do love going on nice long bike rides across the city. I've been looking forward to biking through High Park since it started to warm up, and will hopefully have a chance once this weekend's over.

BUT

When a friend posted a link to this blog online, I fell in love. The blog is written by Brooklyn-based industrial designers Vanessa Marie Robinson, and has a clear woman's touch. It's sweet and features some of the best female-friendly bikes and accessories.

I grabbed the photo above from her newest post, which inspired me to post about it. While perusing previous entries, I also found this post about Moleskine sketchbooks with bicycle drawings inside, (including her own drawings!).

April 13th 2010

I'm taking a break before heading out on some errands to catch up quickly.

Things have gotten pretty busy around here lately; packing up things to go out, and getting things ready for the weekend. It's still so exciting to send my work to different countries all over the world, and to know that a piece of me is going to countries I haven't even been to yet.

care of Snap & Tumble

Another update : A short while ago, Tanya from Snap & Tumble Letterpress here in Toronto, contacted me about the date for Chris' and my wedding next spring. She's working on the sweetest idea for the Spring Wedding Show coming up, and wanted to use our wedding date for her new Fill-in-your-own Save The Date cards! I especially love the first one. Chris loves his typewriters, and I love how sweet and simple it looks.

Tanya runs a great studio in northern Toronto, and teaches printing workshops to those curious about the press. I've been meaning to take a class for ages, but haven't given myself the time. I mean to at some point this year, though.

April 11th 2010

It's exactly one week until the Spring Trunk Show at the workroom, and Chris and I are both busy getting our wares ready.

Even though I should have been outside in the sunshine, I've been printing away today, making more business cards and tying little bundles of fabrics. I'm also designing a new print that I won't preview until the show.

If I time my days out properly, I may just have time to take an afternoon off this week and bike around High Park. There are cherry blossoms coming out on the trees in the west end of the park this time of year. It's always a treat to see.

I hope everyone has a wonderful end to the weekend!

April 9th 2010

Happy Friday, everyone!

This is a quick reminder that the Poppytalk Handmade Market where I have some of my prints and fabrics featured is only up until 9 pm GMT -7:00 tonight. As previously posted, I'm having a sale on the items in my shop until this time. Any orders over $10 CAD will receive 25% off, and orders over $50 CAD will receive a small pencil drawing!

Also, Italian art and design blog Frizzi Frizzi have a post on my work today!

PS - The photo at the top of this post is of a batch of homemade crème fraiche that I made last night. I am going to go eat a spoonful now.

April 7th 2010 pt. 2

Clover

Kitty Buds

Kitty Buds {Delft Blue}

I have news!

Just this morning new samples of fabric arrived in the mail! I got a fat quarter of Kitty Buds, Kitty Buds in Delft Blue Toile and my new Clover pattern! I'm very excited about the new Clover fabric. It printed up so well! The colours are pretty great.

I only ordered samples of the fabrics to test what the colours will look like. These particular pieces will be available at the Spring Trunk Show at the workroom in two weeks, but all of the fabrics on my website are available. { Please note, though, that they're made to order and could take a short wait to arrive. }

April 7th 2010

There are two days left in the Poppytalk Handmade Spring and Easter Market! If you visit my shop in the next two days, I'll take 25% off your order of $10 or more! (Please email me so that I can discount 25% from your order!) Also, for orders over $50, I'll include a small pencil drawing.

Thanks to those who have already ordered over the last few weeks!

April 6th 2010

Back in the middle of the winter we hiked down to a little gallery on the corner of Ossington because the boys had a date to be interviewed for an online show called "Late Night in the Bedroom", a Toronto-based live audience show.

Here's the finished edit of their interview, including not-a-single-word from my dear Chris. (He's the shy one on the left). And here's Team Macho's website.

April 5th 2010

I woke up to a nice surprise this morning.

There were a couple of blog posts about my work, including one on the Urban Outfitters blog! How exciting! The other was on The Sweet Halcyon Days. It's a lovely blog.

I hope everyone had a great and sunny weekend!

I spent a bit of Saturday afternoon outside on our porch painting! It was the nicest feeling. In the later afternoon, the sun comes all the way to the back of the porch and it gets very warm. I don't think I've ever experienced a warmer early spring!

We also sat outside yesterday morning and Chris fixed his and Anthony's bikes. Anthony was sweet enough to bring some delicious pastries from Nadège along, so we drank coffee, ate pastries and soaked up the sun. I took some photos with Chris' camera that I'll post on Flickr shortly.

April 2nd 2010

For ages I've loved Sharon Montrose's animal portraits, but this video made them all the more special.

Thank you Etsy, for posting this wonderful video!

For more on Sharon Montrose, she has a blog here, and her website here.

April 1st 2010

I'm still here!

I've been terrible at updating things in the last week; partially due to being sick, and in part because I'm being secretive about the project I've been working on for the last while. I don't mean to be withholding, but I want to wait until my first painting is finished to post anything about it. (There is a tiny sneak peek at the edge of both of my desk photos above).

I plan to post about the first painting, and the ideas behind this project, when I'm finished. I'm working on pieces for an upcoming show at Narwhal and don't want to give too much away just yet!

I'm also working on small presents for a trio of birthdays this next week, which I'll post about when they've passed. I don't want to spoil any surprises!

So I'm still here, and now in better health, and I promise to post more in the coming week!

Oh yeah! And the Poppytalk Spring and Easter Market is only up for another nine days! If you get the chance, check out the work I have up in the shop.