Transatlantic Joy

My darling friend Anni sent a bunch of inspiration across the ocean and made my day!

Fibrefest September 10-11 2016

Mark your calendars! Fibrefest, the 21st annual celebration of everything textile-related in Almonte, Ontario, is coming up! It's Saturday September 10th from 10am to 5pm and Sunday September 11th from 10am to 4pm. The admission is $5 per person. Feel free to swing by the Creatively Graceful Surface Pattern Design booth!

Daily Surface Patterns

 You know you are a total surface pattern design nerd when pond scum makes you squeal with delight!

 I mean, it's dynamic swirls and paisley in stunning black and white contrast! How can one go wrong?!

Daintea: GTS 2016

I designed a teacup, saucer, and paper napkin for this year's Global Talent Search. Thanks a bunch to Lilla Rogers and her creative team for this fun design brief and for running such a thrilling opportunity!

Details of Anthropologie

The thing that impresses me the most with Anthropologie is the level of creativity and detail that goes into their merchandising and displays, including their use of found items as fixtures. I have had the special opportunity to help set up the new Ottawa store, and snapped some photos within to highlight the thoughtfulness that went into every last stitch and nail. Their merchandising complements their delightfully detailed products.

The glowing name and curious quilt draw the viewer in.

Stenciling on the exterior

The vintage door at the front is mounted on a barn door track.

One of the found pieces is this huge light green chest--lovely colour and distressed surface.

Ladder shelves

Guardian beaver

Can you guess what this gigantic quilt is made of?

Leather? Denim?

Envelopes!

The bright Pantry section with rough mustard walls

A mural made of chicken wire, string, and muslin

These plates

These knobs

These flowers made of twist ties, coffee filters, and paper tags.

Velvet kimono

Vintage printing screens used for display

A chandelier made of rubber bands

This necklace

Found cabinet and clock

This end table

This winding display of colour changing leaves is made of cut, scored, and dyed manilla tags.

This sign is edged with sharpened pencils.

Stunning necklace and kimono

The moody blue wall makes these glamourous vases stand out.

These jeans

The wall behind the cash

Luxurious and cheery textiles

Every last cactus flower and prickle is in its place!

Anthropologie Ottawa Purchase

Anthropologie has come to Ottawa! (More to come on that thrilling note.) My haul from the new store included 6 lovely knobs and Rifle Paper Co.'s beautifully illustrated Little Women novel!

Recent Thrift: Delft Blue Tin

This appears to have been a cookie tin. The bottom is stamped: Dirk Eden--Fabrikation feiner Teegebäcke--Jever, Friesland. I love the painterly scene and the scalloped band around the bottom and lid.

Undertow

Undertow (1886) by Winslow Homer (1836-1910)

August Bulletin 2016

The peachy hues and strokes of late summer

An American in Paris

 An American in Paris is a fun musical full of exuberant song and dance set to an exclusively Gershwin score. It stars the dynamic dancer, singer, actor, and choreographer Gene Kelly alongside impressively flexible Leslie Caron, who has a contagious ear-to-ear smile.

 The 17 minute ballet at the end of the film is the real stunner, as it brings to life the art of Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec, Renoir, Utrillo, Rousseau, and Dufy in rhythm and vivacious sets and costumes.

 This storefront is so delightfully masculine, as was Gene Kelly's style of dance.

Notice all the vibrant stripes used against the simple leaf shapes.

 Gene Kelly even transforms into Toulouse-Lautrec's Chocolat in a hilariously wiggly dance!

 It is a riot of colour.

Magnifique!