Blue and White Dishes

You may have noticed that I'm a fan of blue and white dishes...here are some stunners from the collection!

Delft Charms

Much to my delight I found these dainty little charms at Michael's and am turning them into jewellery! 

Delft Tile Tray

I found this mid-century cheese tray at a local thrift store for $1! Frankly, the tiles alone are worth more than that. It was originally medium brown wood, and those little right-hand circles were red magnets, but I covered the whole piece in some coats of Old White Chalk Paint. I might use it as a tray for craft projects, or I might hang it on a wall and secure some fancy knobs into those left-hand circles as hooks.

Either way, I'm in love with the painterly blue and white tiles!

Blue Willow Study

Several years ago my mom painted this study of Blue Willow dishes, the dishes we had when I was little. Shortly afterwards she was consolidating some of her test paintings, painting over them or cutting them up (!), but saved this one. I love the blues and simplified shapes. It looks so fresh and free.

Ottawa Parliament Plate

What an appropriate thrifting find this is, considering it's January 2017, the beginning of Canada's 150th year! This souvenir plate features Ottawa's Parliament buildings. The back is stamped with "Johnson Bros England The Old Dominion" which indicates that it's likely pre-1920. Parliament as we know it today was completed by 1922, the Peace Tower added in 1927. The curious thing, though, is that the plate's illustration doesn't exactly represent the current Parliament...or the Parliament that burned down in 1916. Was it created between 1916 and 1920 as a proposed design of the new building? Is it some stock image of a British castle from the library of Transferware designs? Or maybe it's just a bit of artistic license? Hmm...

Looking Out Chair

 I realized I had yet to share the latest addition to my ever-growing chair collection, so here we are, this is the prize of my The Sidecar win! It's my Looking Out design on Eco Canvas fabric on a Maran Slipper Chair by Roostery. It's quite a comfy little marshmallow. I used some Pure White Chalk Paint on the dark brown legs to better coordinate with the airiness of the fabric.

 Roostery is Spoonflower's awesome sister company for homewares (chairs, pillows, tea towels, etc.) and all of my designs and others' in the Spoonflower marketplace are available on their products.

Homebody

This pillow from Chapters has made itself at home on the sofa. I can relate. The reason why I love decorating, architecture, and the history of domestic life is because I see the home as being a sanctuary of beauty. In the words of William Morris, "It helps the healthiness both of body and soul to live among beautiful things."

Frosted Frolic in Shop

Frosted Frolic is now available in my shop as fabric, wallpaper, gift wrap, cut-and-sew patterns, and homewares!

Scandinavian Princess

My Scandinavian Princess design is up for voting in Spoonflower's Needlepoint challenge. Psst! Thanks for the votes on my Maritime Yarn design--it came in 2nd place and is now available in my shop as fabric, wallpaper, gift wrap, cut-and-sew patterns, and homewares!

Heidi

I found this beautifully illustrated vintage edition of Heidi by Johanna Spyri at a local thrift store for $0.50! It doesn't have a copyright date on the inside, but it looks like it's from the 1960s or '70s.

It was illustrated by Roberta Macdonald and, apparently, coloured by a creative reader! 

I've yet to read this classic, so I'm happy to have acquired a pretty version of it to read.

New Tea Designs in Shop

Here are some fun additions to my surface pattern design shop, available as fabric, wallpaper, gift wrap, cut-and-sew patterns, and homewares: Boston Tea Party

Steep

Delft Tea

Maritime Yarn

My Maritime Yarn design is up for voting in Spoonflower's Yarn design challenge!

Dream

This was one of those fluke craft projects that has stood the test of time. About 8 years ago I got the font and word idea from an image in Country Living Magazine, eye-balled the letters onto some corrugated cardboard, cut them out, slopped some gold paint on them, and strung them up in my bedroom. When I think back at how casually I whipped this garland out and look at how much I still love the lettering and metallic shine I am impressed by the enduring result. It makes me think of how many creative dreams have come true since...

January Bulletin 2017

The promise of a new year overflowing with artistic ambition