Vogue 1922

Sneak peak! I found this dress and plan to alter it into flapper frock inspired by this June 1922 Vogue cover.  

Canada's Smile

My Anne-tastic postcard illustration is in Uppercase Magazine #34!

Idea Extravaganza

As a collector of magazine clippings I am prone to collaging surfaces, such as my sketchbook. Looking at layers of inspiration makes me want to get busy drawing and painting! 

Quilter's Connection Magazine Feature

If you're interested in learning more about my surface pattern design process and background as well as my With Glowing Hearts collection, I recommend you check out Quilter's Connection Magazine #30!

 See pages 8--12 for details on how I became involved in the exciting world of bolt fabric!

While you're leafing through, take note of the excellent quality of this magazine--Heather, the editor, does a great job ensuring that the layouts, fonts, photos, writing, and stories are captivating!

Découpaged Flower Chair

This project began with me hoarding magazine clippings of flowers for 7 years.

I wanted to cover a chair in them, but was waiting for the perfect chair to drop into my life. One day I was driving home and realized it was garbage day in my neighbourhood. I took a detour looking for furniture at curbs and slammed on my breaks when I saw this chair upside down on someone’s lawn. I threw it in the back seat as the neighbours stared, and I smirked gleefully all the way home. The chair has funky mid-century lines. 

I washed it and ripped the decomposing upholstery off the seat; there were 3 layers of atrocity to work through, the crowning glory being this exquisite '70s fabric. Needless to say, ew, that was a task and a half. 

Then I started gluing the flowers to the surface with Mod Podge. 

And gluing...

And gluing...

It took too many hours to count, but it’s exactly the cheerful piece I first imagined oh so long ago!

Here's to the warm and flowery days to come!

Listening In

Little Brother Listens by George Hughes

The Sound of Music: 50 Years Later

The Sound of Music was released March 2nd, 1965, 50 years ago today! It is one of my favourite movies; it is so inspiring. What could top a passionate nun/nanny singing her guts out? Ha! And yes, of course, that's edelweiss below those mountains! I'm reading this LIFE magazine issue dedicated to the 50th Anniversary of the film, the behind-the-scenes, and the true story of it all.

Uppercase #24 Scavenger Hunt

Exciting news! Remember my Paper Dress? It's going to be included in the Scavenger Hunt spread of Uppercase Magazine #24! The issue will be coming out in mid-January. In case you are interested in subscribing or renewing your subscription to the glorious magazine that it is, you can celebrate this event by taking $15 off your subscription with the "scavenger" code! The offer is valid until February 28th. Happy ordering!

Vogue July 1935

I love the colors and brushstrokes in this cover illustration by Cecil Beaton!

The Page that Started it All

I will always adore fashion and interior decoration, but I've finally realized that it is truly the fabric behind it all that I love. It is the gorgeous, functional, versatile medium that easily transforms simple structures or is crafted into a shape of its own. Recently I've been thinking a lot about how I got involved in fabric design, and how much I enjoy it. I began thinking about how I first was introduced to the art form. In March 2012 I was leafing through an issue of Country Living when I stumbled upon this page. I was immediately captivated by the script-print chair, because that is one of my pieces of dream furniture. I read that the chair fabric was made through Spoonflower.com, set the magazine down, and went on with life. For a couple months I pondered the idea of designing fabric, and then I finally remembered to check Spoonflower out. The site instantly hooked me, and when I read about their weekly contests I was certain that I had found a thrilling new hobby.

The first contest that I entered had the theme of cakes made with paper collage. I was delighted by the fact that it seemed like the perfect prompt, because I love to create art featuring food and I often make paper collages. My Cupcake Damask  fabric was the result. Since then, of course, I have made many a fabric design, read numerous books on surface pattern design, and everyday I feel more and more packed with ideas. It's funny how a single page in a magazine can initiate such strong creative direction!

May 1934 Magazine

This British Homes and Gardens magazine from 1934 only set me back $4 (that's cheaper than most modern magazines on the market) at an antique store. I bought it for its glorious cover illustration; the stone building and shady tulip garden are pure cheer. The magazine is filled with appliance and real estate ads, sewing projects, black and white photographs of home interiors, advice on entertaining, recipes, decorating ideas, gardening arrangements, and so on in the realm of domestic activity. I'm amazed that a magazine from 1934 could still be in such good condition. It's so neat to get a glimpse of how people ran their homes 80 years ago!



Uppercase Mag

The other day I was at Chapters and picked up the April/May/June 2014 issue of Uppercase Magazine, which is the special Surface Pattern Design Guide. I was leafing through it and then had an unexpected, heart-stopping moment of semi-fame. I stumbled onto this spread, an article about Spoonflower, and noticed my Scallop fabric (from the Milk and Honey shoes) in the upper right corner.

 The photo is not specifically credited to me, of course, but it was a bright discovery nevertheless! It was one of those little "Wow I Feel Like A Legit Artist" realizations.  

Anyway, I bought the magazine and--whew! It is packed (on quality paper, I might add) with fantastic information and stunning textile designs!

If you are at all interested in surface pattern design I highly recommend you check it out!

Vintage Vogue Illustrations

March 1923.

There is something extra special about vintage Vogue illustrations. I would love to plaster them all over my walls. Artists like Helen Dryden, Harriet Meserole, and George Wolfe Plank were incredibly talented at creating these dreamy images of sartorial splendor! 

 April 1919.

 June 1922.

 May 1924.

May 1939.

You can find the full archive of Vogue covers, starting with issues from 1916, here.

Magazine Rip-a-Thon

When I was 12 I began reading the magazines my mom subscribes to, and started my own interior decorating scrapbooks. That was back in the wonderful days of Country Home and Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion, but some of my current favourites to peruse are Artful Blogging, Flea Market Style, Country Living, Cottage Style, and Martha Stewart Weddings. Every January we revisit the magazines that pile up throughout the year and rip out our favourite articles, images, and so on, to fill our inspirational binders. 

This pastel loft bedroom was the first addition that got me dreaming of my future house.

Now my scrapbooks are filled with things like décor ideas,

...attractive real estate,

...fashion,

...paint chips and color schemes,

...and great quotes.

Time to go spend some quality time with 2013's publications!