Featured on Print and Pattern

Today I was featured on Print and Pattern - a very popular surface design blog created by UK based designer Marie Perkins. Marie has published 2 books on surface design: Print and Pattern 1 + 2 - both of which I highly recommend - and is soon to release a third: Print + Pattern The Kid edition!

You can read the full post here. 

New Boudoir pattern

Come see me at SURTEX May 19-21 NYC

New Doggie pattern

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New Ring Ring pattern

This is brand new pattern I created this week which I will be showing at SURTEX this month.
I think it'd make a fun wallpaper in a girl's room. I could also see it being used on fabric.

Ring Ring comes in 3 colour ways: retro pink, mint, and grey.

Below are my initial sketches for the pattern - drawn with a glass of rosé in hand FYI!

I was inspired to draw them after settling into the latest episode of Mad Men on Sunday night and catching an image of Trudy picking up the receiver of a fabulous orange 60s telephone.
I often find my favourite sketches are those done when I'm relaxed and have just settled into doing something else. :-)

Honouring my Brother Shawn

Last August I lost my brother Shawn Cavanagh. 
Shawn was an incredible person and also an elementary school teacher + gifted marathon runner.
This weekend his memory is being honoured with a memorial run in Mississauga organized by Garthwood Public school - where he taught for 18 years.
Friends and family along with many of his former students will be running.
All proceeds will go to CAMH. More info can be found here. 
Thanks so much to Garthwood for helping to keep Shawn's memory alive. 
He will be in our hearts and minds always.

New Work: Illustration for Smithsonian magazine

Here's a new piece just completed for Smithsonian magazine. I loved drawing the higgley piggley stack of books and was very happy to illustrate an article by Clive Thompson - one of my favourite writers on new media and fellow U. of T. Alumna!

Thanks to Art Director Maria Keehan for the gig.

My Canapé plates now available online

My Canapé plates are now available online at The Bay.

New patterns for SURTEX

I have been madly preparing for SURTEX- the Surface design show in NYC May 19-21st.

Here is a new Vintage ornaments pattern in pink colourway.

Here it is in Blue colourway. 

I'll have many more brand new patterns available which I'll reveal at my booth. 

If you're in NYC do pop by Booth 340 and say hello 

or send me an email to set up an appointment.

New book cover + Puffin reveal on cbc books

This past winter I created a new cover for Kit's Pearson wonderful (and at times heart breaking!) book Awake and Dreaming. The book is one of four new editions of classic Canadian books which will become part of the Puffin Classics Series.

 I love the art direction of this new series. Art director Lisa Jager unified all the covers with minimal colour and dramatic cropping.

Here's another in the series with cover created by one of my favourite illustrators Isabelle Arsenault.

All this week, one at a time,  the covers are being revealed on the cbc books website.

Today my cover was revealed. See below or check it out here. 

 

 

This is Tonight

The Design Exchange continues to nab great International speakers....

New work: LCBO ads

 These 2 ads I illustrated have been appearing online on the Globe and Mail, Toronto Life and Canadian House + Home websites.

A few Birthday party pics

 Me and my dear friend Andrew
 

 Rosanna, Shannon, Sandy, Nora and me

Great Artscape neighbours Jen, Valerie + Richard

Nora and Zab

 Pumpkin cake by wonderful Artscape neighbour Greg Oh

One of my favourite people Alan Sears

I have the sweetest customers

It's my birthday today and had to share that one of my all time favourite customers sent me tickets to go see the Wizard of Oz. Thank you Alan. You're wonderful.

Am filled with much love and gratitude today. Yes corny.