My prints in Covet garden magazine

The latest issue of Covet Garden is online and it's beauty!

It features the home of my talented friend Colleen Nicholson 

+ gorgeous photography by Jodi Pudge.

 Photo by Jodi Pudge

My Empty Belly print over Colleen's fireplace. 

How great is that brass turkey? love!!!

 Photo by Jodi Pudge

My espresso pot print over Colleen's sink. 

Really like the mix of textures in this shot. 

#silkscreen #print #art #affordableart #InteriorDesign #Toronto #decor

Inuit Art Quarterly Launch

Last week I attended the relaunch of Inuit Art Quarterly: 

a fabulous magazine which is published by The Inuit Art Foundation.

 

I love Inuit art so for me the entire magazine is delicious!
I especially enjoyed Patricia Feheley's article on the genesis of the Modern Inuit Art market.

 
Above is the Editor Nancy Campbell along with some of the members of the Advisory board.
Click here for more info on the magazine.

Uppercase magazine: Special Surface Design issue

The latest issue of Uppercase magazine is out and it's a great one.

It's a Special Surface Design issue and includes interviews with all the big names in the surface design world:  Michelle Bencsko of Cloud9 fabrics, Marie Perkins of Print and Pattern, Stephen Fraser of Spoonflower, Victorine Lamothe of Te Neues* (who I just worked for - yay) and the always inspiring Lotta Jandotter. If you're interested in breaking into the world of pattern and design this issue is a must.

Issue 21 also includes a gallery of 100 surface designers. Below is my inclusion. 

*My boxed note cards for Te Neues will be out in June. 

They're called Victorian birdies and I'm looking forward to sharing them with you. 

New illustration: Eloise

As mentioned on Instagram my Eloise illustration was inspired by this ad for Eloise Grey clothing which I found in Selvedge magazine. (always a huge source of inspiration)

My Home in Covet Garden

The new first ever Covet Garden print Magazine is out and my home is featured in it. 

You can buy it here. 

(Great Xmas gift for the decor lover in your life) 

Hint hint!

 Gorgeous photography throughout by Jodi Pudge. 

My ink and screens have never looked better.

 My livingroom featuring my silkscreen prints and my needlepointed shoe pillow.

 Wide shot.

 I sure love my IKEA expediet bookcase which serves as a great room divider.

My sweet canary Lord Percy can be seen in the back left corner.

 Me + my Dress Judy screen (which is now split!)

On the left: several of my illustration gigs: Tea towel for the Bay, 2 book covers, some Tattlys and my bird canape plates for Lord and Taylor.

On the right my office and a little peek at my bedroom. 

1. 

Work/Life: My pages in the Directory of Illustration

These are my 2 pages in uppercase magazine's Directory of Illustration. 

Above: 

Photos of my inspiration board, me in NYC, sketches and stuff currently hanging out on my fridge.

This is the pattern I created for the directory.

I would love to see this made into fabric or wallpaper.

Hello Mr. Sanderson or Schumacher....!

These are some drawings from my sketchbook.

As you can see not all of the phones made it into the final pattern. 

Sometimes you gotta Kill Your Darlings!

Covet Garden in the House!

Today the gals from Covet Garden along with photographer Jodi Pudge + assistant Ian were chez moi to shoot my space for Covet Garden's upcoming book. I was thrilled to have Jodi shoot my space as I've admired her work for years. Below some pics from a very fun day.

 Setting up

 

Editor Jessica Reid + Jodi assess the situation!

Jessica, Jodi + delicious scones from the Drake - which Jodi declared the best in the city!

Its true ... very flakey.

Jodi,  Jessica + Editor Lynda Felton in background posing in a classic "Serious Editor" pose.

Hi-larious.

Here she is doing it again!

Lynda is one of the funniest people I've ever met - she kept me cracking up the entire day.

 

Jodi shooting me while I shoot her.

Yes... very Meta.

With Jodi's shooting and Jessica + Lynda's styling + input the photos turned out absolutely gorgeous! Alas I can't show them to you until December when the book comes out. Can't wait!

ps. Speaking of... Have you ordered your copy yet?

Win this Print!

 

My Empty Belly print photographed in my friend Emily's house.

                                Lovely photo taken by the fabulous + talented Janet Kimber.

I'm giving away 2 Empty belly prints in support of my friends at Covet GardenMagazine.

If you contribute to Covet Garden's Indigogo campaign before June 30th you'll be entered into a draw to win one of the prints.
What's stopping you?!
ps. With a contribution of 30 bucks or more you'll receive a copy of the Covet Garden book
shipped right to your door.

Covet Garden

The latest issue of covet garden is out with cover illustrated by me.
What's more exciting is that the issue features the happy home of my wonderful massage therapist Michelle Yee of Soft Mechanic and her fella Glen.

Here's a pic of Michelle's massage room with my Room of One's Own print on the wall.
I just love getting under that moose blanket! One of my favourite places to be.

Thanks to the fabulous Lynda Felton + Jessica Reid of Covet Garden for the gig. xx

Ingenious New Yorker cover

Saw this cover in the subway last week. It stopped me in my tracks.

Here is a close up. Isn't it ingenious?
It's a blurred version of that fabulous dandy Eustace Tilley with a scroll wheel on top of him indicating the universal message of 'page loading'. I thought sooo clever. The cover was done by reader Brett Culbert and was his entry to the magazine’s annual Eustace Tilley competition that has readers submit their own interpretations of the publication’s original 1925 cover illustration by Rea Irvin.
You can see the rest of the entries here:
Sure is alotta clever folks out there...

Photos from Xmas in Chicago

Off we go.
I love Porter Airline's branding which was created by former Wallpaper editor Tyler Brulé and his firm WINKREATIVE. Who knew you could make a raccoon look sophisticated?

The exterior of our hotel: The James. I loved their graphic + interior design as well!
(Ofcourse that's why I picked it!!)
Look at that great sideways sign. :-) Very welcoming.

Gorgeous lobby. :-)

Bedroom.
(my bed at home feels very small now....)

Loved this cozy reading /dining nook + this unique liquor cabinet based on an old steamer trunk.

Chicago skyline!

The famous Marina City also known as the corn cob buildings. :-)
Designed in 1959 by architect Bertrand Goldberg.


First dinner = Chicago Deep dish pizza. Boy was it deep...

The "Chicago Picasso" in Daley plaza.

Chicago is jam packed with incredible public art. This is due to the fact that the city passed a law stipulating that 1.33% of the cost of constructing a building must be devoted to original artwork.
As a result a walk in the Loop area = bumping into incredible pieces by Picasso, Chagall, Miro + Calder. (!!)

The Four Seasons mosaic by Marc Chagall in Chase Tower Plaza.
Dedicated in 1974.



Some close ups.

Christmas eve dinner at mk.

5 stars!
They made the most fabulous cocktails and the decor was to die for.


Here is my cocktail called Holiday Smash .
(My company at the table was smashing too - Groan!)

Thanks so much to fellow blogger Heather Retke for recommending mk + many other great spots.

A trip to Millennium Park

Anish Kapoor's Cloud Gate aka the Bean.

Frank Gehry's amazing Pritzker bandshell.

A trip to the Chicago Institute of Art

Love love this piece by Toulouse Latrec - especially that ghostly women' face.


Ofcourse many folk lining up to photograph the Institute' most famous piece: A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by George Seurat.

*Curmudgeon Note*: When I witness scenes like this it always makes me think that John Ruskin would be rolling in his grave! The Victorian Art critic despised the camera and feared that the invention of it would lead to people focusing on capturing the moment for the FUTURE rather than LOOKING at what was in front of them in the PRESENT.
I heartily agree.

This was my favourite piece in the Institute's collection:
Green and White my Ellsworth Kelly. Love.


Perfect ending to trip:
Cozy flight home with red wine + latest issue of Canadian House + Home.
Loved this interview with Jenna Lyons of J. Crew (Total mentor!!) written by the lovely Catherine Sweeney. Thanks Kim. xo