Collab with 1925 Workbench at IDS 2016

I'm doing a little collab with furniture makers 1925 Workbench at IDS 2016.

Some of my prints will be featured in their booth.

Come Visit Booth 2128 in the Makers section.

1925 Workbench specializes in gorgeous barndoors as seen in photo above!

My prints in situ

Three of my prints in a beautiful loft in Toronto.

Love the teak desk and those matching lamps!

All three of these prints are currently available in my shop. 

 

 

STUDIO SALE: Sun May 31st 12 - 6pm

This Sunday!
Prints/ Artist proofs/ Great Deals/ Drinks + Snacks/
And... Snooping around my loft!

Inspiration: Edith Head

I saw this book in the window of a vintage clothing store this afternoon (69 Vintage on Queen) and for the rest of the day I've had Edith Head on my mind.

She had a Masters degree in romance languages from Standford but 0 design experience when she was hired as a costume sketch artist at Paramount. She's a great example of faking it till you make it.  
Her incredible people skills, PR savvy, + talent all contributed to her huge success.
Total Inspiration

#businesswoman #costumedesigner #EdithHead #AcademyAwards #kickasswoman #inspiration

Cabbagetown house for Cabbagetown Festival

I am working on creating a set of boxed Holiday cards with this image of a cozy Cabbagetown house.
They will be for sale at The Cabbagetown Festival September 5, 6 and 7 and throughout the 2014 holiday season.

Sketch: Latest Bike trend: Equestrian helmets

Spotted at Dovercourt and College this week... The Latest Bike trend: Velvet Equestrian helmets in place of regular Bicycle helmets. Tres chic. #VeryBettyDraper #AustralianBoots

New Illustrations for THE KIP

For the past few months I've been working on illustrations with the fantastic Communications Firm 52 Pick up.  The gig was for a new condo development in the West end called THE KIP.
Their website launched last Wednesday and you can now see all the illos here.

I was really happy with the limited palette in the illos and how the designers matched up the colours in the type treatment. Also love the KIP logo. Very fresh!

CBC love

Some Twitter love from two of my favourite CBC fellas: Brent Bambury + Matt Galloway.

 

#thrilled #iloveCBCradio #late #3weeksago #betterlatethannever

Sketch: Tolix chair

Below: a sketch from last week. 

 

Here is the chair the sketch was based on.

I love drawing chairs and learning about the history of furniture.

The Tolix chair was created by Xavier Pauchard in 1934.

It was originally meant as an outdoor cafe chair but is now often found inside 

- in a rainbow of colours - in very styley kitchens!

Tolix also makes great industrial looking stools.

the chair is part of collections in the MoMA in New York, the Pompidou Centre in Paris and the Vitra design collection in Weil am Rhein in Germany. - See more at: http://themustardceilingblog.com/2012/04/tell-me-tuesday-bam-or-slam-14.html#sthash.mv9dRUq0.dpuf

Very special night

Last night was a very special night.
My friends Jeff + Tori got married and then proceeded to host the best wedding reception ever.

 

Tori cutting the wedding cake with newly minted husband Jeff behind her.

What a space!! 

(Note blissful wedding couple canoodling in bkgd)

The reception took place in an incredible space  - a former sheet metal shop on Dundas West that's been converted into a fabulous home with stunning art, built ins, lighting and the world's longest kitchen island! I think it's true - you can never have enough counter space. :-)

If you're planning to visit Toronto sometime soon you're in luck... as the home is available to rent through air b+ b!! It can be viewed + booked here. It was also recently featured in Dwell magazine.

 Jeff's fabulous brogues. (He's a styley guy)

Me + Rachel Giese.

Love this pic.

Another view of the space.

Great lighting.

(The upstairs was stunning too!)

  

Who would guess such a special place lies behind this unassuming storefront?!  

Above: Leaving after a very special evening of wonderful conversations, too much champagne, and a

room bursting with love and best wishes for Jeff + Tori. Corny but true!

Images from June

I've been away from my blog for a while... It's catch up time.
Here are some favourite images from June.

 Hijinks with great Artscape Neighbours Paula and Greg.

More hijinks with Artscapers including Robbie Grunewald above (and his Gin Fizz)

 Printing some more kitchen prints

Design salon!

Kim, Jessica and Donna

Jessica, peonies and birdie plates!

Colleen, Lynda and Heather.

Very attractive Tattly model: Photographer Jon Loek

 

 Sassy Sasha and my pear Tattly

Puppeteer Clea Minaker and her fabulous legs

from the amazing documentary

Look at what the light did now

I can't recommend this documentary enough.

Another screen grab from the documentary

Beautiful.

Watching Casablanca in David Pecaut Sqaure courtesy of TIFF

Toronto looked so beautiful that night.

FYI Free films every Wednesday all summer!
See the schedule here

Play it again Sam.

 Greg Oh and Drake breakfast. 

#Bestneighbourever.

The Artscape Salon

Last Wednesday I had a ton of fun participating in Artscape's Annual Fundraising Salon at Daniels Spectrum in Regent Park. This year's theme was Picnic in the Park.

Here is the group of speakers chosen for the evening  

(Back Row) Cara Eastcott, Thompson Egbo-Egbo, Sue Cohen, Richard Marsella, Mona Filip, Tim Svirklys, David Macfarlane, David Buchbinder, Farley Flex, Dan Yashinsky, ( Front Row) Ambur Braid, Me, Sam Shuter, Lisa Rochon, Darren O’Donnell, Jason Collett, Clarence Ford, Komi Olaf.
Veronica Tennant was also a speaker.

  The Event began with a fun cocktail reception.

Artscape Salon Co-chairs Shelley Black + Vaughn Stafford Grey then took to the stage to explain how the “salon-style dinner party” would work...

The event was set up as a sort of "Speed dating" with artists in that the speakers were asked to travel from table to table after each dinner course with the mandate to discuss the role of art in Toronto plus stimulate scintillating discussion! (no pressure there!)

As the theme was Picnic in the Park I thought it oh so appropriate to bring along my Fruit Tattlys which I had just picked up from the Tattly team in NYC. 

 Guests were encouraged to choose a Tattly of their choice.

 Several guests chose two and insisting on putting them on immediately! (Good sports)

 Watermelon + champagne = good combo.

Opera Singer Ambur Braid in intense discussion

 

Janice Lyndsay with the delicious Spring Torchietti provided by Enoteca Sociale - yum!

Her husband David McFarlane with emphatic hand gestures!

Two of my favourite guests from the evening.

(Unfortunately, unlike the speakers, they did not have to wear name tags!)

I shall track them down....) :-)

 

  After dinner Councillor Mike Layton put his family’s legendary auctioneering skills to good use for the live auction.

My Room of One's Own print was first in line.

 

Here is the lovely guest Jodi who went home with my print.

(I had to give her an apple tattoo - in celebration - but ofcourse)

 

 Me + Vaughan at end of evening

The evening was a complete blast from start to finish!

You can see the full set of photos here:

Thank you Artscape!  

Photos above (with exception of Tattlys!) courtesy of Garrison McArthur Photographers

File under Funny people

I went to hear Canadian mom turned Hollywood screenwriter /Twitter sensation Kelly Oxford this week.
Funny and inspirational both in terms of both her writing + style.

My Favourite exchange:

Interviewer: Why do you put in so many specific references in your writing like Orphan Annie's broken locket? Aren't you worried that people won't get the references?

Kelly: I put them in to bring my people closer to me. My people get the references. :-)

It's inspiration for me to always create + write from the truest part of myself - and then have confidence that it will resonate with others.