Inspiration

Loved these adorable bluejays + cardinal ornaments spotted at The Drake General store this morning. Inspires me to try to sew some ornaments of my own.

Cyril the Fox and Donna Wilson

How adorable is this knitted Cyril the Fox?
And how adorable is it to name a fox Cyril?

Created by the quirky Donna Wilson below who I just found out was chosen as British designer of the Year by Elle Decoration. wow. Her work is characterized by a playful nature, tactile aesthetic and multicoloured palette. It's imaginative, quirky, and cool.

What great style. Look at those teal tights and two-tone oxfords!

This is her booth at the Maison et Objet show in Paris.

Donna started out knitting curious creatures but has since expanded into ceramics, pillow and fabrics. (which is what I'd love to do in 2011!)
Very inspirational.

Completing the mannequin print

Today I completed my small mannequin print.

The second layer is first printed on acetate which is then used to register the print. (ie. placing the paper in proper position)

After registering the brown ink is applied to the screen with a spatula and then pulled onto the print with a squeegee.

Ta da!

A bunch of judys drying.

Final signed and numbered print.

Feist on Creative Process + Collaboration

Really great interview on Q just now with Leslie Feist and Anthony Seck on Look at What the Light Did Now: A documentary film about Feist and her collaborators. I have always found Feist to be very juicy + insightful when discussing her creative process and have long admired how she includes many visual artists (including puppeteers!) into her live shows. I'll be buying the DVD as soon as it comes out and anticipate giving it a glowing review later in the month.

Beginning work on Mannequin print

As I mentioned a few weeks ago I'm creating some small sewing related prints especially for The Workroom. Today I began work on the small ochre mannequin print which is a smaller version of the print which appeared in Canadian House + Home in the spring. See above.

Below a few process pics.

Mixing the ink
Ochre = 27% Magenta 94% Yellow 20% Black

Applying ink with spatula
(The other images on the screen are covered with paper so that the ink does not go through them)

After a few test prints production begins

1st Layer drying
This will be a large edition of 25.

Good company while screening = Eleanor Wachtel's interview with Jonathan Franzen.
I liked his line 'Most depressives are also the funniest people I know. Most of my friends fit into this category"

Books to read over the holidays

This has been zany fall.
Looking very forward to nuzzling by a fire with a few of these books.
ps. I don't have a fire but you get the sentiment!



The Englishman who Posted Himself by John Tingey
I love anything to do with postage and quirkiness!
Recommended by the wise folks at Very Short List.



The Exquisite Book 100 Artists Play a Collaborative Game by Julia Rothman


Anything on swiss miss's amazon list!
(fyi it includes fabulous suggestions for kid's books + gifts too)

Images from the Weekend

Took my nephew Graeme to the Tim Burton show at Bell Lightbox.

Our feet against the floor painted classic Burton black and white.


Graeme (Budding filmmaker) engrossed at the TIFF Bookshop.
I love this photo.

Eggs Benny at the Drake. yum.
(ps. I did not have weekends like this when I was 10!)

News: Telegramme Prints

Beginning next week my prints will be available framed and unframed at Telegramme Prints in Toronto. Telegramme has two locations:
1103 Queen St East in Leslieville
and a new shop at 194 Ossington Avenue in the West End.

Telegramme carries work from a wonderfully electic group of artists including Charley Harper, Shinzi Katoh and Shepard Fairey. They also do great custom framing using conservation framing materials + methods.

News: Royer Objets & Trouvailles

For my customers in Quebec...
Some of my prints are now available at
Royer Objets & Trouvailles
207 Avenue Laurier Ouest
in Montréal
514.273.8111

Margot Austin's Break up with Restoration Hardware

Above

It's called the Antique Hungarian Sleigh Bench... and as Margot says "I'm here to tell you -- that ain't no antique."

A while my friend Kim pointed out Margot Austin's hilarious post about breaking up with Restoration Hardware which I emphatically agreed with .She described their entire line as "a massive jumble of greigy industrial Belgian via Atlanta and a factory in Asia."Great.

She then went on to explain "My beef is with the faux olde-timeyness. I'd so much rather own something old than some new thing that underpaid laborers worked for hours on trying to make it look old. Faux olde-timeyness is one of my hated design conceits. And Restoration Hardware has really gone for it here.

Could not have said it better.Right on Margot!

Brilliant: The Theory of Hipster Relativity

The cartoon reads
" There is no such thing as a hipster on it's own. A hipster can only exist in comparison." So true.

Dustin really nailed the current outfits and accessories.
The lumberjack guy with beard + banjo and Gin making Dandy just walked past my window!
Thanks Linda and Myles.

Sketches: Tea pots

Below:
Experimenting with some pattern ideas
Lime green + grey = favourite colour combo

Images from Weekend

Dinner with friends

Cozy fire afterwards

A visit to the Ossington strip

Great Shinzi Katoh poster at Telegramme

Virginia Johnson's hand painted sign on door

Triangle Lofts Opening Party

Neighbours Charlie and Carol

The Gallery

Fellow Illustrator and Bon Vivant Harvey Chan

Delicious butternut squash soup served in shot glasses. Yum.

Exterior of building

The Artscape party last Thursday evening was a blast. Fabulous catering and booze supplied by Iler Campell. Thank you Iler Campbell! Lots of hijinks with fellow Artscapers.

Getting ready....

Signage!

A sneak peek at the Gallery

Tomorrow is the official opening of the Artscape Triangle Lofts so today there were many folks dashing about putting finishing touches on the building. Our building includes a gallery on the first floor (!!) and to celebrate the opening we have mounted a group show called "This must be the Place" which will open tommorrow. Above a sneak peek.

These are the BEFORE pics...

My livingroom for just one more day. (Thank God)

My very temporary office.
Fancy L shaped desk fashioned from Bentwood chair plus my monitor + tv boxes = Glamour.

Home decor update:
Nixed the idea of the polished concrete floors. Too pricey.
Am getting a sisal rug put in tomorrow for the livingroom.
Can't wait to show you the AFTER pics!