If you run a small business you should read this book

Ever since I wrote about Wordpress founder Matt Mullenweg + Google Creative Director Ji Lee in January I've been thinking a lot about the concept of FREE and how it is factoring into our new economy. (Both entrepreners had emphasized the fact that the more they gave away the more they got back.
Nora Young also touched on the subject recently in her Spark interview with TED producer June Cohen who explained that TED's goal is to make their conference videos available for free to as wide an audience as possible.

Consequently I was ripe for the reading of FREE: How Today's Smartest Businesses Profit by Giving Something for Nothing by Wired magazine's Chris Anderson. Anderson begins the book by tracing the history of pricing and commerce and then unpacks the various types of free including the newly invented model of a 'Freemium'. (wherein a company offers a free basic version of their product along with a paid premium version) The book is full of thought-provoking material written in an optimistic and highly readable style. The most enjoyable book I've read this year so far and methinks essential reading for anyone running a small business.

Inspiration: 16 Century Playing cards

From the woodblock printing Video on the Victoria and Albert website
Here the block is being carved

A stencil is used to apply colour to the image. Cool man.

I find these playing cards from the Victoria and Albert museum very inspirational. They date from 1520 and would have been created using a woodblock and then coloured with a stencil. I think the drawing of the 'knaves' are adorable and I love how the colour is slightly off register. The V + A website has a very instructive video which demonstrates the technique of woodblock printing.

Talented friends: Janet and Alison

Two of Janet's photos in the cozy attic bedroom
Two of my friends have work in the July issue of Canadian House and Home.
Janet (Kimber) shot the home of stylist Deb Nelson in Chester Nova Scotia and my friend Alison (Garwood Jones) wrote the Style files piece on Vancouver Designers Gallant + Jones. Yay Alison and Janet!

Sketch: On the Bench at Jet Fuel

Went through some old drawings tonight.
Drew this at my former local coffee shop Jet Fuel Cafe.

One of my Favourite Homes: Kim's House

Lots of white injected with pops of vibrant colour

Close up of the great juicy rug (from IKEA!)

Kim rescued this chair from the goodwill and then slip covered it
Looks great with the punchy marimeko pillow

My cha cha cha print also adds a POP of colour

Groovy striped walls add a very graphic punch

Cheerful kitchen with fresh flowers always
Kim has since replaced the wood on the island with a beeyooteeful marble top

Strawberry shortcakes fit right in with the colour scheme

mmmmm Boccocini salad

Kim also painted these stripes again in Sam's room. Very fun.

Kim's talented daughter Phoebe
I predict a future Kathryn Bigelow!

My friend Kim has one of the most welcoming homes I know of. It's decorated in a high contrast white + black scheme which is then injected with lots of pops of vibrant colour. The effect is very fresh and happy. (Ofcourse Kim's wonderful family + new puppy also add to the great vibe!) It feels impossible to feel gloomy in this wonderful space. Kim is also a big fan of transforming what you have rather than buying new and is always on the look out for garbage day treasures - which gets the big thumbs up from me!

Illustrations for New Book: What to Wear for the Rest of your Life

I liked adding this fun pattern to the tights! She's my kinda girl - with sensible shoes!

Fun leopard print!

Sunny Lily Pulitzer dress
(Did you know her father in law was Joseph Pulitzer - of Pulitzer prize fame?)

This was a sketch which wasn't included in the book.
I liked her big hips and tiny animated feet!

The Book What to Wear for the Rest of your Life by Kim Johnson Gross which I illustrated is in bookstores now.
If interested you can order a copy through me! Makes a nice bday giftie.
alanna(dot)cavanagh(at)gmail.com

Back in the Studio

I completed the 2nd pass of my Reading for Profit print today.
Still to come: The title and then coffee and tea staining. ETA = one week!

Salon Voltaire with Artist Charlie Pachter

Charles Pachter with one of his iconic moose paintings

I love this photo of his first art show with life long friend Margaret Atwood

Charles' incredible house - located right behind the AGO
designed by Canadian Architect Steven Teeple

On Friday I went to a Salon Voltaire event at The Spoke Club with guest speaker Charlie Pachter. I found his life story, outrageous chutzpah and great taste in architecture all very inspiring. Charles is most well known for his iconic paintings of Canadian flags, the Royal family and Moose!

Hallelujah

Six of the most beautiful words in the english language:
Your mortgage application has been approved.

Finding Flow

I am rereading one of my favorite books: Finding Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.
Quite great. More on it soon.

Back in the Print studio

Screens waiting at home to be taken to the studio

Mixing the blue ink for the first layer

Measure twice Screen Once

Pull

And lift

Layer one drying

Mistake grrr.....

I like this picture

Ok For all those folks waiting patiently for your Reading for Profit Print have no fear... Production has begun. ETA = 2 - 3 more weeks. Thanks for your patience!

Delicious fabrics

mmm.... what a great colour combination

I love this bold graphic print - and the colours are so juicy.

Some gorgeously vibrant fabrics found at Designer Fabric Outlet on Saturday with lovely friend Kim.
Both these fabrics would make great pillows or perhaps a screen or room divider thingy.

Dreaming of my new Space...

Am re-reading a fantastic book Living Large in Small Spaces by Marisa Bartolucci.
It has dozens of really great inspirational spaces - most from NYC. Consequently there is a lot of murphy bed action! Highly recommended.

Press: Remodelista

Yesterday San Francisco based Remodelista included my work in their post on Penguin Books as art. I will be beginning work on a second edition of these prints starting tommorrow. Tune in for pictures of the whole inky process!

Decor Inspiration: Here's what you can do with a garage!

Jeff in his transformed garage
Decorated almost exclusively through Craig's list!
The ladder leads to a cozy hide away space

Hide away on platform
Looks abit messy here - Trust me very cozy

A Kilmn - One of the best ways to warm up a space methinks
This one purchased from the fabulous illustrator Henrik Drescher when he was leaving town = good vibes

Ingenious storage

Squeegee storage

Screen storage

The day after I signed on the dotted line to buy a big white cement box (my loft) it was very inspiring + comforting to visit my friend Jeff Garcia who has transformed a humble garage into this psychedelic print making studio. The space is very inviting with tons of colour, plants, ingenious storage and a special cozy hideaway space up top. Has inspired me to build a cozy bedroom on a platform in my new space.
(= Refuge)

Jeff runs Halo Halo screen printing. Check it out here.