New vase pattern

Original pen and ink drawing

Yellow vases

Black + grey with background texture

Purple + orange

Today I took my recent pen + ink drawings of vases and played around with them in Photoshop to create some more pattern samples.
I think they'd be suitable for both wallpaper and fabric.

World's Best Accountant for Creative people = Brian Bowes

I did my taxes last week and was reminded once again that I have the World's Best Accountant: Brian Bowes. Brian specializes in financial assistance for creative types and has a roster of illustrators, screen writers and actors to show for it. He has a deep understanding of the inevitable vicissitudes of an artist's life so is able to provide very helpful advice - always delivered in a calming manner! He also has extreme patience when dealing with typical artist 'foibles" such as forgetting deadlines. I frankly don't know where he gets the patience but am glad he does. :-)
If you're looking for an account or financial advisor... there is no one I would recommend more highly.
www.brianbowes.com
Brian, you are the best. xxx

Portlandia's video "Put a Bird on it!"

Fred Armisen + Carrie Brownstein put a Bird on everything

I realize I'm very late to this but just had to post this video as it's cuz so funny + accurate.

Portlandia is a new sketch comedy/TV show on IFC starring Fred Armisen + Carrie Brownstein. The show mocks the stereotypes found in Portland Oregon and in this clip, it takes on the BIRD trend that's been going strong on Etsy and in indie urban centres for years. Spot on.

This Friday...

I leave for NYC in 4 days and am very excited to have landed a ticket for swiss miss's Creative Morning on Friday morning. The speaker is the brainy Maria Popova of Brain Pickings.
For new readers to the blog... Creative Mornings is a monthly lecture series created by Tina Roth Eisenberg: creator of the popular blog swiss miss. It started in NYC and has since spread to LA, San Fran + Zurich. You can read more about here.

Making a custom print: Last part!

I believe this is called a Live/Work space!

Close up of tea staining

Creating the "coffee ring" with a pie plate dipped in tea

This week I finished tea staining my penguin prints. As explained in this previous post after painting on tea to give the print an aged 'well loved" look I create the coffee ring by dipping a pie plate in tea and then placing on the print for 5 minutes.

My friends in House + Home

Feature on Mjolk's John + Juli written by Alison (Garwood Jones)

Suzanne Dimma's editor's page including a huge nod to Liz :-)

Two of my friends are featured in the latest issue of House + Home.

My friend Alison (Garwood Jones) wrote a feature on the House + Home of the month: the crisp Scandi cottage renovated by "Toronto tastemakers" John + Juli of Mjolk.

My friend Liz Kingstone (who I recently posted about here) was cited by Suzanne Dimma in her editor's letter as one of the most creative decorators she knows! She included a photo of Liz's pink chair which was recently coloured by her son Henry using fat fabric markers.

Yay Alison and Liz.

Images from the weekend

Shannon Bday party at the Gladstone
Hours of zany Karaoke followed!!

Scott Griffin + Rita Koos

Lovely dinner with Artscape friends Jen, Richard + Lise

Fun party at Y + Co

Margot Austin of Style at Home + Kelly Ashford Chadda of Y + Co.

Very fun party at Y + Co last night to celebrate the launch of Kreme's new line of wallpapers.
Margot Austin, Katherine + Ali Yaphe, Kelly Ashford Chadda + Cadee Wilder of Kreme were all great company. Wine + appetizers fabulous too. Thanks Ali!

Look what's going on outside my window!

And down she comes!

Close up view with cn tower in background

Signs for the two new condos going up.
Jesus.
This stretch of Queen West will look vastly different five years from now.

This week 3 demolition thingies appeared right outside my widow and started taking down the building directly to the east of me - to make way for 'The Edge" condo! Soon there will be 3 more infront of our building as the beloved aristocrat lighting building comes down to make way for "The Epic".
It's actually quite a sight to watch... makes concentration a tad challenging tho'.

Back in the Print Studio: Completing my custom penguin print

The 2nd screen to be printed in black

Applying the ink

And pull with the squeegee!

And lift: Ta da.

Over to the rack for drying

A close up of the chubby penguin
This guy came out very 'off register' but I kind of like it that way

Was back in the studio today to complete the second pass of my penguin print.
All went well.
The last step is to tea stain the print to give it a nice well worn look.
Then it's off to New York to deliver it to Paul Buckley of Penguin Books!

One of the best examples of recycling ever

Isla and Andrew at the studio helping Jeff recycle skids

Just had to tell you about this ingenious recycling idea carried out by my printing friend Jeff Garcia. Jeff takes the wooden skids that grocery stores regularly throw out (tsk tsk). He then rips them apart, sands down the wood and then fashions them into benches + other usable furniture for his studio. You can watch a little video of some of the process here. Just love that he recycles found material and saves the skids from going to landfill.
I think Mother nature is smiling down at Jeff.

Sketch for Good Egg Window

I'm working on an illustration on the theme of gardening for the window of Good Egg.
I love doing hand lettering so one idea I have is to write out the names of a bunch of herbs surrounded by little drawings of gardening tools + a garland. (I'll use any excuse to draw a garland!) I think it'll look best reproduced all in white on the window. Stay tuned for final result.

Inspiration: Silhouette book

One of life's loveliest sights: the arrival of an amazon book!

The perfect activity for a rainy tuesday night.
ps. apologies for blurry photos. man i need a camera lesson!

I have long been drawn to silhouettes so was happy to find this book recently published by Rizzoli: Silhouette: The art of the shadow by Emma Rutherford. I tucked into on a cozy rainy night = bliss.

Images from the weekend

Trip to the ROM with sweet brother Danny
Me infront of the Paradise of Maitreya
from 1298, Yuan Dynasty


Close up of foot (These guys could really draw)

LOVED this pot in the ROM gift shop by Natalia Laluque
Inspired by Trypilian culture.
Such pure and simple lines


Back at home...my work is cut out for me
More Lighthouse red paint and Chalk board paint!

Now it's White

Now it's Red!

Saturday Bike shopping!

This is Eloise. Found at Duke cycle.
She is definitely in the running.

A clearer shot. A beauty.

A great sprung saddle.

Pantone bikes!? Beautiful but a bit too trendy methinks.

Eric Farache's opening at LOOP

This guy always has great sartorial style. Love the striped pants from Argentina + sneakers.

Then off to Hot docs.
Just love their logo. So striking against the hot pink.
The city looks better for the 2 weeks that these posters are hanging around!

A Historic Night

NDP wins a historic 102 seats making them the official opposition.

Elizabeth May wins first Green party seat ever.

I won't mention the bad news....:-(

Remember to get out in VOTE!