andrew's blog

Jennifer Collier: Paper Magician

2011-11-02T19:39:00.001-04:00

I had not heard of paper artist Jennifer Collier until a friend of mine sent me a link to her website, knowing instinctively that I would fall madly in love with her creative mind. Based in Stafford, England, Jennifer lets the paper she finds dictate the forms of her creation, using the paper's weight, style, colour and pattern as inspiration and function. "I produce unusual paper 'fabrics' using bonding, waxing, trapping and stitching to explore the remaking of household objects," she writes on her website. Her work has been featured in numerous magazines, including Elle Decoration, Living Etc., Country Living and Selvedge. All of her works are for sale. Visit here for more details. Below are examples of her extraordinary work.

Caroline Waite

2011-10-20T18:35:00.000-04:00

Caroline Waite's fascination with the secret life of objects began as a little girl growing up in the rural English town Cookham Dean. Replete with flea markets and antique shops, the village was Caroline's playground and she spent hours foraging for treasures that had been back and forth - and back again. She eventually pared down her collection to an edited mass of 'inspired junk' that led her to begin to experiment with form. Her artwork today is an assemblage of found objects that have been repurposed and re-imagined through the lens of a creative mind. They are lovely little trophies of eccentricity and whimsy. I adore them.

The House of Annie Lennox

2011-09-12T16:11:00.000-04:00

London's Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) is poised to open its exhibit about Annie Lennox, one of my favourites and one of the most influential people in my life. The museum, which touts itself as the world's greatest museum of art and design, will be opening the exhibit called "The House of Annie Lennox" on September 15th, a one-room retrospective of some of Annie's most celebrated music videos, photographs, costumes and charitable accomplishments. The exhibit will examine her creative process, her inspirations, her image and her style. Her Oscar, some of her Grammy and Brit Awards and audio/visual interviews with Annie will also be on view. Below are photographs by Satoshi Saikusa for her first solo album, Diva, which is the album to end all albums in the House of Andrew Ritchie.

Between a Frock and Hard-Place

2011-08-17T21:43:00.004-04:00

I love these photographs of Kristina Salinovic taken by Benjamin Lennox for London's Financial Times, November 2010.

Wabi-Sabi Living

2011-06-14T13:45:00.004-04:00

The Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi has long been a fascination of mine. It is essentially the appreciation of - and a longing for - imperfect beauty. Think of a rustic home on a hillside that is made all the more beautiful because of its weathered wood and haphazard planting of wildflowers around its entrance. Or maybe it's your grandmother's old tea pot, with its slightly crackled glaze and the charming chip on its lid. The wabi-sabi ideal is not so much a rejection of 'perfection' as it is a marrying of opposites. The philosophy can apply to any form of aesthetic or artistic pursuit: poetry, painting, design and decoration, all the way through dance and movement.

Some new additions to my library have inspired me to turn my appreciation of wabi-sabi into the art of practicing it at home by living with the things I love without feeling like I am violating some sort of rigid design rule. I am a great lover of old things (books, linens, decorative objects and dinnerware) and it is sad to have those great treasures stored in boxes, out of sight, simply because of the fear that they "do not go with anything." They could and should be enjoyed. The trick is to relax the mind while training the eye to incorporate and appreciate more texture, more colour and more variation into the living environment. These books, which are inspirational on their own, are the perfect guides to wabi-sabi living.

Wabi Inspirations by Axel Vervoort; The Wabi-Sabi House by Robyn Griggs Lawrence; Religion in Wood A Book of Shaker Furniture by Edward Deming Andrews and Faith Andrews; Wabi-Sabi For Artists Designers, Poets and Philosophers; Etcetera by Sibella Court.

A Collection A Day

2011-04-25T21:30:00.009-04:00

Maybe it's twine, or vintage postcards, or matchbooks, or those little plastic closures that keep our bread bags freshly sealed: mugs, erasers, elastic bands... Whatever the objects, all things collected are loved by someone. Editor Lisa Congdon (Uppercase magazine) has created a fascinating new book called "A Collection a Day" featuring 365 of her collections of various bits and bobs, lovingly photographed and packaged in a rectangular tin storage box - for the full vintage effect. The introduction to the book was written by Fritz Karch, the collecting editor at Martha Stewart Living magazine. To read more about the project and the book (which is also available as part of an Uppercase book bundle) click here. To order a signed copy of the book (just ordered mine!) as well as some limited-edition ephemera associated with the book, such as limited-edition prints and note cards, click here.

Russel Wright's American Modern

2011-04-16T10:49:00.006-04:00

A recent introduction to my purview of housewares is Russel Wright. Considered a modern master, Wright's dinnerware and serveware brought good design to the masses, beginning in the early 1920s through the early 1960s. Unusually curvaceous and deeply coloured in captivating solids, Wright's pieces introduced simplicity to the everyday household. Examples of his colourful and wildly popular American Modern line (considered to be the best-selling housewares line in U.S. history) demonstrate his design aesthetic, which touted the ease of casual living. Wright's primary belief was that the dining table was the heart of the home; his designs stemmed from this philosophy. While much of his most popular work was tableware, he also designed furniture, such as these sleek dining chairs. Wright's firm continues to operate today with offices in Burbank, California and Garrison, New York.

Cute Vintage Gift Tags for Spring

2011-03-30T13:34:00.006-04:00

One of my favourite shops on Etsy is called Brandywine Designs, run by stay-at-home mom Brandy Faulkner of Texas. Her specialty is handmade stationery and gift-tag sets, usually designed with gorgeous vintage imagery she has collected over the years. Brandy often embellishes this found imagery with her own designs using advanced printing techniques to create something unique. Her Halloween collection of gift-tags and stationery is what first seduced me, but her Spring offerings are just as enticing, repleat with imagery of the season's best: birds and their eggs, roses and butterflies. Her little package of vellum specimen tags (bottom) is also sweet, perfect for attaching a pressed flower from your garden, or a few choice seeds, to attach to an Easter or Mother's Day gift.

If Walls Could Talk

2011-03-21T19:28:00.011-04:00

Ever since I was a child, I've always been drawn to buildings and interiors that show their age, with the patterns of time clearly etched onto their surfaces. I think it's the idea of the "story" that attracts me. My family and I once stayed in a 100 year-old cottage in Scotland and I loved imagining the original builders choosing the site, placing the stones and setting up the first pieces of furniture inside. Generations later, there I was, a guy from Canada sleeping in one of its bedrooms. Shelter is ephemeral and time will always have its way. Below is a series of images that I love that really show how living with time (instead of white-washing it all with newness and perfection) can deepen a room's atmosphere: an old home in Sydney, Australia (first three); a living room in Turkey (fourth photo); a kitchen in New Orleans (fifth photo) and the last two photos are from the March, 2011, Anthropologie catalog.

Measuring Cups by Michele

2011-03-16T19:19:00.005-04:00

When I was first hired by Anthropologie (exactly two years ago today!) I knew I was going to meet some extraordinary people. One such person was Michele Costa, who is the display coordinator at our store in Toronto. She, along with my friend Cindy Ha - the apparel manager at the time - trained with me at the Anthropologie stores in Detroit for a week. It was an exciting time and the three of us shared frequent (and tearful) laughter. Not long after we were hired, the company held a contest for all of its employees: who could design the best and most-creative set of measuring cups? I submitted an entry, along with five others from our store, as did Michele. Out of the hundreds of entries, Michele's design was eventually chosen as the best! Along with a series of great prizes, Michele's biggest treat was seeing her design manufactured by the company. Just last month, the measuring cups arrived at our store and were made available for purchase online as well. I got myself a set, below. Congratulations, Michele! And Happy Anthroversary!

Michele Costa (designer of the measuring cups) is the display coordinator at our store in Yorkville, Toronto. Each measuring-cup set has her signature on the bottom.

Lace Bowls by Hidemi

2011-03-16T09:50:00.004-04:00

While it's too fussy for my windows, too elaborate for my table and far too feminine for my wardrobe, I have always loved and admired things made of lace. The intricacy and whimsy of the openwork fabric (usually created when a thread is looped, twisted or braided to other threads independently from a backing fabric) may appear grandmotherly from a traditional standpoint, but its modern applications are limitless. Japanese ceramicist Hidemi, who now lives and works in New York, sees lace as the perfect embellishment to her delicate creations. I discovered these small bowls on her Etsy shop and loved not only the employment of the lace details but also the versatility of the pieces themselves; As decorative votives they create a striking design; a set of three sold in spring colours (with matching spoon rests) is utterly sweet. The handmade bowls are food-safe, although they are not microwave- or dishwasher-safe.

Polaroids by Elizabeth Soule

2011-03-12T13:45:00.005-05:00

Photographer Elizabeth Soule still uses the old Polaroid 600 film, which was completely discontinued two years ago to take most of her pictures. Given its limited supply, you can imagine the careful planning that goes into each and every single one of her Polaroid photographs, which are whimsical vignettes involving plastic toys, flowers, found objects and - occasionally - human beings: "I will sometimes wait a couple of days, or even a couple weeks, before photographing, thinking through what it is I want to create. I will take quite a bit of time setting up my lighting and composing the scene before I'm ready to take the picture." But when she does take the snap, the results are timeless, adorable and perfectly unusual. Visit her blog for more.

Lisa Wood's Curiosities

2011-03-12T13:27:00.002-05:00

Lisa Wood is the friend of a friend: my compadré Fernando Aguayo-Garcia who lives and works in San Francisco. While she and I have never met, our shared love of the imaginative diorama unites us. As a child, dioramas were a favourite passtime for me, especially ones that involved my plastic dinosaurs. I had no hesitation bringing some outdoor elements into the scenes either, including a caterpillar or two! When I first saw Lisa's curious dioramas, which create wondrous worlds inhabited by personified (albeit dead) bugs, I knew we were kindred spirits. You can see more of Lisa's work on her Facebook site, or buy her Blurb Book, Insects at Home here, which features some of her best creations.

The Genius of Elsa Mora

2011-03-11T19:24:00.006-05:00

She is 40, Cuban, wife and mother of three living in Los Angeles. Her nickname is Elsita and she is a genius, but she is likely far too humble to ever admit to such a thing. I first discovered her work through her shop on Etsy and have been overwhelmed by the beauty of her papercuttings ever since. (Visit her blog to see more inspiring work.) It is not only the precise perfection of her cuts (which must require oceans of patience) that draws you in, it is the imagination and the inspiration behind the work itself that sets it apart: fantastical flights of fancy, surrealistic compositions restrained inside colour palettes that keep the work classic. It is truly magical. This is not merely craft, it is art: "My work is about human nature," she writes in her bio. "It is about the way we are and the way we interact with each other, with ourselves and with the rest of the world." Behold the vision:

Irma Gruenholz

2011-03-11T14:31:00.004-05:00

Spanish sculptor and designer Irma Gruenholz has worked as an art director in the daunting world of advertising but finds the adventures of freelance work far more stimulating. She is not a trained artist but there is no denying her capacity for brilliance, which is evident in her work. Incorporating photography, composition, precision in the execution of her models (which are made of plasticine and polymer clay) and the whimsy that can only come from an artistic soul, her miniatures tell stories without issuing a sound:

Staircase As Canvas

2011-03-04T11:02:00.005-05:00

My love of stairs likely began at a very early age. I remember watching old black-and-white films with my father on Sunday mornings and the scenes that seemed the most dramatic, the most haunting and classic, were scenes that took place on the stairs: Scarlett O'Hara sweeping down that grand central staircase in her billowing finery, Gloria Swanson slithering down the stairs in her turban and bulging eyes, ready for her close-up; Joan Crawford struggling down the banister in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? Stairs have gravitas and drama. They not only enhance a space by alluding to an undiscovered space above, they also create shadow, depth or the perfect creative canvas for those inclined to be imaginative. Below are some super stairs for your consideration. In each case, the fronts of the steps were used as the base for wallpaper, paint and stencilling or mosaic. I love the effect!

Varykino

2011-02-18T18:48:00.011-05:00

As I listen to the cold, February winds bellowing outside my windows, ushering away a midwinter thaw, I am reminded of Varykino. To anyone who has worshipped the film Dr. Zhivago, as I have, the name will be familiar. To others, I can only describe Varykino as a winter icon, replete with romance, internal struggle, passion and melancholy - and lots and lots of glittery ice.

The film, which harnesses the impulse and energy of the Russian Revolution to illustrate the arch of romantic love is probably one of the best depictions of love on screen ever captured. Omar Sharif and Julie Christie play the starcrossed fugitives from different social realms who fall madly in love with one another after the revolutionary wave equalizes Russian society.

While the film has many poignant moments, none made such an impact on me as the couple's escape to Varykino - a vacation home once owned by the wealthy Zhivagos that now sits empty on a barren landscape of snow drifts and ice ponds. Terrified of capture, nursing injuries and yet still in a state of rapture, they hide away in the frozen home, making love, writing poetry and illuminating its ice-laden rooms with the dim flicker of candle light. When I first saw the film as a young adolescent, I yearned to wander through Varykino's frigid halls, where ice and crystal are indistinguishable. I occasionally escape there in my mind.

Hair Apparent

2010-11-22T21:38:00.004-05:00

In a recent issue of Worn Fashion Journal (a Montreal-based fashion magazine that I love) the editors had fun styling men's hair in the styles of some famous dames, including Coco Chanel, Jackie Kennedy and Annie Oakley. I loved the photographs and wanted to share them.

Lula Pop-Up Shop

2010-11-06T18:02:00.005-04:00

Lula magazine, one of my all-time favourites, has undertaken a new venture: retail! To help celebrate the magazine's fifth birthday, the editor-in-chief (Leith Clark) teamed with set designer Fiona Leahy to create a fantastical pop-up shop at Harvey Nichols in the United Kingdom and also at The Hudson's Bay Company in Canada. To celebrate all things Lula, Clark has personally invited the likes of Rodarte, Erdem, Lover, Miu Miu, Charles Anastase, Rachel Antonoff and Sonia Rykiel to design exclusive pieces for the shops. Special CDs and books by Clark's friends Liz Goldwyn, Melissa Auf Der Maur, Derek Blasberg, Daisey de Villeneuve and Karen Elson are also available. My fellow Canadians can see the pop-up shop at The Bay onQueen Street until November 24th!

Tine K Home

2010-10-18T11:53:00.007-04:00

My friend Ronnie sent me some incredible photographs from the Tine K Home catalogue, whose theme this fall is "Dark Autumn." The home furnishings company was started by Danish designer Tine Kjeldsen and her style is one I love. Below are some photos form the catalogue. Click here to view the catalogue in full.

Pattern by Orla Kiely

2010-09-21T20:46:00.005-04:00

Fans of intrepid graphic designer (and fashion designer and interior designer...) Orla Kiely will be thrilled with this: a new, enormous, hardcover book containing full-colour spreads of her designs, housewares and accessory collections is due for release on October 18th. More than this, the book offers biographical information as well, detailing Orla's childhood, her education and how she developed her business. It's definitely on my list! Photos by decor8blog.

Anthology

2010-09-19T10:34:00.005-04:00

At a time when innovative little shelter magazines are folding as fast as they can be stacked at the newsstands, it's refreshing to come across brave new start-ups. One such magazine is Anthology, a San-Francisco based publication whose first issue looks very, very promising. Those of us who are still mourning the loss of magazines like Blueprint and Domino are likely to find our design fix here. I have not yet seen the magazine with my own eyes, but I have subscribed and hope to be getting my first issue soon. You can read more about Anthology (and subscribe) by clicking here. Have a look inside the first issue:

Selvedge

2010-09-02T19:17:00.003-04:00

First of all, I don't sew. I don't knit. I don't have a sewing machine. I don't own a single spool of thread, actually. But I do love fabric. I work in it, I live in it, I admire it everywhere I go. This is why I was so excited to discover a magazine devoted to the fabric arts: not just apparel, but a full-on examination of where some of the world's best-loved fabrics are sourced from, how they are woven and worn, their patchwork histories and even their hidden social politics. The magazine is a British import called Selvedge, which by definition is "a decorative fringe" or "the edge of a fabric that has been woven to prevent fraying." I like the duality of the word, implying both function and style. That's what the magazine is all about, in fact. It is heavily driven by beautiful, editorial imagery (below) and a strong design sense, backed by well-researched essays about all manner of fabrics and their artistic applications, from boiled-wool cushions in modern interiors to a history of Hollywood costumery. Visit their website to learn more. The magazine is a bit tricky to come by in North America, but it's out there. Worth sourcing, for sure.

Annie Lennox's Christmas Album

2010-08-23T20:12:00.009-04:00

On November 16th Annie Lennox will release her first Christmas album, something she has wanted to do for more than a decade. Its cheeky title and campy cover image speak to her sense of irony and her refusal to comply with the image of the standard Christmas compilation: no white fur or covers of Jingle Bell Rock here. A Christmas Cornucopia - the album's title - will be fronted by an image of Annie in the style of a vintage Christmas card, eyes cast heavenward, stars alight. (I love this woman and the wells of inspiration she draws from.) The album will be released in three formats: standard CD, special digipak with bonus material and in good, old-fashioned vinyl. Annie shot a video for one of the songs with director Joe Dyer, who directed her beloved "No More I Love Yous" video from 1995. Hopefully, this will be included in the special version of the album! Below is the cover, track list and a link to a 'making of' video on YouTube. I cannot wait for this album!

Angels From the Realms of Glory

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

See Amid The Winter's Snow

Il Est Né Le Divin Enfant

The First Noel

Lullay Lullay (Coventry Carol)

The Holly And The Ivy

In The Bleak Midwinter

As Joseph Was A-Walking

O Little Town of Bethlehem

Silent Night

*Universal Child (original composition)

Click Here for a Making-Of Video

Stash

2010-08-07T10:51:00.009-04:00

One of my favourite things to do on a Saturday morning at home is to scour the shops at Etsy, that wonderful online repository of handmade, homemade, beautifully-made goods that come from all over the world. You can find just about anything you're looking for at Esty, from stationery to clothing, bags and jewelry to hair accessories, craft tools, books, zines, journals...even glue-stick warmers! Today's discovery is called Stash, a one-woman venture that began in 2007. Stash specializes in handmade laptop messenger bags and billfold wallets in vintage style combined with Scandinavian simplicity, using vintage fabrics whenever possible. All products are handmade from start to finish in the Stash studio in Omaha, Nebraska, using quality materials and attention to detail. Below are some of my favourites.

Designer Nathalie Nahas

2010-07-24T21:40:00.007-04:00

One of the many highlights of working at Anthropologie is meeting fantastic, creative people who lead interesting and productive lives beyond the sphere of retail. One such person is my fellow coworker Nathalie Nahas, a Toronto designer who works part time at one of the city's Anthropologie stores. I interviewed Nathalie for the job last summer and knew immediately that she was a catch. Her designs, below, illustrate why:

My favourite piece by Nathalie is this bench she designed and built several years ago.
This collection of ceramic lamps hangs in a bundle, creating the effect of warm cocoons.

This is a stool made of skillfully warped steel.
I really love these sleek, modern trays.
A gorgeous wood vessel, hand made by Nathalie.

Scrapatorium

2010-07-10T10:42:00.004-04:00

Angelica Paez has been making collages for over 15 years. Examples of her work are expertly archived on a sparse but exciting blog called Scrapatorium. Angelica's love of paper, scissors and glue have resulted in literally thousands of creations, some of which she sells online at etsy in the form of postcards and greeting cards. Below are some examples of her work.

Molly Hatch Ceramics

2010-06-27T10:55:00.003-04:00

It's always really exciting to discover an artist who is so devoted to her craft and who is so prolific in her process. Molly Hatch, a ceramicist in Northampton Massachusetts, has hosted dozens of exhibits of her work across the United States and has become something of an icon among the crafty cognoscenti. Born on an organic dairy farm in Vermont, she comes by her love of bucolic charms honestly: quaint and delightful folk-art imagery adorns most of her work. Her etsy shop has been bombarded by requests for her signature tea-cup on tea-cup designs that she had to temporarily shut it down just in order to keep up. Below are examples of her work. Surely you can see what all the fuss is about: Adorable, high-quality, handmade fabulousness!

Guylaine Couture

2010-06-25T17:25:00.009-04:00

Montreal-based artist Guylaine Couture has been teaching graphic design for the past 20 years. She also creates hand-bound collage sketchbooks and artist's books. She describes the relationship between design and the more tactile art of collage as the merging of "two parallel lives." Patterns and compositions that can be easily attained on a computer are carefully and artfully arranged on paper by hand instead, often using found pieces, labels and collected scraps, many of which live in colourful mounds on her studio tables. Guylaine says she enjoys the speed at which she can create collages, often doing four or five an hour. She finds the process exilerating. Below are some examples of her work.

Miyuki Sakai

2010-06-13T22:12:00.004-04:00

Grazing through the pages of Martha Stewart Living this month I came upon an art form I had not yet identified: sketching with thread. Artist Miyuki Sakai contributed eight 'plates' that she created using only her imagination, a sewing machine and her favourite brand of thread. She is quite prolific, living and working in San Francisco with more than 20 years experience as a master sewer. She grew up in Osaka, Japan, and trained in Kyoto before moving to Tokyo and then to California. Below are images she has created, not using paint or coloured pencils or conté but thread. Her website is a treasure trove of inspiration: click here to see more.

One of the images from the June issue of Martha Stewart Living. The editors placed actual desserts on her handmade 'plates.' The effect was striking.

Mast Brothers Chocolate

2010-06-01T20:28:00.005-04:00

Despite my many trips to New York City, I have never really explored Brooklyn. On my next trip there, I hope to make Brooklyn more of a focus. Among my stops will be the much-discussed, much-drooled-over, highly-recommended Mast Brothers Chocolate Factory in Williamsburg Village.

Mast Brothers is the only 'bean to bar' chocolate maker in New York City, and one of only a handful of such operations in the United States, doing all of their confection production in-house. The building in which they conduct their business is over 100 years old and to call it a factory may be a bit of a stretch, since the brothers (Michael and Rick) make all of the chocolates by hand with a devoted staff helping them along. The atmosphere, I'm told, is more like a studio with Rick and Michael working as "handcrafters of chocolate" as they like to refer to themselves. Each of the bars they make are individually wrapped by hand in beautiful, patterned paper - always a selling point for crafty types like me. The chocolate, having been made entirely by hand in their studio, must taste absolutely divine. Below are photographs by Eric Ryan Anderson.

Dwell's 100

2010-05-24T12:53:00.010-04:00

As a house + home periodical, Dwell magazine is more or less in its own category. With a focus on the modern, the sustainable and the functional, Dwell promotes and showcases the best in current residential architecture. Its mission was clear from the outset, nicely explained here by its founding editor-in-chief, Karrie Jacobs: "Show people living - not posing or acting, but really living - in their homes." She also promised never to style the homes in such a way as to disconnect their allure from reality: no gargantuan floral bouquets, no artfully placed fruit bowls, no artificial wind blowing sunlit sheers. To celebrate its tenth anniversary, Dwell now presents a special-issue publication featuring 100 of the best homes the magazine has showcased over the last decade. It's a treasure I've added to my 'must-have' collection.

Evelin Kasikov

2010-05-16T16:03:00.018-04:00

London-based artist Evelin Kasikov transforms traditional printing processes into handmade cross-stitch embroidery, showcasing a love of both typography and craft. Below are examples of some of her work, collected in handmade, handbound books of her own creation. To see more of her work, of find out about commissions, visit her website here.

Primp

2010-05-08T09:11:00.015-04:00

My uncle Glenn and his partner Randy are renegades. They've always gone against the grain and Randy, in particular, is a believer in big-time individuality. A flea-market goer, a vintage lover and an afficionado of all things kitsch, Randy will often spend his weekends sourcing unusual and unique decorative items, fabrics and furniture at some of his favourite haunts, even stopping along the roadside occasionally to inspect someone's castaways.

Randy owns and operates his own beauty salon on Lakeview Avenue in Toronto's west-end called Primp. The greeting sign on the front door speaks to Randy's working philosophy: "I'm open when I'm open." Primp has a diverse clientele but all would agree that the space is a testament to Randy's eclecticism. Below are some photographs of his playful salon.

Randy converted an old DuMaurier cigarette sign into the sign for his storefront. On a whim one morning after her death, Randy created an homage to Farah Fawcett using a vintage Farah bust. Electric candles and a plastic gun complete the tacky tribute.

Psychadelic colours and all manner of vintage furniture fill the space.

A large marble-based foyer mirror inherited from my great Aunt Ann got a facelift with hot orange spray paint.

Neon green and pink.

A headless Jesus statuette is resurrected with plastic flower features.

The washroom is a riot!

A Grace Jones shrine in the corner.

Hundreds of jig-saw puzzle pieces fill one of the walls in the studio.

On another wall, magazine clippings form a wallpaper collage. The sofa is another inherited piece from my Aunt Ann.

A vintage cooler plays the role of side table.

On the back of the Du Maurier sign, Randy alternates philosophies when the mood strikes, using stick-0n letters.

Julianna Swaney

2010-04-29T19:14:00.009-04:00

Simple lines and muted tones define the beautiful artwork of Julianna Swaney, who lives and works in Portland, Oregon. They are almost Shaker-like in their strictness and severity but the warmth in the rendering shines through. You can visit Julianna's website and blog by clicking right here.

Hanna Werning

2010-04-27T18:44:00.011-04:00

One of my favourite designers is Swedish-born Hanna Werning. She is an artist, textile designer and printer and has created patterns for the likes of Anna Sui and Ikea. The appeal of her designs lies in their bold shapes and vibrant colours, arranged in dense compositions. Below are some examples of her peel-and-stick wallpaper strips (no glue required!) which adhere to just about any wall surface. In the images towards the bottom you'll see how they can add a dynamic stroke of whimsy to a neutral room.

Some of Hanna's clients: Anna Sui (USA), Beaumonde (UK), Borås Cotton (SE), Boxfresh (UK), Dagmar (SE), Eastpak (BE), ECO-Boråstapeter (SE), IKEA (SE), In The Room (JP), Lagom (UK), Lisen Organics (SE), MC Living (JP), M-One-11 (AUS), Nationalmuseum (SE), Pentagram (UK), Riksutställningar (SE), Rörstrand (SE), Sagaform (SE), Strömma Sweden (SE), Stüssy (USA), Winkreative (UK), Wisconsin Film Festival (USA)

Dessert by Wayne

2010-04-25T14:23:00.016-04:00

Iconic American painter Wayne Thiebaud has always inspired me. His paintings of everyday objects (mostly desserts!) are often impacting because of their stark settings and repetitious compositions. The subject matter of his work renders it pop-cultural in scope (even though his work in the 1940s and 50s predates the pop-art movement) but it is still so accessible and fun to look at. Several retrospectives of his work now exist, including the newly released book called "Delicious," and I intend on acquiring a few of them. Below are some examples of his 'sweet' work.

Interiors

2010-04-19T11:31:00.013-04:00

Several years ago I discovered an amazing magazine on the newsstand called "Shelter." It was minimalist in design, filled with glamorous depictions of gorgeous residential interiors and had beautifully-written editorials. I was immediately smitten and I fell madly in love.

It had formerly been published by a Chicago-based independent company called "Shelter Periodicals." But two years ago it was sold to TS Media and its name was changed to Interiors. Very little has changed in the design philosophy behind the magazine; the photographs are still lush and enticing, the writing is still engaging and the design is still fresh, clean and minimalist, with huge emphasis on photography. One thing that did change, however, was its distribution. I can no longer get a copy of Interiors in Canada, it seems. They stopped distributing it here. Pricey, international subscriptions are a bit out of my league at the moment, so I must get used to picking up the odd copy here and there on my trips to the U.S.

The covers are clean and sparse with no editorial headlines: just a beautiful photograph under the title. The photography is sumptuous, printed on high-gloss pages for immediate addiction.

The magazine covers all manner of styles, from traditional to modern.

Interiors is like Architectural Digest without the celebrities.

The magazine publishes editorials about homes from all over the world. The fact that it is not "Americentric" is refreshing.

There is always a food component in the magazine as well, usually a posh American restaurant.

Lula Celebrates #10

2010-04-19T11:15:00.005-04:00

One of my favourite women's fashion magazines is celebrating its fifth anniversary this month with its tenth issue. Lula was born in England in 2005 and has since grown up to become one of the most worldly and sophisticated fashionistas around. The magazine is personified and has a spirit all its own, entirely unique in the publishing world. There is no 'real' Lula, but we, the readers, are meant to think of the magazine as a character with a definite personality and charm.

For its tenth issue, Lula is offering seven different covers. I was only able to find images of these four.

Lula is an enormous magazine, book-bound and heavy with thick, gorgeous pages that hold incredibly-hued inks depicting some of the best fashion styling and photography I've ever seen. What's also nice is that its focus extends to all artistic fields. We can read about Lula's favourite singer, her favourite painter, her favourite poet and especially her favourite clothes. Lula's style is certain and particular. You won't find any Tommy Hilfiger or Gap examples in these pages. The focus is high-fashion blended with a reverence for the vintage and the flea-market find, all put together in glorious editorials that will leave you inspired.

Lula's popularity is greatly expanding and it has become very collectible, even though only two issues a year are printed. A copy of the first issue (now out of print) in good condition can sell for well over $300 online. She can be difficult to find, this Lula, but she is worth searching for. Please promise you'll do your best to find a copy of the 10th issue. It's definitely one of the best!

An Inspiring Day in Leslieville

2010-04-16T10:12:00.035-04:00

Leslieville is a community in Toronto located in the city's southeast side. Noted for its historical charm and adorable antique shops, it was the perfect place to spend a day with my friend Winnie, foraging for creative inspiration and 'new-old' goodies that sum up our design sensibilities.

A wonderful shop called Ethel had an amazing assortment of vintage kitchenware, including Pyrex collectibles in vibrant shades of orange, yellow and red.

I absolutely loved these 1960s canisters, perfect vessels for the kitchen counter.

Upstairs was another store called Fred's. Fred had all sorts of vintage toys, books, posters, paintings and all manner of things. The careful selection of goods is what makes stores like these so fantastic to visit.I loved this portrait of a green lady. The glass lamps and the 1970s chest of drawers aren't too bad either.Wattle & Daub specialize in reclaimed wood, including old frames, shelves, hooks, benches and a beautiful selection of old wooden letters.

Jaws Antiques was a place crowded with treasures - some collectible, some not.

I found this lamp, surrounded by a pile of shells, to be a very striking and unusual vignette.

At the back of the store was a talking parrot. He loved that I was taking his picture!

Gadabout is one of Toronto's most acclaimed antique stores, mostly because of the quality of its wares but also because of its charming and unusal assortment.

One of the windows at Gadabout is a mélange of curiosities from decades past.

In the other window is a news article about Penelope Cruz's visit to the store several years ago. She apparently loved it there.

One of the things I was most interested in was this collection of old wool blankets, including vintage point blankets by the Hudson's Bay Company. They were quite expensive ($300 - $500) but they were in wonderful condition.

After a while, we stopped at an excellent coffee shop. It had been converted from a mechanic's garage into a bistro and the new owners kept the garage doors intact. Winnie tells me they open them up in the summer to let a breeze blow through. The atmosphere was industrial but warm.While we were having our tea I gave Winnie her belated birthday gift; an assortment of stationery from Muji and Orla Kiely from my last trip to NYC. She loved how it was all wrapped using paper printed with butterflies.

Our next stop was Philz 20th Century Design Studio on Queen Street East. The amazing collection of lighting and home furnishings had me wanting to redo my entire place! Winnie is mesmerized by a huge, sculptural paper lantern.Sleek but textured in a monochromatic palette; I love that style. This insane chandelier was made of silk-worm cocoons. It had a great effect.

I loved this patchwork sofa!Something about the clarity and lightness of glass lamps gets me every time. I really wanted this pair.Across the street was a florist's shop called Stemz. Its window was filled with the branches of a flowering dogwood. Inside, Winnie was greeted by the store's rambunctious little pooch. They immediately made friends.

This bouquet of king proteas immediately caught my eye. I love how its reflected in the mirror, adding to its dimension.

The stems cost $30 each!

After that we drove down to the historic distillery district, once Toronto's hub of industry. With its brick roads and old red brick distilleries (now converted into shops, restaurants, galleries and artists' studios) it immediately impressed me.

During the summer months, these streets are filled with people: dining, shopping and enjoying the scenery.

Old meets new in this atmospheric place.

Shiny Happy People - The Cookbook

2010-04-11T13:38:00.011-04:00

I've never encountered a cookbook quite like this one. Imagine a compilation of your friends' best recipes combined with photographs of their houses, bound together in a beautiful book about personal taste and style. The book is called "Shiny Happy People" and it was written, photographed and designed by South African foodie Neil Roake, writer of the award-winning "Life's a Beach Cottage" series and the "On the Rocks" cocktail book. The book is a pleasure to read since it takes you into the houses of Roake's friends while simultaneously offering up their best recipes, rendering a full portrait of these strange and wonderful people, their homes, their families and their style. Neil's eye for detail captures the essence of each home we visit and each recipe we try. Highly recommended!

In Uppercase

2010-04-04T09:57:00.013-04:00

Ever the faithful blogger, I spend at least an hour or two each weekend trolling the Internet for a good dosage of blog fodder. I love discovering new blogs, new photographers, designers, stylists, publishers and artists - and all of their inspirations and idols in turn. There really is a "web" out there.

One such recent discovery was Uppercase Magazine - an independent Canadian publication out of Vancouver that is quickly gaining the attention of design and publishing afficionados. Small, sleek and gorgeously put together, it is the creative sum of Janine Vangool (designer, editor, publisher) and Diedre Martin, editor-at-large. Together they've created a highly collectible quarterly that serves to satisfy anyone interested in media, the arts and creativity in general. I've ordered my three copies at their website. Here's a peek inside:

ALL ABOUT UPPERCASE:

We're inquisitive: learning from other artists, illustrators, designers, photographers, filmmakers and musicians, whether they're upstarts or icons, famous or shy, verbal or visual.

We're inspired: enchanted by great ideas and strange inventions; by colour and pattern; things fancy and frugal; the charm of vintage in a modern life; the ridiculous and the sublime.

We're adventurous: traveling to destinations both real and imagined, peeking into creative spaces and discovering magnificent people and memorable places.

We're eclectic: curating souvenirs, collecting treasures and celebrating the extraordinary in the everyday.

We're playful: delighting in visual amusements, intelligent distraction, entertaining wordplay and sweet indulgences.

We're UPPERCASE: a magazine for the creative and curious!The team at Uppercase also periodically releases books, like these three above: Old School, which features art inspired by the classroom; Work Life, which is a directory of Canadian artists and illustrators; Jenn 11, about eleven artists named Jen.

All About Yves

2010-03-27T10:54:00.004-04:00

While I had never intended to, I seem to be gathering quite a collection of books about Yves Saint Laurent, one of the world's most prolific and most respected French fashion designers. I'm not sure what it is about Yves' style that I gravitate to, but he is really the only French designer I find myself in tune with. Perhaps it's his own personal comport that I'm allured by: a quiet reserve, a singular focus, a deep craving for meditative isolation and a tendency towards depression.

With his business and romantic partner of 30 years, Pierre Bergé, Saint Laurent built an empirical landscape of lavish homes and gardens, spanning continents. His private collection of priceless art work and antiques is nearly unrivaled in the fashion world and his taste in interior design was immaculate.

Three fascinating books about the universe of Yves Saint Laurent are set to become treasured tomes in my book collection. Two of them are already on my coffee table: "The Private World of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé" (shown at center) is an enormous and lush book detailing their private residences and documenting their interior designs; "The Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé Collection: Sale of the Century" is a hardcover edition of the prized and highly-sought-after auction catalog that was issued to prospective buyers at the sale of Saint-Laurent's antiques and art works after his death. It is an amazing and informative look at the incredible pieces once owned by the fashion mogul.

Soon to be released is a large retrospective of various Yves Saint-Laurent fashion collections, titled simply "Yves Saint Laurent." It's on my list!

Evolution in Soho

2010-03-16T15:19:00.019-04:00

Years ago (15 years ago to be exact) I walked into the most amazing store in Soho during my first trip to New York City at the age of 18. The store was called "Evolution" and is a shop of anthropological curiosities unlike any other. Patrons can purchase the skeletons of just about any creature imaginable, even the ones that are now extinct. Skulls, fossils, shells and taxidermy fill every nook and cranny of this magical place.
Even though I had been to New York several times since that first visit in 1995, I had not been back to the store until my latest trip last week. The hotel where I was staying was just around the corner from the store and I was so thrilled when I saw the big, black sign. I devoted a couple hours to exploring the store.

Spider webs preserved in onyx shimmer in the foreground. An ostrich egg mounted on a candlestick looks elegant and mysterious.

A bison head mounted on the wall near the entrance oversees a bevy of seashells, dried coral and sea stones. On the counter you will notice lollipops - each one contains either a dried cricket or caterpillar! Yum!

Upstairs there is a gallery of fossils, some of which are millions of years old. Prices range from $1,900 to $19,000.

Above the staircase, a host of African antelope heads, a crocodile and several African masks adorn the wall.

There are skulls everywhere in this small studio, not to mention drawers and drawers of mounted insects and arachnids, all for sale. You can even buy butterflies and insects by the dozen in these beautiful cases.

Porter: Fly the Friendliest Skies

2010-03-16T14:38:00.010-04:00

I don't believe I have ever fallen in love with an airline. Correction: I KNOW I have never fallen in love with an airline. But Porter, with its delightful little wings, is playing the part of Cupid so very well. Porter is a small Canadian airline whose flagship location can be found at the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport on Toronto Island, just a two-minute ferry ride from the heart of downtown.

I have only flown with Porter twice, both occasions to New York City, and I consider the experience memorable on several counts: easy, fast, stylish and comfortable. The staff is courteous, friendly and accommodating; the service is impeccable; the speed with which they board the planes is efficient and problem-free. Oh, and did I mention that the fares are generally cheaper than those charged by those huge, impersonal commercial airlines?

For me (being the design whore that I am) it is the style and elegance of the airline that most intrigues me. For an airline that specializes in short-haul traveling, the design is impressive. Porter only flies to twelve cities in North America: Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Thunder Bay, St. John's, Mont Tremblant, Halifax, Quebec City, New York, Chicago, Boston and Myrtle Beach. (Porter does plan to expand its service to include Philadelphia, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Detroit and Windsor.) Despite its limited reach and its economical fares, Porter boasts a cachet and style not seen since the Hintonburg.

Because Porter is a small airline, lineups are practically non-existant. The check-in terminal in Toronto (shown above) is a gorgeous space with white slate floors, granite walls and simply-lit desks staffed by friendly and neatly-dressed representatives. Fresh flowers are almost always in evidence at the counter.

The lounge is another lovely space. Passengers are treated to free snacks, coffee, tea and soft drinks. There are Internet portals at each seat and a room where people surf the Net on large-screen monitors. Comfortable leather seats and table lamps provide a warm atmosphere.Stewardesses wear traditional attire (heels, a tailored uniform and a pill-box hat) for an adorable vintage touch. The seats are made of supple white leather and there is always plenty of leg room.This is the very beautifully designed in-flight magazine found on all of Porter's beautiful but compact Bombardier planes. Called Re:Porter (genius), it is printed on recycled paper and is compact enough to sneak into your carry-on. Inside, you'll find travel information about all of the cities that Porter flies to, including shops, restaurants, hotels and interviews with some of the residents and business owners.

Patch NYC

2010-03-06T17:51:00.014-05:00

In the fall of 1997, designers John Ross and Don Carney established Patch NYC Inc., with a small collection of hand crocheted wool hats. Inspired by a hat made by John's mother, Yasuko, for her son's first winter in New York the designers created a collection using hand-dyed wool from the Union Square Farmer's Market and vintage buttons for embellishment.

Bolstered by the success of their hat business, the designers added scarves the following year. Having an appreciation for embroidery, appliqué and beading techniques, the pair decorated their scarves with intricate details inspired by vintage items they had picked up at the New York flea market. These meticulous detailing techniques would come to represent their signature style, which has now spread to home décor items, such as cushions, dinnerware, wall art and decorative accessories. They also have a fun and inspirational blog.

More than a decade after their arrival in the Big Apple, the designers today boast a rather impressive roster of buyers from around the world. They've also expanded into women's jewelry and have a successful line called Hunter, a sterling silver jewelry line for men. Their products are now available in Canada, England, France, Italy, Greece, Germany, Japan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Dubai, Lebanon, Mexico and Australia.

Patch NYC creators Don Carney, left, and John Ross. A sample of their gorgeous scarves.Fun with burlap and buttons!

Don's excellent etchings grace these heavy linen cushions.

This is one of my Patch NYC pillows from Anthropologie. Printed with entomological and aviary imagery (complete with encyclopedic definitions) it is a unique piece that I treasure.

Hand-stitched, freeform embroidery on the cushion is a beautiful detail.

Sleeve City

2010-03-06T17:26:00.007-05:00

As someone with a lot of digital files (not to mention a slight obsession with making mix CDs for myself and friends) I needed a way to package them right. I was tired of the plastic jewel cases, which forever seem to crack or come apart at the joints and which take up a fair amount of space on the shelves. Thankfully I've found an outlet with all kinds of CD packaging supplies, including the rare cardboard gatefolds I have been so desperately seeking over the years. SleeveTown.com even has cardboard sleeves for LPs, for old time's sake.

Cardboard gatefold CD mailer in white from Sleevetown.com. A package of 50 costs only $16.99.

Paper CD sleeves come in an assortment of colours, perfect for filing data discs by category through a colour-coding system, or for fun compact-disc projects.

A Guest Bedroom to Love

2010-03-06T14:16:00.006-05:00

Rarely do I see a guest room with twin beds that I fall madly in love with. But this one, styled by Eddie Ross, is an exception. It's dramatic, cozy and warm with hits of formality and whimsy that seamlessly combine to create a sense of the unexpected. The print of the bird's egg is the perfect centerpiece for the room's classic symmetry. Eddie drew out the cyan and blue of the egg by using blue velvet on the headboard and footboards of the beds and more subtly in the drapery.

Samantha Robinson

2010-03-06T13:01:00.015-05:00

Australian ceramicist Samantha Robinson specializes in porcelain. Her creations are unique vessels that are then painted by hand. Stunning for their fragile beauty, the creations are sold each weekend at Paddington Markets on Oxford Street in Sydney. They are also now available internationally at stores like Anthropologie and various boutiques.

Samantha's workshop is a delightful space. Along with her artwork, she also sells flowers at Paddington Markets. These are illuminators, below. Place a tea light inside at the base and the patterns will come alive. They would also be beautiful as vases, but be sure not to fill the vessels themselves with water. Place a small jar inside to hold the flower stems and protect the porcelain.

These black-and-white patterns are reminiscent of Edward Gorey.

Smaller versions of the illuminators. Such intricate painting!

These watermelon bowls are my favourite in her collection.

Coffee cups in various pastel hues and textures.

Coffee cups like these would brighten anyone's morning.

Ralph Lauren Sweaters

2010-03-06T12:28:00.007-05:00

I only have three in my entire wardrobe, and I've had them for years. And I treasure them. There is something timeless about Ralph Lauren sweaters, a seamless blend of nostalgic, rustic elegance with a commitment to comfort, quality of materials and practicality/durability. Ralph, who has had his finger on the pulse of American fashion since the late 1960s, is a designer devoted to the classics and perhaps that's why I am so enamoured. Below are some of the Ralph Lauren sweaters I'm currently lusting after. Cotton belted shawl cardigan with genuine horn buttons. Safari-inspired and so elegant!

Cashmere blend skeet cardigan in herringbone: cashmere, silk, cotton and linen blend with a shawl collar. Love! Luxurious comfort at its finest: a light blend of linen and silk, this wrap-around cardigan with sash can carry itself easily into spring, summer evenings, winter or fall.

I love the sash, the handstitching and the detail in the pattern.

The classic pima-cotton v-neck is an ideal layering piece.

My favourite Diesel ad

2010-03-06T12:26:00.002-05:00

Click to enlarge.

Two Toronto Shops I Love

2010-03-05T23:38:00.004-05:00

These two shops on Toronto's fabulous Queen Street West are to die for. I almost always find myself sucked in through the doors when attempting simply to pass. It's the vortex of beauty and curiosity and I really can't seem to resist. They are very different from one another but each of them speaks to a sense of style that I admire. (Who says we can only have one sense of style?) Let's take a little tour, shall we?

The first store is called Chatelet, a French interior design boutique that could be totally pretentious if it was not for its down-to-earth staff and the very affordable pricepoints, not to mention its mix of fun and colourful stationery and artwork thrown in with the larger, more expensive pieces. The atmosphere is decidely relaxed and there are always little treasures lurking inside. Chatelet now has two locations in Toronto, but the one on Queen Street is the prettiest.

The entrance to the store is very welcoming. It really stands out on this busy, downtown street.
Inside there is a vast assortment of furniture, artwork and accessories for the home. I fell in love with the small round patio table and the two matching patio chairs with their solid, French-motif backs (bottom left.) I also love the pair of apothecary jars on the table, bottom right. Some of the items are too frilly and girly. I'm not much into nests tied with gingham ribbon and filled with pastel eggs.

The merchandising is effectively charming, creating a warmly cluttered feel inside. I want that black mirror!

Yeah, I really want that black mirror!

Another attractive vignette and another black mirror.

The second store I always love to visit on Queen Street is called Morba. It's an eclectic mix of vintage and retro-modern furniture and lighting. As with Chatelet, there is always something totally unique to be discovered at Morba, whether it's an enormous black globe, collections of insect and butterfly taxidermy or a giant floor lamp with an orb-like base. Come on in...

The lighting collection will strike you immediately. It's a mix of old and new designs.
More great lighting. I love the red-based lamp to the left with its plant-like motif.
There is never a shortage of taxidermy at Morba.
Kitschy 1970s artwork and kitchenware, interspersed with the lamps.
Anyone in need of a horse skull painted gold?