Lots of tears and chills today...what a speech! Remarkable. A warm congratulations for our neighbours to the south...
{These Obama posters are downloadable - and free - from Hyperakt}.
Maybe it's because my dad is a scientist, or because I studied biology in university, but I love this 'Industrial Schoolhouse' look featured in January's Style at Home magazine which calls back to old science labs and retro office furniture. The gears and cloche are so sculptural, and reminds me of how we decorated my dad's bedroom with old Erlenmeyer flasks as vases. I love the natural materials used here too - the metal and glass that would go great with my house's organic vibe {lots of wood and twigs!}.
A quick thank you to Elizabeth Anne Designs for adding inBloom Studio and inBloom Event Design as a link in their library...I'm not sure who recommended us, but it is greatly appreciated and flattering! Thanks for the shout-out.
...is this lil handmade birdie from Miaow? Sooo cute!
...I am so pleased to announce that one of the websites I created with my old company has just won an award! The Jennifer Hayman Design Group was a Website Program Winner at Landscape Ontario last week. Take a peek! It is one of my favourite websites, and Jennifer's landscapes are absolutely breathtaking.
I have a confession to make - I'm a web-o-phile. I could look on the internet all day for great designs, new trends, the latest ideas...and sometimes I do! I love the layered, textured look of this website. So organic!
It's funny how the 'green' or 'eco' trend of late can be applied to website designs too.
I am so happy that I was a part of Green for Life's website project! Usually I design and program websites in Flash, however in this case I didn't create the initial design - but I programmed it, and added my design two cents here and there, in collaboration with the original designer. I think it turned out great - and I love the irony of how this waste management company has such a beautiful and clean website. Check out the rest of the site here.
For Christmas, my friend and I usually exchange an item of makeup that we discovered during the year that we can't live without! My pick this year was Benefit's High Beam. Ladies, this adds a little somethin' somethin' to your cheekbones that gives them a dewy, youthful, luminescent glow. I use it more as a spot highlighter than all over my face, but it is one of my favourite makeup purchases this year. Just wanted to share...
This is a great time of year - a fresh beginning, and a time to get set for the year ahead. Stricken with a miserable cold this past week meant that computer work was a bit tricky, and I am actually pleasantly surprised that my previous posts make any sense! But I am a workaholic, so I had to put my energy somewhere. And that somewhere was in organizing and tidying and getting 'set' for the new year - making a new file for my 2009 receipts, starting a fresh new organizer {how I love my organizer} and I bought some of the cutest mini Moleskines to stick in my purse, to record any bursts of design or blog inspiration while I'm out.
In organizing everything, I came across some interesting things I hadn't seen in a while - some blasts from the past! I found my first 'real' pencil drawing {a hunk with rippling muscles holding a baby of all things} created when I was 13 years old. This was the very piece that named me an artiste in my family, and my mom rushed out and signed me up to an art class straightaway.
This mug was also in a box I hadn't been opened for years - my first foray into graphic design! I designed it as a give-away for my Senior Prom. Although I copied the fonts pretty much exactly from a coffee table book {boys and prom dresses were much more of a concern than copyright infringement, apparently}. But I have to admit that it looks pretty good considering it was created using a 1990's version of Word Perfect.
It was fun to find these old treasures, and looking back they were all clues pointing to where I would end up. I took some strange turns, and a twisty journey to where I am now. But it is quite apparent that from a young age, I was in love with art and design.
I don't think I've mentioned the almost brush with Oprah that my sisters and I had last year. You can read all about it on my 'sister' blog here...it's a good story!
I love polaroids. My grandma has a vintage polaroid camera from the seventies that we always used to play with. And in fact, I used polaroids for my wedding guest book. So I was very sad when I found out that the film for this funky instant camera will no longer be manufactured {save polaroid!}. This alternative at Urban Outfitters - the Fuiji Instax Camera - looks kind of cool, but the price of the camera {not to mention the film itself} is a little hard to swallow.
So I was thrilled to find this application online - the Poladroid! This program allows you to drag digital photos into a virtual polaroid 'camera' and out pops a hi-res image that 'develops' into what looks very much like a polaroid picture - dreamy filter, greeny tinge, frame and all! Here are some of my poladroids. I truly could create poladroids all day.
I know, it is still only January and I am trying very hard to enjoy winter. I am attempting to view the snow with fresh eyes - it really is beautiful! And I'm trying hard to appreciate the -18 degree Celsius temperatures as cozy {especially when you are all bundled up or sipping a hot chocolate}. But I couldn't help sneak a peek at these beautiful and springy images from Artfool. Just look at those cherry blossoms and the soft, gorgeous colours of this wedding! A girl can dream...
Lots of tears and chills today...what a speech! Remarkable. A warm congratulations for our neighbours to the south...
Maybe it's because my dad is a scientist, or because I studied biology in university, but I love this 'Industrial Schoolhouse' look featured in January's Style at Home magazine which calls back to old science labs and retro office furniture. The gears and cloche are so sculptural, and reminds me of how we decorated my dad's bedroom with old Erlenmeyer flasks as vases. I love the natural materials used here too - the metal and glass that would go great with my house's organic vibe {lots of wood and twigs!}.
A quick thank you to Elizabeth Anne Designs for adding inBloom Studio and inBloom Event Design as a link in their library...I'm not sure who recommended us, but it is greatly appreciated and flattering! Thanks for the shout-out.
I loved Little Green Notebook's post the other day about painting interior doors a colour other than white. I too, am not sure of all-white walls, although it is a design trend right now. I like the 'blank slate' concept of it, but would be afraid that my house would appear too sterile and plain. I could definitely get used to it, though, if my doors were painted a funky colour. And how much easier is it to paint a door, than an entire room?!
I have a confession to make - I'm a web-o-phile. I could look on the internet all day for great designs, new trends, the latest ideas...and sometimes I do! I love the layered, textured look of this website. So organic!
Last night I met with an old high school friend for coffee, and we ended up blabbing for over three hours straight! She is just starting her photography business and today I took a peek at her recently-launched website. I am so impressed with her sense of composition and colour! See www.jillballinger.com for more beautiful pics.
I am so happy that I was a part of Green for Life's website project! Usually I design and program websites in Flash, however in this case I didn't create the initial design - but I programmed it, and added my design two cents here and there, in collaboration with the original designer. I think it turned out great - and I love the irony of how this waste management company has such a beautiful and clean website. Check out the rest of the site here.
For Christmas, my friend and I usually exchange an item of makeup that we discovered during the year that we can't live without! My pick this year was Benefit's High Beam. Ladies, this adds a little somethin' somethin' to your cheekbones that gives them a dewy, youthful, luminescent glow. I use it more as a spot highlighter than all over my face, but it is one of my favourite makeup purchases this year. Just wanted to share...
This mug was also in a box I hadn't been opened for years - my first foray into graphic design! I designed it as a give-away for my Senior Prom. Although I copied the fonts pretty much exactly from a coffee table book {boys and prom dresses were much more of a concern than copyright infringement, apparently}. But I have to admit that it looks pretty good considering it was created using a 1990's version of Word Perfect.
It was fun to find these old treasures, and looking back they were all clues pointing to where I would end up. I took some strange turns, and a twisty journey to where I am now. But it is quite apparent that from a young age, I was in love with art and design.
I wish I could be in New York this weekend to attend the Outsider Art Fair. One of my favourite Toronto artists will be exhibiting there - Holly Farrell. I have seen her work up close and personal at the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibit and I just can't get enough of her beautiful depictions of vintage still life objects. The paintings may appear simple, but as a painter myself, I find her realism incredible! Here are some of my faves, but be sure check out Holly's website for more.
I am still searching for a cool area rug to throw over the carpet here, to define the space of the sitting area.
But I finally framed my beautiful birdie prints by Geninne...and I am now hungry for more of her nature-inspired artwork!
I am still debating about what to put on this blank stretch of wall...this cool NYC graphic piece I found at HomeSense? Or my brand new Keep Calm poster? Decisions!
