* Terramia *

Happy, Happy Summer!

2007-06-21T18:31:00.000-07:00

"Summer set lip to earth's bosom bare,

And left the flushed print in a poppy there"

~ Francis Thompson

I'm still breathing... deeply and fully. (;

Enjoying the song of this splendid season. I have temporarily put aside my favourite toys to savour this dreamy and magical time of year. I will be out and about this season, so I wish everyone's summer to be filled with beauty, love and light.

There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart... Namasté!

(Image from my retreat on Mayne Island)

My Breathing Space Continues...

2007-06-06T19:38:00.000-07:00

Enjoying the view from the cabin deck at low tide...

Oh the peace and quiet and solace of nature... the poetry of Earth.

Good tidings! I am still on mini-vacation (tis so hard to tear myself away from this sanctuary splendour)

Will be back soon... I promise!!

My Breathing Space

2007-05-30T12:43:00.000-07:00

Deck time at the lovely cabin on Mayne Island...

Time out for Terramia... I will be enjoying a much-needed hiatus to this quiet, quaint little Island with very limited internet access. I will return in a few days. Peace & joy...

Namasté!

A Branch of Treasures

2007-05-30T12:32:00.001-07:00

Fun, whimsical display made from dried tree branch and paper clips to hold favourite photos and treasures...
Idea from Pottery Barn

Sol Sugar

2007-05-30T12:31:00.000-07:00

"When people see my work I would like them to smile, to be filled with a rush of warmth that causes their cheeks to turn pink, to giggle…

I want them to feel alive with colour"

Dazzling acrylic paintings by Brandy Saturley of Sol Sugar Designs here in Victoria... I showcased some of her colourful, curvaceous pieces from her Toe collection awhile back.
Literally a neighbour of mine (James Bay... yah!!), Brandy's art is incredibly vibrant and full of exquisite detail. She is inspired by the ocean and the colour blue which resonates as a dance of rigorous patterns throughout her pieces. So lively and whimsical... I adore her work.

Kozai

2007-05-30T12:30:00.000-07:00

Soft ambient Japanese lights from Kozai Designs in Vancouver on West 6th Avenue.
Designer Toshiyuki Tani has developed a very contemporary line of gorgeous lights utilizing traditional Japanese woodcraft techniques. His Wappa series of pendant and floor lamps employ bent cedar from Akita in northern Japan. The Mocoro table lamp is a cylinder of soft ambient light nestled within a layered globe of turned Japanese hemlock disks. And his newest light, the very delicate Sen, is hand-built from many hundreds of tiny strips of bamboo by traditional bamboo craftsmen in Shizuoka prefecture.
Top: Sen Table Lamp, Kazaguruma (Pinwheel) Pendant/Floor Lamp, Shuriken (Ninja Star), Hanabi (Fireworks), and Mocoro Table Lamp

Fan Tan Fabulous

2007-05-28T00:07:00.000-07:00

This is by far one of the most amazing stores I have ever stepped foot in... Fan Tan Gallery located in Victoria's historic Chinatown, just steps away from the famous 5-foot-wide Fan Tan Alley. Bette Patrick and her son Alan are the shopkeepers and maintain a superb home décor store. I don't think I have ever seen a more remarkable merchandise display that changes *weekly* (see a post I did back in February showcasing some fabulous examples).
It is always a treat to stop in for a browse whenever I go for a pitterpatter downtown. And Coal the gorgeous cat is sure to greet you at the door, or at the cash register (sooo darling!).

Breathing Space

2007-05-27T10:39:00.000-07:00

Nothing exists until or unless it is observed...

Tis the weekend... relax, and enjoy a view furnished by Nature.

Image from Tropical Houses

Happy, Happy Swiftsure Weekend!

2007-05-26T00:09:00.000-07:00

Swiftsure Weekend is here!
The 64th annual Swiftsure International Yacht Race starts this morning off the tip of Clover Point in Victoria...
With over 250 boats and up to 140 miles to sail, it is one of North America’s most challenging overnight offshore competitions.
What a sight!!

Beth Dunlop

2007-05-26T00:03:00.000-07:00

Awe-inspiring art from local Victoria talent Beth Dunlop...
She specializes in watercolor & pen works and creates a style of her own that is imaginative, ethereal, and gloriously emotive. Inspired by the beauty of nature, the power of love, and the splendour of our being, Beth's creations are truly breathtaking...

From That to This

2007-05-25T00:15:00.000-07:00

The weekend is near, the season is here... time to go treasure hunting!
I love how this vintage hotel lobby key box finds new life as a mailbox system.
From Pottery Barn

For the Love of a Summer Dress and a Happy Horse

2007-05-25T00:11:00.000-07:00

Nothing spells summer like a gorgeous, flowy dress and a majestic, handsome horse... two of my favourite things!
Together?... well, why not?
I love these stunning designs from the spring/summer collection of Vancouver clothing company DACE
(from top: Lucky, Rocket, Maisie... names of the clothing pieces not horses!)

Jenna Rose

2007-05-25T00:09:00.001-07:00

I adore these Jenna Rose pillow covers, storage bags and (my personal favourite) ottomans --like the Granville above-- created by talented Canadian designer Jenna Greenberg. Available at Mooncruise Gallery in Vancouver...

Time is of the Essence

2007-05-25T00:08:00.001-07:00

Captivating AIGA/DC fundraising clock designed by Canadian artist Marion Bantjes... glorious and whimsical

A Moment with Nature

2007-05-25T00:05:00.000-07:00

A couple of darling ducks and a drake... our aquatic, waddling Mallard friends downtown Victoria.
How does it go again? Happy as a duck near water.
Or be like a duck.... Calm on the surface, but always paddling like the dickens underneath (;

The Very Pink of Perfection

2007-05-24T01:10:00.001-07:00

Softness, affection, innocence, and love...
Hues of carnation, fuchsia, cherry blossom, magenta, lavender rose, puce, amaranth, cerise.
Oh the beauty and bliss of being tickled pink...

House Beautiful
(top) Style at Home
At Home with Color
House Beautiful
Steven Miller
Canadian House & Home
Madeline Stuart
At Home with Color
Drake Design
Mrs. Me Bedtime Stories
House Beautiful

Normal Room
Robin Pellisier
Shootfactory
Tom Scheerer
Ghislaine Viñas
Living Etc
Kelley Interior Design
Continentale in Florence
Jane Churchill
Jan Showers
Ikea
Ghislaine Viñas
Artus Hotel
Jeffrey P Elliott
Manuel Canovas
Boligtorvet
Betsey Johnson
Better Homes and Gardens
Home Cheap Home
Living Etc
Country Homes & Interiors

Steven Miller
House Beautiful
Miles Redd
Shootfactory
Ruthie Sommers & Chapman Radcliff

A Perfect Fit

2007-05-24T01:09:00.001-07:00

A beautiful round table and awkward, out-of-place rectangular placemats?
This is sooo ingenious and sooo what I need... placemats that are a perfect fit for a round table! No more overlapping standard mats, or having corners hang over the edge. These clever Wedge Placements fit a circular outdoor table perfectly and are completely weatherproof... from Solutions

Dawn MacNutt

2007-05-24T01:08:00.000-07:00

"I will continue to be a sculptor or to make art in some form for as along as I breathe, I believe. In this pursuit, one never 'arrives'. Hopefully... the journey is the thing."

The unique weaved sculptures of Canadian artist Dawn MacNutt. The formations are interpretations of featureless human figures or large architectonic columns created from natural and non-traditional materials. Her compelling life-size willow, grapevine, seagrass or bronze works (sometimes upwards of 12' tall!) are used for outdoor installations, sculpture gardens, and indoor spaces. I like how the bits of copper glisten out from the interlaced basketry in her works...

The Beautiful Baby Blues

2007-05-23T00:24:00.002-07:00

I love the captivating beauty of baby blue... and it simply shines in Sheila Bridges' apartment in New York. A spacious, airy and elegant space... the sophisticated blue and the complementary soft green provides a perfectly classy background for her collection of antiques, collectibles, artwork, and favourite quotes.

Erin Cee

2007-05-23T00:24:00.001-07:00

A marvellous collection of bags designed by Erin Cychmistruk of Erin Cee...
Erin is an incredibly gifted Vancouver artist who works with a multitude of mediums such as textiles, wood & fabric wall panels, illustrations, and mono-prints & intaglio prints (top: Weeds, cloth batik). I find her collection of bags especially appealing (I *love* to collect big, fabulous bags this time of year!!). They are made from cotton and linen, and each bag goes through several processes of waxing, dyeing and silk-screening.... her designs are so whimsical and fun! I absolutely adore...

Rollin Rollout

2007-05-23T00:15:00.000-07:00

Bold, bright, and full of whim...
Cool custom wallpaper by Rollout in Vancouver
Forest Paper (so Spring inspired), Assembly Point, Warbabies 2, Kelpy, and Sentence Structure

Lotus Love

2007-05-23T00:03:00.001-07:00

Oh, I am so charmed by this dinnerware... how gorgeous would this look for a springtime dejeuner? Very chic.
The Green Lotus Leaf Collection from Chintz & Company in Victoria...
Each plate is a delicately ruffled, hand-painted lotus leaf. What a dramatic table effect to stack each guest's place with the largest leaf at the bottom and the smallest at the top. Stunning!

Bunny Williams

2007-05-22T00:41:00.000-07:00

The beauty of books and art a la Bunny Willams...

Lauren Marsden

2007-05-22T00:36:00.000-07:00

Lauren Marsden is a talented Victoria artist who creates some of the most amazing artistic creations I have ever seen. Her indoor/outdoor carpeting gallery space of Home Sweet Home (above) exhibit blew me away. Her latest artistic endeavour is called Territorial Knittings... she is knitting street sign covers for every street she has lived on in Victoria. The pattern is an exact duplicate of the sign itself... very clever, very creative!

Oh Cartolina!

2007-05-22T00:34:00.001-07:00

I adore these Cartolina cards created by Fiona Richards (of Dominion Post & Salvage) here in British Columbia. Every one of the cards is a Canadian multicultural collage of recycled paper and eco-conscious inspiration. Ancient patterns and contemporary colours, detailed type-ornaments and old wood block prints... it's a world of texture and an eyeful of sizzling colour. Completely eco-unique and delightfully refreshing!

Grilled Garden

2007-05-22T00:21:00.000-07:00

I saw this while I was in the Kootenays for a fabulously fun (Italiano-style!) wedding this past weekend...

Spark up a garden on the ole retired BeeBeeQ!! What a "grilliant" idea...

Happy, Happy Looonnngggg Weekend!

2007-05-19T12:35:00.000-07:00

Live, Laugh, and Love... enjoy Canada's Victoria Day long weekend!
Image from Tropical Houses

Let There be Fire... and Beauty

2007-05-18T00:02:00.000-07:00

Visually beautiful, captivating and enchanting... tis the ever-intriguing fireplace. It adds character, warmth and depth to a space. Not to mention an enduring dramatic presence...

David Netto
(top) Shootfactory
Real Simple
Wish
Amie Weitzman
Jonathan Adler
Living Etc
Home Cheap Home
Nate Berkus
Tom Scheerer
At Home with Color Wish Apartment Living

Posch so Pretty

2007-05-17T13:12:00.000-07:00

I love these eco-pretty designs created by Luce Beaulieu of Posch designs in Montreal. The sweet Handbags are made from recycled bed sheets and pillowcases, and the "I *Heart* Kyoto" silk-screened tees are made from reclaimed old shirts. The Hang Tags are created from 100% post consumer laser paper and vintage wrapping paper. Super charming and *très* eco-trendy!

Jim C. Brown

2007-05-17T00:33:00.000-07:00

The fabulous mixed media artwork of Vancouver artist Jim C. Brown...

Bungee-o-rama

2007-05-17T00:14:00.000-07:00

Oh the noble, ever-useful bungee cord! How I adore thee...
I am hooked on the idea of stretching a bungee cord to create a great place to drape mags, books and newspapers. An inexpensive space-saving DIY... especially perfect for an outdoor space like a makeshift tented canopy. Handy dandy!

Image from Pottery Barn

Dirty Girl 16 1/2

2007-05-17T00:05:00.001-07:00

Super cool pottery by Victoria artist Faro Annie Sullivan of Dirty Girl Clayworks. I showcased some of her talent in a previous post back in February... her work is currently showing at Studio 16 1/2 in Fan Tan Alley located in Victoria's Chinatown. I bought the Namaste vase for my dear mom as a gift for Mother's Day (I have been dying to post this piece for a long time, but of course I had to wait until after Sunday so my mom wouldn't see her special surprise in advance!!). I just love it... I might have to get one for myself!

Cardboard Slumberland

2007-05-17T00:01:00.000-07:00

The Cardboard Tube Bed by local design talent Jeff Werner... not sure if the support is sound, but it's one eco-cool idea!

Dazzling Drake Design

2007-05-16T00:10:00.001-07:00

The fabulous art and radiant colours of Drake Design...

The Sofa of Enchantment

2007-05-16T00:08:00.001-07:00

This whimsical, captivating sofa designed by Judy Hoysak reminds me of Alice in Wonderland (where's the hookah smoking caterpillar?!)...
It's forest enchanting AND it's made from sustainable materials: bamboo plywood frame, reclaimed pine legs, natural latex foam and organic cotton batting. Very eco-cool!
Check out Emma's "green" design week as she blogs about eco-unique and chic products...

Symbolize Peace

2007-05-16T00:06:00.000-07:00

"Each one has to find his peace from within”
~ Mahatma Gandhi

I so revere this sterling silver Peace Pendant designed by Jenn at the RedCatRun Studio in Ontario. Peace is the way...

Emily Carr Undergraduate Exhibition 2007

2007-05-16T00:05:00.001-07:00

Intriguing works designed by local art students at the Emily Carr Institute 2007 Undergraduate Exhibition...

LACK, Ikea coffee table and plastic bags by Monica Otero
Interchange by Anh Le
Our sacred home our natural and artificial surroundings. The images are of a highway interchange, mirrored and repeated to create an ornate, luxurious pattern connoting wealth and affluence.
One Time Use Only, the plywood BBQ designed by Warren Stagg
The title says it all.
Trash Scans designed by Jill Alison Banting
The silkscreen on paper art piece is an urban interpretation of the Tibetan mandala (the mandala is an object used for visual contemplation on the beauty and perfection of Creation). This collage is created with trash from the everyday... a reflection of our disposable, junk food culture. Spirituality and the pursuit of self-knowledge are replaced by consumerism and self-indulgence. Very symbolic.

Bloom Upwards with Style

2007-05-15T00:27:00.000-07:00

I love this container garden idea from Living Etc... the strawberry red is so delicious! Metal planters from Barbed adhere to a vertical magnetic wall (their designs are sensational!) Great small space idea...

Light Therapy

2007-05-15T00:15:00.000-07:00

The Barton Lamp designed by Kevin McElroy
The modular light fixture and table is inspired by an intravenous medical device... a warm, favourable design is modelled after an otherwise sterile medical apparatus. Light and table can be used seperately or as an ensemble...

Breathing Space

2007-05-15T00:10:00.000-07:00

"Flowers... are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty

outvalues all the utilities of the world"

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Spring flowers in all their vibrance flourish and shine in my garden...

Twenty2

2007-05-15T00:02:00.001-07:00

I am loving these fabulous wallpaper, grasscloth and fabric designs by Twenty2

Their collection of wallbands and pillows are just as gorgeous...

Postcard Pizazz

2007-05-14T17:57:00.000-07:00

I love this idea... a row of vintage postcards as a snazzy looking backsplash!
Image from Creating Vintage Chic

Nicolas Baier

2007-05-14T17:47:00.000-07:00

Visual poetry by Montreal artist Nicolas Baier ...
Digital photographs are reconfigured so that the elements within them render new distorted and mysteriously appealing images. Abstract impressionism... beautifully surreal.

Silly or Sassy?

2007-05-14T17:43:00.001-07:00

Coat Rack designed by Nick Fraser at Small Factories
Indoor plumbing as an entryway organization system.
Turned on or off by the waterworks? Innovative galore or an incredible eye sore?

My Mother...♥

2007-05-13T00:25:00.000-07:00

"The sweetest sounds to mortals given
Are heard in Mother, Home, and Heaven"
~William Goldsmith Brown

Mom and me on an adventurous outing... oh, how I love thee!
An amazing woman of beauty, faith, strength, and grace... a neverending song in my heart of love, happiness, and being.
How blessed I am to have *you* in my life...
Happy Mother's Day, dearest Mom (and to all the Mom's out there!)
Namasté xo

Mother Nature

2007-05-13T00:11:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day!
A day to honour Mother... Mother Nature. The magnificence of mountains, the beauty of animals, the serenity of nature...
Thee oh so symbolic Polar Bear art print by Gracia Habey and Louise Jennison (this so resonates with me! Knut, so Kute... could be Kaput! Water wings for polar bears!! Yikes! Mother Nature must weep...)
Honour our beautiful Mother Earth every day...

Happy Al Fresco Weekend!

2007-05-12T08:37:00.000-07:00

Adopt the pace of Mother Nature (it's an appropriate weekend!)...

Soak up the great outdoors In Style (at Miami's Biscayne Bay)

Art as Punctuation

2007-05-11T02:07:00.000-07:00

I love art, and I especially love the variable, powerful impact of art in a setting. One of the most significant ways to make a space unique and personal is by the addition of artwork to the walls. Good art is not what it looks like, but what it does to us; and thus so, art can make or break a space. It is the punctuation mark in a room. And so, what is the affect: a question mark or an exclamation mark...?!

Jeffers Design
Magni Design
M Design
Donghia
Elle Decor, seascape by Marine Hugonnier
Annie Schelchter
Canadian House & Home, photo by Joy von Tiedemann
Apartment Living, Rob Ostan painting
Canadian House & Home, art by Kim Atlin Elle Decor, framed Rolling Stone magazine covers
Home Style, cherry blossom image
Magni Design
Kerry Joyce
Alex Papachristidis Canadian House & Home
Woodson & Rummerfield
Elle Decor, wood panels painted by Charles Mary Kubricht
House Beautiful

Knitted Bling

2007-05-11T02:02:00.000-07:00

Cool knitted rings from Twisted Twee...

Stump for yer Rump

2007-05-11T01:21:00.000-07:00

I think this is one timber terrific idea!
The Stump creation from ReadyMade. Bore out the entire cavity of a (fallen) tree stump to create a cubby for storage and a sawed top for a lid. Voilà! Instant storage, seat and sidetable!

Dream-World

2007-05-10T00:16:00.000-07:00

Your dreams are your paints, the world is your canvas...
An inspiring image from Kerry Joyce. I love the idea of putting a large world map on a wall (and bedding) in a child's bedroom. Why not give them a geography lesson, and an important message that dreams can change a world?

Miles at Mile Zero

2007-05-10T00:08:00.000-07:00

A Poem:

Our Sky Has Many Colours
Blue is Just One of Them
(For Miran)
"I watch cherry blossom petals
Fall from a tree
Like spring snow.
I would like to have given you these flowers
But I can only tell you they were there"

~ Miles Eldredge

I am enamored with these works of art by local artist Miles Eldredge. I love the sincerity and etherealness of his paintings... he uses plants and trees that are native to Vancouver Island, and he evokes a powerful symbolism of heaven on earth : "one can tell a true paradise because its inhabitants usually have no idea that it is there... if they would just look around, they would see the beauty that permeates everything" [Well, that is an exception for this enchanting place called Victoria (aka Mile Zero)... we know its paradise! (; ]
Miles' work is currently on display at my favourite local eating joint, Mo:Le. Be sure to peruse his poetry (hence above)... he is a remarkable talent.
At Dawn No Light Shines
(top) Segaki - for Miran A Red Flowers Blooms Red

Kermodi

2007-05-10T00:05:00.001-07:00

Luscious greenery from Kermodi in Vancouver...They have the most bewitching collection of indoor/outdoor plants. I am smitten with the whimsical, sprightly beauty of the Whirly Girl (top)

Oh Mama Mia!

2007-05-10T00:04:00.000-07:00

I am loving this Mama coffee table from Bravura Interiors in Vancouver. I think it's an ingenius design... the middle compartment can serve as storage and the "lid" can be an additional seat, table or tray. I love multi-functional pieces!

Sitting quietly, Doing nothing, Spring comes...

2007-05-09T00:03:00.003-07:00

Radiant images from renowned photographer Debi Treloar...

Nature is Design

2007-05-09T00:03:00.001-07:00

Our majestic Great Blue Herons here in James Bay (check out the webcam in Beacon Hill Park)
Images captured by Studio 7 Designs located in my lovely hometown... they are amazing local talent, and provide exceptional design work. Check out their extensive site!

Balcony Beauty

2007-05-08T23:59:00.001-07:00

I soooo need this! The Balcony Planter can be attached to any banister with a maximum diameter of 6 cm. The planter has two separate compartments so you can mix and match greenery (like herbs...!) From Up To You based in Toronto

Crazy for Corks

2007-05-08T00:05:00.000-07:00

Crazy for corks?
Here are some quirky-cool ideas on how to recycle your towering collection of wine and champagne corks...

Home Cheap Home, art from Andy Warhol's cliffside house in Long Island Cork Chalkboard/ Message Board Cork Lamp Flat cork coasters Cork bulletin board Cork placecard holders, as seen on eBay Corks in plants Cork Table, House Beautiful Cork-Filled Lamp (or vase), from Wine Enthusiast Cork Baseboard Cork Art, Modern: Creative Living Spaces Cork under lid handle Cork Chair, by Gabriel Wiese Cork Coaster made with CDs
Corky Roof, The Crafty Wino's Birdhouse
Cork Wall, from Strat'sPlace

Consumerism

2007-05-08T00:04:00.001-07:00

I am captivated by Frieke Janssen's digital art...
What an incredibly "power-full" reminder! Lest we forget the colossal amount of energy we consume day in and day out...

Lovely Lu

2007-05-07T16:55:00.000-07:00

I received a lovely email about Lisa Komuro and Ulla Clark's gorgeous Spring designs at LU Prints based in Pemberton, BC. I adore the fun and fresh hand-printed textiles like the Zen Napkins, Owl Tea Towels, Geese Apron, & Leafy Napkins. You can see them at the Portobello West market monthly in Vancouver...

Silly or Sassy?

2007-05-07T11:25:00.000-07:00

Feast O'Fun or Flunk?

The Take Your Time table cloth with 300 riddles designed by SEM

There are empty spaces that you can put your tablesetting on, and the questions and answers to these riddles are mixed and can be read from both ends of the table. I reckon this tablecloth would be the perfect ice breaker for those quiet "je ne sais quoi" dinners... or a great giggle for that dessert & cocktail soiree!

Daring or distracting?

Crunchy, Sticky, Dusty

2007-05-07T10:37:00.000-07:00

Can you guess the image? I love close-ups, especially when images are almost unrecognisable... I find myself mesmerized by the GlueGunGlue, Chalkboard and Popcorn pictures by Vicki Prinsen of Prinsen Photography & Designs located in Tachie Village in Northern BC.

Cheese, Moss, & a Two-Fold

2007-05-07T09:51:00.000-07:00

Cool pieces of contemporary furniture created by BC designers for Small Medium Large in Vancouver

Topiary

2007-05-07T08:05:00.000-07:00

Topiary:

Of or characterized by the clipping or trimming of live shrubs or trees into decorative shapes, as those of animals or birds
- American Heritage Dictionary

"I wanted to design a chair which looked like a shrub pruned to look like a chair" - Richard Schultz
Some monumental garden furniture from Richard Schultz as showcased at the DV Expo in Vancouver this weekend...
A sampling from the Topiary Collection: Lounge Chair in spring green and the Pattern Bench in weatherable silver

Clawfoot Contemporary

2007-05-07T07:55:00.000-07:00

Contemporary clawfoot tub...
Details of an Andrée Putman designed bathroom detailed with Bisazza glass mosaic. The tub features white spherical ceramic feet instead of the traditional clawfoot.... lest I say dare to be daring in design. (image a la Interni)

Farmboy Fine

2007-05-07T07:54:00.000-07:00

Stunning images from Farmboy Fine Arts located in Vancouver. The team consists of Tim McCool, Todd Towers, and Tim Gudewill who are farm boys born and raised in Red Deer, Alberta, in the heart of the Canadian prairies (hence the name).
The company designs architectual elements and art specific to any space, producing unique and contemporary pieces of work. A fabulously successful urban enterprise with rural roots... a job well done for a few Prairie guys who have stayed true to their origin.

Yellow, Blue, Green.. Oh My!

2007-05-07T07:51:00.000-07:00

I love the fresh modern look of local fashion designer Raymond of the ever-enchanting Evan & Dean... the look of splashy lemon yellow, cool midnight blue, and ethereal Shamrock green makes for a stunning spring/summer collection. Oh la la!

Carr from Oz

2007-05-07T07:49:00.000-07:00

Radiant spaces from Carr Design Group, based in beautiful Melbourne...
(oh, I learned from my Aussie experience that "pawpaw" means papaya! yummy!)

Breathing Space

2007-05-06T15:00:00.000-07:00

Dazzling tulips from their fern green beds,

drinking rain and sunshine,
flaunting their crimson & white fluted heads...

Brilliant beauty glows in Cook Street Village....

Happy Al Fresco

2007-05-05T15:11:00.001-07:00

Happy, Happy Weekend! Enjoy a day al fresco, no matter what the activity! (;
(image a la Pottery Barn)

Take a Seat with Nature

2007-05-05T14:57:00.000-07:00

Time to break out thee ole patio furniture. Why not forgo the conventional wooden Adirondacks, floral umbrellas, and woven aluminium chairs... and dare to be different?
I am really diggin' the cool Garden furniture collection created by 5.5 designers. Plant sweet-scented lilacs, fast growing ivy, radiant rhododendrons, beautiful roses, or classic cedar to personalise your "seating". The possibilites are as endless as your green thumb imagination...

Closet Camouflage

2007-05-05T14:15:00.001-07:00

Posie Gets Cozy, patchwork-wallpapered closet door

Lago, "N.O.W” (Not Only White) integrated wardrobe
Real Simple, imprinted sliding panels
Elle Decor, custom-made De Gournay wallpaper embellished with splashes of gold leaf and resin by artist Nancy Lorenz.

The OZ

2007-05-05T14:06:00.000-07:00

The uniquely striped OZ Lampe de Bureau designed by Roman Duclos of Rlos Design. I imagine the cascading light would be gorgeous...

An Expo for Your Nest

2007-05-04T16:54:00.000-07:00

Here's something to do this weekend on the west coast...
View the giant Bird's Nest created by renowned local woodworker and artist Brent Comber from Stanley Park windfall as an art piece at the the Interior Design & Urban Living Expo at the Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre for this weekend only. It promises to be full of exciting shows and exhibitors, including a lecture by Eames Demetrios (grandson of Charles & Ray Eames and Director of the Eames Office), an outdoor feature on how to live smaller and smarter, as well as a design contest using the "denim" wood devastated by the Mountain Pine Beetle.

Happy Friday!

2007-05-04T12:12:00.000-07:00

This video is so adorable!
Otters in Vancouver... napping, floating, holding hands.

Sonja Olson

2007-05-04T11:49:00.000-07:00

Bright and bold. The La Pomme, La Pera Roja, Black Crow, and Raven Spirit acrylic series as part of local Canadian artist Sonja Olson's "Serious Pop" exhibition currently showing at the Community Arts Council of Greater Victoria Gallery on Douglas Street in Victoria, until May 9th.

Babies Dream of Paris

2007-05-04T10:37:00.000-07:00

I simply love this nursery space designed by Kendall Wilkinson...
Even as an adult, I would love to open my eyes first thing in the morning to a luscious view of Paris! Une murale magnifique...

Reflections of Emery et Cie

2007-05-04T10:27:00.000-07:00

J'adore these gorgeous mirrors in nickel silver from the ever-enchanting Emery et Cie... très beaux! (More of my Emery et Cie favourites can be found here)

Treasures from the Wasteland

2007-05-04T09:56:00.001-07:00

Eco-cool stuff from Secco (available in North America at Greenloop)...
Iceflower Ring ~ black rubber ring with pearls in bright colours, made from used car tire inner tube (rubber)
Nice Mice Pot Stand made from hot pot stand, used computer ventilation grill and mouse balls
QWERTY Magnet Word ~ made from used computer, cashier or type-writer keypad buttons
Utensil Holder ~ made from used washing machine drum

A Moment with Nature

2007-05-03T17:42:00.002-07:00

It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds... how about a fine home?
A proud little bird and *his* birdhouse, in my James Bay neighbourhood...

Pigeon Pretty

2007-05-03T17:42:00.001-07:00

Thee gorgeous Spring dress collection from Passenger Pigeon, designed and created by Toronto duo Heather Schibli and Wendy Traas using organic and sustainable fabrics (available at HUM Clothing and T.H.E Store in Vancouver). Check out the story of the Passenger Pigeon... a wonderful inspiration and cause.

Elise ~ available in green or black with cream sash and striped top detail, made with soy/cotton/spandex and knit sash made with hemp
(top) Yvonne ~ black or white option made with 100% bamboo voile

Norah ~ reversible wrap dress
Lori ~ made with hemp/silk/organic cotton blend with bamboo voile

My Life as a House

2007-05-03T14:15:00.000-07:00

One of my favourite pastimes is admiring the variety of heritage homes here in historic Victoria. The city is rich in history and architectural heritage, and the houses built at the turn of the century and later are all so uniquely beautiful. I love to think that each house has a story...
The very talented University of Victoria Art graduate Andrea Pratt captures this enchantment in her "Stories" series, My Life as a House in acrylic. Simply stunning...
This will be Andrea's contribution to this year's fundraiser for the Federation of Canadian Artists, the Paintings By Numbers show on September 21, 2007. Click here to see last year's art work.

Celestial Spring Dangles in the Air

2007-05-02T13:22:00.000-07:00

More peacock madness, and butterflies too! I love to adorn plants and windows and lights this time of year in radiant reflections of the season.... j'adore the gorgeous and colourful Hanging Peacock and Hanging Butterfly & Flower collection a la Atelier LZC, available at Mirror Mirror (would make a stunning mobile!)

All or Nothing...

2007-05-02T12:52:00.000-07:00

An unrestrained, lavish Clei wall design...

de Maria's

2007-05-02T06:35:00.001-07:00

Stunning and ethereal lamp works from Dutch company de Maria's, designed by photographer Roos Jooren and textile specialist Diana Maria
Rooms, photography and embroidery on fabric
Volvo3 and Maria, photography on fabric

Teracrea for Terra Firma

2007-05-02T06:31:00.001-07:00

That time of year again! Here are some impressive ideas to quench your insatiable green thumb...
Unique designs for traditional terracotta pots, from Teracrea.
(from top)
Treille is a system of cylindrical vases horizontally aligned and connected by green (camouflage) nylon belts and adjustable metal braces. A stair set can be created made of three containers to hang from the ceiling or from a wall.
Infinito is an assemblage of vases which can be configured in a multitude of circular shapes.
Balconcino is a vase obtained by joining a cylinder and a bowl, allowing greenery to grow from the varying heights.

Happy May!

2007-05-01T09:14:00.000-07:00

For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come...

April showers bring May flowers.... our rhodos are beginning to shine!

Metamorphosis

2007-05-01T09:11:00.000-07:00

I just adore this Annie Schlechter photograph... doesn't it evoke a sense of whimsy, wonder, and delight of the season?

Lines by Davis

2007-05-01T07:36:00.000-07:00

lines by: davis, wonderful works of textile design by Canadian talent Davis Khounnoraj

Bags and pillows and cards, oh my!...

Garden Grid

2007-05-01T07:34:00.001-07:00

Plots of greenery are a place of refuge, in a rural or urban setting... I especially love the modern grid layout!

Domino
(top) Downtown Victoria
International Westonbirt Festival of the Gardens in Gloucestershire
Better Homes & Gardens
Marie Claire
Better Homes & Gardens
Hospes Palau de la Mar in Spain

Peacock Extravagance

2007-04-30T01:37:00.001-07:00

I was enjoying a meandering stroll the other day through thee lovely Beacon Hill Park, when I came across a gorgeous peacock in full glory. He was a spectacular sight, and stunningly beautiful... needless to say, I was quite flattered! What magnificent birds-de-plume...

(top) Tailfeathers by Aaron Logan
(left) Peacock Feather, acrylic inks and technical drawing pen on illustration board for Natural History Illustrations Gallery
(right) Peacock close-up by David Cote

Handmade card from Vancouver based Flaunt cards
Atelier LZC, handmade silk screen print
Urban Outfitters, jewel tone peacock pillow with ribbon detail
Darrell Underschultz, Peacock acrylic on canvas
Mwah Creations based in Vancouver, print card of pen sketch by Tanis Alexis Laird
John Derian, round 16 inch platter
Publisher Textiles, Peacock printed canvas
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen Lavish Collection, Prince of Tales Mug
Jonathon Adler, Peacock pillow
Florence Broadhurst, Exotic Bird fine art
Sanna Annukka

Thee Love Seat

2007-04-30T00:53:00.000-07:00

In the vernacular... the epitome of a common piece of furnishing.

The colourful, enchanting and poetic Love Seat made with "amour" tiles, created by Ruth Lodder

Parlez-moi d'amour as I take a seatie...

Breathing Space

2007-04-29T15:21:00.000-07:00

Spring comes and one remembers one's innocence...

Tis a beautiful sunshine-filled day here in Victoria...
Spring is about rebirth, so go ahead and get in touch with your inner child and swing a little swing...

Culinary Delight

2007-04-28T01:19:00.000-07:00

Refreshingly crisp and invigorating kitchen spaces à la talented Anne Coyle

Hipline Design

2007-04-28T01:13:00.000-07:00

Totally unique, totally unmistakably extraordinary.

You either love it or loathe it...
eccentric designs by Rasa Baradinskiene for RASA DeSIGN
(left) The Hand Bag (high five!)
Flora (for Contraforma)
Mama (cuddle friendly)
Remade (Granny would be impressed)

I Wish Upon a Star...

2007-04-28T01:09:00.001-07:00

I am madly in love with this Vincente Wolf Italian upholstered chair with metal legs, circa 1950s... oh so lush, plush and très magnifique!

Dare to be Digitally Different

2007-04-27T11:43:00.001-07:00

A sampling of the effulgent, flamboyant, and spirited digitile designs by Dominic Crinson... (I showcased one of my favourites, the very serene Marmorous shell in a previous post)

The Landscape of Eating

2007-04-27T00:05:00.000-07:00

Topoware is the brainchild of Canadian industrial designer Alexandra Deschamps-Sonsino and Karola Torkos of Germany. They create tableware that incorporates the philosophy and geography of landscape in the designs... the result is a dining experience that is graphically *and* topographically fulfilling!

China Set - bowls, salad plates, and dinner plates lined with questions to label your culinary experience: "Are you hungry, very hungry or done? Are you modest or greedy? Do you have a mom/dad or child portion?" Tablecloth- defining your personal space at the dinner table, this hand-sewn tablecloth draws a subtle pattern around a person Placemats - made of layered wood, defining what comes first and where cutlery and tableware should be placed.

Orange and White Delight

2007-04-27T00:03:00.000-07:00

Beautiful spaces full of life, light and vigour... a la Living at Home

A Moment with Nature

2007-04-27T00:01:00.001-07:00

"Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems"

~ Rainer Maria Rilke

Make way for ducklings...
Mama duck and her babies at picturesque Beacon Hill Park downtown Victoria
Image by Nancy Wilson