Happy, Happy Summer!

"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...

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!!

Kozai

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

For the Love of a Summer Dress and a Happy Horse

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!)

Erin Cee

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

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

Oh Cartolina!

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!

Jim C. Brown

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

Cardboard Slumberland

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

Emily Carr Undergraduate Exhibition 2007

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.

Kermodi

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!

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!

Lovely Lu

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...

Crunchy, Sticky, Dusty

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.

Farmboy Fine

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!

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!