Saturday, December 31, 2005

a font system for young readers



an article posted at aiga's blog about the significance of a font system for young readers. a big problem for early readers is the identification of letters. in addition to being dissimilar across the upper and lowercases, some of the letters mirror each other. the fact that a single letter can be mistaken for another letter depending upon the font is a serious problem that will continue to compromise literacy development among english-speaking early readers. something to consider being a designer as well as a parent.

Friday, December 30, 2005

turkey textiles



the first international exhibition devoted to graphically stunning imperial turkish robes (kaftans) from the 16th and 17th century is on view at the smithsonian's arthur sackler gallery in washington, d.c. to january 22/06. "style and status: imperial costumes from ottoman turkey.

"at its height in the late 16th and early 17th century, the ottoman empire (1281–1924) extended from present-day iraq in the east to the balkans in the west to north africa in the south. ottoman society was rigidly hierarchical, and luxurious ceremonial robes—worn for civilian and religious ceremonies, as well as on the battlefield—played a central role in court life".

women played an extremely important role in this textile economy, and the outlet they found in embriodery and cloth spinning allowed for an undeniable amount of power and financial independance in a world dominated by men.

there is an excellent online exhibit where you can view the robes in more detail, and learn more about the ottoman empire.

these designs are stunning and the embroidery is amazing.

Thursday, December 29, 2005

best of "oh five" list

i love looking back at highlights of the past year; my accomplishments and others; and thought it would be fun to look back at my first year of blogging and pick out the highlights i have come upon while exploring this online world. the fun stuff, posts, favorite crafts, cards, illustrations, anything design and art related (not only visual).

so here they are (a bit of a long list ; but all worth mentioning). what fun this was to collect and so inspirational all of these: so without further a due... poppy's best of '05.

hostess sushi cakes by not martha
hulaseventy's lovely collages
this graffiti by ward-o-matic as well as his mural
this window display of paper cakes
travelling journal project
testemobili graphic design
misprinted type graphic design
ana ventura's paper dolls
rosa's dolls
cape arcona fonts
deadly squire skateboards and journals and oven mitts
ill designers
kim's suitcase collages
this picture by ivonne
kit house
wallpaper from absolute zero
post on malaise by petite anglais
female merit badges
this photo by bluejake
cul de sac design
mia's wall dolls
lomo's
tower/flower by nebopeklo
ba photo collection by be a design group
margaret kilgallen's art
this room by mav
this mud oven by red current
dreamy's art journal by rhonna
my flickr fave quilt
self-portrait tuesday and it's founder and crafter/photographer/mixed media artist, red current
help new orleans mural taken by bluejake
izik levy's robots
ky's art journal
nothing something
uppercase
jo tyler's collages
the dark's street pieces
lyrical's beautiful photos
obey stencils and design
have to mention holga
clint griffin (art)
mymy's paper explosion cards and other goodies
mac premo's collages
blim gallery
gocco
nice wallpaper
sonja ahlers and her installation at blim
luren's wall hangings
port2port press
karin bubas photography
hillman curtis's pentagram video
tood boontje's midsummer light
jane michna's design
the blog concept of muse to muse

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

scandinavian surface


Scandinavian Surface, originally uploaded by Astrid..

found this photo at one of my groups i belong to at flickr called fresh new spaces and one contributer, astrid, posted this image (photo by scandinavian surface) from scandinavian surface and i automatically flipped! love everything about this room (including the deer in the window)! they are a company that makes patterns for all kinds of surfaces. how cool!!!!

vend-o-matic


just the funnest fonts from font diner and even funner coming out of this self-serve vend-o-matic. like "fontdinerdotcom sparkly" and "maverick". no coins needed.

skaters


skaters at trout lake from city of vancouver's archives for sale. love the hats and the fur around the skates!

Friday, December 23, 2005

here there and nowhere


if you get a chance you have to read this essay, here, there and nowhere about a remote mining town in northern b.c. that has been abandoned 25 years or so ago, with so much still in place. books in the library, still stacked and sorted; card catalogues may still be browsed; curling rocks waiting for the next game...

how i'd love to see this place in person. nice shots were taken, however not all online, so i tried to capture a few with my camera (still no scanner happening).





Thursday, December 22, 2005

touchdown drawings



"canadian installation artist, micah lexier makes touch down drawings in the last few seconds of every flight she takes. each drawing is created just at the moment before, during and after landing. she makes the drawing by turning herself into a human seismograph. they are then enlarged and laser cut out of steel into large sculptures. the touch down series is an attempt to capture the passage of time. (as noted in december's enroute magazine). micah continues, "our lives are one continuous flow of events and experiences, and it is important to occasionally stop and take measure of things. that is why we employ time increments (hours, days, years) and other milestones (like birthdays) that help us notice and evaluate our passage. the event of touching ground marks both a specific moment in time and the transition from one state to another. each moment in our lives is equal to the next; it is just that some are more poetic than others." (excerpt taken from enroute magazine). here are a few of her other installations:

self portrait



all numbers are equal



david, then and now



she is represented by jack shainman gallery in new york.

skate


reading my canadian house and home i came across another photographer who over-paints her photographs on canvas, and i'm rather enticed by them. laura millard takes photographs of the frozen waterways, frost and ice of her hometown of banff, alberta. i especially like the one above called, skate7. it reminds me of when as a young girl, my father would take us kids skating on a lake in central alberta. it was such a bumpy skate, but so exciting to be crossing a deep deep lake, and there would be hot chocolate waiting on the other side.

these are amazing shots of real close ups. the frost looks almost like delicate flowers. brilliant idea to photograph such simple things that most wouldn't think of. beautiful images for a ski cabin or wintery place.

wallpaper prints



a new collection of wallpaper prints and lampshades from toronto textile artist ruth adler. these fine art-quality, digitally printed giclée on canvas prints would definitely add a modern edge to a room. see the lonsdale gallery in toronto for representation.

heather johnston photography



the les fleurs fine art canvas collection from vancouver photographer/artist, heather johnston is a series of flora images referencing botanical prints from the 19th century. the canvases are a unique combination of photography and hand-painting on canvas stretched over a wooden frame. each is treated with several layers of a special coating for protection against scratches and ultraviolet light exposure. these are actually very beautiful in person. available here.

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

eine stickers


too bad these stickers are sold out. (see products) but still had to mention them. hula, i think we have to make some of these.

beautiful decay

a magazine that i have never noticed before and saw on my favorite magazine's store shelf was beautiful decay. it looked so full of goodness and was dying to pick it up, but the line-up to purchase was waaaaaaaaay too long. (that's one of the problems at this time of year), but it looked so scrumptious. found their selves online here and am equally interested. lots of links to peruse and be inspired by. here's a few:


the art of chess exhibit at the luhring augustine gallery is a collection of artists reinterpretations of the classic chess board. my favorite, the rachel whiteread piece, modern chess set, 2005. carpet, lino, plywood, beech, placticized resins, foil, white metal, fabric, enamel, varnish, aluminium wire, brass, ink, chrime, gloss paint, metal wire, foam, fabric handles.

some nice new fonts from dsnhaus. nominal5 and bmx.
monkey salon, an interesting gallery
and claim your free wall calendar 2005 at pictures on walls (see products).

first day of winter



every winter solstice the secret lantern society puts on a celebration of the return of the sun with a glowing constellation of lanterns shining in six vancouver neighbourhoods. honouring many cultural traditions, the winter solstice lantern festival illuminates the longest night of the year with lanterns, fire, singing, drumming, live music, dancing - and skating! some beautiful lanterns are made at secret workshops prior to the big night. (unfortunately i couldn't find a great link on "how to make these lanterns" - seems very secretive; but if anyone has one let me know and i'll update this - thanks!)



click here to watch the lantern festival. there will also be a labyrinth of 600 lights lit in yaletown tonight.

if you'll click on this flickr photoset you will see why this festival is so popular here. we have quite a few dark wintery days and this day means the sun is coming back soon.

happy solstice everyone!

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

meggiecat links


the ever so resourceful, meggiecat has some great links this week. first one from lisa vollrath who has an advent calendar with daily crafty ideas including downloadable high res ephemera images. and i hanna, a mixed media artist from sweden with more downloadable vintage emphemera images.

thanks meggiecat for the links and lisa and hanna for the great downloads! love this blogoshpere!

Monday, December 19, 2005

faile


IMG_0105, originally uploaded by jakedobkin.

nice faile piece - LOVE the colors. taken by photoblogger, bluejake off his flickr photostream.

fable industries



i know i've been on a big felt kick this fall and it's still isn't shaking, especially after seeing these felt-covered gocco'd (perhaps?) journals from fable industries. these images aren't giving the real thing justice, but, they are really really nice. trust me. at paper ya-ya's on granville island, vancouver.


poppycotton


i can never resist a poppy and this giant one from poppycotton is not an exception. this online boutique carries one of a kind vintage fabric pillows, wall hangings and lampshades. (via designsponge).

eggpress



eggpress out of portland is garnering much attention these days with their gorgeous letterpressed cards. beautiful designs carefully handpressed, these cards are stunning in real life. love the flower ones especialy. they also have some amazing wedding invites as well. at paper ya-ya.

Sunday, December 18, 2005

mini wishes



a mini wish list from uppercase in calgary. a d.i.y. (design it yourself) book and an alphabet garland.

sara fanelli



uppercase journal featured a post on illustrator, sara fanelli lately and i not only loved her collage style illustrations but also her "quirky" handwriting. it's like 3 or 4 different people took turns writing out each word. her site is rather cool too. i liked the idea uppercase had of showcasing her work perhaps in an upcoming exhibit, as well as inviting other artists with a collage/typography sense to contribute. if you're interested see their post here (go to their sara fanelli post).

Saturday, December 17, 2005

last minute gifts


some last minute gifts you can make if you're desperate (it happens):

a guitar string bracelet
a pencil sharpener and other modifcations for a moleskin
a cigarbox guitar
and this do-it-yourself snowglobe

sauce essentials kit



a great gift for the saucier in the family. this sauce essentials kit from italian kitchen has that serrated peeler everyone is asking for that easily peels the skin off the most delicate tomato. the tomato knife's perfect balance and sharpness makes slicing a joy. prep bowls allow you to have all your ingredients neatly measured and ready. the spatula's silicone end is perfectly shaped for mixing and scraping. and of course the tasting spoon.

Friday, December 16, 2005

jane says




as an inspiration seeker, i often look to the big exciting places, like new york, san francisco or some far away place like japan for design that strikes my inner chord and excites me. and i tend to forget to check right it my back yard for what surrounds me here. i was lucky enough to find vancouver designer, jane michna and couldn't help but love her designs and sense of style. not only with her graphic design but with her photography as well. so i asked her a while back if she would mind doing a blog interview which i was so thrilled she agreed to. she was working on a new site at the time, so we've been waiting for that to be complete. so now that it is, i am pleased to share my interview with you.

1. To start off, you really do beautiful work. Where do you look initially for inspiration when starting a project?

Thank you! I think inspiration is at the core of every great thing. I always begin with a big field trip. I go outside, visit shops, markets, anywhere that will saturate my senses. In my journal, I record thoughts and images that draw my attention but are seemingly disparate, like a mirrored boudoir, a white boot, a leaf, a poem, a slice of carrot cake.




2. Who are your design hero's and why?

I am very inspired by Bruce Mau. He stands for collaboration, experimentation, ideas, laughing and living large. His Incomplete Manifesto sums it up brilliantly: (click here to read).

3. What is your favorite part of the design process?

The moment when the mess of stuff is suddenly aligned into a solid concept. When I see a direction that I am excited about.

4. I see you dabble in photography as well including medium format. What types of cameras do you use?

I have a Pentax S1a (which belonged to my Dad), a Yashica Mat (which I have been borrowing and loving an awful lot), a Holga (fun and full of surprises), and a little digital Nikon 5900 (to throw in my pocket). I would like a pack film polaroid next.




5. Where do you think design is going? ( A tough question, but I think I mean, what trends do you see?)

I agree this is tough because design is so multifaceted and has a way of resisting definition. But in general, the trends seem to be embracing embellished, handmade, clusters of stuff. It is very visual. I am loving all the illustration. I figure in the future it will either get crazier, less careful, more all-over... or it will fall back into the hands of minimalism. I often would like to see more thought put into concept and story; more integrity and depth, less tricks.


6. Where do you see yourself with respect to design in say, 10 years?

My own studio, fabulous clients and collaborations, a thought-provoking portfolio... knock on wood!

7. Thank you Jane! I'm sure those things will happen!

You can also check out Jane's flickr site also filled with visual goodness!

technobake



a while back a co-worker of e's had brought a yummy banana cake to work that e raved about. so much so, she brought him the recipe and this interesting wooden loaf pan/form from technobake. she said she picked them up while on a trip in france. i was a little hesitant to bake wood in my oven, but it worked out really well and it was such a unique way to present a simple loaf like this. i was thrilled to find you can order it online here.

Thursday, December 15, 2005

denyse schmidt and design public



don't you just love this tree, floor, blackboard and o.k. (everything) in denise schmidt's ct workshop? it's available for a lookie at the holiday home inspiration pool hosted by design public. a fun place to check out. also have to love/have this couch too!



design public is now carrying a few denyse schmidt quilts. i like the yellow rugby stripe one with the swirly swirl stitching.

re-modern

re-modern, a design retailer based out of san francisco with a belief that design makes life better; has some fun stuff that fulfills that philosophy. only since i've started this blog have i really realized this concept completely. design inspires, brings hope, makes us move, shakes things up and makes us strive to be better. i constantly am looking to improve. with that in mind some products from this retailer that have inspired me:



some unbelievable colored bamboo bowls



amazing felt brooches! have i said how much i like felt?



these cards. simple designs but so effective.



and some lovely festive pillows!

Wednesday, December 7, 2005

free people



if i had a laptop, i know i would want one of these laptop covers from free people. in fact all the bags, totes and cozies from free people i want.

i'm especially liking this snowflake one and the embroidered ipod case.

teaspoons and drains



i keep on seeing all these silicone-made inventions. and most of them are pretty innovative. and this teaspoon from zanif is another. just fill the spoon with tea leaves, close it up and drop it into your hot water to seep. because it's that new fandangled silicone it can stand heat up to 250 degrees celcius. about 500 farenheit?



and then these drain stoppers are just too crazy. had to post them. saw both of these at a kiosk called bale living at oakridge last night.

Tuesday, December 6, 2005

gocco-bots


ornabots on tree, originally uploaded by jek in the box.

i am amazed at all the wonderful gocco-ing going on lately. or is it just me? (like when you buy a volkswagen and all of a sudden you see all these volkswagens around). whatever it is, it's sooooooo fun! just take a look at what's going on. just found this blog, darn knit out of d.c. who's painting on top of the gocco. and jek in the box has made these christmas tree ornabots (above) that you can see on a tree here. people amaze me with their creativity, i wonder if they have kids. i'm loving this person's enthusiasm! and aren't these cute? i love the gocco world!