New Business: Cartolina Consulting

Fiona of Cartolina is launching an extension to her brand this week, Cartolina Consulting!  She will be offering consulting services to creative entrepeneurs using her 15 years of freelance/designer/illustrator background.  Having known Fiona online for almost five years, I think her resources and knowledge with respect to a creative business on and off line would be something to consider if you are looking for direction.  Click here to read more about Fiona and here for more information.

Cartolina on Location: NYC; Fishs Eddy

Written by Fiona Richards of Cartolina Cards and Cafe Cartolina.

A huge thank you to Fiona of Cartolina Cards who is sharing a bit of her trip to NYC this past week with this post on one of her favorite shops, Fish's Eddy. Also as a side note, Fiona has started up her very own blog, Cafe Cartolina this past week, (a curious collection of art and inspiration), which we're absolutely thrilled about!

Well we left our neck of the woods for a week and headed off to the International Illustrators Conference(ICON5) in New York.
I love going to New York. It's very odd to drive away in the morning, from the middle of nowhere (Nelson, BC), and find yourself in the centre of the universe by night fall.

There are very few stores in New York that I like better then Fish's Eddy. The wonderful interior space is filled to the brim with vintage dinnerware, flatware, glassware and linens. Along with the massive amounts of vintage there are some great modern pieces based on vintage design. Its a little overwhelming but if you are not in a hurry you can find some real treasures here. And I love the way they merchandise the store. There are so may tea towels hanging from the ceiling and sugar bowls stacked into pyramids. You have to be very careful not to crash into displays as you wander around with your jaw hanging open at the scale of it all.



One of the things that I think is very clever at Fish's Eddy is that often it's hard to identify the modern from the vintage.

Everything is displayed in scruffy old cupboards and shelves which gives you the feeling that you are the first person to discover this amazing old stash of stuff. In fact it probably is the same feeling that the owners had when they first laid eyes on their original inventory source, "One fortuitous day we came across an old barn filled with endless stacks of dishware from hotels, restaurants and diners. There were bushels of cups, creamers and sugar bowls. There were plates and platters stacked sky high.The barn had been in a terrible fire and it was in bad shape… yet the dishes were surprisingly intact. Still, the content was only good to anyone willing to cart it away." And apparently they were the willing ones!



The green/jadeite pressed glassware, above, is very flamboyant and eye catching. The sign above the display says "The Madonna Inn". When I googled the Madonna Inn I did find a number of establishments that look like they might actually have used such extravagant goblets at one time(hopefully they've moved on now to something more minimal in design!)



Some of the modern and reproduction pieces available at Fish's Eddy are really wonderful. A talented group of designers have produced a number of in-house lines that really represent a good cross over from vintage to modern. I especially loved the display of porcelain glove manequins - all different shapes and sizes. I think they would be great for jewelry displays don't you?

The other lines that caught my eye were the momgrammed mugs and the floor plan plates. Great ideas - beautifully designed and produced.




Fish's Eddy is located in the Flatiron District of New York:
889 Broadway at 19th Street
They are open until 9pm most evenings.

Fortunately, for those of us who live in the middle of nowhere, they have an online store.

And, in their words, Fish's Eddy is all about, ". . . wares that are tried and true and stand the test of time. To be eclectic and free thinking. To know that in the kitchen, the rules should be breakable, not the dishes. And most importantly…to always have some good old fashion fun! "

Written by Fiona of Cartolina Cards and Cafe Cartolina.

special Guest Post: by Fiona Richards {Cartolina Cards}

My Neck of the Woods - day 5.
Special Guest Post by Fiona Richards, Cartolina Cards




Grass Roots
When I started this guest blog on Monday I wanted to talk about the challenges of living and working in a relatively remote, small town. Nelson is an 8hr drive from the closest big city, Vancouver. But I got a little distracted over the last few days by all the talented designers and artists who do business from here - and they all make it look pretty easy. But it does have its challenges. At times you have to be fairly resourceful to live here. Most people live here for the peaceful lifestyle - I don't think I know anyone who chose Nelson for its variety of industry and career choices. So to begin this last post of the week I want to acknowledge the grass roots entrepreneurs who give Nelson its soul. From the radish farmer to the potter, the weaver and the panama-hatted herb guy, what they do everyday, in our small community, is beautiful, simple and really important.

The Craft Connection and Nicole Bigg
The Craft Connection has been a cooperative of Nelson artists for 25 years. Craft Connection members share in the operation of the store through staffing, advertising, marketing, and display. Since most co-ops are community and regionally based, investment in, and surplus revenue from, the co-op stay within the local community. The Craft Connection recently bought and renovated this lovely old building and converted it into a great gallery space for all their members. Nicole Bigg is one of the member artists at the Craft Connection and I have enjoyed watching her art evolve over the last few years. Currently I am loving her belt buckles, there are lots on display today at the store - aren't they amazing?




Nicole has a few things to say about living and working in a small community, "Some cities are great for a bit but over all I enjoy living in a small town especially Nelson. There are many things here to inspire great artwork like beautiful lakes and mountains-and it's relaxing, it doesn't have the traffic, pollution and distractons that the city has. Nelson keeps me as busy as I would like really." Nicole has a great web site with lots of images of her work and also her fabulous jewelry. Enjoy!



Cabin Fever.
So if you get in your car, in the middle of nowhere, and drive for 2 hrs, you might be surprised to find that you are still in the middle of nowhere - though in a different country. Sandpoint Idaho is a beautiful 2 hr drive from Nelson. It's an even smaller town than Nelson but they are lucky to have one of my all time favourite little shops - Cabin Fever. Owner Rebecca has amazing good taste and a wonderful talent for merchandising. The store is split into a clothing section and the other side of the store is furniture, with bedding and bath downstairs - a great rustic mix of vintage and new.
So there I was on Wednesday admiring the John Robshaw linens stacked high on vintage dressers, when I saw these amazing handmade linen pillows designed and produced by local artist Melissa Neufeld. What struck me most about these pillows was the frill which is made of burlap webbing - the kind you see underneath the seats of antique dining room chairs. The screen printing is beautifully done and really unusual. I think I was drawn to them because I love the combination of natural linen, burlap and black ink. You can see more of Melissa's work here.



Gotta love this lamp from Uncommon Goods and its vintage wood base. It fits the whole rustic vibe at Cabin Fever.



I have really enjoyed blogging this week and giving you all a glimpse of life in Nelson BC. Thanks for all the comments. I have uploaded some pictures to this Flickr location if you are interested, and I will continue to add some more in the next few days.
I am leaving you with a photo taken from my studio window. I hope you enjoyed the posts this week - and if you're ever in my neck of the woods, give me a call we'll go for a coffee at Oso Negro.



Special Guest Post by Fiona Richards, Cartolina Cards

Editors Note: A HUGE thank you Fiona for a great week! It was so fun to see all the good things coming out of the interior and a little south of the border. I'm sure you'll all agree with me, Fiona has a knack for this blogging life. Also, I'm probably not the only one planning a trip to Nelson in the near future after reading about this quaint place!

special Guest Post: by Fiona Richards {Cartolina Cards}

My Neck of the Woods - day 4
Special Guest Post by Fiona Richards, Cartolina Cards



The Dominion Cafe.
I realized this morning when I parked my car round the back of Oso Negro that due to my precaffeinated state that I hadn't noticed that they had painted one of the 3 matching old houses that I park in front of most mornings - when did they do this and how did they choose that colour? Generally I like orange and it does look cheery, I guess I'll get used to it. It's bright though.

I'm not going to Oso this morning, I am going to the Dominion Cafe for a change. I have a soft spot for the Dominion Cafe because it used to be mine. Back when we got frustrated with the lack of coffee shops in Nelson we designed and built one ourselves. How fun - for a while, until I remembered that I am not a restauranteur, I am a graphic designer. Now there are lots of cafes in town to chose from and I can be a graphic designer in a different coffee shop every day of the week if I want!




Honey I'm Home

A few weeks ago our home decor shopping choices in Nelson went decidedly up-market. What a relief!
Honey I'm Home (mailto:info[at]honeyhome.ca) is the retail vision of owner Veronica Tompkins. Veronica moved to Nelson from Toronto where she worked for many years with the beautiful chain of Robin Kay stores (gorgeous Canadian home accessories and fashion). Her eclectic decorating style and good taste is bound to inspire us all to combine, as she does, antiques with bright modern accessories and earthy natural elements. It's a lovely place to shop.




One of the items at Honey I'm Home that really caught my(probably because it was in the gorgeous window display on top of a completely mirrored console table - be still my heart!) was a rock. Now you might think that this is an odd place to sell rocks but these rocks are felted. Produced by Ronel Jordaan these felted wonders must be seen to be believed and you must visit her website right now to see all the wonderful things being produced at her work shop in South Africa - rock on.



Ceramic Artist Aura Carney.
Lastly today I want to introduce you a ceramic artist that I am just loving, Aura Carney (mailto:auramay{at}shaw.ca) . I first saw Aura's work at Very Hush Hush in Herridge Lane and I was so taken by the illustrations. They are so honest and impulsive and delicate. I love the simples vessels and plates that she chooses for her drawings - especially the 2 long dishes with the shy swim suit girls on them

I asked Aura to tell me more about her work, she says, "I try to create pieces that evoke a romantic nostalgia while remaining contemporary. Most pieces are made from cone 6 porcelain and all pieces are hand drawn." She makes it all sound so simple! Aren't they wonderful?





Well I hope you enjoyed today's Nelson snap shot. I'm really enjoying blogging after all and it was so nice of poppytalk to ask me to guest blog this week, thanks Jan!

Tomorrow we are going to visit a local gallery and then we are going on a road trip - so grab your organic, pesticide-free, locally-grown soy snacks because it's a long drive to anywhere from here. See you tomorrow!

Special Guest Post by Fiona Richards, Cartolina Cards

special Guest Post: by Fiona Richards {Cartolina Cards}

My Neck of the Woods - day 3.



Very Hush Hush - another tale from the back alley.
Last year when I was taking a short cut from the art school, down the steps to the post office, I stumbled upon a shiny silver Airstream travel trailer nestled in Herridge Lane, behind the bike shop and next to the All Seasons Restaurant. What a nice surprise - must investigate! Well lo and behold if it isn't my pals Tracy and Cathy and their new shop on wheels, Very Hush Hush! Well since that day the Airstream trailer has become a favourite back alley haunt and a great place to support indie designers.

Very Hush Hush Gallery is Nelson’s most original purveyor of contemporary art & craft. Operating out of a restored 1964 Airstream trailer, Very Hush Hush sells handmade goods by emerging, independent, Canadian designers. Exhibiting work that is aesthetically innovative and technically astute. Co-founded by my friends Cathy Terepocki and Tracy Fillion, Very Hush Hush is a wonderful, unique, small town, shopping experience.





Tracy produces really unique, handcrafted and silkscreened toys (above), clothing and accessories under the trade name of Dearpony. She has a real eye for detail. I love the silkcreened details in these dresses....which are organic cotton and soy jersey, very soft and light. The full line is available at Very Hush Hush and at her Etsy shop.



Cathy Terepocki"s line of beautiful ceramics named Horn of Plenty (below) available at Very Hush Hush include plates, vases and mugs. I really love how Cathy's style has evolved in just the last year. Cathy's fun personality really show in her designs.



"My new product line is a pared down, natural evolution of my previous work. Using many of the same colours and techniques in perhaps more of a subtle way. The pieces I make deal with the juxtaposition between mass-produced and handmade objects. The floral prints used are primarily old, often discontinued decals from ceramic production.By making objects that people can use, I allow the viewer to connect with the piece on another level. My intent is to embellish functional objects with a touch of irony or satire so that mundane routine usually associated with function, is more pleasurable and interesting."

As for living/being a designer in the country, Cathy has some interesting thoughts: "On the pro side, it's positively beautiful here. I have definitely gained a greater appreciation for the natural world. Moving out of the city has also coincided with having children; this has slowed me down and enabled me to enjoy and draw inspiration from the subtleties in nature. A small community like Nelson is extremely supportive of their artists as it (art) is a big part of this town's identity. In terms of inspiration, sales, research etc you can do so much online which makes living in a small town less isolating."



I love all the products that Tracy and Cathy are selling at Very Hush Hush but one of the things that catches my eye every time I step up into the trailer are the belt buckles designed by Naomi Joy Yamamoto at Flight Path Designs - also another BCer! I love them. I love their interesting vintage images and their texture. I had a look at Naomi's web site she says that inspired by her love of textiles, design and traveling, she created Flight Path Designs in 2007 as a way to merge these three passions. Her work utilizes a combination of found imagery from her travels, vintage textiles and leather to create a line of belts, handbags and other accessories. Check out her bags too - really wonderful!




I hope you enjoyed my feature on Cathy and Tracy's Airstream trailer. Tomorrow we are going decidedly up-market for Nelson! A little urban style for our laid back Nelson lives. See you tomorrow.

Special Guest Post by Fiona Richards, Cartolina Cards

Special Guest Post: by Fiona Richards {Cartolina Cards}

My Neck of the Woods - day 2


A Morning in Town - Oso Negro
It's a nice sunny morning today - smells good because we had some rain. It's still early in the season and I notice a few early bird tourists out looking for some breakfast or at least a cup of coffee. Most mornings, before I go to the studio, I head across the bridge and into town to Oso Negro. Oso is our local coffee shop hang out. It's a bit of a destination for locals and visitors(who are usually hoping to catch a not so rare glimpse of one of Nelson's legendary colourful characters).

One of the interesting things about Nelson is that everyone seems to have a lot of time on their hands to sit around and drink coffee - I don't always have a lot of time for sitting around but I definitely have time for a good cuppa joe. And in a small town the coffee shop is where many of us do business, have meetings and make connections. I see lots of people I know today including the very talented Tracey (who I will tell you about tomorrow!) It's very social here this morning and no one seems to mind if I take their pictures!




Global Underground and Bonspiel Bags.
Nelson has a cool little downtown and a buzzing main street called Baker Street. Anyone who lives in a small town knows that it can be hard to get any where in a hurry, not because of traffic, because you are always running into someone you know and stopping and chatting. So if I am in a hurry to get somewhere I head down the back alley (Herridge Lane) - the only trouble with that is that a whole bunch of new shops have opened up in this trendy little spot and now I can't resist heading in to check out what's new.

One of my favourite spots to buy a gift for a friend is Global Underground. Owner Laura Price has very good taste and features lots of indie Canadian designers in her cool shop including one of my faves Ellen Box from Bonspiel, a fellow BC designer and craftsperson.





I love Ellen's designs. She designs and produces all her pieces herself. In her words. "I love simplicity, clarity, texture, charm, cuteness and strangeness. And complex color combinations."
This bag, above, with the fur corners is amazing and the quality is really beautiful. Do you think I could use this as a summer bag or does the fur make it a winter only accessory?




Flat Bags
While I was out today I stopped by Snowpack to see the new designs by Flat. Flat Bags, below, are designed and produced in Nelson using recycled bicycle inner tubes. Almost every woman I know in Nelson has a Flat bag and we love them for their style and durability. Shannon Hames is the designer and producer of Flat bags. Shannon says, "Being an avid mountain biker for years, there was always piles of old inner tubes in my basement. So in 1996 the first inner tube was cut, instead of patched… and with some old rain pants for material, I made the first Flat Bag. Now we collect used bike inner tubes and fun fabrics from colourful era’s to make a simple line of carrying bags." Shannon says that they have used around 15,000 ft of old inner tubes so far. Including a few of mine I'm sure!




I am really loving this new style, above, especially in the orange - might have to upgrade my Flat bag soon!



This yoga mat bag, below, is fantastic. I saw it on their website (www.flat-bags.com/our-products) and I have just had a look at it in person and it is really durable and solid, not to mention super stylish and eco-friendly - which translates into very good karma for your yoga mat!

So now you have seen a little of what's available in Nelson BC, I'd love to know what talented designers you know in your neck of the woods.
Tomorrow, I'm going to lurk a little longer in the back alley and introduce you to some very clever friends of mine and their super shiny shop - stay tuned.

Special Guest Post by Fiona Richards, Cartolina Cards

special Guest Post: by Fiona Richards {Cartolina Cards}

My Neck of The Woods - Day 1



Running a small business from a relatively remote location has its challenges. We live and work just outside of Nelson - a lakeside community of about 10,000 people in a pretty, mountain setting in south east BC known as the West Kootenay. Nelson attracts a creative crowd - drawn here by the supportive arts community and the peaceful lifestyle. We love living here. We love the long hot summers and the deep powder skiing in the winter.

I know there must be loads of other artists out there who also live in a remote area - and we all face the same challenge - how to do business in the big world while being inspired in our small world.

One of the interesting things that comes from being isolated from major retailers and mainstream consumerism is the opportunity to develop as an artist/designer uninfluenced by current trends that may be sweeping through a city neighbouhood.

This week I am hoping to give you a sneak peek into our small world. I am going to start with some snapshots of life in our bustling little town and then, through the rest of the week, I am going to give you a glimpse of the people and places that inspire me everyday in my neck of the woods!

Nelson is built on a hill - with a lake at the bottom of the hill. It's an old silver mining town with loads of Victorian style houses. The population is quite young here with lots of young couples leaving the city and taking up a new life in the country - there is good creative energy here.

The next few images are snapshots of street life in Nelson with a bit of window shopping thrown in.



After I took this monkey's portrait I rescued him and took him home.




I took this picture in a back alley - the red chandeliers looked amazing in the dimly lit salon with the blue wall paper, which apparently is original, not a modern addition - love this space. The Oxygen Art Centre is a multi-disciplinary arts center hosting theatre, art exhibits, events, lectures and workshops.

Below, everyone is fairly crafty in Nelson and we are lucky enough to have some great support from places like Abacus Beads. I love visiting Erin's store and chatting with other artists and browsing through her amazing selection of beads.



I was thinking about where I live and wondering and what I would like to show the Poppytalk readers. A lot of pretty hi-profile magazine articles have been written about Nelson and it always surprises me because it's in the middle of nowhere and we all just go about our daily routine here as you do in your home town. According to publications like The New York TImes, Esquire, and GQ, Nelson is famous for any or all of the following: being the pretty little location for an old Steve Martin movie, (Roxanne), being a favourite haunt for powder skiing celebs (not that I have ever seen any) and let's not forget our biggest claim to fame our population of authentic, peace lovin', draft dodging, goat cheese making hippies to whom we may owe our reputation for being one of the most laid back, colourful and craftiest little towns in Canada.

So, now that you have some insight into our little town, for the rest of the week I am going to take you to a few of my favourite places to meet some very talented people. See you tomorrow.



Special Guest Post by Fiona Richards, Cartolina Cards