Inspiration: paper + fabric craftiness and groupings of collections ...

I am excited to be designing a window instillation this coming week. We are making it spring-themed and over the top - with bicycle and basket, floral-inspired garlands, and sprouting flowers ... Pictures to come soon ...

For inspiration, I am loving this handmade flower installation by Ashley Meaders, in which she used both fabric and paper to create the hanging centrepiece for a ceremony. Also, these heart pillows she made for use as props for a wedding shoot are adorable ...



Crafty lady and graphic designer by day and night Debee Campos collaborated to make these pretty cards (one is shown below). More cards along with her beautiful photography can be seen on her blog ...


Loving these interior shots of Liza Giles' home, especially the groupings of collections in every room! She is senior stylist for the Designers Guild London ...

{photographs via decor8}

Kokedama are 'moss ball' bonsais ... I am thinking of trying my own ... If you find this inspiring, here is a tutorial with supplies required to make your own kokedama.

'Its cute round shape and tranquillity formed by moss creates a somewhat comical but quiet, wonderful but humble atmosphere. Every time I look at Kokedama I feel a sense of wonder. I love it.' SALA-SALA

{above photos courtesy of Hoa Mai}

String Gardens are simplistic and understated plant instillations. Created by Fedor in Amsterdam, these minimalist String Gardens take Kokedama a step further by balancing and suspending the bonsais from string. His collections are seasonal and help introduce natural elements as instillations in the urban environment ... Some of his work is shown below ...

Some pictures I took of the exhibitions at the Vancouver Art Gallery ...

First week in Toronto ...

(Shop on Ossington - window display)

I had wanted to see 'Friends with You' public installation 'Rainbow City' in Toronto, but the event was held in June. So come the end of July, I was really pleased to find some of their work still alive in Toronto. The following images were taken at Magic Pony Shop + Gallery on Queen Street West.

Baron Adolph de Meyer was a fashion photographer, most notably for Vogue magazine, but what I really admire are his still-life and floral photographs. His work is shown below ...

Some pictures I took around the house today....








Riu Tenreiro's illustrations for the book The Celebration are amazing! I love the simple colour scheme, his quirky style and the story board look of the book.

I also really like the the simple illustrative style and limited colour use of Brandon A. Dalmer's work.

I think public art should have presence in the space it's occupying, and for me public art is most effective when it changes the way people react to it, for example the way they move around a sculpture and how it impacts their emotions and sense of space. I think the sculptures of Richard Serra are an excellent example of how public sculpture can alter a person's perception of space. This video shows the installation of Serra's sculpture garden at the MOMA. The shear size of his work is incredible. It is amazing how he challenges a person's perception of space with such simple concave and convex bends in shapes.

My favourite public art space is the Stravinsky Fountain at the Centre Pompidou in Paris.

Mayle is my newest favourite fashion. I love the Fall 2007 collection. It is all about layering boxy shapes and legs!

Here is something I drew, dreaming of the west coast....

I love Jamie Rothstein's tabletop designs. She designs for large scale events and galas. She has a unique way of designing flowers-compact groupings leaning in vases. I saw a similar technique used by the floral designer who arranges the flowers for Le Georges V Hotel in Paris.

At the gala pictured below, her floral design is more about instillation, working especially with colour and lighting.


Angling the flowers and repetition are also characteristic of her style as seen below.