It is amazing how simple joys in life undo small nuances! Leo is starting to talk, saying B words like baby, ba-ooon (balloon), boool (ball), and this evening while he was eating a banana, he screamed out b-nana!!! These moments overjoy me and become memories I will treasure ...

Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose. {from the television show The Wonder Years}

Cold days are dreary, but can be creatively productive ... I painted at home this morning ...


This is why I love my job - We had a bit of a lull at work yesterday morning, so we made these cute mini-signs for display in the shop, mostly props to handwriting genius Lauren ...

Some tulips in bold colours sitting on our front counter, which made the cold day a lot brighter and spring seem a little nearer ...

Happy Holidays!!!



Have extra socks? Why not make them into sock toys...here is a link to patterns and ideas for sock toys... Scrappy! How to make sock toys, 1958

Seasons Greeting!!! Here I am decorating our tree ...

Here is a layered illustration I made of origami kites ... it is drawn on velum, so that each layer shows through to the next ...

The winter wonderland I walked out into after class today ...

This entry is dedicated to Scandinavian designers I admire...

Finnish designer Akira Minagawa designs fabrics and clothing among other projects under the brand name minä perhonen. "Minä" means "I" and "perhonen" means "butterfly" in Finnish. In her profile she says she choose this name "with a hope of creating many beautiful designs as butterfly wings fluttering lightly in the sky". Her designs are reminiscent of fashion from the thirties with added femininity, and I especially love the hair pieces she designs.

Pictured below is a sample from her 2007 spring/summer collection.



Designers Mari Relander and Anna Katriina have a design company called Perhonen . They have collaborated on a wide variety of projects and competitions. They have exhibited abroad both with Imu design and on their own. Their designs were selected for the annual Sotheby´s contemporary art and design exhibition held in London in 2003. Recently their work was exhibited in Tokyo in an exhibition of new Scandinavian design. The exhibition was curated by designer Harri Koskinen and held at the Issey Miyake Design Studio Gallery (MDSG).

Their Anemone lamp is pictured below.




Designer Tord Boontje was born in the Netherlands, but currently resides in France. He designs for many different projects, but maintains a very unique and distinct style. His philosophy is the marriage between emotion and design. His textile work reminds me of Chinese papercutting.

I especially love his installations, and particularly his Winter Wonderland installation at the Swarvoski Crystal Gallery in Innsbruck.

Boontje says this of his Winter Wonderland installation, "In a demonstration of the emotional quality of crystal, we created a landscape in which the visitors are taken on a fantasy journey. References to fairytales, storytelling, history and adventures invite personal interpretation and dreams."

Shown below is a fraction of the work from Boontje's Winter Wonderland Installation.

Lennie is watching the storm outside...

It is so cold outside today, we are having a blizzard, so I am staying inside and making art. Here is a little illustration I did this afternoon, it is winter inspired!

Wishing everyone happy holidays!!! Here is a warm and cozy idea for your holidays.
The 'best ever' carrot soup recipe....

Carrot, Red Pepper and Pear Soup
Yield: 9

INGREDIENTS:

1 medium onion, chopped (1)
4 large carrots, chopped (about 1lb.) (4)
1 1/2 cups roasted red peppers (375ml)
2 pears, peeled, cored, chopped (2)
4 cups chicken stock (1L)
1 cup milk (250ml)
3 tbsp butter (45ml)
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup thickened yogurt or sour cream (125ml)
1 tbsp chopped parsley, optional (15ml)
1 tsp curry paste (5ml)

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large saucepan, melt butter and sauté onion and carrots for about 10 minutes.
2. Add stock, pears and peppers to carrot mixture and simmer for 20 minutes, until carrots and pears are tender. Add milk.
3. Puree soup in batches, in a food processor or blender until smooth.
4. Pour soup back into saucepan and stir curry in. Bring to a simmer and season with salt and pepper. Do not allow soup to come to a boil.
5. Garnish with a dollop of thickened yogurt or sour cream and parsley, if using.