Great style from last night


Sophie B at Toronto Fashion week

Saw this gal Sophie B at the Comrags show last night and had to take a shot of her. Thought she had such a great pulled together style - loved the flowery blouse + peg leg pants and grrr.. how'd she get her hair to go like that? :-) She very much reminded me of a young Fran Liebowitz.

ps. Extra excited as I've just gotten a nice illustration assignment on the topic of androgyny. Sophie will serve as inspiration for it. Can't wait to show you sketches after the piece is published!

My neighbour Jeff of Joy tshirt


My neighbour Jeff (running on very little sleep!)

The inky tshirt press.

Lovely Assistant Sophie

My neighbour Jeff two doors over runs a great little company called joy tshirt.
This week he had a crazy order to fill of 1100 tshirts (yep) so I helped him out a bit plus grabbed some shots of his studio in full production mode! It's so great to have Jeff as a neighbour - not only is he a sweet guy + great cook but if I ever run out of ink at 10pm I know I can knock on his door.
I heart my Artscape community. :-)

Beginning work on new Penguin Print

Here is the Room of One's Own print
Note upright penguin!

Here is the screen used to make it.


Close up of Upright penguin on screen

Here is the title requested by Paul


Step1: Create your image.

Step 2: In Photoshop separate the image out into layers; one for each colour.

Step 3: Make each layer 100 % black as in below:



Layer one will be screened in orange Layer two will be screened in black

I am finally getting down to creating a custom print ordered by Paul Buckley, Creative Director of Penguin books USA. When I created my first series of prints I chose to use the "upright penguin"with all the titles which meant that I could use the same large screen for all 4 prints. The cover Paul has requested however contains the "chubby folded over penguin" rather than the upright one which means I need to make a brand new large screen. Above I have listed the steps in beginning to make a new screen. When you have completed the 3 steps as in above Step 4 is to create "film" by transfering the image onto acetate.

Because my image is so large I need go to a print shop to have it enlarged. My favourite printer for this task is Midtown reproductions on Adelaide St. in Toronto.

A Feast for The Eyes: Y + CO




The showroom. wow.

Luscious fabrics by Hable Construction
Soooo fresh looking.

On Left: Raoul Textiles: vibrant interpretations of historical patterns

On Right: John Robshaw: Hand blocked textiles.
(check out that pink and orange combo!)

Great Alphabet soup rug by Oliver Yaphe - a rug company run by Ali's sister Katherine Yaphe.
Love the sophisticated colour combo of limey green +periwinkle blue.


Two amazing fabrics by Christopher Farr
Just loved this balustrade pattern which is titled 36 24 36

Vanderhurd Hand embroidered textiles
Stunning.

Neither Ali or her assistant Kelly wanted to pose for a photo so I had to settle for the furry showroom mascot!

Today I headed to the heart of the Design District on Davenport Rd. and visited Y + Co. Carpet and Textile. I met up with the owner Ali Yaphe and when I entered her showroom I almost fell over at the sight of so many luscious patterns + saturated colours together in one space. For those not familiar...Y + Co. carries a huge assortment of carpets by some of the biggest names in the rug biz including David Hicks + Madeline Weinrib.

Recently the company has also expanded into textiles (!!) and carries fabric + wallpaper by a juicy collection of designers including Lulu DK, Raoul Textiles, and two of my absolute faves: Hable Construction and Galbraith + Paul.

I spent an hour and a half roaming through Y+ Co's extensive collection and left feeling inspired and full up with colour + pattern!

Y + Co.
247 Davenport Rd. Toronto.
Highly recommended.