Beautiful words from Jack Layton's Letter to Canadians

Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity. We can build a prosperous economy and a society that shares its benefits more fairly. We can restore our good name in the world. Don’t let them tell you it can’t be done.

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.

All my very best,
Jack Layton

News: Print Give away!

Exciting news: Starting today Emma Reddington of the Marionhousebook is holding a give away for my new print.

The print measures 23" X 34" and is hand printed on Somerset archival paper.
It is a signed open edition print and retails for 125.00
I think it'd serve as a great conversation piece in a dining room or kitchen or be a splendid gift for your favourite foodie!

Here is a pic of it in my friend Emily's house.

Photo by Janet Kimber

Run on over now and enter for your chance to win. Then come back and read the rest of this post! :-)

I have mentioned Emma Reddington several times in previous posts. In additional to writing her extremely popular design blog she works as both an exhibition designer at the AGO + an interior designer at marion melbourne. (I am trying to figure out how sleep fits into this senario).
Deemed "a woman with great taste" by House and Home a list of Emma's favourite interiors is included in their web photo gallery and... this just in: currently her home is featured in the latest House + Home Makeover issue!

Below are a few shots of her fantastic home which I plucked from her blog:

Emma's kitchen with son Henry
It was Emma's gutsy use of dark colours that first attracted me to her blog
The wall is chalkboard paint.

In Emma's great dark bathroom she used Ben Moore Raccoon Fur. Love it.

These 2 photos below are from the new H+H Makeover issue.

Entrance way / Photo by Per Kristiansen


Emma's livingroom / Photo by Per Kristiansen

I love the giant mirror which Emma found at Thrift town in Parkdale (yay for thrifting!) and I really like how it's contrasted with the wonderful stack of wood.
ps. I have been to Emma's house and can tell you it looks even better in person. :-)

For the rest of the photos see the H + H mag on news stands now.
Now... remember to cast your vote for the print give away! Good luck!

On Meeting Judy Ross

Since a bunch of you let me know that you enjoyed the post on Kate Spade I thought I'd share some photos of my first visit with textile designer Judy Ross. I first met Judy on the same business trip in 2006.

When I entered the lobby to Judy's building in Union Square I was so excited to see her name in the classic new york type directory. The humble old school signage (which I love) was in complete contrast to her gorgeous colourful office below.

Judy's office. I loved the beautiful arched windows facing out to Union square.
(I visited at 6pm so it was dark out!)
On the wall is her Cheerleader design in three different colour ways. On the table you can see her Seeds pillow. Both are made with a traditional indian chain stitch.


Close up of the yellow Duet pillow which made it home with me. :-)
These pillows are so dense + juicy with colour. Just one can do so much for a room.


At home Judy and her son Gabriel. (He is much bigger now!) You can get a tiny peek of one of her juicy rugs on the floor and behind her a print by Kiki Smith. (She also had an original Sonia Delaunay - !!)

Close up of Judy's shelves filled with fantastic art, pattern + textile reference. I love that paper maché vase with the diamonds.
Recognize those little pink scissors? :-)

Girl with a dreamy job: April Walsh


April Walsh

As former Visual manager at Anthropologie April created these fantastic giant flowers.

Close up
(I think these would look great in a little girl's room)

April loves working with unexpected + sometimes discarded materials. The installation above was made of accordion blinds that were getting thrown out by Blinds to Go!
Fantastic - no?

A window display April created for Anthropologie

Yesterday Artist April Walsh popped by my studio for a visit. April seems to have a knack for landing jobs most gals only dream of. In the past she served as Visual manager at Anthropologie where she was responsible for the window displays as well as all the groovy props through out the store.
Most recently she has been hired as store curator for Indigo Books where she will again be working her magic both on the floor + in the window! It'll be very fun to see what she comes up with in the coming months....Keep your eyes peeled.