Over the past couple weeks, I think I've been going through a little growth spurt – I'm not any taller (though that would be nice)... but I've started to make some decisions about my life that I didn't really think about before. One thing lead to another, and I've been lucky enough to be involved in some pretty neat projects... one of which is on the topic of food, and the security and sustainability of where it is coming from. If the grocery store all of a sudden wasn't there, what would be left? It's easy to forget that our food doesn't actually come from a grocery store; and tracking our food back to it's seed is quite the journey. Anyway enough with this rant ... for now I just want to share a little bit of joy with you all; this here is my first attempt at an indoor herb garden!! And they're sprouting!!! Yeee! So I have 2 going – cilantro, and lavender. I'm not sure what this is, 'cause I forgot to label them. lol. But I'm totally loving this, and can't wait for the summer when I'll be able to have a garden on my balcony.

I'm working in the encaustic studio today (with Sue) ... and even though I'm not actually painting today, it's still so nice to be surrounded by all this creativity! So inspiring! Oh, and I finally started an encaustic painting of my own last week! Yee! I'll show you... if it turns out nice. lol!

Here's your first peek at a vandercook. Isn't it beautiful! lol! I think I went overboard with the furniture (those wooden pieces that aren't type), but still... none of those pieces were budging! I'll show you the print tomorrow. :) So stay tuned!

Okay, so I know I said I was going to show you the print, but I totally didn't have time today... maybe tomorrow. Here's hoping!

Happy Groundhog's Day everyone! Now if this isn't the silliness tradition ever, than I don't know what it is! It's fun though... and I can't help but think, 'I wonder if he's right!'... I'm totally ready for spring and not another 6 weeks of this slush. It doesn't really snow in Toronto, it's just cold. And I'm ready for flip flops!

Whether the groundhog was right or not, this felt case is good for whatever the temperature is outside! Isn't this the cutest little groundhog ipod case you've ever seen?! It's from Wild Olive, and on her blog there is a step by step guide on how to make your own!! So cute!

Image from Wild Olive

She's too funny!

Yeay! It's Friday, and we all survived the week! There was a moment on Tuesday or Wednesday that I totally wasn't sure if I would ever see Friday again. Most of the week I wasn't feeling well, and just totally exhausted and uninspired. Well now things are looking up! I got my inspiration back... and I think I found it trapped in the Vandercook. LOL! This is part of a print I did this week... With like 8 inch high wood type! Oh swoon! I'm hoping to get back in the letterpress studio today for some more. Have a good Friday everyone!

Okay, so over the past few days as part of my branding class, I've been working on a visual identity for Audrey – a fair trade and organic fashion line. It'll be a whole semester process but this logo is my first go at it. I was inspired by the feel of Anthropologie, but mixed in with a little more of that rugid and edgy look, and still environmentally considerate like Kuyichi. Anyway, what do you think?

Images from Anthropologie and Kuyichi

I need to get me some of these!! What better way to enjoy helvetica?! Maybe I should put some in my helvetica box. lol!!

(more to come soon)

Photos from Beverly Hsu via Notcot

OMG I love these posters! Especially this last one! I think I love them so much because of all the textures and the way they looks like they've been screen printed, instead of just printed at kinkos. What do you think?

Found on Gig posters

I'm getting all bundled up and about to head out on this chili Friday... well i guess it's not all that cold these days... but still! I'm gonna need that scarf back from Sushi! There is something about a scarf that just completes every outfit! (even for a cat) lol! Happy Friday everyone!

When you have a small space, clutter is your enemy! Our kitchen has these open shelves that could easily hold lots of things, cereal, flour, sugar, Sushi's treats...etc... sounds like clutter to me! Especially since all that stuff comes in these gross packages that just look awful together. These package designers need to stop wondering what their product looks like in the grocery store and start thinking about what it looks like in the home, don't you think?... Anyway, the idea was to create unity, so that all the stuff looked like it was part of the same family... A couple jars (from IKEA) did the trick, plus a few tags and some string to finish it off. And voila! Unity!

Previous Small Ideas:
Part 1

I just love food that not only tastes great but is also beautiful... I mean they look like cute little leaning towers, don't they? Last weekend my sister (hey Cornelia!) carefully made each little tower. I paid attention to how she was making them and I think I'll try to make them this weekend for when my in-laws come for dinner. Okay, so you wanna make them too?! Here's what you do... (Cornelia, let me know if I missed a step)

Tomato Bocconcini stacks!

What you need:

1. A bunch of roma (or plum) tomatoes
2. Some bocconcini cheese.
3. Fresh spinach (or if you have it, use fresh basil, but the spinach tasted great too)
4. Dried oregano
5. Salt & pepper
6. EVOO (Olive Oil)
7. Fresh dill

What to do:

1. Cut the tomatoes in thick slices (1/4 inch)
2. Cut the bocconcini into thick slices too.
3. Place a spinach leaf down, then a slice of tomatoe, followed by a slice of bocconcini
4. Repeat
5. Repeat again, carefully...
6. Drop a tiny bit of olive oil over top
7. Sprinkle some oregano and salt & pepper over top
8. Top with a tiny piece of dill

Now you're ready to serve. :) To eat it, I found it easiest to break up the tower into 3 sections.. lol. I know, after all that effort you go and take it apart!

Last night I met a Vandercook and fell madly in love! It was love at first sight! For those of you who are wondering if this Vandercook is some chump that is trying to take me away from Justin! – let me clarify. A vandercook is a beautiful, large letterpress machine, (I'll try to get a shot of it sometime) and last night I got to try it out! It was ahhwwwweeesssoome! Though I didn't set the type, it was still neat to print. Ahhh.... I love wood type, the texture and querkiness is so lovely! Some day I will have my own vandercook...

For those of you who love the stroke of a brush, and the beauty of type... this is for you. Grab a tissue, you will drool!

It was created by Nexus Productions.

I hope you're all having an awesome Tuesday! I've started scoping out our new (Leslieville) area of Toronto, and honestly it's so adorable! It feels a lot like living in a small town in a way... I've never lived in a friendlier area!

So; Haiti. I didn't know how to really talk about what is happening there... over the past week struggled with how I would mention it and my new little neighbourhood was there to help me out. The awfulness that happened (and is happening) in Haiti has the world's attention and the amount of help that is pouring from all corners of the planet in is SO incredible! It instills my faith in humanity. We do care. This awesome area of Leslieville is hosting an emergency fundraiser this weekend, and the merch they're selling will be awesome!! It'll be like a local craft show mixed in with boutique shops and of course a gourmet bake sale! ALL the money raised is going to Haiti! So if you're in the area, come down!

You can get more info from the Nathalie-Roze website here.

Photos from BlogTO