merci!

I had a lovely post birthday surprise waiting in the mailbox the other day. It was a parcel containing these Banana Republic earrings and the cute Stella stickers from my friends in Toronto. Those tricky ladies saw me post the earrings here - I love them! Thank you girls, you are the best!

juicy gems

A collection of vibrant bling for your feet, neck, hands and bedroom. {1} jewel flat sandals by Pella Moda. {2} Confidence Gained necklace by Elva Fields. {3} glass cocktail rings by Phuze Design. {4} Sacred Gems Faux Chandelier from Urban Outfitters - thanks k.b. :)

from the streets of seattle

i chews you

I spent the past weekend celebrating my birthday/Valentine's Day with a trip to Seattle with my boyfriend. We visited Pike Place Market and just wandered the city admiring the many bookstores, coffee shops and brick buildings. It was during this wandering that we came across an alley (behind the market) with a wall completely covered in a beautiful, textural, vibrant mural of spit slathered, squishy, dangling, smeared chunks of chewing gum. There was a couple carefully stretching and sculpting their freshly chewed gum into some sort of Valentine tribute and the entire thing was disgusting, yet strangely lovely to look at. To learn more check it out here on wikipedia. I wish I had seen this when I had to do a collage of found typography for school!

a festive weekend

This weekend is set to be a very festive one, indeed! It is the beginning of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games, Valentine's Day, Chinese New Year and my birthday (on Valentine's Day). I was checking out one of my favourite sites - the portfolio of prop stylist, Rebecca Thuss, when I came across these festive images to match the occasions. If I were hosting a Canadian Birthentine Chinese New Year Party, I would decorate exactly like the top image - how perfect is that?! So, Go Canada! Happy Love Day! Happy Birthday! and Gung Hay Fat Choy!

quatchi and sumi and miga...oh my!

So, being a total design nerd, I researched this many moons ago, but with the opening ceremonies being tomorrow and all, I thought I would share my research now! We've all seen the the Vancouver 2010 mascots plastered all over everything, so I thought I would figure out who designed them. Some simple googling informed me that these cute characters are creations of design company called meomi. I visited their site to find a wonderfully imaginative illustrated treehouse that "houses" their equally wonderful illustrations and design work. The company consists of only two people, Vicki Wong and Michael Murphy, who run the business out of Vancouver/L.A. Imagine how crazy it would be to see your illustrations come to life in such a huge way?! Too bad they don't want interns...haha

sonia rykiel for h&m

I am in love with the illustrations and animation for the Sonia Rykiel Spring 2010 collection for H&M. Click here to check it out on H&M's website. Make sure to click the individual pieces along the bottom of the page to watch the paper cityscape transform. I wish I knew how to do that! If you like the collection, it is debuting in H&M stores on February 20th, 2010.

flashy flats

a rainbow for your feet, clockwise from top left: Deena and Ozzy Scallop Lace Skimmer {Urban Outfitters}. Nicolina {Kate Spade}. Patent Blue Mouse Flats {Marc by Marc Jacobs}. Shimmy {Blowfish Malibu}. Annette {Juicy Couture}. Red and Purple Bow Toe Flats (Marc by Marc Jacobs}.

the marvelous mariah

I have been following the wonderful and whimsical blog of Mariah Burton, an illustration student at Sheridan in Ontario. Mariah is my old chum (she's not old, but our friendship is) and her creativity never ceases to amaze me even after all of this time! I am loving the handmade typography she created for her name/logo along with everything else on her site! Visit Mariah's blog or her portfolio to see more of her amazing and inspiring creations!

getting fresh with JOE

Some of my favourites from the JOE fresh spring 2010 collection. I'm enjoying the pastel palette, although I'm not sure how I feel about the bras on the outside for many of the looks. Can you believe that you can get this stuff from the Superstore (aka Loblaws to the non west coasters), because I still can't!

city in colour

I had a chance to stroll around downtown today in the beautiful, sunny weather and check out some of the Olympic craziness. The first thing that caught my eye was the huge red and pink floral pattern that wrapped the entire front of the Vancouver Art Gallery - it looked amazing! What is even more amazing is that it is hand painted! It turns out that it is an installation piece by Michael Lin, called Michael Lin: A Modest Veil and it is one of many public art installations funded by the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad and the City of Vancouver's Public Art Program.

delightful and delicious

Some beautiful food photography that I have come across lately

...from Bakerella

...from Canelle et Vanille

...from Line Thit Klein

a botanical bedroom

The makings of a lovely garden inspired room: {1} purple pillow by Design on the Bay. {2} rosy knob by Anthropologie. {3} desert dandelion outlet cover by Anthropologie. {4} laboratory flower vases by Urban Outfitters. {5} marimekko madison green sheet set by Marimekko for Crate & Barrel. {6} bloom lumen oil lamp by Adam Frank (this lamp is designed to cast a gorgeous intricate shadow on the wall when lit - check out the link to see what i mean!).