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Max Factor mascara - image changes when it rains!
Max Factor mascara - image changes when it rains!
Miele Vacuums
September 28, 2009
Fresh tomatoes from the garden make the transition to fall at little less painful. You can’t go wrong with a little sea salt and pepper sprinkled on top. Add some olive oil, reduced balsamic, basil and bocconcini for a take on a traditional caprese. I picked up a large, fist-sized round of creamy Saputos bocconcini from Thrifty Foods this week. I’ve seen the smaller rounds and pearls at this grocery store before, but not the large rounds. If you’re feeling adventurous, try a different rendition with soy sauce, sesame oil and cliantro.
Newsflash: Thrifty Foods is now offering a loyalty program. Get cash back on groceries, aeroplan points and rewards. Info here.
Categories: flavor of the week.
September 25, 2009
A great spot to stop in at the bar or sit by the window and watch the action in the harbour is Aura Waterfront Restaurant at the Laural Point Inn. I haven’t had dinner here (yet), but return for the great local wine selection and the Sesame Calamari described as “crispy lightly spiced calamari, fresh orange segments, baby tatsoi greens, tobiko, cucumber ginger yoghurt.” Light and slightly sweet, and great for sharing along with another “small plate” or two from the menu like the “oceanwise” crusted wonton prawns with togorashi mayonnaise, warm edamame and lime salt. You’ll be treated to a brioche popover just for stopping in. Until November, take the Harbour Ferry from the Inner Harbour to Fisherman’s Wharf for a short walk along the water to the restaurant.
Categories: locals only.
September 23, 2009
Spotted at Bungalow in Estevan Village and Paboom on Fort Street. Fred’s has fresh, slightly retro vector graphics, great fonts and hilarious product names. “GIN & TITONIC™, sink one in your drink “. “AIRFORK ONE™, for perfect in-flight meals.” I totally need one of these.
Images via Fred's
Spotted at Bungalow in Estevan Village and Paboom on Fort Street. Fred’s has fresh, slightly retro vector graphics, great fonts and hilarious product names. “GIN & TITONIC™, sink one in your drink “. “AIRFORK ONE™, for perfect in-flight meals.” I totally need one of these.
Again, can’t find websites for either Bungalow (2525A Estevan Avenue) or Papoom (641 Fort Street)!
Categories: it's graphic.
September 22, 2009
Cool packaging, cooler toys. Made from plastic milk jugs in California, all Green Toys products are packaged in slick recycled corrugated boxes with no plastics, cellophane or twist-ties, and are 100% recyclable. Check out the recycling truck! Available from one of my favorite local toy stores, Buddies Toys, in Estevan Village or Beacon Avenue in Sidney. Can’t find a website for Buddies! Let me know if you know of one. They can be reached at (250) 595-6501.
Categories: child star.
September 17, 2009
It’s the time of year for the trees to be overflowing with ripe, juicy plums. This tart was a great way to use up the plums I scored from my neighbour’s tree. What really made this dessert was the lemon zest in the pastry, but I think flecks of thyme with the lemon or candied ginger might be a nice substitution. If you weren’t long on time, you could skip the pastry and use store bought puff pastry instead.
Plum Tart
Serves: 6-8
Active Time: 1hr
Start to Finish: 4hrs (if you can wait long enough for cooling time, I couldn’t)
FOR PASTRY DOUGH:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup cold unsalted butter, cut in to .5″ pieces (I used salted, no worries)
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp grated lemon zest
2 egg yolks
FOR FILLING:
1/2 cup sugar
1 tbsp corn starch
1 3/4 lbs. small plums (I used prune – they also pit easily), halved and pitted
1 1/2 tsp lemon juice
Special equipment: 9″ fluted tart pan with removable bottom. You could use a pie dish or similar.
HAVE A GO AT THE DOUGH: Combine flour, butter, sugar, salt and zest in food processor (“Hey now, I don’t have one of those”. That’s ok my favorite method of using 2 steak knives and my fingers also works.) Pulse (or mash with chosen implement) until mixture resembles a course meal with some small lumps of butter. Add yolks and process until just incorporated and dough begins to clump.
Divide into 4 portions, and form 4 balls. Squish into discs and lay in bottom of pan. Pat out with fingertips (flour hands if necessary) until there is an even layer along the bottom and push up sides to go just above the rim. Put in fridge for about 30mins while you deal with the plums. Might as well preheat oven to 425 at this point.
MAKE THE FILLING: Stir together sugar and cornstarch in large bowl. Add plums and lemon juice and toss to coat. Let fruit get all juicy at room temp for about 30mins, stirring now and then.
ASSEMBLE THE TART: Use your design skills to create an overlapping symmetrical pattern, placing plums skin side down. Pour juices over plums. Bake tart for 25mins, reduce heat to 375, cover loosely with foil and bake about 40mins more. Juices will thicken as the tart cools, so try to keep your hands off for at least an hour. Serve with sweetened sour cream or vanilla ice cream.
If you wanted to get a head start, a day ahead you could make the pastry, or cut up the plums and let them sit in their juices.
Adapted from my cooking bible, The Gourmet Cookbook, edited by Ruth Reichl
Categories: flavor of the week.
September 15, 2009
Found this photographer on Flickr today. I’ve always been somewhat obsessed with the colour and texture of those old rounded vacation photographs. Technology is great and all, but so is nostalgia.
Categories: artsy.
September 14, 2009
Lately I’ve been hopping aboard the Social Media train. Many of my clients have been asking me about Facebook, Twitter and blogging.
Facebook lies somewhere between Twitter and a blog. It’s a place to connect with friends and family on a more personal level. The usefulness of Twitter is not as readily obvious to some people as Facebook; it lies more in the world of Instant Messaging. Responses are instantaneous and you can connect to literally anyone. It’s a place to bounce around ideas and find out what’s going on in any given realm. Is joining this network necessary?
Categories: bits & bytes.
September 11, 2009
TGIF. It seems as though the summer heat has re-joined us and I have the perfect thing for a Friday afternoon. If you live on Vancouver Island and you haven’t heard of Phillips Brewery, you probably don’t get out much. Their label design never disappoints, their website is unique and fun and they are always coming out with new products and packaging. You’ll see them at your favorite restaurants and events – it’s Beer Fest this weekend! But lets talk about this brew. I heard about it through a Phillips tweet, and knew I had to try some. I am certainly not qualified to offer a review of Gentleman Jim’s Real Ginger Ale, all I can say is great colour, real ginger flavor and GET SOME!
Gentleman Jim's Real Ginger Ale
TGIF. It seems as though the summer heat has re-joined us and I have the perfect thing for a Friday afternoon. If you live on Vancouver Island and you haven’t heard of Phillips Brewery, you probably don’t get out much. Their label design never disappoints, their website is unique and fun and they are always coming out with new products and packaging. You’ll see them at your favorite restaurants and events – it’s Beer Fest this weekend! But lets talk about this brew. I heard about it through a Phillips tweet, and knew I had to try some. I am certainly not qualified to offer a review of Gentleman Jim’s Real Ginger Ale, all I can say is great colour, real ginger flavor and GET SOME!
Categories: happy hour.
September 11, 2009
I was walking through Bastion Square this morning just as the Island Chef’s Collaborative farmer’s market was setting up. I think it’s the best farmer’s market I’ve seen around town – perfect rows of strawberries, raspberries and blackberries, a really impressive selection of local greens and a rainbow of different coloured beets and tomatoes to name a few. They operate on Thursdays and Fridays and will be offering their impressive selection through September. Get down there before it’s too late! Read about this non-profit organization and find out how to support local growers on their website.
Categories: locals only.
September 10, 2009
Visual identity is essential and having a stand out business card can make all the difference. These designs take it to the next level. Click to view.
Categories: it's graphic.
September 9, 2009
Let the outside in. More window, less wall. Is there anyone who wouldn’t want to live this way? Click on the images to flip through.
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- Widjedal Racki Bergerhoff
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- Marc Gerritsen
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- Belinda George
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- Widjedal Racki Bergerhoff
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- Widjedal Racki Bergerhoff
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- Belinda George
Widjedal Racki Bergerhoff (Sweden)
Marc Gerritsen (Taipei)
Belinda George (New Zealand)
Categories: in the house.
September 8, 2009
I recently completed this logo for Royal Jubilee Denture Clinic, a new state of the art denture clinic that just opened its doors in Oak Bay. After meeting with the lovely Brandi and Ian, I learned that they were looking for something to reflect their modern, progressive and service-orientated approach. They came up with the tagline “The Perfect Fit”, which heavily influenced my design. Although working from scratch can often turn out fabulous results, it can be helpful if I’m given something to go on like a few buzz words or a specific colour. They wanted to make use of their office’s colour palette and I was provided with paint swatches to make sure I was on the right track. Given this information, and the fact that this couple loves the outdoors, this is what I came up with:
Check back for more RJDC designs. There is a website and brochure in the works!
Categories: portfolio.
September 7, 2009
I dropped into Sitka yesterday and saw a copy of the Rifflandia 2009 Festival Guide. It’s a looker. Anyone who has a passion for print media will get a kick out of the description on the website, “The festival mags have arrived, freshly inked. They smell like crayons, and new school supplies… perfect for all you back to schoolers. You can smell it from across the street… mmm waxy. Come and grab one from the HQ (523 Pandora).” The pages have a nice tooth and matte finish and there’s great use of typography and colour. I’d love to give credit to the designer, but the only reference I can find is to the “scum boys”. Obviously not cool enough to know who they are.
Rifflandia Music Festival
The website is totally worth checking out. There’s a blog roll on the left to follow, music to listen to and the schedule/lineup to check out. There’s also great discounts and free stuff to be had at local businesses for those with festival wristbands. Better get one. Festival starts September 24th at various venues in Victoria.
Categories: it's graphic.
September 6, 2009
Blue probably wouldn’t be my first choice for a bedroom colour, but this is a room I could spend some time in. Warm wood + gorgeous painting + amazing colour = no more bedroom blues.
I think you could create a similar sleek look with the “Sweet Dreams” bed and nightstands from Nood. Newsflash – everything in Nood is 50% off right now. Have you noticed that happens a lot? I noticed a bus in Vancouver with an ad for 50% off so it must not be a passing thing.
Categories: in the house.
September 4, 2009
The essential element in design is always beauty. This is true in nature, and in the architecture of land and sea. I think perfection (if there is such a thing) is achieved when there is nothing left to add, and nothing left to take away. If I discover something inspiring, or works well, or just looks good, then chances are you might be able to make use of my discovery. Let me know how it goes.
Thank you WordPress.
Categories: it's graphic.