I’m not a purple person, sorry purple. But this time of year, lavender I can wrap my head around.
from www.inspiredbride.net
May 7, 2010
Logo for Boble Designs, Victoria BC
A new logo has been launched for Sarah at Boble Designs! Her jewelry designs are phenomenal, a little bit delicate, a little bit bold and just plain stunning. Every woman needs a piece from her collection of necklaces, bracelets and earrings. She has a classic style with a contemporary edge and uses both gold and silver, pearls and precious and semi-precious stones (in the most gorgeous palette by the way). Hold your breath for product shots and the release of her new website! In the meantime, contact Sarah at Boble Designs by phone: 250.881.3830. Commissions available.
As Sarah says, “Love what you wear, wear what you love”.
Categories: portfolio.
May 5, 2010
from etsy.com
Top Left: Sun Bright – Locket Necklace with Vintage Jewels by jewelera
Top Right: Giant Beaded Round – blue yonder by tqbdesigns
Middle Left: Vintage Lorraine necklace by alexkeller
Middle Right: Triple Orbital Necklace with Champagne Quartz by favorJewelry
Bottom Left: Jitter Bug Necklace by missanniemay
Bottom Right: Eco-Friendly Genuine Sea Glass Jewelry by sweptfromthesea
Categories: eye candy.
March 23, 2010
from www.vicentevillarin.com
Admiring Vincent Villarin’s Spring 2010 collection, White Elegance. The muted colours are like a West Coast spring day. What makes these designs even better is that they were inspired by Bisazza, the art of glass mosaic, and the roman baths. I’ve always wanted to get my hands on a tile mosaic project, especially after visiting Shangri La.
from www.bisazza.com
Categories: eye candy.
March 8, 2010
Last night’s Oscar-Winning Animated Short Film, Logorama, proves just how permeating modern advertising is. The 16-minute film was comprised solely of well known logos and characters from over 2,500 large corporations.
Nicolas Schmerkin, the film’s producer, says “The brain can register 14 logos in less than one second. Making the logos characters with sets and props is about what we’re living. I’m not talking about what the logos represent. They’re used for what they are.” It took longer than Avatar to produce.
I was a terrible movie watcher this year, seeing only 2 out of all the nominees. Both were documentaries that I watched in flight. The Cove, won for documentary feature and follows an impressive team of activists, filmmakers and freedivers (a woman from Vancouver) as they embark on a covert mission to penetrate a remote and hidden cove in Taiji, Japan, shining a light on a dark and deadly secret. Utilizing state-of-the-art techniques, including hidden microphones and cameras in fake rocks, the team uncovers how this small seaside village serves as a horrifying microcosm of massive ecological crimes happening worldwide.
Everyone should see Food Inc. It’s a reality check and a reminder to re-connect with where your food is coming from, how it is processed and how to support a positive food economy. It’s worth watching just to hear what farmer Joel Salatin has to say. He’ll make you want to ditch your skinny jeans for a pair of overalls and get your hands on a family of pigs and chickens.
My pick for best dressed:
from www.moviephone.com
Categories: it's graphic.
February 24, 2010
dresses by Holly Stalder
I’m inspired by this fashion designer from Portland, Oregon. Stalder’s designs begin with her favored raw materials: salvaged antique fabrics and trims. Modern designs with a hint of the past, and what great photography for an independent designer! Her Etsy Shop and website.
Categories: artsy.
February 3, 2010
A few shots from October. Check back for some fun free downloads with a french twist, and an on the road Parisienne style recipe!
Categories: on the road.
January 29, 2010
It’s a great time of year to catch a hotel deal in Seattle. The Canadian dollar is strong, the wine is cheap and Nordstrom, Anthroplogie and J.Crew offer refuge in inclement weather.
Kenmore Air is the way to go this time of year when the Clipper times are unhelpful and there’s no time for ferries and I-5. There is a new spiffy streetcar that takes you from Union Bay right up Westlake Ave (past Whole Foods), a $2.25 pass lasts a couple hours.
Check out the unbeatable sandwiches and apple fritters at Pike Place Market’s Three Girls Bakery, the chowder at the seafood joint across from Three Girls and the coconut buns at Mee Sum Pastries.
Chosen for it’s tasting menu, Purple Cafe and Wine Bar on 4th was a pleasant surprise. It was packed so we sat at the bar and ordered one item at a time from the tasting menu. Each small plate is offered with an optional 3oz. wine pairing. Along with a full dinner menu and massive wine list, they have the most extensive collection of champagne cocktails I’ve ever seen – 16 in total.
Hotel Max has daily deals at the sushi bar and interesting decor. The dj in the lobby at the W Hotel is an entertaining stop after an evening at Purple. Stop in at Cafe Campagne for a croque madame and glass of bordeaux.
Watson Kennedy is full of goodies for the home, many of which I’ve read about or seen online but haven’t seen in Canada. Everything is sorted by vignette, based on colour or theme. Designer-dreamy.
The topic of last week’s contest was the Downtown Public Library on 4th. Near the SAM (Seattle Art Museum) if you want to have a peek. We have Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and former Seattleite Joshua Ramus to thank as principal designers on the project. An amazing 362,987 square feet, capacity for 1.45 million books and materials and a high-tech book-handling system that you can see in operation when you walk in. There are 400 computers and lots of GREEN. Too bad.
Categories: on the road.
January 15, 2010
Educating yourself about what’s at the far end of the spectrum and then pairing back and using aspects that resinate with you is an important part of good design.
Intrigued by a discussion on Facebook this morning that was sparked by the status report “wonders if American Apparel is really as hilarious as she thinks it is, or if she’s just getting old”, I decided to peruse the website. A new store opened in Victoria a few months ago, and I was pretty excited to check it out. I wandered the empty store and after I analyzed the aisles for a good 15 mins, I felt pressure to make a purchase.
So the web site is seemingly innocent with cotton/polyester fun and games until you come across the cutout tights and spandex thong uni-tards. Some of the gym mat photos I wouldn’t dare post here. Maybe if I rented FAME I could get away with the legwarmers and full spandex.
What I want to know is, “American Apparel, am I too old or is it hilarious”?
This I can understand:
from www.americanapparel.net
This, not so much:
from www.americanapparel.net
Categories: locals only.
January 14, 2010
BCC: “Mompreneur”. Tacky or terrific?
Emily: Good question. When I was on Maternity leave I first heard the term and wasn’t wild about it. Now I work full time, run a business, try to have a sliver of a social life and at the same time I am fully committed to spending as much time as possible with my son. I totally get this term now and embrace it. One day I may be known as a successful entrepreneur in the public and a successful Mom at home but for now these two are tied closely together for me.
BCC: What is your biggest business startup tip?
Emily: Use your resources. Friends, family, acquaintances and even people we have never met have either offered invaluable advice or helped us grow our product. I have been so surprised at how willing business people are to help other people in business. In the conception phase, I emailed an online store and asked a few questions and she wrote me back a long informative email that I still refer to today.
Ruby Blossom Blanket from Big Fat Hen
I was really excited when my client Big Fat Hen was announced Pick of the Year from coolmompicks.com! Co-owner Emily was kind enough to take the time to discuss her business of offering fresh, fun and functional modern baby essentials.
BCC: What compelled you to start your own business? Can you tell us a little bit about the beginnings of bigfathen?
Emily: When I was pregnant with my son, I couldn’t find anything for the baby room that wasn’t super disney’d out or insanely expensive. So my Mom came up with all these great ideas and together we created a bedding set. People really loved the bedding and it got us thinking about starting a business. At first we were going to do a few crib quilts and market them to local stores but we soon realised that we wanted to do it right which meant a website, business cards, hang tags, labels etc… My mom and I have a great personal and working relationship so its been a blast doing this with her.
BCC: How did you come up with the name “Big Fat Hen”?
Emily: Big Fat Hen was a childhood nickname- its not as bad as it sounds! My older brothers mixed two nursery rhymes -One, Two, Buckle My Shoe and Higgledy Piggledy to create a nursery rhyme for me. They would recite the made up nursery rhyme to me and over the years created all these great endearing nicknames that I still have today. When my Mom and I were considering starting a business my brother Dean suggested Big Fat Hen as a name and we loved it.
Dawson's Diggers Blanket
BCC: “Mompreneur”. Tacky or terrific?
Emily: Good question. When I was on Maternity leave I first heard the term and wasn’t wild about it. Now I work full time, run a business, try to have a sliver of a social life and at the same time I am fully committed to spending as much time as possible with my son. I totally get this term now and embrace it. One day I may be known as a successful entrepreneur in the public and a successful Mom at home but for now these two are tied closely together for me.
BCC: How have you managed to juggle the roles of business owner and mom? What falls by the wayside?
Emily: I work full-time and love my job so for 8 hours my attention is there. When I come home I put my energy into spending quality time with my son and husband. I then put my son to bed and start working on Big Fat Hen. I try not to mix work, Big Fat Hen and family because they all need my undivided attention. So I guess I juggle roles by trying not to juggle. A lot of things fall by the wayside- the thing I miss most is free time.
BCC: Where are your products manufactured?
Emily: My Mom hand makes all of our products in Victoria. We have another talented sewer who also helps us out when we get busy.
BCC: What has been your most successful form of marketing?
Emily: Our products have been reviewed on a several blogs and we have been featured in some local magazines. The best blog for us has been www.coolmompicks.com because we have been approached by stores who have seen us featured on that reputable site. But you can’t beat word of mouth. We have had a lot of our friends pass around our website which has generated a lot of business and support for Big Fat Hen.
BCC: What is your favorite BFH product?
Emily: The Sam Savanna blanket.
BCC: What is your favorite baby/toddler find?
Emily: I am loving the ‘foaming tot wash’ by Rocky Mountain Soap Company. It’s natural, smells good and because of it my son can’t stop saying ”soap” a million times a day.
Emily's favorite blanket fabric in bib form - Sam Savanna
BCC: What is your biggest business startup tip?
Emily: Use your resources. Friends, family, acquaintances and even people we have never met have either offered invaluable advice or helped us grow our product. I have been so surprised at how willing business people are to help other people in business. In the conception phase, I emailed an online store and asked a few questions and she wrote me back a long informative email that I still refer to today.
BCC: Have you subscribed to the latest in social media – facebook, twitter, blogging…?
Emily: We are on facebook which has been great for us. We have been able to reach our fans when we have a sale or when we get picked up by a new store. I would like to spend more time on reaching people through social media but its all about priorities and right now our priority is providing our stores and individual customers with good service and a great product.
BCC: You have paypal integrated with your online store, are you happy with PayPal?
Emily: PayPal has been super easy to work with. I have never had any issues with online payments and our customers report that it has been seamless on their end.
BCC: What stops you from throwing in the towel and giving up during those frustrating days of running your business?
Emily: Knowing that I have my Mom as my business partner. She reads me very well and knows when I am running on low. She picks up a lot of the work when I can’t. I also love our products and believe that we will become more successful each year. We are always thinking of how to expand our product line so it keeps us on our toes and excited about all the possibilities.
www.bethcampbellcreative.com
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Categories: child star, chit-chat, portfolio.
November 25, 2009
Tomorrow night, head down to support the Mustard Seed and independent boutiques in the Johnson Street shopping area. Fifteen shops are getting together for an evening of 25% off regular priced items from 6pm-9pm. Shop and enjoy some drinks and appys. Also until Dec 20, 2009 you can enter to win $750 in gift certificates with a non-perishable food donation (Proceeds to the Mustard Seed). Still Life will also be featuring a wine tasting with Pender Island’s Morning Bay Winery.
Participating stores:
Still Life, Bliss, Cusp, Mysi, Suasion, Hemingway, Devilish Damsels, Luv It, Flavour, Rebel Rebel, Addiction, North of Wednesday, Paradise Boutique, Only Human, Floating Gold Iceberg
(Links listed if I could find them! Let me know if I’ve missed any.)
Categories: locals only.