Snaps of Christmas past

Happy Hols to one and all! Below you'll see a few shots from a Holiday feature I did a few years back with Donna Griffith for Flare Magazine. I still love the mix of vintage and new pieces and thought it would be a nice send off before all the festivities begin. Looking through the shots reminded me that the silver angel's wing, in the pic with the chair, was a flimsy piece of a Halloween costume that I found sitting forlornly on a shelf at Value Village and saved to use one day (wish I knew where it was now!). Oh, and to see more of Donna's beautiful work, click here.

Boxing day comes early

I do love a bit of good packaging, so when I was shopping in H&M the other day and saw these fab gift boxes I knew I had to post them. The snaps below show the lids of the boxes which have a cool trompe l'oeil photo of a box-in-a-box-in-a-box-in-a-box. Love the fashion-y animal print one, the red patterned option feels fresh, crafty and Swedish, and the painterly kid's design is super sweet. All three were designed at H&M's Swedish headquarters, and are free with purchase. And hey, anything that doesn't need to be wrapped with paper and then tied with ribbon this time of year gets my vote, though you might decide they're too cool to gift and keep them all for yourself.

Spring awakening

Funnily enough my sister posted about Spring 2010 this morning over on the her fashion reporting blog, Blink London, and I'm loving all the vintage chintz and mod florals she's been seeing. So, yep, here's a taste of Spring from me. In fact, to be exact, it's a taste of April, which is when Ikea's outdoor lines hit the floor (and sell out in minutes as usual, lol). The shot shows a sneak peek of a collection called Blanko, and the mix of bright white, cherry red and a lovely turquoise-y blue - the key colours for Ikea's Spring/Summer look - is totally whetting my appetite for warmer weather.

{Giving it} Kiehl's Creme de Corps x KAWS

Giving it is all about my take on what makes a great gift. Okay, perhaps I'm a little over excited this morning (it's either the shot of espresso I just downed or the fact that my guest post just appeared here on Elle Decoration South Africa's lovely blog) but I'm totally digging the mash up between Kiehl's and the grafitti artist KAWS on the Creme de Corps moisturizer. This cool meeting of the minds is all in aid of an admirable US children's charity called RxART, which is all about getting art into hospitals. In fact, if you hop on over to the Kiehl's website you can also catch this limited edition RxART contemporary artists colouring book and crayon combo. Hey, and whether you decide to go for the limited edition Creme de Corps moisturizer, or the colouring book, all net profits go straight to RxART.

Julia Black: Pop-Up Colour

In light of all the pop-up shops that have been, well, popping up lately, I've felt a lovely buzz around the city like never before. The only problem is that this dampening, dreary winter weather throws a blanket on all the energy we have. I know, when you look outside it appears cold and grey, but the fix is in, and it's colour! Just look to the latest from folks like Jonathan Adler, CB2, Ikea and BoConcept for tons of helpful inspiration, and decide on a New Year's resolution to get more pops of colour in your life. Have a look below at snaps of BoConcept's collection for 2010. Oh, and btw, BoConcept has a store in Vancouver and are about to open a brand new location in Calgary in the next few days.

To read more posts from Julia click here, and to check out her cool blog click here.

Inedibly gorgeous

I was explaining this morning how the Holidays are making me feel - Christmas is the iceberg and I am the Titanic. I guess I'm feeling a bit of seasonal stress, lol. It's been a busy week taping a CityLine - you can catch the show this coming Monday - shooting book covers in studio and one outdoors on location (in a very balmy -10C), plus gearing up even more for the Interior Design Show. Oh, and not to mention I have a pile of cards that have to be written, addressed, stamped and posted. Oy.

In the meantime this e-card popped into my in-box this morning and was too delicious not to share. Cupcakes, yes, but look closer and you'll realise they're all made of fabric (though I think I still got a sugar high looking at the shot). Maybe Lelievre, the swish French fabric house behind the shot, should get into the buttercream icing and baking business?

{Giving it} Virginia Johnson for Hudson's Bay Co.

Giving it is all about my take on what makes a great gift. Phew, since last week my brain has been totally wrapped up in creating an overgrown English garden in a studio for a book cover shoot. Fun and lots of work... Anyways, back to gifting! I am a huge fan of Canadian designer Virginia Johnson, and just love her point of view, whether it's illustrating a book for Kate Spade or creating printed fabrics that always feel loose, fresh and summery. So, you can guess I was super happy to discover she'd created a special lightweight scarf smothered in bright and sketchy elks as part of HBC's new Hudson's Bay Company Collection. If you fancy one, or fancy giving one to a v. special person, then check out the full collection at The Bay's Queen Street location (yep, along with Best Made Co's point blanket inspired axes).

Galliano rocks a tree

Ah yes, time for a bit of glamour. I don't know about you, but a good dose of something spectacular is just the kind of kick in the pants I need. And today's inspirational kick is courtesy of fashion designer extraordinaire John Galliano, who created his version of a Christmas tree without an evergreen twig in sight. Instead Galliano's tree is smothered in orchids, butterflies and a rather chic leopard, all fashioned from papier-mache and inspired by the Orientalist vibe of his Fall/Winter '09 collection for Dior. If you'd like to take a gander at the tree you'll have to stop by Claridge's hotel in London, where it'll be on display until Jan 6th. Looking around for snaps of the project I discovered Galliano's original sketch, which gives a lovely peep inside the creative process, and just had to include too. Oh, and I have to thank Laird for the tip on this! Via Bornrich.

{Giving it} Zoku Quick Pop Maker

Giving it is all about my take on what makes a great gift. Okay, I don't care whether it's minus whatever outside, I think the Zoku makes a brill present. In fact, it can make frozen pops in as little as 7 minutes. Seriously, an iced up chocolate fudge, latte and Baileys number would totally sort me out or even, ahem, something healthier with fruit. For more info, and to check out a demo video, click here. The Zoku Quick Pop Maker is available at Williams Sonoma.

Spot vs. Rug, Spot wins

The living room rug is a gonner. We had a major attack of the chewing puppy, both yesterday and the day before. Is Spot trying to tell us something (other than the fact he thinks it's fun)? On the first day it looked a bit like a map of Cyprus, and then he finished up yesterday by re-working it into a Mickey Mouse hat (y'know, the one with the ears). Take a look at the blurry cell phone shot below, turn your head 90 degrees anti-clockwise and squint a little. Do you see what I mean?

So, we're going to have to get a replacement rug and I'm thinking that Flor carpet tiles are the perfect solution. Seriously, if he decides to go to town on a particular square we can just pop it out and replace it - And wait patiently for him to get through this chewing phase. He's a perfect chap otherwise, and from what we hear at the dog park we should be lucky he doesn't have a passion for cell phones, remote controls and underwear. That second snap is the Flor carpet that we're considering which, hilariously enough, is a houndstooth pattern called All Bark and No Bite...

Julia Black: Things that make you go oh!

My entertaining plans this year have gone a little gaga - go figure - so I’ve decided to hunt for some witty, odd and outrageous entertaining décor. Having popped into the new Drake General Store (they've opened up on the swanky Rosedale strip on Yonge) I couldn’t help but fall into a playful holiday mood. Inspired by the crazy/cool objects in store I found all sorts of amazing bits and pieces perfect for my jam-packed social calendar. After all, it’s good to poke fun at the uptight and not to take anything too seriously, and with these eye-catching, jaw-dropping and fun-loving accessories I think I’ve managed to lighten up my hostess duties just a tad. Check out their Heffer Pitcher (good for eggnog too), the Unsealed Glass Bowl (who needs plastic?), and the Coffeee and Lipstick Stained Mugs (no need to do dishes!).

To read more posts from Julia click here, and to check out her cool blog click here.

  

Feeling a little rough around the edges

I happened across a totally interesting furniture firm yestreday while researching a Trendwatch feature for House & Home's March 2010 issue. They're called Casamento, they're based in a suburb of Cape Town and well, I think they're all kinds of fabulous. Check them out and you'll see they mix handmade and mid-century with an artist's eye in their vintage and reproduction furniture and upholstery. The folks behind Casamento love the process of stripping down and re-building old pieces, and that's the idea behind their Raw collection, and that sweet re-done vintage chair below. I love its deconstructed look, and almost inside-out construction with the waxed twine stitching proudly on show, and the fact that it's just so relaxed and imperfect. Lovely!

 

I want an axe (no really, I do)

Well, we do have a crappy one that we bought when we were chopping out 20 years of roots and weedy sapplings in the garden. In fact, I lie, that is actually axe number 2, since the first we bought snapped after a couple of whacks. To quote William Morris, “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” That is the reason we need an axe from Best Made Co.

I discovered Best Made while working on this piece for the National Post (they've created a special Hudson's Bay Company axe), then realised that they've been featured in a ton of spots, including *Wallpaper and I.D. magazine. Check out a couple of beauties from their Fall /09 collection, Bluerightby and Sam Hain. Below you'll find a snap from the firm's Manhattan workroom, and finally some Axe art (seriously) shot by Adrian Gaut, and available for purchase. For even more Best Made Co you can follow them on Facebook and Twitter, and click here to read how the two owners met in '84 as kids at Camp Ahmek in Algonquin Park. 

                                      

{Giving it} Krouvi Beer Mug

Giving it is all about my take on what makes a great gift. Here's the first off the block, the Krouvi Beer Mug. Designed back in 1973 by Finnish master glass designer Oiva Toikka the Krouvi is all hefty workaday simplicity, marked by that lovely pebbled texture and crisply stamped with a 50cl mark (so you know exactly how much organic brew you've downed). Oh, did I mention it's made by Ittala, is freezer-safe, and that it's on the shelf at Crate & Barrel for under $10? I'll take a half dozen please...

Craft in kind

Okay peeps, have you been to the One of a Kind show yet? I took a super fast runthrough the other day and saw some great stuff, and will be finding time over the next couple of days to head back to grab a few things. The show is such a part of the Holiday season for me, and a wander through always puts me in the mood (let alone sampling all the shortbread). So, if you need any more convincing, just check out the vignettes below - which I can totally tell were shot at photographer Michael Alberstat's studio - and are crammed with lots of cool crafted One of a Kind gear.

Spot meets rug

Spot, our Whippet puppy, just turned 6 months and (as any proud parent of dog or child will tell you) is the smartest/coolest/handsomest kid around. Perfection does have it's price - He's currently a wee bit of a chewaholic and has managed to chew a couple of holes into this rug since, I guess, the looped pile feels extra good on his brand new adult teeth. What a little monkey. Luckily we can probably flip the rug around and hide his handiwork under the sofa (or maybe order a new rug!). Oh, and we've re-directed his chewy energy with an apparently beyond delicious chicken-flavoured rawhide bone.

It's nice to know there are other dog nutters out there. Check out the Doug Meyer designed space below, which is barmy and cool and punctuated by a large portrait of his furry best friend. I'm a big fan of Meyer's ballsy style, and to read more from the man himself check out a recent interview here. If you're ever in Miami you can check out his latest project, the Lace Nail and Beauty Labs, which he descibes as "Miami Beach 1968 meets Dorothy Draper meets Tangier of the 1970s." [Image: Mark Roskams]

Julia Black: Judging a book by its cover

I just love buying books! I love finding stunning hardbacks to put on display, dusty classics to refer to (or to remind myself to read someday), and style books that always inspire. Most especially I love buying books in the holiday season because they make a wonderful gift. So, when I discovered that Penguin had released a new classics collection of gorgeous clothbound books I knew I could check off tons of names on my gift list. A senior cover designer at Penguin, Coralie Bickford-Smith, has designed these beautiful book covers, and its her admiration for vintage printed ephemera that distinguishes her designs. Whether she uses literal or symbolic references to drive her work, the alluringly dramatic covers are the perfect reason to revisit and rediscover a bit of Jane Austen or Oscar Wilde. The only problem is choosing which title to buy, since they certainly are lovely as a set!

To read an interview with Coralie click here, to snap up the books at Indigo/Chapters click here and, if your a total bookophile check out Penguin's fun blog here. [Image 1: Liam Goodman via Vogue.com. Image 2 & 3: via Coralie Bickford-Smith]

For even more of Julia's point of view check out her cool blog here.

861 or 80?

Are you a square feet or square metre person? Do you count rooms and then add a 1/2 for a bath, and never include a basement? Oh, the strangeness of real estate... This space by Italian firm Poliform revels on the smaller side of things with an 80m squared plan (or 861 feet squared, depending on how you're feeling). Love the look of the place, though their assertion that it's a low budget project might not wash with everyday peeps like you and me. For more, check out the website here to see the rest of the interior, though be warned, the site is rather annoyingly wiggly.

 

  

Popping and shopping

Just a quickie, since I so have to be somewhere else like right this second (I'm totally in the midst of wrangling my IDS10 project). Anyhow, people have been asking whether Bev Hisey is having another of her magic sample sales, and the answer is - Yes! So, check out the cool little flyer below, and expect to find Bev's trademark pillows, throws and rugs at sweet discounts.

Oh, and talking of what's happening, it seems we are having a bit of a pop-up shop mini craze. At least two swell affairs have landed in my in-box in the last couple of days that look definitely worth a check-check-check out. Holt Renfrew is appearing at the Fashion House condo (560 King St W) with racks of fashionable must-haves from Dec 2nd to Dec 6th, and then you'll find a whole slew of folks from the worlds of fashion, beauty and design setting up for the Burroughes Designer Department Store (639 Queen St W) from Dec 3rd to Dec 6th. Happy shopping!

F&B's 4 takes on '10

Here we go, a bit of a look forward (hopefully past lots of nasty wintry weather) into the gorgeousness that will be 2010 from Farrow & Ball, since the nice folks there have come up with 4 key colour trends for next year that all sound - and look - simply lovely.

From the top, Industrial: A strong but fragile fusion of colour which slides tradition up against modernity and is inspired by industrial architecture. Next on the block is Aquatic: A soft, watery palette inspired by the elements which is a palette that starts out with an inky blue then softens to something more tranquil. Then we move into a stronger, more fashion-forward and graphic direction in dramatic plums and greys for Urban Decay: A vibrant scheme with an unpredictable twist. Finally, on the more opulent tip of things you'll find Glitz & Glamour: A decadent look that celebrates excess with lots of gold and hints of Middle Eastern influences.