{scissor variations}

recycling + replenishing

...it was time to replenish my origami paper stack.

 

i like to use anthropologie catalogues for origami folding because of the weight of the paper.

catalogue paper is also great for practicing origami before using your special paper as it is not so "dear"---you will have a better success rate than practice folding on say, text weight paper (too heavy) or newspaper (too light).

 

the november anthro catalogue recently arrived and the images are quite lovely.

it will live among the inspiration books for the time being. safe from the paper cutter.

 

(other Anthropologie goodness: the desk of one of their visual directors)

ode to knack studios

i love Mondays because that is the day that Barb has a new piece of furniture to introduce to blog readers over at Knack Studios. and who doesn't love a before and after?

 

the day Miss Verla was introduced i was breathless when her photo popped up on my screen.

but alas distance prevailed and Miss Verla shacked up with someone else.

but i still think about her from time to time.

summer play dates

 

(prep for a play date)

many moons ago i had taken some paper classes from Christine--everything from paste paper, to making tiny books and boxes to collaging paper napkins. it was a delightful surprise when i ran into her at the UPPERCASE Anthropologie event here in May.

 

we chummed around from craft station to craft station while Adam brought us cucumber water all-night-long (our glasses were never empty). we laughed, asked many, many questions of the out-of-town Anthropologie employees and treated ourselves to a few "smalls" at the end of the evening.

 

the event at Anthropologie was wonderful. no detail was overlooked and the generosity of the projects provided by UPPERCASE and the visual display staff--WOW!

 
(eclecto notebooks i made @ the Anthropologie Uppercase event in May)

 

within a few days Christine was planning a creative get together for us.

and so one morning i set off and drove, not quite an hour outside of the city and arrived on Christine's doorstep. supplies in hand.

 

 
(treats purhased from the Anthropologie evening: beautiful + useful hardware designed by Sibella Court)

 

Christine and Barb (who drove a couple of hours from the other direction) and I happily immersed ourselves in paper piles and created our version of the Eclecto notebooks we made at the Anthropologie event.

 

there was a break to enjoy a lovely lunch prepared by Christine (+ homemade rolls by Barb!) and then we retreated back to the studio and made more books.

 

such a lovely day.

 

----plan a few projects, gather a friend or 2 + treat yourself to a creative play day this summer. i highly recommend it.

 

in relation to paper

 

origami piece thingy that i made about 15 years ago. took it out of the frame to spiff it up with a new mat. this was also around the time/year that i folded 1000 cranes. sort of a creative personal challenge i put to myself.  i'll show that crane cachet another day--

 

 + some links that are all relative to paper in some form or other:

 

audio interview with Jen Bekman (founder of 20x200)

 

beautiful paper doll inspired invites for BHLDN by Bird & Banner

 

 Marie a stylist based in the UK has opened a shop! This is my favorite item-

 

Mary Ann Moss of Dispatch from LA- i love Mary Ann's sketchbooks, but i also love hearing about her travels through her blog posts as well as her finished journals of which she shares glimpses. also, i think she is the teacher you would WANT your child to have in grade school. you know the one teacher you always remember decades later. that would be Ms Moss.

 

Xray Origami-breathtaking work by Takayuki Hori. i do love origami and i have a cache of xrays around here...somewhere.

 

vert, vert, vert

 

more Sibella....

 

thought you might enjoy seeing the small packaging tags that come attached to the clips as well (because you know i kept those). i love the hand drawn sketch detail of the product on the tag.

the clip directly above is referred to as the "old world clothespin" on the site, although the tag says gypsy pin. i think i like gypsy pin as a better description although it is a replica of the early clothespins that were wrapped with a band of metal at the top to keep the 2 "sides" together to form the clip.

the ephemera clip (top photo) is 4" long--not small, in my opinion. it could easily hold up a heavier hanging calendar, be used to clip fabric swatches together for an interesting presentation, or simply to organize a bundle of papers. i have been using my clips for several months now and love them.

 

i also picked up the small forged scissors (i could not find these on the anthropologie website, so unfortunately i do not have a link to share. i purchased mine in-store)

+ there are a few other pulls and pins in the line that i like as well. i am hoping that Sibella will design some more items along this same vein. 

+ Sibella's first book which i keep on my bedside table for inspiration.

i love finding a similar shared aesthetic in book form + it is fun to peruse the pages and see items that i have in my own collection of this & thats. you know those special things that we're attracted to from our family histories or thrift store field trips. your inner magpie that picks up twigs or saves an interesting tag that might otherwise be tossed aside. i see you nodding your head.

any other Sibella fans out there?

(sibella's website)

favorite office accessory

 

when Sibella Court previewed some of her hardware line last year on her website i was drooling. so when the line debuted last fall (finally!) at Anthropologie i wasted no time oohing and ahhing over all of the pieces.

in particular these clips--i love the industrial vibe of these. not only are they wonderful to look at for those of us who like that raw metal finish but they FUNCTION and they function well--these have a HEAVY DUTY GRIP.  they have a small hole that will fit over a nail head for easy hanging. and i have been using them everywhere on my walls.

if hardware + vintage industrial are your thing you can view the entire line here.

 

winter blues

 

 

 

 

anthropologie origami paper

 

did you know that the paper from the anthropologie catalogues is a great weight for fanciful folding?

 

 

i decided to create my own private art installation...

 

 

the dress below is my favorite.

i love the fact that the circus tent ended up on the front of the skirt

+ the lines of the tent "drape" from one side of the skirt to the other.

a happy accident.

 

 

 n n n n n 

 

 

 

the canadian edition [extended version]

 

Happy Canada Day!

 

i thought today i would take the time to share a few blogs (of the many global blogs i enjoy) that have a Canadian connection, along with some pics of what i will be doing this long holiday weekend:

 

Leslie Shewring brings us her beautiful color vignettes on her blog, A Creative Mint.

Every time Leslie posts a new color collection i feel like i am playing "eye spy"--wouldn't it be lovely to have a collection of her vignettes in a book for easy reference? actually as i am typing this i was thinking it would be wonderful to take a day work shop with her....somewhere close, perhaps on the west coast. a totally self-serving thought of course. like i need an excuse to visit Vancouver.  

 

 
[portable projects]

n

 

Lelainia shares her art projects (+ chats fondly of her Lab, Indy) but this post in particular caught my eye (once you click on the link scroll down a bit to read it)---an alfresco dinner party, a la flash mob style! i think this is a terrific idea and i would totally give it a try. any opportunity to cook for more than two and i'm in. hmm, what would i make? snow pea + wild rice salad? rice wrapper spring rolls w/ ginger sauce? basil tortellini salad w/ honey balsamic vinaigrette?

 

 
[from the garden chive blossoms i couldn't bear to part with--baked potatoes on the BBQ anyone?]

n

 

 i love sending mail

+ so does Jaime, check out her blog, appropriately named send more mail

she also makes up the greatest vintage stamp packs--a girl after my own heart.

 
[ journal w/ bits of ephemera to tuck in my bag]

n

 

Tanya, at snap + tumble  creates wonderful letterpress. she also holds intimate letterpress workshops.

the next time i am visiting my sister in Toronto i might have to see if my visit coincides with a workshop offering.

n

bookhou is a wonderful shop (also in Toronto) that offers beautiful bespoke goods. you will enjoy the rhythm of reading Arounna's blog--i find a certain calmness to it-- with frequent peeks into her creative process.

n

susan is an artist living in a wee seaside town in my beloved Nova Scotia. oh how i envy her tangled yard (her description) and morning ocean side jaunts with her dog. she often has me feeling homesick, but in a good way.

 

[planning a seaside visit in the near future--sadly, not everyone gets to come along]

n

 

kal barteski is an artist residing in Winnipeg who shares her art work and her busy life with 3 very young daughters--i'll let you read through her blog to discover the wonderful and thoughtful names she and her husband have gifted to them---read about her projects for house90 and view her vibrant artwork.

kal has recently started a very thoughtful + respectful campaign about sharing + crediting others' work read about it here

 

 
[gardening weeding with my shadow by my side]

n

and a few of my other regular faves that have had previous mentions here:

Uppercase n Cafe Cartolina n Poppytalk

n Seven Spoons n Forty Sixth at Grace

 

i hope you enjoy perusing a perhaps new-to-you-blog today as i am off to enjoy a long weekend with a bit of celebrating all things red + white