Happy Pride!!

Wishing Everyone a fantastic Pride!!

Lots of love!

xoxo 

Av!

Here's a great round on BlogTO of cute shirts, watches, and totes along with my bandanas specially designed for World Pride Toronto!

Events: Junction Flea at the Brickworks!

It's that time of year again!  Junction Flea is around the corner.  Stop by our booth and say 'Hello!'  We've love to see you!

Junction Flea

Evergreen Brickworks

550 Bayview Ave.

Toronto, ON 

M4W 3X8

junctionflea.com

Sunday May 18, 2014

10am-4pm

$2 Admission

New Shops: Spruce!

We couldn't be happier to announce that our goods will now be available at this lovely shop in Toronto, ON!  The owners of Spruce have been renovating, re-styling, re-designing and photographing homes for a number of years before deciding they wanted a permanent location to show off their unique decor finds - We think they have found the perfect spot in the heart of Cabbagetown!

 For more information check them out here:

Spruce

455 Parliament Street

Toronto, ON

M5A 3A3

647.748.4060

spruceonparliament.com

Spring Sale! Sunday April 13th!

Jen from Fidoodle and I are thrilled to invite you to our first ever Studio & Remnant Sale!! 

We've been bundling up all sorts of goodies and making all kinds of pretty springtime decorations and loot bags for the sale! We can't wait to spent the day with our friends and neighbours! 

Sunday April 13th, 1-6pm

Artscape Youngplace

180 Shaw Street, Suite 202, Toronto

See you there!

xo av 

Wall Art by You!

I love when Brett Walther from Canadian Living comes on The Marilyn Denis Show with his amazing DIY projects. Always such great ideas to beautify the home, and they're so easy to do! So I was thrilled yesterday when he included my Paint Chip Table Runner into his DIY art projects segment! He showed a great way to turn the runner into a wall hanging, and best part... no sewing required! 

His segment was so packed with good ideas that the project for the runner was squeezed into the next segment, so here's a couple links to get the full feature! But I'm going to suggest to definitely eat your desert first here... so let's start with the end and see the runner first :)

How to turn your table runner into wall art

How to make all the other fun DIY art projects

... and seriously... isn't the paint colour on the wall just amazing! That coral is so melt in your mouth:)

Best of Instagram: May Edition!

May...what a beautiful time of year! Filled with days drawing in the park, baseball games, weaving classes, and the beginning of the antiquing season!

Here are some photo faves from the past month. And if you want to see more Instagram pics, click here to take a peek and follow my feed!

Workshop Fun at The Design Exchange!

 Last night I ran a workshop at The Design Exchange where participants got to design their own Tea Towels... and not just any tea towels, collaborative tea towels!

Participants started by outlining their design for their own tea towel. Then at every 20 minute interval they got up and moved to someone else's towel and had to figure out how to add their own vision to someone else's canvas.

It was interesting to see how the participants vibed off of what was in front of them. Trying to replicate the shapes or techniques, and find new ways to add their design sensibility to the print that they were presented with.

The gals at Hoopla in a moment of deep creative concentration...

With the inspiration flowing and the paint flying these guys came up with all kinds of creative designs.

 The outcome of the workshop was pretty amazing!

 

Nuit Blanche Toronto 2011

 

I head out with some buds to Toronto's huge annual contemporary city-wide art event Nuit Blanche this weekend. It runs alllll night long on Saturday through to Sunday morning. The streets were buzzing and excitement was super high! The event showcases art projects all across the city. We primarily worked through the downtown core. Starting with Flightpath Toronto at city hall...

 We belted out some rockin' hits at Campbell House Museum with 1972-1976. I found myself singing into my camera... as if it was a microphone (or a beer bottle:)...

 ...we did the wave behind city hall with Through The Gorilla Glass...

 Barricades completely transformed a block of Yonge Street. 

 MORE JUMPING!

 TESTtubes was so magical. These little laser lights were sound sensitive and would move around with the sounds of the crowd underneath. Renée pointed out that our cats would have LOVED this exhibition!

 You called this balloon and it would ring loud in the air. 

It was on a super quiet peaceful side street. a very nice surprise!

 Our last stop was at The Gladstone Hotel for their Fly By Night projects...

 a life without tomatoes is like a life without... peanut butter.

This piece win Most Amazing/Ridiculous Art of the night. We were all taking turns snuggling in this huge bird nest.

Save The Dates!

It's official! Frank and I are getting married! I've been wondering for a while now if y'all would be interested in some of my wedding planning details, but as soon as i mailed out my Save the Date cards, I just couldn't resist sharing in the fun!

So we're having a sweet little wedding this summer at our home in Toronto. Picture a cute little garden party with my kind of city charm!

So back to the story of the cards... Frank and I have a full on love for antique markets. We love the treasure hunt and finding new old pieces that fit perfectly with our collection. One of my favourite finds is anything retro Niagara Falls, especially postcards. I've seen plenty of vintage postcard of Toronto along the way, but i never made anything of it until...

Until the day I had to make some Save the Date Cards!! Our wedding is going to be in the city that we love and have made our home and we loved the idea of including it as a part of our celebration!

Yay Save the Date Cards!!

Enjoy the Summer...

Wow it's been almost 2 months now since i've posted... The summer is just flying by!

Well the quick wrap up of the last 2 months is as follows:
- went to see sonic youth and depeche mode... both amazing...
- got rear ended on the highway on a monday morning...
- my good friends Renée and Paul moved back to the city... yay!
- went to the drive-in in Picton, Ontario....
- "Night at the Museum 2" isn't that bad... Ice Age 3 is...
- got back into swimming laps at my gym...
- and I bought this amazing glass tray at the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition! It's called the Tread Plate by Toronto based designers TIMID. These trays instantly caught my eye and held my attention with their simplicity of form and clearly considered design sensibility.

Here's what TIMID say about their line "At TIMID glass Toronto, we align ourselves with elegant and evocative, clean and uncomplicated glass art. TIMID produces a line of handmade functional and decorative glass for everyday use in the home, and infuses the same simple beauties and conceptual qualities into public and private installation. Our aim is to make art accessible to all, both as objects of utility and in a public forum."

Avril's Toronto Birthday Shopping Countdown... PT2

Mmmmmm... It's the end of Victoria Day weekend and I'm packing up order and listening to the popping and crackling of firecrackers going off in my neighbourhood!

I'm still dreaming about my birthday! Only 9 days left! With so many present options to be found on the Toronto Craft Alert crafty links I can't help but take another look at all the goodies that I want to treat myself too....

Above Image: Crocheted Anatomical Heart by Shannon Gerard
Ga-gung... Ga-gung...


Bunny by Pupa
What a lovely lady bunny...


Card Set - Fall Trip by School Yard Studio
It's always handy to have a stash of pretty cards ready-to-go for any occasion...


Zombies need love too pillow by Cipolla
Zombies creep me out more than any other scary creature... i mean seriously... they want to eat your brains... gross..... but come on... double seriously... this pillow is just adorable! I heart zombie pillow.

City of Craft 2008!

Hey Everyone!
If you're in the Toronto area this upcoming Saturday December 13th, come by the City of Craft show and visit me at my table!

Come forth crafty citizens to City of Craft 2008 - an innovative craft culture event where craft shoppers & makers come together to celebrate the handmade spirit. No ordinary craft fair, City of Craft 2008 features free workshops, craft-based installations, and outreach by community arts groups & studios, all alongside a curated craft fair of modern handmade goods.

Details:
WHAT: City of Craft 2008
WHO: 50+ craft vendors, community groups, installation artists, workshop leaders & satellite participants
WHEN: Saturday December 13, 2008, noon-8pm
WHERE: Theatre Centre, located at 1087 Queen Street West at Dovercourt

For more info: http://cityofcraft.com/2008/cityofcraft which is being continually updated with more details