So Canadian eh? : Alanna Cavanagh

This week you are in for a treat. My guest this week has been one I have admired for quite some time after I first spotted her art in an interior featured in Canadian House and Home! 

Please welcome....

Alanna Cavanagh

She is 

A sought after illustrator and artist, Alanna's work has graced the walls of interiors, pages of magazine and most recognizably the cover of Penguin Books!

I have been in LOVE with her work since I first saw this photo

in Canadian House and Home.

So naturally I have now managed to spot her work everywhere! Love the vintage 50's vibe her artwork evokes. I can totally see one of her prints hanging in my house. 

Alanna's living room

A book cover.

I think "Lacey Legs" needs to find a space on my wall, non?

Real Simple Magazine

{all photos courtesy of Alanna Cavanagh}

Tell us a bit about yourself; what is your background, your education? Have you always dabbled in art? 

Yes I've always been doing art. As a child I was rarely seen without crayons or markers in my hand and I won my first colouring contest at 6. I studied Art History + Comparative Religion at University of Toronto and for a while thought I might be a museum curator but my love of creating asserted itself after graduation and I began to pursue a career in illustration. In 2005 after many years working on the computer as a commercial illustrator  I was craving a more inky + tactile way of producing art so I took a workshop in silk screening - and soon began a second career as a printmaker! I now divide my time equally between the 2 careers.

Where do you get inspiration for your artwork?

My work is very inspired by artists from the 1950s especially the early fashion illustrations of Andy Warhol and the wonderful work of Miroslav Sasek. (The guy who did the incredible series of This is Paris, This is New York books)

I'm also inspired by fashion, fleamarkets, textiles, travelling... almost everything.

You are such a talented designer/artist, your work featured in many publications, in amazing homes, and you are an illustrator for various clientele, such as Penguin Books. How did you get your “break”?

In illustration my big break came when I signed with an agent: Shelley Brown of i2i art. She was able to promote my work to an international market and soon after signing with her I was working for clients such as The New York Times, Ritz Carlton Hotel, Real Simple magazine, VISA, and Brooks Brothers amongst many others. She was also stellar at negotiating fees and handling contracts which was a god's send for me as I - like most artists- are notoriously bad at this part of the business! :-)

With my silk screen prints my break came when several of my customers had their homes featured in Decor magazines or blogs - such as Canadian House + Home, Design files, and Wish magazine. This introduced my work to a wide audience of design enthusiasts plus many design editors + writers.

What tips do you have for aspiring artists/designers to get noticed, to establish themselves in the design scene?

The first tip is of course to work hard and develop a focused and distinct style.

Illustration Mundo is a great website for helping you to do this. www.illustrationmundo.com/

The founder Nate Williams has a great list of resources on it plus very helpful answers for illustrators who are just starting out.

It's also helpful to enter your work in contests like 3X3 or Communication arts or on sites like Threadless as art directors often check there for new talent.

If you are specifically interested in surface design I would recommend investing in a booth at the Surtex show in NYC. http://www.surtex.com/

What is your favourite medium to work with?

I naturally love silk screen but also really enjoy working with pastels, watercolour and my latest fave: collage.

What goals/aspirations do you have for yourself?

I am currently working on a series of  animated films and would love to do more of them. I'm also very interested in doing more surface design- ie. creating work for fabrics, notecards, bedsheets etc etc! This connects to my love for decor - which I find 

What do you like to do in your free time?

Watch films, read books, and have long drawn out dinners with good food, lots of wine and close friends.

Tell us one thing that would surprise us!

I used to be in musical theatre and still know how to tap dance. :-)

Why did you decide to start a blog?

I wanted an outlet to share my inspirations and intense enthusiasm for design!

I am so excited you agreed to be interview Alanna, as a long-time admirer it was fabulous to find out a bit more about you! Fingers crossed I can own one of your prints one day.

XO Barbara

I'm Back

Aloha! 

We are back. It was an amazing holiday with the family. After a red-eye flight and a time change we are still very groggy and in shock coming back to dreary "wet" coast weather.

{Our surfing instructor in Waikiki, except I sat on the beach and watched}

I am hoping that this weekend I can catch up on blog reading and post writing! I have a few amazing products that I was offered to review, can't wait to share them with you! Also another amazing giveaway lined up, a product you have seen around the internet and that is created by a local blogger/designer who has become a friend and has to be one of the most sweetest people around!

What is with the weather here in Vancouver??? Don't the weather gods know I have a lot of brown furniture to paint? Come on already - get warm so I can open up the garage and get rid of the brown!

Also while I was gone I noticed my little ditty about finding a chic piece to house our pet snake made it to Apartment Therapy! Thanks for the mention Apartment Therapy.

Now I am off to enjoy my cup of coffee and organize my thoughts, day and house.

XO Barbara

So Canadian Eh? : Gemma from The Sweetest Digs

When Gemma introduced herself to me, I had no idea she was the creative genius behind the most amazing budget kitchen transformation that I had just seen on Apartment Therapy

A recent newlywed, Gemma and her husband have been busy renovating their new home on a strict budget. Her ingenuity has created the most awe-in.spiring transformations.

Her work has not gone unnoticed, she has been featured on Apartment Therapy and Design Sponge!

Please welcome....

Gemma from The Sweetest Digs

She is...

Gemma is also an avid artist, she even has her own Etsy shop where she sells colourful watercolours! I would LOVE one for my walls!

Even their wedding was a DIY affair!!

Her DIY command center.

Master Bedroom Makeover.

Chevron Ombre Art

Living room makeover and fabulous coffee table.

The ceiling painted on a whim that landed her a feature on Design Sponge

And the $200 kitchen makeover. You won't believe the before!

Guest Room.

Basement Kitchen.

Tell us a bit about yourself? What is you background?

Where to start? I’m an Ottawa native who has lived abroad in the UK, New Zealand and Nepal. I am passionate about maternal health and international development, and my “nine to five” job is as a public health project coordinator. However, I’m also super-passionate about all things interior design. I have been a keen crafter ever since I can remember. When I got a bit older and had my own space to decorate, I got totally hooked on interiors (and have been ever since). My first decorating attempt was painting my teenage bedroom yellow with a sponging technique. Oh man does it ever make me cringe to think about that now. I love all things design and DIY. I absolutely believe that everyone can make their home a place they love on a small budget.

What made you decide to start blogging?

When my hubby and I bought our first house in 2009 I started branching out from my usual shelter magazines and began reading design blogs. I was instantly hooked. I loved all of the creativity, new ideas, and the personality of the bloggers shining through. Once we started renovating and decorating our own home, I figured I would try out this whole blogging thing – if anything just to keep my family and friends in the loop about what we were up to. Little did I know I would enjoy it so much and would still be blogging almost 2 years later. I hope to continue blogging for a long time to come.

What have you enjoyed about blogging and what has surprised you along the way?

I think I surprised myself by really liking the writing part of blogging. I do a fair bit of academic writing, but this was totally new. I could be quirky, not worry about my crazy run-on sentences, and just have fun. I also really like that blogging keeps me motivated to try new projects. I love being creative, so it’s a great outlet for that.  

What has surprised me about blogging? Well, I didn’t actually think I would make any “blog friends”. Not because I’m not a social gal, but I just hadn’t considered the community aspect of blogging. There are so many other amazing folks out there in the blog world, so it’s been such a pleasure getting to know them. I hope to collaborate more with other bloggers in the near future! 

Where do you go for inspiration for your blog and for your home?

Well I have been gathering inspiration for years and years from shelter magazines. My mum and I split the subscriptions so I get a few magazines and she gets a different few, and then we swap every month. And of course, I get tons of inspiration from other bloggers. My “bookmarks” list on my computer is crazy long and I love spending an early Sunday morning with my cuppa tea catching up on the blogs. I also get loads of inspiration from travel. I love visiting new places, seeing new things, and bringing home ideas and pieces from where I’ve been. Some of my favourite finds in my own home have been things I picked up along the way -- from artwork in South East Asia, to a tea set from Morocco, to fabric from England -- all treasures.

How would you describe your design style?

I’m not sure I can describe my style in a couple of words – it seems to be always evolving and I really appreciate different aesthetics in different spaces. For example I love a classic kitchen with white shaker cabinets, marble backsplash and dark wood floors, but then turn around and fall in love with a room full of bright hits of pink and orange and a Moroccan vibe. I guess my style would be contemporary with a dash of flea market vintage. One thing I always tend to do in a space is mix and match old and new. If I’ve got a new sofa and rug in a living room, I’ll mix in a flea market cabinet and a rustic coffee table to make sure there is some juxtaposition in the space.

Is there any one accomplishment that you are proud of ?

In terms of our own home, even though it wasn’t pretty at times, I think I’m most proud of our basement renovation. We took a really yucky, moldy space, completely gutted it, and turned it into a lovely one-bedroom apartment. We drilled into our foundation to enlarge the windows, put a sweet kitchen into what was the furnace room, and totally overhauled the space. And other than hiring an electrician and dry waller, we did it all by ourselves. By having income from our tenant, it means that we can afford a house in a super trendy neighbourhood in Ottawa, which we adore.

You are a newlywed and revamping your new home on a meager budget, what are some tips you would have for others in the same situation?

I absolutely believe that you do not need to have a pile of money to make your home look great. With a little bit of work and creativity, you can show your home some serious love on a budget. Get some used furniture and paint or reupholster it instead of buying all new stuff. Make curtains for your place with discount fabric (and use iron-on hemming tape if you don’t own a sewing machine!). Paint some stripes or other pattern on your walls for a pop of fun. Once you have saved up some money, spend it on those high-impact things that really make a difference – like new flooring or a nice sofa. Things that will stand the test of time and won’t go out of style. I don't think there are any hard and fast rules, just do what you love and makes you happy.

If you were given the opportunity to meet anyone or do anything, who or what would it be and why?

What a question. Do anything? I’m a total travel junkie, so I would have to say being able to work in a job that allowed me to take long periods of time off to travel the world would be amazing. South Africa, Guatemala, Indonesia, India, Greece, oh so many places to explore! And meet anyone? Well, I wouldn’t complain if Ryan Gosling wanted to take me on some fabulous date, say in Italy somewhere (just don’t tell my hubby!).

What do you like to do in your free time?

Since I work in a completely different field during the workday, a lot of my free time is spent DIYing/decorating/thrifting/crafting and then blogging about it. When I’m not doing that, I play volleyball and dodgeball (dip, dive, duck, dodge!), love to spend an afternoon watercolour painting (I actually just started an etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/audreyandgem), and try to get outside as much as possible. Oh and between my hubby and I, we have 16 nieces and nephews (and 1 more on the way), so we try to spend a lot of time with all of those kiddos too!

What are your views on the role Canadian design plays in the world design scene? Do you feel that Canadians have a unique sense of style and design, and if so, what is it that you think sets us apart?

I love the Canadian aesthetic. I think because of our vast landscape and beautiful scenery, we tend to bring the outdoors in and inject a lot of natural elements into our design. I find Canadian spaces to be less fussy and just at-ease. Because of our cold and long winters, I also really appreciate the cozy vibe of many designs -- layered textures, rich wood tones, Hudson bay blankets, etc. I think Canadian designers and bloggers have a lot to show off, so look out! 

Thanks for the interview, Barbara. It was a pleasure to be over here at hodge:podge. Keep up the lovely work! 

I am so thrilled you emailed me because now I have another favourite blog to read.

You are an inspiration to all of us who have limited budgets, you are proof that you don't need a lot of cash to make a splash!

XO Barbara

Chirp, chirp.....

Our family has taken a much need vacation to re-group and to get away from it all!

I apologize that I did not get organized to get some guest posts together, I had asked a few very willing bloggers but with our recent news, I just didn't get to putting anything together.

I do have another AMAZING Canadian visiting on Sunday so be sure to check back and read my interview!

If inspiration hits while living the life of leisure, I'll be sure to post! 

Many hugs and aloha....

XO Barbara

Hanging out at Living Savvy and Simple Dwellings

Today I am hanging out at two fabulous blogs!

I am sharing an organizational tip at the end of the post at Living Savvy. Tiffany is a West Coast gal living in warm California with a fabulous blog - she is a DIY diva, my kind of pal.

It isn't a glamourous tip but sure is practical.

Please visit me there, I'd love you if you did.

And then at Simple Dwellings, I am part of Amber's "If My Blog were a Room" series, which was exciting to be part of.

What could be more fun that to describe your blog through gorgeous inspirational interiors.

Think red and stripes.

Come over and visit. Don't let me be all lonely over there.

XO Barbara

Loving your Rental

As many of you know, we are currently renting our home. Now with our life being turned upside down, we are relieved to be renting. 

But 

living in a rental does not mean you have to scrimp on style! What I hope to bring you periodically are some inspirational stories and ideas that have you "loving your rental",  because I know I am not alone!

Thanks to Donna for encouraging me to embrace my home and to talk about the ups and downs of renting.

Even Jen from Made By Girl has been embracing the rental life after moving across the US to rent a fabulous apartment in New York City. She has started a series featuring renters and their apartments, a series  I love. 

The ups and downs of renting are:

Yay - to not having to pay for replacing the hot water tank, appliances, leaky pipes, etc when they go.

Nay - living cheap and tired carpet, an outdated kitchen and bathrooms, mismatched flooring, the list can go on...

To start this off I will give you a glimpse into our home.

I want to show you what a little paint and creativity can do to a space.

What my daughter's room looked like when we moved in.

Now...

So my hope is to bring you ideas to show you how you can add some pizazz in your home, even if you are renting, and to share other's stories, and whatever else may come my way!

XO Barbara

So Canadian Eh? : Craftberry Bush

Please welcome the amazingly talented 

Lucy from Craftberry Bush.

She is....

Lucy's blog, Craftberry Bush is a collection of gorgeousness. 

Her talent for creating beautiful things has me awestruck. She is a Canadian Martha, her blog full of fabulous crafts, art, tutorials, homemade goodies for the kids, food, creative mantel-scapes, and the list can go on. 

Her talent doesn't just stop there. Her photos are magazine worthy, impeccably styled to perfection.

All that has gotten her noticed, she has been featured in publications such as Better Homes and Gardens, and Mes Petits Mains, and on well known websites such as Apartment Therapy, Babbly, Funky Junk, Tip Junkie, and Censtational Girl.

Just check out the photos of her work, all styled and shot by her!

Water colour paper roses...

Fall Mantel-scape...

Handmade pillows....

DIY Chalk paint...

Faux cross stitch art.

Tell us a bit about your background?  Your education?  Has design always been in your blood?

My early childhood was heavily influenced by an extended family of self-taught artists and musicians.  I suppose creativity is in my genes, but I’m sure having been surrounded by canvases and paints at such an influential age helped to develop my love of art.

While art is my passion, I wanted to explore other opportunities through education and initially studied Marketing.  I soon realized how much I enjoyed working with children and transitioned to early childhood education.  I then went on to teach art classes to young children at a local studio for several years.

How would you describe your design style?

I feel my style is constantly changing so it would be difficult to say I have one specific design style.  I have always been drawn to French Country farm and most recently developed a new appreciation for the all white airy feeling of Scandinavian décor.  As you can imagine, this sometimes creates an internal conflict for an artist who also adores colour.

How long have you had your blog?  What made you decide to start writing a blog and what have you enjoyed the most about blogging?

I began Craftberry Bush in July 2010.  Initially, it was intended to serve as a means of keeping an electronic photo journal for our children, but over time, the blog began to evolve and became a medium for me to express myself through my art. 

No longer having Craftberry Bush be solely dedicated to our children is something I admittedly often feel guilty about; although I hope I have been able to maintain the essence of the blog by sharing a little bit of my life through my family's successes and hardships, thus incorporating both creative as well as spiritual inspiration.  

Reflecting back, I think what I have enjoyed most about blogging has also been the most surprising aspect of this journey and that is the amount of encouragement and bonds formed within the blogging community.  Within many of my posts, you’ll find me trying express my appreciation for ‘friends’ who take the time to visit and/or leave a comment.  I truly feel honoured and blessed to have met so many wonderful people.

What are your hopes and dreams for your blog?  Your future?

I have a few hopes and dreams for Craftberry Bush. 

I had mentioned the encouragement and bond of the blogging community took me by surprise, but it has also served as a great source of inspiration for me.  My hope is that I can give back and inspire others to put aside their fears and use art to express themselves. 

My dream is that Craftberry Bush will continue to evolve.  Being a stay at home mom affords our family many benefits that I wouldn’t trade for the world, but it also means we’re a one income home.  As my blog has evolved, I can’t help but think how wonderful it would be to use my art as a means to contribute to our home monetarily.  I recently began accepting sponsors and after much debate, am in the process of setting up an Etsy shop.  I have been reluctant in setting up a shop as it’s important to me that I’m able to maintain what I believe is the close knit feel of Craftberry Bush, but I feel the time now is right.

My hope and dream for my future is not necessarily blog related (although I’m certain I would document the experience).  I believe we are never too old to pursue our dreams and one day hope to travel with my family to a less fortunate part of the world and help build shelters, churches, schools and water wells for those in need. 

You are such a DIY diva, where do you find your inspiration for all the creative projects you do?

My husband just chuckled as I read “DIY diva” to him.  I am a strong believer that inspiration surrounds us all and we just need to open our eyes to not only what is directly in front of us.  There is so much beauty in the world that we take for granted and I remain in awe when I stop to appreciate it.  But sometimes when it’s late at night and a nature walk just isn’t viable, there’s always Pinterest. 

Your projects have been featured on many high profile websites, what tips do you have for others in getting their work noticed?

My hope has always been to give back via my art and so I consider myself very fortunate to have been noticed by a few of the higher profile sites as they have provided the platform to reach a greater audience.  That said, I’m not about my ‘follower’ count.  I do have an immense appreciation for anyone who chooses to follow and admittedly get excited when approaching a milestone. That they’ve chosen to ‘follow’ my creative journey, makes me appreciate them that much more. 

The beauty of the digital world we live in – once you put your project out there, you somewhat lose control.  You unknowingly relinquish some of the ownership as it becomes open for public consumption. 

If you’re looking to be ‘noticed’, I would highly recommend you consider these four things:
1) Link – Participating in ‘linky’ parties is not only a great way to gain exposure, but you’ll likely meet and be inspired by new people.

2) Use social Media – The internet, and more specifically social media, serves as a boundary-free vehicle that can catapult your project.  Your blog provides but one entry point for exposure so use FB, Twitter, and the increasingly popular Pinterest (which is my number one source of traffic right now) to drive awareness to new posts.

c) “Anything worth doing, is worth doing right.” – Make your final project stand out from the rest by paying attention to detail through your presentation, staging and photography.  Contrary to popular belief, you do not need a fancy camera to take great pictures.  In fact, I only began using my DSLR 5 months ago, as my first year of blogging was all documented with a little 8 year old point and shoot camera.

d) Be yourself – My advice, or the advice you read elsewhere is just that…advice.  If it doesn’t feel right for you, don’t follow it.  When you think back to when you first created your blog, the likelihood is that you created it for you.  Yes, we all crave validation, but never lose sight of who the blog is for.  In the immortal words of Dr. Seuss, “You’re on your own, and you know what you know.  And you are the guy/gal who’ll decide where to go.”

Tell us one thing about you that would surprise us!

While I would like to think of myself as being creative with the ability to think outside the box, please never ask me to draw a box.  Because I can’t.  Honestly.  I am linear challenged.  It’s quite sad.

Oh, and I am belong to a women's soccer league and play both indoor and outdoor soccer (and no, I can’t kick straight either).

If you could meet anyone or do anything who or what would it be?

I would have loved to meet Dr. Seuss.  He is simply brilliant.  While art truly is in the eye of the beholder and comes in many forms, his genius transcends barriers and his work is as relevant today as the day it was created.  

Now for the record, I would have also said Jesus…but it’s a given I will meet Him one day.

 What do you like to do in your free time?

Free time?  What’s that?  As a mother of three young children, our schedules – not unlike those of many others – can be pretty hectic at times.  Apart from family, I have a few other passions in life and try to use whatever free time I’m afforded to find a healthy balance between those passions – be it exercising or creating projects for Craftberry Bush.

What are your views on the role of Canadian design?  Do you feel that Canadians have a unique sense of style, the way we design and decorate our homes?  If so, what do you think sets us apart?

When describing Canadians sense of style, I don’t know if I would use the word ‘unique’, so much as ‘diverse’.  That is by no means meant to be derogatory as I truly believe the beauty of Canadian design is that it’s not limited to one influence, but is instead comprised of the many facets of the multiculturalism we embrace here in Canada.   

Such wise words and fabulous advice Lucy! 




XO Barbara