Design

Lauren Marsden is a talented Victoria artist who creates some of the most amazing artistic creations I have ever seen. Her indoor/outdoor carpeting gallery space of Home Sweet Home (above) exhibit blew me away. Her latest artistic endeavour is called Territorial Knittings... she is knitting street sign covers for every street she has lived on in Victoria. The pattern is an exact duplicate of the sign itself... very clever, very creative!

Oh, I am so charmed by this dinnerware... how gorgeous would this look for a springtime dejeuner ? Very chic. The Green Lotus Leaf Collection from Chintz & Company in Victoria... Each plate is a delicately ruffled, hand-painted lotus leaf. What a dramatic table effect to stack each guest's place with the largest leaf at the bottom and the smallest at the top. Stunning!

home garden - A Moment with Nature A couple of darling ducks and a drake... our aquatic, waddling Mallard friends downtown Victoria. How does it go again? Happy as a duck near water. Or be like a duck.... Calm on the surface, but always paddling like the dickens underneath (;

Swiftsure Weekend is here! The 64th annual Swiftsure International Yacht Race starts this morning off the tip of Clover Point in Victoria... With over 250 boats and up to 140 miles to sail, it is one of North America’s most challenging overnight offshore competitions. What a sight!!

This is by far one of the most amazing stores I have ever stepped foot in... Fan Tan Gallery located in Victoria's historic Chinatown, just steps away from the famous 5-foot-wide Fan Tan Alley. Bette Patrick and her son Alan are the shopkeepers and maintain a superb home décor store. I don't think I have ever seen a more remarkable merchandise display that changes *weekly* (see a post I did back in February showcasing some fabulous examples). It is always a treat to stop in for a browse whenever I go for a pitterpatter downtown. And Coal the gorgeous cat is sure to greet you at the door, or at the cash register (sooo darling!).

wall decor - Beth Dunlop

"When people see my work I would like them to smile, to be filled with a rush of warmth that causes their cheeks to turn pink, to giggle… I want them to feel alive with colour" Dazzling acrylic paintings by Brandy Saturley of Sol Sugar Designs here in Victoria... I showcased some of her colourful, curvaceous pieces from her Toe collection awhile back. Literally a neighbour of mine (James Bay... yah!!), Brandy's art is incredibly vibrant and full of exquisite detail. She is inspired by the ocean and the colour blue which resonates as a dance of rigorous patterns throughout her pieces. So lively and whimsical... I adore her work.