WOOD / / Mokulock Wooden Blocks

Mokulock has created lovely wooden building blocks that look like LEGO and are compatible with standard plastic LEGO peices. A nice gift for someone who has everything. Available at COS.

Photo from COS.

WORK / / HAY Paper Products

HAY, from Denmark, has a beautiful collection of office products available this season in a lovely collection of colours. I particularly like the ombre plisse (pronounced the french way). It seems like it could be very useful for staying organized.

WIRED / / Marble iPhone Case

I love this new marble iPhone cover from Case Scenario. It would definitely be on my Christmas wish list unfortunately I would have to upgrade my old iPhone first... Maybe next Christmas.

Photos from Case Scenario.

WEEKEND / / Mjolk

This weekend I went to the opening event for the LATrE exhibition being held at Mjolk. Mjolk is one of my favourite stores in Toronto. The owners, Julie and John, sell a beautifully curated collection of Japanese and Scandinavian design items. LATrE was showing a collection of dead stock military clothing that had been given new life through indigo dying. I have been experimenting with indigo dying myself and seeing his work really inspired me to get back into it and experiment with different textiles and textures.

While I was in the store I took the opportunity to buy volume two of Mjolk's self titled publication. I couldn't wait to get home to make myself a cup of tea and spend a couple of hours escaping into it's pages. It is a very thoughtful collection of interviews and images mostly of artists and their work places.

 All images from mjolk.ca except top one from kitka.ca.

WEEKEND // Warm Food on a Cold Day

It's cold and rainy in Ireland today, a perfect day for creamy seafood chowder and a chicken and broccoli bake from Avoca. 

WARDROBE // Block Shop

These are the most beautiful scarves I've ever seen (and I am a scarf addict). They are from an Indian based printing company called Block Shop run by two sisters from the United States. The company makes each scarf by hand using hand carved wooden blocks and non toxic vegetable dyes. The scarfs are a blend of Indian silk and Indian cotton. Its too bad that they've been so popular that they've completely sold out. 

Images from Block Shop.

WALL SPACE // Animal Magnetism

 I just discovered the Animal Print Shop. I can't wait to get back to having an apartment in Toronto where I will definitely adorn the walls with at least one of these prints. I just don't know how I'll choose.

Images from The Animal Printshop.

Mud Australia

Beautifully simple tableware by Sydney-based Mud Australia. Every piece is handmade so each item is unique. All of the pigments are blended with the clay giving the colours a depth not possible with coloured glazes. This little pitcher is definitely my favourite.

Images from Treasure & Bond.

Embroidery and Geometry

Lovely quilt from UK designers Custhom. I love the contrast between the modern geometric pattern and the craftiness of the embroidery. Nice subtle tones too. 

Images from FAO Ltd.

White Horizons

Some beautiful shots of the North American prairies in winter by photographer Michael G Zimmerer. I would love to have a large print of one of these my house one day.

Images from Michael G Zimmerer.

Colourful Summer Food

Steak with roast potatoes, grilled vegetables and sauteed spinach.

Late Night Snack

Peaches baked in honey, with greek yogurt, raspberries, lemon drop cookies and camomile tea.

Wood Meets Plastic

I know that as someone who appreciates product design and supports hand made items and their makers I am probably supposed to consider IKEA the enemy but it is definitely a guilty pleasure for me. You have to admit that they do come out with some gems. I love this red plastic chair inspired by a familiar wooden chair design.

A Pop of Colour on a Cloudy Day

Nice embroidery sample from an embroidery workshop organized by Karen Barbe in Santiago, Chile.

CORIUMI

The beautiful work space of makers Inga and Arvydas of Lithuanian Etsy store CORIUMI.

Buddha Bowls

There is a restaurant in Toronto called Fresh. They have a dish called Buddha bowls and this is my interpretation of it. It's brown rice, spicy peanut sauce, lettuce, tomato, avocado, red peppers, shrimp and cilantro.

Work Lunch

Pearl barley, shredded beet root with ginger and parmesan cheese.

Internship

I've just started an internship at Makers & Brothers and I am completely in love with the loft office we work in. It's so bright and airy and those strawberries were so delicious.

Long Weekend Cooking

Pulled beef brisket chilli served with homemade guacamole. Slow cooking on the long weekend.

Living on the Coast

The beautiful view from my bus stop this morning. I'm from the Canadian prairies and I've never lived near the ocean before. I love the way the tide comes in and out. It feels like the whole landscape is slowly breathing.