Viewings set

Hi There!

A new set of viewings for my loft are set for next Thursday Sept 9th 9:30 am and Friday Sept 10th at 4:30.
Please contact Liam at Artscape if interested in attending.

Squiggly lamp and Morning sketching

I am trying to get back in the habit of sketching each morning
As an illustrator it's so important to keep the drawing muscle flexy and also to do personal work along side commissioned work.

This morning i stumbled across this fabulous squiggly crunchberry lamp by Straydog Designs.
Immediately inspired me to  do some sketches - and to also hopefully make time this summer to do some paper maché which my heart has been longing to do.

The Crunchberry lamp from Stray Dog Design.

Isnt it fabulous?

So squiggly.

Morning sketches.

Two framed penguins available

I have two framed penguins available.

Great gift for the booklover in your life. 

 Great Expectations

Framed in beautiful black shadow box frame.

950.00

Love in a Cold Climate

Framed in beautiful natural shadow box frame.

950.00

 Available for pick up only

See my shop

and email me with any questions  

#art #silkscreem #penguin #books #booklover

 

Framed Blue brogue Available

Framed in a lovely shadow box by Telegramme prints

395.00

Available through my shop .

Annual Open House + Print Sale

It's that time of year again...

Hope to see you there.

Alanna xo

My Studio Sale May 31st

A few photos from my Open House + Sale last month.

(Better late than never!)

Thanks to everyone who came by and made it a fun afternoon. xo 

If you couldn't make it -
you're welcome to make an appointment to pop by my studio.

 A favourite collector: Janet Piper who works at Penquin Books

and in the bkgd my dear customer Alan who comes to every sale.

Alan you're the best!

 Lydia and friend who went home with my framed Empty Belly print

 Sarah looking very happy with her framed ranunculus print.

Brian who purchased the last Orwell Down and Out title

#sale #silkscreen #prints #art

STUDIO SALE: Sun May 31st 12 - 6pm

This Sunday!
Prints/ Artist proofs/ Great Deals/ Drinks + Snacks/
And... Snooping around my loft!

Two Salon walls with my prints

 On wall left to right: 1. Small white bouquet  2. Small black bouquet and 3. Marnie

Marnie silkscreen print 40.00 

Available in my shop

Left to right: 1. New DIVE IN print 2. Small white bouquet 3. Small black bouquet

#silkscreen #art #print #salonwall #interiordesign #affordableart #torontoartist

Holiday Open House + Print Sale 2014 photos

Better late than never :-)

 Among the first arrivals : Kelly Chadda + Git Gustavsson

Talented surface designer (+ cupcake maker!)  Elizabeth Olwen.

 Adorable visitors

 Journalist Karen Von Hahn with her new Mitford silkscreen print

 More adorable visitors

 My fabulous assistant Khahn 

Lifesaver Hardworker Great sense o' humour too

 Raymond + Robyn

One cupcake standing!

The scene Sunday at 6pm
#tired!

Mark your Calendars...

It's that time of the year again:

My Annual Holiday Open House and Sale. 

There'll be lots of Artist's Proofs at greatly reduced prices (ooh ahh)

plus prints, greetings cards, cider and nibblies

and ofcourse a chance for a peek inside my loft!

Please RSVP to 

alanna.cavanagh(at)gmail.com

Getting Away...

A favourite place to be.

Maggie and Pete's cottage in Quebec

Family, lake, birds, G+Ts, big dinners with lots of wine, and many cozy spots for reading.

Homemade raspberry pies made with raspberries picked from the garden.

Home Inspiration : Sarah Jessica Parker's West Village Brownstone

I don't blog as much as I used to (more on that later!) so you know when I do I'm excited about something! This morning I found a Vogue video which provided a sneak peek inside Sarah Jessica Parker's West Village Brownstone. It was everything I expected: filled with layers and layers of painting, books, collections, soft lighting, and a great bar cart! Total Home Inspiration. SIGH.

SJP welcomes the interviewer at her Classic Brownstone door. 

GASP. Love all the layers of art, books, textiles and what a great bar cart. 

Not sure about the cerise throw on the couch tho. :-) tee hee.

Love this cozy arrangement in the entrance way - especially the black and brass lamp.

#SarahJessicaParker #Decor #NewYork #Love

Book Love

Found this drawing of M reading on a book blog today.
Love the Raymond Carver which the author matched with it.
I often have an urge to stay in bed all day and read. :-) Especially on rainy days.

My Home in Covet Garden

The new first ever Covet Garden print Magazine is out and my home is featured in it. 

You can buy it here. 

(Great Xmas gift for the decor lover in your life) 

Hint hint!

 Gorgeous photography throughout by Jodi Pudge. 

My ink and screens have never looked better.

 My livingroom featuring my silkscreen prints and my needlepointed shoe pillow.

 Wide shot.

 I sure love my IKEA expediet bookcase which serves as a great room divider.

My sweet canary Lord Percy can be seen in the back left corner.

 Me + my Dress Judy screen (which is now split!)

On the left: several of my illustration gigs: Tea towel for the Bay, 2 book covers, some Tattlys and my bird canape plates for Lord and Taylor.

On the right my office and a little peek at my bedroom. 

1. 

Holiday Sale

Come by for sips, snacks and Holiday shopping!

Many new prints and lots of Artists proofs at great prices.

 Ps. Update on December 27th
For the Love of God Do not show up until 1pm. 
I'll never be ready at noon. :-) 

Email alanna.cavanagh@gmail.com for more details

New Sketches

Two new sketches.

As I've mentioned a few times before... a person reading is one of my favourite things to draw.
I like the quietness of the subject matter - and the sense of one completely immersed in a book.

 My favourite part of both the sketches is the foot! I drew it too big but like the line of it.

Random Book notes!:

1. The subject in the drawing had just finished Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall and highly recommends it.

2. I recently finished John Irving's A Widow for One Year and man did I love it. What a narrative! Is now on my fave novel top ten list. Highly recommended. (Am aware it came out 10 years ago. :-))

Autumn is such a cozy time to tuck into a book at night and be taken away....

Here comes the Kitchen Reno

 BEFORE

Ok! Floors are in so is now time for the kitchen reno. Above my humble little kitchen.

Here is my TO DO list:

1. Switch out cabinet doors for new white ones.
2. Change handles
3. Replace fan above stove with stainless steel microwave with built in fan.
4. Create storage above with drywall and sliding doors
5. Add 5 pots lights
6. Add backsplash - white subway tile
7. Change counter.
8. Replace Fridge w Stainless steel
9. Replace Stove w Stainless steel

So that the final result might look something like this below:

INSPIRATION FOR THE AFTER!

This is the kitchen of my design saavy + very handy neighbours Vanja + Calder. 
They started with the identical kitchen to mine!
Isn't their transformation incredible?!
Very exciting for me to see what a change of materials and some smart planning can do.
 
*I am currently looking for a contractor to do the drywall and storage unit.*
Any recos most welcome. Thanks!
Also if you have any kitchen reno tips you feel inspired to share - Don't hold back! 
I would love to hear.

Reno Update: My new Floor!

Ok Decor lovers... New flash: Last week - at long last I got my floor installed.
Readers of this blog will know that it has been a bit of a search for me to find a floor I could love. mmm ... That would be an understatement. BLUSH.

In my search I found many of the floors out there to be very varnished + fakey looking. I felt allergic to them. :-( My goal was to find a floor that looked like it was out of a cottage with a natural + beat up quality and no icky varnish! Happy to say I finally found that floor at Nadurra.

The floor I finally chose is a Wide plank White Oak from Nadurra's Rustic Neue collection. 
As you can see there is a ton of variation between the planks and a gorgeous matt finish. 
Just what I was looking for.

Here is a closeup of the wood.

Look at those knots baby!

In addition to having gorgeous, FSC approved products the customer service at Nadurra is exceptional.  Rob Kingsley gave me very personalized attention and helped me with selection, delivery and follow up. Can't recommend him enough.

Thanks must also be sent to Kim, Janet, Gaby, and Donna who were all incredibly helpful during my flooring saga. So glad it's over. I never wanna look at another floor sample again. :-)
Now onto the kitchen reno!

Ingenious Double Duty furniture

So I have been in reno mode for a few weeks now....
I have been trying to figure out how to accommodate my huge map drawers (where I store my prints) plus have a guest bed.
Et Voila:  The solution below!
Just love this very smart piece built by Fugitive Glue in Toronto.

Brian Summers Photography

My friend photographer Brian Summers came over last week for a little photo session.

Here is my favourite photo from the day.
More can be seen here. Thanks so much Brian.