PermEnamel Paint

This month's issue of Country Living Magazine has tons of unique craft ideas; my favorite is the farm animal dishware.  You can convert plain glass and ceramic dishes into little masterpieces by painting images with Air-Dry PermEnamel Paint.  PermEnamel what? Yes, that's right - you can personalize dishes with dishwasher, oven, and microwave safe paint and it's PERMANENT!  No baking required! The creative possibilities are endless!  For instructions on how to duplicate these mugs, click here. Thank you CL!

J xx

Coco Cake

I can look at cupcake pictures for hours at a time. I just did. I love Coco Cake.  Lyndsay Sung is an artist and self-taught baker with an adoration for all things cake. She treasures her pink KitchenAid mixer and dreams of amassing a collection of vintage and handmade cake stands.  After reading her entire blog, I've narrowed down my favorites and I find her pineapple cupcakes sugar sensational!

Visit Lyndsay's wonderful baker's blog to see examples of her work. Her cupcakes are made-to-order and if you're lucky enough to live in Vancouver, you should consider placing an order for your next special occasion. Lyndsay can personalize cake to your heart's content; therein lies her best talent, the butter to her batter.

J xx

Pink Guts

Forget Barbie, think Carrie. Carrie Bradshaw, better known as Sarah Jessica Parker. Who else could pull off bubble-gum pink and look sophisticated. It takes guts to sport this shade of pink and not care about naysayers who encourage pink's negative connotations (you know the ones).  I was never a pink person until Sex and the City entered my life; so, in honor of my newfound confidence, I've discovered some hot 'Carrie-approved' pink accessories. What's the matter?  Too pink? Don't be afraid. Dare I say it...YOU GO GIRL!

J xx
Clockwise: (1) Paul Smith, Holly Platforms (2) Diane De Maria, Bonnie Fluo Pink Bag (3) Smythson, Luggage Label, Magenta Collection (4) Kate Spade, Big Apple Neda Continental Wallet

Emily Filler

Beautiful isn't it?  This is a painting by Emily Filler, an Ottawa, Ontario native who is currently living in Toronto and painting full-time out of her studio in the city's historic Distillery District.  Emily is known for painting floral landscapes. She explains, "by blending colors and patterns into dreamlike images, my goal is to convey the impressions that flowers and nature leave behind in memory."

I first met Emily while studying at Queen's University through a mutual friend who is kind enough to give me random updates on Emily's professional and personal life adventures. Emily graduated with a degree in Fine Arts, and her work has since been featured in House & Home Magazine, and comes personally recommended by Sarah Richardson of Design Inc. and HGTV's Sarah's House.

If you're in Ottawa be sure to stop by the Terence Robert Gallery for Emily's 2nd exhibition open May 22 - June 9.  I am the proud owner of a modest 6"x6" Emily Filler original, and every time I look at it I am reminded of good friends and dreams fulfilled.

J xx

Adoré Chocolate Tablets

Wow! Feast your eyes on these Adoré Chocolate Tablets. I stumbled across these beauties at TheDieline.com - a website where the package design community can review, critique and stay informed of the latest industry trends. Coba & Associates, a Serbian based design and branding firm, created packaging for Adoré that rivaled the high quality and status of their hand-made chocolates. Each chocolate flavor got its own look and name. Such gorgeous packaging! I vote Adoré the official chocolate supplier of your life!

J xx