organic

Berber rugs from the Beni Ouarain region

June 27, 2011

Berber rugs from the Beni Ouarain region

The impulse in Berber rug-making to both interrupt and also loosely maintain a pattern seems unique in traditional textiles. If not unique, then it’s hard to name a tradition that equals Berber mastery of this particular tension.

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Bioéthique – certified in France but founded in my neighbourhood

November 5, 2010

Bioéthique – certified in France but founded in my neighbourhood

This is one of those “these are the people in my neighbourhood” things. I first met Claudine and Kieran when they were fighting to save the little historic Heatley Building on Vancouver’s infamous Hastings Street, near to where we all live.

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Wood and paper lamps from Japan

September 11, 2009

Wood and paper lamps from Japan

“Our lighting is hand-built in Japan from natural materials, including the hand-made paper (washi) of Eriko Horiki, the bent Japanese cedar of Toshiyuki Tani’s Wappa series, the coiled beech wood of the Bunaco Lacquer Ware Company, and the todomatsu pine slats of Takumi Kohgei.

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Nanopod in nanotopia

March 4, 2009

Nanopod in nanotopia

I have one of these white heart pendant necklaces, and easily a hundred people have asked me about it. It’s by Toronto jeweller Tosca Teran, whose studio is alternately known as Nanotopia and Nanopod.

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Categories: design, Uncategorised

“Raw blonde”

January 20, 2009

“Raw blonde”

Supposedly raw blonde is a trend for 2009. I think that might be me, based on this definition. Warm but austere and at this point pretty pale.

This room somehow manages to be both sensual and monastic at the same time, so perhaps it represents the perfect refuge for a recession.

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