let's eikcam

moving on

2011-04-17T23:52:00.000-07:00

i am a creature of change. constant change happens whether we like it or not so i've learnt to adapt.

this is just a minor move - over - to tumblr where i will try to make time for more thoughts and
bits of love.

please visit me over here once in a while :)

my new blog residence: bowlsofhappiness.tumblr.com/

* newest addition for spring 2011 *

2011-03-02T12:49:00.000-08:00

ceramic air plant vessels by eikcam.

they can be hung on the wall or placed on a shelf - just like our little bud vases.

each vessel comes with a live air plant
which are soil less and need little water, just a spritz a few times a week.

over time, the foliage hues change and the roots gently curl around the grooves and edges. some plants even flower !!

eikcam offers the vessels in her signature clay - natural, gritty ceramic and in pure white porcelain.

our little obsession with seed pods, plants and grasses is always evolving through new, simple design in clay.

mother, my surprise

2011-02-19T19:54:00.000-08:00

this delicate woman in the photograph is my mother, circa 1971.

the mother - daughter relationship is layered with so much expectation and well intended dreams. we develop memories of our mothers in the roles we had envisioned them to fulfill or sadly, unfulfilled.

these expectations. they make us or they break us.

my relationship with elizabeth has been a roller coaster ride to say the least. but last christmas, she revealed something to me that completely changed how I viewed her as a person, mother and surprisingly, a hero.

the line of tension between us was almost drawn as soon as I was born. of course, to me, I didn't understand why it existed. 33 years. some brutally painful but most, completely sheltered had all come to a fine point of understanding.

I look at this photograph today and see a supreme being. she held a powerful and independent aura of an era where misogyny still prevailed. had I looked at this photograph a year ago, this awe would not exist. strange that it is the the same woman, yet my filter and the missing pieces clouded the true woman in the photograph.

I have dedicated time to start a very long and tedious process of putting together a documentary film about my mother. journals, translations, interviews, cameras, sound and editing .... and very intimate details of my mother that are going to be so difficult to hear are all on the agenda. the timeline is most likely another 30 years.
but two of my lifelong dreams are becoming reality: shooting a film and learning more about the mother I yearned to be close to.

making still space

2010-12-18T14:33:00.000-08:00

I think back to when I was five and how everything had to be exciting and dramatic. My parents didn't have to entertain me much as I would be busy making things or socializing with strangers. I gather things have not changed that much.

Alas, everyday is change. Every moment is different from the last and the one to come. But learning how to be present- be it with chaos or calmness - is a constant challenge.

I survived my first huge show at the One of a Kind in Toronto and then the Vancouver show following right after. My whole year is built around the shows in the winter season so it is a cathartic release when it's all done.

But I am making lists and more lists of plans for the new year and it's all so overwhelming!
I am making time to travel to India - a long time dream to explore a new world to me. There are also ideas of shooting a short film and the possibility of a huge move... Ah, come what may - as corny as that may sound :)

Warmest wishes and all the best for the new year of 2011. It's going to be a great one...
xgrace

missed our connection

2010-12-18T11:36:00.000-08:00

Well, hello dear blog.

I've been thinking about you.

Let's keep in touch more often shall we?

xgrace

fall + winter 2010 palette

2010-10-01T13:09:00.000-07:00

There is a lot of buzz happening in the studio these days... with a constant stream of helpers ( shout out to the lovely Shari, Zoe, Ayumu ) the v e r y long list of 'to dos' is getting shorter and shorter.

Alas, the next six weeks will be full force insanity.
But I have my colour palette selected - finally - which make my vision of the collection come together.
The two signature eikcam colours - turquoise and white will always be the tried and true choice for most of my clients - and the four complimentary hues that took a bit of experimenting have also been well received - so, we will see which colours become the favorite hues of the fall/winter.

What new pieces am I working on? Too many to list - not a big surprise to those that know me.
Just a few mentions:

Wall pillows - with 3D buds
Tall vases ( super popular !! ) with 3D buds
Bunting flag motif ( check it out here )
Translucent porcelain bud vases
Appetizer dishes galore in all sizes

New feature button designs!
New Christmas ornaments!

Hope to see you in Toronto and around local shows in Vancouver!!

dear new york,

2010-09-11T11:40:00.001-07:00

Nine years today, thousands most likely millions of lives changed. And even my own life changed drastically, so devastatingly insignificant.

My phone was ringing off the hook. As I looked up at the clock it was 6:30am. I dozed back to sleep but the continual ringing just needed to stop. It was my father. My eyes were blurry and the boxes around me were stacked everywhere. I picked up the phone and my father's voice was the most tender I'd ever heard. "Turn on the tv, Grace' he said. I was in a zombie state and turned it on.

For the next few hours, I realized that I was watching something very real and not imagined. Slowly, I became numb and in a daze as to what I was supposed to do next. See, all the stacked boxes were on route to New York as I was on my way to move that following Friday, September the 14th. I had been in the city in August to find an apartment in the Bronx and prepare to live and breathe my 'other' home in New York. My dream to work at Martha Stewart was just an interview away . . .

My decision to stay here in Vancouver was made for me and as I look back, I was very fortunate to continue my career, my life as a relatively content person. The horrid devastation on 9-11 has remained a severed memory for those directly affected. I felt complete guilt when I realized my own potential dreams came falling down while people had lost their loves and lives. It was hell on earth and the city had a mission to pick up all the broken pieces.

It's been nine years today and the site remains a massive empty lot. The city lives on and murmurs with new excitement and creative energy. I love you, New York.

(Image source: Postsecret.com)

love september

2010-09-08T01:42:00.001-07:00

well well well, ms. september, you have arrived so quickly this year. is it because i'll be another year older this month
or due to the excitement of the next few months to come?

the summer was brief and the fall and winter will be not so brief. but as a full time artist, winter can be crazy, chaotic and filled with markets, shows and the like. for me, there is the culture crawl, the OOAK show in Toronto and Vancouver then a studio sale, then a mad rush to plan for a life long dream to travel to India. it will be the most filled and hectic schedule I've ever had to face.

as september arrives, I like to reflect on what was harvested during the summer - hence the lovely carrots - and approach the next months with a fresh new outlook. the blog has had a bit of a freshening up as I am working on new branding for a few new clients and re-doing my very own website. when eikcam.com will be complete - no one knows.

the partnerships I've made have fizzled like a summer romance and the new ones are those that are the dependable kind that are waiting for you back home. i have a new collection of handmade bags on the go - but they are now completely local and will remain under the eikcam label.
my branding services are in full flight, minus the american counterpart, at the moment. more and more clients are cueing up for rebranding services. i am taking new clients for February 2011. more to come
on another local artist who is completely rethinking her brand. very excited to work with her!

ah, the manifesto for a creative life. it's been on the to-do list for 10 years now? back at design school, one of the assignments was to create a manifesto for ourselves and to review it in years to come. well, 10 years past and the values have remained the same. of course, bruce mau, not only was he our keynote speaker at our graduation, but he is the king of the manifesto. just a brilliant mind and philosopher. i will continue to add to my manifesto as i face new opportunities, people and projects. have you started yours?

self sabatoge + new projects

2010-08-15T15:35:00.000-07:00

Is it just me or is it easier to get others projects done before your own?

I've been over-indulgent in taking on new work and projects but that's how I work best. That being said, my own website has been on the back burner for-ever it seems. I had given myself the full day yesterday to finish up the details, but after watching 'Paper Heart' and 'Paranoid Park' and unpacking the endless boxes, it was 1 am! Oh well.

In the meantime, I am working with two new amazing BC based artisans on their branding.

One is my personal, all time favorite silversmith -

jessie turner of vancouver, bc. She's is known for her

emblem heart with wings pendants and gold-leaf infused designs. I am having the best time working with her as we are also in the works to create a collaborative piece for this year's Culture Crawl. So so lovely.

Next up is tammy hudgeons of gabriola island, bc. As Jemaine of Flight of the Conchords would put it: ooooooohh yeeeeaaah. Tammy is the glass making darling of the island and her work reflects gabriola's essence and it's all of its charm. But she also has an incredible sense of composition and colours that invoke a centered joy that we all strive for.This will be an amazing project - as I will 'need' to visit her studio for business related expeditions.

And, with Tara of Think Big Design Studio, we are drafting, designing and detailing a new blog for Angela of Neglected Princess, an uplifting and inspiring blog for African-American gals of all ages.We are just about ready to launch the new logo and site!

laura bucci : rebranding

2010-07-19T22:45:00.000-07:00

laura bucci is a vancouver based textile artist well known for her cup cozies and fabric covered pins and now wall panels and magnets. I've been a fan for a while and of course, have my own pouch and cup cozie - both of which I use religiously.

Over the last few weeks, I've taken on a few new projects :) and laura's re-styled product photography was high on the list to complete. The photo shoot is done and now it's up to laura to feature them on her newly updated site. Stay tooned for her new site.

giveaway on bloesem kids

2010-07-14T13:15:00.000-07:00

It's giveaway day on Bloesem Kids and we're offering a set of three little bud vases - as shown in the post.

How would you get your little hands on a set? Well, head on over to the blog and leave a comment on your favorite eikcam piece of jewellery or tableware or photograph.

Thanks to Bloesem Kids for hosting this giveaway on such a darling blog.

Good luck everyone!

empire building + design

2010-07-07T11:44:00.000-07:00

Well the cat's out of the bag. I'm teaming up with indie business empire builder, tara gentile (of scoutie girl).

Tara is a bona fide, finger on the pulse indie business empire builder. Yup, she can stand back and take one swooping look at your business - product or service based - and advise on your next step to building your empire.

My contribution will entail the visual and design elements of the business branding and websites that Tara is so on the pulse with. We aim to offer rebranding, revamping and rejeuvenating of businesses that are wanting to step into the professional realm of branding. We are pretty ecstatic with this new direction in both our careers.

A whole new website & blog for eikcam is being busily designed and rejigged for the official launch of this new service in August. It will be complete with 3 local artisans that have coincidently all wanted a revamp of their product photography and branding. How karmic!

If you run a business who wants a refreshed brand update, click the 'think big design studio' logo on the right to get more deets or email me gracelee.designer@gmail.com.

ah love + the change

2010-07-03T17:13:00.000-07:00

It's been a week since my little studio warming and a collective studio sale that a few of us at the Mergatroid took part in.

I felt the love.

My career is creative. The wares I create are an extension of my inspiration, my travels and my experiences. And the most amazing end result of this process is that there are people who appreciate these wares enough to bring them into their homes. I am so humbled and grateful to share the love I put into each piece I create. Thank you.

The slow movement of purchasing local & handmade has been simmering for a while now - it's coming to a full on boil, I feel. We've over-extended our need for more and have realized that we don't want chemicals on our food, we don't want to support mass-production and we can't fill the void with junk. An insightful article on our fear of committing to this massive change in thinking by Tara Gentile ( scoutie girl ) states it so perfectly. But we are feeling the change. Are you making small changes in your life to let go of the fear of commitment?

robot tuesday

2010-06-22T10:22:00.000-07:00

As most of my buddies know, I have a slight crush on this local indie music man, Dan Mangan. His music, well his voice, is my own personal love blanket. And, this video brings a warm giggle and hop in my step. Great tunes inspire my day and help me through those lulls - I can always count on Monsieur Mangan to liven things up. Enjoy.

su foster : rebranding sneak peak

2010-06-10T11:02:00.000-07:00

the very first ( there will be many of those in the coming days ) rebranding photo shoot took place last night in the studio.

this is su foster. her jewellery is exquisite and refined. she recently asked me to help her with her photography and branding. we are working away on the rest of her collection and her new, redesigned logo.

stay tooned for her launch in july/august.

photo number one

2010-06-10T10:03:00.000-07:00

my very first photograph
in my brand spanking new studio.
I love walking past the ice blue wall through my fucshia pink door and smelling the new paint on the walls.
Not to say that the previous acid-wash blue wall and the eggplant door weren't nice, nor the burnt floors or puke yellow trim... it is just nice to make one's space their own.

back to work. huge venture launch in august. studio sale and open house in two weeks. need to find a new home. boy, I need to get organized.

this ebook on indie business is aaamaaazing. tara gentile
is a force to be reckoned with. genius.

happy rainy thursday.

whamo, i'm here + studioshop

2010-06-07T10:57:00.000-07:00

it's the next big event for eikcam. the very first summer studio sale at the mergatroid. Am I ready? No.
Just had three consecutive weekend markets. Had the house on the market. Offer made after three weeks. This weekend it was made official. Moved into a new studio ( quite literally 3 times the size of my old one ). Renovated. Now need to shift all my belongings to put in new, weathered floors. (Ugh and yay!) And, a new direction in my business and creative career. This all came into its denouement over the weekend. I'd have to say it has been a little intense at times. But I'm here to embrace the massive changes to come.
If you are in the neighourhood, around Clark and Venebles - 965/975 Vernon Drive is the exact address - come on down June 26th and 27th, Saturday and Sunday, 11am to 5pm. Apres the studio sale, I will be hosting a film night. Check out the facebook even page for more deets.

thinking big, thinking ahead

2010-06-04T12:23:00.000-07:00

I love this image of the babushkas looking out into the ocean on Gabriola island. It's my favorite place in the world where I go to rejuvenate and center my crazy, busy mind. Plus, one can never get enough island air.

I've been thinking about the future and the direction that my business is heading into and it seems like the enormous amount of hours that I've put in as a stylist, art director and product designer, working for someone other than myself, has come full circle. Working full steam, absorbing new ideas and taking on a variety of projects does a designer's experience good.

I ran across this amazing blog by tara gentile a few months ago. Little did I know that she was this one-woman powerhouse in the blogosphere. She has a wonderful knack of branding vision and small business know how. I took a brainstorming session with her and found that she was full of knowledge and advice on how to forward (in small and managable steps) the marketing aspect of my business. I adore her quirky and positive outlook on how to approach your indie business. Tara is also the editor of the very popular indie blog, scoutie girl. It features some lovely artisans and designers, all in the name of handmade - which is a movement within itself. Come late summer, I will have some very exciting news to announce. It's been a whirlwind the past two years figuring out how to settle into my little biz of handmade wares and the costs of running a full time studio. Slowly, it's becoming more concrete and clear in terms of how to combine my strengths into a vision for myself.

It feels as though I can breathe for once and take in what may be heading my way.

post blog confusion + welcome june

2010-06-01T01:23:00.000-07:00

I have no idea what happened to blogspot - it was not well designed to begin with, but now it's gone all haywire!! So please excuse the loooong gaps and space issues.

Everything will be better with a new website with blog incorporated.
Yes. A. New. Website. I can't believe that I've uttered the words knowing that it took me 6 years to complete my current website. But the business is growing and evolving faster than I can keep up and a well designed website, amazing photographs, an up-to-date portfolio of products is so key to have as a representation of you as a brand.
Don't you think?
A nice website is well, nice to look at and easy to navigate through. The photographs need to capture the details of one's work and reflect the style and mood of the company. It all has to come together - cohesive and well thought out. Not an easy task. Hopefully, by September I can redo my whole website with everything up-to-date ready for the winter shows in Toronto and Vancouver. Yip-ee.

It's June! And an absolutely insane June if ever there was one. Here is what is on the agenda for me and eikcam
and some other lovelies:

Fab Fair June 5th + 6th at Heritage Hall. All local jewellers and bags and accessories.

Studio move into my new space! Happening now! New floor, new walls and new paint.

New galleries in Ontario have placed orders! Hooray! Need my two assistants back in the studio :)

studioshop Saturday June 26th and Sunday June 27th - 11 to 5pm at 965 Vernon Drive - a collective of artists in the Mergatroid building who include laura mckibbon, su foster, heyday design, dahlhaus, karin jones and bronsino. We are all super excited about our first summer studio sale as a collective and hope to have another come September.

open house + studio warming + film night June 26th and 27th - 11 to 5pm ( films will start after the open house in the evening )
In conjuction with studioshop, eikcam is inviting friends to an open house to christen the new space. I will have a small spread of appys and wine to share.
I am even more excited to screen some local films and animations from up and coming film makers and animators alike. A former grad mate from Emily Carr who has gone on to win awards at some huge film festivals will be screening his animation - super duper excited about that!!
Hope to see some familiar faces and share a tumbler of wine.

Amidst this craziness, my townhouse is on the market and we've had two open houses already! It's been a chore to keep the place clean and well maintained but I am hoping it will be sold soon. Need all the good vibes possible sent over in this direction. Too excited about the next place I would like to buy... fingers crossed.

Then there is July...

nouveau simple

2010-06-01T00:23:00.000-07:00

Another Portobello market past. And it was the best ever! I decided to change up my spot and display this market past and I'm so glad I did. I made the layout slightly simpler and had my wall pillows on focus. I sold out of them - so the new visuals and layout must have done its job.

I looove styling products and using old props to make things pop and lead the eye to focal points. I've been all over Canada, Asia and Europe as a visual stylist for not only trade shows and showrooms, but also for lifestyle photography, boutiques and hotels.
Soon, I will be offering visual and art direction for product photography, show display & also branding - all at an affordable price range for the artisan/designer. This is a venture that has already taken off behind the scenes, but in the next few months I will have a roster of artisans that are going to be my guinea pigs and if all goes well, I will be on the market with this service.

Did I mention all the new peeps I met at the market? Well, here goes:

MIMI - a European designer who makes the most well-designed, stylish baby and kids accessories. And beautiful skirts and tunics that are too-die-for. { She will be a feature artist in the eikcam studio during the studio sale }
black drop designs - very picturesque and very east van imagery in resin jewellery. so charming.
{ Another feature artist at the eikcam studio on Sunday June 27th- yay! }
tall buildings - capes and all the superkid adornments by Heather. The robot is of course, my favorite.
{ Oh, tall buildings may be in da house during the sale as well. }

flying the coup

2010-05-06T19:49:00.000-07:00

eikcam is going through so much change at the moment. The very first major change is my little studio will no longer be a part of my daily routine. 'I am moving on up' as the Jeffersons say. It's a well-deserved move and much needed!

Stay tooned for a wine and appy open house announcement.

You, yes you, and your lovelies are invited.

I will still be at the Mergatroid, so the move won't be too crazy. I'm super excited to get the space re-done and configured for a productive and fun and happy year. Well, the year is pretty much booked up to prepare for the Christmas shows. That doesn't sound like fun, but I always try to make it so.

les buttons

2010-05-06T19:12:00.000-07:00

Oh May, oh my! It's May and it will be summer so very soon. I can't wait for lazy beach picnics and island hopping. Ahh!

I have a ceramic artist friend and her darling daughter from Montreal visiting for the summer. We connected through the OOAK show this past spring and her work is incredibly exquisite with an edge. Check out her work here. Can't wait to see you two.

That was a slight tangent. But I'm super excited about it.

Anyway, back to business, I have tons of buttons that I will be uploading to my etsy shop. I've been getting requests since last year to sell them online and I have clients coming back to Portobello every month to purchase them. I love making them. I have new designs in the works and custom orders for them from Ontario. I better get to work.

new york, top ten

2010-04-13T18:26:00.000-07:00

In four short days, I managed to fit in a lot off my to do list. But even staying a month in previous years, I had only covered a tiny blip on my list. I was excited to discover new places in different boroughs and more amazing places to eat. I miss New York already!

Here are my top ten:
1. Jonathan Adler in Soho. My heaven of housewares and happiness.
2. Anthropolgie in the Village (and everywhere). Clothes that are pretty and pretty.
3. The Cupping Room in Soho. Breakfast all day in the oldest cafe in New York.

4. P.J. Clarkes in the Upper East Side. For the freshest, most amazing oysters!!!

5. Cog & Pearl on Fifth in Brooklyn. Local, handmade ceramics & jewellery & prints & lovely things.

6. Brooklyn bridge. Nice view of the skyline and a chillaxin walk.

7. Pace Wildenstein in Chelsea. Amazing exhibtions - Joseph Beuys' sculptures and photography on now.

8. Central Park. Grab a coffee and a friend. Walk. Breathe.

9. Moma in the Upper East. The shop is an industrial designer's paradise. The museum so awesome.

10. Marie Belle in Soho. Tea & Chocolate. Too gorgeous to eat. Nom, nom.

new yoke

2010-04-12T09:29:00.000-07:00

A short jaunt over to the shiny, big apple right after a very long show was just what I needed. The city is still super exuberant and crazy and intense with energy and the heat! There was a heat wave last week and temperatures got to 32 degrees celsius! That's a hot, hot day in Vancouver in the dead of summer. Anyway, it was nice to have the sun shine down on our new pretty dresses that we needed to purchase at Anthropologie. My favorite store to shop for new threads.

Our hotel, the Empire, was just a hop, skip and jump away from Central Park so we made full use of that. The cherry blossoms were in bloom and there were fit, New Yorkers jogging about and of course, the fresh scent to horse poop.
But, I digress, the park is another favorite spot of mine to walk and chat with a friend (thanks Nikki) or have a picnic lunch and people watch.
Can't wait to go back. It's been 5 years since my last trip, I hope it's 5 months until my next.

thank you

2010-04-12T09:12:00.000-07:00

My trip to Toronto for the One of a Kind Show was a tremendous experience to say the least. First of all, we won best booth and the managers and staff at the show were so supportive and very encouraging. I made some great contacts and ran into several old friends. I couldn't have imagined the appreciative feedback and excitement people had for my wares.

Thanks to all of you who came and visited and to everyone who left very kind words and well wishes. Hope to see you at the OOAK Christmas.

studio sessions

2010-03-26T12:06:00.000-07:00

An amazing photographer and friend took a few shots of me in the studio last week. She has a true gift to

capture a gorgeous light and very natural candids of people. Here is a sprinkling of a few that I love.

My fave of the lot. Thank you Shona for being, well, so good at what you do. Check out her portfolio and work at sweet earth photographics.

Off to Toronto!!

2010-03-26T11:57:00.000-07:00

Wow wow wow! It's been a helleva 3 months at the studio. After being accepted to the OOAK

show in Toronto late in the game (most artisans have been prepping since last August), I ensued

and enlisted a dear friend to rough the kneading seas to this deadline. And we did it!!

Thank you Zoe (& Mag) for the dedication and support!!

Here is what we needed to get done in less than 3 months:

1. Design new pieces to complete our tableware collection.

2. Make new wares - and A LOT of them. This entails not only the making of, but dry time, bisque firing, glazing,glaze firing, re-making mis-fired pieces or re-glazing, and the ever so delicate issue of trying to schedule around other co-op potters for kiln time. Luckily, it's been a relatively smooth ride. Phew.

3. Photography on location of new pieces - and the older ones - for the website and advertising.

4. Plan corner booth ( a prime spot! yes! ) in the signature eikcam style. This challenge was not only limited to the space, but also figuring out what furniture to ship and if it would all fit in a crate.

5. Ah, the crate! Trying to guestimate how many boxes you'll need to fit all the wares you are going make and have on hand is a huge feat. Luckily, my darling fellow Vancouver based artisan friend, Nikki, had a great crate connection.

A custom built crate perfectly suited for my wares and all the other accompaniments - check!

6. Updating profiles on the One of a Kind Show website and my own pages, websites and blogs.

7. Shipping costs and figuring out a deadline date so that it would be in Toronto in time.

8. Planning for a hard wall, lighting, carpet, electricity and storage.

9. New signage, catalogues, postcards, business cards and I don't remember the rest.

10. Last minute pieces to bring with us - like bud vases and buttons - make, fire, glaze and fire. Phew.

All of this in a studio the size of a patio deck. It got very cozy, very quickly. Fun times that I will never forget :)

Now we are off ( Zoe and I ) to the big city of Toronto for 5 amazing days of meeting other artisans, buyers, customers,

and friends and family too. I am calm but really excited about it all.

One of a Kind Spring Show and Sale

Direct Energy Centre

March 31st to April 4th

10am to 9pm

Booth J-41 (Come and say hello!)

website in sight

2010-02-23T02:54:00.000-08:00

Yay! Finally, all my ceramics are up on the website and ready to be seen. The photoshoot
was so much fun to shoot and much thanks goes out to those who helped me organize and prep for each shot. The jewellery should be up by the end of this week - it's not an easy task being maker, photographer, stylist and graphic designer - but it's all the details that I love being involved in.

behind the scenes

2010-02-20T15:44:00.000-08:00

Just a sneak peak into an ongoing photo shoot that never seems to end.

I am on location at my humble abode and thanks to the most amazing studio

lights - Su I love you - the shots are looking good so far.

Also gearing up for the One of a Kind Show in Toronto - with two amazing

assistants in my tiny, tiny studio. The list of endless details grows longer each

day as does the great excitement of my first out of province show. Luckily, I

have a partner in crime who is going to the show with her wacky stationery.

Check out her cheeky cards: Hug and Kiss Designs.

Medina morning

2010-01-23T10:46:00.000-08:00

Twas a lovely sunny Friday morning yesterday and my friend
and I decided to play hooky for a while and headed for a
caramel-raspberry & chocolate lavendar drizzed Belgian waffle.
Everything is made fresh and presented like an art piece. The
service is impeccable and the interior reminds me of chic Soho
lofts in New York. I think we'll be heading back very soon.

Medina Cafe
556 Beatty Street, Vancouver

One of Kind Show Toronto - March 31 to April 4

2010-01-16T00:19:00.000-08:00

Yipee! I just got news that I have been accepted as an artist in One of a
Kind Spring show in Toronto. The jury of organizers and designers not only
squeezed me in for the show, they have also provided a travel scholorship for
me and my little bud vases and little birdies - which are a few pieces that may
be featured - to take part in One of a Kind Toronto.

Check out this One of a Kind Spring show if you are in Toronto March 31 to April 4.
It's a bit of a trek from Vancouver, but well worth it nonetheless.

My favorite hotel in the world (okay minus a few in Paris) is the Drake Hotel
in Toronto. It's on Queen Street West near tres chic galleries and boutiques.
I've stayed here many a times and enjoyed my stay every time. It has g-r-e-a-t
music, eats, rooftop lounge and not to mention the amazing rooms. Super retro
but modern design and furniture made by local artisans. A must stay for just the
experience. I can't wait to head over one night during the show.

olympic fever

2010-01-14T01:34:00.000-08:00

When the 2010 Olympics were announced to take place in this little city, Vancouver, I had no idea how it would affect me directly or indirectly. It's stunning how each path I've taken has lead me to a little jewellery boutique on Granville Island and I will be in the thick of the craziness that will be on the island. Granville Island will be a hub of activities and events like Winteruption, Artisan walking tours and playing host to Francophonies from all over the world.

For a complete list of events during the 2010 Olympics on Granville Island check here.

grassroots wedding fair in january

2010-01-05T15:20:00.000-08:00

It's wedding fair season and at the end of this month I'll be
exhibiting at the first Grassroots Wedding Fair held at
Heritage Hall. A friend of mine is organizing this wonderful
green-friendly event and I have also recruited a dear friend
from Gabriola Island who owns the most exquisite B&B, Jupiter
Ranch. If you are planning a wedding or wanting to have a greener
wedding, you must check out this fair.

The Grassroots Wedding Fair
January 30th Saturday 10:30 to 6pm
Heritage Hall @ 3102 Main Street, Vancouver

women for women, new beginnings

2010-01-02T18:21:00.000-08:00

Another inspiring venture I am taking on is creating awareness of women's rights
in war-torn countries and aiding in their capabilities in making change for
themselves and their families. Through micro lending and sponsorships, these
women can feel empowered with valuable skills and financial support to begin
to rebuild their impoverished circumstances and also contribute to their community.

This past year was an incredible journey of long, long hours and exhaustion but
as the year progressed I made some connections and friendships with some of the
strongest women I've ever met. It has been humbling to work and sell alongside
some of Vancouver's talented artists/designers and I finally feel like I've found my calling.

In a small way to give back, I will design a piece that from its proceeds will go into a
fund to sponsor women in countries like Rwanda and Sudan. Twenty-seven dollars can actually change a person's life for the better.
It's pretty incredible what $27 can do.

Please visit women for women international here for more information on this cause.

holy moly, it's 2010!!

2010-01-02T15:56:00.000-08:00

Happy new year to you and me.

That is my travel companion, Mister Tigre. We met through Feist - yes, the
one and only Canadian songstress. Well, on route to Paris, this little tiger
fell out of her backpack and a friend and I ran to its rescue. As we looked up,
Feist was gone. So, Mister Tigre went all over Paris that spring in '08 and it
was the most meaningful trip to me in many years.

So, that being said, I make a promise to take Mister Tigre to Paris this year -
and I should tag along. I've been lucky enough to have traveled to this city
more than once and every time I go, I experience something magical. Sigh.

Next, place I must visit: Australia. For 30 years, I've not really thought to
head over to our sister country but I'm falling in love with the arts scene
down under. There is a huge handmade arts and crafts scene and lovely shops
dispersed all over the country. Plus, the sweetest music that I discovered last
year - Angus and Julia Stone - hail from there. And so does Xavier Rudd.
And I have a small obsession with visiting Christmas island and dancing
it up with the pink crabs. So, it's another destination I have on my list.

late night merry christmas

2009-12-25T22:05:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to everyone that may come

across this little blog. It has been an inspiring and amazing year

and also, a great Christmas filled with lots of laughter and light.

Until next year...

lovely laura bucci

2009-12-19T00:48:00.000-08:00

I have a new love - this happens at every Portobello - Laura Bucci's
linen pouches and her impeccable detailing to her work. This is fine,
great quality work and not just your ordinary purse/clutch/wallet.
She uses 'indie' fabric that she sources from Europe and creates these
amazing pieces - from cup cozies to textiled buttons. Check out her
work on her etsy page or at www.laurabucci.com. We discovered each
other at last week's Portobello but then realized we are both featured
artists at Dream Designs as well. Very small, creative world.

portobello past december

2009-12-19T00:07:00.000-08:00

The last Portobello of the year. It was a fun year as it was my first year of markets.
I can't believe that it went by so quickly - I met some amazing artists and very loyal customers. The feedback was always positive and plentiful which was definitely
great for the ego. But I learned so much about what people look for in a product
and the usability of each piece. Having an industrial design background, I saw that
people were drawn to certain ergonomics of my tumblers and multi-functionality
of dishes and plates. The new year will bring lots of new designs and pieces.

Thank you for all the support Vancouver & all the attendees of this market.

Hope to see all of you in 2010 ~ here are some snapshots of last week's market.

kimchee cukes

2009-12-18T23:39:00.001-08:00

I love fresh mini cucumbers from local grocers and I had
a hand from my mom making this korean favorite. I know
there are lovers and haters of this normally over-pickled,
fermented side dish. So, this is a fresh, crispy alternative.

First, find fresh, crunchy mini cukes from your local produce
store - I go to the Drive or Granville island - then brine them in
coarse salt & water. Leave refrigerated overnight.

Then for the spicy filling, take fresh chives and chop them into
long strips of about 4 inches. You'll need enough to stuff each cuke.

Time to marinate. Everything is by eye here so, adjust to your own taste.
Add dried chili powder, lots of minced garlic, salt, freshly grated ginger,
soy sauce and sesame seeds to the chives. Make sure to wear gloves or
only use a mixing spoon to blend all the ingredients together.

Stuff each cuke and eat! As you store the rest in an air tight container, the
pickling process continues. I like them when they are super fresh but a few
days will blend all the flavours nicely.

Dreamy December

2009-12-09T10:47:00.001-08:00

Dream Designs - the local go-to boutique for organic clothing, bedding
and locally made accessories - is going Green for Christmas! They have
featured my Christmas ornaments and my ceramic rings on their site.

I love walking into the Commercial Drive location - it smells so natural
and the staff are tremendous. I always find something I love there.
While I'm there, I always drop by next door, Panne Vero for a latte
and a breakfast bun. Kelly, the owner and all of the staff are a delight!

Visit Dream Design:
956 Commercial Drive, Vancouver
193-1277 Lynn Valley Road, North Vancouver
1502 Marine Drive, West Vancouver

My little interview on the CBC

2009-11-30T16:31:00.000-08:00

The long silence at the beginning captures the 'live' sounds inside and outside the studio. The interview actually starts at about 0:17 and it's sans intro or ending. It's so strange to hear what my voice sounds like as a listener. I can even hear a bit of a lisp. But I digress ... as an avid CBC listener, I was thrilled to bits and extremely humbled.
What are your thoughts on my interview?

CBC Radio One Interview - NXNW

2009-11-18T18:27:00.000-08:00

Yesterday morning, I had Anna from the CBC and
her intern, Ginger, a grade ten student come to my
studio and interview me for a local arts radio show
for the Eastside Culture Crawl. Ginger was the one
who conducted the interview and wow! was she ever
well-spoken and well researched. All the questions
were great and hopefully, my answers will be somewhat
coherent. Thanks to Anna and Ginger!! Hope to see you
at the Crawl.

Check out the interview - if you are a morning person - this
Saturday, Nov 21 from 6 - 9am on North by Northwest, CBC Radio One.

Eastside Culture Crawl 2009 Nov 20 - 22

2009-11-11T11:31:00.001-08:00

It's that time again...to open up our studios to the public
who come from far and wide. This year is the 13th annual
and it's my second Crawl. Last year's Crawl was awesome with
over 10,000 people popping in and out of more that 300 studios.

Come out and visit the Mergatroid (965 Vernon Drive) and if you
are quick to my studio, I'll have home baked coconut-chocolate
cupcakes with some warm tea.

Back to the studio!!

artsy!dartsy! feature

2009-10-08T11:34:00.000-07:00

There are so many awesome artsy sites based in Vancouver, artsy!dartsy! being
one of them. They are featuring some local Etsy artisans and have included
my ficus leaf necklace. It's a great design and arts event site - all Vancouver based.

Check it out here.

salty goodness

2009-10-03T01:37:00.000-07:00

While a long lost friend was visiting with me last month, we checked out
Salt, a cheese & wine tasting room located on Blood Alley in the DTES.

We tried some fantastic Danish blue cheese with other bits of nutty goodness
along with delish salami from Oyama while sipping on local BC wine.
The atmosphere was super casual and the interior was minimal modern.
Salt is a great spot for catching up with old friends in the most unusual yet
intriguing location in Vancouver.

birthday past

2009-10-03T01:23:00.001-07:00

Two snapshots of Vancouver's exquisite skyline taken on my birthday ten minutes
apart on a friend's balcony. Amazing how something so vast can change so drastically.

dasik color hues

2009-09-21T14:24:00.000-07:00

My little dasik salt dish has inspired a dear friend's bedroom

wall color. It's a creamy hyacinth glaze that fires milky on the

clay body I like to use. I love how she is inspired by fellow artists

and her amazing devotion to the arts.

Check out her blog here olaladesign.

summer's end, fall beginnings

2009-09-21T13:00:00.000-07:00

it's already the end of the summer. in fact, the official start of fall is

tomorrow. eikcam is taking part of the fall market place at poppytalk handmade this month. The theme this fall is called Mixed Tape and runs Sept 21 to Oct 16.

a lesson in botany on poppytalk handmade

2009-08-16T14:26:00.000-07:00

It's back to school so very soon and the good folks at poppytalk

are featuring some cool new handmade items in their market.

Some of my jewelry and a sprinkle of ceramics will be featured

as well. Check out the new market here.

handmade on apartment therapy

2009-07-29T15:31:00.000-07:00

My tea tumblers were mentioned in a post on apartment therapy - SF!
Above is one of my favorite ceramic artists, take me homeware. We are
both featured on this blog and are part of poppytalk handmade housewares market.
Check out ATSF here.

poppytalk handmade market - buying handmade

2009-07-22T11:39:00.000-07:00

One of the leading blogs of the handmade movement is poppytalk and
vancouver is very lucky to be home to this blog and market. The new
Handmade and Vintage housewares market has begun and will continue
to Aug 15th. Check out the online artisan market here.

Poppytalk has a post today about 70 reasons to buy handmade and my little
tumbler has been included in the feature - along with 69 other artisans.
It's an insightful look into the movement towards local and handmade goods.

summer berries - part one

2009-07-16T10:40:00.000-07:00

summer is berry season and what a great way to support local farmers and spend
time with friends in fields of berries - in this case, ruby red raspberries! my
dear friend, eva and I and her little kiddies spent time at krause brothers' farm
picking these plump, juicy berries for a morning and came back with a few flats.

little hands and berries are always a great photo op.

summer time tunage

2009-07-16T10:27:00.000-07:00

jaga jazzist is all about summer and outdoor music. they are a 10 member,
norwegian, alternative jazz group. I guess our canadian counterpart is
broken social scene - with vocals. check out JJ at their myspace here.

front page & summer time gifts

2009-07-08T10:37:00.000-07:00

Felicia from fluffyflowers congratulated me on making the front page with my
little bud robin's egg vases - but I missed it this time. Luckily, craftcult had a
vault of the recent front page. It's a great site for Etsy users!

I was perusing the gift guides on Etsy last night and saw my
garden party necklace in the summer fashion section. It sold
right away and I've listed a few more. Etsy is too good to me =)

for the love of cute

2009-07-06T09:14:00.000-07:00

My little robin's egg vases are featured over at f or the love of cute today.
It is the cutest blog about all things cute - just what life is all about.
Thanks Anna!

garden party

2009-07-03T10:37:00.000-07:00

These new creations are inspired by - wait for it - a garden party -
circa 1940's in a small town near Kyoto, Japan. The motif is a
vintage Japanese glass cab and so far, they have had a warm
welcoming. These necklaces can soon be found at Gigi B in the
Net Loft on Granville Island. Gigi B is my favorite boutique in
Vancouver and they offer some exquisite, high end handmade gifts
and jewelry. Check out the store if you are on Granville island.

Gigi B
1663 Duranleau Street
Granville Island

je vous manque, paris

2009-07-03T00:09:00.000-07:00

These little, melt-in-your-mouth caramels were in the mailbox
today all the way from Paris. The box was a bit dented and the
wrapping torn, but the most delectable bonbons were in perfect
gooey form. You can order these from parispastrylab on etsy.
I miss Paris, dearly. These bring a little bit of Paris to home.

poppy madness

2009-07-02T20:57:00.001-07:00

It's summer's flower of the moment and one of my favorite
in the garden. The red oriental poppy. As a design element,
it can be bold and gorgeous or simple and modern.
(Above is Vinyl Wall Art - Poppies Swirl by janeymacpress)

Here are some of my fave etsy designs:

poppy merino wool slippers by wooly baby

poppy and turquoise swing - handmade earrings by PoPkO

lake tahoe-original map painting by rachelaustin

little poppy bowl by PrinceDesignUK

poppy teapot by dahlhaus (one of my studio mates)

trio by labokoff

gratitude and goodness

2009-06-29T21:52:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who came out to Portobello on the weekend =)
Every month I meet some amazing peeps - new and regulars - and it's
the best part of being at the market. Come out to the next market
for new designs and new wares, July 26th, noon to 6pm.

*Mention this blog post and you'll get a special eikcam gift with your purchase
at the next market =) (Hint - It will be yummy and chocolatey)

more great tunes

2009-06-29T21:38:00.000-07:00

Marcus Foster makes my heart melt. He is yet another great musician from our
motherland and his new EP has just been released on itunes. His vocals are raspy
yet warm and have a soulful funk to them. Check out his tunes on his myspace.

ooh la la

2009-06-18T21:54:00.000-07:00

olala design is a local accessories designer made by Cecile. We recently met at Fab
Fair a few weekends ago and found out we are practically neighbours! She has
graciously mentioned my work on her blog and she is the sweetest thing =) I do have
an affinity for anything or anyone French as it has a great influence on my work.

Check out her blog and her etsy page for the cutest accessories. The necklace above
is my fave. I love the color combo and the mixing of textures.

Thanks for the kind words, Cecile and I wish I could fit in your suitcase as you go
away to France.

modern day audrey

2009-06-10T13:19:00.000-07:00

This is my dear friend and personal jewelry model, Casey. I couldn't put
my finger on who she reminded me of. At first, I thought she was the
alter ego of Jane March, a French actress. But then I saw the resemblance
to Audrey Hepburn and Casey also has aura and elegance of this legendary
actress - most of the time =) Thank you lovely, Casey.

These are my new botanical earrings on handmade sterling silver
posts. I like these earrings for everyday and I have all colors
for different outfits.

olala treasury on etsy

2009-06-10T13:08:00.000-07:00

Olala design has featured my peach shiso dish in this lovely treasury
on etsy. Thank you Cecil =) Looking forward to collaborating our
designs together.

fab fab fab fair!

2009-06-10T12:19:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, eikcam took part at fab fair held at heritage hall.
It was great to meet fellow local jewellery artists/accessories and
the range of jewellery was amazing. Thanks to all of you who came
out to support the local jewelry scene!

I really enjoy meeting other local artists and call me naive, but I like to genuinely
support and promote local culture and the arts - even it it's in the same medium
or craft. Since leaving my corporate career, I've encountered some distasteful
opposition in the art world. There is a lot of 'putting down' and accusations and it's
all in the name of self promotion. Of course, promoting one's work is key to good
marketing, but leave the bitter comments aside. What's your take or view on this?
Anyway, I digress.

I met some amazing gals at the fair. All jewelry makers.
And we all got along. Fancy that. =)
Here are some of their gorgeous lines. Check out Vancouver's best:

eloi - classic and elegant creations by megan. I love her silhouettes on wood.
ginger pottin - bold and modern enamel work by ginger.
olala design - pretty pins and accessories by cecile. she's from france. enough said.
su foster - fine silver pieces by su. very delicate and lovely presentation.
howling dog - a vancouver institution! christine's work has been shown all over for many many years. her work is glittery and glam.

nancy esworthy - elegant and modern work - must check out her work at the next fab fair!
jewels by jenn - a salon owner, clover earthkind hair salon, who's pieces are gorgeous!
and
affera cosmetics - wonderful mineral make-up that is kind to the skin.

car free day on june 14th

2009-06-10T12:09:00.000-07:00

it's that time of year again - car free day in vancouver! come out
to celebrate a day free of cars on Main, Commercial and in the West End.
There will be local vendors, musicians and performers in each area. Let's
hope for great weather.

feature on fellow etsy blog

2009-06-03T15:33:00.000-07:00

paper and pearls has featured my work on her blog today =)
Thank you for the lovely interview and great support!
Check out the feature here.

well, hello june

2009-06-03T12:05:00.000-07:00

May just flew by it seems! Now, it's time for weddings and festivals.
These tableware pieces have been popular for wedding and house
warming gifts. Currently, I am working away at two custom orders
for large settings as wedding gifts. Dinner settings, vases and pitchers
are great gifts as they are well used and a focal point on the table.

For any custom order inquiries, please email me. I'd be happy to work
with specific color themes and sizes.

fab fair @ heritage

2009-05-09T09:56:00.000-07:00

Come out to the 5th annual Fab Fair at the Heritage Hall on Main Street.
It will be showcasing all local jewelry & bag designers, including yours
truly, June 6th Sat and 7th Sun, 11am to 5pm.

little fiddle to big fiddle

2009-05-06T22:34:00.000-07:00

My little obsession for fiddleheads is partly due to my childhood memories
of watching my mother and grandmother harvesting and preparing them for
delicious pan-jan, a Korean side dish. Mostly, I adore how they gently unfurl
their little pods and stretch out their leaves to become delicate ferns.

On the weekend, Sylvie Milman, painter & Tammy Hudgeon, glass artist, held
an art exhibit and we had the most delightful pleasure to witness the genious of
Corbin Keep - a cellist who improvised to each art piece while viewers moved
about or listened with interest. The highlight of the show was when he asked to
play to my fiddlehead necklace. I was so delighted and his improvisation was
amazing. Thank you Sylvie for hosting such an innovative exhibit with your
glass artist twin, Tammy.

follow the path

2009-05-06T17:59:00.000-07:00

A quiet moment at last. Well, my darling friend, Casey did make it hard
to keep a straight face, but I managed to keep a steady hand for a few
moments.

it's raining art & culture

2009-05-06T17:48:00.000-07:00

What a weekend it was on Gabriola! A double shot of an art exhibition,
a brilliant cellist, boutique style accommodations, gourmet island cuisine,
fantastic company among local artists and my own little group exhibit at Slice.

Whew.

travel back home

2009-05-06T17:14:00.000-07:00

My ferry ride home from the island usually leaves me sad to return to
city life but the views of the expansive water and sky remind me that I will
soon return.

dasik tea tumbler

2009-04-18T21:56:00.000-07:00

my little dasik tumblers made it to the front page of etsy today!
I was delighted to see my bud vases in a treasury, but my tumblers
made it to the front page. Hurray! I've had over 1000 hits on it and
a lot of requests for special orders. Thanks Etsy!!

two little towboats by the shore

2009-04-18T14:30:00.000-07:00

I could barely keep my eyes open because it was so windy this day.
But I would happily freeze in the wind to take in the island air and
enjoy a moment alone along the sandstone shores.

tweeting robin's egg vase

2009-04-18T14:23:00.000-07:00

My little Robin's Egg Bud vases made it into a treasury on Etsy.
It sold right away... but there is another listing for them =)
Thanks to dedeetsyshop for picking them for her collection.

'arbutus trees bending down to the shore'

2009-04-09T00:46:00.000-07:00

When I took this photograph, I instantly thought about Hey Ocean! and their
song 'Wise'. It's the quintessential island song and it embodies all the elements
of being on the west coast. This trail is off of Drumbeg Park on Gabriola Island
and it has flat beds of sedimentary rocks that are amazing to walk on.

Another naturally formed heart I saw along the beach at Berry Point.
Do I look for hearts or do they look for me? I have so many of them.

A spontaneous visit to an injured turkey - poor thing - lead us to this vast ranch
right on this small, little island. It was breathtaking. It almost reminded me
of the Okanagan - which I am missing right now with the chilly weather.
Can't wait for the hot, dry summer heat and copious wine tasting.

a week full of art

2009-04-08T18:11:00.000-07:00

I was fortunate enough to visit a few artist's studios on Gabriola through my dear
friend, Sylvie - who is also a talented painter herself. She will be having her first
exhibition with fellow artist, Tammy Hudgeon - an extraordinary glass artist. The show will be at Jupiter Ranch May 3rd from noon to 4pm and I will be there welcoming the guests!
Here is a peek at Tammy's studio on the island.

portobello west market...looking back

2009-04-08T17:46:00.000-07:00

This was my very first market at Portobello West a couple weeks ago. And I will be
a permanent fixture here every last Sunday of each month! My darling friend, Denise, took these photos for me and will be receiving some Dasik mugs in return =)

looking ahead to Portobello in April

2009-03-30T22:06:00.000-07:00

What a great spring launch of Portobello West this weekend.
(That's me trying not to be photographed) Thank you Denise, who
was the official photographer of the weekend =)

A lot more photos and updates to come - just a quick note to all the lovely
artisans I met over the weekend: it was great to meet all of you -
christina norberg, Cocoa Nymph, Opulence, chloeangus, inkspoon and
bijoux de monde!

** hey christina, I like your ginkgo necklace =) thank you for the lovely trade. I have your piece right by my door. See you next market!

georgia straight - portobello market prize pack

2009-03-26T00:45:00.000-07:00

Enter online at Georgia Straight to win a contest prize pack featuring Portobello Market artisans, including a mounted photograph by eikcam design - that's me!
The photograph will be a 12x12, wood mounted print of Arbutus, Ruckle Park.
Contest deadline is this Friday! Good luck!!

Portobello Market - this weekend!!

2009-03-25T11:13:00.000-07:00

The spring launch of Portobello Market is this weekend,
Sat and Sun, 12noon to 6pm. Come out to see Vancouver's
talented designers/artists, including yours truly.

These pressed ceramic rings have been incredibly popular so far
and I've been making more and more. They will be with me at
Portobello this weekend... grab them while they're in stock!

on the drive with sam bradley

2009-03-25T10:33:00.000-07:00

on my quest to immerse myself in great local music, i ventured off last week
to sam bradley. He played a melodic show at the grandview legion - his ballad, sea
blue, was my fave as it showed off his warm vocals. The show itself was energetic
and buzzing with much excitement. a lively show to check out!

ceramics & photography

2009-03-20T00:33:00.000-07:00

eikcam.com is almost, almost done... all of my current work can
be viewed under the ceramics and photography sections.
check it out and stay tuned for the jewelry and bio links very soon.

angus+julia

2009-03-14T12:39:00.000-07:00

the aussie brother-sister duo, angus and julia stone played a gig at
richards a few nights ago - and they were a m a z i n g! in such an
intimate venue, we could sense their true honest approach to their
music. julia stone has a sweet and engaging vocal style as well as
the talented, angus. they are on tour now and will be returning to
vancouver in april!

eikcam is live... almost

2009-03-06T13:49:00.000-08:00

After days of photoshoots, editing and crazy hours, eikcam.com
is almost complete! the splash page gives a general feel to what is
to come. The most talented, Mia has graciously taken on this project
and I hope to have the site up in the next few weeks.

a loving spoonful needs bowls

2009-03-02T19:28:00.000-08:00

A fellow co-op artist, Lise Kuhr, mentioned that A Loving Spoonful
was in need of bowls for their Project Empty Bowl Gala. I had a
chance to speak to the Wendy, the chair of the committee and
she noted that she is in need of 200 more bowls. I had only this
one to donate but plan to make a handful more.

Please let me know if you have a handmade bowl you would like
to donate. The cut-off date is the end of April and all proceeds will
help feed people living with HIV/AIDS in Greater Vancouver.

fresh out of the kiln

2009-03-02T18:44:00.000-08:00

These pastel buttons and pastry pendants were just unloaded
from the kiln - all warm and ready to be shipped out. it's amazing
to see the variations of each glaze on different clays. Since the pastry
mold I use is an antique itself, each pendant lends a vintaged feel.

While I was glazing away, I noticed this heart in my glaze. I see a lot
of hearts in everyday shapes. Perhaps this is a sign of sorts.

under the bridge

2009-02-27T11:10:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, a bunch of us and all the kidlets
ventured out into the rain to celebrate winterruption
on granville island. It was amazing to see young artists'
work and performances all over the island.

We stopped by the emily carr gallery to view art work painted by
kids from China. We also had a sneak peak at some traditional Chinese
dancers practicing in the concourse. (So lovely to see you Lorinda!)

sweet little buds

2009-02-16T12:54:00.000-08:00

my dearest friend eva brought some cheery daffodils
to my studio the other day. i put one stem into my mini
bud wall vase and voila! a perfect marriage. thank you
for bringing some cheer into the studio =)

happy love day!

2009-02-14T14:04:00.000-08:00

i gave my first 'boyfriend' jewelry workshop over
the past few weeks. well, actually, it was all my friend, clay's
idea to custom design and make a pendant for his sweetheart
for valentines. what a darling! so, after a few lessons and hard
filing, a thoughtful and gorgeous piece of jewelry was born.

if you are interested in a boyfriend or girlfriend workshop, email
me with the details and we can get started =)

a new dreamy home

2009-02-12T14:54:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite local stores will be carrying a full
selection of the eikcam jewelry collection.
Dream Designs carries locally made eco-friendly textiles
using sustainable fabrics in earthy tones - a lovely match
with my jewelry pieces. Dream Designs is located on
Commercial Drive in Vancouver and on Lynn Valley Road
in North Van.

new old website

2009-01-31T12:44:00.000-08:00

my very old site, eikcam.com is being revamped to a new and complete
site with all new photographs and most of my work. pictured above is my
2006 home page - these were my own limited skills on dreamweaver. i am
now working with a fellow emily carr designer to streamline a simple site.
eikcam.com should be complete by the end of february 2009.

cocoa fever

2009-01-31T11:59:00.000-08:00

mink is a local chocolate cafe that serves its organic
chocolate in espresso drinks and fondues. Plus, they carry
a selection of decadent bars and bon bons that use unique
ingredients from around the world. if you are chocoholic,
a visit to mink is a must!

the eerie fog

2009-01-29T00:42:00.000-08:00

we've had some thick fog in these past weeks in vancouver and it's been
lovely to shoot during the early mornings. one could barely see the city or
the water - just a soft haze of shapes and light.

shows and shops

2009-01-16T13:02:00.000-08:00

i will be taking part in Portobello market in Vancouver beginning in
March. Hurray! My jewelry, photography and ceramics will be on display.
Come out to support local designers and artists.
The market spring opening is March 28 and 29 - Noon to 6pm.

my first gallery!

2009-01-15T12:02:00.000-08:00

my collection of dasik ceramics and photography are now at Slice of Life, Silva
Bay, Gabriola Island. Maarten, one of the owners, has been a delight to work with
and we are planning to collaborate on glass/ceramic pieces in the near future.

If you are on the island, do drop by the gallery and check out his vibrant and
thought provoking paintings and the collection of local art.

warm beginning to 2009

2009-01-14T23:08:00.000-08:00

after a lovely jaunt over to gabriola for new years, i attended
an intensive 10-meditation retreat at a Buddhist nunnery. what
an empowering and centering experience to start the new year
here. the generosity and pure compassion that was offered to
all of us women was such a wonderful gift. thank you and much
metta to all of the nuns, servers and women that I met and made
connections with.

a few more days, 2009

2008-12-28T13:33:00.000-08:00

drip, drip drip goes my nose...but i am dreaming about
gabriola. it's been an incredible year and i'll be bringing
in 2009 on the water's edge alongside my mates.

christmas on etsy

2008-12-27T21:08:00.000-08:00

a lovely surprise for christmas - i made it to the front page
of etsy! it was by chance an etsy user picked my photograph
for this collection of art. what a delightful and complete surprise =)

new ware

2008-12-20T11:18:00.000-08:00

current dasik pieces which i am feverishly working on.

{dasik - pronounced dah-sheek - are korean pastries that
are pressed into carved molds and served with a lovely tea.
the mold that I have been using was found in a flea market
just outside of seoul when i was 16. it is a vintage mold
from the early 1900's but has been replicated in other countries.}