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Art and Design

Giveaway | Penguin Drop Caps

The printed book/e-reader debate can get heated. Those in the pro e-reader camp point to, oh, I don’t know…size or something? Those in the pro-printed book camp, on the other hand, need only point to Penguin’s beautiful covers (which make lovely post cards) and voila! Debate won: people will be turning real pages forever.

Penguin just unveiled their most recent collectible hardcover classics: Penguin Drop Caps, a collaboration with graphic design superstar Jessica Hische (of Daily Drop Cap) beautiful enough to build bookcases around. (Hello Christmas present!)

And you know what? They want to give you the first three of what will be a 26-letter alphabet: Austen, Jane – Pride and Prejudice, Brontë, Charlotte – Jane Eyre, and Cather, Willa – My Ántonia!

How do you enter?

For one entry: Comment on this post and tell us why you love printed books. (Because you can’t take an e-reader into the bath?)
For two entries: Write on The Anthology’s Facebook wall.
For three entries: Holler @TheAnthology on Twitter.

UPDATE: Contest closed. Congratulations Shannon!

December 17, 2012 by

Bookmark | Size Too Small

In The Anthology’s Bookmark column we explore some of the most inspiring places on the wild, wild web.

Clearly I have a thing for blogs based in South Africa. First Miss Moss and now another Cape Town-based lifestyle blog Size Too Small.

It’s edited by Mariah Brightenberg, who runs the stationery and odds and ends shop Selah.

And it’s filled with her favourite new collections, look book excerpts and home decor picks.

Plus bits and pieces from her own lovely life on the other side of the world. So bookmark Size Too Small already and bookmark The Anthology while you’re at it.

[Images from Size Too Small, naturally.]

December 16, 2012 by

Pinstagram | Roses, Pinks and Blues

The Anthology’s Pinstagram column marries the dream (Pinterest) and the reality (Instagram).

In print. A kilim rug I from Pottery Barn and a pink, white and blue dress I wish I could find in store.

Leaves and pages turning. A fall tree on Vancouver’s Granville Street and a new cover for Wuthering Heights, a great read on a cool night.

Heavy petal. Roses and jellybeans from my stop into Rebecca Bree and frosty roses.

Well heeled. My boots from Joe Fresh’s new boot collection (c/o of Joe Fresh) and a fresh fall look.

Tied up. A Mini Saul Bracelet c/o of Sarah Cameron and a classic bikini.

Take a seat. My mid-century modern chair (and much newer cat) and a modern seat.

Cozy up. Vancouver’s newest vegetarian restaurant Heirloom (which I first wrote about here) and a bedspread that looks just as cozy.

The blues. My new vintage table lamp and a cool-hued room.

All that glitters. Strings of lights outside a studio at the Eastside Culture Crawl and blurry glittery prettiness.

P.S. There are more photos where these came from so follow Kelsey Dundon on Instagram and add The Anthology on Facebook.

December 5, 2012 by

Design | Minding my own business (cards)

When I first started Northill, my creative communications company, I cheaped out on printing my business cards. I was just starting out and I was in a rush to get them done so I had them printed digitally on flimsy stock (that’s paper, for those of you who don’t spend your days talking to designers). And I was never, ever proud to hand them out. I should have known better because I’ve spent years with graphic designers who are obsessed with printing techniques. (How many conversations have I had about the joys of embossing and debossing?)

So when it came time to reprint my cards I did it right.

I had them done the old-fashioned way — by letterpress printers Porchlight Press (which I first wrote about here).

And I love them.

Thanks, Sonja and Heather, for all your help!

November 26, 2012 by

Pinstagram | Beachside, Poolside and Roadside Glamour

The Anthology’s Pinstagram column marries the dream (Pinterest) and the reality (Instagram).

Don’t look down. Kauai’s Waimea Canyon is stunningly beautiful (if you’re not afraid of heights) + so is this model, who looks like she’s contemplating her own fear of heights.

Branch out. Trees lining one of Maui’s beaches (those are surfers in the distance) + trees lining a winter road (without any surfers for miles).

Nice weave. A woven beach bag my mom brought back from Mexico in the 1970’s + a woven hairdo that makes me want to grow my hair out.

Deluxe accommodations. When I went to summer camp in Maui as a teenager this was my cabin (which you can now rent) + what I remember most about those nights isn’t the midnight scuba dives (though they were wild) it was how starry the night sky was.

It’s a jungle out there. This was the trail leading through a bamboo forest in Haleakala National Park in Maui + and this appropriately illustrates how dense the forest was.

Birds on a wire. The sugar cane fields in Maui are the coolest + so are these birds.

Cool blues. I spent a day on a catamaran when I was in Maui + this is what I wore. <—That was a complete lie. I wore the dorkiest snorkel gear ever.

P.S. Follow Kelsey Dundon on Pinterest and Instagram, or if you prefer a more traditional route, add The Anthology on Facebook and Twitter.

November 22, 2012 by

Home | Printed Painted Walls

Ever since I saw designer Kelly Wearstler’s hand-painted walls I’ve been dying to get all abstract with a paintbrush.

And now I’m seeing these DIY printed walls pop up all over the place. They’re murals that anyone five years old and up can do. I’ve been too chicken until now, but my hallway is looking awfully bare these days so…

[First image found here, second found here, third found here.]

P.S. If I do paint you better believe I’ll post photos on Facebook so like The Anthology.

November 16, 2012 by

Bookmark | Miss Moss

In The Anthology’s Bookmark column we explore some of the most inspiring places on the wild, wild web.

Graphic designers always have the best blogs. They’re pure scroll-worthy eye candy.

Take Miss Moss, for example.

Edited by Cape Town-based graphic designer Diana Moss, it’s packed with her original photography, fashion picks and — my personal favourite — mood boards, all of which have a simple, yet colourful aesthetic.

Plus, her Cape Town City Guide lists so many cool boutiques it makes me want to go to there.

It’s a lovely glimpse at a creative life on the other side of the world. It’s worth scrolling through again and again. So bookmark Miss Moss  already and bookmark The Anthology while you’re at it.

[Images from Miss Moss of course.]

November 7, 2012 by

Pinstagram | Cher, Dionne and Violet

The Anthology’s Pinstagram column marries the dream (Pinterest) and the reality (Instagram).

La La Land. Two of my favourite things about Los Angeles? LAX and Beverly Hills.

Sweet tooth. A teeny, tiny, and very delicious coconut pudding at Vij’s Restaurant in Vancouver + a teeny, tiny crystallized violet.

Living in textile. A few bright, colourful fabrics I found at my local sewing shop Spool of Thread + a bright, colourful carpet I’d love to have in my dining room.

Hello, halo. Hers is fake. And since mine is a trick of the camera, I suppose my halo is too. (That MINI, I’m driving? MINI Richmond wants to give it to you!)

Art attack. Opening night of Andrew Grassie’s exhibit at Rennie Collection + words worth walking on.

Taking it easy. My two office mates (on the left) are pretty lazy. I can only image how they’ve been slacking since I’ve been on the road for two weeks. Not in Paris and Roma, mind you, but in Kauai, Kona and Maui.

P.S. Follow Kelsey Dundon on Pinterest and Instagram, or if you prefer a more traditional route, add The Anthology on Facebook and Twitter.

November 4, 2012 by

Happy Halloween!

I love any holiday that has its own kitschy, catchy tunes. I can’t wait until it’s time to play Hanson’s Merry Christmas Baby again (who am I kidding — I’ll listen to Hanson any time).

Guess what, fiends! Today is the day I look forward to all year because I finally, shamelessly get to play the Ghostbusters theme song. Again and again. I’m not kidding — I’m goblin it up as I write. It’s all the treat I need. Well, that and this outfit.

But if the thought of putting that song on repeat for 24 hours straight frightens you and you’re wondering witch songs to haunt your neighbours with tonight, may I recommend these spooktacular tunes from the playlist I put together for Vitamin Daily?

It’s creepy and it’s kooky, mysterious and spooky and all together ooky. It’s frightfully ghould!

[First image found here, second image found here, third image found here, fourth image found here.]

P.S. Follow The Anthology on Facebook and Twitter so I can haunt you wherever you are…

October 31, 2012 by

Diary | A one-day MINI Adventure

A sponsored post. 

Owning my own business means every day is an adventure. And right now every day is a…MINI Adventure. So what does that day look like? Well, it all depends, but the other day it started at Perry & Co. where I picked out French gray paint for the stools I upcycled as part of the Vancouver Home and Design Show Upcycle Challenge benefitting Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore.

Then it was off to the new(ish) Splendid store at Pacific Centre to check out the bright, colourful space and pick up a little something cozy c/o Splendid (love the displays they had in store — would make a cool bookshelf DIY, no?).

Then to Nelson the Seagull to meet Courney McGeever who was in from New York to share Lush’s newest line of handmade, animal-friendly, eco-friendly haircare products (in stores in November).

Then to my new favourite fabric shop/sewing studio Spool of Thread to pick up fabric to re-cover those once-ugly stools (not as tough as you’d think — I’ll post a little how-to soon).

Then it was off to pick up my sister in my MINI Roadster (sun’s up, top’s down even in the middle of October — thank you, heated seats!).

And that was only one day. Want to win a year-long MINI Adventure from MINI Richmond? (Of course you do!) Click here to enter to win and up your chances by sharing your entry on Facebook and Twitter @MINIRichmond  (#MINIadventure). Good luck!

October 22, 2012 by