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neat and trim

I love ribbon trim on drapery. It seems to add that extra bit of tailoring and definition that turns the standard into the sublime.

Isn’t it interesting that something so simple can make all the difference?

And why is it that certain design classics - like ribbon trimmed drapery panels - always look current?

Questions to ponder as you get inspired….

Ribbon trim is a great way to add colour and character to a solid drapery panel or roman blind without going crazy with colour and pattern.

If you are going to add it to an existing panel, be sure to buy washable ribbon (some isn’t) and don’t go too skimpy - it should be at least 1.5 inches wide.

There you have it ~ another reason to ‘get trim’ this spring! (sorry, I couldn’t help myself)

very merry Marimekko

I’m a fan of Marimekko prints and thought I’d do a little primer for anyone unfamiliar with this iconic company.

Marimekko is a Finnish company based in Helsinki that has made important contributions to fashion, especially in the 1960s and 1970s. It is particularly noted for its brightly-colored, graphic printed fabrics and simple styles.

Look at this restaurant in Helsinki with Marimekko tablecloths…

Marimekko was founded in 1951. They were made famous in the United States by Jacqueline Kennedy, who bought eight Marimekko dresses which she wore throughout the 1960 US Presidential campaign.

In the mid 1960’s, Crate and Barrel began a relationship with Marimekko, which continues to this day, using their designs on textiles sold in their stores. Crate and Barrel also uses Marimekko patterns as display backdrops in their stores to add color and seasonality.

By 1965, the company employed over 400 people, and was into every aspect of design from fabrics to toys, dinnerware, even completely equipped small houses. That year, the owner was quoted in a magazine as saying she was “against success–it is a sick word. Too many side effects.”

Interesting foreshadowing as the company was sold in 1985, and by the1990s, Marimekko was in such bad financial condition it was considered ready for bankruptcy which is the reason many people are unfamiliar with it today. It was eventually sold again and re-introduced with a new business model. The current company is generally seen as having saved Marimekko.

In the late 90’s Marimekko achieved publicity in the hit series Sex and the City. The main character of the series, Carrie Bradshaw wore a Marimekko bikini in season 2 and later a Marimekko dress. In the fifth season they featured tablecloths with Marimekko prints. The power of tv!

By 2005, Marimekko’s revenue had been quadrupled and it’s net income had grown 200-fold.

Smartly, they’ve licensed their designs to some very hot companies like Fatboy bean bag chairs…

Here is a swimsuit at H&M…

In 2007, Marimekko began opening individually-owned Marimekko Concept Stores in the United States and Canada. There is only one concept store in Canada unfortunately - lucky Vancouver gets it! At the end of this blog I’ve listed it, plus all of the other retailers in Canada who deal in Marimekko products.

All you really need is a yard of this great fabric to see it’s impact - I love the simplicity of stretching it over a frame like art…

Or made into a pillow like this one for sale on Etsy…

The current popularity of Marimekko is not only a good-news business story, but in my opinion, another indicator that the world is ready for exciting colour and pattern again.

Concept Store

MARIMEKKO CONCEPT STORE VANCOUVER MEKKO DESIGNS INC., 1233 HAMILTON STREET VANCOUVER V6B 6K3, BRITISH COLUMBIA Tel: +1 604 609 2881

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http://www.marimekkovancouver.com

Other Retailers

KIT INTERIOR OBJECTS LTD. 725 11 AVE SW CALGARY, ALBERTA Tel: +1 403 508 2533 Fax: +1 403 508 2538

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http://www.kitinterior.com

FINNPORT INC. 290 BAY STREET THUNDER BAY ON, P7B 1R8 Tel: +1 877 206 3466 Fax: +1 807 344 3604

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http://www.finnport.com

THE FINNISH PLACE 7670 YONGE STREET, #1 THORNHILL, ONTARIO L4J 1W1 Tel: +1 416 222 7575 Fax: +1 905 881 1950

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http://www.finnishplace.com

DESIGNHOUSE 1110 MAINLAND STREET VANCOUVER, BC V6B 2T9 Tel: +1 604 681 2800 Fax: +1 800 870 4433

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http://www.designhouse.ca

DESIGNHOUSE 616 YATES ST. VICTORIA BC, V8W 1K9 Tel: +1 604 681 2800 Fax: +1 250 383 3569

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http://www.designhouse.ca

see you at the fleas!

SPRING FLEA MARKETING

Last week I was on ChumFM with Marilyn Denis, here’s what we talked about and a link to the voice clip.

Spring is the best time of year to get out to garage sales and flea markets. Just be sure not to bring home more junk! My personal test before I buy is to ask myself - do I know where I will put this the minute I get home? If I can answer yes, I can have it. If I don’t know, I pass (or try to at least!).

Here are a couple of tips from my many experiences flea marketing:

• Be comfortable - wear layers, comfy shoes and a small over-shoulder handbag with a water bottle in it and reading glasses if you need them, cash and cheque book. You want your hands to be free.

• Dress down - this is not glamorous work girls, forget the fancy clothes and jewellery. You want to be able to climb over dust bunnies to get the best buy and haggle for it once you’ve found it (hard to do in diamond earrings )

• Big Wheels - the best deals happen at the spur of the moment and when you can take it off the dealers hands right then and there. This is not the day to take the little car.

• Haggle - I know it’s not the Canadian way, but the truth is, many dealers don’t really know what price to put on something - they’ve taken a shot in the dark if it isn’t a known collectible. So tell them what you’d pay for it - you might be surprised.

• Go late, don’t go home - I’ve often swung a deal near the end of the day (especially at shows). Dealers are human - and tired by the end of a long day. They may take your price just so they don’t have to load it back up.

• Go together - If you’re out with a friend and find a few things - put them together and barter for them as a group. Volume has buying power!

• Think of others - Many people don’t think of gift shopping at flea markets - do they worry that it’s tacky to give something used? I don’t. I would love to receive a collectible or great old whatchamacallit as a gift. In fact, it’s often more personal. I look for items with initials for people I know or items from places they grew up or just something beautiful - a gorgeous crystal vase is just as good 100 years later - in fact, often better. My latest thing is collecting old Molson’s “50” memorabilia - trays, bottle openers - it works great at 50th birthday parties. Am I showing my age?

Here are some of my favourite spots to hit around the GTA. It’s a good excuse to get outa town this spring…

WEST

Southworks Antiques mall in Cambridge

Aberfoyle Antique market

St. Jacob’s Antique market

Market Road Antiques, St. Jacob’s

EAST

Antiques at the Barn in Fowlers Corners near Peterborough

Main Thru Church Antique Mall in Orono

Legacy Vintage Building Materials and Antiques

NORTH

Cookstown Antiques Market

Or check out www.antiquesincanada.com for shows all over Canada like the Christie Antique Show on May 29th and Flamboro Antique shows.

Write and tell us some of your favourite haunts. Happy Hunting!

easter eggs

Happy Easter Monday.

I think I’ve talked before about how I have a thing for birds, bird eggs and nests - some sunny day I’ll take some pictures and show them to you.
I put some of them away over the winter but when Easter arrives, I let them hatch all over the house again.

If you have a particular motif that you like, it’s a great way to personalize your home. And one of the best places to search for fun and interesting art and accessories is a site called Etsy. I’m sure many of you know it, but for those who don’t, it’s an amazing site, kind of like Ebay (without the bidding) but it focuses on one-of-a-kind, handmade objects. Etsy’s mission statement is: “to enable people to make a living making things, and to reconnect makers with buyers”. Pretty cool.

Here’s a selection of things I found when I searched my beloved bird eggs….

This is a lovely little print of an original acrylic painting on canvas. It measures 7” x 7” and is for sale by the artist for $12.50 US (unframed) plus shipping.

If you don’t like the idea of a print, here’s an original oil for sale with the sides of the canvas painted black so you can hang it without framing. It’s 16” x 20”, signed by the artist, and for sale for $135 US.

I love this print….it only measures 5.5” x 7.5” but it comes with a white border so you could frame it a little larger and it’s only $15 US plus shipping of course.

Or how about a beautiful little hand-felted nest to put on your window ledge for $20 US.

And of course, who could resist the jewellery…there’s tons of it. Check out this ring for $34 US.

And I love this necklace that says “little bird” for $16 US.

Or this one for $39 US….

It isn’t too late for the Easter bunny to bring mom some eggs - do you think? All in the name of supporting Art!!