foggy monday

Somehow while biking last night, I caught a glimpse inside a church. It was late in the evening and a Friday night, so seeing an open door with what seemed like a million candles twinkling peaked my interest. It was so amazing. I had to tip toe up the isle, as I had heels on and did not want to disturb anyone. While sitting still on a Friday night, in a church, in Copenhagen...I felt really inspired and full of life. The next morning, I am still filled with the good vibes that I took in last night. If I could describe how I am looking forward to this weekend...it would look like this. Kermit seems so confident. I love it!

I saw some photo's today of Laduree in Paris. I remember going there for the first time five years ago and falling in love with the design of the shop. I am sure the women were so annoyed at how long I took, however they were just as sweet to me and the goodies they sell. Currently I am trying to take a break from indulgent things, sadly chocolate and sugar are on the list. I am looking forward to next week when I will ease some of the sweet stuff back into my diet. For now, I am settling for taking long heavy inhales of chocolate...so sad, but true.

The sound of Billie Holiday's voice is a perfect fit for a grey or rainy afternoon. If I were inside these photograph's I would love to be listening to her, while I waded my through the town. Thankfully Venice has dried up some, never the less...her voice would still fit nicely.

January grey skies are in full effect these days, looking at these pretty popies makes me smile. They are called Anemone Coronaria and perhaps I will be able to find them here in Copenhagen someday soon.

The petulant child within me came alive when I listened to this talk. It took me back to working on Czehoski. The most fun part of that process was crawling around the rafters to take photographs of tin ceiling details, old wallpaper motifs and peek at liquor bottles simply labeled 'very old', all these details would work their way into the design system. Of course dancing atop a flaming bar that was being 'aged' made the play in the process quite enjoyable. Playing in a medium I was not experienced in, was one of the most fun projects I have worked on to date.

Being a person who has been hit by numerous things while biking, I think this idea is so fantastic. Copenhagen has amazing bike lanes, but cites like Toronto could really benefit from something like this. Mayor Miller, I love ya, so why not propose this along with the proposed bike lanes? I would feel much safer biking along the death trap that was Dundas Street with this projected behind me, so the street car passengers, cars, trucks, pedestrians and other bikers could see me. Light lane is super cool and should take over North America, perhaps then a few more people will take to the streets and stop driving around town in their gas guzzlers.

I can not stop myself from posting this clip right here and now. My glasses are broken today and I have taken my contacts out to go to sleep, so I am typing an inch away from the keyboard. This movie is in post production currently, and want to share it, for so many reasons. Some of them include, the music in the trailer is adorable... one song in particular has been likened to my voice enjoying life (thanks Amalie for being so hilariously sweet) I am rereading the Great Gatsby, the film is set in one of my favorite cities and has an air of sweet promise to it, and is a collection of short stories, which I love. "over the great bridge, with the sunlight through the girders making a constant flicker upon the moving cars, with the city rising up across the river in white heaps and sugar lumps all built with a wish out of non-olfactory money. The city seen from the Queensboro Bridge is always the city seen for the first time, in its first wild promise of all the mystery and beauty in...

Dark, milk, hot or cold. I love the stuff, simply can not get enough of it. This weekend I made a pilgrimage to Granola, a little cafe in Vesterbo here in Copenhagen. They made, by a long lead, the best hot chocolate I have ever had in my life. It was a lovely winter weekend here, a perfect time to stay cozy indoors, indulge in loads of good food, great wine, candle light and recharge the internal batteries. Le Gourmand, a little French place just down the way from Granola supplied me with the necessary items to cook up a winter feast and hibernate in serious style. It seems like Le Gourmand shops find their way into my life, no matter what country I am in. This shot is by Felix Wedgwood , a fantastic photographer, who knows chocolate chip cookies can keep art directors very very happy.

While talking to my girlfriend Dawn down under, I realized that friend swapping seems to be a theme this past year. She was thankful for introductions to friends of friends in her new country as am I. It makes me realize how small this planet can be sometimes. These shots paint the small world picture I am feeling.

Some days I feel like Victor. Some days I feel like Susie. Today I am Victor. Maybe tomorrow I can be Susie...maybe.

I am working on a project that has packaging design within it, so these days I am looking loads of well done examples. Gee Beauty did such a crack up job with their branding. Not only is their space in Toronto kick ass, but the packaging design is a great example of copy driven design. Simple, elegant design compliments this system and the 'down below' section is hilarious. GIG refers to the airport code for Rio, it is my favorite.

I want this bottle. It would be fun to have loads of them at a party and have everyone write something that their friends don't know yet....what would I write? Hmmmmm Smart work by Talia Cohen

I simply adored and still love Northern Exposure, the television show. It is like a warm cuppa on a cold winters day. The writing and direction is so delicious, and of course I have a connection to the Northern feeling with the current lack of light here in Denmark as well as the small northern town reminding my slightly of Chapleau, Ontario. Here is shot of Sitooterie. The directors of the National Malus (crab-apple) Collection invited Heatherwick Studio to develop the design of a structure called the Sitooterie for their site in Essex. So electric! Feels very aurora borealis.

Yesterday while killing time in a Swiss airport, I found my way into the Caviar House to peruse. I steered clear of the juicy bottles of St. Emillion, wove my way past the shiny bottles of Rose Champagne and dashed right past the tins of foie gras. It seemed like the responsible thing to do, in these financial times. Instead I made my way out of the shop with Swiss cheese and chocolates, not bad. Being a sucker for the finer things in life, I do miss all the cheap thrills I enjoyed back in the motherland. I would love to indulge in all the pretty things Scandinavia has to offer, but for now I am just window shopping. Some of the pretty things I wish were on my back...

Adorable.

While working, my playlist this afternoon has been varied, but currently I am stuck into Simon and Garfunkel, The Graduate years. And, to not go insane, I am letting my mind wander every now and then. It has wandered many places, but most recently, I am recalling moving to Denmark. Full of energy and thrilled to be here, was how I felt. I am still very much happy to be here, however my energy levels are dipping. It could be the lack of sun, my schedule or getting sick. Whatever the case, I can feel the rose coming back to my cheeks and wanted to share what the rosy happy feeling of taking on something new felt like, in my smile.

While working on some editorial design work this afternoon, I came across these spreads that make me drool. They are so stunning; the use of color and composition is devastating. Talk about a perfect fit for a textile company.

This photo is taken overlooking Niagara Falls, not sure when or by whom though. Even though I am longing to be in Paris today, I can’t believe how fantastic the art direction of this shot is. It makes Niagara Falls look so classic and glamorous, not quite Paris…but not half bad either. I did not remember that railing looking so delicate. One day I will go back and visit, perhaps with a new outlook on the place.

A little sun in the Danish sky has given me the boost of energy I have been longing for. This pretty lampshade gave me the feeling of spring being in the air. This sounds incredibly silly as it is only the start of January, but I can feel the lightness coming in. The fog has lifted and my mind is clearer, bonjour two thousand and nine, it is nice to see you in focus.

Happiness can be found in the pursuit of the perfect pasta sauce, in the presence of great design, suggesting that the secret may be attention to detail, so some say. I don't agree... I don't have the answer either. I do however know that simplicity could be a piece in this illusive puzzle. Take for example this work done out of Barcelona. It is pure, beautiful typography. Simple, well done, and perhaps perfect. While in the midst of a project that is not embracing my quest for purity or simplicity, I find I am longing for just that. “To a worm in horseradish, the world is horseradish” Currently my world is layers and transparencies. I never thought I would have so much in common with a worm, but here I sit, convinced that layers and transparencies are my world.

If I was a fella, I would be a dapper one. I might also be a wimp and get beat on all the while, so perhaps it is best I am a lady. I do however love and adore men's tailors. As a girl I have never really had anything tailor made for me. Norton & Sons out of the UK were recently redesigned by movingbrands , and the work they put together is strong and quite lovely. I must admit, I am not nor have ever been a fan of italics, and this example fits in with my emotions of dislike for the slanted type. Italic addition aside, the brand system is so lush. I would just love to stroll around town in these duds. Come to think of it, maybe I could pull off this green jacket & tie combo, paired with some black tights and leather boots. Shall I embrace my inner male? I could get fitted and then slip into some leather wing back and sip on some brandy. That sounds like a fun afternoon to me, something to ponder.

When I first moved to Copenhagen I had it in my head I wanted to spend a Sunday afternoon making Peanut Butter cookies and flying a hand made kite. This of course was an indulgent fantasy that never materialized. However, 5 months later have been inspired by this lovely couple that was photographed with this giant red balloon. It captures all I hope to feel while trying to fly a kite, make cookies using a metric measuring cup and of course pairing the cookies with my favorite Rose Champagne.

However I wish I had these ones instead. They are of course from Kate Spade and are adorable! I could really use them today, the radiators in my office are on the blitz and I am truly Lynsicle once more. I miss body blitz and of course the indulgence of cabs. I rode my bike to work through the snow this morning, furry ear muffs and all. I am trying to hang in there, and be one of the 80% to ride through the winter. My plight could be improved if a came into a warm office, instead of this Pingu like world I am in today.

The first day back at work has been cold and not as indulgent as 2008 in any way. To look back at 2008, I would have to say it was akin to my first ride on the Cyclone. I rode that amazing thing for the first time as a young lass in New York with my father's favorite friend, and mine too! Our warm summer NYC evening was topped off with a trip the Coney Island, hot dogs and corn on the cob that was doing the backstroke in butter...delicious. The seat belt didn't really fasten and it made the ride all the more enjoyable. I would not call myself a thrill seeker, but there is something about a little raised pulse that I have to admit I enjoy. Hopefully 2009 will be akin to the swing ride that I jumped on barefoot, clad in pink tights and little red coat, and swung happily around above pretty Copenhagen. It was after our first fall Tivoli experience and the swing ride really made my heart beat quickly. Here is to 2009, you will win me over I am sure of it.

I arrived home yesterday from a whirl-wind tour. My favorite moment at the cabin had to be when I curled up in big blanket in front of the very Scando fireplace and fell off to sleep while the others were still out on the town causing controversy. I have been fighting a cold and thought I had won, sadly it seems to still be looming. A day that began with a very late wake up, run along the waters edge and was mixed with Cary Grant movies and mint tea have not made the nasty throat calm down, so hopefully some rest will do the trick. Luckily for me, in this day in age, when seeing Mr. Grant swoon across my television, I have the late night pleasure of tucking myself in under the covers to watch old clips of his films, as my tailor made bedtime story.