Veekee Workshop http://veekee.ca The journal of Veekee Workshop en vikki@veekee.ca Copyright 2012 2012-04-30T17:50:30+00:00 Veekee Workshop for Spring 2012! http://veekee.ca/journal/entry/new-veekee-workshop-for-spring-2012/ veekee_blog_240

It’s craft fair season again! My favourite! This upcoming weekend (May 5+6, 2012) I will be at the much-loved spring Royal Bison Craft and Art Fair in Edmonton, with an array of new goods, like the tea towels above (sorry for not ironing them out, I got way too excited and just shot the photos). Also in the mix, my second attempt at dyeing fabric! Easy, flowing summer tops and dresses, perfect for bike riding, plus carry-all totes with leather straps (professionally sewn by my ultra-talented mum-in-law - she’s the best!). Everything comes in myriad colours (seafoam green, black, red), too!


The stationery goods side is not be amiss, with new blank notebooks with this and other lovely patterns in different colourways on the covers:


Plus good ol’ serving plates, butter dishes, etc, perfect for a wee mother’‘s day gift:

Phew! It’s been a busy few months at the Veekee Workshop! I’m not putting anything up on etsy until after the Bison, so I’ll see you guys this coming weekend!

]]> New Work, Veekee Workshop 2012-04-30T17:50:30+00:00 falconwright http://veekee.ca/journal/entry/falconwright/ veekee_blog_239

O-M-G these downright joyful clutches and little pouches by Toronto-based collab duo Falconwright are killing it! KILLING IT! Happy spring colours to your eyes, happy patterns to your heart, am I ever in love with these!

]]> Eye Candy 2012-03-20T02:55:01+00:00 Riikka Sormunen http://veekee.ca/journal/entry/riikka-sormunen/ veekee_blog_238

I just spent a magical 10 minutes clicking through Finnish illustrator Riikka Sormunen’s portfolio. These are mysterious images - obviously I love them due to their expert use of pattern and art nouveau colour palettes but there’s something very complex going on here to boot. I mean, that bear under the bed? The hair-horned swimming lady crying her mascara off amongst the bamboo? It’s worth a trip over to her site, I feel like I just read a moody, surrealist mystery novel. Also, I want that cardigan.

]]> Illustration 2012-03-15T14:51:39+00:00 Vintage pysanky patterns http://veekee.ca/journal/entry/vintage-pysanky-patterns/ veekee_blog_237
My absolute favourite eastern-european craft tradition has to be pysanky. Technically not a Polish thing, these are a Ukrainian tradition but it pretty much spills over to any vodka-drinking, potato-eating nation which shared common oppressors over the centuries. There’s a lovely older couple selling meticulously decorated, multi-colour pysanky at the Edmonton Strathcona Market every year around this time. I have to tell you, I cannot resist picking up an egg every year. The patterns are bang on - so geometric but so colourful and full of life at the same time. Want more? Feast your eyes upon a small collection of vintage pattern ideas over at the formidable Present and Correct. Hearts!

]]> Eye Candy 2012-03-14T19:42:11+00:00 Sign Language http://veekee.ca/journal/entry/sign-language/ veekee_blog_236 Marc Shur has been taking pictures of signs. You know the ones. The ones they don’t really make anymore, that age gracefully on top of hotels, on the sides of buildings, and in the roadside parking lot of that particularly quaint motel. I’m a sucker for these signs too, whenever I travel they are the subject of many of the photos I come home with. So head on over to the Sign Language flickr set and do some armchair design travelling already. [via DWL]

]]> Eye Candy 2012-03-08T16:21:27+00:00 Helsinki WDC 2012 + Marimekko http://veekee.ca/journal/entry/helsinki-wdc-2012-marimekko/ veekee_blog_235
So we’re heading over to Europe in May this year, which is super exciting. It’s been 5 years since I was there last -  Jim is super excited to put his new-to-him Kiev camera through its paces and I’m super excited to just absorb…EVERYTHING. I’m Polish, so stops in Krakow as well as to visit family in Gdansk and Poznan are on the list, but we’ve also managed to squeeze Berlin in there (obvs), and Helsinki. Helsinki! Home of Marimekko! And Hel Looks! Flea markets! And…saunas!

It just so happens we’ve chosen a good year to visit Helsinki - it is the 2012 World Design Capital. There is a giant design district one can tour as well as a roster of international and Helsinki-based events. I’m looking forward to it, and lookie here, Marimekko has created a map of their designer’s favourite places. Worth the look…and the plane ticket!

Oh, and any travel tips are muchly . :)

]]> travel 2012-02-14T15:40:42+00:00 Child’s Own toys http://veekee.ca/journal/entry/childs-own-toys/ veekee_blog_234
O-M-G! Aren’t these the most delightful? Wendy Tsao of Child’s Own in Vancouver will take a drawing your child has made a covert it into a plush toy! I pretty much can’t stop grinning. I love kid’s drawings and this is just the ultimate next step - I mean, how much fun do you think Wendy has working on these every day? Even more grinning to be had if you check out pictures here on Wendy’s flickr.

]]> crafty, Eye Candy 2012-02-13T19:26:06+00:00 Vintage movie title stills http://veekee.ca/journal/entry/vintage-movie-title-stills/ veekee_blog_233

Some lovely stills from the titles and end credits of vintage movies over here. Above are some of my favourites - they are all so diverse within the same style, don’t you think?

]]> Eye Candy 2012-02-06T01:02:56+00:00 New work! New year! New fun! http://veekee.ca/journal/entry/new-work-new-year-new-fun/ veekee_blog_228
Well, now that the dust has cleared from the holidays, it’s new stuff time! I have been mentioning in bits and pieces that I’ve been branching off in all directions lately on the creative front. In addition to paper goods, I’ve recently tipped a toe (nay, an entire leg?) into fabric dyeing, with really exciting results. On top of that I’ve figured out how to translate my patterned drawings onto the humble ceramic plate, which has been immensely satisfying.

All this to say you’re going to find some new fun stuff in my shop, with more coming soon. At the moment there are a few perfect-for-your-everyday, hand dyed bags up for grabs that I think you’re going to love.  Hand-dyed tunics are on their way within the week. There’s also several plate patterns from the Supper Settings series available - hang these plates on your wall or use them to serve dinner, it’s totally up to you!

Crockery! Handbaggery! Exciting papergoods coming up! I’d love it if y’all would take a look -this year is going to be very, very interesting…

]]> Veekee Workshop 2012-01-06T22:09:40+00:00 Veekee + Papirmasse! http://veekee.ca/journal/entry/veekee-papirmasse/ veekee_blog_227

Fun times: Papirmasse, the Montreal-based art subscription, has published my Folk Flowers poster design for their final issue to 2011! The edition is printed on a risograph, which is a neat Japanese technique that approximates silkscreening. There’s also a piece by Jacob Wren for you to read on the flipside.

Want one? You can subscribe here. Want to know more? There’s an artist interview in which I speak of perogies, slathering the world with pattern, and everything in between.

Oh, and also: happy holidays, everyone! 2011 has been a whirlwind year - I got married in the summer, hung my first solo show, taught myself two entirely new craft techniques for ceramics and fabric…and that was only from August onwards. In addition to more textile goods, next year I’m planning to roll out a brand new set of wedding invitations as well as a commercially available textile pattern or two. I’ll also hopefully have the letterpress going for realsies. So thanks for following along, all of you. Warmest wishes! -Vikki

]]> Illustration 2011-12-22T18:57:25+00:00