I was so excited to discover Will Davies today on Facebook. Will Davies is a Canadian Mad Men era illustrator that worked during a period of design and advertising history when illustration was King and photography had yet to take both industries by storm. His artwork made a big impact during this time period and on the man artists that would follow in his foot steps. A Kickstarter has been started by Leif Peng to bring his life and work to the public in the form of book. If you're interested you can head on over to the Kickstarter to donate some greens to help bring this book and a part of design/advertising history to life.
History Nerd: Local Toronto History
Yesterday I decided to walk down Brunswick St from college over to Bloor St to checkout thrift shop the Kind Exchange's Annex location. As I was walking down Brunswick St I came across two of these signs (featured above) from the Harbord Village Residents' Association posted on 2 different houses. As soon as I realized that the signs were all about Toronto history I snap a shot of the 2nd sign on my phone and decided that when I got home I'd check out the sign's website. As a history nerd the website did not disappointed, the site was filled with the history of Harbord Village. It contained interviews, photos and stories from people that had lived in the neighbourhood from 1930 - 1980. The signs I stumble on were a part of the sites oral history project. They're called StoryPosts, each StoryPost contains a QR code that will lead you online to a story about the neighbourhood. There are about 24 StoryPosts around the Harbord Village, which will allow you to take a self-guide tour of the neighbourhoods history. You can also head on over to their site and listen to them all at once. I've been listen to them since yesterday and I find them a humbling look into a time period gone by. Since I live in the Kensington Market area my fav StoryPost was of course about Shopping In Kensington, however I also find the stories about Dating, the local Candy Shop and Crowded Homes an intriguing look into the social mores of the time. However as a vegan I'm not sure I can bring myself to listen to the post about Chickens because it's about live animals and the local butcher. I might just have to skip that one. If you're interested in local Toronto history told by the people who lived it I suggest you check this site out.
End of An Era: Mad Men
I'm still waiting for the last 5 episodes of Mad Men to pop up on Netflix, however I could not help but see this awesome scene with Peggy from one of the last episodes. It was all over my social media feeds the day after the episode aired and I'm not one to freak out about a spoiler. I actually kind of love them and I totally love this scene. It really has me excited about binge watching the last 5 episodes. I have no idea where I'll get my fix for 1960's era Manhattan after the show ends. I guess I'll just have to re-watch some of my fav classic flicks that were filmed during that era (The Apartment, Breakfast At Tiffany's, Love With A Proper Strange, Barefoot in The Park etc....). Along with the writing and acting, I'm so going to miss the mid-century sets, fashion, hair, drinks, furniture, gadgets and history. Though many significant society changing events from that decade when not addressed I did love when the show intersected with actual historical events. This history & design nerd will miss this show oh so much....
Design History: The Ghost Army of WW2
Exciting news! They're making a movie about WW2 unit "The Ghost Army". If you remember from my previous post featuring 99% Invisibles podcast about them, The Ghost Army was a WW2 unit made up of artists & designers that used design, sound and instillation pieces to deceive the German Army. As I designer I'm super excited to see a part of design history come to life. Also their unit patch feature above^ is pretty rad.
History Nerd: The Dawn of Radio and Portable Recording
Such a great episode from 99% Invisible about the early days of the radio and portable recording. Tony Schwartz's 30 000's recordings, that he started in recording on the streets of NYC in 1945 are a humbling look back into a simpler time.
1915 - 2015: 100 Years of Fashion
2005, one word> Embarrassing. I do love everything else though and I feel especially nostalgic about 1995. I'm pretty sure I had the same dress in navy and I most definitely had a pair of Doc Martens. I remember dragging my parents out to buy them for me. Oh the memories....
Behind The Scenes: 100 Years of Style
I’m loving these behind the scene looks into all the historical research that goes into one of Cut Videos, 100 Years of Beauty Videos. As a huge fashion, design and history nerd doing the research behind these historical looks is kind of one of my dream jobs.
Polyvore: Top Fashion Set of May 22, 2015
My Park Date Set made it into Polyvore's Top Fashion Set of the Day (May 22nd, 2015)! The other two sets were made Top Fashion Sets in on Jan 10th of 2015 (It's Friday Night) and July 18th of 2014 (Tropical Chic). If you want to see more of my fashion sets then checkout my Polyvore Profile.
Another 100 Years of Style: The Philippines Edition
Another 100 Years of Style from Cut Video this time featuring beauty trends from The Philippines.
Design & Crime Scene Investigation
During the early days of forensic science, Crime Scene Investigation pioneer Frances Glessner Lee created meticulously detailed dioramas that depicted various chilling real life crime scenes. In 1945 Frances donated the dioramas (also know as the Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death) to Harvard and set up their department of Legal Medicine, the dioramas were used to lecture students on the subject of Crime Scene Investigation. Today the dioramas are used by Maryland's Medical Examiners Office in Baltimore to teach similar Forensic Seminars. If you want to learn more about Frances Glessner Lee's impact on Forensic Science then checkout 99% Invisible's latest episode (above ^) about her and her Nutshell Dioramas. You can also see more photo's of The Nutshell Diorama's HERE.
Image Source & Credits: Corinne Botz & Harvard Associates in Legal Medicine
May Two Four
It's the first long weekend of the Spring/Summer. I hope everyone has a fabulous Victoria Day Long Weekend. xx
Mother's Day Without My Mother
My mother passed away 2 months ago and this is my first Mother's Day without her. I used my passion for design as away to celebrate her life and memory today. I'm so grateful to have had such a strong women in my life that taught me about love, compassion, how to be true to myself and always do the right thing over the easy thing. She will always be in my heart and thoughts, now and forever. #missyoumom
Good Vibrations
This video of Brain Wilson from the Beach Boys bringing together his vision for the song Good Vibrations it truly amazing to watch. I love seeing people do what they love and put their whole heart & sole into something they truly believe in. It's truly inspiring and as a fellow artist I find it so relatable. I feel this way about my own work all the time.
Herstory: Nellie Bly
Digging the illustration, song and story behind todays Google image. Nellie Bly was one forward thinking, society rule challenging, trail blazing lady. I think it's great that Google decided to share such an empowering female life story with it's users. If you want to learn even more about Nellie, Stuff You Missed In History also has a great podcast episode dedicated to her life story.
Memories. Design. Love.
This upcoming Mother's Day is my first one without my mother and as an artist I'm using my passion for design as a way to remember her. This is just a sneak peek into a project I'm working on. I'll be revealing the rest of the series on Mother's Day 2015 (May 10th), so stay tuned. xx
100 Years of Style: Mexico
Another great 100 Years of “Beauty” video from Cut Video. This time around they feature some unique style from Mexico!
![[Men assembling an inflatable tank. Courtesy of Rick Beyer. From the documentary,The Ghost Army]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5391c9dee4b0b6fb0155d78a/1430087676930-MSLHS3D3RL8WA9VCI2M7/%5BMen+assembling+an+inflatable+tank.+Courtesy+of+Rick+Beyer.+From+the+documentary%2C+The+Ghost+Army%5D)
[Men assembling an inflatable tank. Courtesy of Rick Beyer. From the documentary,The Ghost Army]
A Part of Our History
Fellow artists and designers, checkout this amazing part of our history. During WW2 the Ghost Army (made up of artists & designers) used design, installation pieces and sound to deceive the German Army. Fashion designer Bill Blass, Color Field artist Ellsworth Kelly, Wild Life artist Arthur B. Singer and fashion & music photographer Art Kane were all apart of this tactical deception unit
100 Years of Hair
From Bobs, to Beehives, to Mohawks checkout this illustrated history of follicle fashion.
I'd Rather Stick To the Beat(nik)
I would most definitely rather be in my Vegan Leather Jacket with my unkempt hair. She looks way better as a "Beatnik" (Hello Stereotype!). Gotta love educational videos from the 1960's pushing everyone to conform to societies norm. Below is my perfect “Beatnik” (I personally prefer to call it the Beat Generation) outfits (one for the ladies & one for the gents) which includes a stellar cruelty free leather coat!
1. Crop Circle Tee by Sara Bergman • 2. Grey Denim Peanut Jeans by Monkee Jeans • 3. Faux Wool Parisian Beret by Askidas • 4. Junkie Slip Jacket by James Payne • 6. Vegan Patent Leather Chelsea Boots by Golden Ponies6. Deadvlei Gold Cuff by The Base Project • 7. Skeleton Coast Cut by The Base Project • 8. Choose Your Own Crystal Necklace by Beach Bones Jewelry • 9.Cage Earrings by Sanktoleono • 10. Red Maple Wood Sunglasses by Tmbrwood • 11. Black Vegan Satchel by Raramodo 12. Pastel Pink Vegan Hair Colour by Vegan Cosmetics
Image Source & Credit: Listed Above.
1. Floyd Shadow Leather Jackets by April 77 • 2. Mid Dusty Denim Skinny Peanut Men’s by Monkee Jeans • 3. Brando Tee by James Payne • 4. Black Sheep Hat by Brave Gentleman • 5. Harrison Black Boots by Bourgeois Boheme • 6. Red Corduroy Messenger Bag by Beg for a Bag 7. Wood Bamboo Sunglasses by Wooded • 8. Truth Calculator Belt by Truth • 9. New York City Skyline Watch by 10 North Creative • 10. Starter Athletic Socks by Bergies • 11.Vintage Phone Case by On Your Case
Image Source & Credit: Listed Above.
Another 100 Years of Beauty
Another 100 years of style video from Cut Video, this one features South & North Korea. If you haven’t seen their other videos about the history of “Beauty” then head on over to their YouTube Page to check it out. All the videos take an interesting and eye opening social, cultural and anthropological look at beauty from all walks of life.