Call Me Cupcake

Hey hey mes amis!

Sugar filled fantasies - who doesn't love them? Float away on a contact sugar high with these incredible cakes and desserts by Call Me Cupcake.

Best admired on a full stomach, this site is one of the most inspiring baking sites I've come across in a while. Love the ombre pink cake, the dark-to-light progression is just so darn elegant! Note to self: attempt it soon. Also, I just like saying "ombre" - it makes me feel fancy.  :)

(Side note: what words make you feel fancy when you say them?)

Double side note: Which dream dessert would you attempt to make if you knew it wouldn't fail?

Enjoy
xo
Jenny C

FILL UP WITH CARGO @ CARGOH!!

A very hip, very local online social marketplace came onto my radar recently called Cargoh. It’s a marketplace for art, design and culture made by local DIY artists, musicians and designers. The owner–operators of Cargoh are a very fun-loving, international husband and wife duo who have made Vancouver their home and were inspired to support vibrant, upcoming artists in the area and provide them with an avenue to sell their wares. Very much in line with Etsy, Cargoh is yet another great platform (and a Canadian one at that!) for artists to get their names and products out there in the world. An online market, what an awesome concept!!

So if you’re looking for one of kind items from jewelry and apparel to toys and home goods, and you like to shop online, check it out. It’s also a great way to familiarize yourself with artists and their work and get in contact with them directly. And with purchases through Cargoh you’ll be supporting your local community and economy, along with infusing more energy into our art scene which is always a positive thing! Go get some cargo at Cargoh and share the Cargoh love!!

Too Sweet For Words

How flippin' cute is this cake? Ok it's probably impossible to make, but have faith! What's the worst that can happen? Leftover cake? That's still delicious!

Find how-to instructions here

Send us a photo if you give it a try!!
xo
Jenny C

(found via Swiss Miss)

Surreal Le Sigh

Paris, 1963. No photoshop, just the imagination and industriousness of famed photog Melvin Sokolsky.

Let's just soak in the coolness shall we?

Le Sigh
xo Jenny C
(images via Black Eiffel)

illee PAPERGOODS...For the love of paper!

Beautifully designed paper has always tugged at my heart strings, and the lovely hand crafted pieces of Seattle based ilee PAPERGOODS definitely fulfill my heart’s desire! The artist behind ilee PAPERGOODS, Ja Teuber, crafts paper with a delightful, whimsical style of letter press imprints and hand painted illustrations. Her colourful notecards, invitations, labels and calendars of floral, nature based images and vintage inspired calligraphy are simply charming. I came across ilee at the Circle Craft Fair in Vancouver where Ja has become one of the most sought after vendors. Ja’s paperworks can also be found at Etsy.com and you can get in contact with her directly for custom design work and large orders.

Oh how I love pretty paper!! Enjoy ilee PAPERGOODS all you fellow paper fanatics!

Last Minute Gift Ideas - Think Local

3 days until Christmas - not enough time to get cool stuff shipped from the wonderful world of Internet, but  more than enough time to take advantage of the hip artists that live in your hood. Here's some great Vancouver artists to check out for this Christmas, or to keep up your sleeve for future gift-giving opportunities.

For your gal friends that love pretty things: 

Porcelain Mason Jars from Claire Madill at Heyday Design (image via www.heydaydesign.ca)

For your burgeoning art collector coworkers: 

Whale 2 Graphite and Acrylic on Paper by Kyu Hwang (image via takeiteasyplease.com)

For Your Picture Loving Parents: 

Custom Portraits painted by Roselina Hung. Image above: detail from Self-Portrait as a Polar Bear 2009. (image via www.roselinahung.com)

For your Homebody Hubbies:

Custom furniture designed and built by Nick Vorstermans of Wood Roots Furniture and Design (image via www.woodroots.ca) 

Take some time to discover the artists living under your nose, chances are - they've got some wicked wares to share.

xo
Jenny C

Deck The Halls With Rosemary

Home made wreaths - they're fresh, smell great and look amazing. And I just discovered that us mere mortals can make them pretty easily - woo hoo!

Bonus with this wreath: it's edible. If you need a sprig of rosemary for your roast potatoes, just go to your door and grab one!

Disclaimer: You do not need to be crafty AT ALL to do this project! My second to worst grades in high school were earned in art class - if I can do this you can too!

Rosemary and Eucalyptus Wreath
What you need:
Rosemary branches - washed and cut into smaller pieces (I did 6-8inches). Separate the rosemary - one pile of tops, one pile of stems
10 inch wire wreath form
floral wire
cutters
clear "ouchless" ponytail elastics
ribbon (optional)
eucalyptus berries - or any berry/accessory you like

Gather your rosemary branches into bundles of 3 or so. Use one top with its pretty end sticking out a bit, then fill in the bunch with two stem pieces. Secure with an ouchless elastic.

Once your bundles are completed, take a bunch of bundles and just lay them on your wreath form - make sure you've got enough, and make sure the leaves are all going in the same direction.

Next secure some of your floral wire to the wreath form. Lay a bunch of bundles on the form, then use your floral wire to wrap around the bottom of your bundles a few times. Lay down another bunch of bundles with the tops covering the bottom of the previous bundles and secure with wire as before. Continue all the way around the wreath. Cut the wire and tuck it away.

Next take some of your berries and place them into the wreath. The rosemary is thick enough to hold the berries without them falling out. Add as many as you like.

Finish off the wreath with a ribbon at the bottom if you like. And you're done!

Except for the cleanup - (working on a table cloth is a good idea so the rosemary needles don't get everywhere!

Full credit for this project goes to the master of craft non-disasters Ms. Martha. She has a very helpful "how-to" video for this project posted on her site here. I watched it a good 15 times. And like I said, it was easy and turned out very nice.

Go make one too!

Holiday Wish List

A couple people (i.e. my sister) have been bugging me for ideas for birthday and holiday gifts for me. Apparently I'm "hard to shop for". Do you get that too?

Firstly let me state openly and truly - no gifts are necessary! But if you feel super compelled, and just to make it easier on the people I love - I declare this year The Year of the Gift Cards!

I could use some pretty tops - but instead of fretting over the shelves a g.c. to Aritizia or Plenty would hit the spot! (Pictured tops above are all from Aritizia)

My must read book list is growing too - again a g.c. to Chapters or Amazon.com is another simple winner that I'd put to good use.

Gifts are fun but mostly I love the time we all get to spend together around the holidays. Don't fret, keep it simple and thanks for the thought!

PS What's on your wish list this year?

That's Mint

Like walking into a chic home decor magazine - a trip to Mint will make your eyes sparkle like their walls. This new home decor and furniture store in Vancouver has unique, handcrafted and stunning pieces from designers across the globe.

Some pieces that I loved the most were their ibride trays. ibride is an amazing design firm from France that you must check out - and Mint carries a wide selection of their line if you want something for your home now.

More beautifulness in the form of acrylic side tables and STUNNING mirror - my photo does it no justice. Also boo that I didn't note the designers! There is a lot of product info on Mint's site though if you follow the link at the top or bottom of this post.

Mint also creates custom furniture like the killer sofa in their display room and lovely occasional chairs. If you have a small mint to spend (let's be real - it costs money to buy such beautiful things), or if you just feel like furnishing the mansion in your mind, stop by Mint and check out their offerings.

Mint Interiors
1805 Fir St.
Vancouver BC
Tel: 604.568.3430
Web: www.mintinteriors.ca

Pretty Blossoms for Autumn

If you've got a party coming up, or want to add a little springtime feel to your home through the dark days of Fall and Winter, try this paper project found on Apartment Therapy.

With some branches, tissue paper, scissors, tape, time (and maybe a bottle of wine) - you've got yourself a sweet centrepiece. I think this would be fun to do with friends - maybe throw yourselves an "it will be Spring again one day" party! Directions found here.

Colourful Find

Mixed media/collage artist Brandi Strickland's work brings a shot of colour to this grey Vancouver day. Her work above is entitled "Crystal Lattice" - check out more of her art at her shop or on her website.

One day I imagine my house will be mostly white and clean but with colourful, odd and evocative art everywhere. What art do you want on your walls?

Found via Black Eiffel

Shopping Destination: Old Faithful Shop

Have you ever walked down a block and been stopped in your tracks by a store you just passed?

This happened to me last Thursday walking by the Old Faithful Shop on Cordova St. in Gastown. After walking through the doors, I was entranced by the space.  I went up to one of the store's owners, wide-eyed like I had just wandered into Wonderland and whispered: "how long has this been here"? Ok, maybe I didn't whisper. Anyway he looked at me kindly (and maybe pityingly) and informed me that they've been open since May. I clearly need to walk around Gastown more often!

Old Faithful Shop is an open, airy and modern take on a general store with beautifully chosen merchandise. Don't you love when you can actually see all the products in a store, and really appreciate them? Me too!

This store does that to perfection, with simple sections of treasures ranging from plants, to cookware, from gifts for your man, to candles for your bath. If you're looking for a gift for someone special, or a treat for yourself or your home, I highly recommend stopping in and enjoying their refreshing take on retail.

Old Faithful Shop
320 W. Cordova St, Vancouver
778-327-9376

(P.S. The store even smells good! Currently they're carrying a Balsam Fir incense that smells like a woodsy hike through a provincial park.  It'll smell amazing in your house for cozy nights this winter. I know I picked me up a box!)

Introducing - Jenny C!

Hi Peeps!

I'm Jennifer Cameron and the closest thing I've ever had to a nickname is "Jenny C". Feel free to call me that or just plain Jen is fine as well.

Any other Jennys out there? Shout out to you!

I'm a voice actor, which is pretty random, but also the best thing ever! I love being in the recording booth and using my acting chops to create hundreds of different characters. I recently (read: 3 weeks ago) quit my lovely and stable full time job to pursue my voice career full time. Now my new favourite word is: Yipes! Because having your whole future in your hands is a powerful and sometimes scary prospect.

I'm gonna be using my posts to talk about voice acting and sharing the highs and lows of running my own business. I'd love to hear from those of you that are interested in voice acting, and those entrepreneurs out there that are considering or have already dove into life working for yourself.

Also, I'm a huge food lover. I know a lot about food thanks to the internet & TV, but when it comes to cooking it - well, I've still got a lot to learn! I'd love to share my forays into cooking and yummy food inspirations here too.

And finally - pretty things. Ok this is for the girls out there that love pretty things. I personally have a weakness for gorgeous paper, anything colourful and, conversely, all-white interiors. So of course, I'll be peppering in some pretty things posts as well.

Voice, Biz, Food, Eye Candy: those will be my realms. Please let me know which subjects you want to hear more about as we forge on, and maybe, just maybe, I'll narrow my scope for you. :)

In the meantime - this is me, Jenny C!

ps I love to rhyme.