Ada Lovelace Day

Tuesday was Ada Lovelace Day, a day for bloggers everywhere to draw attention to women in technology... Well I am one day late, but I have been dying to post about this wonderful little lady for a while and it just seems fitting!

You may not have heard of Emily Cummins, but she's famous, seriously, check it out here here here here and here... She is an inventor, or as she likes to call herself a sustainable designer. She has been winning awards for her inventions and designs since before she was 16! Since then she has won awards such as Future 100 Award (2008), Female Innovator of the Year (2007), Technology Women Of The Future (2006) and she is only 22 years old!

Via InHabitat

The invention that caught my eye is her solar powered fridge, which actually uses no electricity. This isn't your everyday refrigerator with solar panels on it... This invention is completely different. My explanation won't be able to do it justice so read about it from the inventor herself here, or from writers here and here. Inspirational isn't it?

I wonder what Emily will invent next!

Is it Monday already?

I can't believe Monday is here! That weekend whirled by! I didn't have a chance to write any posts!
So until I catch up, let me leave you with two of my favorite chairs right now...

The scoop back chair from West Elm

Via SimplyPear

How lovely it would be to have a seat in these!

Design Love...

Don't you just love clever design?  This coffee table from Alex Suvajac made me gasp in amazement by the form.  I found it through for coffee tables for my friend Katie all week! Unfortunately this table isn't Katie's style, but if it was, I would have to convince her to buy it!

 Via The Canadian Design Resource

Shelving Made

Maire Claire Maison

What a coincidence! I made these exact shelves yesterday at work! And to my surprise Desire to Inspire posted about them yesterday as well! Crazy hey?


While the shelves I made won't be put to quite as beautiful use as these ones (they are being used for equipment storage in a sea can) I did take note of how sleek they are... both in appearance and in easy of assembly. 10 minutes and they were up!

House and Home

Showing ones Soul

I stumbled upon these stunning photos by Thierry LeGoues... How amazing would this be printed on large canvases? It sends a chill down my spine just thinking of it. They have this gripping and spooky feel to them... The collection is appropriately called Soul.... it just drips from every image. The model is Veronica Webb, and these were first exhibited in Cape Town, South Africa in 1995. (Note - some of the images in the collection are more explicit and graphic than those shown below)

I have a feeling I will be posting a lot more about Thierry LeGoues, I am absolutely entranced by his photography.

Now that the US presidential elections are over, it is time for Barack Obama to get down to business. He needs to be prepared come January in order follow up on his large promises!! So I picked some places fit for soon to be president Obama, or in Canada's case, our newly re-elected Prime Minister, Harper. Pull up a chair, you two have a lot to think about....

Both of the above are taken by photographer Ngoc Minh Ngo

Sam McAdam

Warren Smith

I have been very absent lately - I appologize (that is if anyone notices!)

Here's a little late summer image to keep me going...

Posts will resume next week hopefully!

The Island House

My second post on Toronto island - Wards Island Houses

They are just amazing - each house is so unique, it takes hours to take them all in. The best part about the neighbourhood I think is that there are no roads, only walk ways between the houses, a neighbour across the 'street' is about as far away as your next door neighbour - I like that.

Character anyone?

Like the houses the people here are so unique. Some are busy working away at at some household task, some are helping, some are relaxing and enjoying a home made sandwich in the garden, while others have lively arguments with family. Each posess this sense of calm (yes even the one arguing!) and rustic flair to match their homes. They all own bikes fitted with the most extensive parcel carring systems. Whether it be a wagon they pull behind their bike, or just extra large paniers covering every possible spot, or the makshift baskets bungeed on here and there. They all serve the purpose of getting their everyday bought items from the mainland back home.

Note the slant and the peeling paint - Adds charm!

The homes themselves are in many different states. Boarders are fuzzy here - between rustic, and run down, ecclectic and junky, between holiday home and vacation cottage (I am in Ontario now, they call cabins cottages!) and full time residence. Some have well manicured lawns, others have natural flowing gardens, and yet others have overgrown landscapes. Somehow however, it all seems to fit.

Extremely well kept - and the sign in the window -Boycott Toronto Island Airport - makes me think these are year round residents!

A view of Toronto from the Ward Island Ferry Terminal

One of the best things I saw - and I am so sad I didn't get a photo of were plants in people's bikes - I don' t think they were just bringing them home - I think these plants had a permenant residence on the bike - and added a nice spruce to it!

A Billboard I like

I am in Toronto... the hub for beauty, culture, billboards and consuming... While I am not so sure how keen I am about being surrounded by signs telling me to buy - I do love this one - down at The Bay - not sure which one though - I was lost! (Sep 3rd Note: I just figured out where I was - Yonge and Queen) I love that this has proven me wrong - So bring it on Toronto and prove me wrong some more!!

(Sept 3rd Note: I just found out that my best friend here had a hand in this billboard! Her company made this advertizing theme - No wonder we are great friends!! If you are from Robyns work and have more info to share please let me know and I will post again!)

Charge away....

How many items do you charge on a regular basis? I charge 3, my phone, ipod and camera. The sight of those tangled cords lying on my floor gives me anxiety! (And apparently I am not the only one) To combat this, against my better judgement to live minimally, I have done some charging station window shopping. Here are my top 5 choices (FYI – my choice criteria was based on - like most things in my life - beauty, cleverness, and functionality….)

1. Bedford Smart Recharge Station: This is the first charge station I ever laid my eyes on(while browsing Pottery Barn)! Despite seeing many other choices, I am still drawn to this one because of the clean lines, the detail in the handle and the functionality of the drawer. I just love the thought of having a drawer to handle all incoming mail etc. It is a nice little unit which I think would greatly decrease the clutter at the front door!


2. The Sanctuary by Blue Lounge: This modern super sleek charging station was featured in Azure Magazine. I like that it’s compact, sleek, modern, and functional. There is extra storage level below the top shelf, and the felt top keeps your gadgets from sliding around. It also has built-in adaptors which are compatible with hundreds of different gadgets. This frees up your charge cord for somewhere else, like your travel bag! The only downside is if you own a device that they don’t have an adapter for!



3. Ikea – DIY: This one by lifehacker makes my list because I love that it is only 3 dollars and it actually doesn’t look too bad! You could eve style it up a bit (glue/tape some fun paper on the sides) and it would be awesome! I would probably drill a bigger hole in the bottom corner for the power bar to go through. The larger hole might also add some needed ventilation.



4. Stelton Super Charger: This small sleek unit was featured in Style at Home (September 2008). I like the compact format – it would be great for taking with you and the sleek silver trim adds some nice style. I am worried that it might be too small, and the circular shape might make the square devices being charged look messy.



5. Charging Bulletin Board: If you have enough room on the wall this is a great multipurpose unit to not only to organize your gadgets but also keep yourself organized. I could totally see this between my entrance and kitchen. Listen to some tunes while cooking, while also not having a long distance to write down a grocery list! I would probably cover the cork with some pretty fabric or paper...

Here is to many years of stress free charging!

But if there was colour...

Even though I am totally leaning towards Black and White (see yesterday) , I thought I would post some images of what I would like to do for a colour room... in case I make a last minute change to the land of colour.

Design Sponge (Shauna's room - finalist)

Living Etc. Via Desire to Inspire

Elle Decor

Girl meets Glamour

Okay there is still black and white in this one - but I don't like it for that - I love the colours of the prints. (Via desire to inspire)

More Vancouerism in Vancouver

Surprise Surprise, I am posting about Vancouverism again. There is just so much to show though! Below are some buildings that are part of the Vancouverism show in London right now. There is so many good pieces of architecture in Vancouver!

Marinaside False Creek (Concord Pacific)
Spectrum
The Olympic Oval
The display in London around Canada House (okay! - this one is not in Vancouver - but maybe it was made in Vancouver??)



Surrey Central City

Sunset Community Center

Where is Arthur Erickson?

To follow up on my post yesterday about Vancouverism, I'm posting some of Arthur Erickson's buildings. Maybe you will recognize one when you pass it on the street....

MacMillan Bloedel Building Downtown Vancouver

Museum of Anthropology UBC - UBC campus, north coast

The Waterfall Building - near Granville Island
Law Courts - Smithe and Hornby

Robson Square - Robson street...
He really liked his concrete.