Summer Window Display Up For Sale

The Vancouver Summer window display is now available for sale. One large pretty birdcage hanging centerpiece ($144) and two sweet birdcage hanging lamps ($86 each) are free to fly out of the shop and into your home. I think they would be fabulous for a children's bedroom or in a breakfast nook (I wish I had one). Feel free to call us at the Main Street shop 604.873.5459 for dimensions, or with any other questions.

If you are on the West Coast today, happy puddle jumping!!

Happy Birthday David Suzuki!

As you are probably all aware from our previous posts, and the plethora of current media attention, today is David Suzuki's 75th birthday. Here is the window display we created in his honour at the Main Street shop in Vancouver.

We posted a banner (made with unbleached paper) with his image (in water-based ink) and one of the fundraising dresses (a bamboo blend jersey). The upcycled lamp is covered in second-hand sheet strips that are printed with our Periodic Table print.

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Vancouver Shop: February Window

I collect heart rocks.

I admit it. I find them cute and fascinating, and I see them everywhere. I used to keep them as worry stones - you know, the ones you keep in your pocket to rub when you feel tense. It was reassuring to find that cold heart-shape in my pocket and rub it until it, and my demeanor, became warm.

I was surprised to find that Nicaragua was the motherland of heart rocks. I don't think you'll find it described as that in any guide books, but the place is covered in heart-shaped rocks, and things (I'll have to post the photos I took of cracks and mildew and peeling paint that I saw forming heart shapes). I came up with the idea for the February window while picking up rocks on Maderas Beach near San Juan Del Sur in Nicaragua.

The Main Street shop window now prominently displays a portion of my collection for VD, you know that day when restaurants are overbooked, dinners and roses are over-priced, ill fitting lingerie becomes a respectable gift, and people attempt to express their feelings for their significant others. I have to admit to wavering between being repulsed by the Hallmark holiday, and looking forward to the knowledge that people will take time out to express their appreciation for their partners and bask in the knowledge that they too are loved. In the spirit of the sweetness of Valentines Day, here's the window display (complete with Anatomical Heart Duvet!):

Lily Inspiration: Other Blogs

I have to admit to a daily addiction of perusing a number of cool blogs. Design blogs are a particular guilty pleasure. I balance my guilt by keeping tabs on TED and BBC News, but all those gorgeous photos, showing off peoples' ever impressive design creativity, continue to draw me in.

Lately I was inspired by a DIY post on design*sponge, one of my daily sources of eye candy. This particular photo got my mind working on a Lilyfied project.

Brenna's waxed paper chandelier is so smart and super pretty. I decided to use her awesome lamp as inspiration for a Smoking Lily window display for our new shop, "the milkman's daughter".

I sandwiched Lily images between the layers of waxed paper and created a backdrop for the front window. Here are a few shots of the final product.

It's nice when inspiration is at the tip of your fingers! Thanks Brenna!

Lily Inspiration: Strange and Beautiful

Strange and Beautiful is one of our favourite combos around here - esthetically speaking. I'm sure you are all pretty aware of that, having taken home a-line skirts covered in flies, leather handbags with peek-a-boo anatomical hearts, and silk scarves with chrysantemums and sperm (our "Mums and Dads" print).

In September of 2008, Trish and I were strolling around Toronto, taking in the the sites and smells and tastes. Gathering inspiration as one always does while travelling. One day while walking well down to the end of Queen St. W., we stopped to inspect a wooden ladder that had been wrapped in colourful rags. It hit the strange and beautiful mark dead on. That ladder was filed away in our minds for future inspiration.

Then, last summer, the memory of that ladder became a Lily window display. We silk-screened 60's floral bedsheets, tore them into strips, and wound the rags around a lamp, a chair and some antlers. Strange! and Beautiful! we thought.

The Oscillator

No, it's not a new ride at Playland, it's the newest creation out of the Lily studio. Erin and I did a little dance when we opened the shipment and these were laying on top! It's a super cute, comfy dress, with loads of lovely details.

I was actually taking photos of the Vancouver window display to post on the blog when we were so happily interupted. I immediately pulled the large Oscillator on and demanded that Erin take a shot of me in it, to share with you. Funny enough, I'm wearing my patent Fluevog boots today. So here's more proof of that excellent match - Fluevog and Smoking Lily!

The tag on this dress is giggle inducing. Thanks Trish for always keeping things fun here at Smoking Lily! The styles and prints have always kept people smiling - now even the inside of garments are worth investigating for quirkiness.

And finally, here's the Vancouver window display. The yellow Irises are just opening - awwhh.