moving on

i am a creature of change. constant change happens whether we like it or not so i've learnt to adapt.

this is just a minor move - over - to tumblr where i will try to make time for more thoughts and
bits of love.

please visit me over here once in a while :)

my new blog residence: bowlsofhappiness.tumblr.com/

* newest addition for spring 2011 *

ceramic air plant vessels by eikcam.


they can be hung on the wall or placed on a shelf - just like our little bud vases.


each vessel comes with a live air plant
which are soil less and need little water, just a spritz a few times a week.


over time, the foliage hues change and the roots gently curl around the grooves and edges. some plants even flower !!


eikcam offers the vessels in her signature clay - natural, gritty ceramic and in pure white porcelain.


our little obsession with seed pods, plants and grasses is always evolving through new, simple design in clay.

mother, my surprise

this delicate woman in the photograph is my mother, circa 1971.


the mother - daughter relationship is layered with so much expectation and well intended dreams. we develop memories of our mothers in the roles we had envisioned them to fulfill or sadly, unfulfilled.


these expectations. they make us or they break us.


my relationship with elizabeth has been a roller coaster ride to say the least. but last christmas, she revealed something to me that completely changed how I viewed her as a person, mother and surprisingly, a hero.


the line of tension between us was almost drawn as soon as I was born. of course, to me, I didn't understand why it existed. 33 years. some brutally painful but most, completely sheltered had all come to a fine point of understanding.


I look at this photograph today and see a supreme being. she held a powerful and independent aura of an era where misogyny still prevailed. had I looked at this photograph a year ago, this awe would not exist. strange that it is the the same woman, yet my filter and the missing pieces clouded the true woman in the photograph.


I have dedicated time to start a very long and tedious process of putting together a documentary film about my mother. journals, translations, interviews, cameras, sound and editing .... and very intimate details of my mother that are going to be so difficult to hear are all on the agenda. the timeline is most likely another 30 years.
but two of my lifelong dreams are becoming reality: shooting a film and learning more about the mother I yearned to be close to.   

making still space

I think back to when I was five and how everything had to be exciting and dramatic. My parents didn't have to entertain me much as I would be busy making things or socializing with strangers. I gather things have not changed that much. 


Alas, everyday is change. Every moment is different from the last and the one to come. But learning how to be present- be it with chaos or calmness - is a constant challenge.  


I survived my first huge show at the One of a Kind in Toronto and then the Vancouver show following right after. My whole year is built around the shows in the winter season so it is a cathartic release when it's all done. 

But I am making lists and more lists of plans for the new year and it's all so overwhelming!
I am making time to travel to India - a long time dream to explore a new world to me. There are also ideas of shooting a short film and the possibility of a huge move... Ah, come what may - as corny as that may sound :)


Warmest wishes and all the best for the new year of 2011. It's going to be a great one...
xgrace 

missed our connection

Well, hello dear blog. 


I've been thinking about you. 


Let's keep in touch more often shall we?


xgrace

fall + winter 2010 palette

There is a lot of buzz happening in the studio these days... with a constant stream of helpers ( shout out to the lovely Shari, Zoe, Ayumu ) the v e r y long list of 'to dos' is getting shorter and shorter.


Alas, the next six weeks will be full force insanity.
But I have my colour palette selected - finally - which make my vision of the collection come together.
The two signature eikcam colours - turquoise and white will always be the tried and true choice for most of my clients - and the four complimentary hues that took a bit of experimenting have also been well received - so, we will see which colours become the favorite hues of the fall/winter.


What new pieces am I working on? Too many to list - not a big surprise to those that know me.
Just a few mentions:

Wall pillows - with 3D buds
Tall vases ( super popular !! ) with 3D buds
Bunting flag motif ( check it out here )
Translucent porcelain bud vases
Appetizer dishes galore in all sizes


New feature button designs!
New Christmas ornaments!


Hope to see you in Toronto and around local shows in Vancouver!! 

dear new york,

Nine years today, thousands most likely millions of lives changed. And even my own life changed drastically, so devastatingly insignificant. 

My phone was ringing off the hook. As I looked up at the clock it was 6:30am. I dozed back to sleep but the continual ringing just needed to stop. It was my father. My eyes were blurry and the boxes around me were stacked everywhere. I picked up the phone and my father's voice was the most tender I'd ever heard. "Turn on the tv, Grace' he said. I was in a zombie state and turned it on. 

For the next few hours, I realized that I was watching something very real and not imagined. Slowly, I became numb and in a daze as to what I was supposed to do next. See, all the stacked boxes were on route to New York as I was on my way to move that following Friday, September the 14th. I had been in the city in August to find an apartment in the Bronx and prepare to live and breathe my 'other' home in New York. My dream to work at Martha Stewart was just an interview away . . .

My decision to stay here in Vancouver was made for me and as I look back, I was very fortunate to continue my career, my life as a relatively content person. The horrid devastation on 9-11 has remained a severed memory for those directly affected. I felt complete guilt when I realized my own potential dreams came falling down while people had lost their loves and lives. It was hell on earth and the city had a mission to pick up all the broken pieces. 

It's been nine years today and the site remains a massive empty lot. The city lives on and murmurs with new excitement and creative energy. I love you, New York.

(Image source: Postsecret.com)

love september

well well well, ms. september, you have arrived so quickly this year. is it because i'll be another year older this month
or due to the excitement of the next few months to come?

the summer was brief and the fall and winter will be not so brief. but as a full time artist, winter can be crazy, chaotic and filled with markets, shows and the like. for me, there is the culture crawl, the OOAK show in Toronto and Vancouver then a studio sale, then a mad rush to plan for a life long dream to travel to India. it will be the most filled and hectic schedule I've ever had to face.

as september arrives, I like to reflect on what was harvested during the summer - hence the lovely carrots - and approach the next months with a fresh new outlook. the blog has had a bit of a freshening up as I am working on new branding for a few new clients and re-doing my very own website. when eikcam.com will be complete - no one knows.

the partnerships I've made have fizzled like a summer romance and the new ones are those that are the dependable kind that are waiting for you back home. i have a new collection of handmade bags on the go - but they are now completely local and will remain under the eikcam label.
my branding services are in full flight, minus the american counterpart, at the moment. more and more clients are cueing up for rebranding services. i am taking new clients for February 2011. more to come
on another local artist who is completely rethinking her brand. very excited to work with her!

ah, the manifesto for a creative life. it's been on the to-do list for 10 years now? back at design school, one of the assignments was to create a manifesto for ourselves and to review it in years to come. well, 10 years past and the values have remained the same. of course, bruce mau, not only was he our keynote speaker at our graduation, but he is the king of the manifesto. just a brilliant mind and philosopher. i will continue to add to my manifesto as i face new opportunities, people and projects. have you started yours?

self sabatoge + new projects

Is it just me or is it easier to get others projects done before your own? 

I've been over-indulgent in taking on new work and projects but that's how I work best. That being said, my own website has been on the back burner for-ever it seems. I had given myself the full day yesterday to finish up the details, but after watching 'Paper Heart' and 'Paranoid Park' and unpacking the endless boxes, it was 1 am! Oh well.

In the meantime, I am working with two new amazing BC based artisans on their branding. 

One is my personal, all time favorite silversmith  -

jessie turner of vancouver, bc. She's is known for her 

emblem heart with wings pendants and gold-leaf infused designs. I am having the best time working with her as we are also in the works to create a collaborative piece for this year's Culture Crawl. So so lovely. 

Next up is tammy hudgeons of gabriola island, bc. As Jemaine of Flight of the Conchords would put it: ooooooohh yeeeeaaah. Tammy is the glass making darling of the island and her work reflects gabriola's essence and it's all of its charm. But she also has an incredible sense of composition and colours that invoke a centered joy that we all strive for.This will be an amazing project - as I will 'need' to visit her studio for business related expeditions. 

And, with Tara of Think Big Design Studio, we are drafting, designing and detailing a new blog for Angela of Neglected Princess, an uplifting and inspiring blog for African-American gals of all ages.We are just about ready to launch the new logo and site!

laura bucci : rebranding

laura bucci is a vancouver based textile artist well known for her cup cozies and fabric covered pins and now wall panels and magnets. I've been a fan for a while and of course, have my own pouch and cup cozie - both of which I use religiously.

Over the last few weeks, I've taken on a few new projects :) and laura's re-styled product photography was high on the list to complete. The photo shoot is done and now it's up to laura to feature them on her newly updated site. Stay tooned for her new site.

giveaway on bloesem kids

It's giveaway day on Bloesem Kids and we're offering a set of three little bud vases - as shown in the post. 


How would you get your little hands on a set? Well, head on over to the blog and leave a comment on your favorite eikcam piece of jewellery or tableware or photograph.

Thanks to Bloesem Kids for hosting this giveaway on such a darling blog.


Good luck everyone!

empire building + design

Well the cat's out of the bag. I'm teaming up with indie business empire builder, tara gentile (of scoutie girl).


Tara is a bona fide, finger on the pulse indie business empire builder. Yup, she can stand back and take one swooping look at your business - product or service based - and advise on your next step to building your empire.


My contribution will entail the visual and design elements of the business branding and websites that Tara is so on the pulse with. We aim to offer rebranding, revamping and rejeuvenating of businesses that are wanting to step into the professional realm of branding. We are pretty ecstatic with this new direction in both our careers. 



A whole new website & blog for eikcam is being busily designed and rejigged for the official launch of this new service in August. It will be complete with 3 local artisans that have coincidently all wanted a revamp of their product photography and branding. How karmic!


If you run a business who wants a refreshed brand update, click the 'think big design studio' logo on the right to get more deets or email me gracelee.designer@gmail.com. 

ah love + the change

It's been a week since my little studio warming and a collective studio sale that a few of us at the Mergatroid took part in.


I felt the love. 


My career is creative. The wares I create are an extension of my inspiration, my travels and my experiences. And the most amazing end result of this process is that there are people who appreciate these wares enough to bring them into their homes. I am so humbled and grateful to share the love I put into each piece I create. Thank you.


The slow movement of purchasing local & handmade has been simmering for a while now - it's coming to a full on boil, I feel. We've over-extended our need for more and have realized that we don't want chemicals on our food, we don't want to support mass-production and we can't fill the void with junk. An insightful article on our fear of committing to this massive change in thinking by Tara Gentile ( scoutie girl ) states it so perfectly. But we are feeling the change. Are you making small changes in your life to let go of the fear of commitment?

robot tuesday

As most of my buddies know, I have a slight crush on this local indie music man, Dan Mangan. His music, well his voice, is my own personal love blanket. And, this video brings a warm giggle and hop in my step. Great tunes inspire my day and help me through those lulls - I can always count on Monsieur Mangan to liven things up. Enjoy.

su foster : rebranding sneak peak

the very first ( there will be many of those in the coming days ) rebranding photo shoot took place last night in the studio.


this is su foster. her jewellery is exquisite and refined. she recently asked me to help her with her photography and branding. we are working away on the rest of her collection and her new, redesigned logo. 


stay tooned for her launch in july/august.

photo number one

my very first photograph 
in my brand spanking new studio. 
I love walking past the ice blue wall through my fucshia pink door and smelling the new paint on the walls. 
Not to say that the previous acid-wash blue wall and the eggplant door weren't nice, nor the burnt floors or puke yellow trim... it is just nice to make one's space their own.


back to work. huge venture launch in august. studio sale and open house in two weeks. need to find a new home. boy, I need to get organized. 


this ebook on indie business is aaamaaazing. tara gentile
is a force to be reckoned with. genius.


happy rainy thursday.

whamo, i'm here + studioshop

it's the next big event for eikcam. the very first summer studio sale at the mergatroid. Am I ready? No. 
Just had three consecutive weekend markets. Had the house on the market. Offer made after three weeks. This weekend it was made official. Moved into a new studio ( quite literally 3 times the size of my old one ). Renovated. Now need to shift all my belongings to put in new, weathered floors. (Ugh and yay!) And, a new direction in my business and creative career. This all came into its denouement over the weekend. I'd have to say it has been a little intense at times. But I'm here to embrace the massive changes to come.
If you are in the neighourhood, around Clark and Venebles - 965/975 Vernon Drive is the exact address - come on down June 26th and 27th, Saturday and Sunday, 11am to 5pm. Apres the studio sale, I will be hosting a film night. Check out the facebook even page for more deets.

thinking big, thinking ahead

I love this image of the babushkas looking out into the ocean on Gabriola island. It's my favorite place in the world where I go to rejuvenate and center my crazy, busy mind. Plus, one can never get enough island air.


I've been thinking about the future and the direction that my business is heading into and it seems like the enormous amount of hours that I've put in as a stylist, art director and product designer, working for someone other than myself, has come full circle. Working full steam, absorbing new ideas and taking on a variety of projects does a designer's experience good. 


I ran across this amazing blog by tara gentile a few months ago. Little did I know that she was this one-woman powerhouse in the blogosphere. She has a wonderful knack of branding vision and small business know how. I took a brainstorming session with her and found that she was full of knowledge and advice on how to forward (in small and managable steps) the marketing aspect of my business. I adore her quirky and positive outlook on how to approach your indie business. Tara is also the editor of the very popular indie blog, scoutie girl. It features some lovely artisans and designers, all in the name of handmade - which is a movement within itself. Come late summer, I will have some very exciting news to announce. It's been a whirlwind the past two years figuring out how to settle into my little biz of handmade wares and the costs of running a full time studio. Slowly, it's becoming more concrete and clear in terms of how to combine my strengths into a vision for myself.


It feels as though I can breathe for once and take in what may be heading my way. 

post blog confusion + welcome june

I have no idea what happened to blogspot - it was not well designed to begin with, but now it's gone all haywire!! So please excuse the loooong gaps and space issues.


Everything will be better with a new website with blog incorporated. 
Yes. A. New. Website. I can't believe that I've uttered the words knowing that it took me 6 years to complete my current website. But the business is growing and evolving faster than I can keep up and a well designed website, amazing photographs, an up-to-date portfolio of products is so key to have as a representation of you as a brand.
Don't you think? 
A nice website is well, nice to look at and easy to navigate through. The photographs need to capture the details of one's work and reflect the style and mood of the company. It all has to come together - cohesive and well thought out. Not an easy task. Hopefully, by September I can redo my whole website with everything up-to-date ready for the winter shows in Toronto and Vancouver. Yip-ee. 


It's June! And an absolutely insane June if ever there was one. Here is what is on the agenda for me and eikcam
and some other lovelies:


Fab Fair June 5th + 6th at Heritage Hall. All local jewellers and bags and accessories. 


Studio move into my new space! Happening now! New floor, new walls and new paint. 


New galleries in Ontario have placed orders! Hooray! Need my two assistants back in the studio :)


studioshop Saturday June 26th and Sunday June 27th - 11 to 5pm at 965 Vernon Drive - a collective of artists in the Mergatroid building who include laura mckibbon, su foster, heyday design, dahlhaus, karin jones and bronsino. We are all super excited about our first summer studio sale as a collective and hope to have another come September.


open house + studio warming + film night June 26th and 27th - 11 to 5pm ( films will start after the open house in the evening )
In conjuction with studioshop, eikcam is inviting friends to an open house to christen the new space. I will have a small spread of appys and wine to share. 
I am even more excited to screen some local films and animations from up and coming film makers and animators alike. A former grad mate from Emily Carr who has gone on to win awards at some huge film festivals will be screening his animation - super duper excited about that!! 
Hope to see some familiar faces and share a tumbler of wine. 


Amidst this craziness, my townhouse is on the market and we've had two open houses already! It's been a chore to keep the place clean and well maintained but I am hoping it will be sold soon. Need all the good vibes possible sent over in this direction. Too excited about the next place I would like to buy... fingers crossed.


Then there is July...

nouveau simple

Another Portobello market past. And it was the best ever! I decided to change up my spot and display this market past and I'm so glad I did. I made the layout slightly simpler and had my wall pillows on focus. I sold out of them -  so the new visuals and layout must have done its job. 

I looove styling products and using old props to make things pop and lead the eye to focal points. I've been all over Canada, Asia and Europe as a visual stylist for not only trade shows and showrooms, but also for lifestyle photography, boutiques and hotels.
Soon, I will be offering visual and art direction for product photography, show display & also branding - all at an affordable price range for the artisan/designer. This is a venture that has already taken off behind the scenes, but in the next few months I will have a roster of artisans that are going to be my guinea pigs and if all goes well, I will be on the market with this service. 


Did I mention all the new peeps I met at the market? Well, here goes:


MIMI - a European designer who makes the most well-designed, stylish baby and kids accessories. And beautiful skirts and tunics that are too-die-for. { She will be a feature artist in the eikcam studio during the studio sale }
black drop designs - very picturesque and very east van imagery in resin jewellery. so charming. 
{ Another feature artist at the eikcam studio on Sunday June 27th- yay! }
tall buildings - capes and all the superkid adornments by Heather. The robot is of course, my favorite.
{ Oh, tall buildings may be in da house during the sale as well. }