holiday card giveaway!

We thought we'd start off this fine Monday {and last day of November} with a fun giveaway for our Bloomies! As you know, we offer graphic design services along with our event design services to make your event totally custom and unique! Well since the holidays are around the corner, we would like to give away 12 of these purty holiday cards, created by inBloom Event Design, to one of our lucky readers.

To enter this giveaway, please leave a quick comment here on our blog {Blogger blog, not our Facebook page} about what colours you will use to decorate this holiday {traditional red and green or something a bit different?} and we'll choose a random number...the comment that corresponds to the random number wins!

We will be accepting comments until Thursday December 3rd, and announcing the winner on Friday December 4th. Good luck!

my favourite artist: holly farrell

It has been a busy blooming week! On Wednesday we designed and set up a huge event for The University of Ottawa at the Art Gallery of Ontario - The Distinguished Canadian Leadership Awards! A wonderful gala evening that paid tribute to some University of Ottawa alumni, including Michael Burgess {we were lucky enough to catch a wonderful sound check performance during setup}, Rick Mercer, and astronaut Julie Payette. We will be posting some photos soon. It turned out marvelously!

In the meantime, I wanted to share with you one of my favourite Toronto artists, Holly Farrell. I am on her mailing list and just received an emailer regarding a new exhibition of hers. Take a peek at her lovely paintings - realistic portrayals of common, everyday objects with a vintage twist in fresh and bright colours. So simple yet so sweet! See her website here too, for more arty goodness. I would love to own one of her paintings one day.

We'll be back next week with our first giveaway so be sure to check in on Monday! Have a great weekend!

the bare bulb trend

Last year when I was looking for inspiration for a Prohibition themed event I designed, I noticed that a design store on Queen Street called Commute Home was using caged dangling light bulbs as pendant lights hanging over their furniture. It had such a beautiful industrial feel to it that I loved. It wasn't easy finding some back then to use but luckily we did find a pile of plastic ones in the basement of the venue that worked for the theme. On my trip to NYC a few week ago I noticed there was a big booming trend of using dangling bare light bulbs in the window design for stores. They had them everywhere...it was like the same window designer did all the windows in NYC...I want that job!! Unfortunately I didn't catch and pictures of the windows as I forgot my camera that day {of course!} but I did round up some pictures on the web.

These are all courtesy of Design Trends.


These are from Anthropologie.

And I can't remember where this is from, or the pic at the top but I sure do like them.

science-inspired design

Anthropologie has a funny sub-category of room decor called "Science-Inspired" and it made me giggle. But then when I checked it out I realized we were totally 2 years ahead of Anthro when we re-decorated our Dad's bedroom! Our Pa is one smartsy pants with a PhD in BioChem AND a biotechnology company. Since finishing his PhD and starting his first diagnostic company when he was only 25 years old, he proudly held on to his lab beakers and erlenmyer flasks and would sometimes stare at them all lovingly as they were getting all dusty in the basement.

When we re-did his master bedroom, we decided to add his "vintage" science tools to the room decor and used them as a cluster of "vases" on his dresser. In his bathroom we set out apothecary jars filled with bathroom stuff to keep the theme going. So Anthropologie, us Bloomers were the real trendsetters here!! I just needed to say it one more time because it sure makes me proud.

But, I'm thinking most people don't have a brilliant science smartsy fartsy of a Pa who kept his potentially radio-active lab paraphenilia, so you can get some knock-offs at Anthro instead!

empire state of mind stage design

Did you watch the American Music Awards last night? The Jay-Z / Alicia Keys performance was stellar. Not only did I lerve the music, but I also greatly lerved the stage design. It's rare for a Bloomer to enjoy a stage design - usually they are overdone and a bit flashy with primary colours and chunky curtain type of things. There were three things I liked about it: the words on the screens reminded me of Joelle Bloomer's funky painting in her bedroom. I liked it when the lighting turned to the more muted beige colours, and I loved the orchestra of only pianos. How awesome to have 5 pianists jamming together. It combined three things that the Bloomers love the most - typography, beige and pianos! But you should also really check out the perfomance here - Alicia and Jay-Z never disappoint.

my house: the master bedroom

With all of this talk of interior design, new house plans and bathroom renovations, I thought I would join in on the fun! I have lived in my house for four years now, and I love it, but it has definitely been a work in progress.

P. and I just recently finished our bedroom {why are master bedrooms always the last to get done?} and I wanted to share it here! We chose a soothing soft gray and green colour scheme, with dark accents and furniture. I found the cool New York canvas print at HomeSense and I love the graphic look it gives to the room! Recognize the little sheepy from Tel Aviv?

Have a lovely weekend!

a modern apartment by the 'bloomers

A while ago, the 'Bloomers were enlisted in a project to decorate the living room area of a condo - in a sort of "While You Were Out" scenario. The point was to go very modern, while on a strict budget, and using some of the owners' old beloved items (ie. the portable fireplace, plants, certain vases and pictures). It is never an easy task to fit all the pieces back together with a new fresh glossy look, but we were happy with the outcome!! Do you like?

demi sure is beautiful!

Ok, has anyone seen the latest W Magazine, with Demi Moore in it? I can't believe how beautiful she looks. All that flowing black hair. I love her eye makeup in the first pic - very natural, but still smokey. How does one go about looking like this at her age?! Even if she did have surgery?! She still denies her surgery, but I don't know...it just can't be real. Although I might just pretend to myself that it is!

simple, modern tubs

In our bathroom reno journey, D. and I cannot get over how hard it is to find a modern, simple, clean-lined tub! We found out that because of the size of our tiny, condo bathroom, we need to use a tub with an apron {for some reason I can't stand the term apron...yuck!} as there isn't enough room for a drop-in tub with a tile deck around it. We have been going crazy because every tub with apron {bleh} has an ugly swoopy, swirly, disgusting design on the side. And the inside always has these ledges and ridges that we just don't want. And the biggest shocker of all is that for all these swoops and gadgets and ledges it seems to cost next to nothing but to buy a plain, straight-lined tub {if you can even find one!} costs around $1000 plus!

We have finally found a few options that look nice for around $750...still not the price we are looking for but nice to know they actually exist!


The first two tubs are my favorites. They are from Oceania which seems to be one of the few companies that makes simple tubs with apron {eeeek}.

These tubs are ok, but they have that inset design on the apron {ugh} that bugs me. And I'm not sure what that thing is at the end of the second tub...a seat? Probably won't buy these ones...trying to justify why I deserve the top one for $750!

Anyone have any suggestions? I'd love to hear them!

my future bedroom

Craiger and I were discussing colour accents for our house this weekend, and while not 100% confirmed, we know that we want to go very simple and earthy, and carry this theme throughout the whole house. I've caught you up to date on my favourite kitchens/dining rooms and living room inspirations...so now, on to my favourite bedrooms! For some reason, I can't decide what I love best for the bedroom. I THINK it's the domino room with the moss green and brown accents (the pic with the frond), but then I adore keep flip flopping. I love the mustardy gold (second one down) room too - but I also love the deep blue accents of Nate's bedroom! Good thing I have four more months to decide...

{pic 1 + 6 from Anne Sage, pic 2 via inBloom Studio; pic 3 from Oprah; pic 4 from Domino Mag; pic 5 from...I don't know, Eric Roth?}

a very wee chapel for a very wee wedding

Last weekend, while Shayna and D. were on their first of many honeymoons {after their many weddings}, my husband P. and I took a mini-break of our own! We travelled a few hours down the highway to Niagara Falls to get away and relax and take advantage of some cross-border shopping in Buffalo. On our way from the beautiful town of Niagara-on-the-Lake to the Falls, we spotted the miniest of mini chapels I have ever seen! And since the Bloomers are masters of the wee wedding, I just had to stop to take a closer look!

As I got out of the car to take a picture, a woman was standing there and told me they were closed for a wedding, but that the wedding party hadn't arrived yet, so I could take a few pictures. Hee...a wedding? Apparently The Living Water Wayside Chapel was built as part of a Hollywood film set, and has remained on site where people actually get married. Such an original, picturesque little place for a wee wedding for a couple who is looking for something extremely teeny and simple. The guest list certainly wouldn't be a worry! Seriously, this is the cutest miniest place I have ever seen.

Have a wonderful weekend Bloomies!

cute lil' ike!

I was kicking around the blogging world when I stumbled across this adorable party on [simplesong]. I just fell in love with the picture of Ike holding his hat up! And look at the little soapbox photobooth they set up. This is the funniest idea for a 3 year old birthday party...voting! A clever way to get kids involved young! Vote 4 Ike!!