Design Traps for Birds

True or false? Birds can't perceive right angles as indicators of obstacles.
True. Right angles, glass, transparent windows - all are architectural obstacles that birds cannot perceive. When birds sees clouds and sky reflected in a glass high rise or trees and shrubs reflecting off your living room window they merely think it's a continuation of the sky or their reflected habitat. Reflected vegetation is the most dangerous, however, birds also try to fly through transparent windows as they try to reach a perch seen on the other side. For more dangerous architectural bird obstacles read this great article by Christine Sheppard on Architecture Week or Bird Friendly Building Design on the American Bird Conservancy site.

images top: Dundarave bungalow -  a 'tunnel' and a window reflecting tall trees and shrubs

center: Staples Residence West Vancouver - a bird death trap. Transparent windows, tunnels and reflective glass

bottom: Cordova St. Vancouver - a combination of architectural eras. Which is the least bird-friendly?

1986 Vintage Gucci Flats

I've been hanging on to this Vogue 1987 vintage Gucci post for awhile and then boom - here they are on eBay. Of course, not in my size. The auction ends today and they're a size 10. Get them and tell me how cool they look okay.

Prada | Wes Anderson | Candy

I can never tell if these sorts of flicks are parody or pretension. 

Ah, mais la vie est la parodie, mon cheri. 

Needless to say, I like their suits and it reminds me of Truffault's Jules et Jim.

Prada, Roman Coppola and Wes Anderson team up for Candy L'Eau.

Annual Purge Yard Sale | Saturday June 8th

stacy reynaud

Coincidentally, I purged my closet last weekend and our pal Rachel has decided to have a yard sale this weekend. It's a purge so everything will be super cheap. I'm selling mainly clothes - and some Danish stuff. We'll be set up by the West End Farmer's Market.


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One - Two - Sold

You know the old 'truth', in the 'power of three', (my marketing instructor self speaking). Consumers love threes. Don't give us too many choices! Once you see something three times, act on it. Case in point, black cane rocking chairs. I was going to buy one for $50 from a lady in Kelowna two weeks ago but forgot, (the one above). Now in the last 24 hrs I find two saved on my computer.  Mom and Dad, are you coming down soon?

Tip of the Week - Iced Coffee

stacy reynaud
Put your left over morning's coffee in an ice cube tray in the freezer. The next time you have an iced coffee it won't get watered down with regular ice cubes.

A familiar pile of dirt - Another West Vancouver Home Demolition

Mansions of Vancouver Architect Dan White from bijouliving

  I'll give you a hint, I originally wrote about it in June 2010 and again in October 2011.  I wonder if I can get my hands on the blueprints now (West Vancouver City Hall wouldn't let me see them in 2010)?  Think the beautiful bird sanctuary of a front yard ended up in a Smithrite?  For more images, click one of the dates above.

My latest fix

You know me, I'm always getting into something! This time it's teak tables with tile tops circa early 1970s.

This makes me want to shoot one of me and my bff

It would be pretty hilarious.

Top Summer Colors for Men

The thing about technology is that fashion is becoming faster and faster, (note I did not say style). Back in January 2012, I did this post on men's color trends for Spring | Summer 2013. These were just three of my favourites. View more of what Pantone picked over at their site - which, in fact, is a very resourceful piece of the Interwebs.

Did you pick up anything in these colors? I haven't bought anything for summer yet! Probably because we're only at highs of 14  - brrr.

I'll take the female version of the center outfit (not the shoes) in the last row for myself - hoping that the sweater is a silk linen blend. Which wouldn't you turn down?

Pantone calls them Monaco Blue, Vibrant Orange and Sunflower

all images ©style.com

Essential Coffee Information

Now wouldn't this be a cool poster?

source Helen K

In My Other Life

I'm the program head (and member of faculty) for the part time marketing management program at BCIT. I'm also a tree hugger, as you've probably figured out by now. How did I get into marketing? It just happened. I actually hate marketing, or is it marketers? Or is it the campaigns? Remember, I'm also a born BC'er, as is Adbusters - and Greenpeace.

When I see a campaign like the new one from Greenpeace targeting Italy's largest fashion houses, the first thing that runs through my head is, 'OK Greenpeace, how exactly did that green rubber glove come into fruition?' Last time I checked rubber was harvested from trees - is it neon green when harvested? I thought not. Where did the dye go after the gloves were dyed? How many vehicles were used to transport the gloves? In all fairness, Greenpeace may have had a disclaimer on the gloves stating they were artisanal gloves produced by fairies - or in an ecologically sensitive manner.

Think before you approve.

Quote | Albert Einstein

I speak to everyone in the same way, whether he is the garbage man or the president of the university.

Coffee

Some of these new spots [artisanal coffee shops] have a way of making you feel not cool enough--like you're dressed inappropriately. Patrick Dempsey on the artisanal coffee shop scene.

Dempsey just bought Tulley's coffee (the Peet's of Seattle). Weird.

Any Portlandia fans out there? Anyone been to JJ Bean Coffee in the Woodward's building? Check it out. You'll see what he means.


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Cold War Era KGB Spy Equipment

Quote - Edgar Allan Poe

  Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night.

Uncivilized Cards from the 70s

I sometimes find these tacky things at thrift stores.  What was with the 70s anyway? So sloppy and uncouth. Now pass the Grey Poupon if you will.
Mean-Spirited Greeting Cards from the 1970s by LosPeep

Vintage Gucci

1970s
Wood Manual Wind Watch
source

From the archives: A Collection of Rejection

Originally published April 14, 2011

One of the best things about writing your own blog is that you really save a fortune on self addressed stamped envelopes.





















But alas!

The thief in my stolen clothes

I was warned about her, I even picked up bad vibes from her myself. She had her believers, her pawns who volunteered at her shop. I could see right through her Liberace-cum-Rasputin facade. Unfortunately, as all artists know, financial duress can sometimes win out over intuition. Needless to say, I brought a collection of my designs to her store to sell.

On and on she went, trying to make me believe she was taking my designs out of pity, 'They really won't sell here'. But she took them anyway. Two weeks later I dropped in to see if she'd put them out. I hated walking into her Main St. shop with its stained carpet and the stench of cheap incense, mildew and pot - even worse was her cackling about color and texture to every dahhhhliinnngg single person that walked in. Luckily, she wasn't there, just one of her minions flagrantly gossiping to hang around - hence the whole shop. I approached the counter to ask about my account as my designs weren't on the floor - alas, I stood unnoticed. There was an open black binder on the counter top and coincidentally enough it lay open to my account - which was marked with a massive slash through it with the number 86 written at the top. If you've never had the joy of working in the food and beverage industry - 86 means sold out, finished, no more.

Panicked, I left the shop. Calling up the minion a few hours later, he told me that my things had sold out and that there would be a cheque for me the following week. Onwards to the following week. I went in to pick up my cheque first thing in the morning, wanting to make the whole ordeal as quick and painless as possible. Liberace-cum-Rasputin was cawing on the phone. It was just her and I in the shop. She gave me a snide, 'How are yooouuuuu...' thank god she didn't try to touch me. I told her I was there to pick up my cheque. She went to the black binder and looked up my account - not opening the book in its entirety. 'Oh, didn't we call you last week?' she miffed. No, I called you and spoke to a guy who said my cheque would be ready today. 'Oh dahhhlliinnng, I'm sooooo sorrrry, but your things were stolen.' WTF?

Onward two weeks.
I had been invited to one of Vancouver's most highly respected vintage clothing collector's home for a private sale. His private sales were noted as the end all be all, and to be personally invited meant he thought you were worthy to view and shop his private collection. I was nervous about going, and almost didn't,  but I grabbed hold of my gumption and my BFF and off we went. Once we arrived, my jitters passed, and I was in all my glory. Encompassing my thoughts was one thing, how I wanted to roll, naked like a dog in grass, amongst the mountains of vintage silk, velvet, and chiffon that lay strewn around his old Victorian home. And then there she was, carelessly planted like an invasive species on the pink velveteen sofa, cackling, as a not so stellar jay - decked head to toe in my 'stolen' 86'd personal designs.