Canadian Design: Fionna Hanna the Textile Designer

Goose Pillow Cover by Fionna Hanna, Kiku Corner

Fionna Hanna is a Toronto-based textile designer that features archetypal Canadian animals on her cotton or linen pillowcases, scarves and pouches. Silk screen and embroidery combine to form graphic animal silhouettes accented by cheeky red accessories like scarves or headphones (or are those earmuffs?). Growing up overseas, we would often scoff at Canadian things, but […]

Canadian Design: Hatchetmade by Christina Obuch

Narwhal Tea Towel, Hatchetmade, Kiku Corner

Hatchet is a textile studio by Christina Obuch that creates handmade production for home decor and accessories, in Oakville, Ontario. Focusing on silk-screening and natural dying, Hatchet creates rustic pillowcases and tea towels printed with natural Canadian designs, such as narwhals, bird eggs and sea grapes. Some designs are clearly and detailed images, while others seem […]

Canadian Design: Alanna Cavanagh’s Prints

An Empty Belly by Alanna Cavanagh, Kiku Corner

Alanna Cavanagh is a Toronto-based artist whose illustrations are available as silkscreen prints, artist proofs, or greeting cards. Her work has been featured all over, from the New York Times to a Toronto condo development near where I work. The drawings themselves seem to be loose line drawings that have a carefree feeling. I especially […]

Canadian Design: Kempton Jones by Michelle Matsui

Life's Soundtrack Tea Towels by Kempton Jones, Kiku Corner

Kempton Jones is a Toronto-based company by self-taught designer Michelle Matsui. I first saw her tea towels at the One of a Kind Show in the spring, but then I saw them again at the Cabbagetown Arts and Crafts Festival and then at the Toronto Etsy Made in Canada Day at the end of September. Her tea […]