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52covet gardeninspiration grows here

ian & alexxarts and crafts

2 issue 52

contributors

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even more inspiration!

AVAILABLE AT A STORE NEAR YOU!

If you don’t already have a copy of our print edition, it’s now available at even more book-sellers and gift stores across Canada and the U.S.—including select Anthropologie stores. Peruse the pages of beautiful pictures of your favourite spaces, plus brand-new places, inspiration, DIY projects and more! Click here for a complete list of stockists.

If you can’t find a brick-and-mortar store near you, you can visit our online shop and order your copy today!

NAOMI FINLAYphotographer

Australian-born, Toronto-based Naomi has been photographing great places and objects around the world for the past nine years. Her work has appeared in such publications as Toronto Life and Outpost.

naomifinlay.com

DONNA GRIFFITHphotographer

We’re so happy to have Donna shooting for Covet Garden. You may have seen her work in magazines such as House and Home, Chatelaine and Better Homes and Gardens.

donnagriffith.com

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welcomeEvery home we tour usually wants us to start doing or making things. But after visiting the condo of illustrator Ian and ceramicist Alexx, we actually began creating paintings, sew-ing projects and even making woodcarvings. This fun-filled factory conversion houses many fascinating collections, but what really put the fire in our collective belly was how connected to domesticity and history every- thing is. By celebrating the homey in great items from hand-painted pottery to Ian’s and Alexx’s own creations, their place elevates homeyness to an art!

On the cover and this page: photography by Naomi Finlay

4 the space World of wonder

24 Q & A

26 the style Sharp-dressed man

28 the project Cute cushions

32 inspiration Very potter

34 our view Tin types

contents

4 issue 52

WELCOME TO THE FUNHOUSEIan and Alexx’s condo is a carnival of cool collections photography by Naomi Finlay

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WELCOME TO THE FUNHOUSEIan and Alexx’s condo is a carnival of cool collections photography by Naomi Finlay

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the space

W e know that as a society, we’ve become disconnected from the way things are made. We don’t know how food is prepared. We’ve lost touch with how objects are created. Illus-trator Ian and ceramicist Alexx are two people who are trying to change this situation, which is why it’s fitting that they live in a loft in a former bread factory in Toronto’s Beaconsfield Village.

It’s not a big space, but its soaring ceilings and big windows let in loads of light. Ian bought the place in 2007 and Alexx moved in at the end of April 2014. We visited them at a moment of tran-

sition—in both their personal and professional lives. So their story is one of collaboration, col-lections and evolution.

We’ll start this tale in 2010, when Ian and Alexx collaborated on a piece for the annual Come Up to My Room show at the Gladstone Hotel. The duo created an interactive representation of a carnival sideshow called Chevaux de Bois. Pa-trons could win porcelain sculptures by playing an oversize Plinko game, which now sits in the entrance of their home, serving double duty as an artwork and a coatrack.

the space

opposite: Alexx relaxes with kitty Zvezda. Behind him is a framed photo of Ian’s penpal Little Edie Beale.

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opposite: “Most of the stuff

I collect is flat,” says Ian. He also

collects vintage boxes and stor-

age drawers to keep his

collections in.

T he theme of carnival came to Ian and Alexx after their initial proposal was re-jected. Their new concept was inspired by a trip to Coney Island. While neither artist was obsessed with the midway per se (“I never win anything,” says Ian), they were both interested in the ephem-era of fairs.

“I like cheaper things that weren’t made to last,” says Ian. “I started out collecting chalkware, which was given out as prizes.” This led to his discovery of the Bonzo dogs—little moulded plas-ter pugs. “Carnival workers travelled with moulds and would make the pugs on the road,” says Ian.

The prizes would then be quickly decorated with a crude airbrushing. Alexx and Ian recreated the pups in porcelain, as a project to teach Ian the process of mould making and slip casting, but in the end they left the dogs unpainted. “I’ve tried but I can’t recreate that naïveté,” Ian says.

Another of Ian’s collections is his Paddy heads. Forerunners of the Chia Pet, the ones Ian likes best have been hand-painted by previous owners. He’s tracked the evolution of their designs, noting that by WWII, the motifs were switched to patri-otic depictions of sailors and soldiers, which didn’t leave much room for growing wigs of greenery.

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the spacethe spacethe spacethe space

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the spacethe space

B oth Ian and Alexx have a love of history and researching the origins of domes-tic objects and crafts. But they did have many things to reconcile before they shacked up.

“Ian already had so much stuff,” says Alexx. “So I gave all my stuff away.” He did bring his cat, Zvezda, and a wardrobe, which he got from Ian’s ex, Grant. “That one sort of boomeranged,” says Ian.

Ian works from home, but Alexx has a studio where he keeps pieces that inspire him (“I col-lect things that I want to make,” he says). Alexx’s

mark on the look of the loft is felt in the house- wares that fill the cupboards and nest on tabletops. “I bring home all the things that have something wrong with them,” he says. “A bubble in the glaze or a design that just doesn’t work.

“That being said,” Alexx adds, “I would never sell anything that I wouldn’t use in my own home.” His work complements his home life because the con-do has a very vintage feel. Alexx creates objects that are beautiful but that are meant to be used. “Noth-ing I make is very exuberant,” he says, pointing to a kimchi jar. “It’s meant to be a domestic thing.”

opposite: Two or more heads are better than one: Alexx helped Ian make these ceramic tiles.

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this page: Some pieces from Alexx’s RCBoisjoli pottery line.opposite:Ian in the kitchen with his vintage pugs.

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the space

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The thing about collections is that when you have enough of any one thing, a pattern starts to emerge. Mass production informs much of the couple’s aesthetic.

Of their many antique pieces, Alexx says, “These are things that were mass-produced, but there was craftsmanship as well. In the early days of industry, everything was still touched by human hands.” Ian and Alexx recently took a tour of pot-teries in England. Many of these businesses have been in existence for over 300 years. Alexx recalls talking to women who spent their entire working lives hand-painting cups and saucers, leaving

each object slightly different from the rest.

This idea of finding a fingerprint in everyday ob-jects also draws Ian and Alexx to themes from the natural world. “I like patterns and I like things from nature,” says Ian, who is currently working on a milkweed print.

Sharing interests makes it easy for two people from different backgrounds to collaborate. “Ceramics is something I hadn’t done since high school,” says Ian, who now contributes illustrations and designs to Alexx’s ceramics. “Although he’s a tough cus-tomer and often sends my drawings back.”

opposite: These pillows were part of a

merchandising campaign by the Japanese

publisher of Ian’s book, Lost.

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the spacethe spacethe spacethe spacethe space

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the spacethe space

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These vin-tage lockers do triple duty as wardrobe, book reposito-ry and kids art gallery space.

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the spacethe space

T hey’ve bought their first piece of furniture together. “The table in the sitting area is new,” says Ian. “I read an article by Corey Mintz that said if you don’t have a dining table, don’t have a dinner party.” They want to have dinner parties.

Ian has found new ways to repurpose his col-lections and recently completed a quilt made of souvenir pennants from across Canada. “Covet Garden coming over to shoot gave me the incen-tive to finally finish it,” he says. “I think I’ve been to most of the places.”

There’s a lot of history in Ian and Alexx’s space. During their travels in England, Alexx held one of the most celebrated ceramic works, Josiah Wedg-wood’s Portland Vase, in his own hands. And Ian has rediscovered the joys of silkscreening. “I’ve gone back to drawing with pencils and markers and ink again, rather than working exclusively on the computer,” he says.

The past is very present in Ian and Alexx’s home, but the space never feels dated. In fact, their love of the handmade feels like the future to us!

opposite: Ian has been gath-ering other people’s family photos and portraits for decades. “I can’t imagine how any-body could have given them away.”

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What movie would you want to live in? IAN: Grey Gardens

Born in Scarborough, Alexx Boisjoli (right) is a visual artist and designer working in porcelain. He studied at te Ontario Academy of Art and Design. His business, RCBoisjoli, is a small produc-tion studio focused on domestic goods and handmade techniques. His work is inspired by the history of ceramics. Everything from models and glazes to silkscreened decals is made in-house using advanced techniques in design, production and finishing.

Ian Phillips grew up in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and moved to Toronto to study commercial art. An award-winning illus-trator who has worked for UTNE Reader, Target stores, Canada Post, The Washing-ton Post, Nickelodeon, Real Simple, The New York Times, Good Housekeeping and more. He has also run a small press, Pas de chance, for three decades. His book Lost (2002), a collection of lost pet post-ers, attracted international attention and inspired a line of clothing in Japan.

links• Pas de chance• RC Boisjoli

1. “Widow Maker” by Jimmy Martin

2. “People Got a Lotta Nerve” by Neko Case

3. “Mr. Bojangles” by Nina Simone

4. “Yellow Bird” by The Mills Brothers

5. “The Littlest Birds” by The Be Good Tanyas

who?

we are listening to

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What movie would you want to live in? IAN: Grey Gardens

the profile

Forced to choose between the city and country, which would you choose? And why?IAN: City. I don’t like cars and you don’t need one in the city. ALEXX: If I could, I’d like to have both. But I’d rather live in the city and go to the country than have it the other way around. It’s easier to ap-preciate one when you’re coming from the other.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?IAN: Feel your fear but do it anyway.ALEXX: Keep going, never give up.

Describe your perfect evening.IAN: A bonfire on Silver Beach in North Bay. Live bluegrass.ALEXX: Movies in bed, with popcorn, Ian and the cat too. 

Describe your favourite childhood toy?IAN: My train set, a world of my own, hidden behind the furnace in my parents’ basement. ALEXX: My backyard. It was a never-ending source of fun, from digging holes for clay to snowball shoot-outs with my brother.

What place on earth do you most want to visit? IAN: Japan.ALEXX: I’d really like to see the Arctic someday. I would love to spend a few weeks during spring and see how the tundra changes and grows. 

what are you reading?

we are reading

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Colourful clothes that can be dressed up for Saturday night celebrations or dressed down for casual Sunday mornings

JUST DANDY

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the style

1. GAP Heathered Oxford Shirt in Red Heather, $55 2. Zara Man Basic Blazer in Grey Marl, $80 3. United Stock Dry Goods Tailored Chambray Vest $89 4. Topman Green Suede Tie $18 5. Converse Chuck Taylor Rubber Hi in Elderberry $80 6. J.Crew Collection Cashmere Ribbed Scarf in Heather Fresco, $182 7. Ben Sherman Crew Neck with Pocket in Yellow, $95 8. Zara for Men V-neck sweater in Bluish, $40 9. J.Crew Slim Rustic Merino Elbow-Patch Sweater, $104 10. GAP 1969 Gingham Worker Shirt $65 11. Brax Cooper Five Pocket Pants, $198 12. Old Navy Men’s Lightweight Slim-Fit Khakis in Hot Peppa Flakes, $33

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PILLOW TALKInspired by the pillows in Ian and Alexx’s bedroom, we came up with a way to immortalize favourite pets in cushion form project by Lynda Felton photograph by Donna Griffith

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I wasn’t in Ian and Alexx’s home for more then a few minutes before I realized I was seeing the sweet mug of their beloved pug, Fancy Polanski, all over. While she passed away in 2012, Fancy had been immortal-ized in many ways, including numerous paintings and a wall decal. Ian and Alexx’s affection for animals is not unlike my love for my chihuahua, Lily Kookla. It is this love for animals that inspired this pet pillow DIY.

Thanks to advances in digital printing technology, you can reproduce photos of near-original image quality directly on material and in many different sizes. I brought my favourite image of Lily’s face and a swatch of fabric to a local shop where we dis-cussed sizes that would work best for a pillow and for smaller stuffed ornaments. Four days later I had my custom fabric.

I cut around the shape of Lily’s noggin (leaving a centi-metre around the outside for the seams), but you can make your cushions in any shape you like.

the project

WHERE TO PRINT IT?mediaexpressprinting.ca This Toronto-based shop is where we got our project printed, and we were extremely pleased with the results.

spoonflower.com The gold standard for custom digital fabric printing. They now offer custom wallpaper and wrap-ping paper printing.

artofwhere.com This Canadian com-pany prints your custom images or patterns on a variety of items, including pillow cases, leggings, fabric yardage and iPhone cases.

Lynda printed several smaller-

scale versions to make holiday

decorations.

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GO GREEN, GO HOME, AND SAVE!Get your copy of Covet Garden Home AND the most recent issue of Pure Green Magazine for only $25 (plus postage). VISIT OUR ONLINE SHOP TODAY!

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Alexx makes porcelain objects that are useful and beautiful. Here are more objects that celebrate domestic ceramics

1. Vintage Irving Harper for George Nelson Boltabest Tray in China Shop Pattern, $103 2. Nina Invorm The Inner Apple Plate #4, $36 3. Vintage Nils Thorsson Royal Copenhagen Vase, $126 4. Slow Studio Sugar Pot in blue slate glaze, $28 5. Vintage Kari Christensen Royal Copenhagen Plate, $93 6. Elizabeth Graeber Tiger Stationery Cards, $12 7. Cathy Terepocki Gladstone Hanging Planter, $62 8. Vintage Figgjo Turi Scorpion Trivet, $34 9. Creations Li Chomps the Shark Mug, $45 10. Shigaraki Ion Bottle in black, $40 11. Akai Ceramic Studio K Bowl in Blue, $27 12. Dahlhaus Small Dipped Canister in Light Grey, $48 13. Dot & Co. Speckled Flag Planter, $44 14. Lotte Lamp Model 1700 in white, $349 15. Marimekko Siirtolapuutarha Pitcher, $78 16. Heath Ceramics House Number Eames 3 in light grey whale, $38

house wares

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1. Vintage Irving Harper for George Nelson Boltabest Tray in China Shop Pattern, $103 2. Nina Invorm The Inner Apple Plate #4, $36 3. Vintage Nils Thorsson Royal Copenhagen Vase, $126 4. Slow Studio Sugar Pot in blue slate glaze, $28 5. Vintage Kari Christensen Royal Copenhagen Plate, $93 6. Elizabeth Graeber Tiger Stationery Cards, $12 7. Cathy Terepocki Gladstone Hanging Planter, $62 8. Vintage Figgjo Turi Scorpion Trivet, $34 9. Creations Li Chomps the Shark Mug, $45 10. Shigaraki Ion Bottle in black, $40 11. Akai Ceramic Studio K Bowl in Blue, $27 12. Dahlhaus Small Dipped Canister in Light Grey, $48 13. Dot & Co. Speckled Flag Planter, $44 14. Lotte Lamp Model 1700 in white, $349 15. Marimekko Siirtolapuutarha Pitcher, $78 16. Heath Ceramics House Number Eames 3 in light grey whale, $38

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One of my favourite parts of putting an issue together is going to the homes we shoot and spending the day with the peo-ple who live there. It was a delight to hang out with Ian and Alexx and snoop around at the things in their home. I especially loved the Japanese tin (left) I spotted on the shelf in their living room. Ian wasn’t sure what it was originally for but liked its colours and design.

It reminded me of all the containers that I’ve collected over the years, which in-spired me to take them out of the back of my closet and start using them again. I enjoy all kinds of containers, including the plastic Scandinavian style (below, left) that I picked up at the Junction Flea in 2013. The ones on the right of the photo on the right came from various places: the large tea tin was my grandmother Reid’s; and the amazing biscuit tin from the 1900s (at bottom) was gifted to me by a dealer at the Brimfield antique show when I went years ago on a location shoot with Lynda. I was admiring it for so long but wasn’t sure I could afford it. When I came back to look at it again, the dealer said it was clear that I loved it and should have it, so he gave it to me! I’ll never forget his kindness. Now that tin not only serves the purpose of housing some of my sew-ing notions, it reminds me how a kind yet fleeting meeting with a stranger restored my belief in the connectedness of us all.

Jessica Reid co-founder/art

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Food stylist Claire’s bright white and wood space is simply scrumptious.

Can’t wait until next month for the new issue of Covet Garden? Check out our blog for more ideas and inspiration!

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