Victoria, British Columbia (Canada)

Andrew Lewis is a talented graphic designer. He’s well known for (among other things) his poster designs. Shown here are a few of my favorites…

See more of Andrew’s posters here…

—Buckminster Fuller (1895-1983)

—William Morris (1834-1896)

(Thanks to Carisa Romans for the quotable).

Southeastern Manitoba, Canada

I stopped eating meat, poultry, and eggs from “factory farms” in the 1980s — for both ethical and health-related reasons. Naturally, I was delighted to find a small family farm devoted to producing wholesome food the traditional way, without caged animals, and without the use of steroids or hormones. Besides the (truly) free-range eggs they provide us with on a year-round basis, we have also enjoyed excellent chickens and select cuts of “ethical meat” from time to time.

I like buying directly from the source, and I like knowing the actual folks who invest their energy producing the good food I am privileged to eat.

Sue and Adam Dick, along with their sons Cameron and Anders, run Ivy Hill Farm. They moved from the city and founded their farm based on their strong convictions about food safety, quality nutrition, and the humane treatment of animals. Ivy Hill Farm raises heritage breeds that live their 24/7 natural, happy, normal lives grass-fed in pastures. Located on the edge of woodland wilderness south-east of Steinbach, the farm is a bustle of animal activity — Irish Dexter cattle, Berkshire and Tamworth pigs, Hair Sheep (that don’t need shearing), goats (for milk), horses, and a variety of chickens are watched over by a “security crew” consisting of Clara the donkey jennet and a trio of farm dogs, helping to fend off unwanted visits from local bears, wolves, and coyotes.

Everyone should have a farmer. 

All photos © Ivy Hill Farm, 2013 (Update, September 2014 : Unfortunately, Ivy Hill Farm has ceased operations).

—Tom Robbins

(original sources unknown)

New York, New York

Photographer Deborah Turbeville, one of fashion’s lenswoman legends, has passed away at the age of 81. Known for her signature soft-focus and gauzy romanticism and painterly, textured melancholy, her photographic talents won her the admiration of art directors, editors, stylists, and designers worldwide. Read an interesting interview here with Deborah at Style.com about her career and reflections on 13 of her favorite images.

“Perhaps the most interesting thing about my photographs is that they are a little bit of an enigma; they’re hard to place… I’m working with fashion magazines; whereas in another era, I might have been an illustrator.”

(original source unknown)

Victoria, British Columbia

Andrew Lewis received the prestigious Gold Medal in a ceremony held today at the BC Parliament Building from His Excellency Francisco Suarez-Davila, Ambassador of Mexico in Canada, and Ms. Claudia Franco, Consul General of Mexico. The Gold Medal was won by Lewis at the International Poster Exhibition of Mexico in Mexico City out of a field of 8,400 entries.

The poster, featuring a co-branding image between Converse (USA) and Marimekko (Finland), was used for local retail business Baggins Shoes of Victoria BC. This is the first time a Canadian designer has won the Gold Medal in the 24 year history of this international poster Biennial.

Congratulations, Andrew! (source)