Just over ten years ago, Sweden-based, Swedish Timber Frame erected their first framework outside Örebro, Sweden using timber from a 19th century house. Since then they have built over forty frameworks inspired by the simplicity yet, robust way to build. Rarely building two frameworks that look the same, each build looks to create something unique for each client.

Last week on Instagram (where I seem to be spending an awful amount of time at lately), I posted this rainbow I made and as mentioned there I chose to post this one after spending the day making about ten million versions, realizing the possibilities really are endless. I've been turning to making art a lot recently as it is what I usually do when I'm trying to work out things in my life. Currently that involves all the emotions, noise and unrest in this world. Right now it's really noisy, but in a good way. All of these voices need to be heard, wrongs need to be made right and love is needed everywhere. Let's be kind to one another. Sending out the best rainbow vibes for Pride Month and for always.

This past week I featured a large collection of black artists' work on our Instagram stories which I had been collecting through various accounts there. And in keeping with our commitment to feature more black artists and BIPOC work (see previous post), I wanted to have a more permanent spot for these pieces on the blog so we can continue to support them going forward. The works are very powerful and speak volumes and I encourage you to visit each of these artist's links and read their stories that need to be heard (I've embedded their instagram images and words).

Check out the beautiful works below!

1. Bisa Butler (Above)
@bisabutler

Black Box Press Studio

The past 15 years that I've been writing here, I have never felt more uncomfortable but also never felt more immediacy to write a post.  It's so difficult to even begin, words don't come easy for me at the best of times, (I'm such a visual person), and these days words seem even harder. I've taken pause for the past while especially trying to find my voice during this time and where I think I can do best amidst everything and going forward.  As difficult as all of this is, I'm also grateful we are having this conversation with the Black community. There have been unthinkable issues Black people have had to deal with in history, but this time, things feel different. I really hope we are at a turning point. Enough is enough.

Being the wife and business partner to an Indigenous person, I have sadly witnessed different forms of racism first-hand throughout the years with him (let it be known Canada also has a big problem with racism and our Indigenous peoples), but having said that it's important to acknowledge my white privilege and I also want to address the Black community which is so important at this time. Firstly, I understand, I don't understand the depth and extreme issues facing Black people. As a white person, I strive to continually learn and understand this world and my place and responsibility as a human being in it. The one most important thing I have learned along the way is, you cannot make judgement or opinions on others' actions unless you have walked a mile in their shoes and when it comes to racism and protesting/activism, it's impossible as a white person to know how that really feels.  I cannot speak for someone, nor will I try in any circumstance, but what I can do, is stand up, support and be accountable to making a difference.

With that said, I'm going to stay in the lane I started here all those years ago and do what I do best, which is supporting the beautiful, the decayed and the handmade community and will ensure to be more inclusive (not just now, but ongoing), and bring light to the beautiful work of more BIPOC people. I am also making a commitment to help dismantle racism, using my privilege to condemn violence and to step up in the form of art activism. We will continue to support independent artists of all races, and respectfully will try harder, listening with an open mind and heart and most importantly, "being anti-racist". Black Lives Matter.

(Above) A powerful piece by Delita Martin of Black Box Press Studio who writes on her instagram how her son loves to run and each day that he goes out for his run in his hoodie, she prays for his safe return. (Please support Delita's work if you can, and if you can't, support with your social. Heart her work, make comments and give her some love). Click here to see her work.

The lure of summer never looked better, and so does the beach and all the things that comes with it. This year more than ever I think we all are longing to move upward and onward from our winter/spring stay-at-home experience. Maybe some of these will help. More below.

”Market Study #2” Vinyl paint and oil stick on wood panel 11 x 14 inches 2020 - part2gallery.com

I recently came across the work of Liz Hernández, a Mexican artist now living in Oakland, California, who works primarily with topics related to her identity. She pulls imagery from her memories of living in Mexico City, focusing on the way the mundane and the extraordinary coalesce. Recently her work has been inspired by the idea that food is a language that we can all understand. She explores food as a way to communicate ideas of immigration, community, and home.

I was instantly pulled in by her red and pink Market Signs series where the colours alone demand attention and after learning of her inspiration, I was even more intrigued. I sent her an email asking her about the series and here is what she wrote back:

You're cordially invited to join us for an online Spring Colours Week on Instagram starting this Friday, May 1st/20 and running through to Thursday, May7th/20! If you're new to our Spring Colours Week, the rules are fairly simple:

You just upload the colour of the day (as specified below) to the #poppytalkspringcolours feed on Instagram anytime from 6pm Pacific the day before each day and then watch the beauty unfold! The feed can really be amazing and at the end we will have created together (as a collective), a rainbow of spring colours red, orange, pink, yellow, green, blue and purple!

Spring Colours Week is all about sharing your photos with the world, noticing the beauty around us, stopping to smell the roses, making new friends and having a bit of fun (especially during these upredictable times). A great way to escape for a bit, step out into the neighbourhood (or inside your home) and take a few photos (still while physical distancing of course)!

Here are the colours for each day:

Friday, May 1/20 - Reds (from cherries to berries)
Saturday, May 2/20 - Oranges (peaches to tangerines)
Sunday, May 3/20 - Pinks (powder  pink to magenta)
Monday, May 4/20 - Yellows (mellow yellow to lemons)
Tuesday, May 5/20 - Greens (mint to turquoise)
Wednesday, May 6/20 -  Blues (sky blue to electric)
Thursday, May 7/20 - Purple (lilac, mauve to royal purple)

We'll be featuring highlights of the daily colours on our instagram (stories and/or feed) at @poppytalk, with a special grand finale at the end.

So come join us, it'll be fun! See you on Instagram starting Friday and don't forget to tag your pics #poppytalkspringcolours (please note colour is spelled with a "u") and follow along! Can't wait to see!

Mother's Day has just snuck up on is and is literally around the corner! And there's just enough time to get that card in the mail if you're Mom is far away or social distancing in many cases. I know a lot of stationers are sending out your cards for you, and some even have Mother's Day Kits too they can mail, handwriting your message. Which makes a whole lot of sense during these times. So with that in mind I scoured my favourite online stationers and came up with 25 Mother's Day cards to send. Check them out below!

Hartland Brooklyn, NY

Thank you notes matter, especially now and that's just what a collective of 13 women-owned stationery brands thought when they created the initiative, 18 Million Thanks. Launched by the folks at Good Juju Ink along with website design Wunderdogs, the idea is to thank the 18 million healthcare workers in the U.S.

"There are more than 18 million healthcare workers in the United States. These people are working tirelessly and heroically to help us navigate COVID-19. While we stay at home, the least we can do is write them a meaningful, handwritten thank you note. As an added bonus, there are lots of small businesses that sell awesome thank you cards, and writing a note is a great activity while we stay at home". 18 Million Thanks

And although the initiative is US-based, we think the idea could be extended everywhere, maybe making over 60 million thanks (the total amount of healthcare workers in the world according to the WHO).

Hello dear friends! Oh my gosh - how are you guys doing? I know it's been a while and if I'm being honest, I'll admit, it's been a bit hard, this. For so many different reasons.  It's been hard to focus on work especially, (this time is definitely one for the books) and personally I've been finding it difficult to even think about, let alone post here on Poppytalk at a time with so many falling ill to this devastating virus and the consequences of all of that entails —juggling so many balls it seems, from online school, working from home when my spouse is working from home, checking in on my people, strategizing grocery shopping (so stressful) and so much cooking and dishes, so many dishes. But I'm also grateful (if that's possible) and without sounding corny, for other things —like spending more time with my family, sitting out in the sun every afternoon for tea, for quiet walks in the neighbourhood at dusk and of course, for our health. Our heart goes out to those who are ill with this unpredictable virus, to those that have sadly lost loved ones, to all the amazing frontline workers and to all of you at home trying to adapt to this new normal. It's a balancing act for sure.