The truth is, I have to try SO HARD to not cover the walls of my entire house. From the living room to the stairwell, colorful illustrations, framed greeting cards and paintings are displayed, for the sheer joy of looking at them, owning them, taking them in. To offer colorful memories for our children to hold onto.
Almost daily, I fall for a new artist, a new artwork, a new color combination. A few years ago, I discovered the work of Myriam Van Neste and it was love at first sight. You can also find two of her illustrations in my stairwell.
Known mostly for her vibrant collages, Myriam was first trained as a sculptor in Montreal and then in Helsinki, Finland. She is now based in Quebec but works for clients all around the globe. From textile design to murals, editorial illustrations and book covers, her style is recognized by her simple and perfectly arranged shapes as well as her rich and vibrant color palette.
When I learned that her favorite color is cobalt (a color we affectionately call flambette blue), I took the initiative to reach out to her to suggest that we collaborate together on a very special collection! She had just posted an all-blue collage, which was making me feel all sorts of ways (read here: I was absolutely obsessed). Kindly, she accepted (read here: she is so kind, I love her).
With the expertise of Fylograf, a local business, we printed and vitrified (it's permanent!) the glass jar in which we made the Myriam Van Neste x Flambette soy wax candle, with notes of sage wood and sea salt. Wanna know the best part? When your candle is completely consumed, you can wash the jar and reuse it in a thousand different ways. Here are a few examples!
Although this candle makes me crazy in love, I wanted to pay tribute to Myriam and her love of paper by printing her pretty illustration on a greeting card with our dear letterpress, an antique German press that offers an unparalleled impression. You can get it right here, in limited quantities!
Oh! and that was not enough! You can also find her artwork on this charming matchbox. Out with the convenience store matches, here’s a matchbox you won’t mind leaving around the house.
I suspect this isn't the last time you'll hear about her!
Cheers!
