This is my Dad.  This past weekend, in the National Post, this photo was featured among photos of other cool dads (including Nathalie Atkinson‘s and Nolan Bryant‘s), as a little tribute for Father’s day.

In this picture Dad is around the same age I am now.  He is a wonderful Dad – every bit as fun and active as he is in this picture, the kind of guy who finds it amusing that his daughter called him “goofy” in a national paper. I love my Dad. Thanks Dad, for everything.

What an honour it is to be included among some of Canada’s best fashion blogs in the July issue of FLARE. Click scan for big – and if you can, pick up a copy because there is so much good stuff in this issue. As an aside, I think I misunderstood the usage of “hometown” in the interview, because now it seems like I am still based in the town where I grew up, though how neat that Bancroft Ontario gets a shout-out in FLARE too. Thanks so much Alexandra!

The small blurb was just an excerpt from a longer questionnaire, which follows here. In case you came here via FLARE, welcome – and if you’re curious, here is a little more about me.

1. Name, age, hometown?

Danielle Meder, 27, Bancroft Ontario

2. What inspired you to become a fashion illustrator?

I’ve been drawing fashion ever since I was a small child, so when I started to find occasional gigs illustrating for designers after graduating from fashion school, I was delighted and inspired to pursue it.

3. When did the website launch?

In its current incarnation, May 2006, and in its original ad-hoc version in February 2005.

4. Who would be your dream client?

No matter who they are, the dreamiest clients are the ones that love my style, respect my sovereignty, give me inspiring assignments, decent lead time, and pay promptly.

5. Who are your blog idols?

Kathleen Fasanella at fashion-incubator.com, Hugh McLeod at gapingvoid.com, Nubby Twiglet at nubbytwiglet.com.

6. What are your current obsessions?

The collapse of complex systems, creative action without thinking, money, the four elements, bravery, the moral problem of mass production, punk, figuring out what my thing is, old magazines and books, independence.

7. What inspires you?

A persistent lack of satisfaction.

8. Who is your favourite illustrator?

Antonio

9. Who is your favourite designer?

Vionnet

10. Did you mean punk music/fashion?

I mean more like the punk ethos, DIY style and a resolute rejection of what came before.

11. Do you have a designer you’re currently obsessed with?

I’m really excited about Julian Roberts coming to Toronto to teach his Subtraction Cutting technique in June. And I grow to admire Evan Biddell‘s gutsiness the more I get to know him.

12. Are there any old magazines/books in particular that you’re obsessed with?

The Last Whole Earth Catalog, Vanity Fair from the 1920s and 1930s, The FACE, but really I’ll pick up anything I can find from the 20th century with equal enthusiasm.

My friend Irene Stickney of The Make Den recruited me to help her out with a very cool project she’s been working on – helping at-risk youth learn how to design and sew prom dresses.  Today’s Globe and Mail features a terrific article about the program.  Check it out – you can click the image for a bigger version, and you can see a colour picture of the illustrations that the participants drew here.

Tiyana Grulovic at The Globe and Mail featured my new Etsy shop in her blog buzz column this weekend – I can’t think of a nicer way to launch a little online art store.  Thanks Tiyana!  Besides my drawings, the style section features the best of international Olympic gear and the report from New York fashion week, which I am enjoying this morning over coffee and chocolate.

Such a surprise to see my painting for the Heartbeats fundraiser featured in NOW Magazine, Toronto’s free alt-weekly. Andrew Sardone, the style editor at NOW gives me a shoutout in print every so often and jokes that it is no big deal – but I always love it.  The first time he did it, exactly three years ago, will forever be one of the most significant moments in the history of my site.  Thank you, Andrew.

Also, if you’re in Toronto, you should totally go to Heartbeats on February 13 and bid generously on my painting or some other red-hot work of art, all to support the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

How thrilling to see my work featured – with big glorious pictures – in today’s Metro newspaper. Click for big. My little doll is even on the cover (!) – and Janine Falcon wrote such a lovely article about the Paper Dolls book.

(Edit: Janine let me know that this story went national.  Hello Canada!)

If you’ve come here looking for a book, it is available to purchase from Blurb.com.  You can also buy a PDF version for $17.95 if you prefer to print it yourself, email me for details.  If you’re broke and you’d still like a few dolls to play with, there’s also a free mini-book download.  Thanks for checking it out, and enjoy!

Friends told me I was in the Fall Holts book so I had to get one for myself and check it out.  Its a terrific tiny picture of me and Anita from fashion week in March.

It is a peculiar feeling to be pictured on a social page. Since it caught me at a particularly good hair moment this year, and I get identified fashion illustrator, I’m pretty pleased.  Its nice to be included.

Very chuffed to see my Dr Martens boot design in the National Post this past weekend!

The boot is available at NEON stores in Toronto and Montreal, and now also online.

Last day to pick up NOW Magazine and get a peek at a few exciting customized Keds (including mine) which are currently on display at the Bata Shoe Museum.  They will be auctioned off at the launch party for Worn Journal in support of Fashion Cares on June 6.  You should come!

If you do, you will see a special little demonstration on how I created my pair of Keds.  Ok?  Come!