typecast: jeff canham designs

more design goodness for you! with the exception of the official hapa | hale facebook page, i remain a steadfastly intermittent and somewhat reluctant fb-er when left to my own devices yet must follow a dizzying number of designers and shops to scout local possibilities to share with the h|h 'ohana. i can only suspect that my google reader shudders every time i log on with all the unread posts vying for my attention.

while catching up with greenroom (the petite surf gallery in waikiki), a passing reference to one of their featured back in town artists being a local boy made my day. earlier in the year, i serendipitously stumbled upon sf-based designer jeff canham's website and was delighted to browse his collection of creations which range from old timey signage to handpainted wooden collages (scallop-y waves . . . be still my heart!). at the time i did not realize that he grew up in the islands, but once this little tidbit hit my radar i did the happy dance for the chance to share a peek inside the portfolio of one of my favorite designers.

shall we scroll through a few selections which make me smile?

are you swooning over the jack johnson album billboard too?

a seattle baby by birth, jeff spent most of his childhood on oahu surfing waikiki before studying art at the university of oregon upon graduation from punahou. bfa in hand, he soon became art director at surfer magazine and, upon saying aloha to pursue freelance life, eventually found his way up the coast where he settled in san francisco.

after accompanying a friend who was having a sign made for a new surf shop (the now iconic mollusk), jeff immediately began an apprenticeship with the sign writers at new bohemia where he practiced his lettering and discovered a natural knack for hand painted signage.

the signs are what first caught my eye and i love how they playfully capture a bygone era when mom & pops outnumbered chain stores. isn't it especially nice to see a long lost craft from the past enjoying a small renaissance?

jeff's limited edition honolulu and waikiki prints (only 100 of each) were made especially for the greenroom show so hele over if you hope to make one (or both) yours:

• where: 2350 kalakaua avenue, waikiki
• shop hours: daily, 9a to 11p

raise your hand if you are crushing over jeff's designs too!

sombrilla lovin'

while sizzling under the sun at makaha one day, i began daydreaming about rigging together some bamboo poles and outdoor fabric to create a pretty beach shelter. stumped by the logistics, it was quickly filed away in my "one day . . ." file up in the clouds.

fast forward a year+ later when i spied hollie & harrie's sombrilla in my email. the aussie design instantly charmed me with its trio of gorgeous patterns (moroccan blue makes me sigh with happiness) and 95% uv protection. even more clever: the canopy can be adjusted to provide just the right amount of shade as the sun skips across the sky (or when a surprise shower passes by).

plus, it all breaks down to fit in a matching yoga-style sling tote . . . hello wishlist!

$150 + $30 s/h to the states.

{via dailycandy}

heather brown giveaway

last week passed in a blur with my little macbook finding its way to the genius bar for two dates then prepping for a much anticipated getaway up the coast so my mister could race in his first triathlon. i was hoping to squeeze in a koa frame rehab for our lovely new heather brown linocut print somewhere during his hiatus week but, alas, it was not to be.

even though it remains unframed, the pretty blues of heather's turquoise waters make me so very happy, and heather sweetly sent along an extra print (signed & numbered) with my order to share with a reader! only 40 were printed in heather's north shore studio earlier this summer so this is quite a delightful way to say hello august!, wouldn't you agree?

find all the fine print after the jump!

Click to read more ...

morning crush: everheart paddle

more love for japan! everpaddle recently added the limited edition everheart design to its lineup of eco-friendly SUP offerings. made from reclaimed wood sourced on oahu, the heart-shaped bottom retains a little of its maker's soul with a hand inscribed "kokoro" (a japanese character embodying heart and spirit) illustrating the sweet friendship between faraway islands.

you cannot help but smile when picturing a little aloha traveling across the pacific to japan with every paddle through hawaii's splendid waves.

even nicer, $100 from each everheart paddle sale will be donated to global giving!

$295 online.

morning crush: wave of aloha

because artist heather brown's new painting wave of aloha (created for japanese surf magazine blue's hope issue) is a sweet reminder that our kokua is still needed in japan. 

$1500 online. (100% of the proceeds will be donated to the japan red cross's disaster relief fund.)