Who: Andy Thê-Ahn

Where: Montreal

What: The f/w08 collection is timelessly glamorous. My favourite are the gowns: lustrous, liquid fabrics and impeccable tailoring scream luxury.

Who: The Vancouver Olympic Committee design team

Where: Vancouver

What: I’m pretty excited about the Vancouver 2010 graphic identity. It’s no easy task figuring out how to represent your country to the world, but I like the direction the team took. The urban/nature marriage, use of texture and “cheeky humour” make for a thoughtful, energetic and appealing identity.

Who: Cake designer Cindy Coelhlo of The Wedding Cake Shoppe

Where: Toronto

What: I stumbled across the Wedding Cake Shoppe site and was instantly wowed by that showstopping Moroccan-inspired cake. I love the intricate detailing, ornate and pretty without being traditional wedding fussy-fussy. That, the modern palettes and fun buttercream flavours like spicy chai latte and Canadian maple has me saving this link for a future date…

More beautiful cakes

Who: Marie Dubuc, lamp designer

Where: St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec

What: Using a wide variety of materials ranging from taffeta to wood, Marie Dubuc revamps found lamps into brand-new, beautiful, eye-popping creations.

Who: Sylvain Tremblay, pepper mill designer

Where: Colomban, Québec

What: These pepper mills would probably upstage any meal unfortunate enough to share a table with one, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing! Rich colours and sleek, fun structural details ensure that their inclusion in your dinner conversation.

Who: Amanda Anderson, owner of Kulus Designs

Where: Vancouver

What: Northwest Coast Native motifs, designed by local artists, are screenprinted onto basic hoodies, tees and dresses for a very wearable and chic womenswear line.

Who: Kimberly McCabe of Curiouser & Curiouser

Where: Amherst, Nova Scotia

What: This artist’s portfolio is a world of whimsical delights. Her work reflects an energetically busy style, with lots to look at in every layer. Her collages, like this one, are especially fun!

Who: Illustrator/designer Rachael Herbert

Where: Montreal

What: Well, pretty much everything: illustration, web design, handmade stationery and other objects (seen above), etc., etc., etc., all done in a distinctively bright, clean, enchanting style.  She keeps busy running an Etsy store, an addictive, adorable blog and one very happy garden.

Who: Illustrator Rachelle Anne Miller

Where: Ottawa

What: It’s the bunny’s sweetly patterned ears and the peacefully slumbering creature on the elephant’s back: loving details that make this illustrator’s work so captivating. Do visit her gallery store for more heartwarming images and a guaranteed smile.

Who: Fashion designer Eugenia Leavitt

Where: Montreal

What: Her award-winning Fall 2008 collection features cocktail dresses and separates in classic lines, with handmade rosettes adding an appealingly sweet (but not too sweet) twist. Very fresh, very modern.