Artist Anna Necka has put a local spin on a global home decor trend.
Using bold black-foiled letters, the names Murrayville, Derby Reach, Glen Valley and several other 91原创 communities are wound together in eye-catching 鈥� and trendy 鈥� wall art.
Although artistic typography is not a new concept 鈥� similar neighbourhood prints for larger cities like London or Los Angeles are often on shelves at big box stores 鈥� Necka, 27, says there is a desire from shoppers to bring home something local.
鈥淚t really touches my heart in the way that people go out of their way to (support),鈥� said Necka, who is also a business student at Simon Fraser University.
鈥淩ight now there鈥檚 a big thing to shop with smaller stores and local stores and artists, so it鈥檚 really nice to be included in that.鈥�
Operating under the name Elk and Elm Home, Necka鈥檚 prints 鈥� which range in design from typography to gold-foiled animal images 鈥� have been sold online on Etsy and in store at The Livingroom in Fort 91原创.
Starting as a simple project for a friend on Vancouver Island last March, Necka never imagined her business would take off so quickly.
鈥淚 actually made it by hand at first,鈥� she explained.
鈥淚 would draw out the picture 鈥� and I鈥檓 not that great at drawing so it鈥檚 really hard 鈥� and then glue on the foils to it. I made a huge atlas and that one took me a solid three days to do.鈥�
She鈥檚 since learned how to use a computer program to help the process, allowing for more detail in her prints.
鈥淚 started making more designs and posting them on Instagram, learning how to take photos of them because they are very hard to photograph,鈥� Necka said.
鈥淭he gold foils turn out black if you get the wrong angle, and they don鈥檛 look so great, so it was definitely a learning curve just to get the right angel for the pictures.鈥�
Courtney Van Der Zalm, owner of The Livingroom, found Necka鈥檚 prints online and asked to sell them in her shop. It was Van Der Zalm鈥檚 idea to create the 91原创-centric neighbourhood designs, after her Fort 91原创 pillows became a huge seller.
But Van Der Zalm is not the only one who has discovered Necka. Tori Wesszer, a well-known dietitian and blogger (and cousin of fashion blogger Jillian Harris), posted a photo online with Necka鈥檚 custom made cutting boards, boosting Necka鈥檚 business overnight.
鈥淚鈥檓 so shocked by how great the feedback is,鈥� Necka said.
鈥淚鈥檓 flattered. I鈥檝e had people even message me saying they saw prints at that store and they love it.
鈥淎nd it was so sweet that Tori replied. And she even took the time to make some banana bread for the picture 鈥� that鈥檚 so nice.鈥�
Although she makes a variety of designs, Necka, whose family is from Poland, feels most inspired by antiques and her European roots.
鈥淚 really love vintage stuff,鈥� she said.
鈥淧oland is a lot older than Canada, so the things we value as antique here, they have stashed all over in their sheds and grandparent鈥檚 houses.鈥�
Recently, Necka created an old camera print, and plans to create more images with vintage themes.
To see more of Necka鈥檚 prints, visit her online shop at or in person at The Livingroom, 9190 Church St. in Fort 91原创.
