OLD BIRDS. ODD Birds. love birds.
My dad is the patient photographer and artist behind every bird on your placemat.
He has a sharp eye for every feathered detail (and, once upon a time, X-rays as a newly-minted no-work retiree.)
Every photograph on these mats is exactly as he captured it. There are no AI enhancements on the placemat images! (Though I can’t make the same promise for the product shots on this site… but hey, we’re all about balance.)
My mom is the adventurous spirit and birding teacher who can turn any walk into a wildlife safari. True story: she was once spotted eyeing a hawk at the peak of a wedding ceremony. She teaches Birdwatching 101 for the TDSB’s Learn4Life Program, sharing her passion for birds with anyone willing to look up. If you live in Toronto and are interested in walking with Bonnie the Birder, check her out!
Over the years, I’ve had my fair share of laughs at my parents’ birding quirks and their birding ways. The perfectly adjusted “bins” (that's short for binoculars, for the uninitiated), the endless backyard cardinal sightings, or the "winter is coming" Juncos, the overlooked "trash birds" like gulls and pigeons, the straps to keep those bins on just right, the converted strollers to carry and caddy heavy camera equipment to the end of the earth and back, sad stories of travelling to far off places only to lose camera gear and, of course, the 1000000000000x photos my dad insists on showing me—every single one, with a full editing commentary. Guests, you have been warned.
But here’s the thing: through all the teasing and eye-rolls, they’ve instilled in me a deep love for the birds and opened a world for me I would never give back. A love for the quiet moments of spotting a hawk in the sky, the joy of hearing a chickadee’s song, and the wonder of seeing the world through their bird-loving eyes.
For years we have talked, and talked, AND TALKED about finding ways to get his photos into the world. So here it is –Peckish is my way of honoring that love, celebrating the beauty of nature, and sharing a little of the humor, awe, and heart that comes with being part of this bird-obsessed family.
This work is my tribute to my "old birds," who carry wisdom in their wings, and all the "odd birds" out there who embrace the quirky and the wild. It’s a celebration of the beauty, humor, and awe that birds bring to our lives—and the people who inspire us to notice.
Every Peckish piece is crafted with care right here in Canada, but the inspiration? That comes from birds spotted across the globe. From backyard cardinals to exotic feathered friends captured on faraway adventures, each design tells a story of wonder, flight, and the beauty of nature.
No ai, only natures magic.
Every photograph on these placemats is exactly as my dad captured it—no AI enhancements, no filters, just the raw beauty of birds in their natural element. Each image reflects his patience, skill, and love for the craft.
(As for the product shots on this site… well, let’s just say we’re all about balance!)
