Let's Have Some Tacos!

I was so thrilled to finally share our Vancouver Island Taco Guide in this summer’s edition of Edible Vancouver Island. To make these taco maps I blended digital with a layer of watercolour to get the final effect. 

Find out where to snag a copy or find the e-version by clicking through and checking their website. 

Sooke Potholes Map

The Sooke Potholes are a series of waterfalls and pools in Sooke. In summer, they’re packed with teens and families especially between 11 and 3pm. The rest of the year they’ve become a sanctuary for me, a respite of moss, mushrooms, salmon, bears, bats and trees that are beautiful and changing all year long. When we’re lazy, we drive to the first parking lot and sit on the edge and peek at Sooke River (that’s where I saw my first fishing bear).

When we’re ambitious we hike all the way up to the falls or as a family “have an adventure!” and swim and climb from the base upstream (how do salmon do it?!) Sometimes it’s a social thing, sometimes it’s a long walk with a sister hashing through problems or a solo workout where I find a secluded spot under a slanted shady tree on a hot day to take a break and escape the world (where there’s no cell reception!) often the potholes have helped me to push through creative blocks. 


Now the weather is colder and wetter and the moss is thick and spreading across every surface, everything you touch is soft and forgiving.


See the whole print in the shop!

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Personal Project: Jess's Fave Eats (Victoria - Centennial Square)

Here are some of my favourite food places within walking distance of downtown Victoria, BC, Canada. This is not an exhaustive list!!

I work a lot downtown near Centennial Square, so I know all the places within easy reach of there. This map also features some of my favourite landmarks and botanical elements, including the centennial square fountain and very towering nearby tree (lit up at Christmas), ginkgo trees that line the area, blossoming cherry trees. In the close up you can see famous Fan Tan Alley and cyclists in the new Victoria bike lanes.

Some of my favourite places:

Cafe / Bakery:

La Roux (love the P{assionfruit chocolate tart!)
Pacific Union (cool vibe! Good place to bring your laptop)
Cafe Bliss

Restaurants:
Bao (get the veg tan tan men)
Shizen Sushi (I love the agedashi tofu bento box)
Rebar (veg friendly but has fish)
Green Cuisine (vegan)
Mole (get the eggs benny! best in town!) — UPDATE: Closed after Covid
John’s Place (smoked pasta, chocolate mousse are great)
Very Good Butcher (vegan)
Lotus Pond (vegan)
The Joint Pizza
Tibetan Kitchen
Pagliacci’s (live music some days)
Canoe Brewpub (cool building)

Ice cream:
Kid sister Icecream ($$$ but really yummy for a treat)

Want to learn how to make illustrated maps? Check out the resources on Skill share and Youtube!