Threadless sale time

Naughty Threadless; they have yet another awesome sale on. I missed this shirt first time around so it will be mine now. Surrealism + cats = winner!

St Martin's brief

I'm halfway through my week-long Illustration short course at Central St Martin's. It's a lot of fun, and definitely challenging. There are no computers to do research, print images, or tidy up drawings, so everything is 100% hand-drawn. Quite a shock to the system; I didn't really realise how reliant I am on my beat-up little iBook. The pace is also surprisingly slow; we spent a whole day and a half on one assignment, drawing, re-drawing, and refining ideas, which felt pretty indulgent. It's actually quite refreshing working this way, and will encourage me to continue the same way after the course.



That's my piece from the first assignment; the brief was to create an image for an article titled 'Sinking into Person Debt'. I did a collage incorporating graph paper, cut-out shapes, hand-drawn type, my morning's coffee, and various junk I found in my purse.

P.S. I had my best-yet London celeb spot on the bus this morning: Jess Cartner-Morley, Guardian fashion editor and slight hero of mine. She was looking adorable in tan heels and a navy tulip skirt!

Viktor and Rolf dolls

I love this blog post showing the dolls from The House of Viktor and Rolf exhibition against the original catwalk creations. I'm going to the exhibition this weekend; it's really near my house.

P.S. I'm doing an illustration course at Central St Martin's this week so posting may be sporadic.

Heavy Rotation: Beck

I have my workmates to thank for discovering the new Beck album Modern Guilt - it's been on a lot in the office and must have seeped into my consciousness. It's since been my to-and-from-work iPod choice for the last two weeks. I'd never previously been a big fan of Beck; I found him precariously balanced between amusingly quirky and mildly irritating and had only ever heard the singles.

But this new record is just brilliant. It's short - barely over half an hour - but packed with fantastic songwriting, unusual arrangements and tons of catchy hooks that refuse to leave my head. It doesn't grate by being overly 'groovy' like his older stuff; it's a bit dark and melancholy in places and the main theme of environmental damage strikes a chord. Standout tracks include insanely catchy Gamma Ray, which makes me want to dance on the bus; Replica, which almost could have belonged on Radiohead's In Rainbows; and the sliding strings and skittish drums of my favourite track Walls. If, like me, you never paid Beck much attention before, give it a listen.

It's a shame they took down his old website though as it was long a favourite of mine - it's been replaced by a rather bland one featuring the album art. There's some interesting chat regarding the curiously dull choice of sleeve artwork over here.

Bowerbirds

I finally got to see the Bowerbirds last night, in the tiny Windmill in Brixton. I've been a fan since I downloaded a mixtape containing their song 'In Our Talons' which I quickly got hooked on. Happily they were just as good live, soulful and heart-warming (not to mention incredibly photogenic). I picked up the album and a nice t-shirt afterwards. I reckon these guys are gonna be big soon.



More photos (and a video of my favourite song coming soon) on Flickr.

P.S. I just found out that Beth from the band is also an artist, here's her site.

Gemma Correll

I found Gemma because she hearted my etsy shop, and I'm glad she did because it meant I in turn found her darling shop. Totally coveting this kitten notebook - all my important notes are about kittens so it's perfect. Her other illustration work is quite special, too.

Free fonts

Delightful free fonts up for grabs at The Smeltery.
Via notcot

We Make Christmas

This December - the 6th to be precise - I'm going to have half a stall at the We Make Christmas craft fair. (Yep, I know it's only August but it's bloody chilly enough that it feels like winter is creeping up already.) It's going to be super fun doing my very first fair, and even better at the happiest, sparkliest time of year. I now need to come up with loads of Christmas-themed ideas to make cards and prints!

In honour of the fair, I thought I'd share a few of the other talented people who will be exhibiting there.


Amelia a.k.a Bombus is trained in textiles, but mostly uses vintage maps to create gorgeous stationery and decoupaged furniture. I love her delicate muted colour palettes and the sense of heritage the vintage maps give to her pieces - this coffee table is on my winning-the-lottery wishlist.
Visit her shop and homepage to see more.


Jennifer runs Flurogoddess, and turns her hand to many crafts, from button badges to sewing to paper goods. I particularly like her recycled printed notebooks.
Visit her homepage and dawanda shop.


I was lucky enough to pick up some free Creamrose buttons in my goody bag from the last We Make fair. They're so cute! As well as making covered buttons using kitschy Japanese fabrics, she makes brooches, rings, and pretty clutch bags.
Visit her etsy shop.

Keep an eye on the We Make blog and We Make Christmas flickr group to see more photos and goodies from the exhibitors.

Dorophy Tang for Lomo

I've long been a fan of Dorophy Tang's work - she uses ancient Chinese pottery patterns to decorate modern objects in a very effective way. Now's she's teamed up with Lomography to produce this Diana+. If I didn't already have a Diana I'd be all over it. I can't find much about Dorophy on the web but there's more of her work here and here.

Via notcot

Magic Jelly Paper Chase project

Karena of Magic Jelly came with the lovely idea of the Paper Chase project. Fuelled by a love of old papers and ephemera, she asked people to send her their own finds, with which she'd make a collage for the sender (the payment being allowing her to keep any spare paper!). There's some great photos of the wonderful items she's received on the site.

Karena is also a really talented illustrator of cute retro-inspired characters and everyday items. I love her original mixed-media pieces too. You can find her on Etsy.

Keep Calm and Rock On

A funny take on the ubiquitous Keep Calm poster from the guys at The Poster List.

All Things Original

Some of my prints and cards are now available though the darling online shop All Things Original.

Mailing list

I just added a mailing list to keep people up to date when I add new things to my Etsy and Folksy stores. If you'd like to sign up, the form is in the right-hand column.

Bantjes' new poster; Field Day

I'm swooning so hard over Marian Bantjes' lastest project - a gorgeous laser cut poster. Don't know where I'd display it though as all the walls in my flat are white! I guess i'll wait for the printed version.

In totally unrelated news, I went to Field Day on Saturday; got very damp but particularly enjoyed Jeffrey Lewis and his 'Creeping Brain' comic book.



More pics on Flickr.

Threadless sub

I've submitted my modern playing cards designs to Threadless; click the link below to comment or vote.

Pikapackage

My work is in this month's Pikapackage giveaway! I made some postcards with mini-prints on the front, and some boomark/button-badge trinkets.



Stay tuned for an update when the August Package goes on sale.

Brussels pics from the Viv

A few more Brussels pics from my beloved Vivitar Ultra Wide and Slim camera.







More on Flickr.

Graffitikitty

Cute graffiti spotted outside my gym in Stoke Newington.

Si Scott for Threadless

My Si Scott mini-obsession keeps inadvertently rising. First I bought the Hype Type print, then playing cards, now he's released a Threadless shirt and I just couldn't resist.

Non-coincidentally, he also has a show opening at the Threadless Gallery. Sadly Chicago is a little too far to travel...

New prints - alphabet series

The first two prints from my alphabet series are now for sale on Etsy and Folksy. They came out super nice, the collage effect is really effective when they're all framed up.

Bruxelles

Back from a gorgeously sunny long weekend in Brussels. In some ways Brussels reminds me of a much more compact London - the contrast of beautiful centuries-old buildings juxtaposed with streets of kebab shops and tacky souvenir places.



We didn't do an awful lot apart from walk around the cobbled streets, eat a lot, drink even more due to the 30 degree heat (that's uncomfortably warm for someone from chilly England) and do a bit of touristy sight-seeing. We did make a trip out the Cantillon Brewery which was a highlight. Nestled in an unexpected neighbourhood full of import/export clothing shops, it's a traditional - still fully-functioning - brewery which produces wonderful sour lambic beer and kriek (cherry beer).







The Belle Vue museum was also a highlight. Set in a pretty square near the Parc de Bruxelles and Royal Palace, it charts Belgium's history through its art, culture, ephemera, and people. Unlike most museums, it wasn't stiff or dry at all, very visual and informative. There was some particularly lovely type specimens and Art Nouveau pieces.





We ate some great food too - many frites avec mayonnaise, waffles and some good restaurants - Soul, a veggie/organic specialist, Bonsoir Clara, a trendy bistro, and Bleu de Toi, whose specialty was stuffed baked potatoes (mine contained mushroom and truffles, mmm) which we ate on a pretty terrace. And we brought back as much beer as we could carry as it was so cheap!

Si Scott playing cards

Two of my current favourite things, together as one: luxury Si Scott-designed playing cards. I'll take a pack of each colour, thanks. Available from theory11.

Press

Thanks you very much to all the blogs who have featured my little shop while I've been away this weekend: Couveiter, decor8, Real Simple and the paper planes.

Brussels was lovely, blog and photos coming later! Or check my flickr for a preview...