Thursday, October 29, 2009

Autumn Swap

Last year I participated in Sofia's Autumn Swap and this year, I'm really excited to do the same. The idea is that you make a parcel for your swap partner filled with comforting treats, and I had such fun putting it all together!

I'm posting mine off soon, as it has to wing its way to the Northern Hemisphere, but here's a sneak peek: I packaged it all up in my swap partner's favourite colours - I hope she likes it!

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Nature by Design Night

I am not a green-thumbed lass by nature: my kitchen window sill herbs occasionally keel over in despair of my skills. But I have a feeling I'd be amazing at growing herbs if they were in this delightful planter by Design Night. Amazing, I tell you!
Australia! Please stock these! Especially the yellow one!
All images

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Papercuts

When the going has been tough with my thesis of late, I have had small little projects sitting by, waiting for me to spend ten minutes or so with them to give my brain a break.

One of these projects has been completing some of Elsa Mora's papercuts that my sister Em gave me for my birthday. I am very excited (read: impatient) for them all to be finished and hung in a frame - I'll keep you posted as to how they go!

Monday, October 26, 2009

House Inspiration

This home of Whimsy and Spice featured in the ever-amazing Design*Sponge has given me lots of food for thought.
I especially love the mix of Ikea, vintage, and eBay bits of pieces - it all looks effortless, clean and very organised: exactly the feel I love.

These homes are always so good at putting together little corners of mini-installations: chair + mini table + print + vase/interesting piece = perfection.
And these garlands below are made from coffee filters! This is a home after my own heart!

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Sneak Peek: Quilt in Progress

This is another sneak peek of a quilt I'm working on for a friend's birthday. I've so enjoyed working on this one - the fabrics are (to me) the perfect mix of whimsy and fun, with the lace adding some texture and depth. I used this most excellent tutorial, but substituted interfacing for freezer paper, which I can rip off. This has been a bit of a revelation - so even and neat for me!

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Desks and Study Nooks

I've been doing a little bit of research for excellent desk layouts recently. There's probably nothing too wrong with mine, and I'm sure it's just a side-effect of sitting at it so much (!) but it's nice to dream of new workspaces.
As always, Kim never lets me down with amazing finds, and I deeply admire the lack of clutter in all of these pictures. (You know, piles of bills, power cords, paper-to-be-recycled).
I look forward to de-cluttering when my thesis is done, and starting from scratch!
All images

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Quilt Binding

This is a sneak peek of something I made - but I can't reveal the whole until after Christmas (!!) as it'll be a gift. But I wanted to highlight (apart from the CUTE fabric) the fact that I have learned to make my own binding.

Internet, it is a revelation!

No longer will I bother with difficult-to-sew bias binding - I am all about making my own. I followed some excellent tutorials if you're keen - they have been ever so helpful!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Guillaumit

French artist Guillaumit has such a distinctive style - I adore this print above - the colours and whimsy are fantastic!
He also makes t shirts such as the one above and below, which I love for its Mondrian + Monsters aesthetic.
Guillaumit has also recently released a book called 'ABC des Verbes', a nice spin on the current Alphabet books and posters that seem to be making the web rounds.


All images.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Design in Process: Das Monk

I have written before about my friend's label Das Monk - the most excellent t-shirt (and now singlet and hoody) one stop shop you could ask for.

Now Marc has an excellent little blog, with very cool music and some super interesting images. I love this post which details the design process with U.K. artist Tim Laing on the t-shirt Black Adders.

Inspired by this picture of snakes and the logo of a now-defunct Kuwaiti Bank, (I love the disparate inspiration sources!) this amazing t-shirt was born. Have a look at the blog for some amazing music tips and lots more inspiration.
All images

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Berlin Reunion

I am so blown away by this installation: yet another reason to live in Berlin! In order to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, a French theatre group put on a show entitled "The Berlin Reunion" which lasted for over four days and featured larger-than-life marionettes.
The marionettes, the Big Giant and his niece, the little Giantess, walked the streets of Berlin. The storyline of the performance has the two separated by a wall, thrown up by "land and sea monsters".
The website says, "The Big Giant has just returned from a long and difficult - but successful - expedition to destroy the wall, and now the two are walking the streets of Berlin, seeking each other after many years apart."
You have to see these pictures - just awe-inspiring.

All images

Coincidentally, there's a lovely post over at the Inside Out blog today which profiles some more Berlin architecture and images.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Neck Pillow and Support

Last week I had a bulged disc in my neck which was incredibly painful. The whole time I was lying on my back, I craved a warm pack that was long enough to drape around my neck, keeping it warm.

As soon as I was able, I got to my machine, grabbed some favourite scraps from a current WIP and made a long neck pillow. I filled it with rice and a few drops of lavender oil, and heat it in the microwave when I need it. It is my new favourite thing!

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Goodies in the Mail

Last week I was lucky enough to win a giveaway on Kylie's blog. In fact, I won it on the very same day of my own giveaway - that's quick acting karma, for you!

It arrived this morning wrapped in red and aqua pretties. I'm so excited to sit down with this beautiful book Handmade Hellos and its presence alone is hugely inspiring. Thanks so much, Kylie! (You can have a peek in Kylie's shop, too, for some deliciously cute brooches. Also, I confess the soundtrack to Kylie's blog is so good you might just keep it open in your browser a little bit longer!).

Monday, October 12, 2009

Updated Map Notebooks

I have updated the map notebooks I'm selling in my shop. I was thinking late at night while trying to get to sleep, that I'd love a notebook which I could add and subtract pages to when I felt like it.

Enter these miracle file fasteners which hold the pages tight when you need them, yet can open up to allow more pages when you need them, too. Genius!

Etsy Treasury Again


Made another Etsy treasury - hurrah!

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Liz Eeuwes: Rugs

I know, I know, maps on textiles may have you all a bit exhausted, but I am only hitting my stride! These rugs by Liz Eeuwes are inspired by different landscapes. The one above is called Strathmore and inspired by the Scottish countryside.
This one's inspired by brightly coloured tulip fields and the one below is inspired by rice paddy terraces in Bali. I think it's my favourite.
All images via here via here.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Etsy Giveaway: Revealed!

Butterflies getting ready to fly away to new owners.

After a delightful response to my giveaway, I used a random number generator and the winner is:

LPC who said: "Congratulations Kate. You know I think your stuff is super-cute. I agree, especially the map work."

Thank you LPC! Hurrah!

Please get in touch with me on etsy with what you'd like to order and I shall post it out to you!

I should say here that I had a number of entries who found me via a website which trawls the internet for giveaways from small time bloggers and Etsy store owners like myself. Without sounding too grouchy about it, (I know, it's free publicity and traffic to my site), I was unimpressed when people would write entries about how much they loved my shop and have read my blog for ages - when I can see that they just found it a minute ago and went straight to the giveaway post! I guess I don't mind them entering, but don't be disingenuous about it!! Do you have any thoughts on the subject, dear readers?

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Claire Scully

Claire Scully's portfolio is full of intricate and lovely designs. These animals invite your eyes to switch between looking at the whole image and scrutinising the myriad small parts.
They remind me a little bit of 70s macrame designs with the woven motif, yet the stare of the wolf and the lion are much more confronting! Have a look at her portfolio for more goodies - she is an exceptionally talented illustrator.
All images via here.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Love You Big in Spanish Vogue Kids!

Yes, I know I've been keeping news from you! My copy of Vogue Spain Kids arrived yesterday, and sure enough my pretty butterflies made it onto page 83 on a page about blogs and sustainable consumption. Super exciting stuff!

Unfortunately, they didn't include my shop page or blog (*sigh*), but instead included the blog of one of my lovely customers, who custom ordered some butterflies for her wedding! Ah well, thems the breaks, I guess. (I also notice that they did the same for all the other products on the page. Odd marketing move, but I like the playing detective-inference.)

Please excuse the slightly fuzzy photograph - I still don't have a scanner... (I just refuse to believe that they're necessary!!)

Monday, October 5, 2009

Number Love

These colour coded collections (try to say that three times fast) are so pretty - they remind me of all the things I love about numbers, colours and little things.
The eggplant '0' is one of my favourites - the small cars and train tracks are just ridiculously fun!
All images via here.