Daily Smudge

A week of web wonders

2011-11-25T17:50:00.001+11:00

+ Adorable mitten gift tag tutorial by the clever folks at Present & Correct

+ I can't believe someone actually lives in this perfect home!

+ This great collection of stocking stuffers from Etsy

+ Hilarious pizza slice sleeping bag to dream in

+ A sneaky peek of Mary Kate McDevitt's shiny new calendar

+ The new holiday shop of Shanna Murray (especially this mirror kit)

Handwritten Letters

2011-11-21T10:55:00.001+11:00

I love the work of Mary Kate McDevitt so was really excited to hear about her letter writing project: she will send a letter a day for a full year, all in the spirit of keeping postboxes happy and writing alive (letters of the alphabet that is, not letters about the weather!) Sadly I was too slow to sign myself up but am looking forward to seeing all the letters displayed on her tumblr site here

(you can buy the handwriting print here too)

Colourful ballooning

2011-11-21T10:45:00.001+11:00

Aren't these photos of hot air ballooning just gorgeous?! The colours on that top left one especially so! In fact all the photos on Angela Hardison's blog are equally as peaceful and divine (Go take a peek)

2011-11-18T10:22:00.001+11:00

It has been awhile between posts here at the smudge I know. I have been busy finishing up the writing and collating of wonderful things for my first ever book (so very exciting!) while also looking after and adoring my new little friend (both fantastic things, though a combination that I wouldn't recommend doing at the same time!) I can't yet share much about the book until it's release but I will say that it is full of the works of some incredible artists and designers and looks pretty damn fine because of it! I can't wait to see it in the flesh and to be able to share it here. In the meantime... i've got alot of catching up to do for this space!

[image above by Richard Perez of Skinny Ships]

One month ago today

2011-10-19T23:43:00.000+11:00

One whole month ago at the bright and early hour of 4am, our little Leo entered the world. It's overwhelming how much love suddenly flows for such a tiny and fresh faced being... can't get enough cuddles and feel the need to smother him in kisses constantly!! I won't deny that the first couple of weeks were somewhat of an emotional roller coaster, but we're getting the hang of this parenting thing now and it's just plain magic. Happy one month birthday little man. We love you ever so already xx

Spring Orchard // Gloss Creative

2011-09-12T18:41:00.000+10:00

An amazing celebration of spring and craft has taken shape in the form of a massive orchard installation. It can be found at the GPO building in Melbourne and was created by the talented folks at Gloss Creative. There are over 2000 pieces of crafted paper and 30 feet of rope used as part of the artwork, aswell as many hands and hours of making. I hope it grows and makes it to Sydney!

Found via one of my very favorite blogs... plenty of colour

Miniature Conversations

2011-09-08T17:26:00.001+10:00

Love the project by Aled Lewis featured on Yellowtrace today (it made me smile out loud)

Colours and Patterns of Leah Duncan

2011-09-07T12:39:00.000+10:00

The work of Leah Duncan is not a new find but one that re-discovering today made me appreciate all the more. I love the lines (which look so simple but I know are so hard to do well) and the colours she uses. The blue mountains pillow especially is tugging at my retail weak side!

38 weeks of belly

2011-09-05T12:21:00.000+10:00

I apologise for my neglect over the last couple of weeks. It's been a busy little while and my 'to do' list has been endless.... working and getting ready for the new arrival has stolen all of my time (along with a power nap every now and then obviously!)

Took a sunset stroll to Balmoral on Saturday to try out our new camera (which is great btw) A sun kissed chill in the air still... but kept cosy with the help of a sizable stack of fish and chips - twere lovely!

The Film Title Stills Collection

2011-08-11T11:50:00.001+10:00

I'll admit to not being a huge fan of black and white movies (I just love colour abit too much I think) but the lettering of the opening and ending film titles are just beautiful. This awesome website is devoted to such titles and has even divided them into decades and themes (plus a whole section of Saul Bass opening sequences too).

The 1940's was a particuarly special decade...

Cutest of critters // Honeycup

2011-08-05T18:09:00.000+10:00

How can little characters, with so few facial features or body parts, be so emotive and so dang adorable?!

(All prints by melbourne illustrator, Honeycup)

Colour a plenty

2011-08-02T18:42:00.001+10:00

I have lots to be smiling about of late... Fun and challenging work projects, little kicking feet inside my steadily growing belly and the feeling of winter slipping away and the summer shining on through!

The discovery of this great new blog last week was something to add to my list. Plenty of Colour is full of (as you'd imagine) incredible colourful things.... like the above asphalt painting in Berlin (photo by happy pixels) My favorite pieces though, are the sequin art artworks by Danish/Czech artist, Theresa Himmer. Imagine turning the corner to see that!!

(The one above is a volcano... and below is a waterfall!)

The Week Ahead

2011-07-25T15:53:00.000+10:00

I've been looking at lots of incredible lettering over the past couple of weeks for a really exciting project I'm working on (more details will be revealed down the line) This quote pretty much sums everything up in my world at the moment. So many new and exciting challenges over in the ocean... time for a swim I say!

Found this lovely piece here

Vinyl Letterpress Printing // The Hungry Workshop

2011-07-21T14:04:00.000+10:00

Today I discovered a wonderful printing project by the very talented duo at The Hungry Workshop - a print made from a laser cut record for an exhibition about record sleeves! How perfect!!

I love it when people get all experimental with age old techniques and so this struck a chord (aswell as the fact that my lovely husband has one hell of a record collection and doesn't know quite what to do with them all!) This video shows how it's done. The printing plate below is almost as gorgeous as the prints - I hope they've framed it somewhere!

(I have also been admiring for some time these these sketchbooks and target coasters made for Raleigh Paper. Those colours. Awesome!)

Sweet baby dreaming

2011-07-21T13:14:00.000+10:00

I saw Adele Enerson's magical photos of her daughter Mila's sleeping worlds some time ago and thought they were fantastic then... but now I'm looking at them with a whole new set of eyes. Am thinking this might become my new hobby in a few months?! (I hope this little lady dreams as big as these worlds that her mum makes for her too)

Typewriter glorious typewriter

2011-07-15T14:00:00.003+10:00

My friend and all-round inspiring lady, Zoe, is having an exhibition as part of Sydney Design 2011 and I for one am really looking forward to seeing it. It's all about typewriters and the writers who use them both past and present (such a great topic don't you agree?)

Some of the final images are printed using a RISO stencil press - printed one colour at a time from Zoe's hand drawn illustrations and typewriter-typed text. The resulting prints are pretty damn gorgeous!

You can see a little video with Zoe talking more about it over here & if you want to see the exhibition in all it's greatness, get to blank_space gallery between 31st July & 5th August.

Wrap magazine

2011-07-15T12:42:00.000+10:00

A magazine that doubles as beautiful illustrated wrapping paper is a genius idea & exactly what UK magazine, Wrap is all about! No staples. No stitches. It's a collection of A2 illustrations and designs to wrap with and their equally worthy interviews to absorb in the process. Issue 2 is all about animals and creatures.

You can see and find out more over at magculture

Tahiti Pehrson // Paper artist extraordinaire!

2011-07-08T23:38:00.001+10:00

In-cred-i-ble papercut work of Tahiti Pehrson has been discovered this evening with thanks to the photoset by my love for you of his current exhibition. The patience it must take to create such pieces is really quite something...not to mention the skill. I'm utterly in awe!

(above photo from my love for you/all other photos from Tahiti's gallery site)

Paper Lanterns

2011-07-04T16:18:00.000+10:00

I posted a few years ago about Jurianne Matter's gorgeous paper products here and now theres a whole new range of lanterns to love. Gorgeously dutch in aesthetic... earthy colours and little glowing trees... so cute! You can buy them in 3 packs here

The little tree cards are also quite lovely.

(found via Bloesem)

A week in Twitterland

2011-06-27T18:25:00.003+10:00

+ The letter dress above (via @uponafold) & more of Jennifer Collier's amazing work

+ Finders Keepers friends reveal their Top Picks of all things lovable in paper

+ Good Magazine's pro-girl drive with a showcase of 25 of their favorite designers and illustrators

+ Clever and brilliant Roadshow Movie posters (via @go2publicschool)

+ One for the typo nerds - a tumblr site that identifies typefaces used on vintage printed material (via @presentcorrect)

+ Sydney montage of snippets from the Semi Permanent festival a few weeks ago

Weekend wanderings

2011-06-27T13:54:00.000+10:00

Had a cosy and wonderful weekend away in the Blue Mountains... logloads of fireside cosiness and many a scenic treat for our eyeballs (goodness it's a beautiful part of the world). As always, reminded us to escape more often!

This did however mean I missed Friday's twitterland links... so they'll be along soon in the form of monday links instead :)

Print by Gnome Sweet Gnome

Dear Photograph

2011-06-21T15:27:00.000+10:00

"Take a picture of a picture from the past in the present."

Isn't that a great project?! Really makes me want to burrow through our piles of & try one out. You can submit your own here too

(found via etsy)

City exploration beckons!

2011-06-15T23:21:00.000+10:00

Love these maps of Paris, New York and East London. Nostalgia and stolen secrets in one beautifully folded bundle. As if exploring all these places wasn't exciting enough already!

Guest Postings

2011-06-15T23:07:00.000+10:00

I've done a couple of posts for Charlotte over on Lottie Loves (my top 6 paper artists of the moment) and Little Lottie Loves (some delightful mobiles) this week if you fancy a stroll?

Colourful characters // Judy Kaufmann

2011-06-14T16:11:00.000+10:00

The prints of Judy Kaufmann leapt into my inbox last week and they were too gorgeous not to share. Judy is an illustrator from Barcelona and you can tell from her work that she must be a happy lady because of it. I love the bright blocks of colour and fun characters (can you spot Woody, Frida and Charlie?!)

& how cute is this repetitive print of identical twins...

You can visit her shop here

p.s. Not sure what happened to last week. All the rain must have washed it away? Sorry for the lack of posts either way :)

Bianca Chang // Paper Workshop

2011-06-06T17:40:00.000+10:00

As part of the A4 paper festival workshops I was lucky enough to meet the lovely Bianca Chang and listen to her spill her working beans in the workshop she held at Object Gallery. I made a (sort of legible) letter 'e' which I must admit I was rather proud of, but best of all it was just great to get making with only paper, a ruler and a scalpel.

It's no surprise that Bianca's work is incredibly delicate and the accuracy required is way beyond my skill set (as proven in the above photo). It made me appreciate that much more how incredible her pieces are because of it. This video of the making of her A4 exhibition pieces shows exactly how incredible they really are!

Bianca Chang - Recent Works, June 2011 from Bianca Chang on Vimeo.

A big thanks again to Lisa for organising the first week long paper festival in Sydney. It was no mean feat I'm sure and was perfectly pulled off (can't wait for the next one!)

Charm cards // Egg Press

2011-06-03T12:10:00.000+10:00

I think if I had to pick my favorite stationer, Egg Press would very definitely be a contender for that medallion. Their new range of charm cards were released last week & are so adorable. I love the idea of cards being used for other things beyond their big day and paper jewelry is a perfect way of wearing them!

& while we're here... their gift wrap patterns too are quite simply lovely.

Map Works // Matthew Cusik

2011-06-02T12:36:00.000+10:00

Wow! These map collages by Matthew Cusick are really something. Beautiful compositions and beautiful colours. I really hope the printed map never dies out (imagining a collage of only google maps makes me sad)

A week in Twitterland

2011-05-28T17:31:00.008+10:00

+ This gorgeous postcard poster shown above (via @jordanferney)

+ A great paper layered animation by the wunderbar Jen Stark (via @paperconvention)

+ The shop window full of paper cranes made by trial and error (via @desktopmagazine)

+ The multitude of excellence documented by Nole at the National Stationery Show (via @beautifulpaper)

+ Maps made into mountains by Louis Reith (via @presentcorrect)

+ Delicate paper vases made by Upon a Fold for the A4 paper festival (via @uponafold)

+ Two great new blogs I've discovered this week: Pillar Box Post & Jones

+ Last but not least, the amazing lights on the Sydney Opera House at the Vivid Sydney launch last night - it's like the city's heart is glowing! (photo taken from the ferry hence the jiggles! sorry!)

A4 Paper Festival... almost here!

2011-05-25T16:30:00.000+10:00

Am very much looking forward to next week as the A4 paper festival is coming to Sydney town. I talked about the Paper Convention launch awhile back and now the festival is really happening. HOORAY! The exhibition opening is on Tuesday night at the Paper Mill and features some supremely talented artists.

Doubley exciting is that there are side events a plenty too. It'd be great to go to them all but that'd be just greedy... I have however just snapped up some tickets to a talk by Japanese paper extraordinaire, Yoshinobu Miyamoto...

... and a workshop run by Bianca Chang which is pretty darn exciting also. I am hoping to come out with some wonders just like hers (yeah right!!)

A giant congrats to Lisa for making such a great thing happen in little old Oz... I salute you from my little paper boat!

Print of the Day > Mike Perry

2011-05-18T09:35:00.000+10:00

Illustrated print of 'E' by Mike Perry
(& it's not solely because my name starts with 'e' that I love it so!)

Pulled // a screenprint book

2011-05-17T12:00:00.000+10:00

Though I'm not allowing myself to buy any more books until I've devoured the ones I've got, this one is mighty tempting. It is compiled by the wonderful Mike Perry and features screenprinting work of many greats including Aesthetic Apparatus, Deanne Cheuk, Steven Harrington, Cody Hudson & muchas more.

You can buy it here if it tickles you?!

A talented duo // We Buy Your Kids

2011-05-17T09:00:00.002+10:00

We Buy your Kids make some wonderful things they do! I saw them talk at Semi Permanent on the weekend and after seeing their huge array of posters, have been so inspired to get my screenprinting mitts into action!

They also showed some llustration work done for Tourism Victoria which were pretty damned gorgeous both in image and in colour... a series of detailed maps of tourism destinations within Melbourne. (top to bottom: Theatres in Winter, Fashion in Spring, Food and wine in Fitzroy in Autumn)

See more on their portfolio site here

Parisian Typography

2011-05-16T17:03:00.002+10:00

After years of studying and working with Type, I still find it so utterly fascinating how fonts can be linked to moods and places so very much! They've really captured it in these beautiful videos for EF language schools.

This one makes me want to go to Paris... like right now!

EF - Live The Language - Paris from Albin Holmqvist on Vimeo.

See London & Barcelona & Beijing too

Stationery Show daydreaming

2011-05-16T16:49:00.000+10:00

As with all previous years I can only dream of the delights being showcased on this very day at the NSS in New York. One day maybe I'll go for real?! In the meantime, I am pretty smitten with this Yellow Owl Workshop card set (sneakily showcased last week on Oh So Beautiful Paper)

& the new look Hello Lucky cards and journal too. (I do love a whale card!)

Bump bump

2011-05-12T17:31:00.000+10:00

Well I said I'd be back with some news... and this is it:
I have a big bump in my belly and it's not just from excessive chocolate rabbit munching!!!

We are VERY excited but it still feels a little surreal too. I'm 22 weeks pregnant now (which for all normal people, not weekly baby countdowners, is about 5 months) so we still have to wait until September to meet the little bean... which seems like an eternity away (Though all the more time for miniature clothes shopping. he he)

Hi (5)!

2011-05-11T12:09:00.000+10:00

Please forgive me for my absence folks!! It has been a hectic few weeks... a 2 week road trip with some wonderful visiting friends and a mountain of work to conquer on our return! Am back now though... & with a backlog of goodies and some news to share!!

High Five by Rachel Castle

A week in Twitterland

2011-04-16T11:07:00.000+10:00

+ This amazing and beautifully designed paper record player invitation. Watch the video to see it in full action.... brilliant! (via @swissmiss)

+ Papercrafted poster by Benja Harney for Birds of Tokyo (via @paperform)

+ Some rather rude but true design advice (via @jessicahische)

+ Beautiful book themed invitations by Rifle Paper co. (via @frolicblog)

+ A giggle at this story (via @mcsweeneys) The Washington Post Inadvertently Publishes My Online Dating Profile with the Editor's Notes Still Included

Photo of the day > Todd McLellan

2011-04-14T15:49:00.001+10:00

Available here

Landskap // Kikki K

2011-04-06T11:20:00.000+10:00

The new Landskap range of stationery from Kikki K is a lovely lot. The colours, the little horse and the trees... oh my!

Illustrations and letters // Chris Silas Neal

2011-04-05T12:19:00.001+10:00

When looking for some book design inspiration this morning, I stumbled on C.S.Neal's very fine portfolio. He is a great illustrator and has a way of pairing this with hand-lettering which overall is quite frankly just too greedy in terms of talent!

He is Brooklyn based & has done many illustrations, covers and gig posters for a wide variety of clients. I highly recommend a closer peek at his site if you like the look of these below too - particuarly the art + type section. (Studio image above via from your desks where you can read an interview with the man himself)

The food prints in his shop are pretty darn cute too...

Creativity with Austin Kleon

2011-04-01T14:53:00.000+11:00

I really enjoyed reading/viewing Austin Kleon's slideshow on 'How to steal like and artist (and 9 other things nobody told me)' - Some really great points about art, originality, making things and being nice. I especially like the point about just making and not waiting until you know who you are or what you want to do - I'm definitely a victim of too much planning & not enough just doing! Worth a look if you're after some inspiration or brain power on this friday.

Above is a screenprint of one of the points addressed

Street photography // Matt Stuart

2011-03-31T09:00:00.008+11:00

If you haven't already seen Matt Stuarts street photography then I highly recommend spending some time looking through his website. His photographs are clever and insightful and will make you smile for certain. What a couple of curious eyes he has!

His advice to other photographers is great

"Buy a good pair of comfortable shoes, have a camera around your neck at all times, keep your elbows in, be patient, optimistic and don’t forget to smile."

Penguin Threads // Jillian Tamaki

2011-03-30T12:55:00.000+11:00

The talent and patience of some people astounds me. I am someone who is too impatient to even sketch proper leaves on a drawing of a tree, so anything that looks like it's taken an age and is all the more amazing for it makes me gush. Embroidered by the talented hands of Jillian Tamaki, this new series of embroidered book covers for the Penguin Threads series are completely gush-worthy.

The final covers have french flaps and were embossed to retain the detail and feel of the embroidery. Can't wait to see them in the flesh! (I love the back of black beauty especially so)

(all images copyright & taken by Jillian Tamaki)

Le Creative Sweatshop // Viral paper greatness

2011-03-24T18:50:00.000+11:00

French troupe Le Creative Sweatshop are just what they say on the packet. Hugely creative folks who make a whole lotta wonderful things... & almost all from paper no less! (Things that never imagined themselves ever being made in paper)

Their Viral Paper project is especially great... as far as I can deduce it was a project that began as an installation in Amsterdam... and spread to other participants throughout the world requesting and being sent their own colourful cones in return for their photographs.

A paper revolution... Andy Goldsworthy style!

Go to their behance site or website to see their full portfolio. (check out these window displays!)

Palettes of calm // Sol Linero

2011-03-21T19:32:00.001+11:00

Tis a rainy old day today. These Beautiful illustrations and muted colour palettes by Argentinian artist and animator, Sol Linero are keeping me happy.

+ more on her flickr site here

BIG love to Japan

2011-03-18T13:21:00.000+11:00

So very very horrible what's been happening in Japan. Sending big love and courage to everyone over there. Lots of great artists and designers are fundraising via their various talents which is a hugely wonderful thing to do. I have no such art but can support via others who do. Here are some if you too want to help in some way (every little helps)...

Help Japan poster by Signal Noise

Cards and prints by Hilda Grahnat (who I posted about here)

Posters by Wieden & Kennedy

Make City postcards via Upon a Fold

pdf of the gift wrapping zine by Hello Sandwich

Dear blank

2011-03-16T12:32:00.001+11:00

I had many a chuckle over at the Dear Blank site when I discovered it awhile back... and today I was even happier to see that Sapling Press have converted some of those chuckles into real living letterpress letters.

(found via Design Crush & Design Work Life)

Yulia Brodskaya does emotion

2011-03-04T15:31:00.002+11:00

Unless you've been hiding under a sheet of paper for the last few years you've most probably seen Yulia Brodskaya's incredible paper work around the place. I've always been an admirer of how she took a relatively nanna like artform of quilling to a whole new and exciting level.

Yulia wanted to raise the profile of paper craft even further to show it's ability to "convey meanings and emotion" This new artwork below is absolutely incredible both in size and in doing everything else she was seeking to do. It blew a little bit of my mind stumbling on it! Go here for a look at the work in process and more explanation.

... just because it'd be a wasted opportunity not to marvel at some more work... her are some of her commercial pieces that you might or might not have already seen before?! oooo aaaa. & in case if like me you can't get your head around how she makes them... check out this little video

Paper weather

2011-03-03T10:50:00.002+11:00

Kurt Riedi has come up with a wonderful way of telling the weather forecase with these simple silhouettes and household objects. I love how moody they all are (This'd make even a cold and thunderstormy day an exciting one) & how the sunny sun is such a radiant lightness!

You can go and get your weather report with paper sculptures to boot from right here.

Envelope craftiness

2011-02-24T17:10:00.000+11:00

My poor trusty computer has been in hospital this week. The hot weather just got too much for it I think and it has drifted into a little coma. Hopefully it'll be back tomorrow and ready to help me with my (rapidly building pile of) work again!

In the meantime it meant some hours to play with just paper and scalpel... JOY! So I got busy making envelopes. Who knew such a thing could be such fun?! I used magazine pages and old posters to create them along with this great template I bought from Upon a Fold awhile back. (as always - please excuse my poor quality of photography - must work on that!)

It's kind of an unplanned adventure seeing what will appear on the front and what will appear inside. I especially liked that inside the phone envelope is a sleeping lady!

(I'm very sorry but I can't credit all these collected images. Most are from Frankie magazine due to the great paper stock and the lovely illustrators they showcase)

Paperdoll Primer // Emily Martin

2011-02-21T16:09:00.000+11:00

While burying myself in a most delightful bookshop over the weekend I came across The Black Apple's Paper Doll Primer. A most adorable and nostaligic-riddled book by talented US illustrator Emily Winifred Martin. I used to play for hours with paper dolls when I was little and would have treasured these lovely ones. The characters are fantastic and the clothes so very suave.

Internal images from Angry Chicken (& read her interview there too)

Emily sells these beautiful small sets in her shop too if you don't want a whole book just yet.

Happy Hearts dear friends

2011-02-14T09:00:00.003+11:00

via Bookshelf Porn

Wild animals

2011-02-08T13:12:00.001+11:00

It's a most clever thing in my eyes to create a book that could be for a newborn baby or a knitting nanna... so beautiful is this one by Rop van Mierlo that it does just that! (Buy a copy here if you like)

Wilde Dieren / Wild Animals from Rop van Mierlo on Vimeo.

Triangles on the brain

2011-02-07T14:34:00.001+11:00

My heart fluttered a little when I saw these cards and prints by Design des Troy. Triangles have been creeping into my designs for the last little while... but repeated and overprinted like this they're even more grand!

These cards by CarsonToo bring a whole lotta credit to my 3 sided friend too

(p.s. Apologies for going AWOL for the last week... a busy busy studio it has been!)

Print of the Day > Physical Fiction

2011-01-31T12:14:00.000+11:00

What makes this fox ever more fabulous is that it is printed using letterpress... but with lego pieces!
Sadly this one is out of print but see others for sale here (& read more about the process here)

Photography // Paul Octavious

2011-01-27T17:59:00.000+11:00

I posted about this Kite Hill photograph by Paul Octavious awhile back now. I love the hill series & the video of snow day (all those *splats* at the bottom of the hill. he he)...

But today have been admiring some of his other work too. I'm abit in love with the books series. Such a simple idea but shot so beautifully. And those colours and covers... coming from someone with a colour coded bookshelf, they're just heavenly to look at!

Wow!

2011-01-19T15:26:00.000+11:00

Who would've thought an object with such ugly connotations could look so amazing?! Part of a sculpture created by Yang Yongliang that is made up of black and white collaged photographs.

(via design boom)

A week in Twitterland

2011-01-14T17:08:00.000+11:00

+ Some gorgeous photography collages (above) by Abigail Reynolds. It's a good sign that I don't even know how to explain them! (via Insideoutmag)

+ Beautiful handmade business cards on Creature Comforts (via creaturecomfort)

+ Curious little video of making a paper tattoo here (via strictlypaper)

+ Jessica Hische's 'Should I work for free' flowchart which has been all over the internet this week (via jessicahische)

+ An amazing signwriting flickr set 'Ghost signs' (via shelfappeal)

+ Circus identity design (below) by student, Nathan Godding - CMYK in all its glory! (via designworklife)

Happy weekending wherever you may be. Am off to have sundowner drinks. hurrah!

Nativity // House Industries & Alexander Girard

2011-01-14T09:00:00.000+11:00

Christmas is over now. I know this... all the same, if I had a spare wad of bills I'd be snapping up this wonderful creation from House Industries to have on display all year round! My parents have a really old nativity and hours of entertainment were spent shuffling the inhabitants around (often in not so biblically accurate ways i must admit)

What gives this set even more significance is that it's based on illustrations by textile designer Alexander Girard and this great poster in particular (& the famous little man above has the same arms as the angel in the poster) How great is that?!

Bucketloads of colour on The Design Files // Kate Banazi

2011-01-13T13:49:00.004+11:00

If you haven't already checked out the guest blog on The Design Files this week then you must MUST must! Amazing things have been created and they all revolve around colour. Each day, illustrator Kate Banazi explores one great colour in all it's glory. Yellow, Red, Blue, Green & .... I can hardly wait to see what tomorrow brings!

Above is the downloadable desktop image for Day 1: Yellow (& almost even more great than the finished product is the video of Kate screenprinting it)

In amongst all the wonderful yellows my heart and eyes rested on this Kat Macleod image (below right). Wow! At first I thought it was the profile of a japanese girl (the black being the hair), but then i saw the pencil. This happy accident makes it doubley good!

Love is in the air(mail)

2011-01-13T11:27:00.001+11:00

Any excuse to send messages of love is a good thing in my book... even if Valentines Day is supposedly a giant evil marketing ploy la di da. These beauties would make even the most cynical heart flutter.

Cards and customised prints from Rifle Paper Co.

Papercuts by Mr Yen

Cutesticks cards by Hello Lucky

Swedish allsorts // Hilda Grahnat

2011-01-11T20:55:00.001+11:00

I came across these Japanese inspired postcards via Hildas great blog and I couldn't stop looking at them.
(I'm sure there'd be music coming out of that first one if you listened closely enough) Hilda takes the most beautiful photographs that ooze the kind of aesthetic that seems to be uniquely and brilliantly Swedish.

These collages and more are in her 2011 calender (pictures via her blog).

& if that wasn't enough talent for one lady... Hilda also makes these fantastical clocks from vintage books. The perfect bedside timekeeper wouldn't you agree!

The Coasters // Parliament of Owls

2011-01-10T12:52:00.001+11:00

Drooling over all the horribly good design work over on For Print Only this morning and came across this coaster set by the clever ladies at Parliment of Owls.

This fine little set of 4 was designed as a promo piece for Cranky Pressman letterpress printers to show off their new die cut shapes. The characters, Edna, Cranky, Mr. Snogglebaum, and Adelaide & Mr. Pistachio are the senior citizens of beach community living — The Coasters! I love the little profiles on the back with corresponding cocktails. Cuteness!

(even cleverer if you're a print nerd like me is that it only prints with two inks... & a new green is born in the overlapping! Ahh, printing is a magical thing)

Turns out there are a number of other mighty fine coasters around the place too... a couple more to make you thirsty...

+ 'Lets Screw' set by Black Dog Press

+ Studio on Fire coasters printed at an AIGA event

(I've now added 'print coasters' to my list of Gocco pursuits for this year)

Christmas love // The Wooden Truth

2011-01-07T13:26:00.001+11:00

We were lucky to get lots of love from afar in envelopes this christmas. A particularly special one was this 12 days of Christmas card from my dear friend Ellie. It was printed and designed by The Wooden Truth in Lewes, UK (the beautiful town of my last workplace).

(images below via The Wooden Truth)

They seem to be a fairly new company from what I can gather but am looking forward to seeing what other paper treats they come up with in the future (I don't think i'll ever tire of woodblock letterpress. yum indeed)

Objects to make you smile

2011-01-07T12:40:00.001+11:00

Not a particularly papery post I know but these two wonderful and adorably simple design ideas made me feel a bit fuzzy in my design-heart compartment.

Bookrest/lamp for sale at Suck UK

'My Theatre' by Hina Thibaud
(I for one would love a little box of treasures such as this... must it really be only for kids?)

Hello 2011

2011-01-05T10:39:00.001+11:00

I do so hope everyone had a most wonderful New Year and Christmas time.

So many festivities, so much food and such alot of sunshine... what a great season twas twas! Now it's back to work and though in theory that sounds sad, I'm in fact immensely excited about what this year will bring. No uprooting countries or job huntings to be daunted by this time round... just a whole pocketful of fun projects and adventures in store. And new things for this here blog?! My brain is a tickin'.

(Lovely foiled notecards above are by Seesaw Designs)

Merry merry everyone

2010-12-24T11:21:00.002+11:00

Wishing everyone a most fantastic & festive time for the next few days. See you again soon :)

One year old!

2010-12-22T18:13:00.000+11:00

Please excuse the broadcast of nostalgia but this past weekend marked a whole year since j + i were married! I still feel as insanely lucky a duck as I did on the day (though am not used to that wierd word 'wife' yet) Thinking of that snow covered, fire filled, english barn the weekend before christmas and of the turkey and mince pies we ate and the dancing we did. I couldn't dream up a better memory to seal the deal of forever love!

and such a fun dance to a most beautiful song...

I've been promising to post a picture of our lil old wedding invites & date savers for awhile now but have been reluctant due to my poor photography skills... but hopefully you'll forgive those too.

Gocco printing day

2010-12-21T13:31:00.002+11:00

My friend the Gocco was happy to be let loose the other day as Christmas card season came around in our house. Without him I would never have been able to use silver ink...Yumm. I promised that I would use him much more this year too... now that I have these lovely new inks (from Print Addict) there's no excuse!

(will show the properly printed cards later on)

Flower bomb tutorial // Dear Plastic

2010-12-21T12:44:00.001+11:00

The incredibly nifty Yumi of Dear Plastic has just posted this tutorial of how to make her colourful paper bombs (showcased back here in the Finders Keepers post) They'd make fantastic christmas decorations...
I for one am very excited!

A week in Twitterland

2010-12-21T11:17:00.001+11:00

So it's Tuesday I know... but anything goes at this time of year so better late than never I figure?!

+ The delightful DIY paper reindeer pictured above (twit by Kickcan and Conkers)
+ Video of an artist who collected drawings of childhood and redrew them into a book as an adult (twit by Julia Rothman)
+ This amazing colouring-in Burger wallpaper
+ Template to make a beautiful paper star ornament - i've tried it too & it is easy peasy and great! (via upon a fold)
+ Adorable broadsheet newspaper inspired wedding invites (via Oh so beautiful paper)

wrap wrap again

2010-12-16T14:34:00.000+11:00

In my continuing quest for wrapping examples I came across the Nice Package blog that is just full of such magic... if you haven't seen it you should really take a meander around there.

Top to bottom - Twistie tie tutorial, Sweet Paul packaging, printable tags and tutorial here

Via Nice Package too, I discovered these scrumptious cloth envelopes from MaeMae Paperie... the everlasting envelope?

wrap wrap - a festive wrap

2010-12-15T15:34:00.002+11:00

I am not a great fan of christmas wrapping paper. The kind with santas and puddings and holly all over them. BUT, I love great gift wrapping... and there are so many great ones about that it's making my fingers itch at the ready. These a few treats i've seen thus far...

Essimar taking washi tape decoration to a whole new level - patterns galore!

The divine simplicity of Oh Hello Friend's parcels (especially the wax envelopes)

& a regal newspaper bow by Jessica Murnane (tutorial via Country Living)

The green treasures wrapped by Jordan & the geometric shapes and colourful ribbon combos of ink and wit

& if you want more then the wonderful creations of Hello Sandwich + the new gift wrapping zine will most certainly keep you going...

(p.s. I'm still on the prowl so let me know if you spot any more)

Golden Rule // Studio on Fire

2010-12-09T16:05:00.001+11:00

Probably the best motto ever... every home should have one!

Printed by the oh so fabulous Studio on Fire... & Koen, a very clever lil 6 year old!

Public School posters

2010-12-09T09:41:00.000+11:00

Great posters c/o those clever folk at Public School...
& while we're in that part of the world, how great is this identity design installation too?

Calendar season again already?!

2010-12-08T11:09:00.002+11:00

Nope, I didn't do a calendar roundup this year it's true. Mainly because time was gobbled away but also because there were quite a few great ones already about. I did however just see this one by Delicious Design League and have decided it's my favorite one yet...

(oh, and this one which graces my studio's wall and i admire on a daily basis!)

Neon mobile // Clara von Zweigbergk

2010-12-07T23:45:00.000+11:00

As I mentioned earlier in the week... festive decorations are on my mind at the moment... and while this one isn't strictly christmassy, it certainly is cute! Swedish designer, Clara von Zweigbergk is responsible for this joy and has even made a little video so you can get busy with it too.

(Found via Seesaw Design)

Illustrated Whimsy // Julie Morstad

2010-12-07T14:41:00.001+11:00

Beautiful and so wymsical illustrations by Canadian, Julie Morstad... so dreamy!

Some prints for sale here

Finders Keepers & The Paper Collective Launch

2010-12-07T01:25:00.000+11:00

Such an inspiration filled weekend it was. The Finders Keepers market was great as always (& came away with only a few little treasures. phew!) and the launch of Paper Collective was so at home there too.

The clever little beans from Trial + Error, Melbourne were responsible for the buildings installation... & their hours of cutting and folding were well worth the effort I'd say! There were also paper masks, bow ties and origami headbands which spread the paper love through fashion.

The creations that came from the workshops corner were quite spectacular too - handmade paper, confetti bows, gift bags & xmas goodies... not to mention the awesome paper bombs decorating the heavens made by Yumi of Dear Plastic.

Big hooray to Lisa for co-ordinating such a magical land and for such a fun couple of days. To think this is only the beginning of it all... oh my!

p.s. In case you missed out, here is a wonderful Hello Sandwich tutorial for making confetti bows... such cuteness!

Paper Convention Collective... is taking off!

2010-12-02T14:10:00.001+11:00

Finders Keepers markets are always a reason to make my toes tingle... and this weekend not only are they having their fabulous annual Christmas markets in Sydney, but also it's the launch of the wonderfully exciting Paper Convention Collective!

The brainchild of the lovely and talented Lisa from Lox&Savvy, the paper convention is an event scheduled for next year with all kinds of paper based brilliance set to be on show. So in anticipation, tomorrow night and all day saturday at the carriageworks, there will be paper workshops galore (see the schedule here) I'm lucky enough to be helping Lisa out so do come by and say hi... and see what the beebuzz is all about!

p.s. isn't the Finders Keepers flyer below divine too... illustrated by Jefferton James

Festive beginnings

2010-12-02T12:03:00.001+11:00

Being in the hot summer of Australia, it doesn't ever feel overly christmassy at this time of year. Having experienced my first 7 years all white and cosy in Switzerland, the beach and prawns (though amazing) just doesn't seem to cut the pudding in quite the same way!

BUT. As it's December now, I'm actively trying to find my festive spirit! Decorations will be made and mince pies consumed. I'm determined. These little treasures from In Haus Press have helped me along my way so far (despite the pinecones which we miss out on sadly)

Print of the Day > Jen Corace

2010-12-01T14:57:00.000+11:00

An adorable little print by Jen Corace via Tiny Showcase this week. How I do so love her characters! (& it's good for your conscience too as all proceeds go to Youth Pride)

Paper planes invite // Zed & Bee

2010-11-30T16:38:00.001+11:00

Just spotted this great Save the Date destination wedding invite by Zed & Bee (had to share it while still suffering from airmail fever)

Apparently they were based on the Martha Stewart paper plane templates, but were pretty tricky to actually reproduce... well worth the trouble though I say girlies!

Tree of Codes // Jonathan Safran Foer

2010-11-30T11:39:00.000+11:00

Jonathan Safran Foer's, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close might just be my favourite read... and now on a complete tangent but equally brilliant, he's gone and created this most beautiful being.

Tree of Codes was created by die cutting pages from Schultz's, The Street of Crocodiles, to tell a story of different (& delicate) proportions. Amazing!

Originally deemed as the book that could never be made, Belgian printers DieKeure proved everyone wrong and now exists this amazing and interactive sculptural book.

Three cheers for them!

[all images via Visual Editions]

Stickers and Stuffs // Crab Apple Designs

2010-11-26T16:40:00.001+11:00

Off on a jetplane again this evening... to a most fun wedding up in Queensland. Perhaps that's why I've caught the airmail bug again?! Great ephemera from the Crab Apple Designs etsy store...

Airmail notecards (I know i've posted these before but I only just found them again) & Airmail stickers

& some delightful milk bottle stickers if you're thirsty

Paper + Lego

2010-11-23T18:14:00.000+11:00

Two great things have joined forces courtesy of the wonderful cupid arrows of Muji! Lego that includes paper to create ever greater wonders is a winner in my book. Available here in an assortment of flavours (Circus, Animals, Sea, Transparent and Christmas)

Beached

2010-11-23T10:56:00.002+11:00

Please forgive my absence from this here space... I've been terribly busy exploring beaches you see!! We've been down to Jervis bay (most beautiful place in the world) then up to Hamilton Island... & it's been heavenly.

Though now doing work seems doubley difficult because of it. Thank god for an interweb full of lovely distractions... he he heeee

Rain rain go away!

2010-11-06T00:37:00.000+11:00

Off on a little holiday this week down the south coast... I do so hope it stops raining though! This lovely little fellow makes rain seem not so bad after all!

I'll be back soon I promise...

Double yum // Claudia Pearson

2010-11-01T16:30:00.000+11:00

Deliciousness for both the eyes and the belly by Claudia Pearson

Plum Ketchup

Zucchini Pasta

& four seasons teatowels to mop up the juices

Print of the Day > Enormous Champion

2010-11-01T13:42:00.000+11:00

Well, it's a card technically... but it's letterpress printed too so it's allowed! get it here

I woz here

2010-10-29T17:00:00.001+11:00

We had a long awaited blu-tack fiesta the other night and stuck up a whole bunch of new and colourful pictures in my very small but sunny studio. I will never be lost for inspiration again! Working is so much more fun today because of it! Now my next project is enticing the Lorikeet parrots to my window ledge (apparently apples and not sunflower seeds are the go)

Bring on 2011!

2010-10-27T16:38:00.002+11:00

Who ate up this year? It's gone ever so fast... though it's only October... still it feels as though everyone is gearing up for the great turn of year already. Well, I didn't want to be left behind of course so ordered this wonderful screenprinted wall planner by Crispin Finn to get myself organised. The postie just delivered it today & it's even more splendid than I'd imagined. Now it just needs a wall gigantic enough to fit it on!

BIG love

2010-10-27T10:28:00.000+11:00

Who says there's no original creative thought in todays age? I am gobsmacked and inspired on a daily basis by great art and design from around the web and world. Like this 'passion' made of matchsticks by Pei-San Ng... so simple and so grand.

(found via The Cool Hunter)

Paper pictures // Owen Gildersleeve

2010-10-26T18:22:00.000+11:00

Owen Gildersleeve makes great things of colourful paper and delightful type. London based and Brighton trained, his work is many layers of lovely.

I just downloaded his paper leaf wallpaper over at Poolga too... it's ever so pretty!

A week in Twitterland

2010-10-22T18:00:00.001+11:00

+ The above gorgeous invitation by Erin Jang (more on her site here)
+ Poppytalk's great wrapping paper wrap up!
+ The announcement of Frankie Magazine's new 'mook' (book/mag) about creative australians and their spaces... aptly titled SPACE!
+ 12 lovely and new stationery treats from Upon a Fold
+ These incredible (handcut!) paper maps by Karen O'Leary (via @GadgetSharp)
+ These new Pacman moleskins & the stop motion advert to sell em! (via @strictlypaper)

I have big plans to buy stripey deck chairs this weekend (never have I been so excited about a pair of chairs) and hopefully having my first ocean splosh of the season *fingers crossed*

Hope you too have a merry one folks!

Illustrator extraordinaire // Jim Datz

2010-10-22T10:07:00.000+11:00

Who put this rock on my head? Why have I not until this day seen the amazing work of Jim Datz of Neither Fish no Fowl? It feels like my childhood yet he was probably still in childhood himself at that time so it can't possibly be... either way, it makes me quite warm an fuzzy!

Jim lives in Brooklyn but has had a nomadic streak (like me)... so I love and totally agree with what he said this in the (huge and wonderful) interview over on Grain Edit:

It’s imperative to leave your context and culture behind for a while. There’s a tremendous expansion that you experience—a suppression of the ego and a reawakened sensitivity to the tiny details that make up everyday life.

The Brooklyn poster is available just now for pre-order from Three Potato Four and the London Poster to buy here

Had to stick in this type (being a type nerd) designed for Fortune magazine... go and see his site if you too have been under my rock... it will have you dribbling on your keyboard!

Alpha-beautiful // Patrick Draws things

2010-10-19T12:02:00.000+11:00

Love the colours, love the letters & love the words... the jubilee alphabet of Patrick Hruby

& his illustrations ain't too shabby either! Lovely stuff.

Words + Scalpel = Annie Vought

2010-10-13T17:06:00.001+11:00

Wowee... these papercuts have officially made my heart flutter and my eyes go crossed! By way of documenting artifacts that once were (it hurts me to say that about handwritten letters), Californain artist Annie Vought finely cuts them out of paper to huge scale and frames them or hangs them... introducing them to a good friend the shadow while she's at it. Wonderful!

this phone is pretty remarkable also...

See many more here (and some amazing internal organs here too)

Library labelling

2010-10-08T17:13:00.000+11:00

The release of this fantastico new Present and Correct wrapping paper complete with built in label made me long for the days of library cards...

Lined stamp by olivia manna

Personal Library bookplates by Mary Kate McDevitt