A tree

I drew a tree, I dont know why I just sat down and felt like drawing and the only thing I could think to draw was a tree. Freya woke up before just as I was getting the paints together to colour it in.... maybe next time!

Jane Foster

These designs fit nicely with the miffy post from earlier. Jane Foster makes fabric items and screenprints, she has an NOTH shop and an etsy shop and her designs are also on sale in the V&A shop and Habitat to name but a few. Simple ideas and styles can make beautiful products. To be successful you then have to present those products well and market them accordingly which could take some the fun out of doing it in the first place unless you are really passionate about it and also do that creatively (thinking aloud here).

Renegrade Craft Fair

I promised Kat I would post her the link to the Renegrade Craft Fair in London. She loves all things crafty (as do I but I cant compete!) Its on a Saturday and a Sunday, in a couple of weeks would love to go but I have the kids. Maybe Kat will get the chance.

An Illustrated Life - Amanda Kavanagh

 My lil sis bought me An Illustrated Life for Christmas last year, I hadn't looked at it for a while but I took a peak the other day and came across the artist Amanda Kavanagh. Her sketchbook pages look lovely, a visual journey something she will always have to look back on and spark clearer memories about her life, its a lesson to us, take some time out to do what you enjoy or regret it later. Very inspiring.

I love the way she mixes different materials and uses text and found materials, she is free but still makes every page count and look like a finished piece. And all of the pages flow and fit together amazingly. I do miss my own sketchbook, hopefully I will make the effort to find time for it again soon.

Miffy

Do you remember Miffy? Dick Bruna, the Dutch artist, created Miffy in the 1950's in a minimalist style with a few simple lines.We must not forget that simple is effective! And Miffy is soooo cute, even as an enormous lamp, wish I could get one for Freyas bedroom. These are from a lovely shop called olivelovesalfie. 

Lala Loopsy Doll

 If I was ever to let Freya have a doll it would be one of these. I love the character design and they come with cute animal pets too. This one has a cow!

This one is called Berry Jars and Jam

Walford Mill Create

On Sunday the 18th September, I went to Walford Mill just outside of Wimborne to the Create event which showcases a wide range of crafts and art created by local craftspeople.

This event really inspired me and I took quite a few pictures! Click on the Mosaic below to go to my Flickr Set of the event.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomatotea/sets/72157627625140509/with/6181249445/

Birthday Card

Sometimes I find it difficult to locate birthday cards that I like. And I sometimes feel that given my creative nature, I should make the majority of them.

Today is a very close friend's birthday and I felt it would be too much to by a present but thought I should put some effort into making a card.

Inside:

It's not much but I don't like anything too fussy and hopefully he'll like it! I'm quite pleased with it, I like the simplicity and the way the watercolours sit. This has made me consider drawing more freehand in pen and colouring in watercolour...

Scrap Paper Journal

Today I made a scrap paper journal. The pages consist of old envelopes, odd and unused sketchbook pages, squared paper, plain paper, coloured paper... the list goes on!

The stitched used is a Japanese book binding stitch, very simple and no folding of paper is required.

Childrens Book Illustration - Catherine Rayner

Beautiful illustrations from one of Lewis books which he got in his surestart pack when he left playschool. (I do buy books too honest!) The character in the tiger is amazing., Love it. See more of her work on her website.

Bubble Birdie

During Freyas fustratingly short nap today I did a quick doodle. Kat will be so proud!

 

 

Colours are inspired by the paper and cloth postcards from a previous post. I can see the bubbly things going somewhere in 3d too.

Paper and Cloth

Found on the print and pattern blog, lots of yummy images :-  paper and cloth

 

Twirl Bites Advert

 I love the new Twirl bites advert, so many things to look at, so much detail, so much fun. On the subject of adverts, do you remember this coca cola advert the happiness factory? This is the link to the long version which I had never seen before, very nice loving the fluffy lip balls!

Mini Maroon

I haven't modelled anything from my own ideas in a long time.

We're talking years.

I've done some tutorials on modelling other peoples things but nothing like this for a while.

And you know what? I think I did okay :)

Meet Mini Maroon:

 

Kate Wilson and Alison Read

Went to Walford Mill 'Create' today, and saw quite a few things that inspired me.

In particular these two artists work in the shop:

Kate Wilson:

Alison Read:

Exploded Flowers

These remind me of fire works - more from Qi Wei of Thoughtful photography here

Geninne on Etsy

Stumbled across this artists work on Etsy. I am in love. Such beautiful watercolours, we need to practice, Roxi!

Lovebirds

Bear & Bird

Friends

Childrens Book Illustration - Charley Harper

A slightly different style to what I normally go for, and by that I mean it is not a style that I would attempt to produce myself. However I can still admire it and there is something about Charley Harper that you cannot help but love. Although quite geometric it somehow crosses over to the organic and the freehand which is what I love. These are from one of Freyas books A B Cs and every letter has a yummy pic with it.

Loads more examples of his work here www.charleyharperprints.com

Magazine Illustration

Thought she was awesome. Although it's for air freshener, I think she could be winter spirit or somesuch.

Fabric patterns

There is inspiration and design everywhere you look and quite often you take it completely for granted, it is just there, it works and you dont really think about the amount of time that would have gone into the process of creating. I took some photos of some of my favourite patterns which I have always loved but never thought of how they came to be before.

  

 The patterns we wear are often simple and straightforward, but perhaps this is what makes them the most complex. They have to have the same appeal as other patterns but they also have to be easily cut and reassembled and the pattern has to remain intact. The patterns you find and love for tea towels and cushions and curtains are different from the patterns you wear. Every pattern has its place, its purpose and its own story.

Wall Stickers

This is a good idea, I have seen them for kids but never thought of expanding it for adults. The panda is clever a negative space effect, me and kat were looking at some logos using the same idea recently. These are from the website supernice which has loads of designs and other nice items too.

Doodles

Some birdy doodles I did whilst Freya napped and Lewis watched The Wild (an old disney 3d animation), must crop them and photoshop them at some point see if anything can be evolved!

Bubble Lady

I know where I am trying to go with this one! I have a sketch which I thought I would try and reproduce in 3d, it is the hair made out of bubbles which I wanted to concentrate on. I ended up doing it with rigid bodies and constraints but I think it would be better with dynamic curves, but I just couldnt get them to do anything at all today, I think it may be a bug but will have to test it on another machine. There is a little render of this which may make an appearance some time! It starts off ok then the dynamics go a bit bonkers.

Wildlife Photographer Of The Year

I found (or rather Freya did!) the book which I had bought for the 2001 competition and flicked through it earlier, the photographs are all beautiful so thought I would have a quick look on the website and this picture caught my eye. The colours are amazing.

This is a fieldfare on a rowan tree in Scotland from the 2010 competition titled "A frozen moment" . Must take a look through the rest of the website at some point its all about the natural history museum, exhibitions etc.

Il Sung Na

 Freya has this little book Zzzz a book of sleep I think we got it free with surestart.

image from Zzzz a book of sleep

 I love the hidden detail in the images and the mixed media style. I had a look at the illustrators website Il Sung Na and he has done another book Brrr a book of winter and some other bits and bobs.

Brr a book of winter