Doing a Boden

I love the clothes at Boden, particularly for kids. 

Their designs are bright and colourful, a little quirky and cheeky and slightly retro. 

Every time I look, I ooh and ahh over their cute little designs and fabrics.

Boy's Top here 

 Girl's top here.

Ruby (5) and I were looking at the website the other day 

and we decided we'd *try* making a version of our own. 

Within 30 mins we were laboriously snipping and matching fabrics.

This is what we made!

It probably won't last a wash in the washing machine. 

We had fun and she wore it to school the next day, 

waggling her tummy so that the bird's legs swished. 

That's what was important, after all!

Inspiration in New York City

I've just arrived home from my break away. 

I had the joy of having time to shop for craft supplies and goodies in the city that never sleeps. 

 Rifle Paper Co.  and tea towel goodies from Anthropologie.

 Louis Vuitton window display

 

Pottery Barn Kids fabric loveliness

  

Tinsel Trading Co. - apparently Martha Stewart's favourite store in all the world..

Love that bird!

Our Summer Bucket (and Spade) List 2012

So - the Summer Holidays are here...

And we have started a new Summer Tradition - 

Our Summer To Do List! 

It remains to be seen how many we'll accomplish

 in the next few weeks but we'll try hard!

And we've ticked off a few already :)

Father's Day 2012

I set to work on a little project with the kids last week for Father's day. 

I had planned to do something like this from How About Orange, 

but there wasn't really enough sticky gluing for my two. 

So we cut out and sticky glued our words and then I just made a rough photo collage in Photoshop, threw in a brightness and contast layer as the weather has been soo dull, and well, we were done. 

 This one is for Phil...

And this one for my Dad! 

Ruby took my photos - not bad for a 4 year old!

And guys, as a foot note, sorry for the extra present of a tummy bug. 

That bit was an accident. 

x

Beautiful treasuries

Designbirdie was in some lovely Etsy treasuries this week. 

I love the member curated treasuries on Etsy, 

but they are so much work for the curators 

and they don't really get that much glory after they are done. 

So, here's a few.

 Artnestdesign on etsy

 AntheraDesign

LucyJewellery

Victory bags on Etsy

Dip dip who's in

So I just 'dipped' my chair... 

Pinterest is bursting with images of dipped, well, anything really these days...

Ok, not so much 'dipped' as 'painted on badly' 

but the effect (from a distance) is the same. A sitting bum won't notice... 

Phil's only comment was 'Are you going to leave it like that?' :)

These chairs were in Phil's family and now they are ours. 

They are bockity and were varnished big time, 

but he remembers playing at ground level beside them. 

And now, freshened up for this next season our kids are too!

Got to love that.

Free owly printable from three-eyed bear

Woodland Critters

The Fox

Sweet Fox brooch by BeautySpot

The Robin

Little Red Robin Earrings by JodieAnna

The Squirrel

 

Get Together Squirrel and Nuts Sea Fabric by David walker on Pink Chalk Fabrics

The Honey Bee

Embroidered Honey Bee Felt Pincushion by Jenny at SeaPinks

The Badger 

Mr. badger - miniature felt pocket woodland badger by royalmint

The Rabbits 

Child's Scandinavian softie toy bunny rabbit plush by Janefoster

Things they did not teach me in school - A Book Review

It always disappoints me that my Art Teacher in school didn't teach me how to really draw. 

I mean, yes, we were given poster paints and paper and were encouraged when our pencil drawings vaguely resembled the Junk-Shop-Oil Lamp-and-Dirty-Shoe Still Life. 

But negative space and perspective?! The delicacies of line quality? Blind drawing? Composition? 

Nah.

So when people ask me to recommend a drawing book this is the one I suggest - 

'Drawing for the Artistically Undiscovered' by Quentin Blake & John Cassidy.

This drawing book is for head and heart and for adults as well as kids. 

It deals with all aspects of drawing and delightfully encourages the imagination too. 

We love it - and often dig it out and spend an hour drawing and trying things out. 

Here's Ruby with her first Still Life... Hello Kitty of course... No dirty old shoes here!

What to do at Easter when you're stuck inside

Russian Doll Art!

 Well, little stickers on slices of wood - no talent required here!

The effect is great and there was no mess to clear up. 

And the kids thought they did a craft!

Win win all round, I say!

Illustrators I love... Lauren Child

 I liked  Lauren child's work way before I had kids.

Now, having been exposed to every episode available, 

and even though i don't like one of Lola's voices, 

I still wallow in the clashy pretty patterns and lovely little details.

Her work makes me happy, and inspires me every time I see it. 

Which is a lot around here. 

And as fabric designs are in my head at the moment...

have you seen Lauren Child's fabric designs for Liberty of London? 

Mmmm...

Almost Wordless Wednesday - illustrators i love

 This Week.

 Carson Ellis. 

shtunning. 

Check her out. Wallow in her beautiful work.

x

Today I'm loving...

..the beautiful illustrated fabrics on these bargains I picked up in TK Maxx for the kids!

 Isak rockin the Polar Bear top - €4!!

Ruby's pretty new dress - might take the sleeves off it though - a bit puffy:)

And this pretty skirt - €10! Loving the Parisian Style Illustration

 And a puppy coat for little man! It's a lovely matt rainproof coat. Very cosy too.

Got to love puppy illustration!