Seeing red - Pretty Things

Some sweet red picks!

1. Expand your View Poster by Handz 
2. Avoca Raindrops on Roses Soap 
3. Red and White Polka Dot Japenese Washi Tape by WaitingOnMarthaCraft 
4.  River Luna Art - Watercolor Feather Painting - Archival Art Print - 8x10  
5. Charlotte Bag Apples Design 
6. Paula McGurdy Red Human Heart Brooch

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!

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!

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

Special Delivery

Every now and then, the postman brings something nice.

And today was one of those days.

I received my copy of the GIRL weekly planner,

the new Artists Collabration by Anke at customplanners.

58 artists have joined together to make this happen -

each providing a girl illustration to match one of the 53 Week pages.

And the result is lovely.

I'm so pleased to be a part of this and to be alongside some of my favourite illustrators.

And truly, this is the weekly planner I've always wanted.

(Here's one of my favourite illustrations by michelemaule.)

And has plenty of pages for personal information and taking notes,

and each week has a space for grocery lists, to do lists and wish lists.

And date-wise, it's blank - you just fill out the date yourself- such a great idea!

The quality is great, so durable and both creative and practical.

courtneyoquist

dudadaze

carambatack

And at €17.50 & p&p

they would make a perfect gift for (dare I say it?) Christmas.

And they are available to pre-order by emailing at designbirdie@gmail.com.

This is just great for someone like me,

a busy girl with her feet on the floor and her head in the clouds!