Webbed trees & sad Morran news

The flooding in Pakistan meant all the spiders headed for the trees so they were completely smothered in webs, amazing. See more of these amazing National Geographic photographs.

I feel like there is so much sad news this week. Saddest of all, because it can't be changed with time, was that Camilla Engman's lovely wee dog Morran died. It's so strange to feel so much love for a dog you have never met but Camilla's was one of the first blogs I ever followed and Morran was a big part of that, so many great photo's of her that I feel I really watched so much of her life over the last 7 years (see some of the photo's on Flickr too). Goodbye little Morran.

As a fitting artist tribute to Morran Camilla had an open invition in October for people to submit artwork featuring Morran to be considered for a book, with all profits going to charity. There have been so many wonderful entries and many of them are already posted on the Studio Morran blog. Here are a few:


Maite Ortiz


Suana Verelst


Petra Wester Norgren


Marloes de Vries
Fiona Purves
Cady Fontana
Kerstin Svendsen

Halloween costume inspiration - black & red

Sylvia Ji 'La Adelita' 2010 via the Joshua Liner Gallery.

I love this Sylvia Ji painting. Although it has much deeper meaning it also makes for great Halloween inspiration and it combines my love of dressing up, Dia de los Muertos and Freda Kahlo in one glorious image. These are large painting in Acrylic and gold leaf on wood panels and you can read more about the background to the works in the Las Adelitas exhibition on the Joshua Liner Gallery flickr page for the show.


Sylvia Ji 'Red Quechquemitls' 2010 see full exhibition at the Joshua Liner Gallery.


Sylvia Ji 'La Madrina' 2010 see full exhibition at the Joshua Liner Gallery.


Andrea Peira's winning Photo in the World Body Painting Festival 2011

This is exactly the sort of thing I like to do, but when you live in a mobile home and like candles it's just not practical, so I make do with enjoying the work of others unless I'm invite to things in large open spaces. The Photograph above was by Andrea Peira and the costume and body painting was by Birgit Mörtl+Melanie Rodel Body Painting Festival 2011


Birgit Mörtl+Melanie Rodel - Body painting & costume for the World Body PaintingFestival 2011 (via weddingphotography.com)


Halloween make-up via Hairdresser-Models.eu

Playing at dressing up - Summer into Autumn

Another spot of pretend shopping from August, inspired by the change from Summer to Autumn. It was before the reds started to show on the leaves and is more about those lovely pale but vivid Summer skies we see here in Scotland on many August evenings. The light still speaks of Summer but there is a noticeable drop in the temperatures as the sun sets and you know Autumn is around the corner and you'll need to start looking out warmer clothes. Most of my warm clothes are Black, Teal, Grey or Red but I love the idea of some Mustard/Yellows that so perfectly link the late summer Rudbeckias and Heleniums that are then overtaken but the yellow leaves of many of the trees.



Items shown in the composition are: 1. Wool blend coat by Pink Martini 2. Look From London Laugh On Tights 3. El Naturalista Shoes - Spring-Summer 2010 4. L'annello in titiano realizzato da Michela Nosè. Photo: Fondazione Politecnico di Milano 5. Techno PULL & BEAR pvc - Be.com 6. Green Butterfly photo from Layoutsparks.com. 7. Cally Creates: a drawing from The 4 Day Sketchbook, 1991 8. Illustration from source that had no credit (if you know the name please leave a comment) 9. Yellena James - Gallery

The Good Machinery

The Good Machinery on Etsy and Flickr...


The Good Machinery: Sketchbook Stories

I want these! Also exhibiting soon in a solo show at here gallery (Bristol, UK) in from the 8th of January.

Diana Fayt - Folklore show at Candystore

You've probably all read about Diana Fayt's new work already but I just saw it and had to post...


Diana Fayt: 'First Class', Folklore 2007


Diana Fayt: 'Comparative Indicator', Folklore 2007

You probably Diana Fayt's ceramics, now see her wonderful new illustrations for her show 'Folklore' at Candystore, San Fransisco on the 8th of November. See more of these beauties on her Flickr set.

Definitely a show I wish I could see, I am totally in love with these illustrations, the lines, the colours, the pattern and, of course, the fact that she has used old envelopes so each one has different handwriting, stamps and markings that really add to the beauty.

I love these the way I love Lisa Solomon's 'A Bed Dreams A Blue Doily Dream' & blue bed prints. Remember, Lisa has her 'over the river and through the woods' show on just now* at LittleBird Gallery (until 8th November), another must see had a lived a continent closer. I hope Diana does more of this work in future, they'd make gorgeous prints, cards or even a Poketo wallet.


Diana Fayt: 'Do Not Bend', Folklore 2007

*Lisa, hope the opening was FUN xxx

Laura Darling- Illustration September '07

Laura Darling: Page from her book 'Leonard' 2007

I nearly forgot to say... Laura Darling, she of 'Leonard' fame as gushed about by me here,, let me know she is exhibiting some of her work in Edinburgh this week at Coconut Grove, Leven Street. 3rd - 10th Sept. She said she'd probably be showing some pages from her giant book about weather, which I never saw, so I'd really like to visit. Not sure if I can though, the bloomin' hormones etc. are keeping me at bay this week. But I hope some of you can pop by, and if you do I'd love to hear about it.

My mum has 2 Leonard prints framed on her walls now and is VERY delighted with them. On the 1st night of them going up she made my Dad say 'night night Leonard' before bed. He is not the sort of man who generally engages in any degree of chat with inanimate objects, unlike me and my mum!

I'm having hellish trouble with a couple of my emails, mainly my big fish one as my broadband provider is denying access to my accounts! So if you've been trying to each me leave a comment so I can give you an alt email address to try.

Sketchbook - belly stones early 90's

Also found the other week were sketchbooks from the days when I made ceramic 'belly' stones. I sent Paula a photo of the actual stones but it's very blurry so I'm hoping to find some the originals and re-photograph them one day. They each had words impressed in the top of the clay, mainly to do with my concerns about fertility, menstrual cycles, the pull of the moon etc.




Vanessa, missing you and all my regular blog reads, can't wait till I have time to read again and so much hope the summer is good for you all Re. your question - nope, the flooring is at Mr P's house, my own house renovations have ground to a complete halt for a while, but project managing Mr P has been fulfilling some of my home improvement urges and it's lovely to see him starting to care about his own home and his own way of living.

House of Flowers, House of Stars

I couldn't leave things on the low note of the last post so here is a burst of colour from the pages of a book that belonged to Mr P's sister in the 60's which is now living with him but loved by me. 'House of Flowers, House of Stars' illustrated by Beni Montresor...

Laura Darling- Illustration, Edinburgh Degree Show 2007

For me, the absolute highlight of the Edinburgh Degree Show 2007 was the work of Laura Darling in the Illustration Department...


Laura Darling: "Eat your peas please, Leonard."
From her book 'Leonard'

Laura has written and illustrated the most wonderful, observant and highly amusing books which will be enjoyed as much by parents as by children. I cannot wait till she gets a publishing deal so I can add her books to my treasured collection. I must just say that the tiny little jpegs I am showing here simply don't do justice to the quality and feel of her illustrations. The really need to be seen on paper and in the context of her witty stories.


Laura Darling: "Don't scuff you feet please, Leonard."
From her book 'Leonard'

The first book I read was the story of 'Leonard' which had me and my mum in fits of giggles. We kept going back for another look. 'Leonard' was Highly Commended in the Macmillan Children's Picture Book Awards. It was so wonderful I had to take Mr P there the next day even though I was pretty ill, and it just got funnier the more I looked at it. Leonard, if I remember correctly, is described as 'a thoroughly deplorable fellow'. Laura's use of language is all part of the charm. Here is Leonard's response to his mum asking him not to scuff his feet. I'm sure a lot of you recognise this scene all too well!...


Laura Darling: From her book 'Leonard'



Laura Darling:
From her book 'The School Trip'

'The School Trip' is the funniest little story about the ridiculous state of affairs regarding Health and Safety these days. The children are taken on a trip to a farm where they have to wear 'special clothes' and wash their hands, a lot. The way she ties up the story on the last page is just the funniest ending I have ever read. It was really hard trying to laugh quietly in the hushed exhibition space. Luckily her stand was full of equally appreciative visitors so I don't think we were too annoying.


Laura Darling: The Jamie Oliver Effect

For anyone beyond the UK this illustration refers to the story of parents rebelling against Jamie Oliver's healthy School Dinners campaign by passing junk food to their kids through the bars of the school fence! (sorry, that was the 1st junk food link I found and I'm pushed for time).

As well as being in the middle of her Degree Show (which ends tomorrow, Tuesday so run and see it if you can) she is also showing at D&AD New Blood in London from today 'till Wednesday (25-27 June). Next post, degree show jewellery.

Cecilia Levy & Sara Lechner

I couldn't sleep last night, crampy crampy crampy. I've been up for hours trying to distract myself with Flickr and chanced upon this beautiful collaboration between Cecilia Levy and textile artist Sara Lechner...


Cecilia Levy and Sara Lachner collaboration 2007

It led me to the work of Cecilia which somehow I have never come across before though judging by her flickr comments a lot of you know her work, thank god for cramps eh! Here are a couple of her illustrations...


Cecilia Levy: Tree Book detail, 2007


Cecilia Levy: 'Musing' 11x11cm
Pencil and acrylic on board 2006

See more of her birds here. I was especially moved by the sad story and illustration of her cat Kalle.

I love the layering, paleness and texture of this mixed media textile piece by Sara...


Sara Lechner: Detail, mixed media 2006

Christina Lyon

I liked this and thought Gracia and Julie might also...


Bird and Berries print by Christina Lyon

Available for $7 in the Studio Lyon ETSY shop this is a 5x7 print of one of an original collage & ink illustration. SHe also has a blue patterned teapot illustration that reminded me of my pattern doodling when I was supposed to be paying attention in classes.

Tagged 7 things- Jade & Milla

I've been tagged by Milla of Made by Milla and Jade of Spectrescope (click their names to see their response to the 7 Things tag). I planned to blog about Jade in April and about Milla in May so this seems like the ideal opportunity to say a bit about them before listing my 7 things.

Jade Pegler of Spectrescope lives in Wollongong, Australia (coincidence - I nearly went there to do a residency after my degree). I strayed upon her blog by accident a few months ago and immediately fell in love with her work. She uses the kinds of papers that I love working with; creamy colours, clothing patterns, book pages, all intricately layered, folded, illustrated, made into books or sculpted. Paper heaven.


Jade Pegler, Crumpling & Small sculpture

Do you remember me getting excited about Origami Crumpling last year? Well she crumples in an organic, scultpural way that I far prefer to the very geometric perfection that most of the 'technical' crumplers were doing, and she photographs her pieces well. She's another person who's studio space I could spend hours on end exploring and never get bored.


Jade Pegler, work on paper


Jade Pegler, detail from 'The Mechanical Equitant'
See full piece and read more here

Camilla of Made by Milla is a seriously busy person, I've said a little about her before but I don't know if I had pics? The following three are my favourites...


Made by Milla, Self Portrait, Calico, paper, stitching


Made by Milla, St Werb's poster.


Made by Milla, Bluetit screenprint

Milla has her finger in so many pies I don't know how she keeps up with it all. Milla, you probably would say you don't keep up, but I reckon you're doing a pretty well (planning to send you some of my images to order badges in summer). She paints, sews, prints, curates, has an allotment AND she's studying. I'm tired just typing it all. Oh, and she's the only person I know who also likes Kimya Dawson, 'Hold My Hand' is one of the saddest but most powerful and beautifully sung songs ever.

Ok, it's getting late and I have to get this posted before I conk out so here goes. I have to reveal 7 things about myself and then tag 7 of you. The last tag I responded to was 6 odd things where I think I maybe did seem quite odd, so this time I've gone with some simpler things:

1. I'm 5ft 7inches tall and have UKsize 8 feet (Euro42)
2. If I feel sick I watch science fiction to distract my mind
3. I hate wool next to my skin, but tolerate merino for the warmth.
4. I like to lie in long grass in the sun and watch tiny insects going about their business.
5. I'm very shy, but once I feel at ease you can't shut me up.
6. I can't eat first thing in the morning, unless it's chocolate
7. I hate seeing food dribble on people's necks.

That Oasis add where the juice goes all over his face, eurgh, hate it. I freak out if anything sticky, like juice or jam gets on my neck. When I was about 14 I mentioned my dislike to my mum and she confessed that when I was a baby, and she was a first time mum, she didn't know that babies have folds in their skin and it was a few weeks (or more? I must ask again) before she realised I'd had food gathering in my neck crease and it had gone foosty and made my skin all horrible.

Now, since I was tagged twice, I thought I'd give you another 7, this time I'm theming it, 'things I never cease to be amazed or excited by, no matter how old I get'...
1. Seeing big blue dragonflies at a pond
2. Meeting foxes in the middle of the night
3. Watching November meteor showers
4. Playing on tree swings
5. Eating nutty chocolate
6. Finding a major bargain in thrift shops
7. Being listened to and believed

I forgot about tagging 7 of you. I'm so tired, I can't face double checking who's been tagged and who's not, can you tag yourselves and let me know in the comments? I do hope so. Got to get some sleep now. Have a great weekend.

Poketo - Art wallets

In my absence you might like to see...
Poketo promotes the work of emerging artists by making their art into wallets like this one by Keith Andrew Shore.


The top half is the image on the outside of the wallet, the bottom half is the inside including a button/badge. I originally found the site when I spotted this Alika Cooper wallet at Moose.

Tree beds

Camilla wants this bed by Shawn Lovell, and who could blame her, it's incredible. I always wanted an 'in the forest' type bed as a child after reading 'Where The Wild Things Are' with those wonderful illustrations by Maurice Sendak, and particularly the one where a forest grows out of his bed. Every child (or adult) should have a copy of that book.



Also by Shawn a very nice Tree of Life Votive Holder that has animal heads at the end of the branches which the votives sit behind.