Art of McSweeneys // the book

This is very exciting... at last all those who have wondered about the brilliance of publishing that is McSweeneys and how this brilliance comes about, can now take a little peek into their world! Their new book, Art of McSweeney's is both beautiful to hold and full of secrets about their cover design process, selecting written submissions and also simply how they came to exist. You can see a little video about it here (which is where the photos below are from) Can't wait for my copy to arrive!!! yay

Awhile ago I posted about some other of their books... you can find it here

Ampersand obsessive // Bespoke Press

I am a bit in love with this print from the talented folk at Bespoke Press. Ampersands are beautiful little creatures (oops, characters) and this is the first ever print of one I've seen that actually does them justice.

If you're at all interested in letterpress you also have to watch this video that shows them making the print... ahhh, a land of inking letters is bliss!

Print of the day > Wendy MacNaughton

A good little outlook for the day found in my inbox this morning!
'Things Happen' by Wendy MacNaughton (via 20x20)

Cuckoo for birdboxes // Jeff Canham

Jeff Canham is one talented man. His beautiful sign writing style is like something from days gone by but bright and completely fresh. These one-of-a-kind birdhouses by Jeff and fellow San Fran artist Luke Bartels, are for sale at the curiosity shoppe & are the cutest and funniest things I've seen for a long time. Would love to see a little feathered head popping out of one of them! Buy them all & see more here. See more of Jeff's brilliance here.

A week in Twitterland

+ The new Fifi Lapin book What Shall I Wear Today? Style Secrets of a Furry Fashionista (via fifilapin)
+ Bright and colourful paper bags from Japan (via uponafold)
+ This tumblr site called 'bookshelf porn' with many inspiring organisations such as the one above (via chroniclebooks)
+ In honour of the beginning of the World Cup, this little lego stop motion video had to be included. So cute... if only all the games were lego men (via ilovetypography)
+ 10% off all purchases over at the lovely little Notemaker shop when you enter the code here (via NotemakerTweets)

Strawberry fields forever

My lovely friend Ish from over the seas just emailed me a link to this great image. How I would love to find a recipe for those!

Geometric love // Studio Fludd

Sometimes the simple things are the best tis true. These little glories prove that very theory! Who would have though a few coloured triangles on a card could be so adorable? Studio Fludd make all sorts of things but I love these innocent-looking notecards the most.

Though if a few of these cute as pie (chart... sorry!) magnets found their way onto my fridge I would not be too unhappy either!

Jennifer Sanchez // Colour explosions

In amongst all my colour love of late I have just seen and fallen in love with this lady's paintings. They are described as "exploding optimism"... it really doesn't get much better than that! So much energy and colour in each and every one. You can buy the latest one here

Colour inspiration

A few weeks ago my friend Zoe told me her cunning methods of coming up with colour combinations when designing... to raid the paint swatch stand at the hardware shop and keep them in a box for whenever you're feeling uninspired. It's such a fantastic trick and even just looking at them is making me want to make something brilliant and colourful (or just sift through their lovely bright painterly selves). On a wintery day like today it's like a box full of warm fuzzies!

Guest Post > Magazine Monday

+ A winner at the recent D&AD Awards in London, Apartmento magazine out of Milan is a more realistic approach to an interior design magazine, showcasing fantastically cluttered living spaces and stylised mess. A breath of fresh air for the anti-minimalist anarchist.

+ In our continuing series 'OK let's see if you can do that on an iPad'. Great to see the new issue of Mono Kultur taking scratch 'n' sniff stickers one step further and impregnating their pages with 12 different scents!

A week in Twitterland

+ The documented making of this beautiful 3-D bird pictured above (via uponafold)
+ Five alternative methods for typography inspiration (via colourlovers)
+ Interview with sweet swedish singer Lykke Li (via ameliasmagazine)

a very merry weekend everyone!

Folk Art flutters

I have just added these two books to my hopeful book splurge wishlist... Naive: Modernism and Folklore in Contemporary Graphic Design and Olle Eksell: Swedish Graphic Designer. I'm not sure what Naive art but its pages look full of glorious patterns and colours and Swedish designer Olle Eksell is great so that's bound to be a treasure.

I've been drawn to a few things just this week that remind me of these books - funny how that happens. First up I stumbled on the great work of Paul Ibou via the Present and Correct twitter page. His stage name if you like, means owl in french so they are his thing... and such lovely little ones they are! He worked in the 60's but his designs still look so interesting and fresh don't you think? You can read and see more about him over on iconofgraphics.

Then in a newsletter from Boxbird gallery I discovered the work of New Zealand artist Ellen Giggenbach. Though a modern artist, her work feels like a treat from those yonder years also. She uses hand coloured papers all cut and collaged... so lovely!

So my eyes are open wide and am hoping to add to this mini collection... I just can't help but feel happy looking at them!

Dreamy photography // I brake for bokeh

Beautiful photography from Etsy seller 'I brake for Bokeh' 
Go see for yourself... many a gem in that there shop!

Ink & Wit // Stamp sets

It's no secret that I have a strange magnetism towards stamp sets... they're great little creations. These three newbies from Ink & Wit are a welcome addition to the family tree. I especially love the Paris set pictured above.

In July they're coming out as singles in muslin bags so my sensible side says I should be waiting till then... hmmm...

Print of the day > Field Trip

'Red Love print' - I'm a sucker for anything origami... & this is a grand one! Check out more of Amy's prints at her shop here

Julien Vallée // paper sculptor

Julien Vallée is one very talented frenchman who has done many a fabulous project. His world looks so happy and bright... I'd like to live inside one of his posters (or at the very least stick one on my wall!)

I love that this spray paint sculpture looks so violent and scary yet it's only made of paper!

 Love this little 'making of' video - great little insight into paper joy world!



See more on his website

A Yellow & Grey day

My eyes have a little mind of their own sometimes... a few weeks ago they were drawn to all things stripey and now anything yellow and grey. Maybe it's because winter is poking his face out here now and it's a sunny/cold colour combo... or maybe my eyes aren't that clever at all and it's just because they look so damn good together!

'Live what you love' print by Hijirik, 'Chain' noteset by Orange Beautiful, Tissue pompoms by Prost to the host,



Plush bunnie by Girl Savage,   Gathering of Great Poets letterpress print by Sycamore Street Press, 'Chirp Chirp' Goldfinch gift tags by Pasaii Papierie, NY stamp set by Yellow Owl workshop

Papier mache magazine

Found this super cute online childrens magazine the other day. It's full of fairytale type handmade wonders and with the most adorable photography and creative shoots. How fun it looks to be a kid in these worlds! There are 3 issues already out and it's released 4 times a year. Go see for your self...