Shimtokk // packaging lovelies

I don't know which rock has been blocking my view but I only just found the wonderful world of packaging that is Shimtokk. Made up of Joke of Tokketok and Sally of Shim+Sons, they are full of great wrapping ideas and they also run some pretty great looking packaging workshops too... for those lucky enough to be in Portland. ie. not me *sigh*







The packaging 101 workshop pictured below. fun fun. looks good enough to make the kids jealous!

Sui Tin Sung // Mini camping

I don't know what (or where) Camp Fair is but if this poster is anything to go by I think I'd quite like it there. Campfires are one of the best things in the world but one done in paper in miniature form... now that is truly something!

Anna-Wili Highfield // Wolf of wonder

I posted awhile ago about Anna and her amazing bird sculptures but today I just saw this wolf so had to share it. I can't stop staring at it... as though if I look away it's about to jump out and gobble my ear off. What a clever lady!

Jason Ratliff // Shadows full of character

I am reading this excellent book at the moment in which the main character is always trying to "look for peoples' shadows" (the a glimmer of themselves that they don't show in their person everyday) I can only hope that if she were to look closely at me, then my shadow would be as gloriously colourful as these walking shadow illustrations by Jason Ratliff







p.s Found via HUH magazine - a great new (to me) site of randomly good things

p.p.s. You can buy them on the Society 6 site too

Happy 3rd Birthday Smudge

Poor dear blog... I neglected to acknowledge it's 3rd birthday back in June so a belated sing-song is in order on this July sunny day. Today I purchased it's very own domain name in celebration!! (it's fresh faced new look will be revealed soon too)



So many wonderful things have come from this here blog that have made my world abit shinier than it already was...

+ a couple of a scrumptious book design jobs
+ the commissioning of a real life book (out in November. yeehaa)
+ a wonderfully inspiring creative community to make my home studio feel less lonely
+ endless sources of inspiration from other blogs and generous souls
+ the bubble of joy when hearing from like-minded and inspired readers
(plus some other things but in my sentimental hour I've most likely forgotton)

Thankyou ever so to everyone for reading (even this year when i've been awol rather too often!) and for your lovely comments and emails along the way. xxx

'yay' coasters via here

Cute cuts // Jared Andrew Schorr

Designed to be like a delightful old theatre, the gorgeous new website of Jared Andrew Schorr sets the scene for his cute and quirky papercut worlds. I love to think of all the offcut animals he must have lying around his home! hehe







He has a little shop here too

Jordan Ferney // DIY party queen

Jordan Ferney from Oh Happy Day is one helluva creative lady. I want to make all of her DIY projects... ALL of them! As yet I haven't but I will... just as soon as I have make the time (I can't use the kids excuse as she has two. yep, offical wonderwoman!) If you haven't checked her magic out then you really should. go go! These ones below all use paper... possiblities are endless...



(That bottom Movie lights DIY is my very favorite though)

Sydney Biennale // Li Hongbo

I don't know if it's just that my eye naturally gravitates to paper artworks or if in fact almost everyone in the Sydney Biennale is favouring paper as their medium of choice, but it sure did make me happy to see so much of it this weekend. We caught the ferry out to Cockatoo Island to have a look at the installations and one artist in particular stole my paper heart... the work of Beijing artist Li Hongbo.



Walking into his installation felt like entering Willy Wonka's Paper Factory. A sun streaked room completely filled with hundreds of paper fans of brilliant colour growing up from the floor all around us. A vision of beauty... or so you'd think...



... but in actual fact all these beautiful blooming flower-like growths were actually formed of various gun models. Handguns, machine guns and all manner of guns... cleverly transformed into beautiful blooms. SO-DARN-JOLLY-GENIUS!

Some words from the artists mouth (or pen probably?!) More here:

The ‘flower’ in my work looks so bright and grandstanding, whether people can really comprehend the damage hidden behind it. When the muzzle points to any creature, no matter for what purpose, it represents the end of life or a painful struggle. We are all losers when the fall of lives reveal in our sight. 

There was abit of a queue to get in the room which almost put us off, but it's well worth seeing if you're in Sydney... even now that I've given away the punchline!