The witty (and rather genius) images of Javier Perez

As a designer and graduate of a concept driven 'visual communications' degree, I've always been of the mindset that intelligent and simple designs are both the best kinds of works, but also the hardest to achieve. While I was studying, the wit of Alan Fletcher made him one of my design heroes (get this book here - so good!)

Anyway, I recently came across Ecuadorian artist, Javier Pérez which took me back to thinking of those days/qualities/heroes. This mans instagram feed (@cintascotch) is seriously amazing!! Literally overflowing with genius moments and visual puns. Seemingly so simple but it takes some kind of remarkable mind to come up with... and so so many illustrations. He is just a little bit brilliant, I think.

Paper Theatres // Pukaca

I hope that none of my friends with kids are reading this, because I plan to get something from this shop for every one of them! Pukaca is a Portuguese company that make paper theatres and finger puppets... so gorgeous and something for every obsession from prehistoric to fantastical.

I predict hours of imaginative entertainment!
(for kids AND their parentals... cause that's important too right?!)

You can get them either as printable pdfs or as a full ready made set.

Etsy shop is here
Australian stockist via here

Merry Merry and Happy Happy

A Very Merry Christmas to you all... I hope you have a magical time surrounded by big loving hugs and belly laughs aplenty (ample glasses of bubbles are always nice too!)

Thankyou all so much for reading along and getting involved this year and I look forward to more adventures together in 2014. I will be taking a little holiday from this space until the new year... lots of exciting new things to look forward to then!

LOVE & PEACE all round xx


Christmas blocks by House Industries

Gift Wrapping with Mr Printables

If you haven't before visited the Mr Printables site then get ye-self there before you even touch Christmas! So many crafty treasures and wonderful free downloads to make all manner of crafty concoctions for any party occassion. Playful, colourful and downright adorable! I am feeling abit inspired by the gift wrapping today...

DIY Animal Gift Wrap / Gradient Gift Wrap / Starry Gift Wrap / Snow Gift Wrap

And I'm completely in love with this pop-up house party invitation...

Uncommon Goods // Gifts for Kids

As much as I love flesh and bone shopping, when it comes to kids gifts, more and more often I am drawn to online stores that sell original and unique toys (instead of the big brands that that our local toyshops sell). I recently discovered US company, Uncommon Goods, a treasure trove of such products for young and old. Their kids collection is especially good. I think I could find something for everyone in there. Here are some of my favourites...

Dreamland nightlight / Petit Collage baby book / Giraffe and Penguin booties /
Rainbow sound blocks / Swamp monster and Silly horse hat 

Playon crayons / chalkboard with alphabet scroll / Magnetic vehicles /
Storybook Puppets / Prismania blocks /  Build your own city

Make Some Great Art book / Make your own Kaleidoscope set / Pixel Colouring book /
Felt mosaic game  / Rorys Story Cubes / Stack the carrots game

Another thing that makes them fabulous is their 'better to give' program - for everything you buy, you choose a charity to donate $1 of the cost to it. They've raised aLOT of money for some great causes. Hoorays all round!

If you're after uncommon adult presents also, then their Christmas gift selection is a good place to start (especially good things for Dads.. Dads are so hard to buy for don't you think?!)

This is a sponsored post. All product choices and opinions presented are my own. I fully support and admire Uncommon Goods as a company, so am very happy to represent their products. 

OMY Design and Play // Paper Costumes

How insanely cute (and brilliant) are these paper costumes by French company, OMY Design + Play. Choose from a Panthero, Lion, Madame, Superhero or colour your own wild creation. If only I could fit into one!?






Their glow-in-the-dark posters are pretty incredible too...

Minted stationery + A HUGE GIVEAWAY!!

I struck it lucky a few weeks ago when I was offered some personalised stationery from US stationery company, Minted. I had of course already wandered through their extensive online collection but didn't know their whole story. For example, I didn't realise that every design that is sold is submitted by an independent designer and selected by a voting system (isn't that great!)... which basically means that designers all over the world have a chance to create and make money from fabulously crafted stationery (that's a personal dream of mine in fact)... and in turn a whole stationery community has been created. Insanely genius for all involved idea, right?!



So I decided some notecards would be fun and handy too. It took me a few days of serious decision making before I made my selections (I kid you not... there was a rather extensive shortlist!) as there are hundreds of really great designs to chose from. Once you've chosen and personalised you then can go on to select backing image/pattern, envelope kind, sticker labels and paper thickness (the Triple Thick stock is incredible and unbendable!)... you see, this is serious stationery business!

I finally chose the three designs pictured below...
+ Happy Hello by Susan
+ Indio (in Triple Thick) by Amber Barkley
+ Flags and Stripes by Mariel Schmitt

And then a couple for the little cub to write his letters on too...
+ Quirky Thankyou by Eray
+ Little Alligator by Emily Ranneby



Minted also do wedding invites, birth announcements and all manner of occasion cards. Basically they've got it all covered! Their new range of foil cards for Christmas as especially nice. I've got my eye on a few designs to get our beaming faces onto... just need to whittle down that shortlist again!



The very kind folks at Minted have extended their love to you, dear readers, so that you too can send fabulous looking mail...

THEY ARE GIVING AWAY $200 WORTH OF PERSONALISED STATIONERY to one lucky person (winner to select and customise their own)... that's a pretty hefty supply of wonderful!

You can enter (multiple/separate times) the following ways:

1 - Visit the Minted site then leave a comment below stating one design that you would love to get your name/face on.

2 - 'Like' The Daily Smudge on Facebook (then comment to say so below)

3 - 'Like' Minted on Facebook (then comment to say so below)

4 - Tweet, Pin or Instagram about this giveaway (then comment to say each time below)

The more times you enter, obviously the better your chance is.
Entries close midnight Friday 29th November. Good Luck!!

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS NOW CLOSED

Congratulations to our winner Megan Mckean #7 - Happy choosing!

DISCLAIMER: Though I was given these products for no cost, I was under no obligation to review them. I love everything about the company and the quality of their products so I wholeheartedly support their brand and subsequently chose to write this post. 

Wrapping Papers and Prints // Printspace

Have you heard of Printspace? I bought one of their art prints at a Finders Keepers market before my cub was born (for his nursery) and thought no more about it. Then last week I fell for some divine wrapping paper and realised it was, ta da, these clever folks yet again. (In fact they make all manner of wonderful papery things)

I really love the colours and textures in these wrapping papers best of all... though sort of too nice to wrap with... wall hanging anyone?




Having said that, their abstract art prints are quite something too...

An artist and her daughter collaborate // Mica Hendricks

Graphic artist and Illustrator, Mica Hendricks accidentally began collaborating with her 4 year old daughter when Myla demanded that her mother share with her. They have since created a whole world of rather incredible art.



Mica will draw the head of the figure or animal while her 4 year old daughter dreams up a body or background for it to inhabit. Mica will then go back and colour the beings, often under  the strict directions of her little art director. The results are, as you can see, often wild and always pretty wonderful.



It must be hard to step back enough to allow your scribble-handed child to let loose on your precious drawings (I am a control-freakish enough when it comes to the cub doing his OWN painting!)

Sometimes I would give her suggestions, like “maybe she could have a dragon body!” but usually she would ignore theses suggestions if it didn’t fit in with what she already had in mind...  But I should know that in most instances, kids’ imaginations way outweigh a grownup’s, and it always ALWAYS looked better that what I had imagined. ALWAYS.

Soooo brilliant for so many reasons!! I feel so inspired by this pair!

Visit The Busy Mockingbird to see more
Read more about how it came to be here

A roadtrip to 'the castle'

Last weekend we snuck away (leaving the cub with his fabulous grandparents) and took a little roadtrip north to Newcastle in our fancy Ford Focus Titanium.



I've got to say, as much as we love our son to bits, it was pretty blissful having so much time to ourselves and not having to constantly chase after the little jumping bean. Day one, we swam and swam and floated and swam... in the sea, in ocean pools and in the 'bogey hole', in between having leisurely (and mess free) meals in cafes.





On day two the rains came in, so we wandered in and about the arty little shops of Cooks Hill and gawked at some Brett Whiteley masterpieces in the short (but rather sweet) Newcastle Art Gallery. How very civilised of us right?!!

We had an absolutely ace weekend... made all the better by zooming there in the comfort of our 'fancy silber car'.

Sadly this marks the end of my Ford adventures... We will miss it and I also fear that I have forgotten to drive in part - no more auto park or distance monitoring cruise control. uh oh!



All images my own except the Bogey Hole above (via here)

This post is one of three written as part of Ford Australia's 'Choose Your Own Adventure' challenge (in conjunction with Kidspot, Voices of 2013). I was not paid to write this post nor was I told what to write. But, I was given a swish car to drive around in for 6 weeks which is proving pretty nice!