Reading your Finger Prints
I don’t know if it’s ironic, coincidence or just me looking way too deep, but it seems odd that the post today is about prints, whilst my fingers are all stained from printer ink and yet the two things are completely unrelated. I spent a disgruntling day yesterday trying to get my Epson 1290 printing after a year long hiatus (I’ve inserted new expensive inks & everything runs, and responds as it should, but NOTHING is on the page! AND I can’t get this ink off my hands!!) If I weren’t trying to make some artwork of my own, I’d hurl the thing out the window and just rely completely on the Print Society and the seemingly endless supply of affordable prints.
You see, I’ve been collecting screenshots of prints I liked for awhile but it was only today realized how they perfectly illustrated what was going on in my life right now. I don’t know if its art imitating life, or vice versa, but it’s all in the details…I love a good bird illustration., no matter how graphic, gestural etc. A few years back I played around with using some foreign newspapers as a backdground texture to some quick gestural bird ink drawiangs on top. It’s not my greatest sucess I have to say, but I can still see it somehow in my head. Well last week I pulled some disused frames out of storage to take to work and lo and behold there the birds sat. And now they are sat behind my desk, staring at me, waiting to be covered up with something a bit more relevant. Perhaps I could go from birdie to bird and just replace like for like. If by like you mean a shoddy piece of artwork with something beautiful–I loooove the gorgeous (but imperceptable above) fluttering movements of the birds wings!
Typography has always been a major love, but especially pertinent lately as I’m undetaking something a bit out of my normal remit at work involving type and I’m really excited about it! Then there is texture…oh me and texture AND a blue/orange/red colour palette…it gets me everytime. And last but not least, I just finished up a piece of work involving a typewriter last week. Sadly it didn’t make the cut, nor did it involve watercolours, or that really would have been weird. Hmm…A screenshot can say an awful lot about you. Perhaps even more than your fingerprints, unless of course your fingers are all stained, which in that case you could tell I had a great productive weekend, full of inspiration but with nothing to inspire!
Credits
One. United Kingdom 8×10 Art Print A print by Anne E. McGraw $20
Two. Bird In Flight I Open Edition Print Sale By Kittensandcrumpets $15
Three. Typewriter Love 5×7 Art Print A print by Anne E. McGraw $10
Four.There Is Hope Here A print by Zach Bulick $20
Motivational speaker: the truth about design
I have a few design conundrums worrying me at the moment because despite the folders and folders of inspiration, I feel at a loss for where I’m going. Somehow I’m still in need of something…anything to make my idea so amazingly great that I’d feel nothing but joy! Frank ‘gave’ me this poster to get me excited, laugh and motivated to be the best that I can be….
But then Frank tooketh away. And I can’t argue with that.
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I love Frank Chimero, his posters and his little drawings too…and failing his motivation, I’ll take some Matt Foley.
What a novel idea…
Oh quirky Kate, you’ve done it again. How cute are these classic Kate Spade book clutches? I’m not so keen on spending 325 dollars on any purse let alone a gimmicky one, but I applaud the effort nonetheless. Also kudos on the well designed book covers and not just going for the purely classic ‘penguin book style’ (although that too could be quite interesting) The novels are The Great Gatsby , Great Expectations and The Importance of Being Earnest. And if the price tag is a bit to much (oh who am I kidding surely it will be!) perhaps I could interest you in some lovely desktop wallpapers? Everybody loves a bit of quirk, aaannnd a bit of free.
Lost in London…
photo by ral_8103
photo by ship-shaped and bristol fashion
photo by daejn
photo by cake.group
photo by lares2007
photo by cake.group
Twenty foot long lions, a 9 foot bottled ship, 13 foot man…and now a giant hedgerow maze. is it just me or is Trafalgar Square in London becoming a magical fantasy land? Don’t get me wrong— I love it, I just wanted to clarify as it IS a central point of tourism, culture (with the National Portrait Gallery) as well being the go between for Parliament, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace. These photos were taken this week during a five day long ‘event’ staged in the square to highlight the hidden gems of the British capital’s West End area, famous for its theatres and shops. The maze contains street signs taken from the West End area as well as the famous ‘blue plaques‘ which are used around London to commemorate a famous person or event in a particular location. I can only guess what will take centre stage next, unicorns and spinning teacups?
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In other news, as I recover from having my legs literally sliced open by a fellow dog walker’s retractable leash (i’m not even kidding, it cut through like a knife behind both of my knees, awful pain!!!) you could make me feel a bit better (and sheepish at the same time) if you visited the Dorset Cereals site to vote for me in their ‘little blog awards’. I don’t normally ‘do awards’, but I’m such a sucker for nice packaging I feel I should make an exception in this case. Ta!
Fall in Love…
I’m rather suddenly hating everything in my wardrobe. I blame my multiple look disorder…I never have managed to pick out just one style to focus on, rather float between lots never making a decision about where my style is going. However I see some hope…some things I picked up last year are falling rather nicely into a trend that seems to still have life in it. Some call it military, which for some inexplicable reason I can’t stand. I’ve rebranded it camping…catchy I know. Okay so the name is rubbish, but the vibe is great…Nix the epaulettes and replace with fringes (on the shoes) and a forest of greens, suedes, leathers, plaids, canvas, rope..okay basically it’s like a textural dream and there is reason enough to jump in the tent. Plus the visions of vintage girl scouts, knee socks, crumpled socks, foldovers, layers, ooh I’m all warm and fuzzy inside! And as it’s so utilitarian and masculine it should be easy to throw in those ‘unexpected features’ everyone is always banging on about, like a sweet dress with dare I say clunky shoes, fancy jewellry with a plaid shirt. And…as I was clever to pickup a few key camping trend buys last year (in the sale), I feel I’m due some sort of fashion forecasting reward…those clogs WILL be mine!
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CREDITS
1. lauren + brian engagement photos by Shannen Norman // 2. Fall Lookbook from Jcrew // 3. Farm rucksack from MAKR // 4. golden book of camping // 5. ASOS Marky green traditional brogues // 6. Mini Boden fringed boots // 7. Natural Beauty from jcrew// 8. My Kurt Geiger boots from last season // 9. Dear Creatures 2009 campaign // 10. NW3 fringe clogs // 11. Office Justa lotta love clogs // 12. westway clog by madewell // 13. Nevada clog from Dune // 14. Bent walnut picnic tote // 15. silence and noise roll up pant from urban outfitters // 16. all Lookbook from Jcrew // 17. Bertie Desert boots // 18. lauren + brian engagement photos by Shannen Norma // 19. Bertie washed leather deck shoes // 20. Fall Lookbook from Jcrew // 21. golden book of camping // 22. metal caravan // 23. Finn Eyeglass frames from Warby Parker // 24. printed shoelaces // 25. Alter style egos from Jcrew // 26. ASOS hooded military cape // 27. Topshop Andrea lace suede boots // 28. Natural Beauty from jcrew
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Now that I’ve got you all excited about camping check out here and here to take it to the next level. With these pretty glamping places, you might even be able to get away with clogs as footwear— a feat not easily managed on a campsite!
Rock, paper, scissors..
A bit of mindless wallpaper searching and voila, a whole host of papercutting inspiration from Owen Gildersleeve has piled up on my desktop. I recognized the name and after a bit of help from google, I realized I saw him (or his work at least) at the Pick Me Up exhibition a few months back. I’m a bit miffed I missed an opportunity to meet him. Who am I kidding, the conversation only would have got as far as “ughm. I love your work. Can you teach me how to be brilliant.” End conversation. Sigh, maybe another day, eh?
Le Tour de Frenchie…
Get the yellow jerseys ready—little Olive Juice had her debut bicycling trip! I have wanted a doggie bike basket since before I even had a cycle, let alone Olive, but the cost vs risk put it on the backburner. On friday, I spotted the spotty bike complete with adorable jimmy on black eiffel and the wheels started to turn in my head. The ‘screw it, never know unless you try it’ moment finally occurred on Saturday night when David and I went out for an absolutely glorious twilight bike ride. We popped into Kensington Gardens as the night had some light left, and rolled down to the Serpentine in Hyde Park and back around. It was so nice to get out and one of those times that I truly feel like we’re making the most of where we are…we chatted about how we should do it more often, but felt guilty about leaving Olive at home on her own when she could be with us…
So yesterday I entered a mission to find a basket and if it didn’t work, well then at least we would know. I had long ago settled on a Basil rear dog basket as it seemed to be the only one suitable for a fattie frenchie like Olive. I wasn’t able to track down the optional frame top (will have to order online if we want it) but found the basket and saved 20 pounds since no one had bothered to update the price since 2006. Victory! We pranced home (okay, I did, David was probably rolling his eyes the entire way home. I couldn’t see past my excitement). We put a harness on Olive, threw a towel in the bottom and fastened her as tight as we could to make exiting the basket near impossible. And off we were! I rode next to Olive, giving moral support as David got used to the weight change. We swapped over halfway through and I”m very happy to say it was a success. She spent the entire time putting her head on the drivers hip and craning her neck to see around us, but didnt’ seem the least anxious about the journey, just seemed to be looking at everything fly by (just like her beloved bus journeys). Yay, tour de frenchie has begun!
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Thanks to the Mister for giving into my sales pitch, as well as Gorman for the spotty bike inspiration, Library of Congress for the B&W Audrey shot by Sid Avery and to cycle chic for the ‘scarved’ Audrey shot
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It was the weekend of the bicycle for us. We got really excited about the newly launched London bicycle hire scheme, that finally puts London on par with the continental vibe of two wheeled transport. It seems kind of silly for us to be so keen on a public bike hiring scheme when we have two (well one) perfectly good bikes, but I think the combination of ease of doing one way trips as well as getting more people out and noticed is helpful. Register here!
Robin Hood Princess of Boots…
Knock it off Topshop. Seriously, too much. I can’t own every pair of shoes you release*. Do you think a pair of tights would be too ‘men in tights’ ?
* Currently under negotiation…with myself…
The tale of Ugur Derinogullu & modern nature…
There is something very warm about these modern black and white (well ‘white-ish) illustrations from Ugur Derinogullu. They seem to qualify for posting under my unofficial obsession with collage that I have lately, but I believe that they are actually ink…I think? Very graceful, full of movement and polished despite being on a slightly textured newsprint background. I love the simple coloured circles and typography. No word on what they are for or what they do, but I’ll have them if no one else does!
Thanks to graphic exchange for the introduction!
The Queen E…
Visit to Tuvalu 1982
The engagement photo
Visit to Tuvalu 1982
Love the blouse!
Queen Elizabeth and family on her Father’s Coronation day
Cecil Beaton Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II
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Like every good dual nationality British Citizen, I made my oath to the queen* and subsequently began a mild fascination with her, most especially the young Princess/Queen Elizabeth. I guess having grown up with the icon of an ‘elder’ royal family I’m easily amazed to think that once, long ago, the royal family actually consisted of a young family. In actual fact, the Queen (or Queenie as I affectionately refer to her) was only 25 when she took to the throne and already had a child (Prince Charles).
Yesterday, Buckingham Palace launched a collection of photos on flickr, covering over a hundred years of Royal family photographs, including the life and times of Ms. Windsor. My favorites are from the 30’s-70’s as you get such incredible picture of the fashions and insight into the royal family (or their photo ops at least). Of course all children swing on playground equipment, but somehow the family in question makes it all the more interesting. As Prince William and Ms. Middleton seem to be taking their good old time at getting around to some Royal Wedding action, the story from yesteryear will have to do. I mean seriously, the photos from the Prince and Queen’s visit to Tuvalu are hard to beat! Full calico frock, hat and gloves, taking photos of an overheated Prince Philip. Classic.
All photos from The British Monarchy’s collection.
* Yes, you REALLY do have to pledge your oath to the Queen. Sadly she wasn’t there to witness it…
Still after some more…yah, I couldn’t stop there, there’s still more of my favorites, just Read more…
Pillar Box Post 
