Let's Make it a Great One!

 

Happy New Year to each and everyone of you!

May 2011 be filled with happiness, good health, sunshine and lots and lots of fun.

Thank you for all the inspiration and for visiting Kickcan & Conkers every single day.

I raise my glass to you all!

Bring in 2011...

Snippets

 

Snippets, magic moments...

A few photographs from Jubejuss's portfolio.

I love this Estonian photographer's portraits in particular.

Hope you enjoy browsing his work too.

Etsy Finds - Winter Animals

Winter Poem Book - illustrated by V. Kanevsky, Moscow 1984,

Hanna Rivka 

Wouldn't these illustrations look beautiful framed?

Sunlight On Closed Lids

Happy, smiley, rainbow-love-filled cards by 

Sunlight On Closed Lids

Inspiration: Penny's Quilt

I've been thinking about my favourite finds in 2010 and did intend to compile a 'best of'. However, I have discovered so many wonderful artists and beautiful things that it would be a shame to have to choose just a few. I have been 'revisiting' some of the artists and crafters I featured earlier on in the year and I'm forever inspired by their imagination and creativity. One such example is Bristol-based textile artist Penny Leaver Green whose work I featured just over a year ago. 

I have already drawn your attention to her fairytale "into the woods" series, which I love, so today I would like to highlight her handembroidered nursery rhyme quilt.

Have you ever seen such beautiful children's bedding I wonder? A true work of art, which  you can study in more detail here and here. What a wonderful present for a child, to be passed down from generation to generation.

Penny Leaver Green, somebody I'd love to meet, and one of my personal faves.

Cintia Martin

 I think some of you will enjoy Spanish illustrator Cintia Martin's blog and portfolio. I discovered her work through Muakbabi recently and I'm looking forward to seeing her two new books coming out in February.

 

Cintia is thinking of opening an etsy shop and has also collaborated with Muakbabi (I love her kids' T-shirts) so watch out for her designs there.

It may not be quite as colourful, but look at this toy theatre she made from a wooden wine box - reason enough to want to know more...

Marlen and Mister Bird

She

sent us

Mister Bird's Story

for Christmas

© Piret Raud

and we love

award-winning Piret Raud's

words and illustrations

Thank You Marlen!

The Party Isn't Over Yet!

Seasons Greetings from Sherbet

via Allakinda

Love it!

Beau Travail

Have you found a calendar for 2011? 

If you haven't and you're looking for something fresh and contemporary,  why not add a touch of French chic to your life and order this beautiful, reasonably priced, calendrier from Parisian studio Beau Travail?

Illustrated by Céline Saby, Delphine Dunoyer, Hélène Georget and Rachel Péloquin, this bright and cheerful collective work will keep you smiling all year round and brush up your French into the bargain.  Qu'est-ce qu'on peut demander de plus ?  

Wild Animals

Well, here we are folks, my last Colour My Monday post this year.

I came across Rop van Mierlo's Wild Animals book this weekend and judging from Miles' reaction to the trailer, I'm sure that it will appeal to young and old alike.

A nice addition to any library and another good idea for you to play around with at home. I bet your kids will love having a go at painting their own collection, don't you?

Are You Sitting Comfortably?

Then I'll begin...

Can't keep me quiet for long you know

 

Rip + Tatter Kids Chair

Industrial Cardboard, 100% recyclable, non-toxic
by Peter Oyler^*

 Reduce - Reuse - Recycle

* via Daddy Types

Hey!

 Andrea Tachezy

Hey!

You, You and You,

 Whoever you are, wherever you are

I hope you had a fantastic Christmas weekend

We certainly did!

Clancy & Christmas

Clancy's Classics is one of my favourite finds this year. I love Marianne's tinted photos and I'm equally as smitten with her folk art dolls and this beautiful handstitched cloth book.

I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you all Merry Christmas in advance. I'm going to be busy over the next few days and won't be blogging much, if at all. I'll try and pop in over the weekend but if I don't, have a wonderful time with your family and friends if you celebrate Christmas - enjoy the sun or the snow - à bientôt!

Etsy Find: A-Rollin'

 

Antique Folk Wooden Marble Run

What a beautiful object, for play and display

Daily Memorandum