First Impressions

  

Day One

We're up in the clouds here

And it's beautiful!

Voyage, Voyage

We'll be on our way to The Alps in a few hours and I can't wait. I don't think that I'll be posting much over the next few days so I hope you all have a good week.

I'd like to leave you with these beautiful photos by Sarah Bridgland. I've been following her blog and Flickr streams for a while now (she was actually one of the first artists I wrote about on K&C) and particularly enjoy her travel photos. Sarah is working on some new wooden collages, which I love and find very inspiring.

Open your eyes and look around - colours, shapes and textures everywhere.

C'est la vie, and it's here and now.

Bonne semaine et à bientôt !

The Orphans of Sainte Cécile / Les Orphelines de Sainte Cécile

 Do you remember Jasmine, a beautiful but sad looking doll made by Patricia Le Baudrier from Papillon Bleu UK?  Well today I'd like to tell you about Marie who appears in Patricia's first book - The Orphans of Sainte Cécile / Les Orphelines de Saint Cécile.

Written and narrated in French and English (the book comes with a CD audio in both languages), The Orphans of Sainte Cécile / Les Orphelines de Saint Cécile. is the story of seven little orphans during the second World War who will have to move from France to England. Marie is the narrative voice as she is writing in her journal. She also loves to take photos of her friends.

 This charming, original book is entirely illustrated with Patricia's handmade art dolls. It really is delightful and obviously perfect for Savannah who is bilingual and turns nine in November (if I can wait that long!). You can buy a signed copy of Patricia's very popular book from her website (pre-order, available on 15th of August), and perhaps make a note of her etsy shop for future purchases.

Special finds like this are the reason why I love blogging so much
I hope you like it too!


A bientôt mes amis !

Fishermen Friends

It's Fresh Talent Friday!

Do you remember Amie Robert's colourful fishermen I featured in my Five Faves a couple of weeks ago? Well, I'm delighted to announce that she has a brand new etsy shop and will gradually be filling the shelves with quirky soft sculptures, cushions, and other surprises. 

Amie has recently graduated from UWE (University of West England) with a degree in illustration and is definitely one to watch in the future.

 

Angels, Drums & Tambourines

I discovered Claire Fletcher's gorgeous handpainted tambourines at The Country Living Fair in London a few years ago. Claire had recently opened Made In Hastings and had a stand promoting her products made by local crafters, artists and designers. I can remember thinking what a great idea it was, and how I'd love to do the same one day...

If you are looking for a very special gift for a newborn baby, or a unique piece to display in a child's room, Clare's tambourines and drums are perfect. So very English. I love this modern, quirky design, found at Selvedge's Drygoods, and am equally as smitten with the nostalgic "Waves" shown above.

Claire has a rich and varied illustration portfolio, which I'm sure some of you will enjoy browsing. Have a look at her beautiful paintings, her products - the dolls, colouring books -  before popping over to Selvedge-Drygoods, Frank or  Made In Hastings to window shop or give into temptation.

Today#10

And then,

Finally, the sun came out,

For a while, at least.

 *

Summer?

 

 

I don't know what's happened to our Summer

I've never known it be so cold and cloudy in July

Thank goodness for online inspiration, eh!

I love these three photos from Edmond's gallery

 

My Images of the Day

Bears

 Bears

Just one, or four, or more

All very cute, made in France and perfect for your little ones...

Keep'em comin' Zü !

Lopsided Lovelies

It's been a while since I checked out Viv Sliwka's mixed media work over at Hen's Teeth.

Rosy-cheeked Livinia and Lucinda are some of the new characters featuring in her Lopsided Lovelies collection, incorporating machine embroidery with paper ephemera and vintage feedsack cotton.

Quirky, colourful and inspiring - My etsy finds of the day!

(Viv also sells her work via Madebyhandonline)

Give Me Three #38

Little Foxes by Whirlygig Collective

Take-Away Tales - Cinderella by Alix Swan

The Beanstalk by Wonkylens

Anybody who knows me well knows that I always go out of my way to find special gifts for birthdays, Christmas, Easter or to simply say Thank You. I like to surprise and offer handmade things, such as these three beautiful books I found on Folksy. 

Alix Swan is one of my favourite artist/bookmakers. I've featured her foldout fairytales before and think they'd make perfect keepsakes; they're certainly the kind of thing I would loved to have collected as a child.

It's been a while since I visited Folksy, et vous?

Das Kind und die Katze

Das Kind Und Die Katze

Written by Ingrid Bacher and illustrated by Rotraut Susanne Berner

Perfect for Colour My Monday, don't you think?

I hope you enjoy looking at the rest of the book here

via

Five Faves #59

Vintage Dick Bruna Book 

Kaylovesvintage*

 Here we are again.

Monday morning.
The first day of a brand new week,
Only four days left until we go on holiday to the Alps!

Voici my Fave Faves:

1) Favourite little animals - homemade birthday cards by Jane Cabrera

 2) Favourite Cheerful Cover - That's Logic Zine

3)  Favourite Design - The Cradle Rocking Chair by Richard Clarkson

4)  Favourite Papercuts - Beci Orpin's Harvest Exhibition
(I also love her mobiles)

5) Favourite Patterns by Matt Saunders (remember?)
Can't wait to see what he'll do with them...

via

* KLT Sketchbook 

**Reetsweet