A Refreshing Break

 via

 Just wanted to say Good Morning!

Bonjour! 

Five Faves

I've decided to play along with Pip over at the lovely Meet Me at Mikes, so here are my Five Faves of the week:

1) Favourite craft project - bunnyhead cupcup toppers from Cart before the horse



2) Favourite town - Summerville's new wherever-you-want-it-to-be colour-in town poster



3) Favourite object - wooden block math kit (and 22 piece natural woodblock set + tree cottage)



4) Favourite new blog /crafter - Lambert





5) Favourite video - Goodbye Sorrow by Katie Armstrong.
Love, love, love this song, just can't get it out of my head!

Goodbye Sorrow from Katie Armstrong on Vimeo.

Well, that was fun. Why don't you join?
See you all next week for more favourite finds!

Bonne semaine à tous et à toutes!

Kyoto Candy

If you're interested in Japanese folk art, Kyoto Traditions has a wonderful selection of vintage toys & games, kokeshi dolls and miniature houses, to name but a few. Definitely one to bookmark!

A big thanks to Lambert for the link.

A Man's Touch

Happy Monday!

I hope you all had a great weekend and are ready to fly with me to Brooklyn to discover the beautiful work of French artist Lambert.

I have fallen in love with these one-of-a-kind handsewn and handembroidered pieces made from modern linen and vintage Japanese fabric. Lambert's traditional Japanese Koi would look beautiful in a child's bedroom, or any room in fact, appealing to those who are drawn to Primitive American art and handmade objects with a soul. His contemporary heirlooms come complete with frays, asymmetry and signs of wear, like a vintage toy, and are designed with a "simplicity, intimacy and the suggestion of a natural process" in mind.

Lambert also has great taste. Whilst browsing his interesting blog I came across the artwork of Icelandic/American duo Jónsi & Alex. The two men have been making music together since 2003. They started creating visual art for their beautiful limited edition hardboard book ‘Riceboy Sleeps’ in 2006.

Riceboy Sleeps

Much of their artwork for their album covers and videos features children

Rain Down My Favourite Songs cover

All Animals EP cover

as does their pencil, charcoal and watercolour drawings

I love Jónsi & Alex's use of old window frames to display their art

and their colouring book is unusual, poetic and beautiful, do browse it online.

The duo organised a colouring competition for children recently based on the drawings in their book. Although I appreciate the simplicity of these black and white sketches, I have to admit that I find the children's interpretations of Jónsi & Alex's work quite stunning and at times moving.

José-Carlos-Nievas1

Maisie Jay-Pitcher

Tomas-Quiroga

Jónsi & Alex have created a colouring competition gallery here, so I hope you'll have a look, enjoy and be inspired!