Dotty

No, I'm not dotty,

I know it's not time for Colour My Monday yet

But it's dull and damp here again and

I am so enjoying the simple shapes, colours & compositions of

Emma Lawrenson

I thought I'd share.

via

Rock Pooling

Happy Mother's Day

To all you wonderful mothers around the world

I hope you get plenty of hugs

You deserve them!

I love Lisa Stubbs's work.

Her screenprints capture special family moments

A piggy-back from mum, a kiss from gran, the bien-être of pregnancy

Her latest nine-coloured piece entitled Rock Pooling was inspired by a family trip to the sea and shows her three children, Lil, Sonny and Sky rock pooling on Runswick Bay.

The details are beautiful, I think.

What are your plans for today, anything nice?

Our kids go back to school tomorrow, so we'll be checking homework, tidying up and getting organised for the busy week ahead ( I think we'll time for a barbecue too...).

Enjoy! 

 PS: Don't forget to enter this lovely giveaway for your little ones

And I would really appreciate your votes over here (last couple of days).

True Blue

Go and explore Emma's Wolf's 3D Gallery, I love it!

Hansel

Hansel by Rosie Irvine who "likes to work by hand and make a mess".

My Image of The Day.

I found Rosie's work via EastEnd Prints.

I love Country shown below.

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.

All Smiles

Woke up to miserable grey skies this morning

Never mind, Hannah Evelyn's four little faces cheered me up no end

Hope they make you smile too...
Happy Weekend!

Bears, Mountains and Raindrops

She got off to an excellent start and her shop just keeps getting better and better

Love Kerry's new prints and postcards!

The Seventy Tree

Fresh Talent: The Toy Shop Exhibition

 

If you follow my Tumblr you may remember me posting this image a couple of weeks ago. The Toy Shop Exhibition took place in early October as part of the Free for Arts Festival in Manchester. It was beautifully curated by UK illustrator Laura Gee, who designed this lovely promotional house for the occasion.

I've had my eye on Laura's Toy Shop blog for a while and would love to have visited the exhibition in person. From what I've seen it more than lived up to everyone's expectations, bringing together toy-themed artwork by the likes of Gemma Correll, Lord Whitney,  and Anthony Zinonos to create a magical space for toy lovers of all ages.

Elroy the Elephant by Lord Whitney (make sure you visit their wonderful, wonderful site)

The Toy Shop Exhibition introduced me to a number of new up-and-coming artists /illustrators/crafters in the UK and I was particularly drawn to the work of Evegina Baranova, Mike Redmond and Daniel Frost.

Evegina Baranova

Mike Redmond

Daniel Frost's mobiles based on Jules Verne's Around The World In Eighty Days look wonderful! Perfect for a little boy's bedroom. These handmade works of art are one-offs and are for sale via Daniel, if you're interested. I would love to see more of these, and will definitely be keeping an eye on his blog. Magical, eh?

Energise!

 Alice Gabb

Time to recharge your batteries...

Have an electrifying weekend my friends!

ABC-as Easy as 1-2-3

Simply beautiful!

Lucie Pritchard's screen printed fabric Alphabet and Number cards would look lovely grouped together in a nursery, don't you think?

Ann Winder-Boyle

These Loves Fled Away

Travelling Companions

Love Letters On Blue Paper

Hide and Seek

The Dealer

"How much of our happiness or unhappiness in life is linked to expectation?"

Over time, Ann Winder Boyle's work has evolved to explore the link between expectation and our sense of fulfillment. Her small-scale work collaged with books and beeswax is intimate and intriguing. Fleeting moments, nostalgic and playful, but also melancholic and dark (take a closer look at The Dealer, for example), I would love to own one of her pieces. 

I hope you will take the time to explore Ann's beautiful portfolio and watch the video on her site. She really is one of my favourite artists.