Tonis & Marlen Bird Cushion Cover Giveaway

Win this beautiful handmade bird cushion cover by Marlen

 I have my faves, well all do, don't we?

Tonis & Marlen were one of my favourite finds last year.

An undiscovered treasure, a hidden gem,

This very talented couple from Estonia.

I admire their creativity, their resourcefulness,

Their seemingly effortless ability to make everything they need.

 Marlen sews

She sews toys for her little ones, I've shown them here before.

She sews clothes for herself, I'd love to call my own.

She sews quilts, placemats and pillow cases, I'd gladly welcome into my home.

She sews beautiful Bird cushion covers, I'm proud to offer you today.

If you'd like a chance to win this handmade linen and cotton cushion cover (50cm x 50cm) generously offered by Tonis & Marlen :

 

1) Leave me a comment below (making sure to leave me an email address)

2) Spread the news via twitter, facebook or any other means and you will get two names in the hat (make sure you let me know).

This giveaway runs until Thursday 14th of April at 6 pm, CET

I will announce the winner the same evening.

Good Luck!

 Si vous voulez une chance de gagner cette housse de cousin "Oiseaux" en lin et en coton, offerte par Tonis & Marlen, laissez-moi une commentaire. Vous avez deux chances si vous relayez l'info par twitter, facebook, ou tout autre réseau. N'oubliez pas de me laisser un email. 

Merci, et bonne chance !

Have a great weekend!

Big Kids & Birds

 

Guardian The Owl, Jonah, 9

Visual artist/educator Lilly Blue (Sydney) and dancer/writer Jo Pollit (Perth) have chosen Birds as the first theme for their Australian based magazine-in-the-making  BIG Kids. 

Currently BIG Kids Magazine exists as a blog but will soon be in print form with the launch edition planned for Sept 1, 2011. The BIG 'First Flight' will feature many of the gorgeous bird contributions sent in by kids and artists in response to the two mothers' Bird Call, as well as awesome stories, activities, limited-edition pullout art work and plenty of secret kids' business...

Bird Boat by Lilly

"BIG will foster conversations and collaboration between emerging artists and kids. Between schools and the home playroom. Between emerging artists and established names. Between established artists and kids. Between kids and parents. Between parents and artists. Between kids and kids!"

Paper Bird Doll by artist Sarah Grenard

I've read the BIG Manifesto and shall enjoy following the learning process in the making-of this new magazine, with all its highs and lows.  

"BIG is a poetic and tangible place of ongoing discovery".

"Love Bird" Humphrey, 6, Perth

I hope you'll take the time to browse the BIG Kids Magazine blog, admire the children's and artists' colourful and imaginative contributions (images & words) and keep your eyes peeled for mention of the magazine launch in September (BIG will be available internationally). 

Good luck Lilly and Jo! 

Tweet! Tweet!

Hato Po Po Kun  by Yumiko Froehlich

I'm blogging outside on the balcony today. 

We have squirrels in the garden and lots and lots of birds.

Blue Tits, Blackbirds and a Family of Jays 

I hope you like birds, Yumiko does and so do I.

I'm feeling inspired...

Today will be a Bird Day on Kickcan & Conkers

Stamps

Vintage Matchbox Labels & Stamps

I can always find time for those!

Especially when they're the work of one of my favourite UK illustrators

Tom Frost

Love, love, love his individual Birds of The British Isles prints and Stamp Book.

(Have a look at his new wooden racers too)

See, that didn't take long,did it? 

Nigel Peake

Section through shed VII

I have long admired the work of Nigel Peake. As you know, I am drawn to collections of things and love colours, patterns and textures. Irish-born, illustrator/artist Peake is a former RIBA silver award commended architecture student from the University of Edinburgh, where he has also tutored and assisted in the design units. I discovered his work via the ever-excellent Analogue Books, and am intrigued by his choice of subject-matter. Nigel Peake's hand-drawn, highly-detailed ink and watercolour drawings explore the architecture of nature, its lines, boundaries, motifs and structures. They open my eyes to the beauty around me in every day life.

Ghost Houses
A set of drawings of Ghost Houses inspired by a trip to Philadelphia.

"Past the noise, glare and pop of South Street Philadelphia there is a church that is now a thrift store on every third Sunday. Where the congregation would have once knelt and prayed is now bundled trash; stacked and reinvented".

Maps book by Nigel Peake
Fields, paths, forests, blocks, places and surrounds

"Documenting small time adventures and excursions outwith a mile radius from where I call home. From train rides facing backwards, to crammed bus rides in tiny hill-top towns, to bike rides through the backyards of Europe. Records of the vast, unyielding concrete miles of Shanghai, to the paths between mountains and forests in late night French countryside to the old paint splattered wooden floor in London that I sleep on from time to time."

A Guide to Fifty Nine Fields Drawn by Nigel Peake

"A world renowned field expert, let Nigel open your unseeing eyes to the fields that surround you. Whether it's a field of leaves, bikes, beehives, or a conversation of birds, after familiarizing yourself with the Nigel's chart, a world of fields will reveal itself all around you".

Take a peek at his beautiful books on sheds , birds and patterns.

Nigel Peake's books are self-published or are published in collaboration with Analogue Books.

Wonderful wire

I love wire sculptures. Here are a few pictures of Susan Graham's beautiful wirework, or "three dimensional drawings" as she calls them, that I found this morning, to complement pieces shown in a couple of previous posts. Amazing aren't they?

Anke Weckmann

Anke Weckmann's favourite thing in the world is drawing.



Anke left her native Germany to live in London in 2001. She studied illustration at Camberwell College of Art and Kingston University and has worked as a freelance illustrator since graduating in 2005.



Anke boasts an impressive list of clients including the Guardian, The Times, Newsweek, Vogue Italia, Bang Art, 5280 Magazine, Royal Mail, Poketo and Red Cap Cards. Her portfolio is amazing, I take my hat off to her.


I fell in love with Anke's work today when I saw these dolls


She likes black ink


little birds


and cats.


Anke has a fab website (named after a bird) and a shop on etsy and dwanda. She loves making pretty things in general so take a peek at her pendants and felt brooches too.
I've also started following her blog.
Enjoy!