Inspiration: When a Story Takes Shape

A while I ago I mentioned Immaginare Contesti and their creation of 

five elements composing the architecture of a story. 

I thought some of you might be interested in seeing how that story is developing:

Charlotte

I think this is wonderful!

Charlotte, a book for children written and illustrated by children

Made my day!

(click on images to read the story)

Five Faves #45

Couleurs, Couleurs by Kveta Pacovska, Minedition

(I resisted the temptation to buy this yesterday but going on Miles' birthday present list - available here if you're interested)

Happy Sunday!

I missed last week's Five Faves, the first time in 44 weeks!

Oh well, today's selection is all about Creativity with a Capital C...

Thanks for all the inspiration.

1)  Favourite School Artwork - Maisie's Chair

2) Favourite Drawing - Drew By Henry, age 7

3) Favourite Handmade Book - The Button Book by Stephanie Davidson*

4) Favourite Handmade St Valentine's Art - Hazel's Toast Dress

5) Favourite DIY Project - Paper Lantern Houses by Hutch Studio

Only a few hours left to enter the Hutch Studio Paper Garland Giveway!

Ends tonight at 6 o' clock (18 hrs, CET).

via The Art Room Plant

Things You've Been Meaning To Do

Isn't this print great? Joanna Neborsky's "Ride The Bus" print is part of a series of mix and match enviro-minded artwork called  "Things You've been Meaning To Do" commissioned by Brooklyn responsible design studio Citizen Scholar and sold exclusively at Supermarket. A fun addition to a boy's room and a smart way of teaching kids and adults to take more care of our ailing planet.

In the Spotlight

 Savannah and Miles both worked hard last weekend for the annual Christmas drawing competition in our village. Neither of them won, much to their disappointment, so I promised them that Mr Father Christmas and Mr Snowman could share the spotlight on my blog today...

Mes deux petits chéris se sont appliqués ce week-end pour participer au concours annuel de dessin dans notre village. Malheureusement, il n'y avait pas de gagnants chez nous, à leur grande tristesse, donc pour les encourager, je leur ai promis d'afficher Mr Père Noël et Mr Boule de Neige sur mon blog aujourd'hui...

Watercolour Kids

Alicia Varela's lovely watercoloured children print brought a big smile to my face this morning.

Perfect for boys and girls, it reminded me a bit of one of Dylan's first pieces of framed art. You know I like faces!

Have a good look at Alicia's shop, I saw she had her gorgeous Lady Fall collage in there, remember?

Afresh

Good Morning!
A new day begins, a clean slate, waiting to be filled once more
Take inspiration from these lovely window drawings
Make it what you want it to be, here and now, today!

Bonne Journée mes amis!

Circus Candy

Circus - Goauche on paper by Vsevolod Vladimirovich Sakhnovsky, Moscow , 1950


Masks and colourful stripes from the excellent online children's art site Ringo

Lazy Oaf's new circus diary (want it!)

Colour My Monday #4

Pepa Prieto

Good Morning !
It's Monday, I have a new look and I'm happy.
How about you?

It's going to be a busy week here at Kickcan & Conkers.

It's almost a year since I started this blog and I'd like to celebrate with the opening of my little shop for kids and the young at heart. No exact date yet but hopefully early next week.

Until then, let's travel the world and be inspired...

My first port of call is Denmark.
Rikke Storm is an architect, designer and illustrator living in Copenhagen.

Her personal blog Drawings By Numbers, is full of her own beautiful creations and other inspiring work, including that of her 12 year old son Aldus.

Do have a look, I'm know you'll love her taste!

Miro

Aldus

See you soon, in India this time!

Nineteen Seventy Three

I know they're not new but I really do like these two limited edition screen-prints custom made for 1973 by Darling Clementine. They make me smile.
This Hove-based online shop sells an impressive range of cards, notebooks, wrapping paper and screenprints for young and old. I love, love, love the new Sannu Annaka cards and wrapping paper!

via: Jurianne Matter

Shop Watch: Coral & Tusk

Beautiful Stationery

Gifts for the Home

and

Original, Delicate Finds for Children

Artwork

Play Money

Sea & Match Memory Game

via: Papier Mâché

Children's artwork #5

"It took me four years to paint like Raphael,
but a lifetime to paint like a child"
Pablo Picasso

I hope you'll find the time to read (google translate) this excellent article by Anna Castagnoli
Le figure dei libre

Kari Anne Marstein

Foxes, yes, more foxes. But these are special, colourful fellows, don't you think? As soon as I saw them, I knew they'd be perfect for decorating a little one's room or for brightening up play spaces and living areas.

image via Aftenposten

When I digged and delved a bit more, I found out that Kari Anne is working on a new exhibition of children's paintings, planned for March. Here's a sample of her previous work from her portfolio.

Kari has her own epla shop (new-to-me epla is a Norwegian marketplace for crafts and handmade goods, you need to check it out!) selling original paintings similar to the ones above and her fun, toy-based photography.

Image via Aftenposten

Of course, this Norwegian "flea market/interior design enthusiast" has a wonderful, inspiring blog full of vintage finds, home decor ideas and colour! Go look for yourself! It's a happy, uplifting place to be, believe me.


Seen originally on Meet Me at Mikes
More images on Sweet, Sweet Life