papier mache to-do list

Today I'm on a mission.

- I want to make sure that you've all seen the first issue of this wonderful online children's magazine from Australia.

- I want to be certain that you've all taken out a free subscription (yes, you heard me, free).

- I want to put my mind at rest - surely, I'm not the only one still reeling from so much gorgeousness, dazed by so much eye-candy, the fabulous fashion features, the sneak peek, the illustrations, shopping ideas and art (I love Meredith Gaston's work)???

- I want to find out if you're dying for issue no. 2 and are willing to lend a hand to make it grow from strength to strength?

Right, those with full marks read on....

I have some fantastic news found over at Bodie and Fou's stylish and informative blog, later confirmed by the pm team. papier mache have decided to add a supplement magazine with issue 2 devoted to children's rooms, to be released mid-November, and are looking for submissions!

If you think that your kid's room looks great and has that certain je ne sais pas quoi that would appeal to papier mache readers, send your photos to: hello@papier-mache.com.au before the end of October.

Righty-ho girls, roll up your sleeves, cameras at the ready, there's work to be done!

Hedgerow delight

Good Morning! Some bright bramble sweetness to start the day. I spotted these four colourful paintings by British contemporary artist Louise Gains in a magazine years ago. Being a hunter and a gatherer, I tore out the article and saved it for the right moment, as one does...

Louise's Hedge series of oil paintings were inspired by wild plant growth in the Wye Valley. These four "details" were then printed onto cotton and framed. I think they're beautiful. Her work reminds me of my favourite painter Kurt Jackson's Cornish hedge paintings.

Other "details" include the gorgeous Dandelion Sea and Parsley Shake collection.






Louise's earlier and more recent work can be found here. She has also created the mousespotter's guide to find sugar mice in strange places.

Move over Barbie

Framed tattooed lady doll by Sarah Young

Just what is it with Barbie? Why an earth are little girls and boys inevitably drawn to the whole Barbie universe? I personally don't recall ever wanting one, more of a Tressy kinda a girl (remember, the one with the long hair whose wavy locks you could twist back into her skull to create a cropped Jean Seberg look???). I've made a conscious effort to steer my kids away from all things remotely connected to Barbie & co so I understandably cringed in horror when a sweet French lady gave Savannah her daughter's entire unsold collection at the end of a local car boot sale a couple of years ago. Lots of gaudy plastic shoes, boots, hairbrushes, party frocks...

Yesterday, I caught my three children playing with Barbie and Ken on the balcony. The game consisted in placing the two bods in Barbie's big blue car without strapping their seat belts then sending them hurtling down all twenty odd steps at full speed. Needless to say, K+B did not fare well. I smiled to myself, remembering a brilliant post by one of my translator friends Gail Armstrong, on her excellent, now defunct, blog Openbrackets. How right she was...

There are so many beautiful, original dolls around at the moment so I thought I'd take this opportunity to show you some of my poupée finds, after all, Christmas is not that far away (did I really say that?)

Articulated paper-doll set by woolandwater

Papier mâché doll by Paola Zakimi

Hanging lavender-filled Russian dolls by Beaky

Reusable, removable paper-doll style wall decals made from fabric by Mae


Primitive folk art rabbit doll by PieCake Primitives


Pretty fairy pegdolls by The Magpie and the Wardrobe

Custom-tailored peg doll families by Goose Grease

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!

Puzzles with style

Found another great version of the "There was a Crooked Man" nursery rhyme in Ladylisten's etsy store today. I love the simple graphics and bright colours of these old puzzles, don't you?
When I looked a little further I came across these fun educational puzzle pieces, all fantastic for framing, or for your collage and altered art work.

Nursery rhymes

Sub-Studio's new nursery rhyme prints inspired by movie posters are fantastic. Perfect for the modern vintage home. J'adore...





Found via Retro To Go

Colour and inspiration

Fantastic print from an absolutely brilliant illustrator called Nate Williams. Love it!