Polly Becker

Puzzle Child

Psychopharm Child

Couple in a Box

Go and explore the wonderful world of Polly Becker.
I love her assemblages made out of found items and images

The Earth is Round!

Sit down for five minutes and watch this beautifully made short film animation* from Büro Achter April motion and design studio in Germany. I'll be showing it to my family tonight.

The medieval belief that the Earth was a flat slab floating on the Seven Seas is a modern myth. Already in that era, people were aware that the Earth was round. Only the Universe was conceived as a two-dimensional hierarchy, with God residing above in the Heavens and the Devil below in the depths of the Earth. World maps of the period confirm this perspective.

Director Michael Fragstein
Animation Michael Fragstein, Stephan Beyer
Executive Producer Turan Tehrani

* Found via Amy at AquaVelvet

Faces from the past

Any idea who this little girl is? I came across this quirky Christmas decoration over at the ever-excellent Ancient Industries last night and was intrigued. It's actually part of an adorable set of five ornaments.

Any warmer? Well, these sweet cherubs were hugely popular in North America in the 1930s. Born in 1934, the Dionne Quints are the first quintuplets known to survive their infancy. They are the only female identical set of five ever recorded. However, their story is not a happy one. Four months after they were born the Canadian government withdrew their parents' custody, deeming them unfit, and proceeded to turn the five girls into a huge tourist attraction, later creating "Quintland" drawing in almost 3,000,000 people between 1936 and 1943!

Funnily enough these five girls have now appeared in another of my favourite online shops Labour and Wait. This time Marie, Yvonne, Emilie, Annette and Cecile are smiling away on quintuplet cut out and make paper doll books (reasonably priced at £7).

I've seen these before in France but had no idea they were reprints of sets like this dating back to the late 30s

Original Dionne Quints paper dolls by Whitman, 1937

From what I can gather, two of the quints are still alive and although these dolls have great retro appeal, the story behind them is far less enticing.

* Found via RetrotoGo

Claire Owen

While you were sleeping

Claire Owen's work is beautiful. I discovered this recent British graduate's illustrations a few weeks ago and I'm thrilled to bits because yesterday she opened her etsy shop. Take a peek, I'm sure you'll like her style.

Sock it to 'em!

Trophy from Serendipity*

Tiki Leaf Lounge open edition print by Inaluxe

Snap, crackle and pop!
Make a statement with your presents this Christmas!
A selection of gifts to blow away the cobwebs, put a spring in your step and make you sing!

ABC cushion in graphic black by Helen Rawlinson


Customisable garlands (chose your own colour combo and sizes) from la Case de Cousin Paul

wovenplay, brushed moleskin shark, short pants by sweet william


Build your own set of 8 director coasters from Retro Whale


The girl who knitted love journal in black from Fric de Mentol

Gymnastics - original illustration by Fric de Mentol

Australian tram destination tea towels from Poulier and Poulier

Take me to the seaside, recycled and driftwood block wall/room decoration from NorfolkBoy


David Shrigley T-shirt from Tate Online


Fair trade bear from Serendipity*

BlaBla cushions from Serendipity*

* This wonderful Parisian store does not sell on line, however you can email them if you're interested in any of their products.

Pêle-mêle

I've found some lovely paper work and drawings in UK artist Adrienne Wroathe's online gallery. Looks promising!

*

I love French artist Clémence Pollet's website and en plein air sketches.


*

I love this trailer for Izu Troin's the Wordcutter/ Le Bûcheron des Mots




Produced by Folimage (of the excellent Mia et le Migou and le Prophétie des grenouilles (raining cats and dogs) fame), this short film is set in a country where people literally feed on letters from word trees and either read or die of boredom. It tells the story of Nadal, a wordcutter and his life-changing encounter.

This beautiful film has just been released in DVD format and is available here
(English, German, Polish and Chinese subtitles)

Plus d'infos en français ici.

Mini Labo

If you're a fan of French company Mini Labo's cute soft toys, cards, games and accessories, you'll be thrilled to know that you can now buy a selection of their products online. Their colouring/collage books make great, reasonably-priced Christmas presents and I'm sure your little girls would be delighted to find a chic French mini-Labo badge or brooch in their stocking!

Enfin, Mini Labo est en ligne! Si vous aimez leurs doudous, cartes, jeux et accessoires filez faire vos emplettes M-L sur le web. J'ai déjà craqué pour le cahier de collage et coloriage l'année dernière, une valeur sûre me-semble-t-il, et là j'avoue être séduite par quelques broches et jeux de cartes... le compte à rebours de Noel a commencé!