christmas gift guides part 6 - a collector's trove

1st row: (1) Aged Flowers Fine Art Photo by House of Six Cats; (2) Elevation- 8 x 10 landscape print by Many Muses
2nd row: (1) Red Silhouette Print by Nesta Home; (2) Peach Jam Polaroid Print by Futuro Woman
3rd row: (1)He Admired Her from Afar by Stiletto Heights; (2) Invasion by CGregori

paper does it

Susan of Middleburg is currently the featured seller on Etsy - and her work certainly deserves many more features. I almost couldn't believe that these wonderful sculptures are actually papier maches. Any one of her amazing work would make a great centrepiece in any home.

From the top: Hummingbird Topairy, Tender Angel and Blue Bird Wedding Cake Topper

painting dreams

There's something dreamy and whimsical about the work of French artists. Sabbio's paintings of girls in various states of dreaminess has something very endearing about them. You can find her artwork on ACEOs, bookmarks, journals and mirrors in her Cinnamon Tree store.

Clockwise from left: (1) The Garden of Sweetness ACEO (limited edition); (2) Automna bookmark; (3) Preserved secret garden pocket mirror; (4)Snatched by the Abysses journal

shiny happy creatures

Regular blogging resumes!

Love these pieces from Tummyache by Julie Knoblock. I am enticed by the earthy tones, the quirky statements and the way her strokes seem to flow and ebb. Top-most: You have all the Treasure; and just above: Happiness (pink).

a little french flair

Mademoiselle G has some fantastic prints of her pen and ink drawings of aristocratic ladies and gentlemen. They are beautifully done with just the right amount of quirkiness and reminds me of the days of the french revolution. 

She also has several halloween themed drawings in store, like the postcard below.

old-fashioned yum

Jenny's Bakeshop makes lovely prints, plaques and more based on original paintings inspired by old-fashioned bakeries and vintage dessert cafes. 

A humourous twist is the painting above, Keep Calm and Have a Cupcake, franed with vintage baking book pages. Below: Paper doll Baking Beauty Cupcakes sign; and further below: Vintage Paris Patisserie inspired Petit Fours sign.

power to the people

There's thing quaint and old-school about these illustrations by James Ulmer. My personal take on them is that they seem to suggest a sort of 'power to the people' vibe, so that no matter how small we each are, we can somehow unite to become a force for creating something greater. 

Above: (1) Bike Party; (2) Today is Our day
Below: (1) Seesaw; and (2) Yip Yip

 

inspiration monday

It's the beginning of a new week once more, and the time when we need the most inspiration to get started on the right foot. The gorgeous gocco prints by Jess Gonacha seems to do the trick, but will also be great for cheering up a friend who's feeling down!

Or you could start the week off with some good humour. Ahh the statement of my life. I'd rather be napping by Fluro Goddess. 

a good many faces

Here's a little art to sent you off on your weekend. When I saw a picture of Sara Harvey's artwork I just knew I had to feature them. From the muted tones to the cutely sullen characters with their great hairdos and sometimes fantastical settings. You can find more of her prints, coasters and plushes at her shop, Multiple Personalities. 

do re mi

I'm happy to introduce the work of Flora Douville, a freelance illustrator and artist based in London. I found a series of prints of her soothing watercolour paintings in her etsy shop, each with their own letter of the alphabet and corresponding animal. For more of her work, you can view her entire portfolio on her website. And she blogs too!

Below: her range of happy softie fish :)

inspiration and illustration

Gemma Correll is an established illustrator and a maker of other crafty things. You can take a look at her extensive portfolio of work on her website. She has such a distinct hand, particularly with the way she draws her human objects, and her preference for whimsical objects and settings. 

gocco loving

It eludes me but I love it all the same. Here are some extraordinary gocco artists to inspire you: (1) Butterfly Journal by Everything in Blue; (2) Rain by Julia B; (3) Shrimp Stew by Pink Bathtub; (4) Three Trees Make a Forest by One Girl Two Dogs; (5) Metallic Gold Starburst Birds by Sugarloop

colours and action

I am rather taken with the refreshingly cheery and interesting subject matters of the prints and notecards available at Creative Apples. They are derived from original photographs of cupcakes galore, robots and other toys and the beauty of nature. I do love the ample choice of yummy cupcakes in various lighting, and of course that cute Superman profile (tee hee). 

because we're stylish, hun

These range of prints available at Plasterdoll is a fresh new twist on fashion illustration! They are of original illustrations that are based on actual designer duds as seen on the catwalk, but modeled by cute Plasterdolls instead. For interesting commentary on how these 'fashion shoots' were taken, check out her blog here. 

Clockwise from left: (1) Plasterdoll in Miu Miu (Spring Summer 2008 Collection No.1); (2) Plasterdoll in Luella (Spring Summer 2008 Collection No.3); (3) I'm Not Just a Toy; (4) Precious Hair.

poppity pop

Currently loving:  Pop art styled paper collages by Amocro. It's amazing how she creates such a vibrant retro feel just by using coloured paper. (She is also offering custom pop art portraits. Retro fever lives!)

little old me(s)

Lisa Hurwitz's prints available at her Etsy store are of her original oil paintings on linen and even wood. I personally find her depiction of human characters very endearing, with their especially round faces, wispy hair and wry smiles. You can check out more of her work over at her website.