Tiny Candy

minä perhonen x miffy

2010-10-24T23:20:00.001Z

The 55th anniversary of Dick Bruna's wonderful creation, Miffy, has been commemorated in Japan in the form of a collaboration with my favourite fashion brand, minä perhonen! The fashionable miss (who simply does not look her age) wears a selection of hooded coats showcasing embroidered butterflies, multi-coloured dots, tartan patterns and, of course, special holes to accommodate her lovely, long ears. Shown below is the dusky pink version. If you're willing to part with several hundred dollars, take a peek on eBay for your very own!

We Are Paper Toys

2010-10-11T10:13:00.002Z

What a great, communal, creative idea... creatable friends for office workers around the world, and anyone with access to a printer. Love it! This book is available from Ariel. Here's a blog which explains more...

http://www.collectorsquest.com

I Miss You.

2010-07-07T12:39:00.002Z

PressDay_6July09 15, originally uploaded by Phil Baines.

my 'puter

2010-05-06T00:25:00.002Z

My studio is at home in a laid-back beach town in the sub-tropical north coast of Australia. This is supposed to be my painting table, but every so often my laptop sneaks in for some time-swallowing in my studio. There's a lovely seabreeze blowing in from the beach a coupla blocks away, and birdies singing tunes.

❥ Kermit

2010-03-25T02:22:00.001Z

❥ Kermit , originally uploaded by miss modular.

Could this be?

2009-03-07T11:05:00.001Z

Why, yes, it is!

The most wonderful sticky tape + dispenser in the whole wide world.

We're talking vintage Sanrio at its finest, folks!

Introducing the Little Twin Stars "tape cutter" from 1976...

Seeing Spots

2009-03-06T21:55:00.011Z

Greetings and/or salutations!

It appears that the lovely and delightful folk at Oh What Larks have blog spotted us! Hoorah! Thankye, OWL, for your kind invitation.

The rules of Blog Spot tagging are as follows:

1. Once you are tagged, post a picture of where you blog. This might mean a picture of your cozy bed, or your office at work (you naughty employee, you!), or a boring ol’ desk like me. Feel free to be creative, but be honest–if your desk is usually covered in Ritz crackers and love letters to Rahm Emanuel, then show us!
2. Feel free to tell us a little about your space, or explain certain items in more detail. Or not.
3. Link back to this post.
4. Tag five other bloggers to show their blog spots.
5. If you are tagged and do not participate, you will become allergic to cabbage.

Here is a photo of my (Emme's) blog spot. It was taken a few weeks ago during a snowstorm here in North London. I hold a Mrs Mangel-like position in my home with a view of the front garden and road beyond. That's my little car, Clover, in front there, hiding under the snow! (Hello, Clover!) I live on a pleasant little English "green" with cute cottages and old-fashioned street lamps, a duck pond, and many friendly dog walkers who wave to me as they pass and beckon me outside when I really should be working. (My dog, Ivy, and I are easily persuaded.) I haven't shown much of my desk here but it is usually rather minimalist with just my computing machine and a cup of chamomile tea. The desktop background on said machine is an illustration from an old French school book.

Besides the other purveyors of Tiny Candy (Rachie and Phlippy who are located in Australia) I tag: Gemma Correll, Stickers and Stuff, Ah-Yi, Astulabee and 8tokyo.

horsies and cupcakes!

2009-03-06T07:24:00.005Z

my deer friend ambibubbles got a burst of inspiration when she pulled her chocolate cupcakes out of the oven and she made a spontaneous little diorama out of them!

some o' my favourite trinkets

2009-02-25T11:16:00.003Z

colour me happy!

2009-02-25T11:04:00.002Z

hi kids! here's a pic i snapped off the dumbo feather website, in appreciation of it's colourful colours and loopy loops!

Trinkets

2008-10-01T21:25:00.004Z

Let's all share some of our favourite trinkets we have lying around the house! I'll begin...

1. Balsa elephant bought in a little shop somewhere in Tokyo - I also have a matching balsa bird which is sitting in a pot of yellow flowers on the window sill
2. Miniature cardboard containers which I meant to use in some Christmas decorations which are as yet unmade
3. Wire egg basket purchased earlier this year from one of my favourite shops in Paris: Comptoir de Famille

Love

2008-10-01T16:35:00.008Z

One of my favourite blogs, Love You Big, recently sent some love our way in the form of an award! Thankye, Kate!

The rules of this award are:

1. Choose seven of your favourite blogs to nominate and link back to them
2. Link to the person from whom you received the award
3. Leave a message on the blogs that you've nominated
4. Post the award on your blog (optional)

Here are my seven blogs I dig in alphabetical order. I decided to stick to blogs by illustrators whose work I admire:

1. Fifi Lapin - Fluffy and fashionable, oui!
2. Helen Dardik - Princess of pattern...
3. Louis Roskoch - "Tougher than 12 Rambos and 5 Hulk Hogans"
4. Princesse Camcam - Beautiful illustrations a la Francais!
5. Scott Campbell - My watercolour hero!
6. Utako Yamada - The tea time lass behind Karel Capek
7. Yara Kono - Little smiles everywhere...

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Sakura Cray-Pas

2008-10-01T16:25:00.006Z

These are my favourite crayons in the whole wide world! I also adore that lil' sausage dog.

Parcel

2008-09-23T01:05:00.003Z

Unwrapping a surprise parcel in my backyard... a scrolled-up letter tied in brown string, musical melodies, a ceramic cat figurine, a stick of handmade incense, fake flowers, red'n'white stripey paper and other delights sent by tara + stu from brooklyn.

Nagi Noda

2008-09-12T22:00:00.000Z

Rest in peace, Nagi Noda...

Sachiko Iwabuchi

2008-08-15T09:00:00.001Z

There are many reasons I wish I were in Tokyo right now but the most compelling is an upcoming solo exhibition by one of my favourite Japanese artists, Sachiko Iwabuchi (いわぶちさちこ). Born in Kobe, Sachiko creates beautifully soft and delicate, pastel-hued watercolours for textiles, books and stationery (the latter of which is produced by Graphic Station - a division of Art Print Japan). Her range of bedding called Rêve de Lisa is so sweet that it makes me dream just looking at it!

Snootea

2008-08-13T09:00:00.006Z

If you put your supper dish to your ear you can hear the sounds of a restaurant - Snoopy

Delphine Durand

2008-08-12T09:00:00.000Z

Speaking of marvellously talented illustrateurs de la France, might I introduce the wonderfully whimsical Delphine Durand? Her rather large and somewhat grumpy rabbits quite delight moi.

Sylvie Bessard

2008-08-11T09:00:00.002Z

I'm not quite sure how I came to visit Sylvie Bessard's neck o' the woods but I'm so glad I did. Her illustrations are loveliness defined!

A Fine Vintage

2008-08-10T09:00:00.000Z

I am smitten with this recent vintage ensemble worn by Mademoiselle Lapin:

P.S. Fifi is now on Facebook.

Elderflower Etcetera

2008-08-09T09:00:00.003Z

Sometimes during my weekly shop at Waitrose I linger at certain items - not because I'm unsure whether to place it in the trolley or not but because the packaging has attracted me like a bird to a berry. I love this range of sparkling juice designed by Turner Duckworth! The colours are just perfect. Unfortunately it's printed on less-than-ideal flimsy film and the bottle itself is clunky-lookin' but it is awesome nonetheless.

Princess CamCam

2008-08-08T12:00:00.003Z

I spotted some rather fancy notebooks in the Centre Pompidou in Paris earlier this year. They are illustrated by a very talented princess called CamCam and produced by a company called La Marelle en papier.

Pharmacie

2008-07-17T23:00:00.000Z

This is a lovely pharmaceutical container I purchased from a little odds and ends shop called Tombées du Camion in Montmartre, Paris. Aren't the muted colours and twirly penmanship lovely? I've always adored boxes of any sort, especially ones with an interesting history...

Piu Sudo

2008-07-12T21:00:00.004Z

Piu Sudo (スドウピウ) is an amazing Japanese designer and illustrator whose childlike imagination and sense of whimsy I am completely smitten with. Perhaps best known for her instructional tome "Prickly Knick-Knacks - Delightful Creations with Embroidery and Appliqué" (ちくちく小物), Piu has also written and illustrated a number of children's books - of which I am proud to have acquired two: "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" (3びきのくま) and "Little Ghost" (ちいさなおばけ). Her lovely characters also appear on fabric, ceramics, posters, calendars and stationery. Piu Sudo was born in Tokyo and attended Tama Art University. She worked as a graphic designer before going freelance in 1999. She is a member of the Tokyo Illustrators Society.

Above: Cover of embroidery book

Above: Plate from embroidery book

Above: Cover of Goldilocks book

Above: Back of Goldilocks book

Above: Cover of Little Ghost book

Above: Back of Little Ghost book

Above: Hansel and Gretel print

Above: Lifesaver print

Ladurée of Paris.

2008-06-28T16:31:00.003Z

In response to Emme's Parisian patisserie post, well, of all the delicious coincidences! I have been harbouring this precious image for nigh on two years now, I would say.

I will taste one of these meringue/cream/macaroon ~~concoctions~~ ~~assemblages~~ *heavenly taste sensations* yet.

Eames Stamps (US)

2008-06-13T05:26:00.009Z

*Mail porn alert!*

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is releasing a set of sixteen wonderful Eames stamps (42 ¢) on 17th June 2008.

"Honoring the husband-and-wife design team of Charles and Ray Eames, this commemorative sheet of 16 stamps was designed by Derry Noyes of Washington, DC, and represents the breadth of their extraordinary body of creative work, which includes architecture, furniture, film and exhibits."

- USPS

Me thinks it's time to ask American pals to send us some snail mail! Or you can just buy a set if you feel so inclined.

I've decided to take this opportunity to post one of my favourite US stamp designs from the 1970s. Our American aunt must have adorned her letters with them because I recall them so clearly, those exotic envelopes from so far away. I thought they might've been released in 1976, the year of the American Bicentenary - everything was red, white and blue in '76! - but even better. They're from 1971. Aren't they great?

Karel Capek

2008-04-01T15:30:00.001Z

Here are some recent offerings from the always delightful Karel Capek Teatime Shop. I love the ceramics in particular!

100%ORANGE

2008-03-31T19:00:00.000Z

100%ORANGE is an illustration studio in Tokyo consisting of two members: Kenji Oikawa and Mayuko Takeuchi. I first discovered their lovely, naïve drawings in Pooka - a Japanese magazine about children's picture books. Their illustrations grace each and every cover and also appear throughout the magazine. Their work also appears in various books, on stationery and there is a recently released DVD of "homemade animations" which I would so love to see...

Minä Perhonen x Pierre Hermé

2008-03-31T18:00:00.001Z

I am back from Paris, oui, oui! I visited so many lovely places and RATHER MORE IMPORTANTLY patisseries (!) including the wonderfully delectable Lenôtre and firm favourite Ladurée. See below for a beautiful macaroon mash-up between Japanese fashion label Minä Perhonen and Parisian patisserie extraordinaire Pierre Hermé (sadly only available in Tokyo at this time)...

Postcard - Snoopy - France

2008-03-20T18:37:00.002Z

I love how nonchalant Snoopy looks sometimes and despite the fact that he can't talk he appears so... erudite.

(Produced by Nihon Hallmark)

Paris Address Book

2008-03-18T18:05:00.076Z

Je suis très excitée! I am heading to Paris in a few days to attend an exhibition opening so I thought I'd share my address book of my favourite fancies à la française:

GALERIES D'ART

Centre Pompidou

Address: 4, Rue Beaubourg, 75004 Paris, France
M°: Rambuteau, Hótel de Ville
Telephone: +33 1 44 78 12 33

Website: http://www.centrepompidou.fr

Halle Saint Pierre

Address: 2, Rue Ronsard, 75018 Paris, France
M°: Anvers, Abbesses
Telephone: +33 1 42 58 72 89

Website: http://www.hallesaintpierre.org

This charming little gallery in Montmarte is home to the Musée d'Art Naif du Max Fourny and is where I will be attending the British Outsider Art exhibition opening. The past two exhibitions I have seen there were both amazing!

Musée du Louvre

Address: Place du Carrousel, 75001 Paris, France
M°: Palais-Royal, Musée du Louvre

Website: http://www.louvre.fr

Musée d'Orsay

Address: 62, Rue de Lille, 75007 Paris, France
M°: Assemblée Nationale, Solférino
Telephone: +33 1 40 49 48 14

Website: http://www.musee-orsay.fr

Palais de Tokyo

Address: 13, Avenue du Président Wilson, 75116 Paris, France
M°: Iéna
Telephone: +33 1 47 23 54 01

Website: http://www.palaisdetokyo.com

This is my favourite modern art gallery in Paris.

BOUTIQUES

Astier de Villatte

Address: 173, Rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris, France
M°: Palais Royal - Musée du Louvre, Pyramides, Tuileries
Telephone: +33 1 42 60 74 13

Website: http://www.astierdevillatte.com

Au Petit Bonheur La Chance

Address: 13, Rue de Saint-Paul, 75004 Paris, France
M°: Saint-Paul, Sully-Morland
Telephone: +33 1 42 74 36 38

Website: http://village-saint-paul.com
Email: maria-pia.varnier@wanadoo.fr

This shop in the Village Saint-Paul specialises in "objets de cuisine" and paper ephemera. I've spent many, many hours in this establishment!

Cire Trudon

Address: 78, Rue de Seine, 75006 Paris, France
M°: Odéon, Mabillon
Telephone: +33 1 43 26 46 50

Website: http://www.ciretrudon.com

This is the oldest wax and candle maker still in operation.

Galerie Documents

Address: 53, Rue de Seine, 75006 Paris, France
M°: Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Mabillon
Telephone: +33 1 43 54 50 68

Email: gal.documents@easynet.fr
Contact: Mireille Romand

This shop in Saint-Germain houses a brilliant collection of original posters from 1870 to 1950.

Les Archives De La Presse

Address: 15, Rue des Archives, 75004 Paris, France
M°: Hôtel de Ville, Rambuteau
Telephone: +33 1 42 72 63 93

Website: http://www.lesarchivesdelapresse.com

Vintage books and magazines

Mariage Frères

Address: 30, Rue du Bourg Tibourg, 75004 Paris, France
M°: Hôtel de Ville‎, Saint-Paul
Telephone: +33 1 42 72 28 11

Website: http://www.mariagefreres.com

Historically exquisite tea!

Odorantes

Address: 9, Rue Madame, 75006 Paris, France
M°: Saint-Sulpice
Telephone: +33 1 42 84 03 00

This flower shop offers black roses and a poem nestled in every bouquet.

Printemps

Address: 64, Boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris, France
M°: Havre-Caumartin
Telephone: +33 1 42 82 57 87

Website: http://www.printemps.com

Tombées du Camion

Address: 17 Rue Joseph de Maistre, 75018 Paris, France
M°: Abbesses, Blanche
Telephone: +33 1 77 15 05 02

Website: http://www.tombeesducamion.com

Odds and ends (found via Marie Claire Idées)

PÂTISSERIES ET CHOCOLATERIES ET CAFÉS

Angélina

Address: 226, Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France
M°: Tuileries
Telephone: +33 1 42 60 82 00

Hot chocolate!

Breizh Café

Address: 109 Rue Vieille du Temple, 75003 Paris, France
M°: Saint-Sébastien - Froissart
Telephone: +33 42 72 13 77

Website: http://www.breizhcafe.com

Organic caramel crepes, oh my!

Ladurée

Address: 75, Avenue Champs Elysées, 75008 Paris, France
M°: George V
Telephone: +33 1 42 89 26 29

Address: 62, Boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris, France
M°: Havre-Caumartin
Telephone: +33 1 42 82 40 10

Address: 16, Rue Royale, 75008 Paris, France
M°: Madeleine, Concorde
Telephone: +33 1 42 60 15 79

Address: 21, Rue Bonaparte, 75006 Paris, France
M°: Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Telephone: +33 1 44 07 64 87

Website: http://www.laduree.fr

Lenôtre

Address: 10, Rue Saint-Antoine, 75004 Paris, France
M°: Bastille

Address: 48, Avenue Victor Hugo, 75116 Paris, France
M°: Victor Hugo, Kléber

http://www.lenotre.fr

Pierre Hermé

Address: 72, Rue Bonaparte, 75006 Paris, France
M°: Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Saint-Sulpice

Address: 185, Rue de Vaugirard, 75015 Paris, France
M°: Pasteur

http://www.pierreherme.com

Chocolat!

Sadaharu Aoki

Address: 35 Rue de Vaugirard, 75006 Paris, France
M°: Rennes

Website: http://www.sadaharuaoki.com

LIEUX DE LA MUSIQUE

Café de la Danse

Address: 5, Passage Louis-Philippe, 75011 Paris, France
M°: Bastille

Website: http://www.myspace.com/cafedeladanse

This is where I watched Vashti Bunyan play.

Point Ephémère

Address: 200 Quai de Valmy, 75010 Paris, France
M°: Jaurès, Louis Blanc

Website: http://www.pointephemere.org

This where I watched Soil & Pimp play.

Fleurs de Cerisier

2008-03-13T18:14:00.005Z

Hurrah! Though 'tis still grey and damp here in th' London township the blossom trees are definitely blossoming and spring is almost/nearly/maybe on its way! L'Occitane's Cherry Blossom is my current fragrance of choice. It smells so sweet! The solid perfume is perfect for travelling and the packaging design is lovely indeed...

The Bears' School

2008-03-09T19:43:00.004Z

Lovely little bears being busy... (Produced by Bandai 2005)

Wee Mary Lou

2008-03-09T19:38:00.005Z

Isn't she lovely? 'Tis a Sanrio/Hallmark postcard from 1979.

Beau Papillon

2008-03-09T19:30:00.005Z

A lovely Paul Rand-esque postcard from Jun Ichihara...

Dog with Briefcase

2008-03-09T18:40:00.012Z

I can't remember where I got this lovely postcard except to say that it is a valued part of my collection. Makes me want to get a briefcase and neckerchief for Ivy.

Fuckin Far From OK

2008-02-29T17:58:00.004Z

These shelves (by a Swedish firm called Save Our Souls) are magnificently cantankerous!

Guillaume Reynard

2008-02-28T19:21:00.004Z

Here are some photographs I took of a beautiful in-store mural at Printemps in Paris. The illustrations are by a very talented fellow by the name of Guillaume Reynard. I love his work so much!

Samantha

2008-02-28T18:48:00.003Z

This is a lovely + spooky photograph of Sammy that Gregor kindly scanned in for moi:

Luminescent

2008-02-28T14:21:00.011Z

I first noticed this delightful little girl painting acorns on a train in Tokyo and always wondered about her. She is a spokesmodel for a store credit card, Lumine (ルミネ). Isn't she sweet?

Above: Images from the website

Above: Advertising on train

Above: Lockers outside Lumine - photograph by Sylvie Kung

I have a thing about rocking chairs.

2008-02-27T20:25:00.005Z

I can't wait to get one. This one (designed by Kiki Van Eyk) is nice & modern:

(Only £3200 from Mint!)

The Clangers

2008-02-27T20:07:00.004Z

Lovely stop-motion animation from a bygone era: The Clangers

Enfant Terrible

2008-02-27T19:39:00.004Z

Look at this lovely lil' children's shop I spotted via Camilla Engman's blog: Enfant Terrible! The site is really sweet and was designed by a studio called Also.

The Shipping News

2008-02-24T11:09:00.003Z

I love this wallpaper I spotted on Design*Sponge recently! 'Tis designed by Mike Perry of the brilliant Midwestisbest...

Monotone

2008-02-21T19:36:00.003Z

"The monotony of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind" - Albert Einstein

Conversing

2008-02-18T17:50:00.003Z

Look at these lovely Converse, illustrated by Camilla Engman:

Oh my!

(Thankye for pointing them out to me, Kylie-kins!)

Sanrio Days

2008-02-11T12:28:00.000Z

Always on the lookout for my latest vintage Sanrio fix, I almost fell off my chair this morning when I discovered this book:

The first stage of a series called "Sweet Design Memories", this is a "very cute visual book for girls of the 70's and 80's who were obsessed with Sanrio". Yay!

Two Thousand, Eight.

2008-02-03T18:23:00.000Z

I love this diary! It reminds me of peacock-plumage and the silver stamped art-deco numerals are simply divine. Also, it's covered in linen. Thank you, Paperchase, for starting my year off right!

Denney Font.

2007-11-13T06:38:00.000Z

I love, love, love this font! It's called Denney One, I believe, which is how I found it. I think it was created by one of those old-fashioned greeting card artists. You know those tall, skinny cards with corny gags that were popular in the 1970s? They all had Ziggy-like characters on them, or people with short, squat bodies.

Jack and Jill

2007-11-12T19:53:00.000Z

Aren't these magazine covers lovely? The halloween scene is courtesy of Bob Milnazik and the owls are by Marion Ebert.

(Brazenly booby-snatched from the Secret Fun blog...)

Wilhelm Staehle

2007-11-12T19:27:00.000Z

The enigmatic Wilhelm Staehle is a clever gentleman indeed whose nomenclature appears on two lovely sites: Silhouette Masterpiece Theatre and The Dollar Dreadful Family Library.

Bjørn Wiinblad

2007-11-09T19:30:00.000Z

I first discovered the work of Bjørn Wiinblad whilst browsing through the vintage ceramics section of online Japanese shop, Fukuya. These highly decorative illustrated plaques took my fancy immediately and after doing a little googling I discovered that Wiinblad, a Dane, passed away only last year after a very long and successful career working not only in ceramics but sculpture, textile design and book illustration among other things. I adore the whimsical linework which has the vivacious energy of Quentin Blake and the Victorian-esque histrionics which remind me of the delightful Edward Gorey. Combined with a penchant for pattern and a sense of utter joviality, I really do love them and - hence - must avoid searching for Wiinblad's wares on eBay at all cost!

Vanity Fair Cigarettes

2007-11-08T07:13:00.000Z

Here's an image I've been harbouring forever on my hard drive, never quite sure if I'd posted it here or not. I looked through the archives and couldn't find it, so forgive me if this is a second showing. It's worth it! Look at all those typefaces!

The Black Apple

2007-11-08T06:48:00.001Z

Here's one of my favourite Christmas ornaments so far. I know it's only early November but I really, really love these. They're from Inside a Black Apple.

Paisley Tote Bag.

2007-11-07T14:28:00.000Z

Today was wet and cold and I was very bored early on, so in the morning I made a tote bag out of this:

See?

Ornamentally Speaking

2007-11-06T17:31:00.000Z

Greetings and/or salutations! I've decided to participate in the Second Annual Holiday Ornament Swap this year... Care to join moi?

Minä Perhonen

2007-11-01T00:14:00.000Z

A Japanese fashion label with a Finnish name, I have become completely smitten with Minä Perhonen.

Hisanori Yoshida

2007-10-30T23:28:00.000Z

Lovely naive watercolour illustrations from Hisanori Yoshida...

Nieves Books

2007-10-30T22:39:00.000Z

Nieves Books is an independent publishing house based in Switzerland and (as well as having a ridiculously charming logo) they sell a magnificent array of artist books and zines.

Curly Cafe

2007-10-09T09:04:00.001Z

I thought I'd show you a curly outdoor cafe setting a new internet friend photographed in Berlin recently. (I hope she won't mind me uploading it here.) I thought this could be a handy reference photo for when we want to draw Parisian-style, boudoir-esque art because they're all real, all vintage. Not a single retro re-fabbed chair amongst 'em!

Introducing... Fifi Lapin

2007-10-03T20:50:00.000Z

I've fallen in *heart* with the brilliantly inspiring illustrations of Fifi Lapin. Who is Fifi Lapin, you ask? Here is a short biography from her site:

I was born one of 257 brothers and sisters but sadly there was an outbreak of myxamatosis when I was one year old and I was the only one that survived. My parents are therefore incredibly protective of me and spoil me rotten. I'm an 'haress' to my fathers fortune which he made playing fast and loose with carrot and lettuce shares on the international stock market. There are a lot of rabbits out there so I guess he just struck gold (or orange you might say). Some people think I’m just a socialite but I think there is more to me than just an extremely stylish clotheshorse!

Here is a lovely print called "Chloe Daydreaming" on which my eye doth rest:

And here is a print I bought Julie for her birthday:

And the outfits that inspired it:

Mélanie Baillairgé

2007-10-03T20:34:00.000Z

Mélanie Baillairgé is a Canadian illustrator with elegantly earnest and wonderfully whimsical linework!

Rachie, Illustrator!

2007-09-26T05:36:00.001Z

Look what I just stumbled upon in one of my boxes that was in storage: a pencil drawing by Rach! It was inside an envelope with a letter/checklist I'll scan at a later date. I've been wracking my brain trying to remember who this character is but I just can't recall her name. Any ideas?

(Apologies for the poor quality scan. The rectangular mark on her leg is old sticky tape, the brown splotch on her hat putrefied adhesive from tape also.)

Eastern European Matchbox Labels

2007-09-18T02:37:00.000Z

These awesome Eastern European matchbox labels from the '50s and '60s show some insanely appealing concepts and raw printing in amazing colour palettes.

"Savings Bonds Can Triple Your Investment"

I accidentally ascertained more about Laika than I've ever wanted to know before. Beautiful artwork; bitterly cruel life of a lovely dog.

Here's another cute one!

"Everybody saves at PKO Bank"

Happy Birthday, Emme!

2007-09-04T06:09:00.001Z

Happy Birthday, Emme! Hope you have a great one. xxx

Kashmiri Kenji

2007-09-04T05:32:00.000Z

Many years ago I fell in love with the exquisite hand-embroidered Kashmiri rugs Anne and her parents all used for furnishing several abodes, so when I saw my very favourite one in an Oxfam/CAA shop, well, I had to have it come hell or high water. Kenji will show you it.

Koji Honda

2007-08-26T23:15:00.004Z

This is a lovely postcard illustrated by a fellow called Koji Honda (produced by Gakken TH).

Chinoiserie

2007-08-21T20:20:00.000Z

I am looking for new bed linen at the moment and have fallen in love with this design from Dwell titled "Chinoiserie"...

Looks very nice with the stripey contrast...

Marie Claire Idées

2007-08-21T19:05:00.000Z

One o' my favourite magazines in th' world:

Hermes Birthday to Moi!

2007-08-13T22:17:00.000Z

I've always liked the Hermes website with its wonderfully whimsical hand-drawn illustrations and airy palette... and what better time to mention it than eighteen shopping days before my next birthday?

Above: This is the loveliest Hermes scarf I've e'er seen! (Hint!)

Above: This is my favourite perfume, Eau de Marveilles. (I already own it!)

Above: Every girl needs a Silkypop bag! (Double hint! Come on! It's only £540!)

Above: No, I'm not trying to tell y'all anything. I just love these illustrations!

Such a lovely site. I wonder who designed it...

Jun Ichihara

2007-07-31T15:11:00.000Z

I bought an A4 plastic file when I was in Tokyu Hands a couple o' years ago with this gorgeous and goofy illustration on it:

It turns out that the artist, Jun Ichihara, has created a whole book of these chair illustrations. I love how bright and colourful they are!

Marc Boutavant

2007-07-26T13:38:00.000Z

Marc Boutavant is an amazing French illustrator I happened upon recently. As well as creating a number of children's books in French, Japanese and English, he also creates illustrations for editorial and musical projects.

Here are a few images from Monsieur Boutavant's portfolio:

Here are some Japanese children's books which feature the Sanrio character, Cinnamon:

And here is a wonderful book in English called Another Night Before Christmas:

One Splash Please

2007-07-18T16:31:00.000Z

'Tis finally a truly summery day here in th' London township so here is one of my most favoured pieces of vintage signage to celebrate. Sip it up! There's something poetic about this sign. It's not just the over-enthusiastic alliteration. The linebreaks give it a haiku-like resonance...

Schweppes
SYPHONS OF SODA
EXCLUSIVELY SUPPLIED HERE
CHARGE 1/2D PER SPLASH

Utako Yamada

2007-07-17T16:19:00.000Z

Utako Yamada is a Tokyo-based illustrator and children's book author who has created a "teatime" shop called Karel Capek (rather obscurely named after the Czech author who invented the term "robot"). She designs really lovely and whimsical packaging for the range!

The only children's book of hers that has been translated into English so far is called The Story of Cherry the Pig but I'm hoping there will be more...

She also creates postcards, prints, toys and homewares and I love every single thing!

Congratulations!

2007-07-01T15:29:00.000Z

I found this old blank Commonwealth of Australia telegram paper online not too long ago. It was a special ceremonial one you could order for (I think) more money than the blank ones. Aren't the printing quality and colour choices just a mish-mash of wonderful? And I adore the whistling birdy!

Do either of you remember telegrams, incidentally?

Stump Village

2007-06-29T00:35:00.001Z

Cute stop-motion animation from Sanrio... Stumpy goodness!

Christopher Silas Neal

2007-06-25T11:57:00.001Z

I like this fella's work too

Clare Rojas

2007-06-25T11:38:00.000Z

Check out these gorgeous + quirky paintings by Clare Rojas...me love! I think she's from San Fransisco.

Fiep Westendorp

2007-06-19T14:55:00.000Z

My lovely friend, Jude, recently gave me some stickers she acquired in the Netherlands by a children's book illustrator called Fiep Westendorp. The drawings look so familiar to me and yet I'm not sure why.

Feffakookan + Coe&Waito

2007-06-17T15:05:00.000Z

Found these marvellous pieces on feffakookan, the website of a very talented ceramicist in Brisbane by the name of Mel Robson.

And I discovered these adorable - beautifully formed - little birds on a Canadian website Mel Robson refers to, called Coe&Waito. I can't believe how sublime they are and feel I must soon own at least two!

Mister Gorgeous + Miss Beautiful

2007-06-07T06:47:00.000Z

here's a snap i took oneday in my studio when i was making the dolls for my last exhibition

ed and bek

2007-06-05T13:27:00.000Z

i just love these girls' work so much! their site is sweet to wander through. aah, i'd love to design clothes as good as these! ed and bek

French Paper

2007-06-03T07:37:00.001Z

I love this girly so much. She's from somewhere on the French Paper website, and I think about using her as a Christmas card design sometimes. Isn't she lovely?

communal art journal

2007-06-03T02:47:00.000Z

i was just sifting through my ol' art journal i kept on my first trip to new york when i was studying at art skool there. here's some snippets. i thought it might get us inspired to get that communal art journal going again...who has it currently?

Ramshackle

2007-05-30T10:51:00.000Z

Sometimes I want to live here. The photographer has a website of amazing photographs you ought to check out.

Birdies on Toile

2007-05-30T10:33:00.000Z

This reminds me of both of you because you both used to draw birdies like this when you were little! They look like Sanrio birds.

Future Splash

2007-05-02T21:38:00.000Z

Where did I park my aquatic unicycle again? These postcards created in 1900 depict the technological breakthroughs we were supposed to have seen by now...

Sunny Style

2007-05-02T15:26:00.000Z

Sunny Style is a Japanese shoppe which features lots of the aforementioned Decole products as well as these cute fluffy animals and more. So. Very. Desirable.

Decole

2007-05-02T15:15:00.000Z

Have y'all been acquainted with these lovely Japanese toys and homewares by Decole? I *heart* them.

Paper Pinwheels

2007-04-30T23:01:00.000Z

Aren't these D.I.Y. paper pinwheels cute? I spotted them at Martha Stewart who will soon be launching a dedicated crafts site.

Yoyogi at Liberty

2007-04-30T22:40:00.000Z

Liberty is one of my favourite shoppes! I even took a photograph of my monkey, Yoyogi, out the front. They have wonderful window displays and suchlike which I keep meaning to photograph. Next time I am in town I will do a little shopping for y'all!

Liberty

2007-04-28T04:57:00.000Z

emme, do you ever go to the liberty store in london? if you ever happen to be in that neck o' the woods, and you feel like perusing their delicious fabrics floor, i am in love with the print in the centre of this picture... the cream, red + pink floral design with little green leaves...and if it's not ::too:: costly, would love to have a yard to play with (i can pay you back). do either you or ponky know of a good website where i can see their fabric print designs? they didn't have many pics on their website. i'd love to get into textile design, but not sure just how to do it...?! love rach x

Conclave Obscurum

2007-04-28T04:43:00.000Z

this is another amazingly designed website...whilst it is not really my taste, i'm impressed by the creativity of it and the world that they've created...Conclave Obscurum

nfctd

2007-04-28T04:36:00.000Z

when you have a spare 10 minutes or so, sit down with a cup o' tea and your boyfriend and check out this amazing site nfctd ... it's really amazing.

High Tea with Mrs Woo

2007-04-19T07:01:00.000Z

hi sisters...i just love this website, regardless of their groovy clothes...and guess what...the business is created by three sisters!

cool, eh?

Australian '60s couches

2007-04-18T15:47:00.000Z

Todd and I are in love with these couches, which we've seen in the flesh (in the fabric), and are seriously considering buying if they haven't already gone. They're Australian, date back to the 1960s, and they're in really good nick. The length of the 4-seater is fantastic, and the gold one was more stunning in real life than it looks here.

2007-04-18T13:16:00.000Z

Snapped this innercity Brissie building with its beautiful shapes & spheres at the top.

Print

2007-04-18T13:13:00.000Z

sublime...

Chair Bear

2007-04-18T13:04:00.000Z

Hiya Phlippy and Emme-Bubble! Here's a wonderful chair and a divine cabinet from a gorgeous shop in New York called Anthropologie, where I used to get some gorgeous floral skirts and flannel jammies. Emme, you came shopping with me there once, lemember? Did you see the shop Ponk? You'd love it the most!

Poster

2007-03-19T06:14:00.000Z

This poster appeals also...I love the symmetry