{Mid-week Inspiration} Rob Ryan...

Handmade Portraits: Rob Ryan from Etsy on Vimeo.

I've been a fan of Rob Ryan's since I gave Chris the book,  This is For You  a few Valentine's Days ago - I just saw this great video about him this morning on the Etsy Blog & thought I would pass it on. After I watched it, I cruised through Rob's  shop, where I saw the, "Our Adventures in Wallpaper Collaboration with Mini Moderns"! Lovely - I'm a fan of Mini Moderns as well so I was thrilled to see this. I recently saw a great post about Mini Moderns on Bright Bazaar too that you might want to check out. Nothing like a great collaboration between some amazing artists/designers to help get you through Wednesday. Hope you are having a great week! 

{Fabric Friday} cut out & keep...

Last November, I posted about my love of Skinny laminx textiles here. So, it will be no surprise that I was excited to discover that Heather Moore (aka Skinnylaminx) designed a new line of organic fabrics for Cloud9 that debuted this April.

"Cut Out & Keep ~ The first in our Designer Series for 2011 features South African surface and product designer, Heather Moore who works under the brand name Skinny laMinx. Cut Out & Keep is a striking collection of 8 prints based on her paper-cut designs. This is the first range of fabrics of this type for Heather and we're really excited about this collaboration." -Cloud9

You can purchase these directly from Cloud9 or from here. Aren't they nice? I particularly love them in the stacks that Heather photographed for her blog. 

I've been pondering these fabrics for awhile now- thinking of using some in a new mobile. I just can't seem to make a decision, although I may be close. Do you have a favorite?  Happy Fabric Friday! Any plans to sew or create this weekend? 

{Paper} Gemeo Luis paper illustrations...

I really miss living in NYC sometimes. Particularly when it comes to being able to visit art galleries & museums on a regular basis. However, the wonderful thing about the internet is that I  can travel every day & visit all sorts of interesting exhibits all over the world- with one click. I just learned about an illustrator named Gemeo Luis {via the art room plant} who makes incredible paper cut images. While looking though his website I found that I was really interested in the variety of his  exhibition category. The way "Cutting Dreams" was hung & presented was really intriguing. I would love to see it in person. I'm sure the shadows were really cool. He seems very aware of playing off of them (which is one of my favorite things about an installation exhibition). 

He seems to very much like the viewer to interact with his work (which I'm also a big fan of). I love the idea of having the book that the framed original illustration is from, underneath for the viewer to enjoy. This appears to be an exhibit  called "Drawings" in an art center.  I think I would sit in that corner & flip through his lovely books for a long time. How about you? 

{all photos www.gemeoluis.com}

{Everyday Inspiration} more paper love...

Here is a little inspiration for your Wednesday. I just ran across the work of paper artist, Mandy Smith via Roadside Projects & I was immediately smitten. Not to mention the book her work is included in, Paper Craft 2 looks incredible!  Given that I'm married to "cardboard man" who makes art often dealing with interior & exterior spaces, I felt the need to share this. 

The Move, Paper Animation from Mandy Smith on Vimeo.

Isn't her work amazing! I just love this paper animation. Awesome!  (Chris this is for you) Hope everyone is having a great week! 
{photos via here}

{Music Monday} Fold...

Jose Gonzalez has been playing in my studio a lot lately. I was listening to it the other day when I stumbled on this book called, paper: tear, fold, rip, crease, cut. I realized that looking at the paper art, & listening to his music just seemed to make sense. It's the kind of quiet, contemplative music that allows my mind to drift in and out of ideas.  Happy Music Monday! Hope you are having a thoughtful day.  {image via here}

{Everyday Inspiration} Papercraft Part II- video ...

Remember that cool book I posted about yesterday called Papercraft? Well, I looked through it some more last night and loved every minute of it. The little jewel at the end of the book is a DVD of some video spots made by a few of the artists or design groups included in the book. I was able to find them on youtube so I can share them with you. 

Do you have a favorite? While I certainly enjoy all of them, I have the Audi commercial sort of stuck in my head. Cardboard & Woody Guthrie is a pretty winning combination (not a shabby car either).  

{Everyday Inspiration} Papercraft ...

Being that Chris loves to work with paper, books, & cardboard lately, I gave him a book called, "Papercraft: Design and Art with Paper" for Christmas this year. It truly was a gift for him- I saw the look on his face when he saw this book in person & knew I had to get it for him. With that being said- I LOVE this book! I've been patient and made a point to not jump on it the minute he opened it up. However, I couldn't  wait anymore. I cracked the book open last night and barely scratched the surface. HOLY MOLY this book is just oooooozing with inspiration & amazing work! It really does have a wonderful variety of papercraft art represented as well. I thought I would give you a peak of some of the artists featured. Seriously, there is sooooo much more & I could go on for hours. But here is a start....

Peter Callesen

Helen Friel 

Edouard Sautai

Brian Dettmer

HIna Aoyama

Elizabeth Lecourt 

Mark Fox 

I'm sure I'll be posting about new discoveries as I plow through this book. It's about 250 pages with a dvd included! Oh joy... this will be a nice little break I think. I have to say, the piece called "Invisible Cities" by Helen Friel, was something that made me think a lot about this blog. 

"She created the work based on a place described by Italo Calvino in his book 'Invisible Cities'.  Each time a new relationship is made, the inhabitants run colored string between buildings."-  Papercraft.

I love that concept and think it would be fun to imagine or realize color strings representing all of the relationships this blog has brought me. Just a thought for now. But it would be interesting to start a project like that  being that it's the beginning of 2011. So if you are reading this blog. Let your voice be heard- you may just become a piece of colored string... 

{Everyday Inspiration} four fun finds #7

The countdown has started...Christmas is just around the corner! Here are some last minute gift ideas. This collection of four fun things is inspired by my love of paper & making things.... 

1. The top row of Christmas Creatures is perfect for the procrastinator who likes to make their own gifts. If you visit  the mibostudio Etsy shop, you can buy all sorts of cute critters that are sold as a pdf file. Which means, no shipping, no waiting in line and the satisfaction that you made something special for your loved ones. Genius really... 

2. I've had my eye on these paper cut map prints from Famille Summerbelle for some time. They are a perfect way to pay tribute to your favorite city.

3. I just love paperdolls. I found some earlier & mentioned them on one of my first 4 fun find posts -and here is another sweet shop that makes them. Edith is my gal -but there are many to choose from. They come with clothes as well. 

4. "How to" kits are always a great thing to find. This little kit includes 4 favorite papercut design templates {Peter Rabbit, Alice in Wonderland, Pinnocchio, Little Red Ridinghood} from elsita Etsy Shop. 

What's your favorite new discovery this holiday season? I hope you are enjoying the hustle & bustle and all of the traditions & festivities that comes with it!

{Paper} A cool way to plan...

You can find a Moleskine sketchbook in every bag I own, tucked away in various closets, in the stack of books by my bed, & in all nooks of my studio.These are my favorite sketchbooks & it was cool to stumble on this awesome ad for the mini Moleskine planners. Some wonderful paper magic...

MINI PLANNERS from Moleskine ® on Vimeo.

Hmmm, mine doesn't do that. Does yours? Hope you are having a nice weekend! {via Paper Forest}

{Fabric Friday} from papercutting to fabric...

The textiles of illustrator and designer, Heather Moore have caught the eyes of many. She is the designer behind Skinnylaminx. Her textiles are often created by drawing or papercutting which is why I respond so strongly to them I think. I love seeing someones hand in their designs.

She has aligned herself with a strong team to help her create wonderful products as well. She has her designs professionally printed in Cape Town onto fabric that is woven in South Africa (which is where she resides). Plus Heather has found an excellent seamstress "with magic fingers" to help her make lots of lovely products with her fabrics. You will find tea towels, napkins, children's clothing and pillows in her shop in addition to yardage of her fabrics. The combination of nature and modern, clean design is what appeals to me in her work. Happy Fabric Friday!   {images via here}

Let's go to the circus...

My love of pop- books and carnivals has collided. Thanks to Deborah from the Kickcan & Conkers blog, who tweeted about this amazing book! Tina Kraus is a book illustrator/designer out of Germany who created this gorgeous carnival pop-up book called Circus Zingaro. 

Pretty darn cool, huh? There is just so much to love about this book! -Paper inspiration at it's best. {images via here}

{Music Monday} Art & Music...

{image via here}

It is such a bonus when the the music that you love is paired with creative videos that feature gorgeous art. I have been enjoying Lisa Hannigan's voice since her days singing with Damien Rice and I was quick to snatch up her solo album, Sea Sew, last February. While the music is nice to work to in the studio, the videos are just as artistically inspiring! I love everything about them.  The work of Maeve Clancy was expertly used in both videos.

Wouldn't you say that this is another successful artistic collaboration? Art & music aside, I would love to sit down and chat over a cup of tea with Lisa. I have a feeling that she would be just as inspiring as her music and videos. Happy Music Monday!