I've got it bad for this bike...

Pashley Princess Sovereign

Present & Correct

I love these paper goods from Present & Correct -





From the website:

Since 2003, when we were not being graphic designers, we have been cutting and pasting from our front room in London. Making paper goods and selling them far and wide. It reminded us of being small; sticking tin foil to cereal cartons and the dog, but hopefully with more professional results.

With some work in a book, encouragement from Fred Flare and several successful products on the go, the P&C shop could not wait.

A long-term obsession with stationery has culminated in a constantly evolving store. A selection of P&C products mixed up with handmade goods, vintage items and work by designers from all over the world.

Sourced from Seoul or picked up on the bus from Peckham: we hope that our designs, and finds, bring some fun to your desks, walls, friends and children. It might spark a distant memory, make you smile or look at the most mundane in a new, and fonder, light.

The Caseroom Press

Personal Spaces 2

Kabloom


The Last


The Caseroom Press is an independent publisher with an interest in art, languages and poetry. I really enjoy the gritty and personal aspect of the books but, although I haven't actually read one in person, they seem to be beautifully printed and produced which creates an unsettling, voyeuristic effect which I love, because I'm really nosy.

The website is visually appealing although I found it a bit confusing. This, however, maybe that is in keeping with the style of the work. They have a couple of call for entries at the moment such as for typewriter art, and poems based on the theme of cycling. The website also links to an interesting article about independent publishers here.

Book ReMark - a bookmark notebook for thoughtful readers (letterpress) from The Sherwood Press' Etsy Store (this image is supposed to relate to the following item?!)

I also want to mention a programme called Can't Read, Can't Write which is on Channel 4 (UK). This is the most touching programme I've seen for quite a while about a group of adults who have never successfully been taught to read or write. It's interesting to witness the effect that not understanding words has on these people. One very poetic lady suggests that, to her, a page of text is a beautiful drawing. She also says that, where before she could read, a walk was a very quiet and serene affair but now she can read she feels like she's being shouted at from every shop window and advertisement. I am going to think some more about how these ideas could affect my work. I find that I deliberately avoid using text because I constantly strive to acurately explain my ideas visually but I think I could make more of the lack of text. More about this another time, I think, maybe.

Paper Font (found on Design for Mankind)



Back tomorrow!

Flora Douville

I came across a STUNNING blog by illustrator and artist, Flora Douville, yesterday and ever since I have been admiring the contents of her website which is so beautiful it makes me long to have made it myself. She also does Colour Analysis which has facinated me since, as a child, my mother would deliberate over whether I was an Autumn or a Winter. Flora says -

Your colours are the ones that make your face light up and your eyes sparkle. Wearing your colours will make you look and feel better helping you to become truly yourself. You will also discover that each season, beyond its specific range of colours has its own character.

I have always wanted to have my colours analysed properly as I don't fit into any of the colouring categories exactly. I am going to save up and treat myself! Maybe for my birthday present... Steph, if you're reading this. :)

Anyway, here are some of Flora's delicate and subtle book works, please take a look at her website, it's desperately pretty.

London Artists' Book Fair

I have just been thinking about the London Artists' Book fair. I exhibited my work at both the 2006 and 2007 fair as part of the Camberwell College of Art stall (where I studied for my Master's, sigh, how I miss those days). The fair is held in November at the ICA and, although I can't find any info about this year's fair yet, I am starting to think about having my own stall this year, or maybe a joint one with some friends.

Below are some of my favourite books from artists who exhibited at last year's fair.

Mette-Sofie D. Ambeck - Josef von Sternberg – Shadow is (I like this because it reminds me of my blog header, among other reasons.)


Nicola Dale - A Secret Heliotropism (2006)


Point and Place -

To open is to step inside. As soon as you have turned the first page of this book, you become implicated in its contents. The leaves open outwards – left to right, right to left – in a series of triptychs of image and text that overlay, interrupt and interact with each other. To open point and place is to assert yourself into its pages, to view and re-view, to find coincidences and foster connections…

- extract from essay on Point and Place by Mary Paterson



I also just wanted to show you these beautiful rings by Djurdjica Kesic, the whole website is full of beautiful, subtle jewellery with a very fine art vibe. Take a look here.


I hope everyone had a lovely weekend! x

I just quickly want to show you this Oreo advert:

From the brilliant I Believe in Advertising blog.

Ha ha ha ha ha!

Have a lovely weekend!

I want these books!

Jessie Chorley - Do have a look at her stunning website.




Joanne B. Kaar

Noelle Griffiths

Heather Hunter

I was poking around on Notcot today...

and these are a few things I want to remember:


Pixie cups - Paper-thin, light as a feather drinking cups.

Wooster on paper series - All My Friends are made of Paper

Ben Butler

Taketori

Paper Plates - Virginia Sin

Rexona Advert

Bubble Calendar

Sorry for the nearly silent post today. It has been a busy day, I start a new job tomorrow, and Steph (my partner) is going home to New York for a couple of weeks, so I'm feeling a bit quiet.

'Why pay a dollar for a bookmark? Why not use the dollar for a bookmark?'

I have decided to start collecting bookmarks. Now, it's not my birthday yet but I do like presents... very much... hint hint. :)

Today I cam across the University of the West of England's Bookmarks project which distributes a series of free artworks in the form of bookmarks to libraries internationally. The project aims to promote the artist's book and associated artworks. The new series can be seen in September. Here are a few of my favourites from last year's selection:





I also came across the Mirage Bookmark site which is a reference site devoted to bookmarks with features such as Bookmark Quotes, galleries, Most Interesting Bookstores of the World and Most Interesting Libraries of the World -

The Central Public Library in Vancouver, Canada (I now want to live in Vancouver, preferably in the library itself.)

City Library of Stockholm

Now, this is something I hadn't thought of doing with paper yet: Paper Music by Paul Jackson You can listen to some of the pieces on the site, it's actually really beautiful.

Paper Music is the making of music from paper sound sources. That is: all the
sounds originate from paper. In its purest form, Paper Music does not attempt to
replicate the sounds of conventional musical instruments, but explores the
potential of paper as an accoustic medium.

I am now off to annoy my Mrs. with some delightful paper music sounds. See you tomorrow!

My Lovely Day Out.

If I hadn't been an artist I think I would like to have been an architect, I have decided.

Today was the opening day of the new Serpentine Pavilion by Frank Gehry, I was expecting some music and dancing and a bit of a speech or something but I guess I missed it, or it wasn't for the hoi Paloi or something. Anyway, it's a beautiful structure designed to be both a place for resting and getting shade from the English sunshine or more likely rain, and a place for performance and such.


After that I went into the Serpentine Gallery to see the Richard Prince exhibition that's on there at the moment. I'm not in the greatest of moods today and found myself being unbearably irritated by the hoards of pretentious Londoners discussing the works just loud enough for everyone around them to hear how cultured they are, so I left. However, on my way out I couldn't help but admire the pieces entitled Continuation with their delicious muted and worn away surfaces which looked like a mass of tiny little scratchy drawings.


Next, I fought my way into the bookshop, spotting these two little papery gems on the way in:


Finally, I wandered around an art shop looking for something to recreate the delicious Richard Prince surfaces and then went home and found this on YouTube:

That's the end of the round up of my lovely day out. Back tomorrow! x