Robert Bradford - Upcycled Art

Bee at Eden steal wood nylon and plastic

Robert Bradford  is a UK artist responsible for the Bee sculpture at Eden, who is recently creating waves in the bloggesphere with his amazing sculptures made from old toys.  This is fabulous bright coloured art in all its fluro, plasticy goodness,  or badness depending on how you want to look at it.

Sniff One toys on wood

Its serious art that doesn't take itself to seriously.  Its art that's also about play and fun, about children and simplicity. And I'm all for any art that captivate kids while still being thought provoking.

Terrieristes - toys and pegs on wood

And yes, straight away there is a feeling of eco-lecture going on - the ugliness of waste and consumer excess, but maybe that's just my guilty conscience rubbing against my high-horse ideals, as while Bradford acknowledges there's a recycling element to his work, he believes that the job of the artist is not to instruct but to reveal. He believes his work starts a conversation but that has no message of its own (more here) - in other words take from it what you will - delight in the colour and form - that its a doggy made of pegs, and if it makes you have second thoughts about buying yet another barbie doll from Kmart well that's no bad thing - perhaps that's more about you and your ideals than it is about the doggy!!!

Toy Boy at Colliford plastic toys and steal mesh

Have a thoughtful week!
*K*

(I stumbled across Bradford via Li'l Magoolie)

Felt! {Friday Finds}

Felt is New Zealands Art and Craft Online Market.
I've mentioned it in one of my first posts but I've never properly talked about it! So here we go...
Felt was created by the talented Lucy Arnold who co-owns a graphic design company called Board of Design.  I have nothing but admiration for those who take opportunities to help artists and crafts people shine -  and sites like Felt, Etsy and Australia's Made It do this while allowing others to do it too!! So we can all feel a little warmer and fuzzier about our shopping habits!

 Blue Swan Retro by Swanwear.  Birdie Tags - Red Tui by Songbird.    New York Neck-piece by the-funk. Two Cheeky Fantails, by Lastik

Take a look some time, and maybe, just maybe, you'll find something that you'll want to keep, and you too can support some of our very amazing local talent!

Have a great Weekend

*K* 

Workroom

Angle Lamp, and Bespoke Cabinet, from Sustainably Farmed Oak

Have you come across Workroom yet.  This kiwi father and daughter team focus on creating furniture from sustainable sources.  They offer a beautiful original range as well as bespoke creations.

DS Stool - made of sustainable timber offcuts 

They have there own store but also stock at various haunts across NZ and in Sydney - YAY I'm off to Sydney next month - wonder if I can get a DS stool on the plane... hmmm...

Sawhorse Table

But what I really really would love is one of the amazing sawhorse tables - we don't have the space but they fold and their gorgeous - that wood - ohhh I dunno why but there is such a beauty in real, solid wood - and its all ecological and sustainable and everything! 'Sigh'... if I really really wine to hubby I might just persuade him!

Turned Table Lamp                              and Zed Table Lamp

Now for the finer details -
Rebecca's blog with all the pretty things they stock and a bit of inspiration thrown in too...
And the website, complete with list of stockists and map to their shop in Clevedon (40 min from Auckland)

David Trubridge

Body Raft, David Trubridge Designs

I have been captivated by David Trubridge since I first discovered his work in a 'theory of design' course I did as part of my BA, oh 8 or so years ago, (gosh I feel old!). And his aesthetic sings to me still - the flow of line, the honesty of the wood - it is beautiful in its simplicity.

Nananu (side and front view) David Trubridge Designs

I cant quite place what it is that draws me in - there is a rhythm, a grace, an almost spiritual element - the body raft and the sling with their bowed form are hammock like, boat like - a shape that speaks of quiet moments, of rest and relaxation. I love that curved line, in sculpture, paintings and design it appeals to me, perhaps because we are all descendants of sea travellers and that shape with its association to the waka, ship or raft is apart of our cultural psyche, or maybe it is more that that - perhaps for some reason it speaks to humanity itself - the moon, the turning of the world, the flow of distant hills, nature and the elements...

                  Sling, David Trubridge Designs

His work is informed by his strong belief that design owes it to itself to be sustainable while still retaining a cultural and social aesthetic. 

Taniko Lights narrow, and wide

To see more of this powerful and beautiful work, to read about the beliefs that inform his creative drive, and to find out where you can see the work for yourself  (he has stockists in Australasia, Europe and America) visit his website. 

Have an inspired week!

*K*

All images from David Trubridge Designs

All About Heidi {Friday finds}

Don't you love it when sweetness and practicality come together!

All about HEIDI shoes are the cutest lil'l things! Made in Australia, all three designs are seamless and adjustable so that they fit perfectly and comfortably to little feet, meaning even small children have shoes that move naturally with their feet whether their crawling or walking, or still somewhere in between!
Find them online at My Messy Room, The Fairy Jarden, Karimu, and at the stockist's listed here

Have a Comfortable weekend
*K*

Girls! Girls! Girls!

I'm loving the whimsical femininity that is coming through the art world now.  The strong, sometimes even brutal, nudes still exist but it seems the feminine is coming back in all its sweetness and light, or wild and mysterious nuances.  Perhaps this is because we are an era when the fashion magazine is muse, or perhaps it is because the green movement and its appreciation of the handmade and crafted (traditionally the area of woman) is allowing women to celebrate their own aesthetic and the things they find pretty, sweet or enchanting?

Elisa Mazzone is an incredible illustrator who is reponsible for the amazing works featured today. They remind me of fashion shots but are softened with the use of pencil, fabrics, and dreamy watercolour washes. 

Elisa is an illustrator and designer from Adelaide. Her work has been featured in Sumptuous magazine, Next magazine, Cupcake* magazine, Once Upon Sydney, DisBand Sydney, and SALA. 

Want to own some of this goodness for yourself, you can contact her via her website, and her pieces will be available on Leeloo soon.

Enjoy!

Illustration... {Book Worm}

I thought this post from etsy's blog, was fascinating.  The job of an illustrator must be a tough one. They must take the vision of the author, the sales focus of the publisher and the meaning of the book and create something that is both eye catching, and representative of the above parties. 

Coralie Bickford Smith

I have a list of favorite authors but would be hard pressed to create a list of illustrators.  Its a shame because the cover is the first thing you think of when someone mentions a book you've read.  I would even go as far to say that if I don't know the author I will choose books based on the cover illustration and the title first, and the blurb second.  The blurb is the defining factor in the choice but I wouldn't even pick up a book if the cover doesn't look to be 'my taste'.  It got me thinking of the under appreciated role of illustrators.  And in my  research I discovered that Quentin Blake (the one illustrator I can name, due to his quintessential partnership with Roald Dahl) is working to change all this with the founding of the House of Illustration in the UK.

Roberto De Vicq de Cumptich

So today in celebration of that we pay homage to the book illustrator!!
Have an Illustrous week!!!

David Drummond

 
Please let me know if you think of any more talented illustrators (especially those from the Southern Hemisphere) you think I should check out! Thanks

Images 1, 2, 3, 4 , 5, 6,

These blog's:  'The Book Cover Archive' & 'Book Covers Anonymous', are both about fabulous cover illustrations if you fancy seeing more!