Friday 30 March 2012

Because it's Friday... Bobby Womack

because it's still sunny here and this song is pretty much perfect.

1973 Reworked: London Mummy

We stumbled across the London Mummy blog recently. We absolutely loved what the editor Esther Gibbs had created with a single sheet of our Sean Sims Playtime gift wrap. Here are her three suggestions. 


1. Make a set of 'Pairs'.
2. Bookmarks.
3. Blocks.




























Read the fully post HERE

Thursday 29 March 2012

Paper craft: Easter Nets.

These fun and very simple nets are perfect for Easter Egg hunts. Hang them all over the garden to keep your little monsters busy. 



What you will need: Scrap Paper, Net, String, Glue, Ruler and a Scalpel.

1. Fold your scrap paper in half and glue the whole inside. You could make these nets using double sided paper but I would still double up for added strength. 
2. Using the net as a template cut out your shape with the scalpel. 
3. Using the net as a guide score (using the back of the scalpel) the fold lines onto your net. 
4. Fold your net on the score lines and cut out the holes. We added rivets to ours but it's not essential. 
5. Pop in a couple of chocolate eggs. Then using the string tie the three points together fastening to create a loop. Now all you need to do is hang them.

Wednesday 28 March 2012

They're Back! I Love Being Recycled.

Due to popular demand the 'I Love Being Recycled' range is back, but with a few little tweaks. Each product in the collection has new packaging but it's ethos is still the same. All the items in the range are made from either reclaimed gift wrap or greetings cards, which in turn were printed on recycled paper. So they are very eco-friendly and useful for all your jotting, noting, drawing, scribbling, letter writing needs. See the full range HERE

Interview: Mitch Blunt.

Geometric, sharp and clean are three words that spring to mind when looking at designs by Mitch Blunt. Kingston graduate Blunt has said that his work is influenced by 'Polish posters, old comics and 80's cartoons'. He was kind enough to answer our quick 10.


What is your greatest achievement?
Definitely my wedding speech! I'm quite a recluse; I spend all my time working alone so the idea of speaking in font of people was my worst nightmare.

How would you describe your work/style to someone who hadn't seen it?
Simple shapes and compostions, limited bright colour palette and strong ideas (hopefully)

What piece of advice would you give your 15 year old self?
Pay more attention in school - specifically Science- Keep drawing - find out what illustration is now rather than at 18.

Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Other than some key art directors out there, no other individual really... I'd like to collaborate with a brand. Someone like Carhartt or Stüssy would be great to work with. 

What is the worst job you have ever had? 
Not the worst but the weirdest job would be working as a hospital theatre porter. I got to see operations such as a bunion being sawn off and stuff like that. I was super interesting but pretty grim sometimes!

Who would play you in the movie of your life?
I'm a huge Michael Shannon fan but he's way too dramatic and good at what he does to play me.

What is the greatest song of all time?
When feeling down: Johnny Cash - Hurt
When feeling good: Johnny Cash - Boy named Sue

What do you dislike most about popular culture?
Fake celebrity status and all the awful chart music that people keep insisting on buying 

What is the greatest invention of all time?
Hands down, the Internet.

If you didn't do what you do. What would you do?
I'd probably just work in a design studio somewhere pushing type around.... or still in the hospital pushing bloody instruments around. 

all images courtesy of www.mitchblunt.com

Friday 23 March 2012

Because it's Friday. Santigold.

Glad she's back. Have a lovely sunny weekend. 

Featured!! Print and Pattern.

We spied the Eco range we designed exclusively for Paperchase on Print and Pattern last week. 

Thursday 22 March 2012

50% off SALE!

We are having a huge sale on our web shop which includes everything from Jon Burgerman prints to Darling Clementine Notebooks. Everything at 50% off!!! Take a look HERE


Wednesday 21 March 2012

Interview: Parko Polo.

Parko Polo is Edward McGowan's alter ego. We are unsure of which persona (Parko or Edward) is the creative drive behind his illustrations but we are sure of the fact that they are bold, geometric and fun. He was kind enough to answer our quick 10.
What is your greatest achievement?
Holding back the tears while watching White Fang. 

How would you describe your work/style to someone who hadn't seen it?
Bright, colourful, and shapey.....if thats a word? Yes....Shapey.

What piece of advice would you give your 15 year old self?
Invest in Google.
Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Nicolas Cage on a book dedicated to hair pieces.

What is the worst job you have had?
Night shift Security guard Job in a run down, possibly haunted building. 
Your clip on tie, wolly jumper, flashlight and machine vendor coffee kind of job, i'm making it sound more like ghostbusters which is wasn't.

Who would play you in the movie of your life? 
Jack Nicholson or Jedward


 What is the greatest song of all time?
"Hey" by Pixies

What do you dislike most about popular culture?
The Twilight series, forced to watch every one of the films by my other half.
Infact i would tell my 15yr old self to assassinate Stephenie Meyer.

What is the greatest invention of all time? 
I have this tiny frying pan that is just for cooking eggs, has a chicken shaped handle. Hands down, the greatest thing ever.

if you didn't do what you do. What would you do?
A hard nosed detective who doesn't take any sh** from no one.



All images courtesy parkopolo.eu

Monday 19 March 2012

Seen it: Yayoi Kusama.

'The Priestess of Polka Dots' 82 year old Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama has been producing work for the last 60 years. Her pieces come in many forms including paintings, sculptures and films. Her signature dots were seen throughout the exhibition which is bright, colourful and perfectly bonkers. It's on till June at the Tate Modern. Well worth a look.   




Thursday 15 March 2012

Grafika Collaboration. Part 4.

Here we bring you our final 3 participants in the Grafika X Collaboration. We just wanted to say that we were overwhelmed by the response and loved each and every submission. It was really interesting to see the diversity in pieces especially as everyone was sent the same materials. 


Jonathan Chapman - www.mr-yen.com













Karin Soderquist - www.karinsoderquist.com

The first thing that struck me when I looked at the wrapping paper collection was how beautiful the patterns and colours where. I wanted to create something that showcased that and I decided to make some bunting out of it.
I put the bunting on the wall and a couple of dogs and a cat came and had a party!


Deborah Moon - http://moonko.co.uk/#/deborah-moon/4550076365

What a wonderful surprise it was to recieve such wonderful paper in the post,  
bright & colorful like the pictures in a story book, which got me thinking 

'Life itself is the most wonderful fairytale of all'. —Hans Christian Andersen

The work is inspired by 'Stories' fairytales from childhood.  Lands full of
stars, mountains & cities.  Story telling is part of growing up & learning, finding ones voice, daydreaming.
As an adult we forget, stop believing in magical worlds, dragons & enchanted
tales.  Life becomes a little less make-believe, where miracles and magic become
a little lost in the humdrum of life.  Sleeping beauties & prince charmings become locked away in some dusty part of
our minds.

I wanted to create a landscape,  very simple, childlike (rough round the edges,
bold patterns which the paper reflects)  set a scene for a story where we create
the spoken & unspoken tale.

The animations are not clean or polished,  like the spoken word, childlike.  The
piece was created to be changed, moved around.... like stories, different
chapters, beginnings & endings.