Interview: Harriet Seed.

Fellow Brighton dweller and coffee enthusiast Harriet or 'Harry Draws Pictures' as she is found online, has a love for all things vintage. Her illustrations remind us of retro americana however, her use of pattern and colour make her work instantly recognisable. She was kind enough to answer our 10. 

What is your greatest achievement? 

Finally quitting the day job and becoming a full time illustrator!

How would you describe your work/style to someone who hadn't seen it? 

Hand drawn, English eccentric, folky-arty, tattooed patterns. 

What piece/product/design do you wish you had thought of? 

Celia Birtwell and Ossie Clarke dresses - her patterns and his dress cutting were just the perfect combination.

Who would you most like to collaborate with? 

Liberty - they have such amazing iconic patterns and brand heritage.

What is the worst job you have ever had? 

I spent a summer working in a factory packing Superdrug Christmas gift sets when I was sixteen. We would deliberately try to get as many incorrectly packed items through Quality Control as possible. 

If you were on Death Row, what would your last meal be? 

Vietnamese noodle salad and spring rolls with tons of fresh mint. 

What is the greatest song of all time? 

I'm going to wimp out of this one and say that Paul Simon's Graceland is an album I never tire of. 

What do you dislike most about popular culture? 

Zooey Deschanel at the moment. Or anyone with really affected 'kookiness'.

What is the greatest invention of all time? 

T.V I just love it. 

If you didn't do what you do. What would you do? 

I've done all sorts of jobs just to pay the bills so that I could be an illustration one day. So i'd probably do it all over again.

all images courtesy of www.harrydrawspictures.com

Paper Craft. Covered Notebooks.

Why not cover your notebooks in your favourite wrapping paper? Here we show you how easy it is.

You will need: A notebook, wrapping paper, a scalpel, double sided tape and a metal ruler.

1. Stick double sided tape around all outer edges of your notebook, including both sides of the spine.

 2. Open your notebook up and apply double sided tape from the inside of the cover to the books hinge.

 3. Then apply tape to all four edges of the end paper. Repeat this process on the back page. 

 4. Position the notebook in the centre of the wrapping paper and remove the paper from the double sided tape.

 5. Open the notebook and stick the back cover to the paper. 

 6. Repeat this process on the front cover.

 7. Sticking down the cover firmly. 

 8. Trim off the excess paper leaving an inch all the way round the notebook.

 9. Using the ruler cut off the corners of the wrapping paper.

 10. Open the notebook up and remove the paper from the double sided tape. Then begin to stick down each tab individually. 

 11. Repeat this process with the back cover of the notebook. And you are finished. Easy. 

Because it's Friday.... Darondo.

Love this. Have a nice weekend. 

The Blogs. Today I Love This.

We could look through this blog all day. 'Today I Love This' is a lush mood board of all things gorgeous. It's collected content is very much to our liking.

While scrolling through we were really pleased to see this image for a German Magazine featuring one of our Sanna Annukka notebooks. Win Win. 

photo credit: Von der Hude Jonas

New Grafika gift wrap rolls.

Our new Grafika gift wrap rolls are now available in our shop. These extra large reversible sheets (1000mm x 700mm) are perfect for big gifts, small gifts or even covering walls (see backdrop). On each roll you get 3 of these huge sheets which works out the equivalent of 6 normal sheets. What do you guys think? 

Interview: Owen Davey.

This week our interviewee is Owen Davey. His bold and brave imagery is reminiscent of retro advertising. We love his use of colour and shape which creates an interesting  modern/vintage aesthetic. His client list is very impressive and with two children's books under his belt his future looks very bright. He answers our quick ten.

What is your greatest achievement? 

Probably winning the 'Junior Magazine Most Promising New Talent Award' last year (2011) Hopefully I don't disappoint from now on...

How would you describe your work to someone who hadn't seen it? 

Simple. Friendly. Colourful. Designed. 

What piece of advice would you give your 15 year old self? 

Cut your hair, stop drawing Kurt Cobain & The Beatles, don't worry about all your drunken friends (they'll be fine) and don't watch the Spiderman movies... they're crap

Who would you most like to collaborate with? 

Charley Harper, unfortunately he's no longer alive. As it's a wish list, I'm hoping that answer is allowed though. His stuff was utterly stunning. 

What is the worst job you have ever had? 

I was commissioned to do some really tiny illustrations for a website, that were scaled down to within an inch of their life. I will never show them to anybody. 

Who would play you in the movie of your life?

 I'd love it to be Tom Hardy or someone ace like that ... but in all honesty it would most likely be a sort of George Michael Bluth-style Michael Cera.

What is the greatest song off all time? 

Let's Get it On - Marvin Gaye ... from that amazingly sleazy little intro, into that amazing voice and melody ... I just can't help but love it .... Genuinely. I fucking love it!

What do you dislike most about popular culture? 

Talent shows that prize a forced emotion chord change over originality and songwriting. 

What is the greatest invention of all time? 

The Internet! Hands Down! I'd be buggered without it. 

If you didn't do what you do, what would you do? 

Dunno? I did Maths and Philosophy at A level so presumably something along the lines of a deep-thinking accountant?

All images courtesy of owendavey.com

Sean Sims cards.

Love the new editions to the Sean Sims range. What do you guys think?