the thing that's making me happy today

...is how much this baby bear on Cute Overload looks like Maurice Sendak's Little Bear.

inspiration: colour

From Marc Jacob's Resort 2013 collection. Wear all your clothes, wear them all at once

 Mandarin ducks, the most beautiful ducks

No post about colour would be complete without a Mary Blair painting. 

Giant pencils by Jonna Pohjalainen

Anonymous artist. Found at Project Thirty-Three, an amazing collection of vintage album covers designed with typography and simple shapes.

stuff to read, stuff to do

 Here is some stuff for you to look at.

1. The amazing Sara Bauer (@yellowcardigan on Twitter, owner of the world's only comic-making cat Paisley) mdae her own spice rack and then put up a tutorial because I asked her to and she is sweet. This is exactly what I need in my new, smaller kitchen: easily accessible, taking up no counter or cupboard space.

2. This Tumblr is fantastic: Citation Needed, a collection of the worst Wikipedia writing. If you need convincing, read some of my favourites.

3. Please watch this:

"YOU OK YOU OK YOU OK." This is my favourite video of all time maybe? I have it bookmarked so I can watch it when things go wrong in my life. Via Videogum.

4. Yelping with Cormac is a collection of Yelp reviews "written by" Cormac McCarthy. This is hilarious and beautiful.

5. I want to make this, how is it even possible? Radmegan posted a great tutorial but I am pretty sure it is mostly magic. Via Craftzine.

6. This Raindrop music maker is so soothing and happy-making. Play with it for a while.

nail inspiration

I've seen some amazing nails lately, and some of them even look do-able for a shaky-handed doofus like myself!

Emily Denise at Very Emily regularly posts mind-blowing nail photos, but this is a style that looks fantastic but would be pretty easy (albeit time-consuming) to achieve. There's a tutorial at Unicorn Parade-- a good trashy TV watching project!

 

Here's another great look from Emily Denise:  glitter over dark polish, but done in a really great way.

  

I am a big fan of Bronny's blog Fat Aus, and I've been lurking and reading her archives. I love these nails! There's a tutorial at The Dainty Squid. I'm really into triangles right now, and I really love the way this looks!

And back to the impossible: Emily Denise's butterfly nails. So beautiful!

inspiration: kenzo finale

 

 Image source unknown.

 The Kenzo Spring/Summer 2011 show ended with a grand finale which paid homage to the label's past 40 years by layering pieces from past seasons in imaginative and playful ways. These images make me feel so happy; they remind me of dolls in national costume.

illustration: 1966

 

Girls in a 1966 Sears catalogue, advertising 'The Urchin Look.' I drew this from an image in one of my favourite sources of inspiration,  Everyday Fashions of the Sixties As Pictured in Sears Catalogs (thanks to the lovely Sara for the tip!).

inspiration: alain gree

I just discovered the amazing French illustrator Alain Grée via the delightful Draw, Pilgrim! Vintage children's illustration (1950s-70s) is my favourite art form and a huge source of inspiration for me.

 Image from glenmullaly @ Flickr

Grée was born in Paris in 1936 and is still alive and working today! He has published over 300 books, mostly in the 60s and 70s.

Image from Linzie Hunter @ Flickr

Grée's work combines a naivety of shape with a bold colour palette that makes me feel so happy.

Image from samsmyth @ Flickr

There's a 50-year anniversary book (with stickers!) but I've only been able to find it on Amazon France. I may have to make an order!

Image by Jane Foster

Who are your favourite illustrators? I have so many, I might have to make this a series!