Nosideup

22.11.08 0

J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere

Before I get into the work of this fantastic photographer, let me excuse myself for the irregularity lately: it has been a hectic week, and a rather cold one, and the going to the internet building late at night has found many problems. Please bear with me, because it is getting colder, and I am getting busier. Again, mid-December seems to be the time when I'll be able to have a daily sleepy post from bed.

But now, to J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere. I got African Art Now from the local library a week ago, and suddenly, there it was, in front of me: an artist obsessed with women's hairdos. I know, what are the chances, and, the world is tiny. I was very impressed, but had no hope to find much more about him unless I researched myself. But guess what, today I crossed an "all books £2" bookshop. I got in (cheap books, you know me) and this book on his work was on the shelf. I couldn't believe my luck. So, ladies and gentlemen (is any gentleman reading this, by the way?), let me introduce J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere. Expect a heavy influence on my drawings!

20.11.08 2

Elsita

May I say Elsita rocks? Thanks. Not only she creates intrincate hand-cut pieces, but she offers prints of those too!

Oh, Elsita, I so foresee one of your beauties on my wall. Soon. (possibly the hand one. Oh yes.)

18.11.08 0

Vini, vidi, vinci

Or however you spell that. i think this is what Debeauxsouvenirs has done in Etsy. She's had the shop for a bout two weeks, and already been front page. And already sold. I'm jelous but happy for her too, because i truly fancy some of her stuff. It's so basic but delicate!

17.11.08 0

Claudette Schreuders

When I was in Swaziland, my Art teacher, Ms P., took us around art trips in South Africa. These were absolutely extraordinary. She knew everybody, we went from gallery to museum to studio. One of the artists she showed us was Claudette Schreuders. I loved her work, sweet and cruel at the same time. Naive and sad. But I have only realized now how much it struck me. I find myself thinking of her pieces at random moments. Isn´t it weird, the things you remember, and when you remember them?

Let me share her with you.

16.11.08 1

Nutre Arayavanish

Learn this name because it's worth it. I've been a fan of this lady for a while, and I've had the pleasure to touch her pieces when I worked in the V&A. I found out about her when she exploded into the world with her MA's final show from the RCA. There was nothing left on the tables, she had sold everything. I bet no-one's surprised. The image above is from her new collection All year rings, where you receive a laser-cut paper page and can just pull these shapes out.

You can find her here.(Postable jewellery, image below)

15.11.08 1

One aphorism a day...

... makes you smile away...?

Check this out. It's by the School of life people (you saw it here first). I love the idea, and I love the quotes (aphorisms).

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Martin Langford

"It's getting darker and colder, and my day job is swallowing my time and energy up, and I can't do my thing." I was ranting something like that when Mr. M. decided I needed out of the house (I had a free day today). So we walked to a nearby gallery where I found Martin Langford's work on exactly the same issues. I have unfortunately not found many of the exact images I've seen in the show, but you get the idea. (Title of image above, Work, home, work, home).

14.11.08 0

RCA secret postcard

To all the lucky ones in London: the Royal College of Art is doing its annual secret postcard show and sale. They invite students and famous artists to draw little pictures in postcards (almost 3000 of them), and exhibit them for a few days, and then bang! On sale they go, without being signed, all of them at £40. The deal is that you don't know if you are paying for a Tracy Emin's or for a noone's. I might recall the gains fund some sort of thing. Well, as far as you like the postcard you got, that's fine.

Last year as saw the show online and guessed which one was the Hirst. And I think it didn't sell in the end. I could be a millioner, but I was working on the day of the sales (isn't that sad?).

See what's all about and the online format of the show here.

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Coloring outside the lines

I've entered the world of "zines". Oh yes, indie. I know. But you must listen. This COTL thing is actually pretty amazing. It's quite a thick, colored, landscape magazine on contemporary female artists. I'm still enjoying reading the interviews, and I'm going to post something about some of the featured artists. Seriously, try it. It's $4.oo, so you've got no excuse. And Melanie is uber friendly too!

Read their blog here, and then buy the issues here.

13.11.08 0

False alarm

No cup of cocoa in the warmth (relative warmth, must say) of our flat whilst posting. Internet is NOT coming just yet. I am GRUMPY. GRUMPY GRUMPY GRUMPY. Now the date to look forward to is mid december. Grumph.

12.11.08 2

I am the only one excited about this?

Comme des garcons for H&M. Run.

(I'm left in Oxford with NO H&M. That's like no electricity. Or something.)

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Thanks, thanks, thanks!

Uh! I've got soooo much to tell you all today.

Firstly, a massive, heart-felt thanks to both Alyssa from Penguin and Fish and Dylan from DylanS for being such great people.

Alyssa has put this feature in her blog. Not only she's one of my fav bloggers, but she also creates these too-cute-to-be-true kitties.

Dylan, on the other hand, not only creates these Pop culture vynils (and drawings, and t-shirts), but also has curated this absolutely outstanding treasury (including my High maintenance!).

Thanks again, to both. You rock!

11.11.08 0

Alma Allen

You might have noticed I'm loving raw wood (see old post here). Imagine then my will to know where the "trumpet" stool on the cover of Elle Decor came from (below, with white seat)! And, just picture my rejoice-ment when I read about Alma Allen in Hoping for happy accidents.

She sculpts wobbly, organic forms out of most materials, but boy, do I droole over her stools! (not literally, I wish I had one of her stools to wet with saliva, but unfortunately I don't). I think my favourite is the top one...

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Embroiderer's lamp

I've found this adapted lamp in the latest Elle Decor (UK edition). It belongs to Australian fashion designer Martin Grant, who lives in an absolutely gorgeous (but not too ostentatious) apartment in Paris. Back to the lamp, the original idea is that the water magnifies, and the light source above (a candle in its original 19th century state), illuminates. I found this lamp very ingenious and aesthetically pleasing. Oh, and the whole flat was a-ma-zing.

10.11.08 1

Sbarao

I just found myself in Sbarao's etsy shop, and I have to say this lady is unto something. Light, delicate, femenine, vintage inspired, French, fantasy necklaces. She's exploring crochet, too. And she ships for free anywhere in the world.

I like the envelope neckalce (I like them in general). Hers is a found one that opens (as they must do) and you can fold your own message into them. Lovely netting details.

She also has a blog here.

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Be sweet

I saw Be sweet on Apartment therapy and couldn't help myself, so here they are. It seems to me that lately loads of design is associating itself with craft communities in Southern Africa, and I am feeling like shouting "me too!". So, short of catching the next plane, I am going to limit myself to review these companies here.

Be sweet has some absolutely gorgerous products, but I have to say that, personally, I much, much prefer their home accessories to their fashion ones. It seems they have a strong link to Ronel Jordaan, a Jo'burg based textile designer. (top image, succulent cushion, middle image, pilates balls, lower image, pebbles carpet).

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Bernard Stern?

This last Saturday's Guardian Macazine had a special on 50s interior design (i.e. two pages). And they randomly displayed these lights by Bernard Stern. I say randomly because they weren't mentioned anywhere else in the text or in the shopping guide. But I really liked them. I googled them, and I've had no luck whatsoever; so I'm starting to doubt whether they are by this Beranard Stern at all. They remind me a bit of the Beat lights by Tom Dixon (image below), but in warmer tones, shapes and materials. Which ones do you prefer?

8.11.08 0

Shameless self-promotion

If you are thinking of a portrait as a X-mas gift, convo me now, now (for safe time-planning)!

(colorful portraits: colored pencils on wood board (Mr M's portrait, and me as a kid), b&w drawing, pen on paper).

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Pending Scissors

Lisa Congdon is the proud owner of the rather cool shop Rare Device. And I've stumbled upon this scissors mobile she created. It's as dangerous as whismical.
Via Craftzine's blog.

7.11.08 1

I'm "it"

I was tagged by Shibori girl like a century ago and told her I'd think about it. It's actually very, very difficult to come up with seven random facts about oneself. So I'll stop thinking about it and I'll just do it.

1-My small fingers on each hand (specially on the right one) are too short. It's not gross, but funny.

2-I got trapped outdoors in an electric storm in Swaziland, an it was not nice.

3-Amelie (the movie) kind of changed my life (not in any dramatic way, but it felt like everything was possible creativity-wise).

4-I flew to NY and Orlando when I was ... 13? Because I won a creative writing award by Coca-cola in Spain. My Spanish language teacher and my school's director came with me, because that was part of the award. (true story)

5-I listen to one song or cd in loop mode until I get tired of it. Ask the neighbours.

6-At least two people have looked at me and gone "Oh, you remind me of a panda" in my life time. I'm worried about that.

7-Dogs jump at my lap on the street. I do not even need to call them. They know I adore them and just jump to me for some love. And boy, do I like that! (and I miss having pets BADLY)

And that's that!

I really do not know who to tag, so name yurselves tagged if you feel like it!

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Maybe?

Maybe this could make it to the shop?... Nosideup gift-wrap paper. The original, one and only. Pure English photocopy. (Crazy red tapping not included).