Bill Miller

A few years ago I posted about Pittsburg artist Bill Miller at Lino Forest. There I gave him the award for the most amazing and inspiring use of salvaged vintage lino in the creative field .

So I think it's high time to re-introduce Bill Miller and his breathtakingly beautiful collages. And yes, it's all done with vintage lino!According to the artists profile, "Miller's work has been recognized for rendering narrative moods and a sense of common memory. His unexpected use of patterns taps into the mediums nostalgic familiarity striving to impart a sense of history and story within each piece. Creating an effect that lies somewhere between collage and stained glass, Miller's innovative use of the linoleum's pattern and color is his signature style."

I certainly can't do him justice on this blog. You'll have to visit the website to see the breadth and depth of his work.

Look at the star burst patterned lino in this piece titled"Portrait of a Tree".

And the complex layering of stunning autumn toned lino in "Sweenyburg Farm"I can't even begin to express how taken I am with this snapshot of John and Yoko titled "Paper or Plastic".

How perfect is the lino for John's jim jams! I could look at all the detail for ever.

I noticed there is a contact on the artists website where people can donate lino.I'm sure one person could not source this much by themselves.
Now I think I need a lie down to rest my senses from this visual overload.

But first I'm going to announce the winner of the Little Golden Book Journal donated by Megan from The Byron Life. Congrats to Sue from Divajools. Your journal will soon be on it's way!

Pencil It In!

Coloured Pencils...ahhhhh.
I have been smitten with my boxed set of 72 Derwents for many years. It was the first gift my beloved ever gave me.( A good enough reason to stick with him I reckon!)
Coloured pencils were like currency when I was at primary school. And Derwents were the Rolls Royces of the pencil world!
You can imagine then how taken I am with these colourful creations by three jewellers who fashion off-beat pieces from the humble coloured pencil.

Italian designer Maria Cristina Belluci has a background in theatre and costume design. Her bold,sculptural jewellery is almost organic in form. I am totally enamoured with her creations.
I would almost be willing to donate some of my beloved Derwents just to own a piece!Another talented sculptor/jeweller who also uses pencils in her work is Jennifer Maestro from Massechusettes. She produces a range of pendants, earrings and brooches which also contain smooth and sanded pencil pieces, some even retaining the brand lettering.

But she is most well know for her pieces that utilizes the pointy end of the coloured pencil. Brooches and larger works reminiscent of sea urchins and anemones, similtaneously appearing sharp and dangerous, but also beautiful and eye catchingly fluid.
Jennifer writes "Hullo pencil fans! All these pencil items are handmade by me, Jen, and I have the fingernails (or lack thereof) to prove it!
I am a sculptor with a particular fascination for pencils. I find them extremely inspiring, probably because I have a million of them in my studio. The big joke in my studio- I can never find anything to write with."
According to Jennifer March 30th was Pencil Day!! Drats I missed it.A divine shot of Jennifers workbench with zillions of colour coded pencils on hand. Bliss.
At her Etsy shop Jennifer introduces us to another pencil crafter, Stacey Dawn from Texas.
Stacey 's bracelets, pendants and necklaces are sweet and simple. Delicate transformed pieces of sawed up pencils create bead like components. The colour combinations are wonderful and appeal to my rainbow hued sense of design.

Stacey uses pre-loved pencils in her jewelery still retaining the marks and bumps of their previous life.She says "I make them from real pencils so they aren't perfect but that's one of the things that I happen to like best about them."

Twiglet

Last year I met Dana Levistone from Twiglet ( a Melbourne designer and mother of two) and immediately fell in love with her Sleepy-Smiley Lion softies. This orange guy came home with me and now sits on my daughters bed. Initially he was taking pride of place in the lounge room, but my Jack Russel Chester became somewhat enamoured with lion, and started smothering him with too much "affection"!

According to Dana "Sleepy-Smiley Lions were dreamed up whilst my koo-koo baby brain waited for the birth of my first child whose sex was unknown. (It was a girl!) Their faces and colours were inspired by our retro home-decor and log cabin style playroom. They made a public appearance in a Melbourne newspaper and soon became a Twiglet product available to peeps of all ages worldwide! They make a lovely cuddle toy or cushion."
Here's Orange Sleepy- Smiley lion appearing in the latest issue of small magazine.
Get your own from etsy or find Twiglet at numerous markets and lovely stockists around town. See Dana's blog Acoustitch for details.

Dana also makes adorable kids clothes and accesories under the Twiglet label. She recycles vintage linen like tea towels, sheets and tableclothes to create the hippest kids wearables in Melbourne. I bumped into Dana at a second hand shop last week and her arms were bulging with retro materials, curtains and tablecloths.I can just imagine the cuteness to emerge from these finds!
Seeing these gorgeous clothes makes me wish my kids were still little enough to wear them.

Twiglet is just another example of the creativity, resourcefulness and innovation that often washes over new mothers when faced with the prospect of being at home with your bubbas and still making an income. As they say, necessity is the mother of invention.
The traditional thought that mothers brains go to mush when they are pregnant or kid wrangling is regularly proven wrong when you unearth the creative force of loads of mothers starting craft businesses and shunning the nine to five !
Speaking of crafty Mummas, Megan from "The Byron Life" has kindly given Find,Make,Do a sweet Little Golden Book Journal to GIVEAWAY. There's still time to enter!

Little Pots O' Gold!

It's no surprise I love Little Golden Books. If I find a particularly special pre-loved one at an opshop or fete I have to bring it home, often with plans to give it a new life.

My recycling sensibilities kick in but all I need is some inspiration.
Here's some crafty creations made from recycled Little Golden books.....

A Jungle Book bird house. For the bird who has every thing!Decorative bunting from Natalie at Arthurs Circus. Great idea!

Blocks a la Martha Stewart. From here. I spy Scuffy!

Even if your not into "transforming" your books you could frame the often stunning illustrations(especially if your Little Golden books have been overly loved by the toddler!)

And finally, here are some useful and decorative Little Golden Book products created by Megan from The Byron Life. Journals ,collages and handy tins.Like me, Megan loves the emotion that sweeps over her when she discovers a book she recognises from her childhood. Megan's products are designed to be as green as possible: recycled covers, 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper inside, plant-based varnish used on artworks and recycled packaging for sending orders. Now that ticks all the three R's boxes.Find The Byron Life goodies at Big Cartel or at the Bangalow Craft Market (4th Sunday of each month) and Byron Bay Craft Market (1st Sunday of each month).
Megan has nicely given Find, Make, Do this sweet Golden Book journal to Giveaway.Just leave a comment and you will be in the running.

Giveaway Winners.

I'm happy to announce that the lovely girls at Sisteroutlaws have decided to provide not two, but twelve kits to give away! So congrats to the winners.
I'll contact you after Easter so we can get you your Re*Sew*Cool kits! (or shoot me an email with your address if you are a winner!)
1.Black Eyed Susie
2.Nick-Collecting Feathers
3.Zofia
4.Gina-Clutter Punk
5.Kirsteene-Scrumptious Productions
6.Allison-Lark
7.Susan-It's the things that make you go mmmm
8.Michelle-Button Tree Lane
9.Laurel- Miss Muggins
10.Lara- Thornberry
11.Ann Bartlett
12.Maureen-Twig and Toadstool

Body Parts

I have just recently felt the first Autumn nip in the air. The perfect time to ready yourself for the chilly winter days and nights to come. So here are some super cosy products to keep your exposed body parts warm.Body Parts is collaboration between Gaye Naismith (Gaye Abandon) and Melanie Hill (Textile Allsorts) The Body Parts range transforms recycled, felted wool jumpers into snug and funky winter accessories.

The original Tubeway Armies arm warmers feature unique ‘two-of-a-kind‘ combinations of stripes and textures with stitch, button, and applique detailing. I'm liking the vintage buckle adornment! They are perfect for those times your hands need warming, but you need free fingers to grip!

The beautiful recycled wool circle scarves are colourful and as warm as toast.

I love the Hottie Jumpers. One-off hot water bottle covers with fold up collar made entirely from upcycled, thickly felted, wool jumpers and finished with repurposed buttons.

Body Parts midriff warmers keep your midsection warm and toasty and boost blood circulation to the whole body. Gaye and Melanie's take on the Haramaki - an item of clothing commonly worn in Japan for health and comfort. Remember: belly warm = body warm.The woolly pocket purses are one-off coin purses with a magnetic clasp closure to holds coins safely(and warmly!) Look at all the gorgeous colours!

Find Body Parts on Etsy , Made it and Indie Art & design store.

If your heading up to Daylesford on Easter Saturday,
Body Parts will be having a stall at the Makers' Market in the Town Hall.

I'll be there (shopping,not selling) wearing my own cosy, colourful Body Parts accesories!

Off the Wall

I LOVE vintage wallpaper. I have rolls of the stuff at home! Some I've shared with other crafty people, and for a while I even played around with some jewellery designs incorporating wallpaper. But after finding these designers work, I'll leave the wallpaper crafting to them!I first saw the work of Claire Coles way back when Betty Jo designs was just a baby.
I loved the way she lets the patterns of the wallpaper dictate the feel of the finished pieces. Pretty, and delicate. Or Bold and striking."Stitching vintage wallpapers together of various textures and patterns Claire creates one off intricate accessories."Have a look at her website and online store to see these other beautiful wallpapery products.
Next is Italian designer Francesca who has one of the best business names I have come across..."When in Doubt Draw Flowers".
Using the most desirable original ’60 & ’70s wallpaper, Draw Flowers creates beautiful floral neck pieces, earrings and vintage inspired accessories.Francesca says "Vintage materials, objects of diverse nature (i.e. furniture, lamps, carpets etc.) found on flea markets in the course of years, and gathered and archived are an unlimited source of inspiration. I want to express the old and already made in a new and actual way. The key to it are the colours, that – drawn close to each other in different tonalities – make the design modern."
Have a browse at Etsy or DaWanda or drool at the amazing prints and products on the website.
I just want to say here, how good is the blogging world! As you are getting inspired by a particular designers beautiful work, Bing!, up pops a post that leads you to another cool designer, and then another......
So thanks to Lucy from The Bowerbird, I found Deliah devine, an Adelaide designer who creates delightful brooches adorned with vintage wallpaper.
According to the creator, Linda Marek "I am a collector and constant observer of surface pattern. I have cupboards full of old wallpaper and fabrics. Delilah devine is a happy little label. I hope you feel it."Linda also has a "seemingly endless fascination with scavenging the hard rubbish collection".
A girl after my own heart!Visit Deliah devine's website and blog, and buy her goodies on Etsy and Madeit .

I just discovered that as well as brooches, Linda is making flying ducks !
And you know how I feel about Flying Ducks.