The weather’s geting nice, and its started to make me think about crafting in the great outdoors and getting down with nature.
Heres a few twiggy crafts to get the thoughts flowing
a handy volume for knitting in the woods
Tree paintings by Samuel Francois
twiggums by cursivedesign allows you to make your own arrangement of sprogs.
finaly, something sweet and mad…
Sugart create tempory sugary forests.
Seapeastudios, from California have made a series of necklaces featuring snippets of Hoxton, the Southbank, Kew… nice unusual pieces.
Here’s a slightly special post, a little email interview with Sophia Al Maria, who I stumbled across on Etsy.
Named after different London locations, her work looks at the human monsters in us all.
They are part repulsive, and for me at least, part endearing.
She kindly agreed to talk to me about her work, and here’s what she said:
Hi Sophia, thanks for letting me chat to you about your work.
First off, you have a great array of characters in your store. Do you do a lot of people watching to get inspiration?
Accidental people watching. The fact of the matter is I do alot of waiting here in London. Mainly for the bus or in a que. It’s in those weird limbo times that I usually glance around and 99% of the time there is something crazy going on or someone interesting milling about.
You mention in your description that your images reflect the villainous perception of the ‘other’ in London. Are your drawings about poking fun at stereotypes?
Definitely. Although over time it seems like the drawings are less and less like stereotypes and more and more like reality…which is scarier than any imagined lycanthrope could ever be.
I love the ghoulish, zombie-like look of your characters. Particularly ‘New Cross’. Do you have any favourites from your collection?
Funny you should mention zombies…They are sort of an obsession of mine. I am truly, deeply terrified of masses of shambling, moaning dead people. Worst of all I believe in them. I live in fear like the rest of the world…only I’m not scared of Muslims or Werewolves, it’s really zombies who do me in.
As for favourites, I think probably Waterloo who was the first werewolf I sold.
Finally, what illustrators / artists do you look to for inspiration?
James Jean, Aubrey Beardsley, Marjane Satrapi… Every night I wish on one of the werewolves red stars that I could draw like any one of them.
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All images, curtosy of Sophia.
nice illustrations from London Etsy seller Mary Killvert
Well, I’ve made that elusive first sale on Etsy!
It took me about two weeks, to build up some favourites and slowly but surely build up a little stock.
Tomorrow, a pink monster will be winging its way to start an new life in Canada. Along with a couple I know live in Texas, that’ll be the furthest any of them have been from home.
Now all that remains is to ship him off, and hope he arrives safe, along with some good feedback.
An interesting article from the BBC website about Etsy in the news, and why people choose to buy hand made.
Its January, and let’s face it, i’m skint.
This is what led to me spending my friday night in making these little rings. They’re surprising time consuming, but i’ve fallen in love with these miniature fresh water peals from Buffys Beads (a constant temptation, being right next to my work!).
Here, for your viewing pleasure, are the results. Some will be up on Etsy, but some will just be on my fingers.
