30th project

It's my 30th birthday this week! I don't really feel 30, but I thought I would create something throughout my 30th year as a memento of this time in my life. So I've decided to sew a quilt.

Our family has recently moved out of the city down to the lush green foresty south coast. The quilt will be made in a forest colour theme.

All the fabric for the quilt is donated by my dear friends and family. Everyone chose something they thought was beautiful, represents their personality or significant to them... a scrap from a cushion cover they have in their house, covered in insects and bugs because of their love of nature and creepy crawlies, soft gentle and floral patterns or bold bright and dynamic. So many beautiful greens!

I love the idea that a little piece of everyone that is significant in my life will be sewn into something I can wrap around myself and keep me warm.

jennifer collier

 It's all made out of paper!

 

Jennifer Collier

postal service

Kids love posting things, in any sort of box, slot or even under the rocking chair. I thought I'd make them their own little post box. I made it from recycled vegie boxes, lots of glue and masking tape and a tin of paint I found in the shed (and in the perfect colour). It is made in the style of an Aussie post box but with a little bit of British Royal Mail (a bit like the kids, a bit Aussie a bit English). I quite like its bumps and battered look. I'm in the process of making a small letter box for everyone to hang on their bedroom doors so they can deliver the beautiful paintings and drawings they have been posting.

jeannie baker

Ever since a child I have always been in awe of Jeannie Baker's collage illustrations. I recently went to an exhibition of her book Mirror at the State Library of WA, and now I am even more in love and inspired. The detail, texture, relief and beauty in each of her collages is incredible.  She researches and explores the landscapes she creates, collecting soil, plants, fabric, feathers, anything to build the image. The patience required to create something so intricate and detailed! If you are in Perth, go and see her work, it is even more incredible seeing the originals. The exhibition runs until the 28th of September.

 

andrew myers

Artist Andrew Myers uses thousands of screws to create these sculptural portraits.

city cushion

I made this cushion for a friends little boy to snooze, cuddle and play on. I had been thinking about creating an applique street, and this was the project to try it on.

It was difficult to keep Hannah off the cushion... we will just have to go and visit so they can play with it together!

play kitchen

We finally finished making the kids play kitchen. It was intended to be their Christmas present, but as usual we were too ambitious. In ways it is nicer they were given it away from the Christmas hype. It is made from a pile of scrap wood salvaged from a verge collection, a bit of paint and a few fittings.

We are going to be fed pretend cups of tea and wooden food for the rest of their childhood years! It is so lovely to watch kids creative play.

vintage japanese illustrators

Kodomo no kuni is a Japanese childrens picture book magazine published in the early 1920's. The magazine was created to support the education of young children focusing on art, music and games. The illustrations are a beautiful mix of the modern technologies that marked this era with the whimsical and playful imagination for children.

The Railway Bridge Yasui Koyata 1931

The Insect Orchestra Honda Shotaro 1922

Bean Crafts Takei Takeo 1927

Diving Okamoto Kiichi 1928

A Beehive Okamoto Kiichi 1928

Flower Viewing Okamoto Kiichi 1928

A Modern Urashima Taro Okamoto Kiichi 1930

The Insect Journey Kawakami Shiro 1927

toilet rolls

A practical way to recycle toilet rolls...

A beautiful way to recycle toilet rolls...

Anastassia Elias


Yuken Teruya

A fun way to recycle toilet rolls...

 Vlijtig

 Alisa Burke

 

Free Kids Crafts

 

DLTK Crafts for Kids

alice melvin

Alice Melvin is an Edinburgh illustrator. She creates beautiful images and prints using rich colours and detailed patterns. I came across her work a few years ago at the Tate book shop in London and bought her Cut Out and Make Menagerie. It has been sitting in a box of beautiful things I've collected over the years and is something I must take out and make with the girls. I also recently came across her children's book The High Street, a book about a young girl going to the shops with her shopping list. I could spend hours looking at the beautiful detail in each of the shops. Have a look at her website for many more Alice Melvin creations.