Last week the lovely people at The Working Proof contacted me to tell me all about themselves and a new print, illustration/animation goddess Julia Pott, has produced for them. The print is titled Whale Hill and below you will find some more information about it and The Working Proof: “an online print gallery and shop with the mission of promoting both art and social responsibility through a series of limited-edition prints.”

“Julia was influenced by English beach towns. Julia says that while she was creating the piece, it was brought to her attention by a few people that she’s not very good at sharing things (whether it be her dessert or lending someone a book), so she created the fox as a version of herself, keeping the houses and ponies to himself. As always, Julia’s print is full of great details: an intricate landscape, the night sky, the fox’s awesome knit pants…15% of each print sold will be donated to Transportation Alternatives, a NYC non-profit that advocates for bicycling, walking and public transportation as the best transportation alternatives. “

“Prints [from The Working Title] are affordable (always under $100), and each print is paired by the artist with a charity to which we will donate 15% of each sale – creating what we believe to be a product with not just aesthetic, but social value. Our charities support a wide range of causes including humanitarian outreach, animal rights, environment, and research. A new print is released once a week, on Tuesdays at 1:30 pm, EST. “

The Working Proof

Being a rather tardy fellow, things that should be written up sometimes get overlooked, I am catching up with a couple of things today.

I was so happy to be asked to contribute to Issue 2 of Spoonful zine: a happiness companion. If you haven’t grabbed yourself an issue yet, get on it! My contribution appears in the Objects of Affection section:

Each issue, we choose a random object that makes us smile. Here Creatives have interpreted…the Mountain Goat…

How wonderful to be featured alongside some of my favourite artists and makers: Abby Glassenberg, Luci Everett, Jackie Bos, oh and so many more (go buy a copy!). Thanks so much for asking me to tag along Thea, I can’t wait for issue three.

I adore the fabric covered dining chairs above.

Next up, can you guess? Wherever there is bunting you will usually find a craft market, this particular event being The Morningside Makers Market here in Edinburgh. As I am setting up shop here on the 4th September I thought I would pop along to have a nose around and pick up some goodies (I confess this trip occurred in May!). Three stalls in particular grabbed my attention, really lovely work on each and super nice makers too.

Cherith Harrison is an illustrator and designer, I fell in love with her sweet birds and rabbits, they pop up everywhere, screen printed onto cushions, tea towels, bags and exercise books, oh and prints too. I bagged a yellow bunny tea towel, love, love, love!

The Night Owl aka Ellen Munro designs and makes accessories & home wares that are oh so folksy. Pop over and check out her Etsy shop, the egg cups get my vote for sure! Ellen’s stall was beautifully arranged with some inventive touches, a clothes airer used as a display for textiles, very cool.

Nicky Orr heads up Frugal Cool, a sustainable design business which promotes work that is ethically produced, re-used, green, vintage or fair trade. There was such an array of wonderful things on the Remade stall, check out the little felted hare in the image above, just so lovely. Frugal Cool are running an Eco Market during the Edinburgh Festival, go here for details.

My creatures for Plush You LA at Munky King have flown off to California. The show opens on 26th August at Munky King, 7308 Melrose Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90046. As usual I find myself wishing I could attend, if you make it, take some pictures for me! I can’t wait to see all the plush excellence on display, I think it is going to be an amazing show. Above and below: Fish Boy-The Shaman, The Sad Fate of Mau of the Octopod Clan and Theodore the Stevedore.

Mau looked very different originally. Upright, with a little helmet, claw socks and gloves-she didn’t look right to me when she was finished. I think I made my pattern much too thin, tried to replicate the slightly wonky aspect of my initial drawing. I was so upset by my perceived ‘failure’ that I almost cried with frustration (it *was* gone 3am!) & then I decided to chop her head off & change her story. Gory, perhaps a little Grand Guignol, but she works much better for me now. In fact I feel very protective of her, I hope she goes to a caring home.

Isn’t ‘stevedore’ the most magical word, euphonious, easy on the ear? I’m pretty sure I first came across it in a song by The Small Faces, the tale of Rene, the docker’s delight! Theodore really couldn’t have had any other job, it fits him like a pair of claw gloves.

I came across this image of a Stevedore on the New York Waterfront over at the MoMA website. I like the look of this gentleman, he reminds me a little of my Great Grandad, whose name was Percival Varnum, a fine Victorian name, always shortened to Perce, never Percy! Perce had the prickliest mustache, like porcupine quills and the twinkliest eyes I have ever seen, roguish and full of life. As I mentioned in a previous post I have been tossing the idea of producing a winter collection around, thoughts of Perce are proving to be an inspiration. Think Alec Scudder in Maurice (below).

Probably the most famous Stevedore in popular culture, Terry Malloy (played by Marlon Brando) in On The Waterfront.

I haven’t written a thing about the Fish Boy, I guess he is self explanatory and I wanted to use those feathers so badly! Wish them all a happy voyage if you please.

Image heavy post alert! We visited The Spider & The Fly today at 65 Bread Street, Edinburgh, oh my what a wonderful space. Emily (Lost in The Forest & Magpie Market) has done an amazing job, the shop is packed with incredibly special handmade goods and has such a happy energy about it, a little parlour belonging to a lady with incredibly good taste. The Spider & The Fly is a welcome addition to the string of independent boutiques, galleries and bookshops that run from the top end of Bread Street, along the West Port up to Victoria Street and Candlemaker Row. You must pop along for a visit if you are in the area, I discovered some new to me makers and designers & even snatched up a couple of items. I was very remiss and didn’t take down the details of all the treats that caught my eye. Gives me a good excuse to return next week for a full list of vendors. There were many more favourites that I can’t include in this post as the light was a bit tricky and the pictures didn’t turn out well. I hope you enjoy the small sample of goodies I did manage to capture. There are loads more images here too! Owl Embroidery above by Angharad Jefferson , bear by Alice Gabb.

Hmm, did I forget to mention that you can see (and buy!) some bits and pieces by Lou Lou & Oscar too!

It was wonderful to see some of the embroidery work of Cathy Cullis in person, truly exquisite.

I bought this bird pillow by Heart Zeena & some notecards by Alice Gabb, upon who I have a pretty serious craft crush!

Above and below some new pieces, yay oval and metal hoops, I made for The Spider & The Fly. Speed along to check them out if you please.

I finished my pieces for Plush You LA last night, there were almost tears and an actual cat plush decapitation. Oh, the drama. But that is for another post. Kisses kittens.

This will be the last of the ‘look at my new logo’ posts I promise. I wanted to share my new business cards with you, in fact they are my first ever set and I adore them. Haven’t managed to give any out yet being a shy and retiring creature, I am just waiting for someone to ask me what I do so that I can hand them a card. Adam hand drew the logo type and we decided on the drops of colour at the last minute as my other ideas for a motif didn’t really work. The drops reference our new home, it rains a lot up here, the colours were inspired by one of our favourite books, Little One by Anne & Paul Rand. Love that book, there it is below.

Still working on my pieces for Plush You LA, should be ready to share them with you at the weekend. While I work I think about the direction I want LL&O to go in. I would like to design a winter collection of creatures, be a little more focused.

While I am here I want to share these lovely notebooks from Pumpkinsputnik over at Etsy. I also fell in love with these amazing Tea Cup Bracelets I saw over at the always inspiring Melissa Loves.

Available from Stay Gold Mary Rose. I do wonder if they might be in danger of smashing if you wore a few of them together? If I had my bricks and mortar shop I would rush to stock both of the above. I can dream huh?

At last a new look for the LL&O blog, I do hope you like it? Adam worked really hard to get it all spick and span for today and the opening of The Spider & The Fly, more of which later. I hope to be here a little more often and share more of myself with you. Of course life gallops along at such a pace that it is often hard to record, synthesize and think things through. For now I am treating you to the striking image above. Regular readers will recognize the beautiful bone harness designed and created by Diane of Pagan Poetry, arresting indeed. You can read behind the image here.

Hello, hello, hello! It has been a while since I posted some Etsy finds here, a good way to begin easing myself back into blog land. I have just finished a bunch of work for a pop up gallery and boutique which will be opening here in Edinburgh at the weekend. As soon as I have some images I will reveal all! Keeping half an eye on the deadlines for Plush You LA and an upcoming show in the UK, busy, busy, but so nice to be making some new creatures, wolves are featuring heavily as you can see above. What’s the time Mr Wolf?

Time for Dancing Bears by Alice Gabb.

Vintage alarm clock in an edible colour from Space Jam.

Porcelain Squirrel Brooch from Sarah NcNeil.

The nicest bag I have seen in a long time from Every Eskimo.

I would love to add Dreaming in Yellow to my collection, from Cathy Cullis.

Hmmm, stolen kisses with Antoine Doinel, swoon! Cool tote from I Miss You Already.

These guys would look spiffing in my hallway. From Two String Jane.

Oh, it is nice to be back. Lou Lou & Oscar has undergone a little refresh while I have been away, new logo and bits and bobs. I am not quite ready to share the results with you yet but watch out all will be revealed soon!

I know I am woefully behind the times but I couldn’t let a new short film by Julia Pott pass me by without a huge yelp of joy. Howard is Julia’s first year film from the Royal College of Art and it is magnificent, beautifully observed, gorgeous to look at, full of poetic detail, oh that roar of delight at the height of the swing! Haven’t we all felt some of the bear’s longing as a once fulfilling relationship turns stale? Watch, if you haven’t already.

Click the screen to view large.

I know the blog looks a mess, my links need updating and so they will remain until we have a chance to overhaul everything. I am still here but a little ghostly until the bean goes to nursery at the end of August. My inbox is a fright, I am hoping to send some ‘I haven’t forgotten you’ emails next week when my Dad arrives for his first visit and mega grandson sitting!

I want this wall paper from Fine Little Shop so badly! And, my friend Mathyld has a new identity,Under the Pyramids, pop over and say hello.

Above and below, my pieces for Lost at Sea.

I am so excited about the show, it opens next week, here are all of the details, if you happen to be in New York go and check it out.

Lost at Sea: daring fiber artists delve into the deep, May 6 – June 11 2010, Gallery Hanahou / 611 Broadway, Suite 730, NYC / Opening reception: Thursday, May 6, 7-9 pm RSVP info@galleryhanahou.com

Artists include: Anna Hrachovec, Annie Aube, APAK, Becky Stern, Cindy Steiler, Coco Howard of Softlife, Cotton Monster, Diem Chau, Dixie Darling, Erin Paisley, Heidi Kenney, Helle Jorgensen, Hine Mizushima, Jenny Dubish, Jenny Harada, Jenny Hart, Jessica Marquez, Jill Bliss, Joetta Maue, Katya Usvitsky, Kristen Rask, Lou Lou & Oscar, Margaret Oomen, Melissa Sue Stanley, Moxie, mummysam, Nicole Licht, Pamela Davis, Sara Lanzillotta. Sayuri Sasaki Hemann. Snaggs, Yoko Nomura, Zoe Williams

“There is something about the malleability and textures of fabric, thread, and yarn that speaks of the sea and its many mysteries. Curated by Kristen Rask of Schmancy and “Plush You,” “Lost at Sea” gathers 32 exciting artists who share underwater visions of items lost, creatures forgotten, and life that struggles to stay with us. The show will feature a broad array of amusing and uncanny works in embroidery, plush, and other materials.”

Looks super cool huh!

I had planned to send some ‘products’ along with my pieces but the move and my sinuses got in the way. So, look out for some prints and postcards hitting the shop in the next few weeks.

While I am here I should really let you know that we made it to Edinburgh in one piece despite volcanic ash and lurgey bugs, I am currently deaf in one ear which is highly amusing (for others) and disorientating for me, I am out of love with my sinuses, the cause of the deafness. It is amazing up here, I have found some interesting bookshops and galleries and will make my first foray into the local art/craft scene tomorrow with a visit to the Morningside Makers market. The market is conveniently located one street down from our new place, I have booked a table for September so it will be a bit of a fact finding mission too. I hope to get the camera out and begin collecting some images of our new stamping ground, we are still surrounded by boxes and need to put our book shelves together. Oh, and I have learnt that parquet flooring, tiny hands and breakable objects do not get along! It is so nice to be back, I missed you.

You can read a mini interview with me over at Calm Air All Ice ahead of the exhibition Fifty Two. I have just worked out that ‘Calm Air All Ice’ is an anagram of the names of the two curators, Claire and Camilla. I feel a little dense now!