Designer Picks: Fric de Mentol

Ana Raimundo is the owner of Fric de Mentol, a label selling beautiful embroideries and illustrations. On her website, Ana states that she needed an occupation that she could do whilst travelling and having an online store was the perfect match. I absolutely love her illustrative embroideries, they're naïve, delicate and have an almost three dimensional quality due to the way they are stitched. 

Here's a little peek at some embroideries currently on sale in her online shop...

Paperfolk Loves... Heng Lee

I always find it really interesting when artists fuse materials that are quite often viewed as being opposites. I was really excited when I came across the work of jewellery artist Heng Lee. Although his portfolio is quite varied, it was his embroidered jewellery that caught my eye. I always enjoy seeing embroidery and metals placed together because one is often futuristic and cold in appearance while the other has connotations of warmth and versatility.

The pieces below are so beautifully delicate and modern... Enjoy!

 

Monday Musings: Happy Films

So last night I was looking for an upbeat film to watch while I was sewing. After having a good look through the hundreds of DVDs in our collection, I settled on one. My other half came through from the kitchen and said he could've put money on what film I was going to pick. Slightly perturbed at being so predictable I asked him to back this up. He cheerfully rhymed off a good six or seven of my  'go to' films and to be honest I couldn't really argue!

So here are my predictable go to films for most occasions (including sickness, sewing, laziness and sadness). My 'cheer up' films...

What are your go to films?


1. The Royal Tenenbaums

2. Ghost World

3. I Heart Huckabees

4. Be Kind Rewind

5. Me and You and Everyone We Know

I could really go one for another dozen or so films but these are definitely my Happy Top Five!

Inspiring Reads: Hanneline Visnes

I can't remember if I've ever mentioned it on the blog before but I live in Glasgow and one of the great things about the city is all of the little independent shops/pop up projects that still manage to sneak into the high street. I was in this lovely second hand book store (I know I thought all of the book stores were extinct now as well) and they had a great selection of poetry books, art books etc along with some really nice first editions of classics at such a great price.

While I was in I picked up a book of Hanneline Visnes work which was a publication created to accompany her exhibition at the CCA in Glasgow. I always miss the boat with exhibition publications because they are usually so pricey that I don't buy them at the time and then its sold out so I was delighted to come across this one in such good condition.

Here are some pics from the book- her drawings are beautiful...



Embossed front cover

Book title which isn't displayed on the front or spine

Crafty Exploits: Triangle Embroidery

A wee sneaky peek of what I've been up to over the past few nights. I always make the mistake of designing and making pieces that take soo long to make that I think I would need to charge £100 to break even. Luckily I have a day job!

I'll be revealing more bits and pieces over the next few weeks that'll be ready in time for Christmas (or maybe Easter if I keep working at this pace!)

Monday Musings: Vintage Cameras

Image via Etsy shop AndreKart available here

Don't know whether it's my background in photography or my love of a bit of nostalgia but I really miss cameras that have film in them!

Please don't get me wrong I love the convenience of digital and the cost saving but I also miss the anticipation of waiting for my film to be processed. One of my favourite things is looking through my mum's biscuit tins full of family photos and finding all of the dodgy pictures, y'know the ones with plants growing out of peoples heads, overly white faces from a bright flash and tops of heads cut off. I don't know how much we'll come across images like that in the future when everyone often deletes a 'bad' pic.

I say hang onto your dodgy pictures for future generations' amusement!

Paperfolk Inspiration: The Art of Australia

Edmund Capon, The Art of Australia host

I have to confess that my guilty pleasure when my little girl is asleep is to go through all of the past weeks programmes on BBC4 via iplayer and catch up on anything interesting i've missed while being knee deep in dirty nappies.

My last flick through brought The Art of Australia: Strangers in a Strange Land to my attention. Before viewing, I realised that, despite working in a museum, I actually know very little about Australian Art. I often feel that Australian art and artists are misrepresented in Europe as there always tends to be a focus on Aboriginal art in museums and very little attention paid to modern art from Australia.

The programme was one of three parts with the first episode focussing on how the history of Australia's indigenous was misrepresented by Europeans who settled in the country. The host, Edmund Capon, shows examples of Impressionist art in Australia when this style of painting is often only attributed to artists working in France at that time. There is also discussions with modern artists who have been inspired by the history of Australian Art and directly comment on it through their work.

I have been a little more open to the vibrancy and talent within the Australian art scene through reading magazines like Frankie and also just being more active on Twitter and Pinterest. It's so bizarre that I know very little about art produced in a country of this size!

I thoroughly recommend the programme and if you get round to watching it yourself let me know what you think...

Designer Picks: Lila Ruby King

I love it when I come across a designer who uses nature as a theme but does it in a different way. Lila Ruby King has an online shop filled with beautiful jewellery and homeware. I was particularly drawn to the fly brooches- they look like they are just resting on your jumper and will fly away at any moment!

The store is full of hand-drawn goods including fabric, jewellery and cards.

Have a peek at the designs below and maybe add something to your Christmas list!



Buy me here



Buy me here



Buy me here



Buy me here



Buy me here

Monday Musings: Liberty Door

I came across this simple, pretty DIY door via Heart Handmade UK. It could be done with any of your favourite fabric or even a plain coloured fabric to make a bit of a change to a tired looking room.

Something to do at the weekend I think...