Karena or Magicjelly is a talented illustrator from Adelaide, South Australia who makes wonderfully retro inspired prints and collages that are definitely worth checking out.
I have my eye on Fox and Flowers. I really love how it seems simple from a distance but as you get closer all the little patterns and details become apparent. The colouring would be perfect for my place too.
Go see Magicjelly at Etsy, on the Australian site Madeit or find out what she is doing on her blog.

Labels: art, Australia, brown, Etsy, fox, illustration, Magicjelly, orange, print, screen printing

Just thought I would share the way I have set up my dining setting in my new place.
Last time I didn't show you my Mart Stam chairs (bargain of the century: leather is in perfect condition, slight rust marks on the chrome but only $20 for all four on eBay!) and they are super comfortable to sit in too.
I have tied it all together with a giant fresh leaf from a tropical plant (called???) in a retro red vase and some lemons in a teak nut-shaped bowl from a second hand store. The table is the extendible Bjursta.
Behind the setting is another screen-print by The Little Friends of Printmaking called Pacific Jamzzz. This one I put in a larger Ikea frame, Ribba, and filled it out a bit with red framing card.
I really enjoy mixing old and new and I think it all comes together very nicely.

Labels: art, Bjursta, black, chair, decor, ebay, ikea, Laos, Mart Stam, my new apartment, red, retro, Ribba, screen printing, The Little Friends of Print Making, vase

Apparently beer isn't just fun to drink, not only inspires art, but can actually be used in it's production too, who knew? Kevin Hayes of Lovely MPLS did the experiments and came up with the following conclusion:

beer + paint + skill + inspiration (see also beer) = ART

There is even an LED light thrown in for good measure.
Did I even mention how great the poster is? A collage of beer labels in black and white screen printed on the German paper (mostly also made from beer!) and with a spot varnish finish, looks awesome.
Kevin, I think this work needs to be the first of a series. I'll be watching out for more!
Check out the Lovely MPLS Etsy page for a description of how Drunk Lightning was made and go to the Lovely MPLS Flikr page to see photos.

Labels: art, beer, black and white, brown, Etsy, flickr, Lovely MLPS, screen printing

I stumbled on these wonderful gocco printed 'fancy birds' while checking out new prints on Etsy. This print has been made by Bridget Farmer, an Irish born Melbourne artist who loves birds.
I really like the decorative line work in this curious duo, also the way they interact with each other with their different positions.
Great stuff Bridget, thanks for making your work available to the world!
Check out her work on Etsy where she calls herself bridbird.

Labels: art, birds, Bridget Farmer, Etsy, illustration, print, screen printing

In Wondercabinet's specimen series she manages to put together familiar botanical style images in new ways that always take a second glance to realise where they have come from. The prints blend beautifully and create something entirely new mixing fur, flower and shell. What adds to the authenticity and individuality is that Wondercabinet prints them on torn out pages from books, and the colour print interacts with the images and words on the book page beneath.
Truly magical.
Check out her Etsy page.

Labels: art, Etsy, illustration, nature, print, retro, screen printing, Wondercabinet

After discovering and writing about WonderThunder's Clouds and Ghosts Pillow Cover I had to get one. I also bought this quirky little Thumbprint Face Ipod Pocket, which I really love. The thumbprint texture is really great and kinda' makes me think of exposed brains as much as hair, there is also quite subtle lines radiating from behind which can't be seen mush here, but it's really nice detail.
Thanks WonderThunder!

Labels: decor, Etsy, illustration, interior, ipod, print, screen printing, wonderthunder

Of this weeks new release t-shirts on Threadless, the t-shirt I could defiantly wear would be Sasquatch In Disguise.
I prefer the artier, more illustrative t-shirts on Threadless, as opposed to the silly or funny ones, and this is a great example.
Check out more of the work of Sean Langedijk on his website: Hands for Eyes.

Labels: illustration, screen printing, threadless

I have just picked up my latest ebay purchase, the small orange enamel Cathrineholm bowl filled with limes.
I am really pleased with the way it works with the other items on my dinning table which include a print of a photo I took in Hanoi, Vietnam, a screen printed illustration that I bought on Etsy by The Little Friends of Print Making, a place mat made from recycled, weaved telephone book paper from the Philippines, that my sister bought me in Adelaide and a table runner that I bought from the lady who made it in a tiny village in Laos.
The new orange bowl was definitely not a bargain. I ended up paying $63 for it (inc postage) which I guess seems kind of reasonable but compared to the green one, is extortionate. The green bowl I picked up at a thrift store for only $5! I am glad to have the orange one though, I do prefer collections of items rather than one off pieces.

Labels: cathrineholm, decor, Etsy, illustration, Laos, screen printing, The Little Friends of Print Making, Vietnam

This cushion from Etsy is great. What a whimsical addition to a room. Hand screen printed with an original illustration by wonderthunder, a clever way to combine illustration and decore. Check it out.

I would really love it if some of my other fav illustrators that work with screen prints would diversify into doing a range of cushions. I want to see what The Little Friends of Printmaking, strawberryluna and even wondercabinet might come up with. Fingers crossed!

Labels: decor, Etsy, illustration, screen printing, wonderthunder