Digital knit pillows by Chic sin Design

Knit log pillows by Chick sin Design.

Knit log pillows by Chick sin Design.

I just love these knit bolster pillow covers by Hong Kong based Chic sin Design. Originally I found the items in their Etsy shop.

The pillows are in the shape and size of tree logs “chewed by beavers”, and the tree bark and other texture graphics are knitted into the textile in several colours, rather than printed on the surface.

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New drawing collection preview for Monsters and Heroes

Here is a preview of five images from a new collection of Marc’s drawings that we are just about done putting together for publication.  The collection is called Monsters and Heroes and the drawings were chosen from Marc’s plethora of sketchbooks and notebooks from the last several years.

I’ll know we’ll have done it right if the final thing feels like a combination of instructive tale about the tricky nature of  face value,  colouring book, and high contrast, eyeball giddying stare-a-thron.

Monster drawing 1

Monster or hero? Hint: runs very fast.

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Getting the hang of home studio product photography

New Happy Sleepies piled up for a group photo at the end of a photo session.

New Happy Sleepies piled up for a group photo at the end of a photo session.

Cloudy days have lovely diffused light and big pieces of styrofoam make really good light reflectors.

That sums up the most recent advancements in my skills as a still life photographer.

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Happy Sleepy embroidered patch

Happy Sleepy tumble and surf patch

Happy Sleepy Tumble and Surf patch based on a drawing by Marc Ngui.

Marc had this patch made in Arambol, Goa, India, back in January 2009. It’s about 6 inches wide, and it is machine embroidered. I sewed it onto one of our bags while we were travelling, to repair where it was torn.

The workmanship on this patch is really rough and completely omits some of the details that were in the drawing. I’ve been spending quite a bit of time getting my hand embroidery skills off the ground, and I look forward to remaking this patch by hand.

Happy Sleepy Suavey in tangerine velvet and chocolate brown leather

The latest addition to the shop is Happy Sleepy Suavey, made from
orange cotton velvet with brown suede “sunglasses” applique. When turned upside down, the sunglasses look like a mustache.

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The process of cutting and sewing the Happy Sleepy pelts

There’s been a flurry of real in the world making activity all fall around here. I delight in having the laptop set up right beside the sewing machine set up right beside the cutting table, opposite the shelves of materials and tools. I glee up every time I pull a suitcase from under a table to rummage in my collection of fabrics, which is what the suitcases hold these days instead of clothes, books and other travel essentials. In short, I’m loving my studio space.

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New Happy Sleepy shop on Etsy

Drumroll, please…

The new Happy Sleepy shop on Etsy is open!

Happy Sleepy Star Dipped stuffed animarl art toy for sale on Etsy

Happy Sleepy Star Dipped stuffed animal art toy for sale on Etsy

Currently the shop features art toys in the signature Happy Sleepy shape of the reversible abstract animal that looks like he is either beaming happy or fast asleep, depending which way you hold him up. There is no top or down with the Happy Sleepies.

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Shamans believe…

Click the image to see a larger drawing.

Click the image to see a larger drawing.

This drawing illustrates a passage from Peru: Hell and Back an article by Kira Salak on the National Geographic website.  The author describes her experiences during several ayahuasca rituals conducted under shamanic guidance in the Peruvian Amazon.

All of the text in the image is taken from the article.

I originally came across the article via Arthurmag.

The Zak Meadow Collection

Zak Meadow is a comic strip that ran in Room Magazine (an alternative arts monthly based in Windsor, Ontario) from 1997 to 2001.  These photocopied zines were originally published between 1998 and 2000.

Evolutionary roadblock : Software upgrade required

Evolutionary roadblock: Software upgrade required

This drawing from July 2006 is based on a photograph from an issue of National Geographic magazine.

It is sepia and metallic ink on paper.