How to draw...

Have you ever taken time to have a closer look at the wonderful tutorials on offer at the Guardian? They have a series of tutorials from illustrators of some of your favourite books. So if your looking for something to keep your children busy or to brush on your own skills then this is a great place to start.

Coco

Absolutely stunning silk scarves by Coco. Need!

Boxing Day Meet and My Birthday

For those who don't know, its my birthday today and as always, the same day as the traditional Boxing Day Meet. Last year there was so much snow that it was too dangerous for the horses to be out. But there were no disappointments this year as they were all out. Theres nothing better than the smell of horses, mulled wine and the sound of the hunts masters horn on boxing day.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope each and everyone of you is having or had a wonderful day.

I found this cute little gif over on Ten Paces and Draw and was created by Alyssa Nassner. There's even a tutorial if you want to make your own! Happy holidays :)

Christmas Stocking

I've been itching to put this up on here for a while but have had to hold off until today because this was actually a surprise for my boyfriend. I made this little stocking out of fleece and felt for the snow flake. I got my idea from my Christmas edition of Mollie Makes. They had lots of Scandinavian style goodies to make. If you want to make any last minute decorations for Christmas take a look at this Mollie Makes page. Here you can download any templates you'll need. :)

Christmas Downloads

Have you ran out of Christmas tags yet or even fancy a new Christmassy wallpaper? My Owl Barn has lots of Christmas downloads available! They have gift tags, wallpapers, and scrap booking images. Pop over to My Owl Barn for more owl themed downloads and posts :)

Emma Reynolds

These beautiful illustrations are by Emma Reynolds. She describes herself as a freelance Illustrator, with a passion for narrative, creating characters, and finding original & witty things to illustrate. Her work is full of magical fantasy lands and lots of atmospheric detail.

For more examples of her lovely work pop over to her web site and have a browse through the rest of her work or for more regular updates you can have a little gander at her blog :)

Binh Danh - Using leaves as photographs

These leaves by Binh Danh are absolutely incredible. I'll just let Binh explain:

'In this series, I have recorded the images of the Vietnam War onto and into tropical plants. One summer, I was motivated to experiment with photosynthesis and its pigments after observing how grass changed color under a water hose that was left on the lawn. Soon after that, I was making chlorophyll prints.'

'In my work, photosynthesis is used to record images onto leaves using only chlorophyll and light: the life source of plants and, consequently the Earth. The leaves are then cast in resin, like biological samples for scientific studies.'
There are many many more images and other amazing projects like the above over on his web site.
The above images are from a collection titled: Immortality, The Remnants of the Vietnam and American War. I recommend also taking a look at: The Iridescence of Life. Where you will find beautiful images such as the one below.

Fox Needle Book

Recently I've been getting into textiles a lot more and experimenting with new things. I was getting annoyed with never being able to find a half decent needle that wasn't going to wreck the material that I was using so I decided to make a little book to keep them all in order all in one place. As ever I made a little fox to go on the front.

If you want to make one too its pretty simple:
1. Decide what you want to go on the front.
2. Cut two pieces of felt. Make sure that the inside piece is slightly smaller than the piece that is going to be on the front (mine probably could have done with being a little bit wider).
3. Fold the pieces of felt in half.
4. Sew your chosen design onto the front of the 'book'
5. Place in the inner piece of felt on the inside. Make sure it is in the center so that its even when open.
6. Sew down the 'spine' to join the pieces together

And hey presto! You have a little felt needle book. No more searching for that one needle :)

Origami Chicken on Bloglovin'

Did you know that you can follow Origami Chicken on Bloglovin'? Just click on the Bloglovin' widget to the left of this page or click here ----> Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Design Council - Make Your Christmas Card

I've seen a lot of these Make Your Own Christmas Cards by the Design Council flying around on twitter so I thought I'd have a little play on it myself! I had good fun with the little christmas patterns following my pencil and made several before settling with this one for the blog. Such a simple idea but good fun and looks great!

If you want to have a go then visit the Design Council on this link :)

Owen Davey

This lovely work is by illustrator Owen Davey. I love his work for the textures, rich colours and folky element. These were done for a band called The Leisure Society and are actually their album covers. There are two more covers and a whole variety of other beautiful work over on his web site if you fancied a little look. I first discovered Owen when someone retweeted the wonderful tutorial he did for the Guardian on how to draw foxes. Already obsessed with drawing foxes meant that I loved it! And still do! If you want to learn to draw his fox click here.

A little more about Owen:
'I am a Freelance Illustrator, living & working out of Bristol, UK. For two and a half years, I have been earning a living from my drawings and have had work published in every continent except Antarctica (damn those pesky Penguins).'

Incredible Views From The New World Trade Center

Some fabulous shots of New York from the top of the new World Trade Center. For more great images have a look over on buzzfeed.

Lionheart Magazine

Last weekend (11th December) was the launch of Lionheart Magazine! I had every intention of going until my little car got poorly and so isn't all that reliable now. So I bought the magazine online and it arrived today! Its packed full of lovely images and interviews and smells absolutely LUSH! I love the smell of a new book or nice piece of print. The quality of print is second to none and resembles more of a book than a magazine. 

A little about Lionheart:

'Lionheart Magazine is a bi-monthly magazine for those looking for something that reflects their personalities and preferences. Editorial that’s smart, funny, friendly and a little irreverent, together with beautiful design, illustrations and photography. You’ll find craft, fashion, art, interviews and features that are interesting, inspiring and hearty.'
If you want to find about a little more about Lionheart and the magazine visit their new website or if you want to buy a copy please click here!

Ellie Jenkins

I found this really lovely illustration over Smile at the Rain, a blog by Ellie Jenkins who is an illustrator living and working in Bristol. Her blog is a collection of her drawings & work, curious photos she likes to take, and people, places, things and items which she is inspired by. Her portfolio web site is also worth taking a look at as it is also full of lovely work which will make you smile just as much as this image :)

Banksy has been at it again!

Apparently Banksy has been at it again! According to Design Taxi the new 5 part series comment on black friday, the rat race in which we live and being under the constant surveillance of big brother. For more images take a look on Banksy's website or over on the article by Design Taxi.

Ceramic Buttons

The lovely Alice Walker got in touch today about a new web site that she has recently launched. It sells an array of beautifully hand painted ceramic buttons. They would make the perfect gift for any keen crafter, artist or textile lover. A simple button could transform a dull cardigan, bag, cushion etc into an eye catching piece of loveliness!

Stocking only the very finest buttons, sourced exclusively from within the UK the Ceramic Button Shop celebrates the British craftsmanship that makes these stunning little buttons stand out. Each item stocked is lovingly hand made and hand painted before being placed in the store for sale internationally. The range and variety of stunning patterns, colours, textures and shapes available in the ceramic button shop is huge and the potential for fun places to put them enormous!
Supporting local business was from the outset a vital part of this shop and one that Alice Walker, Online Retail Manager at The Constant Media was very set on, “Home made, hand made and craft are definitely in fashion at the moment, and no one does it better than the British. I’m so pleased with the quality of these buttons and that we have had the opportunity to get involved with such fantastic and energetic local firms.”

If you haven't already pop over to the web site and have a little look. Why not also follow on twitter? @thebuttonsqueen

Liebster Blog Award

What a wonderful surprise! The ever so lovely Melanie Chadwick from Mellybee Illustration nominated me for a Liebster Blog Award today. It was the first time I have ever heard such a thing and basically it shows appreciation to blogs that you love and gives others a chance to have a look and discover blogs that you are a fan of. After reading Melanies list I now have an extra blog added to my reading list! So here are a few of the lovely blogs that I am currently following.

• My Owl Barn - Without a doubt one of my absolute favourites. As a keen Owl lover I couldn't ask for anything more. From Owl crafts, to Owl items from shops, to a downloadable Owl calendar, plus much much more!

• Ella's Blog - This blog belongs to Ella Masters and is full of pretty things, bits about Ella's life, her illustrations and etsy shop.

• Little Constructs - I've been lucky enough to be featured on this lovely little blog. Little Constructs is a quarterly art and design zine showcasing up coming artists from around the world.

• Kyleigh's Paper Cuts - I'm so jealous of this lady! She creates some of the most beautiful paper cuts I've seen. Its very inspiring. I always leave there thinking 'I'm going to try that'.

• Anke Weckmann - This blog is full of Anke's stunning work in progress and finished pieces. Its always very inspiring to look at
  

On accepting this award your job is to:

• Write a blog post on receiving this award and add the Liebster picture
• Link back to the person who gave it to you
• Pick 3-5 of your favourite blogs to share and present this award to
  

And there you have it! A little sneak peak into my reading list. Happy reading/discovering :)

Mr Fleecy Fox Hat

Mr Fleecy Fox is back! You may have already seen an Instagram picture of this on my twitter but for those who missed it this is my new hat! I decided that I needed a new one so I made one. It was my first ever attempt at making one so its not perfect but it turned out a lot better than I thought it would so I'm happy with it. I hope you like it! :)

Pantone: Colour of 2012

Its that time of year again where Pantone release their colour of the year for the forth coming year ahead. For 2012 they have chosen Tangerine Tango. Its not really a colour that I am keen on but who knows it may grow on me. Here is some of their press release below:

The 2011 color of the year, PANTONE 18-2120 Honeysuckle, encouraged us to face everyday troubles with verve and vigor. Tangerine Tango, a spirited reddish orange, continues to provide the energy boost we need to recharge and move forward.

“Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive, Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth to it,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.”

Over the past several years, orange has grown in popularity and acceptance among designers and consumers alike. A provocative attention-getter, Tangerine Tango is especially appealing in men’s and women’s fashion. Fashion designers featured in the PANTONE Fashion Color Report Spring 2012, including Tommy Hilfiger, Nanette Lepore, Cynthia Steffe by Shaun Kearney, Elie Tahari and Adrienne Vittadini, are incorporating this attractive orange into their spring collections. A fun, lively take on a traditional autumnal hue, Tangerine Tango will surely carry through to fall fashion as well.

A winner in cosmetics because of its versatility, Tangerine Tango is a bit exotic, but in a very friendly, non-threatening way. Add a sultry flair to lips, cheeks and nails with Tangerine Tango. An unexpected eye shadow color, Tangerine Tango is a complementary opposite that flatters blue or green eyes. When paired with brown eyes, it brings out an amber cast.

Honey Bee Castle

You may have remembered me talking about putting together a book for the International Bee Research Association, well, this is the finished product! Receiving this in the post today made all those late nights worth it. Its a wonderful book with many stories about life in a bee hive. Each story has its own moral and educational element to it. It would make a perfect Christmas present for any child aged 4+. To get your copy have a little look in the IBRA Bookshop.

Author: ASLI ÖZKIRIM

'We have always loved the tales that we were told as children and as adults we look for at least a small piece of that magic in our own lives. In this book, the author has brought together the reality of life in the hive with the magic that the bees create as they go about their daily business.'

'A beautifully illustrated book with colourful bee characters in their hive called ‘The honey bee castle'. The book is divided into nine chapters or stories and we learn how the bees live their daily lives, share pollen with the flowers and protect their castle and honey from the bears.'

'There is also a moral tale that runs through the book and we appreciate the need to work together, share and understand the world around us.'

'A series of tales that just ask be read in those special moments shared by a young child and a loving adult. Happy, imaginative tales that use a pinch of poetic licence to convey so much about honey bees themselves and their place in ecology. Look, listen, learn but above all enjoy a book to be treasured.'

We Are Cardiff: Portrait of a City

Back in August 2010 I was invited to take part in a lovely project called We Are Cardiff where I spoke about the things I experienced and enjoyed about my time living in the city. Many many people have since taken part and their web site is a wonderful read. However, now they are moving onto bigger things and they need your help!

'We feel passionately that we live in a great city that has a lot to offer, and has some really amazing people living in it. We want to document that – as a snapshot of a place in time.We aren’t film makers. (not at all). We have our strengths – mine is writing, Adam’s is designing, and Simon’s is all things web. We’ll be planning the film, interviewing our people, and doing any graphic design and web building ourselves (as those are things that we can do).'

'BUT we need to rope in the talents of film types to help us film the interviews and sequences for the film, and edit the whole thing together so it looks good and is a joy to watch. Hiring equipment and doing post-production work all cost money, and we have no skills to do that stuff.'

'So we’re looking for a little cash to help us get this thing shot, edited together, looking lovely, and ready to view! DONATE TO OUR CAMPAIGN HERE'

Mr Fleecy Fox Cushion

You may have seen this post from a couple weeks a go http://www.origamichicken.com/2011/11/mr-fleecy-fox.html

Well, this is the finished article! I finally got my machine up and running so I quickly zoomed around the edges and ta da! Unfortunately the picture doesn't really do it justice but I love it and I can't wait to make more :)

VISUAL TEXT PROJECT - Transforming words into a striking visual message.

VISUAL TEXT PROJECT - Transforming words into a striking visual message.

It started out as a visual blog to express ideas, opinions and commentaries through the use of creative typography, then it grew into a graphic community with diverse artistic medium and channel.

All artists shared a common idea - that words are to be treated as a visual element to convey a simple yet compelling and captivating messages.

Burst of Beaden - Jon Klassen

This is the wonderful work of Jon Klassen. This small image does not do his work justice. You'll have to visit his website to get the full high quality view. He has worked on a number of beautiful pieces including many books and even helping on the Coraline movie.

'The Rabbit Mayor: This is a translation of a Mayan folk tale. I can't put the whole thing up, cause it's  gonna be in the next edition of Flight. Once that comes out, though, I can show the rest of it.'

'For the text, I made an alphabet and dragged the letters over. That's worth mentioning because it was really fun.'

DOODULL - Christmas Cards

Our friends over at DOODULL now have their Christmas Cards up for sale!

The cards are currently on preorder, as they don't arrive until the 13th December, but you can expect them to be through your letter box by the 15th!

They have 16 packs available (so you'd better get in quick!) costing £5 each with Free delivery.

Feeling like you need to purchase some of these lovelies? Well just click on the link below to visit their shop!

http://doodull.bigcartel.com/product/doodull-3-card-christmas-pack