SallyWag

Archive for the ‘paper crafts // stationery // greetings’ Category

I’m starting a blog series on the books I own about print design, graphics and illustration – stuff like that. Here’s the first:

A few sample pages from The Thousand Nights and One Night illustrated with papercut silhouettes by Meg and Mog author Jan Pienkowski.

Pienkowski is originally from Poland, home of the Wycinanki tradition of paper-cutting:

Many of the images have been backdropped with vivid photographic elements and pattern, which strongly captures the sense of the exotic associated with tales of the old East.

The technique and style of the papercuts harks back to the pioneering (and completely inspiring!) work of Lotte Reiniger, specifically The Adventures of Prince Achmed, the oldest surviving animated film:

Magical stuff.

New printables, and soon to be, prints. Drawn in pen as separate ‘bits’, scanned into the computer, outlined in Photoshop, then filled with colour (like a cartoon) in Illustrator – in case you were wondering! Anyway, how this Summer should have been.

Have just been sorting out my greeting cards for sale on From The Wilde, available individually and as sets. Should be up soon. Been having fun tying them up with ribbon and tags; slightly less fun trying to photograph them on a rubbishy little diggie in Dark Age style lighting (its August. Its hailing. Go figure!). Oh well, it still beats a real job.

Just need to sort the Christmas ones out now.

Bit short notice I know (just unearthed the sponsor form from pile of ‘recycling’) but am doing a Midnight Walk on Saturday in aid of Saint Michael’s Hospice in Harrogate. All profits (£2.50) from my pick and mix printable cards to the charity. Available through Folksy and Etsy sites. 12 designs to choose from.

Well, the header’s said it all really: there’s a one day 11% discount sale on Art and Accessories today on Dawanda, tenuously in celebration of the World Cup. Ha!  Relevence? Anyway, nothing to complain about. I’ve included my prints, in celebration of those who are NOT interested in the World Cup so far but will probably start getting into it by the semi-finals. Happens every time.

I’ll be here, with more cards and prints than a Paperchase warehouse. The previous fairs have been great. There’s a touch of the vintage bonanza about the whole affair. Catered by The Marvellous Tea Dance Company. And yes, the cakes are indeed Marvellous.

My first international illustration job – PRINT-ED! woo. I like my little owl. Am picking fault with my design already though: “could have done that differently”; “missed a bit there” etc. Nothing wrong with the production, however, (keep stroking the lovely matt silkiness of the covers) which, of course, was nothing to do with me :)

Has been a while since I’ve had time to browse my favourite shops online so not surprised to discover the fabuloso Radiance appears to have lots of lovely new housey and lifestyle stuff, including these simple but brilliant wired flowers by Dutch designer Jurianne Matter; a foxy tea towel by Lush Designs, cards by Sanna Annukka, and a (relatively?) new dandelion lamp design by Radiance owner Hannah Nunn.

I’ve got a new set of seasonally inspired cards out on etsy, dawanda and folksy – with free worldwide shipping – printed at Moo. They’ll be more sets to follow – more miniature scenes, more shapes. I’ve realised I’m obsessed with scenes: different vistas, different homes, a safe and happy spot. I don’t really have a home myself. Maybe that’s part of it.

apparently some of my illustrative stationery designs (which I don’t think I can show you) are now at the New York International Gift Fair, which is very exciting and a first for me. I’ve never been to New York but my digital creations have. Lucky virtual bastards.