hello whipup gang.
i am so late with my monthly post but was waiting for something to hit me and today it did. in new york right now the Stationery Show is going on and i thought we could all spend a bit of time ooooh-ing and aaaah-ing over all of the amazing paper arts that are out there. since i can’t be at the show i am taking most of these inspirations from grace’s amazing posts this week … be sure to check out her blog for more complete information … i’m just giving some call outs!

at first you think … well what can you do with cards that has not been done already?! but everyone has a vision and it has been so fun to see what is going on out there in more of the larger market and how that might inspire those of us who might be in a smaller market. some of my favorite inspirations from graces’s posts:

pancake & franks
saturate
hammerpress
herman yu
foxy and winston
binth
good on paper

and then a few call outs to some who were not mentioned but whom i admire:

etui
chiemitti
pink bathtub
abby tries again
posy press

and so i leave you to check it all out and if you want, leave your favorite paper artist in the comments. i know there are many, many more whom i have forgotten and i will be kicking myself once i hit “post” … have a lovely & inspired day! until next month, mav

Submissions for Adelaide, Australia’s Morphe II show are now being accepted. “Morphe II is open to anyone who makes handmade original soft toys,” the final 30 selected will be exhibited at the Nest Studio shop in October. Entries are accepted until June 25th. More information and the application can be found here.

To coincide with the call for entries, there’s also a free pattern available for download from Moopy & Me. You too can make your own Mini Moopy!

I first became a fan of Anne Black, a Danish ceramics designer, when Design Sponge posted about her work. The shapes are beautiful, often with a very simple silkscreened pattern like a dotted line or a starburst. What really kills me is her jewelry line, though. Like these bracelets:

and necklaces:

There are also brooches and earrings. More of her work at Tivoli Home (where I got the pictures) and Greener Grass Design, among other places.

Actually Knitty has three surprise patterns this time. First up is the wild skirt pictured here that is knit in sections and joined with a three needle bind-off — pretty nifty construction! There is also an adorable and quick baby top and whimsical felted tea cosy. A little something for everyone.

Wire loop tools, cutting/scraping tool, wooden sculpture tool, cutting wire.

Handtools that potters and ceramicists use are real simple and can often be made by hand. I also have a whole batch of old plastic cards that gets a second life in the workshop. But what I most often use are buckets of all sizes and colours.

Bamboo knife, wooden paddle, callipers, dipping tool.

I did my ceramic training at Central St Martin’s in London and although I’d had ceramics as my main hobby for a long time there were many tools that I’d never heard of, let alone knew what they were for. I was all exhilirated at all the possibilities they held in store for me.

Next year, it’ll be 10 years since that first exitement and the tools feels more like extensions of me… Sometimes it strikes me how beautiful they are and how many I still have the opportunity of getting to know.

Metal and wooden ribs, natural sponge, sponge on a stick, metal carving tool, wooden sculpture tool.

I received two potter’s fair tips’ from Canada (thank’s Mary!):

The Potter’s Market - this weekend!

1001 Pots, July 14th - August 13th.