Lovely Movies: Big Eyes

I'd been looking forward to this movie for ages, yet still managed to miss my chance of seeing it on the big screen. However, I recently made up for it by watching the dvd, which was perhaps better, as it included a "making of".

Big Eyes was directed by Tim Burton. He really appreciates the quirky and otherworldly and, though this film is quite different from most of his other ones, that still shines through. Anyway, he did a great job, as did the actors.

Amy Adams was fantastic, as always. The guy playing her husband was amazing too. He goes from friendly to a despicable tyrant, yet it's all believable. Also, the casting of the daughter -at two different ages- was very well done.

Anyway, this is a true story not just about art, but also about the struggle of women to be acknowledged and praised for their work, as well the bond between a mother and her daughter... I already can't wait to watch it again!

Owl Things Considered

A while ago I ordered a very cool owl shirt from Society6. And as it turns out Camille Chew, the artist who designed it, is also active as an artist on Etsy. Not with the same prints or apparel, but with amazing handmade jewelry!

A lot of the items feature owls, and most of them are patterned or marked with all sorts of symbols. A theme that shows up even more in the items from her Society6. So if that sounds interesting, definitely check that shop out too.

Many of the little owls above are already sold, but there are still a few available. As are the amazing earrings below.

There is plenty of non-owl-related jewelry in the shop too, including this awesome necklace and ones similar it.

All of these would be perfect to wear with colorful summer outfits! Anyway, you can find the rest in the shop. Enjoy!

Lullaby for Fox

Sonia from Lullaby for Fox is a very creative lady that works in lots of different mediums. Her shop is filled to the brim with a big range of items. She has a very unique style though, which is easy to recognize no matter the format.

It's easy to see that Sonia has a great love for animals. Most of her work features some sort of creature. They are usually very magical and often anthropomorphized, yet still very much in touch with nature and the seasons.

I am always blown away by the new brooches that hit the shop. They have such stunning details (sometimes even real pearls!) and the ones with faces always look so cute and friendly. Just looking at their pictures tends to make me smile!

One design has even been made into a sterling silver pendant. Because of the silver, it's one of the pricier items in the shop, but it's so beautiful and, I imagine, well worth the money as it'll be a very durable and timeless piece.

Like I said, the shop is pretty packed, so there is lots more to be seen than I managed to share in this blogpost. Definitely take a look, and maybe give the facebook page a like to receive updates and the occasional giveaway.

In the Mail: Secreta Shop

I've been admiring this artist for a while and recently fell in love with a particular piece. Lucky for me I was at the computer right after it got listed on Etsy. A little while later it showed up at my door, in the most magical packaging!

Now I've seen Etsy sellers with very cute packaging, but I've never felt like I'd become part of a magical society before. One usually only dreams of wax seals and parchment notes. But it's a fantasy that comes to life with Secreta Shop!

Here is a glimpse of what Secreta Shop has to offer at the moment. There is art for your walls, hangings to put wherever you like, and tiny art work you can order either as a pendant or a brooch. Check out the shop for more!

In the Mail: Shop Miss Ella

When I laid eyes on all the illustrations and items from Shop Miss Ella I knew I had found something really special. It's not every day you find something that manages to combine pretty much everything you've ever dreamed about!

Here were my favorite colors, styles and textures I love, cats and woodland creatures, Alice in Wonderland, and even crafts like sewing and knitting. All wrapped up into beautifully illustrated items that I could wear, hang, send or use.

So I quickly ordered some of my favorite things. I was so excited to receive them in the mail! Everything was beautiful and of great quality, I loved the pink gift bags for the brooches and there was even a cat sketch on the parcel itself.

Ella is doing such a spectacular job filling her Etsy with lots of different items! Notebooks, mirrors, mugs, buttons, patches, prints and jewelry. And she always seems to be working on something new entirely. And although I highly recommend you check out the entire shop, here is a glimpse of the cool stuff you can currently find at Shop Miss Ella.

If you're as smitten as I am, I also urge you to follow this lady on facebook. It's where pictures of new items show up first, but also were you can see sketches, as well as Ella's amazing personal sewing projects! Think illustrated cat dresses;)

Midori Takaki and the European Makers Gallery

Since I first found -and blogged about- Midori Takaki, I've been following her every artistic move on her blog. The more of her work I see, the more I love it. And so when I had the chance to see some of it in the flesh, I made sure to take it.

I've always admired Midori's art online, but standing before her sculptures, I felt like I wasn't just looking at them, but meeting them too. Midori's creations aren't just pretty visually, but each and every one has real character and presence. You can sense that in pictures online, but if you can ever experience it in person, I highly recommend it.

Should you be visiting Amsterdam, you can still view the three sculptures above at the European Makers Gallery. The small gallery half below ground is a true hidden treasure full of beautiful ceramics, textiles, glass and paintings!

The set-up is absolutely wonderful! There's a lot to see, but everything has enough space to be admired separately and up close. And the grey and white space combined with the great lighting lets you really take in all the art work.

Also, there are a few pieces to discover away from the main area as well. As you enter there is a space behind the main desk and a few works of art will also welcome you or wave goodbye through a low window outside.

Amsterdam is such a wonderful place for art! Most tourists visit the museums and are willing to stand in line for hours to get in, but I feel galleries are often overlooked, which is such a waste, because there are so many great ones! Especially gathered on and around the Spiegelgracht. (Which is where you'll also find the European Makers Gallery!) So if you're planning a trip to Amsterdam and you like (contemporary) art, make sure to put it on your itinerary!

Tukoni Tribe

A couple months ago I happened upon Tukoni Tribe, a truly wonderful Etsy shop that continues to warm my heart. I've been browsing the shop a lot, but somehow didn't get round to sharing it on my blog until today. So here we go!

The shop is filled with beautifully illustrated brooches portraying animals and fantasy creatures. All in the same Tukoni style, but in a big range of colors and personalities. I fell in love with so many that I found it hard to choose!

I often gravitate towards cute critters, but these seem to be a lot more than just adorable. They look like they have their own little world and community, like they're alive. And I find them very uplifting and soothing to look at.

Some creatures just are, but some of the others carry items, and there is even a group of musicians! I secretly wish I could hear the music they're making… There's even one that plays guitar just like me! Needless to say I adopted that one today.

Apart from brooches you can also get art prints for your home, as well as postcards to send or to frame. And laslty, I also wanted to mention the most recent addition to the Tukoni Tribe… families of owl stickers in different sizes!

Anyway, this is one of those rare shops that immediately became a favorite of mine. Everything about it is just wonderful! The creatures, the products, the packaging and even the photography! No wonder I browse it so much.

Beautiful Brooch + Sale Tip

A few years back I ordered a beautiful brooch from an amazing blog shop called Vestida de Domingo. I was in awe of the mixed media technique combined with the details of the miniature portraits and the personalities it captured.

One of the reasons I picked the above brooch was that I had just designed and made myself a sweater that looked very much like the one in the portrait. And they look perfect worn together! I'll do a separate post on that in the winter!

As you can see it was an absolute treat to receive in the mail! It came with a handmade box and an amazing drawing that still makes me happy everytime I look at it.

Anyway, I'm so happy to say that Vestida de Domingo is still up and running and full of beautiful pieces! In fact, there is currently a sale going on with lots of beautiful brooches and necklaces, a lot of which are currently 50% off.

This is just a selection of what is still available. There are so many gorgeous brooches and necklaces! Some with painting and felt or crochet, others entirely crocheted and then there are necklaces that are painted on both sides!

So I suggest you visit the beautiful shop and take a look around. It might be hard to choose from all these gorgeous pieces, but I'm sure you'll find something beautiful to add to your wardrobe. I actually ended up picking three...

Owl Things Considered

If you do any drawing or painting you might be familiar with the stress of a blank page or canvas. So how Tommy Craggs doesn't get overwhelmed when he sees a blank tree, I have no idea. But he sure knows how to work magic.

If you're worried about the trees... He never cuts them down for the purpose of carving them, he uses dead pieces, found after storms for example, or trees that had to be cut for woodland management. So there's no harm done.

From what I gather, he is a self-taught artist that used to work in forestry and decided to put his skills in wood to a more artistic use. And as you can see, he likes to make owls! He does many other animals and scenes as well though.

You can follow him on Facebook to stay updated on his new works. Or check out his website for a beautiful gallery of things he has made in the past. Also, if you live in the UK you might be able to see him work at events sometimes.

Owl Things Considered

I've come across some really special owls! They are beautiful and otherworldly and I adore them! Christophe from KriSoft makes absolute magic with paper mache. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if his creations came alive at night.

Every owl seems to have it's own personality, adornments and even comes with either a belly button or coat buttons! And there are lots of different colors too. My absolute favorite is the lovely pink one below, with it's cute little star.

The shop isn't limited to owls either, there are lots of other beautiful creations ranging from existing animals to fairies (like the gorgeous one above!) to creatures from Christophe's own imagination. So be sure to check out the shop!

Wassupbrothers Update

Current main sponsor Olga is a very busy bee. She's always keeping her shop full of old favorites, while creating lots of new creatures at the same time. A lot of new items have hit her Etsy shop recently, so high time for an update!

 I love following the Facebook page to see what's in the making. Apart from the plush creatures we know and love, Olga enjoys trying out some new mediums and techniques. She recently added a wooden bird that she painted.
But she also created some stunning textile sculptures. They seem so alive and attentive! Great for when you want to invest in some lovely art! But if your wallet isn't as thick at the moment, you can get these lovely babies instead!


 I fell madly in love with them… They are so tiny and so fluffy! But if you don't have room for any creatures, not even tiny ones, there are also some paper pieces to grace your walls. Most illustrations are even hand embroidered.

As you can see, there's always something -or someone!- new at Wassupbrothers. So be sure to follow Olga's blog, the Wassupbrothers Facebook page and her Etsy shop to see what comes in next. Every update is a lovely surprise!