Looking Glass

The beloved place that l call home

     

The Au peninsula is a shimmering jewel along the lake of Zurich. Having lived a stones throw away from this half-island for several years, l have naturally come to call this place (and its surroundings) home. The idyllic beauty that it possesses never ceases to enthrall me.

The weekend just gone by, happily saw the 100th year anniversary of its preservation. In 1911, a consortium was established by local residents of Au, Wädenswil and Horgen in order to preserve the peninsula's beauty and tranquility. Thankfully, these individuals had the foresight to protect this jewel, which can still be enjoyed by all.

l like the idea that visitors have the means to visit Au half-island by all modes of transport, including the magnificent Zurich steam boat, which on a warm summer's day is just perfect.

With its winding paths, vineyards, and stunning views of the lake, l enjoy a daily walk in all seasons on this much-loved nature reserve. As a creative, it allows me ample space to generate ideas, to gather my thoughts, and to simply enjoy the outdoors at a moments notice.

l took the opportunity to visit the festival on Sunday afternoon, and l found these postcards most charming in their historic story-telling of the Au peninsula. A story that l felt compelled to share...

Enjoy, as you meander thorugh its many woodland paths and hidden treasures.

Playful pencils

The classic pencil form has certainly been given a new lease of life by Margaret Haas, founder of Paper Pastries. The concept of implementing pieces of random knowledge, and phrases onto a set of pencils adds a complimentry, and playful dimension to the functional aspect of the pencil.

Paper Pastries is a haven for people who enjoy tactile, playful stationery, from rubber stamp sets to unique Moleskin notebooks. One can't help but get a warm feeling of printing nostalgia with a contemporary twist, when browsing this online store. Each piece of stationery is hand-stamped, adding to the authentic spirit of bygone days, and the pencil sets come in a fine muslin bag.

On a personal Looking Glass note, the shape of the classic pencil takes me back to memories filled with anticipation of starting a new school term. And l have found to my amusement, that the feeling derived from working with a freshly sharpened pencil has happily stayed with me, in the form of a ritual - before embarking on a new project, l sharpen a pencil in preparation for fresh creativity.

These pencils from Paper Pastries are perfect to carry on this much-treasured tradition.

Introducing Justin Hession

To work with the exceptionally gifted photographer, Justin Hession is an absolute joy! l've had the pleasure to commission Justin on several occasions, and he simply has this natural ability to capture the beautiful exuberance of a moment every single time.

When l look at his extensive portfolio of work, l can feel the rich glow of warmer climates, the striking ambience of an interior, or the drama of a city steeped in rich architectual history.

When l study his outstanding portrait photography, l can feel inner beauty, a second glimpse behind the eyes of another human being. l believe it takes a talented gift to capture portraits with such soulful authenticity, and for me Justin Hession has this rare gift in abundance.

Justin Hession can turn a spark into a flame - which in creativity terms, is highly inspirational.

And so without futher ado, I'll let Justin's photography do the talking...enjoy!

Taking a walk on the wild side

©Mibo. All rights reserved

When l look into the big, colourful eyes of these paper animals - aptly named, 'The Wild Bunch ', l can't help but be amused! Founded by Madeleine Rogers in 2001, Mibo has creatively expanded its original collection of designer lampshades to textiles and paper projects.

'The Wild Bunch' is one set out of six paper animal kits that can be purchased, and brought to life with the simple tools of scissors, a ruler and glue.

For as long as l can remember, l've been particularly fascinated by the structure and nature of the giraffe. To combine the thrill of assembling an endearing 3-D version of this beautiful creature, and to admire it's shape and form when completed, truly captures the spirit of paper play.

l for one, am most delighted to learn that Mibo has extended its range of lighting and homewares to paper projects, which l feel will create much enjoyment for children and adults alike.

Have fun exploring the wild side!

A stitch in time

  

Stitching doesn't immediately spring to mind when one thinks of illustration, which leads me to believe that the work from Peter Crawley gives an impressive fresh perspective on this medium.

Each piece is intricately created by hand piercing watercolour paper with a pin, the paper is then stitched with a needle and cotton thread.

With this knowledge in mind, l carefully considered which images to share on Looking Glass, with the purpose to show each stitch and piece of thread in minute detail.

The varied choice of project, from typographic solutions, to stream-lined architectural structure, is glorious in form and precision. l also adore how the multi-coloured threads become an integral part of the illustration (as shown in the piece 'January'). Beautiful!

A particular illustration that instantly caught my imagination, was the piece 'Joy of Living', (shown here in the centre of the three visuals). Inspired by the Ishihara Plate test for colour-blindness, the illustration was created as part of a 'joy of living charity' project.

"Joy can sometimes feel very distant or become hard to see. However, it is always present and we never lose it, sometimes we just need to look a little harder". (Extract from Peter Crawley's website)

Looking with a close eye at the stitched illustrations from Peter Crawley, l would conclude, this to be very true indeed.

ABC, easy as 123...

Designed by Kana Nakanishi, the "ABC -  Atelier Book Chair " is certainly an innovative piece of product design that generates many a smile.

Made of hinoki (Japanese cypress) from Nishiawakura village Okayama prefecture, this portable drawing set is light enough for a child to carry - a perfect tool for the young budding artist.

"ABC" looks like a wooden suitcase, yet once opened, it immediately turns into a creative space. There are detachable pockets to store drawing tools, a place for a sketchbook, and a seat board, which can be attached to the main body to form a stool. How resourceful!

l hold a firm belief that creativity in the form of play, and exploration is an integral part of childhood. With this in mind, l feel "ABC" to be a rather inspiring and creative starting kit for children of today.

Have fun!

Aspects of life - made out of paper

  

Imagine my delight when l came across daily life being reflected through the delicate form of paper! Designed by Japanese architect Naoki Terada who established Terada Mokei this year, the 1/100 Architectural Model Accessories Series is simply a playground of paper bliss!

Displayed here is the N0.9 Orchestra and No.1 Housing series.

The beauty of the 1/100 Architectural Model Accessories Series, is the interaction that it immediately generates. Each set comes as a self-assembly kit, so by simply popping out the pieces and folding them into place, you can create your very own world. What fun!

With a full orchestra coming to life, and a cyclist enjoying a ride while a dog looks on. One can't help but become enchanted!

l do believe that the basic concept of the self-assembly model kit has been given a new lease of life via the extraordinary 1/100 Architectural Model Accessories Series.

Enjoy!

Storytelling reflected in embroidery

l came across this enchanting "labour of love" project rather recently, and was immediately bowled over by the intricate detail captured on canvas. Jillian Tamaki has spent the first two months of this year, busily working away on these dustjackets. Described as her "dream project", the Penguin Threads Delux Classics project certainly pays homage to the beauty of embroidery, and in my mind takes book illustration to a raised level of creativity!

The exquisite attention to detail woven into the fabric creates a vivid impression. With it's black and orange contrasting threads, along with construction and texture of the mane, the dustjacket for 'Black Beauty' by Anna Sewell is strikingly strong in character.

Jane Austen's 'Emma', is charmingly depicted in soft colours, with brightly coloured woven braids of hair, and 'The Secret Garden' by Frances Hodges Burnett whimsically flows across the cover in tones of cerise pink and purples.

From a typography angle, one can clearly see that the embroidery of the book title, authors name, and pull-out quote from each book has also been taking into careful consideration. Each book cover perfectly reflects a style of typographic flair, allowing each woven thread to tell its own captivating story.

As a person who enjoys reading,  l'm rather looking forward to the launch of the sculptural- embossed versions of these richly woven books in October 2011!

What to eat in April...

 
l was thrilled when illustrator, Emma Dibben kindly accepted my invitation to be a part of Looking Glass! l've been an avid collector of her food illustrations since being introduced to her work via the magazine publication - Waitrose Food Illustrated.

l find Emma's "sketch" style of illustration celebrates the seasonal offerings in a warm and welcoming manner, tempting the reader to visit their local market, and purchase fresh produce.

The rendering of additional ink/paint spatterings that accompany the main illustrations, in particular lend themselves to the idea of a much-used cookbook, which l feel adds to the charm of Emma's work.

A splash of colour, the tonal hues of a fruit or vegetable, and the attention to detail to capture the contours of a herb or leaf, makes these illustrations a mouth-watering experience - bringing them vividly to life!

As a person who enjoys cooking with fresh ingredients, Emma's drawings, simply inspire me to try my hand at new recipes and techniques. Although, l have to confess, l do indeed have a soft spot for the classical dish - rhubarb crumble with a dash of vanilla sauce.

Spring has joyously arrived, and so on this note, l warmly invite you to taste the culinary delights of April!

Weaving a magical vintage spell

  

Specialising in hand embroidery as a form of drawing, alongside applique and collage, Jessie Chorley's chosen techniques of creating functional objects for the home or as wearable accessories, undoubtedly weaves a richly woven tapestry of vintage charm.

Jessie Chorley and Buddug Humphrey run their concept store on London's famous flower market Columbia Road. With hand embroidered bunting, vintage petticoats, and decoupage picture frames hanging in the window, both location and decorated interior, perfectly creates an enchanting 'Alice in Wonderland' setting for their signature vintage style.

l for one, could quite happily spend an afternoon or two, exploring its contents. Antique toys, hand-stitched covered journals, and trinkets galore, are but a few treasures waiting to be discovered!