cathy cullis paintings and mixed media

i love these loose and darkly colored watercolor stylings from the prolific uk poet, writer and artist cathy cullis. these beautiful pieces are actually sketches for the a new collection of handmade dolls cathy will make. they are dripping with abundant energy and possibility, that is for sure.

see cathy’s website to see her broad collection of work and to contact her, see her flickr stream for inspiration and visit her two etsy shops to see what fabulosity is for sale (really GREAT work, see for yourself below)!

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vintage doll portraits by gigi on flickr

i want to invite you guys to have a look at the ongoing series of vintage doll and figurine portraits i’m currently working on. i photograph the dolls in their “natural habitat” at thrift and antique shops and do not pose them. sometimes the results are more surprising than i think they’ll be.

i am having a really good time with this collection, and perhaps i should mention that this post is sort of a hint about my big creative endeavor? more details to come, soon…

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pillowmonster softies: miniview

i love these supercute couch companions from nichol brinkman, aka etsy seller pillowmonsters. i can’t say whether i am more charmed by the fun detailing on these pieces or the very interesting tales of these characters. there’s clementine, who boycotts broccoli, theodore the robot who, despite having been told he has no heart, felt himself getting worked up while watching beaches, and the whipped cream eating daughter of a window washer, polly suzanna. don’t you need to know more about the brains of this operation after reading that? yeah, me too.

q: where do you live and where do you make these great pillows?
a: i live in bloomington, indiana in an apartment with my husband, joseph, and dog, albert. i have a teeny tiny room all to myself where i make all of my pillow monsters.

q: what is your inspiration?
a: i am really inspired by other etsy artists and bloggers and flickr post-ers. i love the healthy competition that comes from being part of a like-minded community. i never in a million years thought there would be this extensive sub-culture related to plush dolls, but it is fantastic.

q: where do you do your best pillow-making thinking?
a: i think all the time about my pillow monsters and new designs for them. i do like to look at books of old circus posters at the library and that triggers lots of ideas.

see all this and more at nichol’s etsy shop, and be sure to stop by her blog to say hello.

thank you nichol!

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kathy osborn photography

i’m frequently overwhelmed by the consistently heartbreaking themes of loneliness and isolation in photo collections that involve dolls. maybe i’ve never any seen happy doll photography, but despite this, i am telling you straight up that it freaks me out. and yet, it also makes me want to stare and stare, and then stare some more. now may i present to you at these dollhouse photographs from brooklyn artist kathy osborn please? kathy is an accomplished illustrator whose work has been featured in many popular magazines and children’s books, but this collection of photos has a much more mature theme. i love the private scenes that we are peeping on, and appreciate the dark themes that lurk and crash against the seemingly innocent pastel colors. and i really love the lighting and art direction!

see more of kathy’s photography right here, and make sure to view her beautiful illustrations on her website.

(ed. note: as an aside, can i just tell you how much i love the beholder, the site where you can find kathy’s photos? suzanne shade is such an excellent curator and thoughtfully presents a well-edited variety of contemporary paintings, drawings, photography and mixed media, which is available for sale. she takes a fraction of the amount a traditional gallery would receive when a piece is sold, and is frequently on the hunt for new artists to represent, fyi.)

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dan goodsell art

i am extremely fond of the work of prolific california artist dan goodsell and his food themed motley crew of characters that have sprung from his fount of imagination. this happy roving gang features the irrepressible mr. toast and his homies, like shaky bacon, lemonhead and joe the egg. they join each other and support each other as friends do, together at milestone moments or just chilling out.

warning! love fest: i love his sense of humor and the super smiley color palette. the simplicity of his drawings evokes a lot of joy. i love how kids and adults alike can have a shared laugh when viewing his artwork. i love seeing food as everyday people in unexpected places. i love how he has made these art pieces available in all types of ways - original paintings, online comics, plush toys, buttons, books and cards. and i love being a collector of his work.

this kind of whimsical imagination is like a giant magnet to me. i can’t help but put myself right alongside these instantly beloved characters and be part of the gang. i’m thinking i’m an eggplant. or something else purple. maybe a fig?

right now my mr. toast doll is looking at me and winking.

be sure to check out dan’s flickr stream, blog and etsy shop - there is so much quality content that you’ll be quickly immersed! and don’t miss the archive of vintage photos and advertising too!

you can also find select merchandise of dan’s at mahar dry goods.

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les bébés du monde from petitcollin

look at these beautiful dolls originally manufactured by french company jouets petitcollin, a 19th century corset boning and comb manufacturer. dolls of that era were frequently made of porcelain or papier mache, materials prone to damage. when petit collin began using celluloid as a material for a variety of products, they tried making dolls, and quickly became one of the world’s most renowned doll manufacturers in the early 20th century. now a special collection has been selected and mounted on wood as a keepsake of times past.

i loathe the plastic rings around the close up photos so much i cannot even tell you, but despite this distraction, it sure is an intriguing addition to a collection.

$185 for the set at moss.

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herzensart dolls and art

look at these handmade works crafted by german artist sandra monat. sandra’s portfolio is filled with witty and wonderfully detailed creations, made primarily of felt and cotton. it’s clear that everything here is made with the special ingredient (love, or do i even need to mention it?).

sandra aptly calls her dolls art toys, since admiring and collecting them isn’t exclusive to kids. her talents aren’t limited to vikings either - look too at her collections of embroidered dream guardians and birds, gently placed in quietly powerful scenes:

lots and lots of good energy flowing here.

view her portfolio on her website and be sure to see her blog too!

via kitsune noir

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runnerbean paper creations

i’m thinking that i haven’t doled out enough crafty love this week, so i’m dedicating the next several posts to some handmade goodness. let’s have a look at these itsy bitsy little handmade paper dolls from new england artists (and sisters!) tracy and kelly of runnerbean. these little guys are made of tightly rolled paper strips that add up to about 19 feet in length, yet none are even two inches tall!

so sweet and with such clean styling!

see tracy’s graphic design portfolio on her website, view more paper creations on the runnerbean site, and purchase the dolls and other lovely selections at their etsy shop!

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