Rapunzel, Rapunzel, conditioner's worst nightmare!
Such a popular print this year, and one of my favourites to have worked on.
I'm now down to my last 3 A3 prints before she is forever sold out in that size, and only a handful of A2 prints remain.
Give Rapunzel and her cascading mane a home by visiting the shop here: www.birdyandme.bigcartel.com
I think I have a problem at the moment of coming up with the most intricate concepts for new works that ultimately end up taking me weeks, if not months, to finish, whereby I end up constantly pausing them to start something new.
Which is exactly what happened this week. Growing a little tired of the tedious details of my current illustration, as well as the freezing cold weather we've been experiencing Down Under, I thought I'd try to hurry Spring on a little bit with a floral-themed piece.
I'm no where near done with the Thumbelina-sized girls just yet (will I ever be?) and I thought it would be lovely to have one carrying an enormous bunch of blooms.
I've titled this one 'The Florist' because, well, sometimes I just think it would be the most wonderful job in the world - surrounded by beautiful flowers all day long. Can you even imagine?
'The Florist' is available in my store now in a limited edition of 30 A3 and 30 A4 prints until sold out.
You can plant her in your home visiting the nursery here: www.birdyandme.bigcartel.com
Now, back to client work as well as that complicated piece I've been putting off...
Another new print has been added to the shop.
Created last year for the 'Les Petit Fours' exhibition, 'Titania' is inspired by the couture shows of John Galliano and Giambattista Valli, along with the character of the same name from William Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream.'
Limited to a very small edition of 25 A2 prints only, including one very special framed metallic print, 'Titania' is available to purchase now.
www.birdyandme.bigcartel.com
My next storybook femme is a villainous vixen that we all love to hate, the dastardly devious, Cruella De Vil,
from Dodie Smith's '101 Dalmatians.'
While her taste in coats might be questionable, there's no denying that she is fashionably fierce.
As long as the fur remains faux, and no puppies are harmed in the making of her sartorial choices, she's okay by me.
'Cruella' is available as a limited edition print now, in my store here.
I've also been (slowly) working on my version of Rapunzel on and off over the last couple of months, all the while cursing my decision to draw the maiden with the ridiculously long hair in such detail. She has been beyond time-consuming, but hopefully she'll be worth the wait. Stay tuned...
Paying homage to another of my all-time favourites for this storybook series.
(See previous interpretations here and here.)
Just like 'Alice in Wonderland', 'The Wizard of Oz' was one of the very few films we owned when I was younger, and definitely one of the very first that I remember watching.
'The Wizard of Oz' also started, for me, a life-long fascination with Judy Garland (do you ever watch 'Meet Me in St .Louis' at Christmas time? It's worth it for Judy's rendition of 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' alone.)
I dreamed of becoming Dorothy when I grew up; hot-footing it along the yellow brick road in those sparkling ruby slippers, trying to get over that rainbow.
So, when writing out the list of favourite fairytales and stories that I wanted to re-create, 'The Wizard of Oz' sat firmly in first with an emerald on top.
Of course Dotty has had a high fashion makeover, and her pals look like they could pull out the baby oil and a boom box at any given moment, but what girl could resist the idea of Dorothy in Dior?
In fact, one of the main inspirations for the piece was this perfectly appropriate gingham gown from the Christian Dior Spring/Summer '12 Haute Couture collection. SO Dorothy.
Christian Dior Couture Spring/Summer 2012, Image via Vogue UK
Just like 'Alice', 'Dorothy Wore Dior' is available in my store as a print in limited editions of 15 A2 and 40 A3 prints, respectively.
I can't even tell you how many hours (upon hours) of Oz-related films and TV shows I watched while working on this illustration....all in the name of art, of course!
If you, too, want more Oz in your life (and let's face it, who doesn't?!) be sure to check out the following:
The Wizard of Oz (1939) Film
Return to Oz (1985) Film
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1986) Animated TV Series
VOGUE's Wizard of Oz (December, 2005) Editorial, Photographed by Annie Leibovitz
Tin Man (2007) TV Series
And, of course, read the original books by L. Frank Baum.
Kiera Knightley by Annie Leibovitz, VOGUE, December 2005
I had a lot of fun with last year's lust-have Christmas list, so I decided to do it again.
After all, you never know when Santa might scroll through your blog, right?
Unfortunately I ran out of time to make it illustrated, but the Big Guy won't mind, I'm sure.
Some of these items are totally affordable and some live in the 'I'd better have been REALLY good this year' category - however it is, after all, called a WISH list for a reason.
I've also very humbly and subtly thrown in a few of my own products, because I love them and hope you will, too.
1. The Pink Door, limited edition print. Because I'm sure every girl wishes she could be sauntering through the streets of Paris, passing by an large and ornate pink door.
www.birdyandme.bigcartel.com
2. Everyone needs a Fuji Instax, right? Well, this guy wants a pink one.
www.myer.com.au
3. I don't know about you, but every set of coasters I have ever owned have ended up either crumbling, disintegrating or covered in constant ring marks. I'm ready to try a stone set, and these black marble beauties from Samantha Wills are perfect.
www.samanthawills.com
4. As mentioned previously, I already own about 589 copies of 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' but this particular edition has been designed by Vivienne Westwood and is so geometrically delicious I can't stand it.
www.viviennewestwood.com
5. Bal D'Afrique is my favourite Byredo scent. I've also tried La Tulipe and Rose Noir (Rose Noir was going strong in No.1 spot for a while) but now I can't go past the powdery beauty of Bal D'Afrique.
www.byredo.com
6. One of the most incredible and creative forces in fashion is Vogue's own Grace Coddington. Having personally styled and directed some of the magazine's most beautiful and iconic photo shoots, this couture-mad Queen has collated an impressively stunning portfolio of work that can all be viewed in the book 'Grace Coddington: Thirty Years of Fashion at Vogue.' A must for any lover of fashion & photography.
www.phaidon.com
7. You can't give a gift without a card, and again I HAVE JUST THE THING.
My Christmas card sets feature a sexy Santa, an enormous candy cane, and just enough cheek and couture to set your lady friends' pulses racing.
www.birdyandme.bigcartel.com
8. Garance Doré, the Parisian-turned-New Yorker, Queen of street style photography and illustration has released her very first book. Finally! Full of insights into her life in both Paris and New York, along with imagery she has captured over the years, "Love, Style, Life" promises to be one beautifully curated selection of Garance's best work and a must for any fashionista's coffee table.
www.lovestylelife.com
9. I just love the oval shape of these ceramic plates from Country Road. The dove grey and blush palette is also right up my alley.
www.countryroad.com.au
10. I've long been bag-obessed, and this lady truly needs no more. HOWEVER, when I saw this pink Marimekko confection appear in my Instagram feed a few weeks ago, I was smitten.
I generally wear a uniform that consists entirely of black. So, when I decide to add a little colour, I like to do so with accessories.
www.marimekko.com
Guys! Guys! Guys!
Today is the 25th of November, which means that there's exactly ONE MONTH UNTIL CHRISTMAS!
*No sh*t, math whizz!*
To celebrate this v.exciting nugget of information, this Christmas-nut is pulling on its ugliest holiday jumper AND taking 20% off everything in the shop for one week* only!
Simply head to www.birdyandme.bigcartel.com, make your selection(s) and then enter code word XMAS2015 upon checkout to apply the discount.
As an added bonus, all prints ordered between now and December 14 will come with one FREE Christmas card. Huzzah! Gift sorted.
Happy Shopping x
*Ends Midnight Tuesday, 1st December*
So excited to announce that my 'Kissing Santa Claus' illustration is now available - for a very limited time only - as a phone case via The Dairy to smother your calls in Christmas kisses for the holidays.
Because, on the eleventy day of Christmas my true love gave to me...a giant candy cane and a bunch of mistletoe!
Matching cards are also available.
Purchase cases: www.thedairy.com
Purchase cards: www.birdyandme.bigcartel.com
This year's Christmas cards have arrived a little bit early (although, when it comes to Christmas is there even such a thing?!) due to my being currently overseas.
To get a head start on the silly Santa season, and because I'm feeling festive after seeing all of the Christmas displays in NYC, I decided to put these beauties up in the shop now.
Taking inspiration from one of my favourite Christmas jingles, 'Kissing Santa Claus' is a play on the song made famous by Motown and the likes of Jackson 5 and The Ronettes. You might also remember Elaine crooning it out on Ally McBeal back in the 90s. Remember Ally McBeal?! The dancing baby?! Barry White?! Sigh...
It's just a super fun, flirtatious carol that I thought would be the perfect accompaniment to Christmas this year.
Available to purchase now in packs of 3 here: www.birdyandme.bigcartel.com
As always stock is limited so be quick to avoid missing out.
Please note that any orders placed on or prior to Friday, October 30th will be posted on Monday, November 2nd.
Last week I went to my first ever ballet performance (of Swan Lake) and it was so magical!
The dancers make it look so effortless, but when you see the principals come out - in particular the Prima ballerina (Lina Seveliova of the Imperial Russian Ballet) in the title role of Odette, The Swan Queen - you realise just how disciplined, skilled, and incredible they are. The way that their bodies bend, curve and twist. It's stunning. I was also blown away by the mannerisms the Prima adopted, such as shaking her bowed head slightly as she emulated the preening swan.
Because I was too scared to attempt a photograph in the theatre (which you shouldn't do, anyway!) I used the above illustration from a 2011 commission for InStyle UK to accompany my post on Instagram. The stunning Mila Kunis as she appeared alongside Natalie Portman in Black Swan, the film based on a cast of dancers performing Swan Lake. I've no doubt that most of you would have already seen it, but if not - hop to it! With costumes by Rodarte and the most amazing performances, it's so beautiful (albeit creepy) to watch!
Of course, if you can catch a live performance you should definitely do it. I think I'm hooked.
Due to popular demand via Instagram I've decided to release the Mila illustration as an extemely limited edition print. Only 25 available worldwide.
If you'd like to purchase please visit my store here: www.birdyandme.bigcartel.com
Bottom image from The Imperial Russian Ballet's Swan Lake captured by Jared Taylor.