Bella and Bellissimo

It was also lovely this weekend to spend time and make Freya a toy. This time it was a friendly cuddly female version of the family cat Bellissimo. This is Bella complete with red dress and soon to have a mouse rucksack. 
For me this is what the Christmas holiday is all about not all that crazy running around shops.

Playing with whiskers

The cat who lives with us (Bellissimo) has whiskers like porcupine quills and Freya and I have been collecting them for a while now. 
This weekend Freya was under the weather and it was the last days of the holidays so  . . . time to play. 

Carol Hopper II

Carol Hopper also draws incredible portraits often of those on the fringes of society, from criminal photo shoots to castaways and down and outs Carols work captures photo real faces but with the empathy and soul of hard earned observation and rendering.

Carol Hopper I

Stunning drawing from American self taught artist Carol Hopper. Her drawings make the mundane extraordinary in their detail and finish and soulful observation of forgotten details. Thank you

Rose Wylie I

Rose Wylie was born in 1934 her work is inspired by an eclectic range of sources including news stories, celebrity gossip to Persian miniatures and everyday observations. Her work is lively, varied and exciting, full of life and excitement, raveling in the freedom of age. 

Alžběta Skálová III

A wonderful battlement of a camel by Alžběta Skálová. 

Alžběta Skálová II

Alžběta Skálová's beautiful sloths to remind us all . . . to just enjoy 'being' this year.

Alžběta Skálová I

I was drawn to research Alžběta Skálová after finding a wonderful family of sloths. I am very happy to have found her as she has made an award winning children's book, Pampe a Šinka from old holey socks, she has genius creativity and humor. Thank you

Happy New Year

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Good morning and a very Happy New Year to you all. I wish you a healthy 2014 full of love and joy XXX

Silvana Avila III

A lovely illustration for composing your New Years resolutions on by Silvana Avila, available to download free here.

Flora Borsi

“What must these artist’s muses have looked like? Where did the inspiration for these paintings come from? What if these abstract models were real people?”Flora Borsi has explored the models behind these abstract masterpieces by Picasso, Hausner and Mondigliani. by abstracting photographed models creating clever and startling effects.

Happy Holidays

Here is a penguin to wish you all Happy Christmas. 
I hope that you all have a lovely time with friends and loved ones.
I am taking a break now for a few days to enjoy some time off.
Love and Best Wishes
Hazel

Ilonka Karasz II

A selection of Ilonka Karasz's Christmassy New Yorker covers from the amazing 186 covers that she designed for the magazine.

Ilonka Karasz I

The twelve days of Christmas illustrated by Ilonka Karasz (1896-1981). The content rich illustrations in this beautiful book certainly give the impression of the frantic activity of the last few days before Christmas. 
Ilonka Karasz illustrated children's books and magazines and most impressively, over a span of almost fifty years, she illustrated 186 covers for The  New Yorker. However prolific she was as an illustrator she was initially acclaimed as a textile designer and side by side her illustration work she continued to design for applied arts producing ceramics, rugs and textiles.