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Hello! I've moved! New blogs will now be happening over at McKean Studio. See you there!

Pioneers of American Industrial Design

Why doesn't Australia Post knock up some rad stamps like these? The United States Postal Service have really got it going on with these Industrial Design stamps (top image) that make their big debut today in the US. Art Director Derry Noyes has had a hand in some of the cooler happenings on American envelopes over the years, such as sets dedicated to Charles and Ray Eames and Alexander Calder. Definitely trumps the offerings from Australia Post.
You can listen to Derry talk about her work and process a little in this video:

Imagery via USPS

La Sardina

Loving Lomography's latest offering - the 'La Sardina'. Surely the sardine can designs couldn't be any cooler for a 35mm wide lens. My favourite is the 'Sea Pride'. Too cute! I'm eyeing them off here.

Gil Elvgren

I went through a brief pin-up phase a month or so ago, and became somewhat enamoured with the work of Gil Elvgren. What a superstar. I decided I needed a book of his immediately, and have spent quite some time flicking through all his amazing work. Saucy ladies have never looked so, well, saucy I suppose. My phase has passed (I'll never be any good at drawing the human form, gosh-darn) but I'm still so impressed by all those lovely ladies.

Tune Tuesday

My pal Priscila used to love John Legend when we were 17. I used to tease her. Looks like humble pie for lunch today, because I'm hooked on this cover.

Panoramic Books

One of my last hand-ins for the semester was a panoramic illustrated book. Joshua, being the box-net-making whiz that he is, knocked up this little contraption to house my 2 metre long artwork. It felt very much like a kindergarten craft session - complete with cardboard tubes for the turning handles.

A Little Break

The end of semester finally showed up. I managed to get sick 3 times in 13 weeks, a new record considering my usually strong immune system. I'm looking forward to a few early evenings and late mornings, and a wee bit more time for some personal projects. Hooray for holidays!

20 before 21

Just after my 20th birthday, I wrote a little list of 20 things I wanted to do before I turned 21. Elsie from Red Velvet Art makes them every year, and I thought it might be a good thing to have a try of! I managed to smash through the whole list - although admittedly some were a little easier than others. One of my goals was to be featured in print somewhere, and I'd all but forgotten about it until the day before my birthday when a magazine arrived in my letterbox. 4 pages of The Ever Dazzling! The magazine targets a Chinese readership, so I can't translate it for you, but it's mostly just little questions about my work and what I do with myself most of the time. It was a nice (and bizarre) way to round out my goals list, and I'll be making time soon to write out 21 new goals to knock over before I turn 22.

70

We had a surprise party for my Pa over the weekend. He wasn't even close to being surprised, but seemed to enjoy his day nonetheless. It's his real deal birthday today, the big 70. This is him, around 63 years ago, probably the saddest looking kid I've ever seen on a carousel. He's a little cheerier these days. Happy birthday, Pa.

A Boxful of Kittens

A box of kittens, in real life. Since when does that happen? Teeny-tiny, 3 week old, barely walking kittens. We've a vet nurse in our family and she's often rescuing poor abandoned animal souls. She's looking after these little mewing things until they're old enough to go to a new home. For all their unstable walking, they still managed to be speedy enough to avoid a focussed photo. Cheeky.