I spy my little eye, a bike made of wood

Off Cut Studio was created by Toronto local Cameron MacLean. Through his work as a furniture maker he comes across a continuous supply of small wood offcuts unsuitable for furniture. Over the last few years Cameron has developed a series of designs aimed at making use of these offcuts. They are largely inspired by clean and simple shapes, as well as an affinity for retro design. We're loving his bike accessories especially.  Check him out on the web:

 

shop: http://www.offcutstudio.etsy.com 

poppytalk handamde: off cut studio

In Depth With the Artist: A Quick Study

We love this new collection.  Longhand, a new line of paper goods from A Quick Study, is about making everyday things special through good design and interesting techniques. It's about making life a little more gracious and aesthetically pleasing, and making time to connect with each other and with ourselves.  Each card is hand-embroidered and inspired by a variety of stitch designs from around the world.  See more at Poppytalk Handmade this month or at the links below:

shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/aquickstudy

website: http://www.aquickstudyonline.com

twitter: http://www.twitter.com/aquickstudy

Show your love for Alabama and support the efforts of the American Red Cross to provide relief to those hit by the recent storms. $5 from your purchase will go directly to Alabama regional Red Cross chapters with the purchse of these cards.

In Depth With the Artist: Mr. Yen

Mr Yen was created in 2009 by Jonathan Chapman and is the name under which he creates customisable papercut artwork and professionally printed stationery products. With a passion for simplicity, practicality and beauty all products have been created with care and attention to detail.
The current Mr Yen stationery range consists of notebooks, notepads, note-cards, postcards and sketchbooks. The Mr Yen hand cut artwork range consists of customisable papercuts that make great personal gifts and presents and with each one being hand cut with a scalpel, no two are ever the same!
Mr Yen aims to make your life easier and simpler by giving you beautifully designed organisational products, with simplicity and practicality in mind. Visit his shop this month at Poppytalk Handmade.

shop: http://www.shop.mr-yen.com/

website: http://www.mr-yen.com/

facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MrYenPapercuts

twitter: http://twitter.com/mrYen

In Depth With the Artist: Heather Smith Jones

Using blue spruce, bamboo and cedar wood scrap from her husband's building projects, Kansas-based artist, Heather Smith Jones printed these cards by hand on her 1930's era Vandercook proof press. The wood scraps were planed and altered by her husband for Heather's printing purposes, and the inks she hand mixed in some of her favorite bright colors. See more of Heather's work in our market this month here.

Heather Smith Jones is an artist, arts educator, and author. In her drawings, paintings, and prints she uses primarily graphite, watercolor, and letterpress. Her work is represented by galleries nationwide and part of public and private collections across the globe. Her first book "Water Paper Paint, Exploring Creativity with Watercolor and Mixed Media" by Quarry Books was released Jan. 1, 2011.

Etsy shop: letterpress and prints - http://www.etsy.com/shop/hrsmithjones
Gallery store: original unframed paintings - http://hrsmithjones.bigcartel.com/

Website: http://www.heathersmithjones.com

 

In Depth With the Artist: Samantha French

Poppytalk Handmade participant and NYC-based artist Samantha French is having a solo exhibition coming up this spring with paintings from the pool at the Ace Hotel & Swim Club. The paintings will be up in a solo exhibition at the Left Bank Gallery in Essex, Connecticut from May 5 to June 14. Check out her beautiful work here and here.

Samantha French graduated from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design in 2005. Her paintings show a strong connection to her Minnesota lifestyle and memories. She currently resides and keeps a studio in New York City. 

"My current body of work is focused on swimmers underwater and above. Using vague yet consuming memories from my childhood summers spent immersed in the tepid lakes of northern Minnesota, I attempt to recreate the quiet tranquility of water and nature; of days spent sinking and floating, still and peaceful. These paintings are a link to my home and continual search for the feeling of the sun on my face and warm summer days at the lake. At the same time, I am drawn to an idealistic time before my own, where swim caps and wool swimsuits were commonplace. This combination of memory, observation and photography (old and new) has allowed me to preserve the transitory qualities of water and remembrance."

shop:        http://www.etsy.com/shop/SamanthaFrench?ref=hdr

website:   http://www.samanthafrench.com

facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Samantha-French-Art/144142035620915 

 

In Depth With the Artist: Fantasy Floorplans

Brandi of Fantasy Floorplans draws/drafts (by hand) fake floorplans of TV's most popular (and maybe not so popular) shows. Inspired by a book she was given, she started drawing floorplans at about the age of seven. Using old school drafting tools to produce her drawings such as a drafting table, parallel bars, vellum and triangles, Brandi takes a few liberties in the designs but has done her very best to preserve the most televised parts of these TV homes and businesses.  Visit her at our Mad March market here or online here.

shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/fantasyfloorplans

website: http://www.fantasyfloorplans.com

twitter: http://twitter.com/tvfloorplans

I Dream of Jeannie

The Brady Bunch

In Depth with the Artist: Flapper Girl

Flapper Girl's Christine Blystone spends most of her time either combing through vintage treasures at antique malls and thrift stores, or expressing her creativity through sewing, papercraft, and graphic design. She brings these two passions together with Flapper Girl, her line of cute, retro, and well-crafted designs that are inspired by fabulous second-hand treasures and life in lovely Portland, Oregon.

Her garland designs are the result of her endless fascination with, research into, and love of their subjects. Countless hours are spent collecting and assembling the perfect elements for each piece.

Each garland design is uniquely considered, elegant, and beautiful. Everything is hand-cut, hand-folded, and hand-glued. Her passion and dedication is evident in their small, unexpected details and craftsmanship, making them unique and delicate treasures.


The vintage cameras and lightfilters depicted in the above garland shown are from her personal collection, which were all photographed and edited by Christine.

See more of her work this month at Poppytalk Handmade or online:

shop:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/flappergirl

website: http://www.flappergirl.org

facebook: http://www.facebook.com/flappergirlcreations