BARBARA HULANICKI for Topshop

One of Barbara's designs for Topshop

I have often daydreamed of browsing the big Biba store picking up deco inspired dresses, turbans and marabou feather Boas as I please, so upon hearing the news BARBARA HULANICKI is to design a collection for Topshop my day dream could become just a little bit real.

Here is the article featured in the telegraph magazine this weekend.

" Designed by Barbara Hulanicki of Biba fame, Topshop’s new designer collection includes body-con dresses and palazzo pants plastered with supersize animal prints; wide-leg catsuits with cutaway shoulders (a Hulanicki trademark), cute, printed silk chiffon blouses and three-quarter-sleeve suede jackets. Given that this is the woman behind the cult label largely considered to have defined the Swinging Sixties and louche Seventies, the collection looks set to rock the late Noughties. Barbara Hulanicki’s 20-piece collection will be available nationwide from April 20. Prices from £20-£120"

My mum owns a seventies Biba dress which is gorgeous but alas I am going to have to loose some weight if it's ever to fit me, I'll put some of my biba images up at a later date.

One plea I have is that I hope Topshop don't schrimp on the fabric quality as they often do with these collaberations.

Barbie's 50th Birthday

I don't think that I've ever purchased a copy of the telegraph before but at the weekend I noticed the it's magazine peeking out from the paper in my local newsagagents. It had the most amazing cover featuring a huge crop of the first Barbie in her black and white swimsuit. I had to buy it!! Inside was an article all about Barbie's 50 year rein, some good some bad but all together very interesting.

I loved Barbie as a child, I wanted to carry on playing with them till I was at least 11, I think my mum had to tell me to stop.... Perhaps it explains my fascination with drawing doll faced girls.

As well as sharing the cover with you I thought I'd also share some interestings facts:

Barbie was based on a German doll called Bild Lili, Lilli was based on a prostitute from a German adult cartoon!!!

Barbie has 12 hairdressers and 50 designers, lucky girl!

Barbie has so far tackled more than 100 careers ranging from air stewardess to palaeontologist, aerobics instructor to Marine Corps sergeant.

Barbie’s designers have included Armani, Givenchy, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Dior, Versace and Vivienne Westwood.

If Barbie were a real person her measurements would be 38-18-34, her legs are 50 per cent longer than her arms (it’s 20 per cent for the average human), which means she would be unable to walk. Her feet are so small that the weight of her chest would tip her on to her toes. To look like Barbie, a real woman would need to be 2ft taller, take 6in off her waist, add 5in to her bust and 3in to her neck.

....and to her half-centenary, global events will include 50 designers presenting Barbie-inspired clothes at next month’s New York Fashion Week.

I actually have the 80's remake of the cover featured doll, picked her up for 20p at a car boot sale... I want an original though, her hair is much cooler!

My Christmas

Christmas card I made for my boyfriend

Fabulous Lea Stein brooch he gave me

Russian Dolls from Dad

My pressies from everyone 

Russian Dolls, Art of looking sideways, Mark Ryden book, Vintage Bobby Pins, Singing farm animals, Jon Burgerman Posca pens, Poodle brooch, Moleskin diary, Sixties Design

Christmas Vegetable Nativity

Yummy mince pies baked by Joe, mmmm

Christmas birds

Merry Pin ups

I did these a little while ago but completely forgot about them.... upon opening my sketch book I remembered them, so here they are. I think I'm going to carry on this style for a while.

Esty shop reopened

Hello, 

I have reopened my Etsy shop just in time for Christmas, get your prints while you can! :-) I will be adding new prints too so keep chacking back!

Matrioshka Russian dolls for Vogue Russia

A bunch of top end designers have designed these gorgeous Russian dolls for Vogue Russia's up coming Birthday.

I adore Russian dolls, I have thought about painting my own set before, I also wanted to do this with Kokeshi dolls, maybe I should....

Here are some of my faves:

Emilio Pucci
























Dolce and Gabbanna























Marni

Whimsical Favourites

1. did I dream it?, 2. Coming Up Roses, Harper's Bazaar by Solve Sundsbo, 3. Untitled, 4. dance of the flower, 5. Showgirl Clowns, 6. Tim Walker - Tales of the Unexpected, 7. german cutie on piano, 8. Untitled, 9. Untitled

The Incredibly Talented Klaus Haapaniemi

I discovered Klaus Haapaniemi's Illustrations via the British Vogue December Issue as I mentioned in the previous post. I thought I'd post some of his illustrations for your viewing pleasure, including the Vogue Story time. To view more of his work go here.

Fantastic Vogue

To be honest I'm not a regular buyer of Vogue, occasionally I get it if it has some pretty photo shoots to inspire my drawing but this month I was really blown away. It was actually whilst sipping my Marshmellow topped Mocha visiting the boyfriends family in Ramsgate that I picked up Decembers copy of British Vogue and began to flick through the pages.

Adorning the front cover was a gorgeous shot of Kate Moss in a silk tulle dress that took up the space of 3 pages, also the typography is adorable, the word 'Fantastic' is made up of Circus tents, wings and puppet hands. This issue of Vogue is forgetting It bags, serviceable coats, investment buys and instead embracing how extraordinary things can be. My favourite spread has to be the Tim Walker photo shoot ' Tales of the Unexpected' which inspiration is drawn from the magical world of Roald Dahl, as you may know I'm already a big fan. I also love the Story Time spread which features 4 short stories illustrated by the extremely talented Klaus Haapaniemi.

If Vogue was like this every month I may even consider a subscription!

Quinny