Mien Clothing

I love to stumble across new and unique brands...and it's even better when someone I know has started it.  Sarah Morton started Mien with her boyfriend Tom during the summer as a mini project.  Tom's graphic design makes for some quirky illustrations, whilst Sarah creates bold prints and photography orientated t-shirts.

Sarah's Godzilla and Tree Designs

Tom's Peekaboo and Zulu Designs

Each of their t-shirts is screen printed by hand and would make fantastic gifts.  They are currently hoping to rebrand so all Mien branded t-shirts are on sale from as little as £5...hand designed and hand printed for a fiver is a bargain I think, especially when you won't be seeing anyone else walking down the street wearing one. They're in the process of creating a website but currently sell via Facebook and sporadically eBay.  Simply email them on mienclothing@hotmail.com to say hello or to order.

Nadia Flower: Fragile yet Striking

Nadia Flower's is, without doubt, an amazing illustrator. I discovered her a few years back whilst in my second year of university and keep coming back to her time and time again. I must admit to often being drawn to solely computerised illustration, possibly because that's the kind I do more than any other, however this makes me want to take out my pencil again.

The drawings are fluid, delicate, almost fragile...but there is something so striking about them. I think it's the way they are confident, strong in graphic style and absolutely wonderful in general.

See her portfolio at the Illustration website...where I first discovered her.

Kazuki Takamatsu: Ghostly Graphics

Kazuki Takamatsu takes ghostly to a new level with these beautiful, elegant graphics.  Ethereal and enticing they remind me of ice sculptures, perfectly formed and enticing.  According to Today and Tomorrow they are painted with gouache but other sites from Popwhore to Trendhunter don't seem to understand how exactly they've been done.  Guess Takamatsu won't be sharing any time soon if it's got all these people talking...

I bloody love Darren Firth

I look at the work of lots of illustrators.  Not only because it interests me but because it became a habit.  Illustration was a key part of my work at uni.  Whilst I can dabble on Photoshop as well as the next person in my class (but never as well as Sophie Power...the girl's a genius with a mouse) I loved creating something from scratch.  I rarely do this on my own, I usually adapt photograhs/sketches etc into illustrations.

It doesn't matter what work I find though I bloody love Darren Firth.  His work stands out time and time again.  If you don't know who this man his just look at some of this...

...these pictures of from the book Fashion Identity, which I love.  It's not a new book, it was released in 2007, you can keep updated with him though on his website "Keep Me Sane".  I was surprised to see many other pieces of work that are more stereotypically commerical/professional.  It reminded me what the real world is like and the fact that because you're a designer (of any kind!) does not mean you always get to be extremely creative.

I think maybe I should start getting involved with design again.  I'm looking for a new creative project.  Other than my writing that is, as my 'book' is 5000 frivilous and probably rubbish words to the trained eye.  Maybe I should make Katie read them.  After all...I MAY have almost finished the first chapter.