japanese craft book for swap and artists that inspire me

I just love being part of Illustration Friday  - it always gives me a little thrill when I read a comment from someone saying that like what I have done and then I follow the link to their page and see their extraordinary talent. And they have taken the time to not only look at my sketch but comment as well! Thank you ,thank you it really does spur me on...especially when this weeks "fat" topic was done while I was feeling rather ill and Charlie was playing at being Dr Jekyll /Mr Hyde baby. She's been that way for the last week - admiitedly she's had some dreadful throwing up/ upset tummy bug and hasn't eaten a decent meal in that time so she's feeling pretty crappy. At least fingers crossed that's what it is because if it's a stage my darling Cha's going through, it had better be a short lived one for all of our sakes!

Here are just some of the wonderful illustration sites I've come across via Illustration Friday .
Marjorie Ann  has the most exquisite sketches and (I think) watercolour images that I have seen for a long time at Maejeak Ann and there are English translations as well so you can have the full experience. French toast girl  is another great source of artistic inspiration..at the moment she is doing an illustration for every day in May - I can't begin to tell you the stress that this would cause me although I'd love to try it one month......a challenge for June maybe, then again  May 2008 is looking promising !
One that I linked to from another craft blog is kitty genius - I loved her illustrations so much that I had to go straight to her  Etsy shop and buy two...I can't wait for them to arrive and have I mentioned how much I love this Internet shopping thing...add to cart , boom , and it"s all mine! Dangerous stuff indeed.
Now for anyone that is interested, I have a lovely collection of Japanese craft books which I will list and make notes about on one of those wonderful days when I have nothing else to do - however in my blissed out shopping state I have managed to order TWO of the same book! It is one of the Handmade Zakka books and has some lovely projects  especially for those of you with a baby/about to have a baby/know a baby/ or know someone with a baby! That would cover just about all of us, I guess. Let's see- some beautiful baby bibs and shoes, a wonderful wall pocket for all those bits and pieces,some inspired knit/fabric cot blankets, cushions and bags just to mention a few. It's in mint never been used condition and is up for swaps for the first person to email me. I'll leave the actual swap content up to them as I love a surprise.....here's the cover  so that you can check that you don't already have it....on its way to a new home!

Comments

[nichola]

I'll swap with you if it hasn't already been taken.

[christina]

i know the book is gone but where do you pick them up at? i know of this site http://www.kitty-craft.com/ and that it about it.