Looking for inspiration...

Did you know that we are also on Pinterest? We joined when we started noticing people pinning our pictures on to their 'For baby...' or 'Love this!' boards.

Ever since we've become a little addicted. We find it a great place for inspiration, in fact we even have a board dedicated to inspiration!

Here Anna & I collect images, places, people and artwork that inspires us! We search the web on a regular basis looking for that extra special something to add to our u-ni-k family, and sometimes we find something that we can't add to our family (it's owned by someone else for instance) so we 'pin it' to our board

 This painting by Goro Fujita is wonderful, it inspires me to think out of the box. Who says little girls are afraid of monsters that live under the bed? This little girl certainly isn't and they're teaming up to read after lights out... a match made in heaven. I love this picture, the more I look at it the more I notice and the more I love it.

 This picture is from an unknown source (which makes me a little sad as I'd like to be able to credit the photographer or owner of these lovely animals). It inspires me to treat all little creatures with kindness, sometimes we forget how much taller we are than those smaller ones around us. Without a little tenderness we could be imposing, so this picture inspires me to try to be a little less imposing to smaller people.

This picture is my idea of heaven, books, peace, quiet, comfort, writing desk, surrounded by warm, worn wood.
Just wonderful.


















We have these pins and many more over at our Pinterest site. Why now come over and check out some of the things we have found? Follow us for Inspiration or Mummy humour!

http://pinterest.com/unikgiftsllp/

Monday maker - inspiration for Sarah Davies

Sarah - Inspiration

Where do you find creative inspiration?

In my Daughter, Kathryn. I love seeing how she plays with her toys and the imaginative world she creates for them. I also love Purl Bee and their amazing array of natural fibres to knit with. I have a Pinterest account that keeps me inspired at all the talented people out there.

Which blogs or magazines do you read regularly and would you count as an inspirational read?

The only magazine I read on a regular basis is the RHS garden magazine, and when I say “regularly” I have 4 unopened ones here looking to be read! I don't have much reading time as a Mum, maker and small business entrepreneur. I of course read the u-ni-k blog on a regular basis!

What makes you different, what inspires you to create unique pieces?

I think I differ from everyone else by thinking of the person who is going to want to play with my creations before I start any! Everyone else looks for a pattern and then probably follows that pattern to the letter. I start by thinking about the textures and feeling that would interest a small child, my squishies are especially designed to have different textures on each arm / leg to that no two are the same. I also think about how dirty play can become (mine has used her's to clean the floor!) but how heartbroken the little one can be in the time it needs to become clean again. So natural fibres like a bamboo / cotton mix is soft on the hand and can be machine washed & tumble dried. I think of all of these design aspects before even picking up my knitting needles!

Many of my designs have come from necessity, something my Daughter wouldn't mind wiping her mouth / dribbles with... the bamboo soft mice - something that could do the job, be easily washed and create a fun activity out of an everyday occurrence. Dribble mice were the obvious answer... squeak squeak... can the mice eat those crumbs?!

My little one had very sensitive skin, so wool was out. I had to look for alternatives, and I went to unravel at the Farnham Maltings, and hey presto... the really soft stuff was bamboo! Who knew?!

I'm currently making a bunny, one of the Bert Bunnies... because here at u-ni-k 

www.unikgifts.co.uk

Monday mentor.... Jason Lee

As readers of the blog know my project this year is to improve my photography skills. I've covered the basics in earlier blogs and I'm practicing everyday. However I am many years away from the skill of this creative Dad.

You've probably seen one of his photo's posted as a 'Friday Funny' or as an email sent around to other weary parents. This is because Jason Lee's photography of his two Daughters is staged in such a way that the humour of being a parent and sibling is the story of the photo!

I think this is the iconic photograph of his Daughters we have all seen:

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/jwlphotography/2813483050/in/set-72157601226547132/)

Although my favourite has to be:

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/jwlphotography/2349491462/in/set-72157601226547132)

Jason Lee is actually a wedding photographer, the photos of his Daughters is part of his blog and Flickr stream. He lives in the USA and travels all over the states taking beautiful drawings.

I heartily recommend following Kristina&Kyla on Facebook, Jason on Flickr and taking a look at JWL Photography's website. Jason is a very talented artist that would inspire anyone, especially a parent with a camera.

Jason on Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/jwlphotography/
Kristina&Kyla on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/kristinandkayla
The Blog - http://kristinandkayla.blogspot.co.uk/

JWL Photography - http://jwlphotography.com/

Hope you've enjoyed the talents of Jason Lee.

Sarah
http://www.unikgifts.co.uk