Pikaland

Giant Sparrows

I was looking to customize my iPhone cover but was frustrated when a popular online print-and-ship place refused to add my country to its shipping list. It turns out that they don’t send to where I am (nor are they planning to anytime soon), to which I am doubly annoyed – international shipping should be a basic requirement if you’re aiming to go global.

So, imagine my joy when Giant Sparrows rolled up. And if you’ve been having the same frustrations that I’m having, then you’re in luck. The UK-based company ships everywhere, and they’ve made customizing your own case a breeze. They are selling a few cases from artists already, but of course if you’re not into looking at other people’s work and instead would like to put up your own, then you’ve got it made.

If you want to try them out, they’re lopping off 20% from your order if you enter the code PIKALAND2012 during checkout. (It’s only for 100 of you, so hurry!)

p/s— They also have cases for Blackberry phones and Samsung phones; not just iPhones! You can see if your phone is covered right here.

Artist’s covers above from left: Katsushika Hokusai, Mia Christopher, Gustav Klimt

Naomi Wilkinson

Happy Monday folks!

I’ve featured one of Naomi Wilkinson’s illustrations before here in the Pinning for Pikaland post, but I really wanted to show you more from this freelance illustrator based in Bristol. Love the colors and the play on patterns and scale in her pieces!

And great news – she just opened up an Etsy shop!

Review: Tucked in

I have to admit that Meredith Gaston’s illustrations caught my eye when I first laid eyes on Tucked In – her first solo book that’s filled with lovely illustrations from cover to cover.

Published by Penguin Australia, the book is suitable for all ages – from kids to adults who enjoy the art of bedding down. Now, I had to do a bit of googling as to what is “doona” (the title is Tucked In: For Everyone Having a Doona Day), and it turns out it’s a term you use if you can’t face getting out of bed, or if you need a sick day – and it’s a term mostly used by Aussies (and hardly anywhere else it seems!) That’s where the geographic reference ends though, because the book is all about getting down and comfortable for sleep time, no matter if you’re in Australia or the UK!

The bed was my companion when I wasn’t getting enough sleep (and no amount of tea or counting of sheep helped!) I found myself oogling over the illustrations more than the book itself, if I were to be honest. But the topics covered are quite interesting – there’s topics that cover preparing for bed, picking out a nightwear, preparing a sleep-inducing meal, a dream dictionary, and a lot of interesting facts about bedtime. There’s even poems, lullabies, crafty instructions for knitting your own teacup cozy — it’s all quite a ritual!

I love the book – it’s a very relaxed, whimsical book that would make a great gift for those who are bed-bound, unwell or perhaps even those who are expecting a baby (I’m sure there are some who might need a lot more time in bed – before and after the bundle of joy arrives!) I’m having a tough time trying to find a link to it online, so you might want to bug your local bookstore for a copy, just in case. Here’s the ISBN number: 978-1-921382-38-3.