A Book of Wonder

This is one of those books you really don't need but it's so nice to have on the shelf! I like the typeface on the glittery cover but it's very hard to read except from a certain angle! A Book of Wonder is a kind of illustrated encyclopedia of collected wonders of the world. People from the UK and around the world wrote things that they think are somehow amazing or wonderful. The book was designed by graphic design studio Kerr Noble and I think they did a fantastic job. I especially like the decorative drop capitals at the start of each section and the almost childlike doodles by James and James. I love how random the things are that people have come up with for the book! 

For example:

  Bunny. When I am on the train on my way to work I know it's going to be a good day if I see a bunny in the field. Holly, recruitment consultant, London. 

Sea Horses. The only species that I know of where the male becomes pregnant. Debbie Roberts, helpdesk administrator, Leicester.

Wine. Glug, glug, glug. Oliver Reynolds, amateur viticulturalist, London.

Mauri Kunnas

Mauri Kunnas' books are very well known in Finland and I'm not surprised! He does mostly children's books and I still enjoy reading them, probably because of the humour and his illustrations which are amazing! There are so many details in most of the illustrations that you can look at them for ages and always find a small character in a corner somewhere that you hadn't noticed before. Most of the characters are dogs but there is also for example a sleepwalking goat called Mr Hakkarainen who never really has a role in the stories but you can always spot him sleepwalking in the most random places!
More about Mauri Kunnas : www.maurikunnas.net

Natural Fashion

These photographs are from Hans Silvester's book 'Natural Fashion, Tribal Decoration fron Africa'. Hans Silvester photographed members of two African tribes, Surma and Mursi from East Africa's Omo Valley. Instead of crafts or architecture these people express their artistic sense by using their own bodies as canvases and decorate themselves using flowers, leaves and branches or anything else they can find. This is so inventive! Not only have they created fashion for themselves but they've also painted their faces to complete the look. Designers everywhere in the world (especially fashion designers) could learn a lot from these tribes! And creating these looks like a lot of fun too!

"Inspired by the wild trees, exotic flowers and lush vegetation of the area bordering Ethiopia, Kenya and Sudan, these tribal people have created looks that put the most outlandish creations of Western catwalk couturiers to shame.

Here, a leaf or root is transformed into an accessory. Instead of a scarf, a necklace of banana leaves is draped around a neck. In place of a hat, a tuft of grass is jauntily positioned.

A garland of flowers, a veil of seed-pods, buffalo horn, a crown of melons, feathers, stems and storks - Mother Nature has provided a fully stocked wardrobe.

Like a dressing-up chest brimming over with costumes and make-up (paint created with pigments from powdered stone), the natural environment is the source for this glorious jungle pantomime."

The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy

The Girl Who Turned into a Bed

It happened that day
she picked up a strange pussy willow.
Her head swelled up white
and a soft as a pillow.

Her skin, which had turned
all flaky and rotten,
was now replaced
with 100% cotton.

Through her organs and torso

she sprouted like wings,

a beautiful set

of matress and springs.

It was so terribly strange
that I started to weep.
But at least after that
I had a nice place to sleep

The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy & Other Stories is an illustrated book of poetry by Tim Burton I recently read. He has created a variety of new freakish characters such as Stain Boy, Anchor Baby and The Pin Cushion Queen. Most of the 23 tales in the book are quite tragic or even sad but Tim Burton's humour makes it ok. All illustrations in the book are also by Tim Burton. You can read some of the poems here!