Paris dreaming...

Beautiful image by: Strawberry Juice

I'm packing my bags for Paris! We'll just for the weekend anyway... it's my 30th Birthday on Sunday and as a treat my wonderful husband is taking me to Paris to celebrate! My wish was to sit on the steps of the Sacre Couer overlooking the Paris skyline while eating french cheese with crusty baguettes and drinking red wine. I'm a simple girl with simple pleasures (except that I wanted to go to Paris to do it of course)

So there will be a little break on blogging over the weekend while I take a well deserved rest! But come Monday I will be back at it. I have the latest Blanket issue to release on Wednesday and some new announcements to share with you all, so there's a definite mixture of excitement and apprehension in the air. I am so tempted to tell you now because I am awful at keeping things a surprise but it's not long now until I can share - so I will keep you guessing for a little while longer!

Have a beautiful weekend - I plan too!
xx

Show us your Blanket Poster!

One of the lucky winners of the Blanket Survey Prize Pack, Jasho, took a photo of his new Blanket Poster when it arrived for him in the post! It's lovely to see a poster go to such an appreciative home! The only hiccup was the poster arrived minus the badge pack that was included (apparently there was an appreciative postal worker as well?)

If you would like to show us your Blanket poster then email me a photo at: editor (at) blanketmagazine.com

And if you would like to join in the fun you can get a copy of the Blanket poster in the Blanket online store.
~Bec

Here's my work... Amy Wright

 

Can you tell us a little about the illustrations you submitted to Blanket
The illustrations featured in the Blue issue of Blanket, are taken from a developing series of ‘Triffid plants’. I have always had a fascination for flora and have spent many an hour drawing plants from life. As a trained Textile Designer, I have skills in turning these sketches into considered repeated patterns and placement prints. Taking influence from my design practice and a personal drive for truthful representation, I have challenged myself in the last year to step back from the plant specimen and experiment with a more fantastical exploration into plant forms, plant structure and the growth process. In saying such I have taken my botanical knowledge of plants and focused on the details, bringing together elements to create studies from my mind’s eye.

What inspires you to make art?
That’s a big question and one I find difficult to articulate. I have always created art in some form, whether it be painting, drawing, textiles, or working with sculptural forms. I can be inspired by a moment, a small textural detail, a colour, a pattern, science, everything and anything. It has never really been a conscious act. When I pick up a pen, something just comes out, almost of its own accord. The inspiration for the ‘Triffid plant’ series, was inspired my John Wyndham's novel ‘The Day of the Triffids’. If I had not created art I would be a Botanist. I am fascinated by the concept of plant life taking control and acting out against humans. We live our lives rarely giving consideration to how much flora sustains our existence. The Triffid series explores the concepts of genetics, survival or the fittest, and the mutations of species over time, a direct response to surviving against human arrogance and human actions. The resilience of plants is an inspiration. I find beauty in the colour, the form and the perfect composition of plant life. From total death and destruction, new life always forms. With the total obliteration of landscapes through the Victoria Bushfires, plant life will return to devastated landscapes, in so doing bringing hope to communities that their towns will rejuvenate. That first sprout of new life bursting through the surface brings me sense of joy, respect and love.



What would you like your art to express about you?
That I have a passion for detail and a desire to bring botanical art into a contemporary setting. I hope that my art allows people to take a moment and focus on those little details, and to appreciate the elements surrounding them, however trivial they may seem in the rush of our technological world. I would love it if someone walked away from one of my paintings with new sense of awareness of their place in our natural environment.

What have you learned from another artist lately? 
To let go of fear and explore new avenues. To stop questioning your own abilities, and have the drive and passion to leap into the void! There are several artists I have stumbled across, that are working in collage media. I find this very interesting; I see this as the ultimate challenge. I am inspired by the freedom of colour and freedom of line, unbridled imagination. To take something with one purpose, and transform it into something completely new and separate from its initial intent.

What do you like about the Blanket community?
The Blanket community is so diverse, and inspirational. Blanket Magazine gives creative people a vehicle to share their skills, and to be showcased in a professional manner to the masses. It is an outlet for talent, for hidden and secret idiosyncrasies of the underground art world.




To see more of Amy's work visit her blog The Painted Forest

Show us your Blanket Poster!

I know you have probably already seen this image before as I was totally in love with it... but I couldn't help posting it again as I just love the way she has styled it! It truly looks like it's straight from the pages of a magazine... I guess what else can you expect when it's in the hands of such a talented photographer as Natalie Jeffcott (who was also featured on the poster).

What you might not know about Natalie is when she is not photographing she actually runs Arthurs Circus in Melbourne, Australia which features lots of beautiful vintage toys, collectables, lighting, photography and art. If you can't get to the shop you can still let your inner child free by being a voyeur through her beautiful blog where you will see more examples of her beautifully styled photography.

If you would like to show us where you have your Blanket poster then email me a photo! Email me at: editor (at) blanketmagazine.com

And if you would like to join in the fun you can get a copy of the Blanket poster at the Blanket online store.
~Bec

Blanket Survey!

Wow! We've had an AMAZING response to our survey. Good on you all!

In fact I didn't really expect such a great response (in such a short amount of time!) so it was down for a while there BUT I have now upgraded the account so that we can collect some more responses. So I apologise if you already tried to fill it out and couldn't - but it's all up and running again so get yourself over there and tell us what you think! Click here!

I'm so excited to read all the feedback and I am simply buzzing with ideas... thank you all for your wonderful responses and ideas on what you would like to see! It's given me greater clarity on how to move forward and make Blanket bigger and better!! Thank you!
~Bec

We're Blue All Over!

Blanket Issue 14 is up and ready to download!

And while you wait in anticipation for your newest issue of Blanket to download why not fill in our Blanket survey and give us your feedback! You could also WIN 1of 5 Exclusive Blanket Prizes just for your trouble! Click here
In the BLUE issue:

• To celebrate my move to the UK we interview some local talent including our cover artist Allan Deas, as well as Gemma Correll and Edward McGowan.
• THE BLUE PROJECT: We ask six artists to interpret song lyrics. The results will surprise you!
• Blanket writer Jonathan Hulme investigates whether you really have to be a drunken, poverty stricken, depressed, wreck to produce great art.
• Jek shows us how to make use of our old blue jeans!
• We interview the man behind the scenes at Colourlovers.com
• We take a look at 6 emerging artists from The Shiny Squirrel.
• Re_action - see how our readers reacted to this issues theme!
• Get your FREE Blanket 2009 Wall Planner

Enjoy the new issue!
~Bec

Blanket ad spots for $15!

That's right! There's only a few spots left in the next issue (due out on February 1st!) and I want to fill them...
So if you would like to take up this super fantastic offer then email me back right away!
spendmoney (at) blanketmagazine.com

Classified Ad specifications :
53mm (w) x 66mm (h) @ 300dpi RGB, JPEG or PDF
Name Files: firstname_lastname.jpg

Blanket needs advertisers!

3 consecutive Blanket Classified ads for just $75!

Blanket relies heavily on advertising to keep us going - without it we can't afford to keep the magazine free for everyone to enjoy.

I understand that we are all finding it tough with the credit crunch... so with that in mind Blanket is offering 3 consecutive ads in Blanket (that's 6 months worth of advertising!) at a reduced rate of $75! The deadline is fast approaching - January 20th - so all you need to do is send us your artwork!

So if you are interested (or know of anyone who you think might benefit from exposure to thousands of creative individuals) let them know!

If you would like more info or our fancy Blanket Media Kit contact me at: spendmoney@blanketmagazine.com
~ Bec

2009 New Years Resolutions!

Every year I make them and break them! But I have a feeling 2009 is going to be my year! So here's a list of what I have decided to accomplish in 2009!

Read a book once a month
I spend so much time on the internet I feel like I am constantly reading something - but there's nothing like getting a book from the library. I love that musty book smell and that used feeling from all those people who have read it before you. Maybe a tiny mark or a dog eared page - or even sometimes underlined passages from someone who was inspired by a sentence. I have found and printed out a list of '50 books to read before you die' and I've just received my new library card in the mail so I am going to slowly tick my way through them!

Practice Yoga
Not only does sitting on a computer all day give me very bad posture but I am hoping to win the fight against my genes. My great aunt is 82 and has a hump and I'm hoping it's not something I will inherit. I have made this resolution every year for the past 5 years but this time I bought a yoga mat and everything!

Go to Life Drawing Classes
I have a constant steam of inspiring artwork being sent to my inbox everyday and to tell you the truth it's a little daunting. There's some talented people out there and I haven't picked up a pencil for a long time - in fact I was never really very good at drawing. I did want to be the next Leonardo da Vinci when I was growing up but I learned very quickly that this was not a very realistic prospect for me. Which is why I took up photography instead - no drawing involved. But I'm determined to give it a go this year.

Keep Blanket Going
It's a struggle sometimes I have to be honest but I'm hoping that 2009 is going to be Blanket's year! I'm working on the theory that if you envision big things then big things will come!

Anyone else got some New Years resolutions to inspire us? Please post a comment.
~ Bec

Highway to hell...

My car on fire... (I had saved my camera from the car so I took these images)

Stopping traffic... literally!

When I decided to start up the blog again, the intention was to give people an insight into what goes on behind the scenes. I never thought it would be this dramatic... I posted recently about how my Dad and I had been working really hard to assemble all the Blanket Posters ready for our fundraising effort for Blanket. Well, only two days later, with more than 350 new posters ready to go, I loaded up my station wagon with boxes and set off down the highway for the two-hour drive to Melbourne. I was over half-way when my car started to decelerate quickly, the instruments on the dashboard flapped weirdly and a blue warning light flashed on. I pulled to the side of the road and then noticed smoke streaming from the bonnet. I leapt out of the car and flagged down passing motorists. Although one man produced a fire extinguisher, it was no good - the car was quickly ablaze and, within 15 minutes, was reduced to a smoking shell.

Firefighters extinguishing the car...

My car being taken away on a tow truck
You can see from the pictures how lucky I was to get out without any injuries. I was grateful that passing motorists stopped to help me, managing to save some of my belongings from my car before it all went up. Luckily for me, the first thing I saved was my laptop, which contains all of Blanket (and therefore my life!) As my hard drive was also in the car, I would have lost everything. Unfortunately I couldn't save the boxes of Blanket posters, as we were concerned the car would explode. Sadly they just fuelled the fire even more : (
Although I lost a few possessions, and all the hard work by Dad and myself, I'm lucky that I was able to save anything at all.


The aftermath... 


...and all that was left of my Blanket Posters : (
For a few days afterwards, I was in shock and feeling sorry for myself. This was a major blow and setback for me, especially as the posters were meant to be used as a fundraiser to help me continue producing Blanket. 

A couple of days later, I woke up to find a huge pile of folded posters. My Dad had been up for hours folding them!! The sight rallied me and we spent the next couple of days folding and glueing more posters. It was a great chance for us to bond as we sat chatting and assembling the posters and it made me realise how lucky I am to have such a supportive family.

So I'm happy to say we are now we're back on track for our Blanket fundraising effort - the posters will be available in the shop to buy - so if you love Blanket then please support us by buying a poster (and rewarding all my Dad's hard work!)
~ Bec

Blanket Badges!

I must be crazy! At the last minute I decided that we needed to have some more Blanket badges in the store. So with less than 2 weeks to go before my big move I've been busy preparing to get some more badges printed. A big thanks to Paul from BandBadges.com who has very kindly agreed to rush them through for me! And a special thanks to all the amazing re_action artists I contacted who have agreed to take part! I can't wait to see them all packaged and in the Blanket store... I will let you know when they're up!
~ Bec

The Production Line!

So the rush is on... I have only a few days before I move overseas to the UK and I have hundreds of posters to fold, glue and pack before I go! It makes me want to cry every time I look at the big pile of posters and how many more I have to assemble. Thankfully my Dad helped me out the other day folding them while I glued. It made the process a little faster - even though I had to keep stopping and showing Dad how to fold them properly (he kept folding them the wrong way!). I now have 6 boxes packed and ready to go for our Blanket fundraising effort... phew!
~ Bec

Welcome to the Blanket Blog!

Yes it's back again! The Blanket Blog was on hiatus for a while as I was completely overwhelmed by running Blanket magazine by myself - but thankfully I have lots of lovely contributors who help me out now so I thought it was time to bring it back!
Mostly it will be updates on what's happening in my Blanket world. Hopefully you will enjoy having a little insight into what happens at Blanket. We also aim to bring you the latest and greatest in art, design and photography so we will be including any upcoming exhibitions, artist interviews and folios, websites, products and basically anything else that takes our fancy! We might even have a few guest bloggers to inspire you!

If you would like to contribute to our blog you can email: editor(at)blanketmagazine.com
~ Bec