View from the Zoo

Montrealer Melanie Favreau has a great sense of humour that can be seen in her sterling silver jewelry that she sells on Etsy and on Supermarket.  «Everyday things that are around me inspire me, says Melanie Favreau, like those plastic tags on breadbags.» Among my favorites are the owls, top, and the heart, not the usual shaped heart, but a real one with the arteries with an inscription in latin that reads «From the bottom of my heart» (Ab Imo Pectore - see below).

 Why owls?
«When I started selling on Etsy I noticed that it was a popular theme- everyone was doing them. So I started with my Sweet Owls, followed by my Crazy Owls in resin and most recently the Three Musketeers series (top image). I didn’t think they would sell so fast! Now I have to rush to make more for Christmas! The latest thing is moustaches. I don’t know why they are popular but I find the trend very funny.»

Melanie is also part of the EtsyQ team - a group of Quebec artists on Etsy and they are having a great giveaway worth over 200$. You have until the 29th of November to participate. 

Congratulations to Darby the dachshund for having won her elections today. He she was Moira’s mascot for the presidential race this week. You can have your dog’s portrait done up like this by contacting Moira or order a «Hope Dachshund for Obama» print at her Etsy shop. Gotta love those stripes!

I do relate to this bear who seems ready to hibernate. With shorter days everyone could use a bit of light therapy and a caffeine boost. The illustration was published this morning in La Presse (Montreal) on the cover of the health section accompanying a couple of articles on the effects of the time/season change and how to deal with the four o’clock energy slump that many of us suffer from.  I rather enjoyed doing the tribute to fifties’ designer George Nelson’s sunny Ball clock and figuring out how to draw the cabin-chic wood panelling in the background.

More great news! My designs are now available as greeting cards, business cards and stickers on moo.com, a dynamic young printing company based in London, England. You choose the designs you want, mine (preferably), someone else’s (I am in very good company) or even your own (your travel photos, for example), drop and crop them on the products you want and place your order.  I love the quality of their printing, their range of products and their choice of artists (besides me!). Even the packaging of the cards are neat.