Film Noir Typography
I love old movies, particularly Film Noir. Here are some screenshots from DVDs in my collection – all of these are great films.
In other news… I’ve finally succumbed to the inevitable – yes, Facebook. I’ve had a page for ages, but never updated it. I’ve now spruced it up & created a Magic Jelly page too, where I’ll link to any major news & updates that I write about here on my blog, as well as post some other random bits & pieces. If you haven’t had enough of me already, come & say hi…like me…be my friend…or subscribe! You’ll find me here, & my Magic Jelly page here (I’ll update my sidebar & footer to include my Facebook links soon).
The Shanghai Gesture, 1941
Shadow of a Doubt, 1943
Scarlet Street, 1945
Detour, 1945
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Ladies Home Journal: January 1949
Fabulous vintage advertising & typography from 63 years ago…
Left: Jell-O. Right: Cashmere Bouquet.
Left: Blue Ribbon Bakeware. Right: The Spool Cotton Co. needlework books.
Left: Gibson Refrigerators. Right: Speed Queen laundry equipment.
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Vegan Cauliflower & Almond Lasagne
I’ve been making a cauliflower (sometimes broccoli), almond & chili pasta sauce for years. I used to load it with parmesan cheese & cream, but here I’ve veganised it & turned it into a lasagne. The crumbed topping is my very favourite cheese alternative for gratins & other bakes, stuffed vegetables, & even pizza. It gives the salty, savoury yumminess that cheese provides, with the added bonus of some texture & crunch. I think it’s much more delicious than gloopy ol’ cheese! You can alter the flavours for different recipes, adding lemon zest, cayenne pepper, basil instead of parsley – whatever you like.
This recipe is simple enough, but a little time consuming (as lasagne can be), so it’s more of a special occasion dish. The lasagne is served on a puddle of garlicky tomato sauce, & although it’s an extra step that you might not want to bother with, it’s really worth it, because the creamy lasagne is complimented so well by the tangy, fresh tomatoes. You can whip the marinara sauce up quickly while the lasagne is in the oven. Recipe below…
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Sneak Peek: Packaging
I hope you’re all having a nice, relaxing Easter weekend. It’s a windy ol’ Good Friday ’round these parts; I pity anyone attempting a picnic! A quiet day at home for me. I’ve been working on my jewellery packaging (as you can see from the pics) & now I’m done with that for now, it’s time to go & bake some cinnamon scrolls with pecans & cranberries (in lieu of hot cross buns – vegan ones are tricky to come by) & perhaps get in a little sofa time & watch some DVDs. I’ve been thinking of re-watching Atonement because I saw another Ian McEwan adaptation on the teev the other day, Enduring Love, which I really enjoyed. The beginning was so haunting, it’s still stuck in my head! Has anyone seen it? I do love Atonement, but you’ve got to be in a buoyant mood because it’s so terribly sad!
Anyway, here are some sneak peeks at my jewellery packaging. I’m rather happy with it! I’ve posted so many photos because none of them really do these enticing little boxes justice – there’s something very tactile & pick-up-able about them. The designs are influenced a little by vintage matchboxes & mid-20th century Chinese apothecary labels, as well as 1930s-40s beauty products. The boxes have a genuinely vintage look, in part due to my paper choice, which is made to emulate old, faded butcher paper. It has a lovely sheen & feel. For once, I could make my designs unashamedly girly because the products are solely for we gals. Sorry chaps, I might do some tiepins & cufflinks in future!
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A Handmade Gift
I made this picture frame for Stevie’s birthday. I’ve had it in mind as something I’d like to make for my shop, so this is the prototype I suppose. He seemed to really like it, so that’s good! I aimed to mix my recent delftware interest with my love of Mexican cigar boxes – & this is the result!
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Jewellery Sneak Peek
I thought I’d show you what I’m making today. Here are some pieces from a range of jewellery destined for my shop, waiting to be sealed within resin & made all shiny & gem-like. I’ve already shown you this bracelet from my folk art inspired range, these blue & white designs are influenced (as you might have guessed!) by Delftware. I wanted to do a woodland theme, but not the usual suspects such as bears & rabbits. I finished the swan the other day (I’m quite happy with it!) & I’m currently drawing weasels for yet another addition to The Woodlanders range. You might have noticed the little weasel I drew for this calendar – I thought he was so cute I just knew another weasel would pop up soon enough. These pieces are quite large – 55x43mm (2.15×1.7 inches) – & I’m making them into pendants & cuff bracelets (the little hearts top-right are for matching rings). I like larger jewellery myself, but I’m also making some dainty-sized pieces too. I’ve had friends & family road testing my jewellery for about a year now, & it’s great to see it stand up to the rigors of every day wear & tear such as grabby toddlers. Nicest of all is hearing reports back of the compliments my jewellery has received!
If you’d like to be notified when my shop is open & my jewellery is for sale, you might like to subscribe to my newsletter, which you can do to your right, via my sidebar sign up form, at the foot of the page, via my contact page, or by checking a little box when you comment on a post.
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From the Archives: Children’s Dictionary
I went to a secondhand book sale yesterday with Mark & Stevie, & this is one of the treasures I bought – a children’s pictorial dictionary from about the late 1940s-early 1950s. I love that it’s Australian & features some familiar images, such as the galah I included in my montage below & the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Stevie spotted the book first & knew I’d love it because of the incredible endpapers (above). I love the vivid colours & the weird juxtaposition of images.
Mark also found an amazing design book from the 1950s for me – I’ll show you some pictures of that one another time. It’s nice to rummage at book sales with friends who can keep an eye out for things you’ll love!
In other news, I was interviewed for The Finders Keepers blog recently, where I talked a little about my influences & work process. If you’re interested, you can read it here.
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Tofu Paneer Kulcha Recipe
Tofu Paneer Kulcha
Don’t you just love stuffed things? Stuffed breads, dumplings, vegetables, etc? I think it’s the element of surprise, like unwrapping a present. In the last couple of weeks I’ve made pierogies for the very first time, stuffed with mushrooms & Boursin-style cream “cheese” (recipe for the cheese is here – this truly is the best vegan cream cheese I’ve ever tasted), a glazed seitan roast with lemon, basil & cashew stuffing (so good thinly sliced on sandwiches), & I also attempted a veganised Paneer Kulcha, which might not be the most authentic version, but they are delicious, so I thought I’d share my recipe. Mine turned out a little thinner than they’re supposed to be, but I didn’t mind that actually. The bread is light, flaky & tender & the tofu “cheese” is flavoured with cumin, fresh coriander (cilantro), chilli & onion. Yum! Recipe after the jump.
Mushroom Pierogies with Dill Cream
Peanut Noodle Salad (recipe here)
