nine MEETS VOGUE

Before anyone gets ahead of themselves here....this is obviously

not a real cover - nor was it commissioned by anyone at Vogue.

(I wish!)

It's actually just something that i've been slowly working away

on for the last two months

- ever since I saw the cover of US Vogue's November 2009 issue -

featuring the girls from the upcoming movie musical Nine;

Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz and Marion Cotillard.

I'm sure most of you have already guessed (correctly) that I pretty much

exploded with excitement upon seeing the cover, but what got me super

inspired was the behind-the-scenes video of the cover shoot

with Annie Leibovitz, which i've posted here:

Personally, I ADORE the November cover, but what I couldn't get over

was just how stunning all of the women looked, the beauty of the location

and the absolute myriad of different looks that the Vogue team came up

with during the course of the shoot.

It actually makes me kind of sad that we may never get to see

the final results in print.

So, I decided to create my own version!

Inspired by Annie's shoot and Tonne Goodman's styling,

I composed my own cover shot.

Sounds easier than what it actually was - as I had to 'create' each girl from scratch

using a bunch of different images to get the exact pose and angle I wanted.

I then had to arrange them all together.

At any rate....after two long months of doodling and collaging and drawing,

I FINALLY finished it over the weekend.

In my own way, the ultimate homage to one of my favourite magazines,

photographer and group of actresses.

I hope you guys like it!

Xx

P.S Only 2 more days of my Christmas promo!

www.birdyandme.etsy.com

raymond MEIER

...is perhaps THE single most amazing celebrity portrait photographer

(BIG call I know because I do love my Annie and my Mario!)

But I just absolutely adore his style and the way he can push the

boundaries of the recognizable celebrity 'image.'

He's also photographed some of my absolute favvies!

I hope you all have an amazing weekend!

I'll be holed up inside working...*sigh*

But that only means lots of fun stuff to share in the future!

Don't forget that my 3 for 2 Christmas promo is still going

- but only for a few more days!

My Christmas Cards are also still looking for a good home!

They're really pretty...I promise ;)

www.birdyandme.etsy.com

Xxx

P.S For those of you who won the 'Bright Star' passes,

please get in touch asap with your addresses so I can mail them out.

As the passes are only valid for next weekend, if I don't hear from you

by Monday unfortunately i'll have to draw another winner!

Thanks loves.

Xx

bright star WINNERS!

Congrats to the following girlies:

COCO
XAVIELLE
VERA B
CAT
ALEXANDRA

If you guys could please get in touch with me asap
with your addresses i'll get these passes sent out to you.
Again, please note that these are exclusive preview passes
and are only valid from the 18th - the 20th of December
for advance screenings of Bright Star at participating cinemas.
If for some reason you can't make it, just let me know and i'm
sure there will be another who will happy to have the pass! :)

kelly @ birdyandme.com.au

x

P.S I'm so sorry for the lack of updates!
I've been busily trying to finish off a bunch of jobs in preparation
for Christmas as I plan to take a few weeks off to relax and enjoy it! :)
But i'm also hoping to use that time to work on some of my own stuff,
so hopefully i'll be ringing in the new year with a bunch of new work!

bright STAR

Illustration by Kelly Smith; Stills from Jane Campion's 'Bright Star'

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Bright Star, would I were steadfast as thou art -

Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night,

And watching, with eternal lids apart,

Like Nature's patient sleepless Eremite,

The moving waters at their priestlike task

Of pure ablution round earth's human shores,

Or gazing on the new soft-fallen mask

Of snow upon the mountains and the moors -

No - yet still steadfast, still unchangeable,

Pillow'd upon my fair love's ripening breast,

To feel for ever its soft fall and swell,

Awake for ever in a sweet unrest,

Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath,

And so live ever-or else swoon to death.

John Keats - 1819

John Keats, the romantic poet, wrote the love poem "Bright Star"

for his 18-year-old next door neighbour, Fanny Brawne.

This is the story of their first love.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

For those who frequent my blog, I don't think I need

to tell you how much I adore Abbie Cornish.

I've been anticipating Bright Star for a long while now,

and I can't WAIT to see it!

What's better - the Hopscotch Gods seem to be smiling down upon me

today as they have given me 5 double passes valid for

exclusive preview screenings of the film during the

18th - 20th of December, 2009
at participating cinemas.

If you would like one of these special passes just leave

a comment on this post but include the words 'Bright Star'

and i'll randomly select the recipients on Wednesday the 9th

and publish your names on my blog on Thursday morning so as to

give you plenty of time to get in touch via email with your addresses.

Unfortunately for those of you from across the pond,

this is only open to Australian residents. Sorry :(

Good Luck!

XxX

P.S For more information on Bright Star visit:

The Official Bright Star Website

Hopscotch Films

P.P.S My Christmas promo and cards are still available

for one more week!

www.birdyandme.etsy.com

X

kelly THOMPSON LOVE

Illustrations by Kelly Thompson

So I know Christmas is SUPPOSED to be all about GIVING gifts

(well ACTUALLY I guess it's supposed to be about Jesus, but hey)

but I couldn't help treating myself to a bit of an early Christmas present.

From me to me!

Most of you should be familiar with Kelly Thompson's work as I bang on

about it quite a bit, and we also had a show together earlier in the year.

These two pieces that she created recently for a show just blow me away.

Love love love them!

The first girl is currently getting ready for a lengthy stint

on the wall of my house, just making it look generally pretty.

If any of you guys are interested in Kelly's work, either for yourself or

(as it probably should be) for someone else, click here to visit her website.

Christmassy goodness for everyone!

P.S My Christmas promo is still running until the 15th of December!

Buy any 2 prints and choose a 3rd open edition print for free.

Also Mossy and Joy are looking to decorate someone's mantle

during the festive season! They also look pretty hot stuck to a present!

Click here to visit the shop.

I hope you've all had a great weekend!

Xx

HO HO HO IT'S CHRISTMAS (almost)

WWW.BIRDYANDME.ETSY.COM

P.S There will be a limit of 3 packs of cards per customer

- just to keep it fair! :) x

romper STOMPER

Alexandra Spencer of self-fashion-portrait fame,
(and genuine model)
has just launched her own label.
That's right, kids, 4th and Bleeker has gotten physical!
The look book shots for the first piece (a little black romper)
have just been posted at the 4th and Bleeker online store.
They're even seasonal to inspire you no matter where you are on the globe.
So beautiful!

If you're a fan of Alex's fashion sense as much as you are her
blonde hair and photogenes, you best pop over and check it out.
This little baby is in a limited edition of 100.

www.4thandbleekerstore.blogspot.com

Run. Don't walk.

Happy Wednesday Hump Day!
X

sasha RABBIT

Sasha Pivovarova channelling some serious Jessica Rabbit

in these stunning shots by Camilla Akrans (AGAIN!)

I don't know about you...but I was pretty much OBSESSED

with Who Framed Rodger Rabbit? when I was a kid.

And (I'm not ashamed to admit it) I own the dvd.

I think this is an ingenious idea for a shoot - given that Jessica Rabbit was

supposed to be a representation of every male's idea of the fantasy woman

- an ideal that could only ever PHYSICALLY exist in a cartoon form.

So here we are on another 'artistic' platform - trying to have fun with that idea.

Sasha nails it!

Obviously (unless you're Dolly Parton) no one is going to physically resemble her;

but that femme-fatale, sultry-vixen attitude of Jessica Rabbit is

CLEARLY coming through in these shots! Love it.

x

P.S Thanks for all of your lovely comments about the Shop illos! xx

Image Source : Camilla Akrans & Walt Disney Studios

shop TIL YOU DROP

I just realised that I never really went into detail

about the monthly illustrations i've been working on

for Aussie mag, Shop 'Til You Drop.

Those of you who read my blog are most likely familiar

with the lovely miss Annabel of LoveMore, who, coincidently,

happens to be one of my gal pals and the model for these illustrations.

You may have already recognised her or seen the scans

she posted up on her blog today!

I asked Bel to pose for me because A) I love her look,

B) She knows how to work an outfit,

and C) She gets just as enthusiastic about these ideas as I do!

So if you haven't already seen the illos in the mag,

pick up a copy of the December issue of Shop,

(with Hermoine herself, Miss Emma Watson, on the cover)

and flick to page 148 for Bel in all her glory!

(And a gorgeous Don't Ask Amanda jumpsuit!)

I've also posted the past illos here & here:

(Or check out LoveMore for the scans)

Happy Friday everyone!

Enjoy your weekends.

X

marion in VALENTINO

(close-up)

I've been wanting to draw these AMAZING lace masks

from the Valentino show since I saw them back in July!

(See image further below.)

I think they're absolutely incredible.

I drew this one onto Marion Cotillard, mainly because I think

her eyes are SO incredibly beautiful and I wanted them to

really stand out against and behind the mask.

My hand is aching a bit now though.

Very fiddly work!

I hope you all had a great start to the week.

For those of you in Australia - keep cool.

I think most of us are dealing with 30+ degree weather.

x