Jaiden and The Art of Tim Burton

[image: Jodi Pudge from Issue 20]

Dani, Stefano and Jaiden from the current issue of Covet Garden are big Tim Burton fans (as are we). Their dog, Abbie Elwell is actually named after Abercrombie after a pooch in Burton’s short film Vincent. And while the themes of movies can be rather macabre, the black and white pen and ink drawings and watercolour palettes of his book, The Art of Tim Burton, remind us of some of our favourite spring interior design trends.

We thought we'd take this opportunity to share some of our favourite spreads from the book, which was released to accompany a touring exhibition of the same name (and which just opened up in Paris, if you feel like hopping on a plane to see it).

Talking about Tim Burton also gives us the chance to share a story that Dani and Jaiden shared with us.

One day, Jaiden was sick. She had a fever. She made these drawings. She’s a big fan of Tim Burton so Dani suggested that she send them to him.

Later, on the same morning of the opening of the Tim Burton exhibition at TIFF Lightbox, Dani and Stefano received a package. It was from Tim Burton’s office. It said "thanks for the drawings" and there was an autographed picture.

Dani and Stefano raced to Jaiden’s school. They gave her the package and told her they were taking h to see Tim Burton at TIFF. Unfortunately, the lineup was huge. Stefano and Jaiden went up to the balcony to get some air while Dani satyed in the lineup. After a long wait, Stefano told Jaiden, "We probably won’t meet Tim Burton."

Jaiden started to cry. A woman asked her, "Why are you crying?" Stefano told her the story and added, "Jaiden is a huge fan." Then another woman tapped him on the shoulder and asked, “Is your daughter’s name Jaiden?"  She was Tim Burton’s publicist. "I got Jaiden’s drawings," she said. "Would she like to meet him?”

It was all just magic. Says Jaiden, "I knew I was destined to meet him."

We Covet: Robert Sabuda

Robert Sabuda is a paper engineer, best know for his pop up books. We discovered his work while shopping for Christmas presents and became instant fans. When the movie Avatar came out, someone said that the best 3D effects are the ones that lead you into the movie, not the ones that jump out at you. The same can be said of Sabuda's intricate cut outs and contraptions: What springs off the page is a little universe that you can enter and explore. 

[above images: amazon.ca]

The books are richly illustrated and wonderfully designed. We were especially taken by the details of The Moveable Mother Goose and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. We haven't shared them with the young reader yet (there's still two more sleeps to Christmas morning) but were certain she'll be as enthralled as we are.

[image: Robert Sabuda]

Of course, all of this enchantment has left us wanting to create some pop ups of our own. Once again, it's Robert Sabuda to the rescue. His website offers free downloadable templates for making 3D papercrafts — including holiday-themed pop ups for those who have some last-minute cards to create

card templates

Covet Garden Gift Guide: Best Books

[Sibella Court's Nomad]

[Sibella Court's Nomad]

While Covet Garden is an online publication, we are big fans of print. This Christmas, books are high on our gift list (as presents for our loved ones and ourselves). We thought we'd share some tomes from our wish list, starting with Australian designer Sibella Court's Nomad: A Global Approach to Interior Style. Court describes this book as a “beautiful photographic collection of travel shots and styled spaces to show how to bring your travels home in the most unexpected of ways.” Whatever it is, we want to go to there.

[Dottie Angel's Suitcase Series Vol. 2]

[image via: Decor8]

Next up on the list is The Suitcase Series Volume 2: Dottie Angel from Uppercase. Dottie Angel (aka Tif Fussel) is best known for her whimsical textile creations. Fussel describes the paperback thusly: "part biography, part storybook, part crafty how-to and entirely inspirational." It also comes with an envelope full of materials to help you get started on your own crafty adventures.

And last but not least on our reading list is the new Paul Sahre designed/Brian Rea illustrated Malcolm Gladwell Box Set.

In this post "print is dead" day and age, it would appear that the publishing industry is taking a closer look of the arts of book design and binding. This collection of Gladwell's published titles recognizes that books can be also be beautiful, desirable things to be cherished and read over and over again.

Lifestyles of The Arts and Crafty: "Handcrafted Modern"

[Images: Rizzoli]

Covet Garden is obsessed with looking at other people's interiors. Which is why the book Handcrafted Modern: At Home With Midcentury Designers is like catnip to us. The tome, by by Leslie Williamson, reveals how modernist designers like Russel Wright and Eva Zeisel lived (or live—many of the artisans featured are still amongst, including 104-year-old Zeisel).

Above: Russel Wright's living room. Best-known for his ceramics, the industrial designer created furniture as well.

Above: As you can see in this scene from woodworker J.B. Blunk's home, he was heavily influenced by the Japanese asthetic.

Above: Eva Zeisel describes herself a "maker of useful things." Zeisel's living room showcases a collection of her designs.

Kid's Books We Would Read

[Cybèle Young's Ten Birds]

[Janice Nadeau illustrates Cinnamon Baby]

[Renata Liwska illustrates The Loud Book]

We love a beautifully illustrated (and well told) children's story. Here are three releases from the last year that feature some amazing Canadian illustration talent. And stay tuned: artist Cybèle Young's home will be featured in an upcoming issue of Covet Garden!

Young's fable tells the tale of ten birds trying to cross a river. It helps kids learn how to count and it teaches us all the lesson that labelling folks is not necessarily useful. But if you where to judge a book by its cover, Young's rich pen and ink drawings would certainly attract you to Ten Birds.
Cinnamon Baby — by Nicola Winstanley with illustrations by Janice Nadeau — is another beautiful book about the bond between a mother and her child. The delicate watercolours are a delight. And The Loud Book by Deborah Underwood is a joyous celebration of all kinds of louds. Calgary-based illustrator Renata Liwska populates the pages of this sequel to The Quiet Book with a menagerie of the cutest creatures ever.

Just as we've held on to our copies of Dennis Lee's Alligator Pie, these three tomes are certainly ones that any kid will treasure. What's your favourite childhood picture book?