World Book Day Blog Tour - My Top Five illustrators

By Victoria As-it-Seams - 15:45

When Rebecca at Dobbins Bobbins invited me to join her World Book Day tour, my sewing imagination hurtled through a zillion ideas.

 Then life got in the way, and we  had a big family trauma this week and there was no way my One Big Sewing Project  would be ready in time.

 But I so wanted to take part.  Then another idea hit me... 

 Children's book illustrations are already everywhere on As it Seams. 

 I grew up with a world of books. I never, ever stopped reading. Anne of Green Gables, Fantastic Mr Fox, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Pippi Longstocking, were alive in my head, pages and pictures that danced through my childhood alongside me.

 I 'read' pictures as much as pages. I know these pictures like old friends. Looking through my blog it became obvious just how much Missy's wardrobe has been shaped by great illustrators.

 So apologies, I haven't (yet) been able to create something new, but here's five of my favourite illustrators - alongside a few of Missy's creations 


1. Mabel Lucie Attwell
Who could not love  Mabel Lucie Attwell's chubby babies and fairies?  Her Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan are my favourite representations of these characters. Her watercolours are beautiful, but not sugary, and Alice aand Peter Pan become real, solid characters not whimsical 'princess type figures'. Her colors are strong and her clothes have the beautiful drapey silouhettes of the 1920s


2. Cicely Mary Barker


 I'm staying in the 1920s, with Cicely Mary Barker, creator of the Flower Fairy series. 

Cicely's illustrations may be  whimsical, but look at the clothes! Aren't those fairy dresses just an endless source of inspiration?


3.  Kate Greenaway


What can I say? She was the first, the great, and her illustrations are a record of Victorian style. I loved these pictures as a child, the soft colour palate, the dreaminess


4. Jan Pienkowski


 Oh look! I'm almost up to date. Next up is Jan Pienkowski, best known as creator of Meg and Mog. But it's his fairytale silhouettes I loved most as a child. These are pictures that in themselves told a story, with echos of Russia, Eastern Europe and age-old myths. And I know that I like to create clothes for Missy that create stories too...

5. Mairi Hedderwick


Mairi Hedderwick is the creator of young heroine Katie Morag who lives on a Scottish island where she roams freely on the wild beaches. 
Mairi's pictures sing to my soul. Her paintings capture the light and drama of the Scottish landscape. They're full of the quirks and details of a childhood of the late 70s and 80s. She has depicted the memories from my own childhood. I spent every summer playing in the near midnight sun on these remote beaches, creating stories in my head and clambouring over rocks and seaweed.  This is my sister and me in 1980 I guess, flying our kite as the sun set at around 11pm...


Little Katie Morag and her Scottish adventures were part of the inspiration behind my as yet unfinished World Book Day sewing project. Here's a sneak peak, to be revealed in its full glory very soon...


As I put this long post together, I realised just how much stories are part of my life. Of course, I am a 'professional story collector', a journalist. 

This week has been a very raw one for the As it Seams family, facing a big change. The next chapter for our little family has plenty of blank pages...Daunting and exciting...x


Rebecca at Dobbins Bobbins has some FOUR fabulous prize packages to giveaway with the World Book Tour .  And there's a great list of participants. Do click around and see the actual creations this week

Sewn In The Attic
While she was sleeping, Just Add Fabric,  Fairies, Bubbles & Co , English Girl At Home,  As It Seams Made by Sara Sewing With Kate MinnieMie Call Ajaire Sew Country Chick Paisley Roots Bel'Etoile


No. 1: a Rafflecopter giveaway
No.2: a Rafflecopter giveaway
No.3: a Rafflecopter giveaway
No.4: a Rafflecopter giveaway



  • Share:

You Might Also Like

7 comments

  1. Annika3 March 2016 at 01:21

    Oh, so he left his job in the end? I really wish you all the best for the future. And regarding the clothes and books: Just like you I've never stopped reading and children's books are very inspirational to me. Especially Astrid Lindgren as you know ;)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Just Add Fabric3 March 2016 at 01:51

    Beautiful, Victoria. And very moving. I love that you put all of your sweet creations in relation to the stories in your life. Wishing you all the best for your family's future.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Masha3 March 2016 at 04:39

    All such lovely dresses and illustrations. I had never heard of Pienkowski but I just put one of his books on hold at the library thanks to this post.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Marta3 March 2016 at 16:00

    I loved your blogpost so, so much!
    Good luck for the next chapter on your life!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Justine/ Sew Country Chick3 March 2016 at 20:11

    So much beautiful and creative work Victoria! Your little girl is darling!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Jenya @ While she was sleeping5 March 2016 at 02:28

    It was nice to have a peek behind the seams (could not resist) to learn what influences your work. I hope the new chapter in your lives will be a positive one :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Jessica31 March 2016 at 04:45

    I want to thank you for introducing us to Mairi Hedderwick! I had not heard of her before but now we are reading all the Katie Morag books and the whole family loves them!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. I love hearing from you, and try to reply as often as I can, either here or by email. All views, tips, gratefully received...
Victoria

    Press

    No matter where you are and what you look like. Create your own style.Let it be unique for yourself and yet identifiable for others.
    The creation begins deep by yourself. Be inspired in my world and give your life an extra boost. So show yourself more and just be you ♥

    Follow on instagram