1. Little house brooch by Nastia Sleptsova 2. Autumn leaf embroidered necklace by Itty Bitty Bunnies 3. Leaf vinyl backpack by Mirage 4. Bee embroidered coin purse by Zana Products 5. Potted cactus felt border by Sweet Chic Mercerie 6. Olive’s Garden…
Illustration is everywhere ya’ll, even in places you wouldn’t suspect. For those with limited mobility, it affords them an opportunity to express themselves. Izzy Wheels is a shining example of this; they adorn wheel spokes with color and patterning to bring…
One of my favorite things about Instagram is when illustrators share their work in progress. I love seeing the process! Amber Davenport, a self-proclaimed “pattern lover,” shares her paintings in the midst of being created—including the her current palette. The…
If you’re a long time reader to Brown Paper Bag, you know that I love color. I’ve spent more than a month (so far) on the The Color Series, which chronicles illustration, embroidery, and even sketchbooks to show how creatives…
1. Friendly shark pencil case by minnebites 2.Retro flower brooch by Kate Gabrielle 3. Incense burner No. 2 by Tactile Matter 4. Monochromatic hoop art by Yes Stitch Yet (on Brown Paper Bag) 5. Jupiter small round shoulder bag by Oliness Art Studio 6.…
Molly Fairhurst gets back to basics in her expressive illustrations. Concentrating on form and the gesture of her subjects, the paintings have an energy that draws you in, be it one of her 1,000 Tigers or portraits of people in…
One of the most iconic form of ceramics is known as “fanciful” Staffordshire figurines. Originally created in the Victorian era, these pieces were painted by unskilled workers and have a folk art-like feel. Because of their humble nature, they were…
If you’ve ever tried embroidery, you know how methodical the practice is. It teaches patience; you’ve got to take it stitch by stitch, because there’s no great shortcuts when it comes to embroidering by hand. Embracing this fact is Slow…
After taking a week off, it’s nice to return to The Color Series. Unfamiliar with what that is? Over the past several weeks, I’ve chronicled illustration, embroidery, and sketchbooks that overwhelmingly use one color in their compositions. (If you’ve missed…
Ellen Surrey Brown Paper Bag is taking a short break from July 17 to July 21. If you’re reading this, I’m probably on vacation in California! I’m determined to unplug while I’m there—easier said than done. I’ll be back on Monday,…