enfants terribles
the Kawaii issue
enfants terribles - the Kawaii issue enfants terribles editor in chief art direction søs uldall-ekman words cÊline hallas copy editor
Cover shoot: Photographer: CĂŠline Hallas Model: Sienna Dress: Marapytta Hat: Ma Belle Mademoiselle
contact mail: enfantsterriblesmag@gmail.com web site: www.enfantsterriblesmag.com facebook: www.facebook.com/enfantsterriblesmag instagram: @enfantsterriblesmag copyright
None of the content in the Enfants Terribles issues may be used without written permission from Enfants Terribles Publications. This also goes for any content posted via social medias. We claim all rights to the name Enfants Terribles Magazine and all written words and photos surrounding the magazine. All questions regarding the content of the issues should be directed towards the editorial office of Enfants Terribles. In case you were wondering, that doesn’t mean we don’t want you to pin our content and share our pics for personal use on your blog for inspiration. On the contrary we would be very honoured if you found our content worthy of sharing. If you do use our pictures on your personal blog or social media, please remember to credit us link to enfantsterriblesmag.com or @enfantsterriblesmag #enfantsterriblesmag
contents editors letter off to catch the train #etmagstylekid style & blog crush: hannah kristina days spent in the home of Flora little label crush art cruch: yoko furusho bubble gum grunge new website toy cruch: helle gavin ig crush: @tokyobanhbao kopenhagen kawaii harvesting the sun art feature: monika forsberg my sticker book collection bangkok kawaii craft cruch: by kaae autumn is a second spring... book crush: the cutest books ever transitions with nature food cruch: ida frosk thanks for reading, now go play
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EDITORS LETTER
Kawaii, is the title of our 6ht issue of Enfants Terribles Magazine. It's also a Japanese expression for everything cute, lovely and adorable. Those three ingredients happen to hold a special place in our hearts and the same goes for Japanese pop culture. Actually it all began with me finding a piece of fabric in a thrift store. It was the most beautiful 80's pastel rainbow curtains that you could imagine. I had to show it to CÊline, so I bought it with no plans in mind, alone for it's beautiful appearance. She loved it of course and from there grew the idea to base an entire issue on these 80's curtains. We had our dear friend Line from Marapytta make dresses from the curtains, true Sound of Music style. The result was the essence of Kawaii and so we started looking for features and crushes to go a long with a Kawaii theme. Because we can do that. We can get crazy ideas and just go with them, because that's why we started this little adventure. To let ourselves play with ideas and make them grow into wonderful little worlds of visual fairytales, the Enfants Terribles Magazine. We hope you like what we did and yes the dress on the cover is made from those curtains. Happy reading Søs
OFF TO CATCH THE TRAIN photographer: monika elena
Dress: Misha Lulu - Tights: Wovenplay
Tutu dress: Dagmar Daley - Sweater: Bobo Choses - Tights: Wovenplay
Dress: Wovenplay
Jacket: Bobo Choses - Leggings: Theif and Bandit
#ETMAGSTYLEKID Some of you may have noticed our new weekly feature on the blog and Instagram allready. It’s the #ETMAGSTYLEKID and in every issue of the online magazine all the featured kids will be celebrated for their cute and personal touch to everyday style.
The idea is that the kids lead the way - so quirky combinations such as mommy’s dress, daddy’s boots or granny’s highheels topped of with a big banana on the head could just as well be the stylekid of the week. It’s not about wearing certain brands or styles of the season.
@missverse
@petiamphotos
@questioneverythingkids
@trinesbilledbog
We just want inspiration straight from the hearts and minds of little ones. Many of you are allready using the #etmagstylekid and we feel so blessed that we get to see and enjoy all your cute kids with their own cheeky personality all over the
world. Please keep playing! We will continue pick a weekly #etmagstylekid every Wednesday from Instagram Find more information on how to become a stylekid here.
@dpmathiesen
@mlindsayshuptar
@ungpudel
@standingbythewall_
BLOG & STYLE CHRUSH HANNAH KRISTINA www.hannahkristinametz.co @hannahkristina www.hannahandlandon.blogspot.com When we fell upon the blog of Hannah Kristina Metz we knew we had to find a way to feature her somehow. This talented girl is: a brilliant photographer, who creates interesting and intriguing storytelling through her dreamy captures. On top of that she is a talented young designer and she just happens to have the most amazing and adventerous sense of style and we’re pretty sure we could just live in her closet and be perfectly happy with that life Every single picture on her blog is an explosion of ambiant, beautiful, vintagebohemian life, enough to make any girl swoon. Kristina currently lives in Brooklyn, working with the beautiful design of her own line of lingerie for the company The Loved One of which she is co-founder. We wanted to know much, much more about this facinating young woman, so we sent her a few questions and here’s what came of us picking her lovely brain for a few (very lovely) email moments.
CHILDHOOD DREAMS
”I remember quite vividly the moment I decided that I’d like to carve out a future in clothing design. It was when some intuitive relative gifted me ”Fashion Plates”, a croquis kit for children. The kit included outlines of clothing and multiple raised patterns that you could trace and scribble atop of with paper and crayons, making for hours of entertainment and some very colourful ideas for 80s athletic wear. I made clothing for my barbies out of socks, modified my own clothing throughout highschool and finally got serious about design three years ago when my partner, Elvia Lahman and I launched a lingerie line together.”
Photographer: Agnes Thor
BLOGGING
I’ve been ”expressing my feelings” online since 2001 through livejournal, which I think counts as an early form of blogging. My current blog was started in 2007. The three words that describe my blog best are: conversational, photography, vintage. I think the best part of blogging for me has been the people I’ve met through the platform. I’ve formed lasting relationships with wonderful people and I’m eternally grateful to blogging for that. I must admit that blogging has lost a lot of it’s lustre as I’ve gotten older. I don’t feel as comfortable sharing my thoughts and feelings online and with instagram I have a place to share my photos more immediately. Once I started writing less in my blog there wasn’t much to start a conversation about in the comments section and that was always a favourite part.
PERSONAL STYLE & FAVORITES
To me the notion of style signifies that perfect union of creativity and confidence. I think that if you’re dressing true to you, then you’re stylish! My favorite outfit usually consists of a top to bottom look with a hat, a blouse, a necktie, a skirt, a coat, a purse, and boots. As you can probably tell from this description, my favorite season to dress for is Fall. My style inspiration ranges from 16th century portraiture (all that heavy embroidery), to girls in mini skirts from the 60s. Lately I’ve been very interested in Suffragette fashions and the symbolism and purpose in their choice of clothing. All very fascinating stuff (and very pleasing to the eye)! My most favorite colour is green and as for a favorite cut I would have to say a tight, long sleeved and collared up top and an a-line skirt on the bottom. My favorite outfit is my white lace collared button up with a black neck-tie, a-line skirt and my Samantha Pleet blue-grey wool coat and red boots.
I usually shop in Vintage shops & local independent designer boutiques and my favorites shops are Horizons in Brooklyn and The Loved One in LA.
CREATING
With the collection I’m working on right now (the first under my own name), I’ve dug deep into my, rather specific, interests. I’ve filled my designs with references to tudor times, favourite fictional redheads, arthurian castles & macabre nursery rhymes. It’s been fun finding ways to weave these inspirations into fresh and functional pieces. I try to have a pen and paper available at all times should inspiration strike, I’ve got a pretty enormous catalogue of ideas just itching to materialize.
HAPPINESS
Happiness to me is feeling completely at ease in my surroundings and being with my loved ones (the two go hand in hand really). It is most important to me to stay true to myself and ensure that, that truth doesn’t interrupt the happiness or well being of the people and the planet around me. Name 3 words that encapsule your essence as a human being? Sincerely, living, dreams.
Days spent in the home of Flora... photographer: cĂŠline hallas
Dress: Fafa - Boots: PèPè
Blouse + Leggings: Jujubunnyshop - Shoes: PèPè - Hairclip: HelloShiso
Dress: Tails and Tales - Hairclip: HelloShiso
Shoes: Chapter2
Scarf: Little Name - Shirt: Wolf and Rita - Vest: Little Marc Jacobs - Shorts: Pierrot la Lune
Dress: Bang Bang Cph - Skirt: FUB - Shoes: PèPè - Hairclip: HelloShiso
Hat: Ma Belle Mademoiselle - Blouse: Igl贸 & Ind铆 - Skirt: Wolf and Rita
Dress: Fafa - Shoes: Chapter2
LITTLE LABEL CRUSH HARD WORK & ALL PLAY We're introducing a new steady feature in the magazine. It's the Little Label Crush and it's something that's very important to us. When we started doing this magazine 9 months ago, one of the things we knew we wanted to do, was to help put focus on the little labels, who work so very hard at giving us unique and playful styles. They make such great accomplishments with all their efforts, but it can be a tough business to be up against some of the bigger brands. We wish to encourage and applaud those who dare and so we give you: The Little Label Crush feature, this time with Misha Lulu and Little Name Design. If you have suggestions on little labels we should feature, please send us an email: enfantsterriblesmag@gmail.com att: Little Label
MISHA LULU
by Joe Salazar and Karen Moran-Salazaar www.mishalulu.com @mishalulu www.pinterest.com/mishalulu
Misha Lulu is a family brand. Created by Joe Salazar and Karen Moran-Salazar. Joe and Karen live in LA with their daughter Bela and their two cats. Bela was actually the inspiration to how it all began: "We started our brand when we had our daughter Bela. We wanted to create a fun collection that reflected our fondest childhood memories, also I wanted to be able to spend more time with Bela" Karen tells us. Misha Lulu is a retro-modern label inspired by childhood memories, nature and Isabela's adventures. My husband Joe is a native of Los Angeles and of Mexican descendant and I am originally from El Salvador. We live in a small house in Los Angeles
with daughter and our two cats . The pro's of being a little label? You are free to create whatever inspires you. The con's? It is always tough to finance and produce your collection when you are small. THE NEW COLLECTION After 3 years of our daughter Bela's obsession with spies and private investigators we decided to create a collection based on that theme. We were inspired by Sherlock Holmes, Nancy Drew and Maxwell Smart. FUTURE AMBITIONS We would love to continue growing and continue creating.
Photos: Jessie Kenney
LITTLE NAME
Design by Alexis Vitale www.littlenamedesign.com @ little_name_design www.facebook.com/littlenamedesign www.pinterest.com/littlename
Little Name is run by Alexis Vitale (32) who lives with her husband Kyle and newborn daughter Fable i Highlands, New Jersey, just outside NYC. Alexis always wanted to develop a little independent brand of her own. She started out interning with such companies as Marc Jacobs & the very first season of Little Marc, and has been fortunate to work as a print designer for companies such as Nike, Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and Osh Kosh B'gosh. With all her knowledge and hands-on experience she finally decided to follow her dream and Little Name was born. Alexis has always been very inspired by the child-like vintage aesthetic. "I'man introvert by nature, and truly do some of my best and most fulfilling work, when focusing solo in quiet and peaceful surroundings." "Little Name was and still is all the inspirations that I was having when working for other brands. I was craving to apply these ideas that kept popping up to my own brand and see if I would be able to evolve and let it grow with a pace and collection of influence and ideas that felt more true to myself and more like my own." THE NEW COLLECTION Little Name's newest Nyc Manufactured 'Rain & Shine' collection thrives off non-constricting and adjustable grow-into silhouettes and playful prints.
It is fabricated as a free-spirited playwear collection that is thoughtful with detail, yet realistic to layer throughout the seasons and functional to get dirty in. "My intent was to develop a collection that had meaning and permanence in a child and family life. An item that encourages freedom and playfulness and interaction as well as the ability to feel comfortable, inspired and unique in their own skin" Alexis says. When asked about the Pro's and Con's of working a little label Alexis adds: "The investments are always a chance to take financially and creatively. Sometimes an intuitive jump is wonderful at other times you realize that you have to learn from them." FUTURE AMBITIONS Asked on the future ambitions of her Little Name brand Alexis says that she am at a point where she wants the life she chooses and the things she creates to give back in some form. "I think becoming a mother has amplified this feeling. I hope my collection grows and thrives, but it has also become very important to me that I create some sort of happiness and meaning in people's lives, that is what I am after and that is what makes me continue to do what I do. On a side note Alexis just donated over 12'' of her hair to : www.childrenwithhairloss.us/donate-your-hair and a percentage of my collection sales will go to : www.everymothercounts.org.
Photos: Monika Elena
ART CRUSH YOKO FURUSHO www.yokofurusho.com @yokofurusho facebook youtube www.twitter.com/yokofurusho www.pinterest.com/yokofurusho
We fell completely in love with Yoko’s illustrations when we first found them online. There is something childlike and innoncent yet with a grown up’s sense of details and deeper layers and actually the name Yoko, has the meaning of child hidden in its japanese sign.Yoko generates unique worlds filled with imaginary monsters, strange animals, and unusual landscapes and we are so unbelievably honoured to feature her as our ART CRUSH for this KAWAII issue. ABOUT YOKO Yoko Furusho is a Japanese illustrator based in New York. At the early age of 18, she decided to move to US to study at the School of Visual Arts in NY, in order to pursue her dream of working with illustration professionally. ”Drawing has always been my routine since my childhood. So I very much wanted to become something related to art. I guess I
decided to be an illustrator when I was taking the class at School of Visual Arts. They made me feel that there was a realistic way of making a living of working with art in my future” Yoko tells us. WORK OF ART Now Yoko’s dream is indeed coming true. She has worked with big brands such as Maybelline New York, KEDS collective and Glamour magazine and she recently published an illustrated book with the intriguing title: The other side of my world upside
down (Japanese Title: Boku no Sekai no Sakasama no Mukougawa) The book tells the story of a young girl caught in between the worlds of everyday cruelty and fleeting dreams as she searches for a way out using her five senses. ”It is my first picture book for adults and it turns the world of its protagonist upside down and features several mushrooms and monsters as characters” Yoko always had a dream of becoming a children’s book wri-
ter, so she was very excited about getting to do this picturebook for grown ups, with the childlike approach: ”My editor decided to go with the picture book for adults because he sensed something dark and philosophical in my art works. To me it is a story of a girl, who meets some characters and I guess in some way these characters are based on stories that were lived and learnt by me in real life.”
The other side of my world upside down is actually Yokos 3rd and she’s hoping to be able to finish her 4th and 5th book very soon. As for now, her books are only available in Japan. Yoko is currently looking for publishers who might be interested in publishing the book abroad and we are very much looking forward to seeing more from her beautiful mind and skillful hands.
Bubble Gum Grunge
Photography: Stephanie Matthew Stylist: Heather Rome Graphic and set design: Michelle Shaka Berg Models: Lillian, Myla and Sydnie from Bensimon Models Clothing from Shan and Toad
Skirt: Lemoniez - Jumper: Little Creative Factory - Shirt: Lamantine - Shoes: 10IS
Headbands: My Little dress Up - Neoprene Jumper: Little Creative Factory - Dresses: Louise Misha - Necklace: Two Els - Shoes: Target
Jumpers: Louise Misha - Shirt: My Little Dress Up - Skirts: Little Creative Factory - Backpack: Rykiel Enfant
Marabou coat: Lemoniez - Dress: Louise Misha - Headband: My Little Dress Up - Shoes: Stylists Own
Blazer: Paade Mode - Jumper: Caroline Bosmans - Necklace: Paade Mode - Divided skirt: Ketiketa - Hat, knee socks and shoes: Stylists Own
Dress: ShoSho Bella - Jacket: Rykiel Enfant - Shoes: Stella McCartney
NEW WEBSITE WWW.ENFANTSTERRIBLESMAG.COM We’re hoping that most of you have noticed that we have a new formidable website up and running with lots of inspiring content. With the new website we have relaunched our blog and lined up a beautiful bouquet of talented online editors making everyday magical posts for you to enjoy. PLAYFUL INSPIRATION Our intention has been to expand the playful universe that you allready know from the magazine to our blog, so that you wouldn’t have to wait for the new issues to find more Enfants Terribles inspiration. MORE ENFANTS TERRIBLES Talented personalities with a soft spot for everyday magic and a sharp eye for dazzling visual storytelling have been added to our little team and we feel so very fortunate to be able to share their work. GALLERIE ENFANTS TERRIBLES Our topbanner is now an Online Art Gallery where talented artists from all over the world will be showcasing their work every month. With each new issue, three handpicked artists will interpret our theme. MORE IS MORE All in all more of all the good stuff that you up untill now have been able to find with each new issue of Enfants Terribles Magazine. We hope you’ll come visit us all the time and stay way too long.
TOY CRUSH NEVER STOP PLAYING HELLE GAVIN www.gavinsdukkehus.blogspot.dk www.madebygavin.blogspot.dk www.helle-gavin.blogspot.dk www.gavin.tictail.com
Dear readers, meet Helle. Helle is one of those very rare grown ups, who never stopped playing and thus still has actual playtime as part of her daily routine. As you may know we are big fans of a playful approach to life in general and that's why we had to introduce you to this lovely woman. COLLECTING TOYS Helle collects toys. More specifically doll’s houses, modern miniatures, Japanese vinyl figurines and pretty much all that is Japanese, made of plastic and kawaii in some shape. Instead of collecting for the sake of collecting, she very much enjoys playing with her toys. Making up stories, creating new universes and characters. Exactly the way we used to do it when we were kids. Remember that point when playing with dolls just wasn’t cool enough any more and we started seeing play as something childish. Well, Helle decided never to stop playing. And today she has made her passion for play meet her worklife career. She owns her own little shop, from where she designs, sews and sells children’s wear and toys.
PERSONAL PLAYTIME Helle shares her home with her husband and their two boys. But she has her own playspace with her collections and dollhouses: ”My toy collection is my space. I love doing small set-ups in the doll house where various photography and interior design ideas can be lived out. Playtime gives me so much joy, energy and a a break from my everyday life as a responsible grown-up. GETTING LOST The favorite moments are when friends join in and play a long. Remember how you could just get lost for hours in universes you created with your cousins or best friends. Helle still knows her path to this special place and that to us is so fantastic. We want to practice how to get lost in playing with toys and homemade lands of quirky creatures. ”I have this little bookcase with a dollhouse window added where I do all the different setups. Here I can change everything quickly and play with new expressions. At the moment I’m working on a project with lots and lots of dots. I want to see how far I can take it with dots before going overboard.”
NOT ALONE Helle always had a thing for miniature things and dolls: ”About 6 years ago I discovered that there was a whole world of adults, who collected toys and shared their pictures on the web, and immediatly I was sold. It made it possible for me to combine my two passions toys and photography. So I ended up with a dollhouse blog and Etsy shop with a clothing line for Japanese miniature dolls.” Helle was very happy to find kindred spirits with whim she could share her passion: ”I am a very visual person so the whole creation of the miniature set-up in min and portraying via photography is one of the
most fun and important things for me. My toy collection and my passion for photography go together, one is no fun without the other.” PASSION MEETS PROFESSION ”I use playing as a process to create imaginative universes that I again use in my work as a designer. One of the nicest things about having my own shop, is that I get to decide which products I will be selling. I buy things that speak to me and that I love. One of Helle’s personal favorites is the thumbsucking Japanese monkey Monchhichi. ”To my great joy they are a hit
with both kids and adult customers and seeing how I love sewing of course the monkets have their own small clothingline and a Monchhchi blog with inspiration for play and DIY’s.” I come from a very creative and playful family so that everyone has more or less their own collections and so we all have this passion for playing and understand how it can be secret gateway to sparking creativity. I’m glad I get to pass this on to my sons”.
3 Blogs that inspire Helle to play more: www.mymilktoof.blogspot.dk www.super-junk.com www.tinyfeetmag.com
INSTA CRUSH
www.tokyobanhbao.com @tokyobanhbao www.facebook.com/tokyobanhbaofanpage twitter.com/tokyobanhbao
EVERYDAY KAWAII For our Instagram Crush we wanted to pick someone who could personify the expression Kawaii and our choice fell on the crazy cute feed of @tokyobanhbao. Tokyobanhbao, 34, lives in Paris, where she works as an Illustrator and blogger. She is curious, passionate and talkative and loves food, japanese culture, Ewan Mc Gregor and travel. Her Instagram profile is best described with several fluffy F’s = Food, Fashion & Fun. With her cute captures she’s telling the very kawaii’ ish story of her everyday life and travels. We asked Tokyobanhbao what Kawaii signifies
to her and this is what she said: ”Kawaii is something cute, often very unuseful, but useful because it’s cute” and we love that definition so much. KAWAIIINSTAGRAM Tokyobanhbao first started using Instagram in 2012. At the beginning she couldn’t understand why all people and blogs were addicted to instagram: as many others she thought it was only useful to put filters on photos, but then she gave it a try and loved it ever since. Acording toTokyobanhbao Instagram is like collecting little pictures, like when she was
a child. She finds it very inspiring when she stumbles upon a beautiful picture, a nice landscape or cute things. And it’s a perfect way to share with her readers: ”Via the comments we can speak to each other quite immediatly.” Her favorite thing about Instagram is the interactivity and the inexhaustible possibilities for finding inspiration in everything. Her Least favorite thing about Instagram is that she always eats cold food;-) We always ask our IG crush if they will be using Instagram in 5 years and we adore her cheeky answer: ”Instagram will be using me!”
KARTOON KAWAII Tokyobanhbao works with illustration so we asked her which caracter she could imagine herself as. She told us that it was difficult to chose only one character and in fact she allready has her very own avatar Tokyobibi which is a close representation of myself, but only way cuter;-) ”But if I had to chose amongst the other characters, I’d chose a magical girl like Creamy Mami or Sailor Moon. I’d love to have superpowers!” Tokyobanhbao adds.
INSPIRATION & PERSONAL FAVORITES of @Tokyobanhbao What or who inspires you? Everything around me really. It can be a word someone says or a beautiful light, a drawing, a picture... Every little thing I meet on my way inspires me in some way. Where do you look for inspiration? I try to go and visit museums in Paris. I love modern art, even if I’m not a specialist, but it inspires me a lot. I also love reading japanese /Thai/ Korean fashion magazines. Favorite place for seeking out inspiration? That has to be at my desk, in front of my
Imac - I know, not very poetic but this is where I’m the most comfortable, where I can draw and sketch. Favorite artist? With no hesitation Jiro Taniguchi, I had the chance to meet him recently and now I admire him even more! 3 Instagram profiles that inspire Tokyobanhbao at the moment: @nanarabu @lebonlebon @audrey_leroy
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harvesting the sun photographer: monika elena dress: fafa
Dress: Fafa
ART FEATURE
interview by inger marie hahn møller www.finurlig.net @finurlignet
www.walkyland.com @ monika_forsberg www.walkyland.tumblr.com www.facebook.com/walkyland www.walkyland.bigcartel.com
I imagine colourful bits of paper, crayons and markers in bright technicolour, sheets and doodles lying everywhere on top of a beautifully patterned bedspread, and Monika Forsberg sitting, legs crossed, listening to audiobook stories and completely lost in her own universe, absorbed into drawing. From her hands comes magical worlds inhabited by diverse creatures, some cuter than imaginable, some stranger and more mystical, and all over is beautiful patterns unfolding and filling out gaps and the empty spaces of the pages. With handcut bits and lots of fantasy Monika is mixing worlds. Into the cityscape come little animals from the forest, a kitty is dressed up in the finest garment, and unicorns and other magical creatures are quite normal.
We haven’t met for real, yet, Monika and I, but throughout the summer we have been e-mailing back and forth, chatting and talking and sharing a bit and I found myself so much looking forward to the next e-mail, getting to know a little more about Monika and her work. Out of it all came this interview – I hope you will love reading Monika’s whimsical answers as much as I did. Swedish-born Monika Forsberg (b. 1974) studied art at Camberwell College of Arts and at the Royal College of Art in London. She currently lives in London with her boyfriend and two sons, Reginald 3 and Dante 13 years old. She started out as an animator but now works full time with her beautifully handdrawn and handcut illustrations. She makes commissions, but also sells her prints via her web shop.
what 3 words would you pick to describe your artwork? Playful, hand-cut, Technicolor. tell us about your background and what it took you to become an artist? My friend Linda and I spent a lot of our time drawing and making stories up, especially in the winters when indoors (I grew up in the very north of Sweden). We were quite inventive, drawing, sewing, knitting, writing stories and baking stuff from an early age... The summers were mostly spent outdoors running around barefoot, quite idyllic with mosquitos and endless sun (we spent all summers believing we were Tom Sawyer (my friend) and Huckleberry Finn (I)). I think there was a lot of freedom in our childhood. why do you do what you do? I was really good at maths and physics/ chemistry when at school, and girls at the time were encouraged to seek out more ’male’ professions, so my teachers urged me to choose those kinds of subjects to study when I was 16. All I could think, though, was of fluorescently lit corridors and dry stuffy air when imagining the jobs I could get, if I concentrated on maths or chemistry. To cut a long story short I chose to study things that’d enable me to do more art lessons at school. I wasn’t particularly great at art but I’d always drawn, and the thought of working somewhere, free and happy and colourful, felt like what I wanted to do when I was 16. I lasted a year doing that – lots of languages and not nearly enough art – and so I secretly applied to a photography school and I got in. It was really hard to tell my parents that I had rearranged my future all by myself. Choosing to study photography is the best thing I’ve ever done. It was the beginning of doing what I do.
YOUR ART tell us about a project you are working on right now? I have been drawing all the world cup matches, 3-4 a day, just for fun, I needed a project to work on and no one had called or e-mailed me for a week or two to ask “Wanna work for us?” So I just had to come up with something to do myself, to keep busy and explore, play and have fun. And today I finished a bespoke birthday invitation card, and I got another few things I can’t quite talk about yet. how do you work? I work when my son is at nursery, sitting in bed with boxes of pens, paint and paper around me listening to an audio tape (I love listening to stories rather than music). And if I have a lot to work on I also draw at night when the littlest son is asleep, and my big son and I are hanging out on the sofa watching a film. describe your studio? I haven’t got a studio, but if I did it’d have to have a bed. I like to work sitting comfortably cross-legged and slouchy. I can’t think when sitting on a chair. And my back starts hurting. Or my neck. So I work where I can. Mostly in the bedroom. On the bed. when do you find most enjoyment in your work? I love the adventure of not quite knowing where I’m going (with the work), I love to just sit down and throw myself into it (like diving into deep water) and see whatever grows and becomes something I had no idea I could make. I usually have an idea, a starting point and/or a finishing point (depending on what I’m doing) but I never know what’ll happen in-between. I seldom sketch beforehand as then the surprise element disappears and I get bored and stop and start doing something else instead.
do you ever have days or periods where you don’t feel like drawing? and if so, what do you do to recover your motivation? Not really. I think having kids leaves me with so little time to draw that I always feel like I’m never doing enough. It’s like being constantly slightly starved. Which is a great formula for creativity. Like boredom is great too. But sort of the opposite side of things. I’ve started running most mornings and I love cold water winter swimming – and if I don’t feel like drawing I will read a book or play scrabble or have a bath or just...hang out with friends. Or play football with the kids. what direction are you heading towards artistically at the moment? I’m a bit of a newbie to all of this, I’ve been an ”Illustrator” for just about a year so I am trying really hard to be focused and spend a week at time concentrating on something I’m not great at or something I’m curious about. It’s like being a kid in a sweet shop. The possibilities are endless. I would like to do more sequential stuff, like children’s books, and design collections of patterns – more unified pieces and longer projects. INSPIRATION where do you look for inspiration? Walking down the road I pick flowers from people’s front gardens and draw them. Or I make cute little animals because living with boys whom aren’t into anything pink or decorative or floral or pretty or cutesy or sugary, that side of me has gotten really strong. I used to be an animator and so my observatory skills are quite good, I like listening and looking at stuff and then make something from that. Internet is good once you have a starting point. Childhood memories, stories and objects are starting points for me.
what takes your breath away? Kindness and jumping into 0 degree water. Looking at my sons. Daydreaming. who do you admire artistically, and why? The illustrator and author Tove Jansson. She lived partly on a tiny island, and when I was little that was my ambition: To find a tiny island to love on my own. A few years ago I saw a documentary about Tove and her island. you are swedish born but lives in london with your family – could you share with us some favourite inspiring places in london? Hampstead Heath is amazing. You can get lost in the forest of Hampstead Heath, climb trees, jump into the Ladies’ pond and swim all year round (or the men’s pond, mixed pond or the lido). You can drink bad coffee and eat good food at the cafe on the Heath or have a picnic, a bottle of wine or a run or a walk or just look at the ducks squabbling in the water. Or go to a pub or drink good coffee and jump on the train and go to Islington and wander along Camden Passage. My son and I have found a secret alleyway between Finchley road West Hampstead and we walk along there from time to time on adventures, talking about things we see (mostly dog poo and empty beer cans) and trains rushing past. Cinemas. Tufnell Park.
favourite magazines, favourite blogs, favourite websites – any special place you look for inspiration…? I love Fine Little Day and Mieke Willems, I followed them both for years. And Freunde von Freunden is amazing. Apart from them ...Oh, I do check Lena Sjöberg’s blog too, because she lives in the same village as my aunt and that village is probably the prettiest most amazing place on earth. It’s a bit like paradise and so I look at her blog and occasionally she posts photos of her village and I go aww and just wish I was there. I haven’t bought any magazines in ages (bit skint) but I used to love coming back home to Sweden and read my mums ”Femina” and the magazine ”VI”. FAMILY LIFE how do you balance work, creativity and family life? By not procrastinating, I think... There’s no time for that. By not having much spare time, by making sure I get out of the house once in a while (without children), to just be and to be kind to myself (and others (which is a work in progress)), and by daydreaming whilst I work. Family comes first, so sometimes the art suffers. It’s a constant juggle and a case of not enough time. are your kids important for you in your work and in your artistic processes? Yes. They’ve shown me how to be a better person, and they slow you down and make you look, listen and question things. They play, they touch, they follow crazy impulses. do you find time to have creative moments with your own kids - and what do you make with them? My eldest son and I used to draw mazes when he was younger and last night we made loom band bracelets together. I paint
and draw with my youngest son, and bake and build Lego and dig holes in the ground and play pretend games. FUTURE what do you dream of? I dream of more space, a big house with a room for me to just draw in. A space for my sewing machine. I dream of having a shop, I dream of swimming in Mexico, I dream of having a clean house full of pretty fabrics, and I dream that I can continue just like this but not having to worry about (lack of) money. I dream and wish for more people to believe in me and collaborate. I dream of having a house by the water in Sweden, and to drink gin on the doorstep looking out at the water and swim naked at night. do you have any goals artistically? To become more daring, to stay playful, to keep experimenting and being curious. KAWAII what does the theme Kawaii evoke in you? I totally adore all Japanese designs and how they make even the tiniest packaging cute and adorable, or funny and clever. When I go to Japan (one day I will), I’ll bring a whole empty suitcase to fill with crazy insane toys to bring back home. My son and I got really into watching Japanese YouTube clips on how to make your own erasers (in shapes of biscuits or ice creams), and for my birthday I got a kit. can you name a couple of subjects that is Kawaii to you? Mogu Takahashi. I’m not sure if she is cute enough for being Kawaii? I go crazy for all sort of cute jewellery, like little charms for bracelets etc. I’m really really bad at remembering names but food made to look cute, drawn or sculpted = swoon.
INDIAN SUMMER & AUTUMN favourite thing about indian summer and autumn? I am so fair skinned that I burn really easily in the sun so I’ve always loved the end of the summer to the early autumn time. That time of year also equals new school year so it is mixed with excitement of new beginnings. I have fond memories of my mum and I sitting in the late summer sun reading and talking in our backyard, doing nothing, just being. My mum was always doing things but we’d sit in the not too hot sun together, feeling happy. When little the summers always lasted forever. Late summer meant not so many mosquitos and it meant lingonberry picking in pine tree forests where the pine tree needles cracked drily under your feet, and the smell of them and sun and the trees and clear blue skies that soon turned cold and turned into autumn-winter darkness. I love London because the summer goes on until November (sometimes). Then it turns grey overnight and its winter for a week, and then after that there is a season that is simply called “Grey” (and sometimes “Wet”) which lasts for a month, and then its spring again which turns into summer without anyone quite noticing. favorite place to be on a late summer or autumn day? I’d love to be in Lulea, my hometown, I’ve not been there for years now, and I love the beaches with the calm sea (that isn’t very salty at all), the pine tree needles mixed with soft sand, and the light. Or Hampstead Heath. A nice pub garden or... just about anywhere where I can feel the sun on my face. In good company.
what are you doing with your kids during late summer and autumn? We spend lots of time...on Hampstead Heath haha. I love Hampstead Heath. Or we take the train to Kew Gardens or cycle along the canals. Highgate Woods is magical too. best indian summer memory? I think of Indian summers running around in our garden, and my mum saying it was an Indian summer. I only have memories of my mum left as she is dead, so therefore the memories of her are very dear to me.
MY STiCKER BOOK COLLECTiON
PHOTOGRAPHER: CÉLiNE HALLAS
Blouse: Molo - Suspenders: Little Name - Shorts: Misha Lulu
Hat: Ma Belle Mademoiselle - Dress: Misha Lulu - Socks: UBANG - Wellies: Bundgaard
Dresses: Marapytta - Socks: UBANG - Shoes: Bundgaard - Bracelet & Necklace: Fafa
Fake fur: Billieblush - Jacket: Fafa
Hat, Coat & Pants: Molo - Blouse: Soft Gallery - Shoes: Vintage
Cape: Little Name
Hairclip: HelloShiso - Blouse: MONO - TIghts: H&M - Shoes: Bundgaard
BANGKOK KAWAII PHOTOGRAPHER: AMANDA THOMSEN THAILAND - BANGKOK ON CAMPUS - LAWSON 108
DIY KAWAII PONYSTYLE
CRAFT CRUSH
By Kaae
ABOUT BY KAAE www.bykaae.dk @bykaae www.facebook.com/Bykaae www.pinterest.com/bykaae Our craft crush this issue is on the knitting tornado Charlotte Kaae, a hand knit designer, Teacher and blogger who goes by the name By Kaae. KNITTING WITH KIDS Currently Charlotte is working on a knitting book for both knitters and the children for whom the knitwear is intended. Her goal is to involve the child and create a special story about each pice of knitting that is knitted for the child. She shares the process of making the book every day on her blog; where you’ll find all about her life with knitting and other woolen affairs. If you are all about KAL (knit a long), prices, DIY, and a lot of color full knitting - you will love By Kaae. NATURAL BORN KNITTER Charlotte started knitting when she was a child, and crafting has always been a big part of her families lifestyle: ”I knew I had a talent for knitting when I was a teenager, and in my early 30’ies it became my full time work.” She feels very blessed getting to work with her passion: ”I get to do what I love each day. Working from my home most days and seeing the world, while teaching and lecture abut knitting… What more can one ask for?” Charlotte adds: ”Of course it can be hard to make ends meet, when you insist on pouring your heart into the work, but I would have it no other way.” Working with creativity and DIY on a professional level can be a challenge and sometimes inspiration can be hard to find. I get my everyday inspiration from life around me and of course Pinterest and Instagram. ”To me It’s important to have fun, and only to do it, if it brings you joy
and happiness. My goal is to bring color and the fun about knitting i to the world, so that the young generation also will find peace and harmony in the craft” says Charlotte. Charlotte also finds supplies and inspiration at local fleamarkets and thriftshops. ”It’s one of my best tips, when telling people how to get started, she adds. ”Of course I buy a lot of my yarn at the yarnshop, but mixing it up can be quite interesting. I like knowing the true colour and feel of the yarn that I use, so I don’t really buy supplies online.” THE STORY SHE’S TELLING Charlotte is trying to put a message put there with her passion for knitting: ”I feel it’s important to get involved. My mothers generation knew how to fix things, and what stuff was made from. My generation, is having a hard time fixing stuff and we’re losing knowledge about materials and how to actually do it ourselves. I want to be part of lighting the spark of this again and get it back on track” she says. An example of how to work wiht this getting involved approach and introduce let’s say a child to knitting, could be to have the kid make its own Hama (ed. plastic bead) design, choose the color for the art-work or make the art-work in Hama beads either mini, medi ore maxi. For the DIY I did for this issue I have used Medi beads and a square plate. From this work from the child’s hand, the knitter now has a “chart” to knit from, 1 bead equals 1 stitch, and 2 rows in gather stitch using intarsia knitting method. It’s all about making it fun and doing together and show how knitting and being creative can work as a form of meditation for the mind.
KAWAII PONY DIY
Im a pony girl, I love ponies I love manga, Hamma beads and knitting, so why not combine this to a nice DIY. This is my hand knitted pony badge and a pice of Art-work to lay in Hamma. YOU´LL NEED: Art-work template Scrap yarn i the colors you need to knit the art-work (I have used Lama wool from Strikkebogen.dk 50 g = 100 m) Knitting needles 5,5 mm - needles that fit your yarn Hama beads medi - lots of colors Hama plade medi 4- squears A flat-iron Ironing (baking) paper STEP 1: The Grown-up prints the Art-work with or without colours STEP 2: You can do this step together: Colour the Art-work and use it as a chart for the beads. The grown-up irons the beads afterwords. STEP 3: The grown-up knits from the Art-work/hama-bead. 1 bead = 1 stitch in gather and 2 rows. STEP4: Together you find a nice pice of clothing to sew the pony badge on to. Put the Hama- Art work in a nice frame.
”autumn is a second spring,
where every leaf is a flower” - by Camus
photographer: Monika Elena
clothing: boy + girl
BOOK CRUSH KAWAII - THE CUTEST BOOKS EVER recommendations for you by julie arndrup
www.thejulesrules.dk @thejulesrules
the miffy books by Dick Bruna
Many many books are super cute all in their own way. I’m sure you already know the books about Miffy, the very kawaii bunny, written and drawn by Dick Bruna. They are classics. Also Hello Kitty, cat or not, is a known and typically kawaii figure in books and so much more. Find them here! My girls have their own favorite cuter than cute books and I thougt I'd share some of the titles with you.
moshi moshi kawaii by Anne Fine, Illustrations by Tony Ross
When the girls were a little bit younger, maybe 2 and 5 years old, they really loved the Moshi Moshi kawaii books. They are big illustrated books, full of little cute bunnies and other animals, dressed up as just about everything you can imagine. It is sort of a ”where is Wally” concept, where you have to find certain specific bunnies and their friends. There is not much to read aloud, only a very simple storyline, kept in short sentences. It’s all very pink, full of small funny details and we have had hours and hours of qualitytime with these books, both together, with me reading out loud, and the girls alone, just studying the many cute details and discussing who of them is the yellow bunny and who is the purple one. Find them here!
adventure time with Jake the Dog and Finn the Human
Now that my girls are older, 6 and 11 years old, they have found other books to read. One of their favorite tv shows is also a cartoon series – Adventure Time with Jake the Dog and Finn the Human. Together they strive to be everyday heroes, helping their friends and rescuing people in need. Even though it is a cartoon for older children (and adventurous adults) the drawings and the universe in all is very kawaii. You''ll see big eyes, lots of cuteness and talking cookies, the most adorable remote control you will ever see and lots and lots of colours and joy. Adventure Time is the kind of story, who at first sight seems very silly and noisy, but if you take your time and sit down with the kids and read (or watch) you will soon discover, that underneath all the loudness, there is a genuine positive message – be kind and help others. See more here!
questionmark by Anders Arhoj And then there is this all shiny and new title ”Questionmark”, by danish artist Anders Arhoj. Anders is mostly famous for his adorable ceramic ghosts and other beautiful designs, but he also illustrates. This new picturebook is completely without words, and like the Moshi Moshi Kawaii books it is sort of a Where ́s Wally book. Only here, you can begin from both the front and the back of the book and follow two different little critters on their journey towards each other. This book is only just published in Denmark, but since it is without words there really is no language barrier. See more here!
Transitions with Nature PHOTOGRAPHER: JASMYNE ROSE
FOOD CRUSH
www.idafrosk.com @idafrosk www.facebook.com/idafrosk twitter.com/idafrosk idafrosk.tumblr.com
PLAYING WITH FOOD Meet Ida Frosk the foodblogger who can’t stop playing with food As you may know Enfants Terribles Magazine is very much about playing much, much more and worrying a lot less. That’s why we thought Ida Frosk would be the perfect fit for our food crush. Even though our parents and even grandparents always forbid us to play with our food, seeing Ida doing these fun and creative works of food art made us realize how wrong our parent’s were. She turns
food into little whimsical, colorful and playful works of art. Ida Frosk has made it more than okay to play with food by showing the world how much fun it can be. We want to know how we can get better at playing creatively with food ourselves. So here’s a little more about Ida and how it all began. IDA SKRIVENES Food artist. 30. Engaged. Berlin/Oslo. Favorite dish: Pancakes with fresh berries and Greek yoghurt!
PLAYING WITH FOOD Ida’s foodplay rebellion began almost by accident in June 2012. She had seen some examples of food art online and wanted to give it a go herself, but with her own personal touch. On a whim she uploaded it on her newly started Instagram account. Doing that really opened up her creativity and unleashed a hidden food art talent. INSTAGRAM MADE IT HAPPEN Being on Instagram was crucial for her development as a food artist. Through comments, likes and interactions with the community there she found her style and
got recognition. ”I still use Instagram as my main platform” she adds and tries to inspire on a daily level, to give back to the community for all the support she has met. EDIBLE ART It is very important to Ida that her food art projects are not just for show:” I don’t want to encourage unnecessary food waste and I want it to be something people can do with their every day meals. To her it’s all about creating and having fun by taking ordinary ingredients and putting them together in a new and playful way.
FOOD ADVENTURES ”I feel like I get a deeper connection with the ingredients, by looking at their natural colour and shape – and perhaps even trying out foods I hadn’t even considered before.” Her own personal favorite food project is the ”Art Toast Project”, because it also stimulates her intellectually and her favorite among those are any of the Edvard Munch toasts. At the same time as she is getting creative she teaches us about art history in such a fun and clever way. We love it!
PROFESSIONAL FOODPLAYER The hardest thing about doing this is Constantly reinventing myself I guess. I get most of my inspiration from blogs (Green Kitchen Stories, Taste of Runway) and creative IG profiles (@dschwen, @thuglifeforevs, @redhongyi). It’s hard work to come up with new ideas for food projects, now that this is my full time job but I just sit down, do some research and plan.
EAT YOUR ART OUT Ida recently published a wonderful book on her food art projects. Thebook is called “Eat Your Art Out” in English and by the end of 2014 it will be available in 7 different languages. It consists of lots of colorful food art photos with instructions, tips and basic recipes – so it’s absolutely possible to use it as a starter guide for starting to make food art. When turning the food project into a book it was essential for Ida to keep the spirit of the Instagram photos and presentation, while at the same time providing additional information to make it stand out from what you would get for free
online. She wants the book to inspire people to play with their food and not take it all too seriously. DO IT YOURSELF Ida’s advise to newbees in food art making: ”Don’t be afraid to play, everyone can make food art. You can begin with simple ideas, such as faces and animals, and move on to more complicated things. Remember to use lots of fresh colors and just have some fun, it doesn’t have to be perfect!” No special tools are needed. ”I usually work with just a small knife and occasionally scissors, no special tools needed. If you
want to, you can of course get cutters and molds, but I like to do everything myself.” We asked Ida one last question: Will your kids be allowed to play with food? Her answer: ”Definitely!” So yes cooking is about the perfect combination of ingredients, but i’ts also a very visual form of art. Making things look beautiful, interesting, fun and delicious is half of the work when you cook for other people. So think about that when you make your kiddo’s lunch next time.
thanks for reading,
now go play...
enfants terribles on-FONT terr-EE-bluh
ɑŋfɑŋtæɐ̯ˈʁiːblə]
Terrible children. One who acts unconventionally. French expression traditionally referring to a child who is terrifyingly candid by saying embarrassing things to adults, especially parents. However, the expression has drawn multiple usage in careers of art, fashion, music, and other creative arts. In these careers, it implies a successful "genius" who is very unorthodox, striking, and in some cases, offensive or rebellious. Classically, one who "thumbs their nose" at the establishment, or challenges it.
SEPTEMBER 2014 issue #7