Design Porn: Julie Arkell

Have you heard of Selvedge? It's a super sleek lifestyle and design magazine. Sometimes it's just a little too swanky and shiny for me (although if you put an issue in front of me, I'll devour it faster than a Pret Christmas sandwich). Selvedge also have a shop called Drygoods and that's where I found Julie Arkell. I've never seen papier maché look so fancy.

A little lamby. Totally adorable. Look at his cute lamby little ears. They've been hand-sewn, just like all of the clothes on the dolls.

This is the loveliest of doll houses.

It's a hill. Obviously. What on earth did you think it was?

This toadstool is rather splendid, isn't it?

I love the work that goes into these tiny pieces. There's so much care and every single one will be different. Unsurprisingly, given the time and attention, they're not cheap (prices start at around £60), but they are very special and I think Julie creates something quite lovely in her miniatures.

Polka Dot Sundays

Monday could always do with more giant papier mache snails.

Monday could definitely do with a papier mache monkey or three.

Monday totally needs a papier mache giraffe. Called Patrick.

Monday needed a little bit of Polka Dot Sundays. This company has absolutely made my day with its happiness. This is the work of an incredibly talented woman called Jaina. She takes the Sunday papers and turns them into... well, magic.

Each design begins as a scrunched up bit of newspaper and then Jaina works in her London studio to create her recycled animals.

Want to make one or your own? YOU CAN! I'm so damn excited about getting papier mache all over my face. Polka Dot Sundays and Craft Guerrilla are teaming up into one PVC glue-covered London event on July 21st. Tickets are £35 and you'll make your very own Liberty bird, like the ones above (I can bet you mine won't look a damn thing like the ones above).

Feeling lazy crafty (the best kind of crafty)? Then head over to the Polka Dot Sundays' Etsy shop and buy your own little bird instead. And you can decorate him yourself! The birds are £28 and ready for sticking and playing and making pretty. The monkey? He's £160 and oh my god I want him so much.

My heart for a papier mache monkey.

Twitwooshkas

Oh just look at these little owls! Now just owls. Twitwooshkas. Which is clearly the best name ever for something so darn cute. Twitwooshkas! Go on, say it out loud. Isn't it the most fun thing to say? Yes. These little nesting birds (hehe! birds have nests!) are so much more fun than normal Matrioshka dolls.

These ones are made from papier mache and they're all handpainted by artists in Kashmir, Northern India so they'll all look unique. You can buy the set of five from Niki Jones for £100. My favourite find of the year.