Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder

It seems awfully quite around here. I've given myself the last couple of weeks off to catch up on down time, collect my thought and generally get my life in some kinda order. Did I manage that order, I'm not so sure, but I'm in a better place for trying. We can't fail or succeed without trying, and no matter which category you efforts fall in you'll always be better off with the experience gained from giving it a shot. I did however find some clear order with my Instagram account.

This short animated video by London-based award winning filmmaker Alex Goddard feels fitting to me at the moment - slightly off-beat, always thinking positively, tuned in, but ultimately a little unsure of where my place is.

Mat.

The Simpsons x Pokemon Badges by Thumbs Design

Sometimes your stumble across something that hardly needs an introduction - just like these badges from London based graphic design studio, Thumbs Design.

Merging too of the most popular cartoon creations on the planet – The Simpsons and Pokémon – Thumbs Design have created this amazing set of enamel badges, trading cards and stickers.

Get over to Etsy to see the full range.

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Embiggen Pins | Not Your Usual Simpsons Merchandise

It’s a running joke in The Simpsons that their merchandise is fairly shoddy. Their faces (particularly Homer’s and Bart’s), appear on everything; from pizza cutters to plasters, from breakfast cereal to t-shirts - and it’s generally all cheap.

Occassionaly, though, you can find a Simpsons gem. My Surly bottle opener is quality and I’ll be first in line to buy a genuine Duff, once it’s released. These badges from Embiggen Pins are firmly in that category too.

What makes them good, is that they’re so different. Aside from Bart on a skateboard, they don’t feature the usual Simpsons character line-up. Instead, we have Alf (in Pog form), Homer’s half-cat/half-dog hybrid, Frostilicus, and the motivational mascot from the Osaka Seafood Concern.

With these pinned to my jacket, I know that anyone who stops me to chat Simpsons is a proper connoisseur.

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Bartworks by Ken Kagami

We're just fresh back from our trip to Florida, and of course we had to make time to visit Springfield at Universal Studios. We spotted Sideshow Bob escaping from Prison, ate junk food at Krusty Burger and did our annual meet-up with Duffman. We didn't see any wacko Barts like in this zine by Japanese artist Ken Kagami. "Bartworks" is a 36-page exploration of just how weird you can make Bart Simpson look. 11/10 on the odd scale.

Bartworks is limited to 500 editions worldwide. Available here. 

Thanks for sticking with us while we've been away, we appreciate your comments, emails + tweets. Now it's time for us to catch up!

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Peanuts x Moleskine Diary + Weekend Links

Finally gots me the Peanuts x Molskine 2015 diary I've been looking for. So someone did listen to my Christmas Wish-List! I can now pencil in all my meetings in accordance with Charlie and the gang. I never did get that jacket though, but this is just as good.

So what's up this w/e folks? I have a busy week ahead, so I'm still taking advantage of Hollie being off work and the post-Christmas downtime. I am technically back at work but you know, I've still got Super Mario World to play and Terry's Chocolate Orange to eat. Who's with me? Post your new links in the comments below.

Weekend Bucket List 

Interior inspiration, keeping things grey
Real-life Peter Griffin....sweet
DIY kit to make your beer ice cold
"This is what Berline taught me", well worth a read
Ever been to The Barbican Centre Conservatory?
Amazingly detailed paintbrush portraits by Rebecca Szeto
Pink selvedge denim, bit different!
In-case you missed it - More exploring, more connecting, more real life

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TSPTR Does Peanuts

Peanuts on a jacket, and a decent looking jacket at that. It's by London-based streetwear brand TSPTR - which stands for something pretty complicated - and has all the hallmarks of a great piece of outerwear in my eyes. Collegiate sports throw-back, cartoon illustration, hometown colours (Blackpool)....you know, all the stuff I'm in to. In fact, did they design it for me? Either way, it's a match made in Americana-heaven. 

TSPTR have gone and created a whole collection featuring original cartoons from the Peanuts family, illustrated by Charles M. Schulz. The collection features tees, sweats (also above), jackets and accessories - each featuring a nod the cartoon that was sandwiched between Trumpton and FunnyBones. It's just a shame my boy Linus didn't make the team sheet.

TSPTR Peanuts collection available at The Great Divide.

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If Homer + Marge Were Wine Bottles

....and you mix them with a chunk of inspiration from Piet Mondrian, they might look a bit like this. Being a beer man myself I would liked to have seen some new versions of Duff Beer, but that doesn't take away from how well executed this project has been.

Wine, or Maybe Not has now sadly been withdrawn by the request of Fox, but I thought it was worth sharing before the images are no longer available.

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Dr Suess Shirts by The Honorable Shirt Company SS14

Classic American children's writer Dr Suess and his illustrations have taken over proceedings with the designs for The Honorable Shirt Company's SS14 collection. A fitting tribute to a truly exuberant storyteller, with values as old as the hills. Available at Urban Outfitters this April.

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. 

The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."

- Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut.

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What Makes You Happy?

  

My advice this morning would be to have a break for 10 minutes and do something that makes you happy, even if it is seen as a bit weird to everyone else. 

Enjoy it!

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Mr Benn’s Adventures With Turnbull & Asser

Classic British children's cartoon Mr Benn has been immortalised in the form of a limited edition range of pocket squares, by London shirt markers Turnbull & Asser. Four original pieces of artwork have been design by the cartoon's creator + illustrator, David McKee, taking the audience of one of many of Mr Benn's infamous adventures. Each design is based around the show's first episode, "Red Knight", which aired back in 1971.

Limited to 50 pieces for each design, the Mr Benn's Adventures Pocket Squares will be available exclusively this May at Turbull & Asser.

I'm in London for a couple of days so sorry if I've not replied to your comments + emails!

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The Simpsons LEGO House + Weekend Links

   

Imagine working for LEGO, that would be pretty cool right? To celebrate the yellow gang's 25th anniversary, LEGO and their enthusiastic designers have created a fully functional and accurate Simpsons house, made up of 2,523 pieces. Seriously though, this would be a dream job!

This week has given me plenty of time for reflection. I was asked back to my old college/uni to talk to the students about "Graduating in a Recession". My main advice was to always be proactive, passionate and don't doubt your ability and talents. Sometimes I need to listen to my own advice.

What's on the cards this weekend guys? I'll be found catching up with emails, your comments and with a cold pint of Guinness.

Weekend Bucket List

A short interview I did for my mate Sally of The Cafe Cat.
This got a lot of people talking on Twitter - Bloggers & Photoshop, How Far is Too Far?
#StanSmith yourself.
I aim to travel more this year, Lake Tahoe is high on the list.
Loft Trading's latest short.
Kristabel's been doing her bit for Blackpool tourist board, she makes my town look classy!
Don't forget to enter our latest Giveaway.
I'm not one for hoodies but I could get down with this lot.

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The Simpsons 25h Anniversary Moleskine Notebooks

Fresh for 2014 comes the latest limited edition release from Moleskine. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Sprinfield's favourite family, Moleskine have created a range of The Simpsons hardcover notebooks. The set is available in both yellow and black (lined and unlined), feature classic illustrations, exclusive doodles, quotes and a set of stickers; lending themselves to Homer, Bart and the rest of the crew. [via]

Available mid January, pre-order your set here.

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