If I was in a situation where I had to make the really tough decision about which of these colour combinations to pick, I think I’d go for the blue and yellow. Yep. Decision made. There is something Wes Anderson-y about the blue and yellow.. It makes me think of The Life Aquatic, one of my favourite films. What about you?!
Hello everybody, how are you today? Good I hope.
I’ve been busy working on a new design for my latest typewriter! I decided to go a bit 2 tone pattern vibe for this one. I just can’t seem to get away from pastels, every time I try, the colours somehow become pastel again…
Anyway – this is Avril. That’s her name. She is an apricot and pastel green Royalite with white detailing. The Royalite is officially my favourite model of typewriter. It’s so ergonomic, there is something so satisfying about hitting the keys on this typewriter. The keys don’t clunk, they feel very tight and quite soft, there’s no loud rattling of the metal, the padding on the back of the type basket really helps produce this soft satisfying feel when you type, as well as some kind of mysterious magic that clearly happens inside the mechanisms.
The carriage return lever is longer than average, and so shiny and curvy! You can reach it with ease when you’re typing a super urgent article for the telegraph or something. But you’d probably be best off with some technology for that really.
So as much as I want to keep this for myself, it is going up in the shop this week.
Have you been up to anything creative recently? I’d love to hear about it even if it’s not pastel coloured…
A X
Gotta be safe kids! Wear your respirator!
So a few weeks ago I was saying how the baby blue Olympia was my favourite commission of all time, well now I’ve forgotten all about that and I have a new love: this Lilac Olivetti. Swoonsville! I am actually loving the matt finish, but it is destined for glossiness so that’s that. I also rather like the keys blank, almost as if I was making a statement.. But it’s just unfinished.
Sorry baby blue Olympia, there will always be a special place in my eye candy loving heart for you.
I’ve been sending out hand typed stories with my etsy orders, this one features the fabulous “a beautiful mess” blog, they’ve really made the big time now! And this latest cobbling together of my imagination is more nonsense than ever. I wouldn’t waste your time reading it actually.
If u do read it, I mean St Kilda off the coast of Scotland not the one in Melbourne. It is important you know that.
Poor Etsy customer.
A x
PS, in case you’re wondering, this wasn’t written on one of my reconditioned typewriters, it was on my boyfriend’s 80 year old Corona 4, just so many typewriters lying around you know…
Her work is magical! She does illustrations and writes her own children’s books based on mysterious worlds where children and animals are friends, and live side by side in nature. Her style is so beautiful, and she herself is also. Here is a snapshot of one of her seafaring children.
You can see more at her blog http://theblackapple.typepad.com
Are you obsessed with any artists at the moment? Who inspires you?
I’m off to the studio now to try and be as creative Emily Winfield Martin 🙂
A x
This is a snap shot of the Claire La Secrétaire gallery from 2012 – 2013! There are so many that go out individually, it’s nice to see them all together like this.
This was a typewriter I painted a few months ago, now it is living in Canada, but remains immortalised in my studio through the medium of watercolour! I will be painting my favourite past pieces as watercolours and putting them together in a collection, maybe for a print set, or postcard set.. not sure yet. I hope you’re all having a great Sunday! I’m off to eat lots of lovely BBQ food now. See you later!
A X
We’ve been making our own bread recently, in a bid to save money, and this is our 3rd loaf. It’s pretty much the densest thing known to man, and you only need half a slice to fill you up… Is that bad? Anyway, it’s good with lemon curd! We’ll keep trying, maybe we’ll experiment with adding things like olives (oooh)!
It feels like I’ve been working on this powder pink Hermes Baby typewriter for ever! But it is finally finished, and will be shipped off to Belguim this week! I decided to make the badge the same green as the keys, rather than the original steel, just as an extra touch. Here’s a picture of me posing. I think I look a bit smug, but I’ve just got the sun in my eyes… believe!
A X
Claire La Secretaire 