Pimped up blogger header!

The great thing about blogger is that you can eaisly customise a template and tweak the html to add your own flavour to it... Just like doodletastic style of this inspiredcoo blog!

Another recent example is my husband, William Doust's, new business blog 'what if business'... Looking at the innovation possiblities that various businesses could incporporate into their way of doing things (lots of web 2.0 and didigtal improvement included!)

Anyway, here is the header I created for his blog - following a little recycling of an old photo of him and some of my doodles!

Simple shaped softies

Inspired by my earlier post about Z's dolls I came over all childish and decided to go toy hunting... and look what I found! These plush lovelies are made by toy creator and street artist 'taklu4she' from Russia with love (well, Moscow to be precise).

These soft creatures, as well as Taklu's urban style doodles and artwork, prove that simple shapes alongside the correct colour concoction and only a drop of detail can go a long way.

If you'd like to adopt one (okay, buy one) then contact Taklu4she through her (or his) flickr account.

If you're a poor artist that can't afford a Taklu original, check out the flickr page anyway... the work, which is fresh and fantastic, is sure to get your inspirational clock ticking! Besides, it may inspire you to have a go at creating your own (probably less cute) plush toys... After all, someone has to take care of the ugly ducklings (we can't all be cute and squishy!)

Dolls are back in moda...

Wow, these are the most funky little dolls I've ever seen...

The brightly coloured and sweet smiling creations were created by the Portuguese artist, Zai-Zai. I'm not sure what they're made of as I don't speak Portuguese but even if you don't speak the language I'd recommend checking out Z'Z's blog... and for an extra spoonful of you RDI (recommended daily inspiration) check out the rest of her works on flickr.

however, it's a shame the no-armed cuties appear to be unavailable for sale... I'm sure they would go down a treat in the toy section of etsy.com with the coo at the front of the queue!

Zai-Zai's pooch, 'mike', does a top job of modeling the latest range... Fashion pooch came over all giggly when she first spotted him! Aww, must be puppy love ;-)

tender star

What can one say about Buttaolo's artwork without mentioning it's originality...

This piece, titled 'tender star', really made an impact on me. To begin with it kinda freaked me out a little because I associated the roundness of the characters head and chubby body with that of a babies. However, the bright colours and composition drew me in... and a closer inspection of the characters attitude and make-up revealed a 'babe' of different kinds... This is one funky rock chick!

An interesting design that mixes sexy with cute whilst throwing in a little bit of 'weird'... A fresh approach! If you like it, check out Battaolo's flickr account which is bursting with more of these surreal characters!

Fashion Pooch Update: Tee's by Alex Noriega

Hi, fashion pooch is back in the blog... Here to tell you about my latest funky finding. So check out these tasty tee's, freshly cooked in the creative oven by artist, Alex Noriega.

Now, the range of tee's available out there is vast but when you want something a little different I suggest heading online. Alongside the popular threadless.com you can also find independent artists creating their own funky and very wearable shirts in places like flickr, myspace and of course, etsy.com not to mention many more (i.e illustrationmundo.com)

Alex Noriega's new illustrated tee's are creative and original... Being a lover of all things bright and kinda cute the blue one has to be my favourite - the rainbow is adorable... what's yours?

Check out more of Alex's work at www.alexnoriega.net

Fashion pooch x
(Bringing you the latest in creative wears)

DAVe Warnke's new masterpiece 'Chicken Scratch'

I had to share DAVe's latest work with you simply because it's an amazing mix of colour, doodles and eyes! Check it out, it's got three eyed characters, mushrooms and even a moon... All painted in a simple black outline. Fantastic! What else could you want from a contemporary painting on canvas?

This painting makes me smile and I love it... once again you've proved that the simple things in life are the best.

Check out more of DAVe's bright paintings and sticker art on flickr @ www.flickr.com/photos/davewarnke

coo girl x

We're back...

"Hi dudes,

I'm sorry that I've been absent from this creative dollop of virtual inspiration for a while now... I flew west and emigrated over the winter whilst the other members of the coo gang were left traumatised without their leader (me!) and thus didn't review anyone or anything... except tweaker who has spent the last few months on his couch with girls and beer.

Anyway we are back now and we've finally arrived on myspace! It's a great place to find ever more inspiration and funky doodlers like our mummy, Coo girl (AKA Michelle Doust). Sadly, tweaker has got his own evil way as usual and is lapping up the attention as the illustration coo myspace profile mascot... Anyway, add us and spread the coo love further wide.

Oh well, gotta go as mummy wants to write something about what she's been upto since October 2006... she must have busy as she didn't even know I was gone.. sniff, sniff."