New textiles!

I've just launched a collection of hand screen printed textiles, introducing new 'Allotment' aprons & tea towels! 

Inspired by outdoor living and printed in a mid-century inspired aqua blue and zingy orange this combo should be just the thing to cheer up your kitchen as we migrate into a (hopefully!) more al fresco lifestyle, Pimms & BBQ anyone? They come wrapped beautifully, so will also make perfect gifts for foodie or garden fanatic friends. They're in the shop now, hope you like them!

S x

By the sea...

Things have been rather busy round here with my illustration project ongoing over at the new Gloucester Services, and then yesterday I was featured on Country Homes & Interiors blog talking about my work...all good of course, I love it when it's all go & full steam ahead!

I finally have a minute to show you my new tea towel design, part of my ever-growing seaside-inspired collection...

I dreamt this one up earlier this year whilst holidaying in St.Ives, a place I could happily be forever! Featuring everyone's favourite two (it seems) and a host of other nautical curiosities, each one is printed by hand with eco friendly inks in Britain. It matches my Lobster apron perfectly and comes individually or as a nice set, tied with twine. Paired with one of my cards or art prints and you'll find yourself instantly transported to your most favourite coastal spot! You can shop the collection here...hope you like what you see! 

I'm currently designing the paintings to go on the walls in the petrol station over at Gloucester Services, then I'll be heading back to Finland to get a good meal into that fella of mine...! It's been a while and I'm looking forward to the last of the summer sun over there and getting back to the drawing board...

S x

New tea towels & home love

Phew! I am doing my best to stay cool... had no idea the UK would be this blistering hot for the two weeks I've been home! Feeling pretty smug, the countryside is looking rather magnificent in the sunshine. Do I have to go back? (yes.) I will be sure to show you some of what I've been up to soon...

Before I do, I have a NEWLY illustrated tea towel to show you, available from this evening in my shop! Inspired by visits to the Farmers Market, my 'Buy local' tea towel is just the job for declaring your support for all things fresh and lovely! Here's your preview...

Screen printed in a smart charcoal colour onto crisp linen union and tied with twine, I am rather fond of this creation already, let me know what you think! Spotted the crafty mutt lusting over some sausages?

This is also my chance to give you a heads up for the studio SALE clear out I'm busy sorting through today, keep your eyes peeled for some handmade bargains from tomorrow!

S X

Round up.

Hi All, a rather sporadic round-up of newsy bits to keep in touch, I'm not entirely sure where the weeks go to!

I have added a few more events you can catch me at this year to the website; love it when these kick in as it means spring is finally here after a long, slow and rather isolated winter in the studio, it's nice to say 'hello' to people again as I re-emerge, blinking like a mole...! Get them in your diary.

There's a new tea towel! This time one of my map series is Tetbury, the 'little London' and antiques capital of the Cotswolds...

A bit of spring for your kitchen! The tea towel runs alongside an exhibition I have my work in with The Gloucestershire Guild of Craftsmen in May, which I will surely nudge you about a bit closer to the time.

In other news...

• I have a new stockist, the fabulous 'Made in Stroud', in Gloucestershire. Pop in on a Saturday morning and witness the best Farmer's Market in the UK (Pippin doughnuts, hot local apple juice and a proper sausage are a must!) Our favourite thing to do..

• Map bunting I made for a clients friend's 30th Birthday. The beauty is she can take out the '30th' for other 'happy birthdays' or flip it to reverse for some pretty map print bunting in her home...versatile or what!

• My entries for a curator friend's exhibition, 'Best of British' to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. It's open to everyone so get involved, kids included (and most importantly!) Simply draw your 'best of British' onto a postcard and send it in, only the cost of the stamp is needed and your artwork will be in the exhibition and possibly even a book or stamp... http://bestofbritainsubmissions.tumblr.com/ for more details.

•  I was lucky enough to do New Design magazine's 'Passionate about' feature, my chosen subject being 'hand made' of course! 

Last but not least, I posted this to my facebook page a couple of weeks ago so apologise if you have already seen this, but it's worth a watch if you haven't! A short film showing how the company I print for, Rapture & Wright, screen print their beautiful British fabric.

They have an open studio & gardens weekend on Sunday 6th May, 10am- 4pm at Grange Farm, Evenlode, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire GL56 0NT, a rare opportunity to see what goes on there...

That's enough for now, sorry for the information overload! X

Hello sunshine, Fresh Air & new bits...

Hello all! 

Had a really lovely weekend visiting Studland Bay in Dorset for a leisurely plod down the sand dunes, followed by cream tea on Brownsea Island surrounded by peacocks, red squirrels and deer!

 Sunday took me to Quenington's Fresh Air sculpture exhibition, which is set in the most beautiful gardens and really worth a visit (more tea and cake here too!) It is on for another week or so, so there's still time to visit if you havn't- each year is fantastic...

Nicola Ransom, Flight I

 Fiona Haines

 

Peter Garrard

The images above were from some of my favourites...though certainly not the biggest, most technical or expensive, it's always the simple, modest things which speak to me the most- things I can see in my own home- probably the reason I create the things that I make...

...Bringing me nicely onto some new bits! The Cotswold Sheep Society tea towels are now ready to buy here, along with some new Stratford-Upon-Avon design tea towels which you can get here or in The National Trust's newly opened 'Arter' store in the centre of Stratford, which is looking really lovely set in an old Tudor building.

 A quiet reminder that I will be at The Cotswold Show next weekend, 2nd-3rd July- do come and have a chat with me! Tickets can be bought for £8.00 in advance on their website. The event attracts 25,000 people with a Shetland pony Grand National, racing llamas, falconry and motorbike displays, food tents, hot air balloons and lots more. You can find me in the craft tent, come and say hello! x

Win!

'Follow' my blog (bottom left!) to be in with a chance to win one of my hand printed eco-cotton Singer bags! A winner will be informed next week, good luck! 

Also remember the 10% WELOVEJUNE2011 discount code will run out on my Etsy store at midnight tonight! x