For luck...

New in the shop- hand printed 'for luck' cards, featuring a horse shoe and a couple of shamrocks for some extra luck! I hand carved and printed these beauts with a deep turquoise water based ink onto a nice textured watercolour paper (fabriano in case you'd like to know...)

Live on the art of writing, we all know how exciting it is to receive something other than a bill through the door! Let someone know you're thinking of them and send some luck their way...

Also thought I'd share some of my recent favourites on Etsy, where I sell my bits. If you haven't taken a look through the things they have to offer from all over the globe, you're certainly missing out- plus you can find handmade lovelies to do with just about anything on there, even for the hardest person to buy for!


S x

Happy weekend!

The week has flown, and that's really not allowed to happen when I need to squeeze so much into it! This week I've been working on some exciting jubilee ideas, soon to be revealed...

...a friend's wedding invites (see the sweet little fabric trees; she's getting married in the forest and I can't wait!) We've sat down and looked through so many invite ideas together, seen so many smart, same-old designs and decided that these handmade ones would reflect the day perfectly; casual, relaxed and fun- plus it's been lovely to have a few evenings of glueing and snipping and getting excited about the big day! (except for one evening we spent coaxing the missing kitten down from a tree with a rather large ladder & a torch...) Anyway.

Some new art prints made their way into the shop, a limited edition lino cut of my Singer sewing machine design after a few requests from the tote bag fans, and also my large archival Cirencester print ready to grace your walls...

There have also been several hours staring blankly at Pantone charts, an enjoyable exhibition over at The Brewery Arts by The Oxford Printmakers, and a bit of painting. That's a general round-up, more soon! Tomorrow it's 'bring your boyfriend to work day' as we're off to Rapture & Wright (where I print for a few days of the week) to shoot a 'behind the scenes' video of what goes on and how their beautiful fabrics are created- will share with you when it's polished up and in its full glory! 

Have a lovely weekend! S x

Spring...

Another nice surprise- I am page 131 of Etsy's Spring Look Book for this year! Have a browse through and you'll be sure to come across some lovely new bits, as well as a couple of interesting reads from designer makers towards the back...So exciting to see what people are up to in this miserable climate (financially- today's a beautiful bright day here!) X

Open publication - Free publishing - More 2012

A nice start to 2012...

A very (belated) happy new year to you all! Hope Christmas was relaxing as it could've been; mine was spent with family playing Scrabble, eating far too much and a good stomp in the countryside before a nice quiet week in Wales around new year...feels like a long time ago already!

I'm back in the office sorting mostly my first tax return out, (oh, the glamour) though my day was saved yesterday when I heard I'd been included in Channel 4's list of 'top 10' makers to watch and invest in for 2012 on Folksy! Such amazing, exciting news, totally ready for 2012 now after my slow crawl into the new year! 


Lots of things to report to you in January, it's turning out to be quite a busy month which is surprising so will keep you posted as bits evolve...This is a small sneak snippet of a 40th birthday commission I did for a client's best friend just before Christmas...

It ended up being nick-named 'the love token' and was so beautifully thought through, with just about every important aspect of my client's friends life entwined together including places she'd lived, first cars,the names of her children and husband and other bits and pieces along the way. It was printed absolutely huge and was so lovely to work on, especially before Christmas when we all need reminding of the important things in life! 


I'd love to do more personalized illustrations like this, I'm thinking wedding presents, retirement gifts and 'big' birthdays. Interpreting and digesting photos and information that people have given me to work with is a nice challenge and I end up feeling like I know these people inside out! ...is that a little too creepy...?! 

So...back to the book keeping. May all your wishes and dreams come true this year, make it a good one! X

It's begining to look a lot like Christmas...!

Finally, a photo of my newest studio addition as promised. This rare stationary moment was caught whilst she was asleep on the ironing board, exhausted from 're-arranging' the Christmas tree...enough said! She is so sweet and absolutely exhausting!

 

The Christmas shipping date has now been and gone and things are starting to wind down. I've been finishing up a few Christmas commissions including this one for a friend's boyfriend who adores vintage racers; this one's a little like my vintage 'lady bike' cushion, but a male model on a canvas frame. Have to say, I love this and it was pretty hard to let go of it! I may well be making some more, let me know what you think...

The polariods on the tree are old ones of my mum dressed as an angel when she was little and me with the cousins and a rather creepy looking Santa...I love having these out, they provoke a few chuckles on the way past and are a bit different to the trusty bauble!

Our festive offering this year- you can find the cushions, prints and stockings in the shop!

Those who follow these ramblings may recall the evening ceramics course I said I was doing last term? Well these little houses are the (small!) fruits of my labour, along with lots of other wonky pots / useless vessels / indescribable...things! Had lots of fun doing the course, and looking forward to whatever 2012 brings! 

Heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported me in my first year of trading, it is evident (as I sit down to sort out my tangle of accounts over Christmas!) that 2011 has been such an adventure, so much fun and just brilliant- I'm so grateful that after graduating only last year, I have been able to make a go of this creative malarkey! Couldn't do it without you- have a fabulous Christmas and all the best for 2012! X

Give away!

Get a FREE pack of my illustrated Christmas cards when you spend £25 or more in the shop!

Think Guinea Fowl Aprons for the foodie in your life and smart tweed pocket warmers for hosts, dog walkers and boyfriends; pocket mirrors and tote bags for stocking fillers- Give handmade this Christmas for something truly unique and memorable...

Offer lasts until 17th December! X

Distractions & more Christmas shopping opportunities...

Phew, what a week! This will be my very first Christmas selling, as last Christmas was the very start of my creative endeavor... so far, so good- my favourite part being all of the lovely events and people I get to meet at the Christmas markets I've been doing, the mulled wine and awesome food which make the stressful panic-making part more bearable! Luckily my work with Rapture & Wright eases off at this time of year as normal people take a break so I can plough through dozens of hand warmers, tote bags and aprons! (see what I'm talking about here)

It may have been the worst timing to even consider introducing another member of the family to the mix, but I'm being very distracted indeed by the lovliest blonde kitten who came courtesy of The Cats Protection League...she's utterly gorgeous and is into everything. Will have to post a picture once she stays still for 5 minutes!

Thought I'd let you know about another stall i'm holding at Prema Art Centre, Uley near Stroud 11th Dec, 2-6pm. Super excited about this one, there looks to be some amazing bits so I'm sure i'll be able to get the majority of my Christmas shopping done here too! See you there! X