A busy summer!

A hand painted wooden doorstop for my studio door.

 

I can't believe three months have passed since I last updated the blog! Wow- I've been busier than I thought!  Here's a few snapshots of recent goings on.  New products and seasonal cards to be announced very soon...  TTFN

June roundup!

Screen printing in the studio...

My garden is coming to life, lots of colour!

A great write up about my work in the July/August issue Craft & Design magazine.

And here's a two page write up in Gift Focus magazine, July/August edition.  Thrilled to have such kind words said about my work!

A new limited edition screen print: 'Good Times Roll'.

'Good Time's Roll is currently being shown in Cambridge Contemporary Crafts as part of their Tour de France exhibition.  It's also available online in my Etsy and NOTHS shops.

And finally, here's a highlight of my month... a kiss from a baby owl!

House Plant Heaven

 Today I've added two new products to my Etsy and NOTHS shops, 'House Plant Drinks Coasters' (shown above) and 'House Plant Notepads' (shown below). 

These two came about after a series of drawings I created based on my collection of cacti and succulent house plants.  Both are fully hand screen printed including the packaging.  The notepads come in mint/black and green/black colourways and the coasters come in a pack of five containing one of each colour shown in the photos above. 

A little injection of kitsch colour suitable for any table!

Here's a sneak peek of a new feature started today over on my Facebook page, Novelty Print Thursdays!  I thought this one seemed appropriate to include with the new House Plant range.  I'll be showing a fabric pattern from my personal collection of vintage clothing every Thursday, why the heck not?!

New Shoppers!

 

Introducing 'Shake, Rattle & Roll' and 'Cocktail Time', two new designs just in time for summer! Both designs are hand screen printed onto thick cotton canvas shopper bags which have shoulder length back straps.  Nothing like a bit of vibrant summery colour, these bags could be used for a shopping trip, picnic, beach excursion, lots of summer fun.  They're available in my Etsy shop and NOTHS shop now.

Hope you're enjoying the lovely weather!

Sheffield Print Fair

 

Here's a few pictures from the Sheffield Print Fair yesterday at the Millenium Gallery in Sheffield. Sorry for the not-so-great photo quality, my bag was so heavy I couldn't fit the camera in so took these using my phone.  You can get a feel for the stall layout at least!

It was a busy day with lots of great print makers displaying a huge range of art work for sale.  I had a catch up with the wonderful Sarah Waterhouse who's stall of hand printed fabrics looked fantastic, full of great colours.  Also nice to meet Zoe of Zebedee Print who creates amazing mid-century inspired lino cuts.

Today I'm back home having a much needed day off with a spot of Leon inspired baking.  Lemon bars on the way this afternoon and some hanging baskets to plant up for my garden.

Atomic Day Out

 

Yesterday Sam and I spent the day at a new event: The Atomic Vintage Festival at Sywell Aerodrome in Northamptonshire.  It was such a good day, full of sunshine, great music, dancing, tasty food and colourful mid-century aesthetics.

My fascination with this era began when I first encountered some of my Grandma's treasures as a child.  My Grandma Winnie had been a dressmaker and a big collector, I can remember her living room full of old display cabinets full of kitsch ornaments, lots of colour.

The day began yesterday with a vintage carboot sale in the big top.  Lots of exciting stuff on offer, I however was on a strict budget so detoured a table full of lucite handbags and Bakelite and came out with a lovely blouse covered in a sea shell novelty print pattern for a mere £3.  Not bad, and for me a very restrained carboot visit!

We saw two sessions of drag racing, including a number of hot rods and stock cars: lots of noise, smoke and amazing paint jobs- great! Another highlight was a visit to the Demon Drome Wall of Death, as Sam put it 'a total adrenaline rush'. I've never seen anything like it, the wonders of centrifugal force...  I'm not quite sure who screamed more, me or the six year old girl I stood next to ha! We both decided it was pretty scary but brilliant!  The vintage clothing and homewares tents were great to wander around, lots of great patterned dresses, I could have spent the whole day in there...
 
Other elements of our day included, for me an amazing halloumi and homemade felafell wrap and for Sam a beef taco from a Mexican food vendor.  (Who also had some amazing tequilas for sale, we tried a Herradura Anejo tequila that came in a bottle with a great horse shoe graphic logo.)  We danced to several DJ sets by Mark Lamarr and rounded off the night with a firework and light show from O'Briens Flying Circus and a live set from one of my favourite band The Domestic Bumblebees.  They finished with a cover of 'Rocker' by AC/DC, wow, really made my day!!

I've come away with lots of inspiration for new drawings and designs, couldn't ask for much more!

A busy April!

 

 

 

 

Wow, what a busy month! I spent the first week putting finishing touches to my display for the British Craft Trade Fair in Harrogate which was held on the 6th-8th April.

It was my first time exhibiting at a trade show, an experience I very much enjoyed.  Above are a selection of photos from my stand, alongside an award I won for 'Best New Gift Product'. This was awarded for my new 'Atomic' stationery ranges.  I was made up to have won something, it really made my day!  I'll be at BCTF again in 2015,  I can't wait!

Since the show I've put together a product catalogue containing lots of images of the current Memo Illustration range.  Here's a link if you'd like to see the catalogue over on my website: Memo Product Catalogue.  I've also been busy updating my online shops Etsy and NOTHS with all of my new work. 

Currently I'm busy screen printing lots of things to take to the Sheffield Print Fair on Saturday 10th May.  Maybe I'll see you there!

A trade show challenge

Beer mat business cards, with my details printed on the reverse

A glimpse at a freshly printed notecard set and gift tag/sticker pack

 

This time next week I'll be starting out on day no.1 at the British Craft Trade Fair in Harrogate, West Yorkshire.  It will be my first time exhibiting at a trade show, it's something I've been building up to for a while now.  I've sold at many a craft and print retail fair over the last 8 years but decided it was time to try out another type of event, one aimed directly at potential stockists.  For the upcoming BCTF show I've pushed myself to create as many new products as I can, and devised a colour coordinated layout for my stand. Red, yellow and blue!

Above are a few photos of my current preparations.  I've designed and screen printed 7 new products so far with 3 more to finish printing this week.  The new work includes greetings cards, tote bags, stationery packs and other paper products.  More about those soon!

My talented other half Sam has built a wall mounted card display (see above photo) which had a test run earlier this morning, it works a treat!

After the BCTF event you can find me at Manchester Print Fair on Saturday 12th April, I'll have lots of new products in tow.  More events to be announced soon.  I'd best get back to the printing table!

January round up!

Hello!
First of all, here's introducing my brand new website.  Fully updated, fully functioning and ready for your perusal.  I'm not someone who enjoys spending a lot of time sitting at the computer, hence the long overdue update, but I got there, eventually!  Have a little look here.

Image credit: Talented Totes

Image credit: Talented Totes

Image credit: Talented Totes

Image credit: Talented Totes

Next up, I'm pleased to introduce 'Love Ahoy!' a colourful range of beach bags I designed for Talented Totes recently.  All hand printed in Sheffield, UK onto fair trade canvas beach bags with chunky rope handles.  I have a few of each design available in my Not on the High Street and Etsy shops now!

I'm currently working on a new range of Memo products to take to the British Craft Trade Fair at the start of April.  More news about the new wares to follow soon.  For now I'll leave you with a recent photograph taken whilst at my desk...