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!