A sneak preview...

Here's a sneak preview of my eight new card designs (front and back). I think they complement each other very well and also cater for different tastes and occasions. Nature plays a big part in the collection as it is a major inspiration. I plan to expand the series by adding more designs to suit the seasons as well as themes, such as woodland wildlife, which is extremely popular at the moment. 

The embellishments will enhance the nature element of the designs and bring some colour and pattern to them, but mainly they will bring a handmade feel to them.

An ideal gift to celebrate the arrival of Spring!

'VALENTINE BUTTERFLY'

Below is my 'Valentine Butterfly' design printed as a postcard. Soon, it will also be available on white A6 cards with the addition of heart embellishments. 

I am currently working on my first eight greeting card designs, which will be printed in large batches, with each card lightly embellished by hand. They will be available on my Etsy shop as groups of four and in local shops, such as the Watershed.  Updates and photographs will follow. You can always contact me in private if you are interested in purchasing any of my designs, I will be more than happy to arrange delivery.  

Happy Valentine's Day!

I LOVE CAKE!

The year just gone was a very productive year for me, in the kitchen as well as in the studio. 

It is fair to say that I love baking and I am attracted to beautiful looking desserts or anything baked to golden perfection (who isn't eheh??). Consequently, I found that I enjoy a great deal illustrating delicious yummy puddings and cakes - as well as making and eating them! - which can be seen in my greeting cards and prints.

Baking gives such a sense of achievement, you can start from bread and biscuits and then venture into more complex show stoppers, which, I assure you, have nothing in common with the stuff you buy in the supermarkets, mainly because there's so much thought, love, care and consciousness put into producing something yourself at home. 

I am now addicted to buying recipe books and baking implements...

Happy New Baking Year to all the keen ones!! x

Chocolate crust mascarpone pudding

Blackberry Clafoutis

OBJETS POUR NOEL

My illustration and stitching works are on sale at the gallery Objets the Désire in Cabot Circus, Bristol. It opened the beginning of October and it will be there as a pop-up shop until 24th December. The response has been great and my creations have been nicely received. It is a satisfactory end of the year, thanks to everyone who bought something of mine! Have a wonderful festive period! x

 My 'Safari Elephant' cushion (top) - can be bought here

'TIS TIME TO SAY THE WORD...

C.H.R.I.S.T.M.A.S :-)

Above are some of my latest card designs, which I have made for the pop-up gallery in Cabot Circus. The set up is slowly updating, in fact, some wintery and Christmas stock is magically appearing in store! I hope you come to have a look! 

MAKING MEMORIES

I have had the experience of working with sufferers of different kinds of dementia within a care home environment and I have seen in person how this condition affects not only the patient, but also his/her close family members and friends, so I was more than happy to participate in the Alzheimer's Society Memory Walk event and raise some money by doing a craft stall to show my support and acknowledge how big a cause this is. 

Saturday's event at Blaise Castle was very successful, despite the rainy start. I was really pleased to see how many people turned up!

I was paired up with a lovely lady called Helen, who makes beautiful fragranced candles and cute home accessories. Our stall was right in front of the stage so we had full view of all the performances, which helped brighten up a rather dull day (or at least the first part of it as later on the sun came out). 

Helen was late to set up her table, as she volunteered to help out with the signs for the 10 mile walk, but I wasn't made aware of that so I spread my stock out by taking over the other table which was allocated for her (see the first picture below)...eventually I retreated! 

The walkers and enthusiastic sprinters were welcomed at the finishing line by a cheering crowd and there were plenty of refreshments and entertainment on offer, such as: 'Here Come The Night jars', The Gasworks Choir and Ilu Axé choreographed Samba drumming band. There were also freestyle dancers, hula hoopers, face painters, candy floss, homemade cakes, pizza, tombola and craft stalls (us!).

The Memory Walk Officers and Volunteers were absolutely brilliant, they looked after us very well and showed us so much appreciation for our contribution to the day.

I sold more than I thought, especially the new designs, which was great to see. 
In a couple of days I will be setting up my work (both my stitchings and my designs) in Cabot Circus, in a new pop up shop/gallery called Objets de Désire, which is already an online boutique. The shop will run until 24th December! Hopefully see you there!

Here are some of the new items that were on sale:

ps. These last typewritten 'Baby' quotes proved very popular on Saturday, in fact I was commissioned to make more, since I run out of the blue ones...apparently more baby boys than girls are born!

HAPPINESS IS...

I am more drawn to mechanical objects than digital technology so it's no wonder that when the opportunity to use a typewriter in my work came along I (literally) grabbed it with both hands! 
I realised that there is a considerable public interest - when it comes to handmade items - in works where words or quotes are included, therefore, I thought that adding a typewritten section in my pictures would be the best way to update and push forward my style, this also allowed me to move from greeting cards towards a more versatile and frameable object/gift. The most important thing for me is that, because of the unpredictability of a typewriter, a handmade feel is more emphasised, for each picture becomes a unique piece with all the (relatively minor) smudges and irregularities. 

The colourful printed textiles and paper, as well as the embellishment of hand drawn or cut out birds and butterflies, make these compositions such a lovely gift to someone dear or, perhaps, they could brighten up a dull corner in your home... there it is a bit of wisdom and warmth (handmade with love) within such an easy reach! 

I have used quotes that inspired or touched me in one way or another, thoughts on happiness, friendship, a baby's arrival and I have also included a few verses from the song "Over the Rainbow", which I find nostalgic but, nonetheless, very beautiful and reflective.  

I will be 'testing them out' at the Alzheimer's Society Memory Walk event in Bristol this month, where I will have a stall along with other makers. I am so glad that I was asked to partake in it so that I can give a hand and make a contribution to such a great cause. 
Hopefully see you there!