April - round up!

and so another month has passed! 7 weeks free of my day job and still no regrets. it had to be done and i am realising how much i can actually get done given the time. which sounds silly - of course if you have more time you can get more done. but i can only imagine how long my to-do list would take if i was still working a day job!

i will admit i had a bit of a blip this month. i had such a 'full steam ahead' straight after leaving my job that i think said steam finally ran out. boo. so i spent a week in london to rejuvenate myself. i went to a couple of markets for inspiration and had some more studio days with Liz of Elle Jane Designs. it's good to talk things through...especially the amount we can natter for! 

i visited the Crafty Fox Market and the Renegade Craft Fair. both were fantastic and full of brilliant designer-makers. i found some real gems amongst the isles including Ginger Doodles and Lucie Ellen. I got to catch up with the lovely Jo Clarke and finally got to meet Caren Barry after, ooh must be over a year now, of regular chit-chatting online.

i also took part in another superb workshop from Patricia of The Design Trust via the New Creative Markets programme. it was all about creating my business plan. so lots of brain work required! i'm still working through the tasks but it is raising some good questions as to where i see myself in 3 years time and what my priorities are. it is making me question a few things, which i'll admit, is a wee bit scary, but it has to be done. so doing it i am!

i was accepted onto 2 spring fairs - i will be at The Fairy Tale Fair at Brighton Open Markets on the second May bank holiday (Sunday 24th), and i will also be returning for another year with City Showcase, this time we'll be at Victoria Embankment Gardens just by the tube on Sunday 31st May. i really hope you'll be able to make a visit, they are both fantastic shows and i'll be airing different products at each event with special market offers, so be sure to get to as many as you can!

i have been working on a project, something a bit different from anything i've done before. it's for children, it's illustration based, it's colourful, it's fun... it's gonna be a-moo-zing. that's all i'm giving you. i'm just putting the finishing touches together and then i can share!

another 'new thing' are my newest products. something i'm about to release just in time for my spring markets - brand new wash bags and purses! yes, i know, very exciting! they are in a variety of prints and will soon be up and running on my Etsy store. but for now here is a sneak peek... i'm so pleased with how they have turned out, a huge thank you to Robyn of Archie Mac London who made these beauties, she is very very talented.

i have a strict(-ish) new schedule in place to help me work through my list of projects and all my admin work. so far it is proving useful! hopefully it's not just the initial excitement of a new spreadsheet to work to, haha!

March - round up!

this will only be a quick round up today as i've had a burst of inspiration for a new project and i really, really, REALLY wanna get started! and to be hones there isn't much to share for March...

* the biggest thing of course will be that i left my admin day job - hoorah! i'd been there 7 years and had started building the design business alongside it. 7 years is a long time and i have made some awesome life-long friends there... but i can honestly say i do not miss it. (i write that with a huge grin on my face!) the time was right to move on and so i did, no regrets. (yet, haha!)

* and along with leaving my job i moved back home. i have given myself 3 months to get myself in order, and then i will be venturing back to London, this time the SE corner. so there's been a lot of unpacking and alas there is still some more to go but i'm sure i'll get there...just as i need to pack it all up again to move once more!

* i have spent a bit of time rejuvenating my online store. it was in need of a makeover and i'm rather pleased with the new look - lots of new fabulously colourful photos to show off the bold prints and gorgeous colours of my homeware products. it's actually made me fall in love with them all over again! 

* i've bought back some old favourites from last year - the button jewellery was pretty much a sell out last summer - so it is back in new colours, something to suit every occasion, and the tea towels are currently on a special 'Spring Clean' offer - BUY 1 GET 1 FREE! it's that time of year where we all need to have a clear out and clean up so what better to persuade you than some glorious pattern accessories!

* my newest addition to the shop are my greetings cards - a selection of birthday, occasion and blank cards from my both my 'Amsterdam' and 'London' ranges.

* and that's not all folks! there is more to come! i have new products that will be popping up over the course of the next few weeks so keep your eyes peeled. and if you want to be the first to hear about all of these new goodies you can sign up to my newsletter here.  not only will you hear about new products first you'll find out about my events and projects and you'll also get your hands on some special coupon codes...so what are you waiting for?! 

* i found out that all of my designs for Muckboots' kids range Puddletons have been accepted and will soon be released! so very excited! i got to see some photos too and they look great...i can't wait to share them with you!

* on a similar note i will (hopefully) be able to announce a new collaboration in next couple of weeks...it involves bold colour, graphic prints and a product to do with the home...haha, teasing again, sorry...but just hang on in there and you'll soon find out!

right, now you're all caught up i'm off to doodle-town (sung to the tune of Funky Town). have a fabulous weekend everyone!

January to February - round up!

february started off with a * bang * ... spring fair!! and with much of January dedicated to the show preparations there really wasn't much time for anything else. final samples to get made up, props to buy and paint, suitcases to pack, invites to send out...oh you know how it is.

setting up for spring fair was pretty straight forward (i like it when there are no surprises or complications...makes things far more appealing!). i had some bloody fantastic neighbours and the whole of the Design Lab group were an all-round great bunch of people to be stuck with for 5 days ;)

i made some good contacts from spring fair and set up meetings with a few companies to discuss potential projects. some rather exciting ones at that! so keep following and you might hear more about them all in the next few months...

my full review can be read here

i've been fortunate enough to attend yet more fantastic workshops from the New Creative Market scheme these past few weeks. both rather scary (one on tax and one on finances!) but both very informative and have given me lots to think about. in a weird way i'm actually looking forward to settling down and getting my spreadsheets sorted!

you may remember a couple of months back i announced that i was working alongside laura olivia to produce collections for our supermarket chains. what started off as a couple of designs ended up at over a dozen! there were some fantastic projects that i got to work on, a great variety of styles and themes...and to see them in production would be simply fantastic!

and of course let's not forget the big news...i quit my job!! i only have one more week at my day job and then i have 3 months focusing solely on building my portfolio (and sorting those spreadsheets!) ...i absolutely cannot wait!

2014 - how did it go then?

i don't know about you but 2014 went so fast. beyond ridiculous really. for me anyway. and i bet we all look back and go 'oh god, what did i actually achieve last year?' and then panic that we didn't do anything and didn't see friends enough and we're still stuck in that job and we didn't take that holiday...

but what about all the things you DID do? huh? don't be some blooming hard on yourself! there is only of of you and you can't do everything, and when you have big projects going on in your life (like starting a new business by yourself, from scratch) you have to make tough decisions, miss that night out, eat in and not out... it's hard but it makes it possible to get that bit further in your grand plan. i know i am guilty of working a lot but i do allow myself out. sometimes ;) i just have to plan my time wisely. i want this to work...i'm determined! i have big plans for 2015 and i WILL see them through dammit!

but anyway, as i was saying...it's always nice to look back on what you DID do and what you did achieve...try it. you might just surprise yourself. dare ya. 

and i would like to say an enormous thank you and have a big group hug with everyone that supported me this year - the bloggers & magazines, the stockists & pop-up shops, everyone from the courses i have met, all my new design buddies, all my friends and family...all of you. you're great. that is all. 

JANUARY

...Top Drawer. wow. my first trade show. LOVED IT! a lot of follow up afterwards which proved fruitful and my first 2 wholesale orders! completed 2 Pattern Observer e-courses.

FEBRUARY

...i started the Creative Hub workshops at The Fashion and Textile Museum, there was another Edinburgh hen do (seems to be the place to go!), my huge parcel of cushions arrived (much to my flatmates joy!) and first orders were shipped. possibly the biggest change was dropping a day at my day job to make more time for design...best decision. just need to drop another now ;)

MARCH

...i was accepted to become part of the We Make London family and sell in their Camden shop. i could finally announce my collaboration with Muckboots which had been very hard to keep schtum about! there was also a Glaswegian wedding, a jazz night, 2 German birthdays, and some pet shopping! 

APRIL

...seemed only right that i deserved a little treat after the trade show and went back to Alexander Spa for a weekend of relaxation. i saw my lampshades in the window of their first stockist...a very exciting thing to see.

MAY

...ok so maybe another treat - a weekend in Rome with mama Smith - not quite so relaxing this time though! 2 fairs this month - one a roaring success, the other not so much - but hey, you gotta try these things!

JUNE

...second hen do of the year this time to Bristol for a Crystal Maze (you all remember that right?!) experience in the woods!

JULY

...i got to play florist once more for my friends wedding in a beautiful country setting. Jools Holland was an awesome gig at Kew Gardens, and i returned form my 2 month creative block - thank goodness - and went full pelt at designing my new range. 

AUGUST

...my first colour festival - surprisingly fun throwing powder at strangers in a car park, especially with some amazing house tunes playing. i went Back To The Future, oh yeah.

SEPTEMBER

...i visited Autumn Fair to suss out my space for Spring. but most excitingly an amazing trip to Peru took this month over. i experienced some amazing things saw some jaw dropping sights and enjoyed the South American culture for the first time. pretty sure i'll be back at some point but more Asia to see first methinks! whilst away i was accepted onto the New Creative Markets mentoring scheme which is full of amazing workshops plus 1-2-1's with Patricia of the Design Trust - wowee! i was featured in the 2 big greetings card mags with my new Christmas card range.

OCTOBER

...my flat mate left...boooooooo! but i got a new one - yeeeaaah! i finally sussed out Illustrator, my Kickstarter campaign was successfully funded for my new range of tableware, the samples arrived, and i teamed up with Laura Olivia on some freelance work for high street retailers.

NOVEMBER

...lots of workshops and learning this month, and planning for the first of 3 Christmas fairs of the year. that takes up a surprising amount of time - especially when there are manufacturing problems to work around! i was also offered a spot on Print & Pattern blogs 'Designers for Hire' directory...roll on the commission deals!

DECEMBER

...another 2 Christmas fairs dominated this month alongside the standard Christmas dinners and work parties. most excitingly this month was the release (finally!) of my new Morocco and London ranges...went down a storm, especially the London coasters. yay :) i ended the year with 8 new stockists which i'm going to pat myself on the back for... and here's to 2015 and a whole host of new exciting projects and releases!!

November - round up!

november - the month of market preparation! 3 christmas fairs lined up. 3 stands to plan for. and lots of stock to package. 

i have 3 very different style shows to cater for - first up (and which is currently on) is Made In Clerkenwell, a 4 day fair at Craft Central's open studios. second i have a shared exhibition space to fill at East London Design Show. and lastly an outside night market with StockMKT at Spitalfields. it's always tricky to know what products or designs to take to which market as you never know what will grab someones attention. all i know is that there will be sparkly fairy lights at them all!

i signed up to Print & Pattern's 'designers for hire' directory. i really want to get more licensing and commissioned work next year, so hope this directory will open up some opportunities for me. you can get so caught up doing your own projects and the designs that YOU want to see...so it's great when you get set a brief by someone else, especially when it has an enforced deadline...keeps up the challenge!

and on the topic of licensing deals...i finalised another 3 designs for Muckboots this month. these will form part of the 2016 range. as always these will be top secret until their release, but i have also produced designs for the kids range, Puddletons. mini wellies for mini people! i'm hoping to share the earlier designs with you soon as they are due for release next year.

i had my first 1-2-1 with Patricia van den Akker of the Design Trust. this was through the New Creative Markets mentoring scheme which i was lucky enough to be welcomed onto. we discussed my plans for next year and where i want to take my business. lots discussed and my homework has been set! i'll be checked up on in January at our next session so best get cracking!

September to October - round up!

2 for the price of 1 this week guys! i didn't do a September round up because, well, i didn't have much to say whilst i was off gallivanting around Peru!

now most people go on holiday as a break from work. but not me, oh no. as you will have seen from previous blog posts on Peru and it's gorgeous graphics and textiles my brain was very much activated and running full pelt whilst i was away! not only that but it was just before a tour to Islas Ballestas that i took a skype call and was accepted onto the New Creative Markets scheme. totally made my day i can tell you! (the islands were pretty too cool though!). i had my first meet up this month to meet the other designers and am signed up for a few workshops next month. there are so many amazing mentors involved i am so thrilled to have been picked and i'm really excited about what this could do for me and my business!!

i had a second proposal whilst i was away and another that i gladly accepted - i was contacted by Laura Olivia about working on some projects together for high street companies...more excitement just before going on a trek!

the new Muckboots collection for Spring '16 was started - loving the briefs and loving the palette- just all round loving the collaboration!

i was packing up some goodies for 2 lovely new stockists. i now have products on their way to The Gifted Magpie in Oxon, and Boka in Devon. it's so nice to chat to retailers and these are 2 particularly lovely ladies so i am very pleased to be working with them :)

also on the shop front i am back in We Make London! i took the summer off to concentrate on other projects but am now back with a selection of goodies ready for the christmas season. and new stock will be coming soon...watch this space!

i learnt Illustrator!!!! nuff said.

i've had 4 press features - 2 in national greetings magazines (Progressive Greetings and Greetings Today), 1 as part of a christmas gift list (Jess Jean), and 1 as part of a competition for the Jacqueline Wilson Fan Club mag.

the samples for me new products came through and my kickstarter project was successfully funded which means i can now place an actual full side order for said new products! so soon i shall be selling a collection of coasters, cheese boards and mugs. so pleased to have finally entered the kitchen, have been dreaming of this for ages and really hope that i can soon venture to plates and picnic sets as well...ooh the possibilities!

August - round up!

oh my golly gosh. i know i say it every month but where on earth is this year going?! It's September in 2 days time! but that's ok. cos that means it's HOLIDAAAAY! oh yes, i am off for 3 weeks in peru. so excited about so much of it. not to mention the llamas. 

so as you can imagine, me being me, i have been frantically trying to get everything prepped and ready before i leave. and believe you me it's been manic! my to do lists for each evening have been chocka, but i have managed to get through all as wished. but there's still a few days left so i won't jinx it just yet...hehe!

so this has really been the month of finalising my designs for my new collection. i'm really enjoying this new series of prints and patterns. i'm working more on illustration as well as repeat patterns as well so a bit of a new challenge. you got a sneak peak on facebook earlier this week so here's another to whet your appetite until the next post...

alongside actually doing the designs i have been thinking hard about where to take my next product range. some products i would like to continue doing - the lampshades for example - but i want something new. and the kitchen is where it's at! as you may have seen i have been asking for input on some market research questions, and thank you to all that commented, you've been a great help!

i am in the process of getting my sample templates prepared and sent off so they can be made whilst i am away...something lovely to be greeted with when i return!

also new on the design front are my first line of christmas cards. they are a set of 6 cards printed on FSC sourced card stock.  i'm really pleased with how these look and i've already been showing these off to a few shops, to which i have had interest ... which is always a boost! 

i have also submitted these to a couple of mags and have received great feedback so keep your eyes peeled on that front too!

bowie style of the Print & Pattern 'bible' gave me wonderful feature this month, showcasing my cushions, shades, books tea towels...pretty much everything! and it was quite refreshing to see your work presented differently - bowie selected both images of my products but also the original prints from my portfolio on my website, so it was really nice to see how they had translated. of course i have seen all this but it's been a while since i looked back on this range so was nice to see it all again, and how my first collection all came together. made me even more excited for this next collection! 

it's always amazing to be selected and have your work shared on such a fabulous site. it's such an amazing source of inspiration...and i've been lucky enough to be featured a few times - this is my 10th outing there! thanks bowie!

there won't really be a September round up as i'll be off gallivanting around peru with alpacas and the like, climbing up rather steep steps, falling off steep edges and generally seeing jaw droppingly amazing sites. sorry, sorry...not trying to make you all jealous. well, maybe a little... ;)

July - round up!

so so glad summer is finally here and seems happy to be sticking around (it's due to rain tomorrow so don't think it's me jinxing it this time - it was already decided by the gods!!). i think that has helped lift the spirits after the block and i feel very much on my way with my new collections, hoorah! most of this month has been working on them but with a few other bits thrown in for good measure...

* i've been thinking of which new products to produce to feature my new designs. i'll be keeping some of the same products as i currently have, but also looking to add something new to the mix...suggestions have been garden gloves, mugs, bedding and scarves. what do you think?

* i was honoured to be 'chiefo' for my wonderful friend Emily's wedding. not only was i lead bridesmaid but i also got to design all the wedding stationery as well as do the flowers. i see floristry in my future...

* i've had some great feedback and press opportunities the past few weeks. they always work so far in advance - they're all doing their Christmas shopping guides now! seems so wrong when it's 30 degrees outside!! these should be coming through the ranks soon so stay tuned...you can see my latest press release here.

* so pleased my competition winners loved their prizes! one is even on it's way to BRAZL!  follow me on facebook and twitter for your chance to enter the next round and to keep up to date with all my latest news, hot off the press! 

* might as well also plug that i'm having a * { ! SUMMER SALE ! } * pop over to my shop to have little lookie... i have a whole selection of stationery, accessories and homewares and lots of bold summery designs...perfect for this season!

*  really want to share some sneak peeks of my new range but not just yet, still some more to do and then i might just be ready ... it's a range that is really personal to me and it is one that can grow year on year and be a whole lot of gorgeousness!

June - round up!

my oh my. where has time disappeared to? it has absolutely swooshed by this month and i'm way behind on my weekly blog posts. and i was doing so well as well. poop. oh well, i'll have to start making up for it in july...

wight so june, how has it been? well, thanks for asking. it's been pretty good. although that's more socially than design wise i have to say! in amongst clearing up after the markets from May, celebrating hen do's and 30th birthday shindigs i did get around to doing SOMETHING! 

i'm pleased to say there have been a couple of press features this month. Purple Holly (my first stockist) featured my 'trailing / single flower' double sided cushion in an ad that went out in Your Home mag. alongside Ms Kiely as well, oh so happy! i also had an absolutely lovely review from Beckabonce over here, and she featured a selection of pretty much everything! - cushions, notebooks, tea towels, shades and magnets!

i've not been feeling as motivated the past few weeks, but i managed to get a space on another creative hub session this week, and it came at just the right time to give me a bit of a kick up the arse to get going again!! it focused on exhibiting and had lots of tips. i'm showing at Spring Fair next february and am really looking forward to it so this got be all psyched up again!

a couple more We Make London shifts this month and i had a very successful day selling 3 notebooks set, a magnet set AND a tea towel set! BOOM! there has been a fabulous make over to the store, it looks brilliant, much fresher and shows off all the lovely goodies really well..come along and see for yourself!

my geo swirls lampshade is proving very popular with top sales since the lampshades were released. i love that fact even more as it's my favourite design!

so now it's on with the new collections. i made starts on both but need to really get experimenting and really knock those designs out! i'm working more on illustration tis time round which is a new and exciting venture, if not a little out of my comfort zone!

i've been doing a bit of research for some new products. there are so many options, not 100% sure on the direction to take. think i might be throwing that open to you lot to vote! but if you have ay ideas or would like to see my designs on particular products just give me a shout over on my facebook or twitter...would love to hear from you!

May - round up!

gosh. nearly half way through the year. how'd that happen? May just fleeeeeeew by for me, it was so, so busy but for lots of good reasons...

- i took place in 2 markets. Soho Flea Market and Wimbledon Affordable Art & Design Fair. i hadn't done a fair since Xmas 2013 so i was half nervous half excited. but the first went excellently, and the second one? well, i'm there right now so i ca let you know later! i was so lucky with the weather for Soho and i'm so grateful!! rain would have made things a wee bit more complicated. a nightmare actually. anyway, there will be more detail on the markets coming soon...

- i finalised new designs for my Muckboots project. very exciting to see this moving along and can't wait to see samples! 

* i went to Rome! it was a joint Christmas and birthday present for my mum and we had a lovely (if not exhausting!) 3 days running / hobbling around all the sites and eating ice cream. 

* i completed '100 happy days'. a challenge to see if you can be happy for 100 consecutive days. photos were posted to twitter each day (unless i forgot. which happened far too regularly for my liking) and the big finale was rather fantastic - the Colloseum! 

* another successful month in We Make London  at Camden, which has now undergone a make over. pop over to have a look! 

* menus were completed for my friends wedding in July. these sit nicely next to the Save The Date and invites already produced. obviously i can't ruin the surprise for the guests by showing you lot!

* drawings have been started for my new 2015 collection and i am so eager to get started on the actual designs...so roll on June! i'd show you a sneak peek but i want to work them up a bit more...make sure i get the wow factor!

April - round up!

well i don't know about anyone else, but for me i would say April has been pretty bloody awesome. i've really started to feel things gathering speed this month and i have lots of new plans for the next few months. all very exciting and here's why...

it's mainly about this one thing ... i now have stockists! it's such an exciting thing. you work and work and work and then you finally get t see your things (YOUR things!) in shops...best feeling! my first orders finally went out to those that i met at Top Drawer and i also had a chat with the lovely Kay of Carried Away (a cute little boutique gift shop in Deal) whilst i was on a weekend away.

another successful month in We Make London Camden and they now stock a large collection of my lampshades. the full range is now available in my Etsy store. 

i was approached by City Showcase to take part in one of their markets - Soho Flea Market to be precise. his takes place on the Sunday 25th May, as part of the bank holiday weekend. there will be 100 stalls featuring jewellery designers, interior products, accessories, food, ceramics...i think there's even some bands playing too! so it should be fantastic. which means you should all pop along and say hi!

two more Creative Hub workshops this months and lots more info and advice. plus i get to spend time with Jess (Rosa & Clara Designs) and Poppy Westwell which is always fab! and i can't forget to mention that after months of trying me and Wendy Flynn (Doris & Fred)

i continued work on my project with Muckboots and started on my new 2015 collection. i have 2 ranges i'm working on and can't wait to really get my teeth into it properly! some initial sketches at the moment but ideas are a-brewing!

and last but not least i'm preparing to start my newsletter. you can sign up HERE to find all the latest news, events and even some cheeky offers...don't miss out!

March - round up!

where the hell did March go?! and i was about to huff as it feels like a month has flashed by and i haven't done anything... but then i wrote a list and realised that, actually, yes i had. silly me.

i'll start by mentioning that i attended a truly beautiful wedding of my friends. it was in Glasgow (first time there) and in a wonderfully quirky hotel. there was kale dancing and many laughs as well as few tears and it was a absolutely fantastic day...congrats to Claire and Chris!

i've participated in another Creative Hub workshop at the Fashion and Textile Museum in London, this time concentrating on my 'design calendar'. i won't lie - it scared me slightly. but all for the greater good! it's basically a different way of looking across all the seasons and projects you're working on and scheduling them across the year. i'd been doing this is a different way but this really brought it home how much i have planned!!

i started at We Make London in Camden and have so far had a lot of success with my tea towels. another 4 weeks to go and let's hope the success continues :) i featured a few of the designers in last weeks post and i'm sure i will be featuring many more before my 6 weeks is up.  if you want to visit its down at Camden Lock right by all the delicious food, yum. in fact, i'm actually at the shop today - why not drop in and say hi?!

i had a rather satisfying session of sorting through old stock and giving a few bits a little make-over. a bit of repackaging and et voile - some lovely new items for the shop!  we have some jewellery, some greetings card with a twist, and some limited edition button packs. they're now up for sale in my etsy store if you fancy a little peek.

also on the shopping front i was accepted into the Blog & Buy Sale wish list for spring - yippee! 2 of my tea towel sets were selected ('tea & cake' and 'flowers') and they start their 6 week feature tomorrow...you can see the full wish list here.

design wise i've been flitting back and forth a bit - i've been working on my small christmas card range which is allllmost there. ok well, it's two thirds done. i've also finished up my friends wedding invites, and have been working on some new print direction from my (still!) top secret project. 

other than that i've been working on the sellable sketch part 1 from Pattern Observer founder Michelle Fifis, and finally (FINALLY) getting round to learning a bit of Illustrator!! and that is thanks to Poppy Westwell - she took the time out to run through things (a few times!) and get me on track for a successful AI future. i've been told once i start i won't look back and it will be bye-bye photoshop... we'll see...

a late addition to the month but me and my flatmate were in desperate need of some pet loving...so we bought 2 hamsters! we were like 6 year olds in the pet store, honestly, it was ridiculous how happy we were! here are the new additions to the household...and yes they of course have silly names... meet Fluffle Puff and Schmoogie :)

February - round up!

well, well, well. february is over already. time is flying by and it'll soon be spring hoorah! the daffodils and crocuses re already blooming and the evenings are getting lighter. love this time of year! so what did i get up in the design side of my life...

i was contacted by the lovely Ali Benyon to provide some 'top tips' for new designers. i gave advice alongside the likes of Lotta Jansdotter, Rachael Taylor, Elizabeth Olwen, Bethan Janine and Jessica Hayman (more on her later!). you can see the full blog post here. so many useful hints and tips from everyone...huge thanks to Ali for pulling it all together!

i got head down for some more studying with some workshops available in The Textile Design Lab from Pattern Observer. still have one more to go though! i'll save it for march!

i got a bit crafty and worked on some handmade products. i'm not a natural maker, i like other people to do that for me but it's quite nice to get off the laptop once in a while and actually 'do' something. so i'm working on some handprinted fabric buttons that will become magnets, push pins and cute little hair grips.

and then i finalised the packaging designs which i think add a little bit of pazazz to these handmade items... these will be available in my new online shop coming soon!

i took full advantage of a free 2 day workshop at The Fashion & Textile Museum in London. there are a series of classes running across the next couple of months hosted by Creative Hub, and this particular one was about trend forecasting for SS14 and AW14/15. lots of useful info, a great tutor and a great group who hopefully i'll get to see again one the next class...one of which was Jessica Hayman! (told you she'd pop up again!)

and whilst at the museum i got to have a little look around their latest exhibition - 'artist textiles - picasso to warhol'. i'll share some pictures in next weeks blog post, but i can highly recommend a visit - it's on until 17th may so you've got plenty of time!

i was invited to take part as one of 30 designer-makers in Wimbledon Village Design Fair in May. i will be trading alongside sculptors, potters, painters, jewellery designers...a full list of traders can be found here.

i applied to We Make London and was accepted to sell my products in their Camden pop-up shop! i start March 17th in time for Mother's Day...i'll be in the shop this day so pop along and say hi! i took a trip to the store this week as they were holding a social event for all the designers to meet each other. was lovely to meet such a mixture of creatives, some of which are already selling the shop and some are looking to join the team.

goodbye february...and hello to march!

from the Design Library . . . Olle Eskell

i think it's time to reopen my library. it's not fair that all the pretty books on my shelf are not shared any more...there's too much goodness on there for just little old me!

so with that i'm going to bring this feature back every 3rd Saturday of the month. starting today with a brand new purchase - 'Olle Eskell - Swedish Graphic Designer'. i've chosen this one to start us off as last weeks post was about my desire to really start drawing again.

i stumbled across Olle's work, i can't quite remember how now though. i just loved the drawing style, but i think it was the colours that caught my eye. there's a bit of a palette that runs through one collection which is just 'mel' all over! 

it can be a bit difficult to follow the chapters simply because it's either written in Swedish or Japanese - neither of which i am fluent in - but throughout the book his illustrative skills are shown in  a variety of projects - advertisement, postcards, packaging, books...he pretty much covered all bases! 

my favourite collection is a 1930's range of illustrations (top right ad bottom left below) featuring city scenes. i've got a mega itch to do some myself, i have had for months, and i must must must do some! i have some beautiful photos to work from from my travels and i need to venture round London to get some of the local life snapped up too.

* the book can be bought from amazon for only £20 (sure it wasn't this much 2 weeks ago!!)

* and i found a bit of a shop full of Olle goodies!

this drawing dream all comes at quite a good time - i'm in Edinburgh this weekend which has some amazing architecture. lots of higgle-di-piggle-di housing and cobbled streets winding this way and that. should make for some interesting sketches.

let's unleash the doodle monkey!!