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!

'tis the season to SHOP!

hello hello! so sorry for the lack of blog posts recently, my to-do list has exploded and time has shrivelled away from me. but i am here to you today to show you what has been taking up my precious moments...

christmas fairs!

yes folks, it's that time of year to get shop-shop-shopping! and of course i will be encouraging every one of you to shop local and to buy from designer-makers. there are SO MANY markets on this year i can't keep up and i really hope i get the chance to walk around the 3 fairs i will be selling at and buy all my pressies.

and that is what is one the agenda today...christmas fairs. i am very excited to be showing off my brand new tableware products, designs from my 'Travel Bug' collection, starting with 'Morocco'. i know i've been going on about these for a while now but that's just how excited i am! i have wanted to have my own kitchen products for aaaages now and it's finally happened!

and not only 'Morocco' but my special surprise location that i mentioned on facebook this week... 'LONDON TOWN'! something for the locals and visitors alike, i have designed a print for greetings cards, mugs, coasters and cheeseboards...

so lots of new things to be snapped up in the next few weeks as well as my bright and jolly christmas cards, and a special 'stocking fillers' bargain bin! i can't wait to see what the other designer-makers bring along and get some unique presents!



November 27-30th - Made In Clerkenwell, 33-35 St Johns Square, EC1M 4DS

December 4-7th - East London Design Show, Truman Brewery off Brick Lane, E1 6QL

December 13th - The StockMKT, Spitalfields Market

TRADE : if you are interested in stocking any of the above products please get in touch at mail@melsmithdesigns.com 

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!