a new direction?

i've had a lot of friends weddings the past few months and yesterday was the last one on the list. and what a stunner it was! i was 'chiefo' bridesmaid for ex-house mate emily and hubby to be rob. not only that but i was enlisted to create their wedding stationery, organise the all important palette and (due to a love for floristry) to do the wedding bouquets. such a great celebration of our friendship to be involved so heavily.

emily already had her eye on one of my 'rose' designs so we worked together to sort the palette and then this became the basis for the rest of the stationery (save the dates, invites and menus). the wedding was held outside on the grass leading up to a beautifully painted pagoda which was featured in the invites and the rose theme ran throughout.

all that was left to do on Thursday was the flowers. now i hadn't done much since my last friends wedding (last april...eek!) so i bought some flowers the previous week to have a practice with. and loved it! it was no different on Thursday, apart from the fact these flowers were absolutely stunning. a beautiful selection of corals, creams, and greens , including peonies, roses, stock, rosemary, and eucalyptus. (there were a couple more but i can't remember their names!)

ta-dah!

it was so relaxing to do, i really miss it and i really hope one day it can become an actual part of my job. popping round to the florists house (she did the main displays) beforehand and seeing her works pace with all the flowers out was just lovely and i'm very envious! the smells were amazing and it's just such a gorgeous job.  if only i can leave my admin job and replace with floristry...oh wait, i could do that. might get job searching this week...

me and imogen (emily's sister) the 'maids' with our flowers :)

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!

we make london and co.

monday was the start of my 6 weeks residence in We Make London based in Camden Lock. i went in to set up the products they will be promoting (and hopefully selling!) for me and also help man the shop alongside Mary. whilst there i also had a good nose at some of the other designers work and here are my fave pics of other surface pattern and prints:

funky purses and bags - miesje chafer

awesome plates - para sites cermaics

2 of my favourite prints - alfamarama

great gift sets - victoria eggs

just made me laugh - benjamin rothery

fun! - lightboat jewellery

love the breaking bad RV! - kate rowland

me...well i had to share one pic didn't i?!

work in progress from illustrator linda skoglund. she has been commissioned to complete 7 maps around Camden and was just starting today...next time i go back they should be complete so i can post the final pieces!

christmas delights

i was very lucky this christmas and was spoilt by my friends and family. i got lots of lovely things - some crafty items, some designer maker goodies and i even found some vintage treats for myself. i thoughts i'd share some with you...

...a couple of days before christmas i discovered a vintage shop and OMGoodness what a lot of finds! some fabric, a nice new blankie, belts, and a special war time edition of monopoly complete with cardboard counters and wooden pieces...awesome!...

...a lovely Charley Harper calendar to see me through 2014...

...my new Orla Kiely folder, my new Ellen Giggenbach cushion, and my secret santa gift - a bird whistle in a house to hold my keys which also doubles as a whistle!...

...but i think my favourite present must be my two Holly Sharpe prints...just need to get some lovely frames to put them in now...

...i also got the Orla Kiely 'Home' book, a tribal print scarf, and some flowery PJs from Thailand...love it all, so lucky - thank you everyone!!

...oh and pre-xmas i sent off lots of lovely cards from a selection of designers - Elle Jane Designs, Jessica Hogarth, Jo Clarke, and Hello Paper Moon...

i hope you all had a WONDERFUL christmas whatever you may have done and now looking forward to celebrating everything good from 2013 and are ready to welcome lots of exciting new things in 2014...see you there!

setting up shop!

4th november was an exciting day for mel smith designs - i was booked to start selling my products in London store Things British. The location was Carnaby street, a trendy little area of the capital with lots of boutiques and stylish stores.

i was also spending the day researching shops and trends, and having just a good old catch up with fellow Smith, Liz (of ellejane designs) ... so a full on day!

preparation started a couple of days before packaging up the goods. i was taking my new notebooks and tea towels. i will be renting for 2 months and rotating stock every 2 weeks to show off a design design. 

first up - fat birdie and co! my feathers and birdie designs have received fantastic feedback so what better way to kick off the shop experience than to put them out there!

so off to london we went, a beautiful fresh autumns morning certainly was a lovely start. carnaby street is full of lovely shops, all too easy to get distracted and go shopping...but we had to focus on the mission!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

the shop is situated on the first floor of Kingley Court amongst 30 other boutiques and numerous cafes and restaurants ... the perfect location to sell designer maker goods!                                                                                                                                                                                 

inside was a treasure trove of handmade and unique items - lots of jewellery, art prints, pin boards, greetings cards,  i might even have bought a christmas there...but for which friend... ;)

                                                                                                                                              

set up didn't actually take too long - things british need to check all your stock is labelled up correctly with your unique designer/item code and everything is priced clearly for the customers. after that its left up to you to arrange the shelf as you please! 

i treated myself and rented a spot in the window as well to get a little extra exposure..so now let's see what happens sales-wise! exciting and a little nerve-wracking at the same time...eek!

a quick stop for breakfast and then it was off to covent garden and leicester square for some shopping, uh, i mean research ;) ah, doesn't it look christmassy already?!

the big plan . . . 6! (plus a little panic)

i'm in a bit of a reflective mood tonight. i think it's because i am going on holiday for 3 weeks next wednesday and that is a long time without my macbook and photoshop!! i know, i know...i'm lame, let it go, have a break...blah blah blah.

but i can't! i love it too much!

but i have my doodle pad to take with me and of course my camera to get snap happy. there'll be LOTS of FB pics whilst i'm away, that i can assure you!

so anyway...back to deep thinking...hmmmm...

i've had a lot of deadlines in past two weeks (2 of which i haven't reached yet so probably shouldn't be sat here writing a blog post but hey-ho)...and i am working towards getting loose ends tied up before i leave. so it's made me look back at how the past few months have been. i've thought about the designs i have chosen for my first trade show, the products i selected, how they all work together. and having the photo shoot was the first time i've had them all out together. they looked pretty good! (am i allowed to say that?!) i just hope that other people like them. that's the scary part!

my wall is looking rather full and wholesome. things are tying together nicely. but i'm now getting that nervous feeling. the one where you worry that actually everything isn't quite right - 'that blue is the wrong tone', and 'the yellow is too bright'. 'i should've gone for that palette on that cushion'. and it's all because it's all too real now.

the contract is signed. it's happening.

don't get me wrong - excited as hell! - but it now means judgement day is that much more a reality and it's blimmin' scary!!

of course, it'll all be alright on the night...but...

you can't help but have moments of sheer panic, questioning what you have done and what you are doing. the support i have is incredible. thank you to everyone that contacts me, gives me boosts, 'likes' my posts, shares my work - it means a hell of a lot, especially at a time like this.

so there's basically no turning back. dun-dun-duuuun.

a little mellow dramatic there, sorry. but yes, it's a done deal. next things to do are get the website done, get the shop up and running, market to blogs and mags, get some items in some local shops, update portfolios, and (last but not least) get advertising for the show! let's drum up some excitement (i'll probably call on you lot for a bit of help with that if you don't mind).

but i think i need to stop thinking about it all otherwise i'll never get to sleep...night all.

the big plan . . . part 5!

it's been 2 months since my last update and a lot has happened.

I HAVE PRODUCTS!! actual real things!

my lampshades and cushions were delivered all on the same day. like Christmas came early...lots of presents from me to me :) i also received my notebook samples through this week so will be sending off for the final designs this coming week.  i'm not going to show off them just yet but i'll give a little teaser...

so what's next? photo shoot. that's what. and after batting a few ideas around with Sarah Fleming and Monica Lee i have an amazing idea! so excited...just need props and the all-important sunshine and it'll all look fabulous. Mr Samuel Nesbitt will be helping me out with this one...you ready, dude?!

so here's how the wall is looking mid-June...

...final cushion designs - check.
...final lampshade designs - check.
...final notebook designs - (pretty much) check!
...wall art - watch this space!




prices are pretty much sorted (knew my admin skills would come in handy one day...i'm a whizz in excel now!). this means i can start working on my brochures for the show





i had my second mentoring session with Monica of Smart Creative Women and i feel completely motivated right now. i don't know how she does it but she has the amazing ability of making everything the most exciting thing ever and giving you a big (but gentle) kick up the jacksie to get you going again...in a good way of course! we managed to discuss photo shoot, pricing, brochures, promo

packs, marketing, ideas for the show and website ideas - all in one hour! she's beyond amazing! it's now just finding the time to do it all...
 

a perfect village wedding!

my best friend got married a couple of weeks back - hoorah!  'twas a delightful day and the perfect wedding for her and her new hubby. i wanted to share with you a few snaps from the day of all the lovely decor, flowers, dresses, cake, and of course stationery...

my brief was to produce a 'save the date' and invitation for a spring village wedding. (note: this later grew to an 'order of service' and thank you cards!). tea and cake imagery needed to play a part as there was going to be a pre-wedding-ceremony get together in the village hall with lots of delicious baked goods and vintage tea cups for a good brew. 

my 'save the date'

...and here's my invitations (2 x double sided postcards):

so the day started somewhat differently with the tea & cake reception and as it was such a lovely day weather wise we actually got to enjoy it outside on the haystacks. the bride and the 2 bridesmaids (myself and the brides sister) had mismatched floral print dresses made especially for us by soho mode...they were beautiful!

our beautiful bridesmaid (and pre-wedding) dresses

the ceremony itself was just lovely - a simple and relaxed church wedding with the most adorable flower girl! 

the last page of the 'order of service'

on the topic of flowers, alice has asked if i could do her bouquets and button holes being that i had taken a floristry course. i jumped at the opportunity - we were going to pick lots of flowers from blooming green flowers and make some beautiful accessories. then i realised it had actually been 6 years since my course and got a bit nervous...

...but it all turned out a-ok! ta-dah!

yellow for the boys to match their ties and socks

tulips, ranunculus, and ummm...other pretty flowers

and then it was back to the village hall for further celebrations, photos and of course the food and dancing! it was decorated in almost 100 paper lanterns in the colours of the all important colour palette (and to think, some people actually didn't understand the importance of the colour palette. tsk tsk...that's pain to a designers ears!!)

lots of yummy cakes baked by guests for the pre-wedding tea  & cake 

and then it was all over [insert sad face]. i received my very pretty 'favour' of a pansy in a vintage teacup (with matching saucer and tea plate) and 'thank you' spoon'. and i have just had my thank you card through the post (in normal circumstances this would have been a lovely surprise but as i designed them i knew it was coming!!) 

my beautiful 'favour'

a 'thank you' from me to them and Back again

as a last note i might as well take this opportunity to get a little shameless self promo in - if anyone is interested in wedding stationery please do get in touch - mail@melsmithdesigns.com

ta-ta for now!