the imagination of ladysnail

2012-01-22T14:30:00.000Z

take a seat...

...sit down and i will put the kettle on. this is a cushion made from rescued printed fabrics and fabrics from the stash box in and amongst trying to draw. it was finished on Thursday but has taken me until now to photograph - ones i may redo depending on the weather. it is now on etsy for £20 (P+P extra). i think it is a way forward with the potential making of things but we shall see. i have the print table out today and so i may print some more bits to make up in to future cushions as the hand sewing element of it is very nice and relaxing - also means i can sit and watch Monk and have a semi-rest.

BIG NEWS...
...I am soon to be moving to Coventry to live with the Dr Mr. Some how along the way we found a house and everything went well with it all so in a way I think it is meant to be. I will miss my hometown of Huddersfield - to a point but adventure is out there.

2012 QUILT UPDATE...
...made some more hexagons last night but i am waiting for some more templates to be delivered. i think once i have done some more patterned, green plain and red plain hexagons - that i could start planning the pattern out to see how it may look and the size of it. Hoping to make it big enough for a double bed.

2012-01-18T00:33:00.001Z

tooth...

...i am unsure what to type on this blog as with working for yourself you end up spending too much time thinking. thinking about what to do, what to draw, what people will think of what you are doing or drawing, thinking about if you are doing the right thing, thinking about getting a proper job and thinking about thinking. it can be a struggle and sometimes the only thing that helps ease the mass of thoughts, i find is doing something familiar or sticking out the new stuff. so in between the new stuff, is the old which are the large plush teeth. these are now online in the shops and i will be printing a few more to put in the to-do box before the design is washed off the screen and retired - maybe not forever but for a good long while.

2012-01-06T20:24:00.005Z

moving about...

...the hedgehogs have only been around for a little while but to say they are only small, they are fair managing to get out and about - spotted and seen - found and rehomed. Above is a treasury on etsy made by Laura. Some have home within the UK and some have flown to Australia and Brazil. It is very nice to know that they are well liked. There are drawings in place that I hope to be able to sort out, finalise and print or make soon in the hope they will also be liked. I am already missing the day job which I know is a little silly to say but I do. I am doing my best to keep at it with the illustration work and for 2012 I have started keeping a 'have done' list as well as a 'to-do' list. It is a piece of advice I read in one of them '1001 Ways to Relax' books - am finding it a very helpful task to complete. There are two new colours in the paint range and I am hoping to print from a newly exposed screen as soon as I can.

2012-01-01T19:19:00.001Z

happy new year...

...to everyone. today i celebrated the start of 2012 with some printing at home with the table top equipment. quite a Lo-Fi DIY set-up but it does what i want it to do. i have had requests for large plush teeth that i used to do, so i hand painted part of a screen with that design and one of my lion logo - its seems to have become my logo as of late so am running with it. I also printed off some more rainclouds and drops before the screen gets washed. these designs were in retirement but are popular and it is handy to have projects in the to-do box when there is a dry imagination spell. The Dr Mr took some photos of me printing but the one once above is the best one from a rather bad batch. i am moving on to sewing this evening and then some further drawing with an eye on the telly.

2011-12-30T13:46:00.002Z

light...

...whilst outside the other day, maybe it was Wednesday - i was trying to get some good photos in order to put some of my work online in the shops. i took a couple like this with the light splattering through. i am no photographer but i try my hardest and with help from Cat - my photography skills are improving. as much as i moan about chasing natural light - it is a challenge and i like finding ways of how to improve my product shots. the one above though was not used but i wanted to share it. it was the best one out of four i took. the wind was wild and unfortunately the cloud was cropped right at the bottom of the screen/photo. if you pop over to my etsy shop - the grey raincloud can now be found online. today it is grey and wet - no photos to be had today.

quilt progress is going well - figured out that it is best to iron all fabric before folding round hexagons which i have done before in the past but never bothered to do until last nights ten hexagons. i was being lazy. this afternoon i am getting out the pencils and print equipment in the hope of getting some progress made on the to-do list. i have not really adjusted well to the self-employment routine. i blame christmas.

2011-12-29T12:19:00.003Z

challenge...

...for the year ahead is to make a quilt. one made from hexagons in the traditional way of 'piece-ing' it together by hand sewing or something like that. i have started tacking the fabric round hexagon shapes - doing about five or ten of these a day. the fabric was bought with intentions of making Christmas bunting to sell as it was manic this winter at the markets, online and between friends and family with the bunting. i was unable to get the usual fabric i make bunting with and so ordered some new stuff which when it arrived i was unsure about so instead of sending it back i decided to use it some other way and so started the task on 26th December while watching a naff Arnie film. The aim is to make about 150 to 200 hexagons and plan the overall layout of the quilt from there - there will be progress reports no doubt.

today i am off to the Post Office to send another hedgehog on its way and to pick up a puzzle magazine - i have taken to doing the competitions during illustration break times. resting the drawing brain cells but working on the thinking cells - beats putting the telly on as an half hour break can turn in to two hours especially if there is a Midsomer or similar on. Other tasks to tackle today is an important project with the butterflies, a new card design, a new moleskine design, printing of some large plush teeth as per a request and some other bits and bobs of printing.

2011-12-24T12:43:00.002Z

never...

...get the photo sizes right on this 'ere blog! Little bit frustrating. Does anyone know how to find out how wide a log post is in pixels? this is a very nice colourful working out from some serious sketching that i have been doing these past few days. i have finally returned to full-time illustrating and left the day job. It will be hard without the pennies but something had to change and i was starting to feel quite unhappy. hopefully the chance to 'wing it' for a few weeks maybe months may be good fun. am going to enjoy it best i can and make the most of being free to draw/print every day.

Happy Christmas to everyone who has supported my work this year - thank you.

2011-12-12T22:31:00.001Z

watching...

...always watching with them sneaky eyes are the foxes. my granma has a fox (maybe two) that come in to her garden nearly every night to eat the tasty treats that she leaves under the tree for them. She often feeds them more than she feeds herself. This goes for the birds and the three legged squirrel as well! I am forever being asked to pick up 'so and so seed' or 'them packs of fat balls' from the shops when i am in town. i saw the fox once while painting her kitchen walls near the window. best time to fox watch, as you are not expecting it. if you sit and fox watch - the fox will never turn up until you turn your back. in the photo are many fox badges that i made last week for the stock tub. i am trying to take a lot more photos of everything/anything in order to improve my photo taking ability. theyse badges can now be found in the online shops with the acorns, ice-creams and teeth (see sidebar for links).

2011-12-10T22:04:00.001Z

do you remember...

...this bad boy? yep you say? well - he is on ebay with two other prints of mine and loads of other prints by other printmakers as part of a charity auction for West Yorkshire Print Workshop. This is the place where I often go printing and they are hoping to raise some much needed cash. Please take a look and place a bid if you can - you may get a bargain. Click on the purple link.

2011-12-07T23:52:00.001Z

partner in crime...

...a little hog who looks after your pins while you are on one of them mad sewing frenzy missions. it is normally the case here but with everything! there is always a constant work of working going on but it gets harder and harder to keep up with what is going on. today i finished making up six hedgehogs - the prototype was made in March with the hope of screen printing my own brown fabric but nope, plus I had some fabric in the stash box to use. prototype stayed on the desk and has been in use as pin cushion ever since. he was not quite fat enough or stuffed enough so I adapted it yesterday evening and cracked the whip. there is now one in each of the online shops and the others will be taken the Elsecar Heritage Centre Fair. I remembered that there will be a brass band playing - please come and say hello to my table and be prepared with tissues as I may shed a musical tear. brass bands - marching bands get me every time.

2011-12-06T20:41:00.001Z

last one...

...last big fair of the year! this weekend will see me take part in my biggest fair yet - Script Events' Christmas Craft Fair at Elsecar Heritage Centre. This was the first winter fair that I sorted out - way back in June! I couldn't believe it when I was first contacted about it - it was early JUNE! Time has passed and this week I have been sorting out any last bits of drawing and making in the hope of being ready for the big weekend ahead. More information can be found here - plus I am still waiting for someone to come and ask me to draw them a doodle - I dare you! there has been no takers yet. Admission is free and there is ample free parking on site. As well as the Craft Fair itself, there will be Christmas-themed entertainment in the form of Barnsley Metropolitan Brass Band and performances by local schoolchildren together with various food stalls. It sounds like it will be a great event.

I must say a huge thank you to those who have bought my portfolio clear-out prints - I am trying to clear out more but I am unsure about some and whether I should keep them for portfolio pieces for a while longer. This evening I am catching up on Merlin via the BBC iplayer whilst sewing some hedgehogs that I intended to make way back in March after the first prototype was made.

2011-12-05T19:22:00.001Z

on the web...

...trying to do more of the online thing as possible - I sent two pieces of my work to Made It - Flaunt It and both were accepted for their December Showcase. Hurrah. The full showcase can be seen here as my computer screen would only allow me to 'printscreen' a portion of it. But as well as trying to do more online stuff, I have decided to show less of my sketchbook work while I try and work on new-ish and new ideas. I think it may be better for me to mull over ideas without feeling too exposed. Alot has been written/said about 'illustration and inspiration' lately. I would like to try and explore and experiment on my own for a tad.

In other news, I would like to thank everyone who has visited my travelling stall these past three weeks and to anyone who has been to see my work at any of the shops/galleries. The last fair will be this weekend at the Elsecar Heritage Centre in/near Barnsley - two day event. Today I dropped off some pieces at a shop in our village - Unravel for display within their Christmas Craft Exhibition. There are also some new pieces in The Cooper Gallery in Barnsley - bits and bobs. This evening I am busy making up some more badges and have ninety percent decided that once these materials run out - no more will be made of the small illustrated badges. I am also hoping to sew some more raincloud mobiles as they have been waiting for couple of weeks in the to-do box.

2011-12-02T23:22:00.001Z

double date...

...this weekend in Leeds at the Corn Exchange - just a short walk round from the train station - with ReetSweet Craft Events, I will be there with the lovely Kim of Finest Imaginary. Two days of two of us with two lots of work to look at and buy if you have spare pennies. Oh yes - tow days this weekend - Saturday and Sunday! There will be other fabulous stalls full of goodies and treat. Prices to suit all pockets big and small. Please come along and support little independent businesses. More info here. Again - please bring your sketchbook along or a piece of paper and ask for a doodle!

i have been busy this week with all sorts of little jobs. Making up things from the 'to-do' box and trying my best to draw new pictures. I will hopefully try and take some pictures tomorrow at the fair of our shared stall and of the Corn Exchange as it is a beautiful building.

2011-11-29T11:27:00.001Z

this winter...

...has been a mish mash of things. generally good things. lots of seeing friends, lots of work making, lots of thinking, lots of investigating, lots of doing and seeing and lots of clearing out. i am the opposite to a squirrel this winter - instead of hiding food which means keeping work, i have made the decision to set it free. you may have seen earlier posts about my portfolio clear out. at the weekend i decided to out an item at a SALE price - Mr Robotington Cross-stitch. I made these as a reason to use certain supplies I had and did so about February time. He is now in etsy and folksy at HALF-PRICE (P+P is extra) Bargain to be had there. Work wise - I am thinking of restarting the Lion Sketchbook in a new one. I was very unsure about this but it helps me draw alot more and just drawing without the lions has been a little hard.

2011-11-26T11:50:00.001Z

fresh out of retirement...

...is the pirate lion. first printed over two years ago - while getting stuck into the printing, i decided to get the pirate lion design out and stick him on a screen. first time he went on the wrong way round but now he is the right way - either way he is sometimes a 'lefty' or a 'righty' with his pencil but it doesn't really matter which way round he is. tomorrow I will be in Sheffield at the ReetSweet Fair with Finest Imaginary and I am just labelling up some more printed wares. Some nice news to share is that my work is now stocked in a couple of new places!

NEW
The Bowery - Leeds
Grundy Art Gallery - Blackpool
Gemma Scully Jewellery - Manchester at the Christmas Markets
Soon - Grotto Shop - Pop Up Shop - Manchester

ALSO
The Cooper Gallery - Barnsley
Harris Museum and Art Gallery - Preston
Comma - Oxford

2011-11-22T16:33:00.001Z

enjoying...

...working on Christmas things which is something I have never really done before - except for the bunting I made last year. above you can see a decent enough photo of my first screen printed Christmas card. it is printed in a very nice blue and was based upon a lino print that I did for the lino printing workshop - which went very well. i forgot to take any photos of the evening but it was fun and i really enjoyed showing people how to get to grips with lino. the snowman card is now for sale online and in various shops - it will also be at the fairs. today and this evening, bits of work are being finished off, sorted out and packed. sketchbook hopes to be out later to solve the problems of the new print - think the pencil crayons need to come out as well.

2011-11-21T22:01:00.000Z

roll up...

...roll up! If you fancy a day out, ReetSweet are having their first Christmas shindig of handmade loveliness this weekend at the Millennium Gallery in Sheffield. It is a very easy place to get to and there are some details above and more via the underlined link. Kim Lawler of Finest Imaginary and I will be sharing a table and so there will be two of us! Two of us to talk to, two lots of things to look at and two little independent businesses to support. If you would like me to - bring your sketchbook or a piece of paper and I may draw you a squiggle or a lion of sorts. Please keep you eyes on the blog for item updates and pictures as tomorrow is a day of working at home - I will be spending the day printing at home, chasing the natural light in hope of online shop photographs and just general 'doing' of work. Any Q + A's - get in touch via email.

Please remember that I am now available for screen-printing commissions - also printing of your work - contact me for more information if you would like me to work on a joint project. Owt is possible.

2011-11-20T09:48:00.001Z

thank you...

...to all you came to my stall at yesterday's Super Duper Christmas Fair that was in Blackpool. The fair was a good start to the Christmas markets and people are snapping up prints that I have taken out of my portfolio which is great! Bit sad to see them go but there is no need for me to store them away when they could be out in frames and displayed. Above is a photo of another print - it got a lot of attention yesterday but no takers - it is online and will be at the next fairs until it finds a home. I have selected a couple more prints to crop/wrap and these will be making an appearance soon. today i am off out on Victor with Dr Mr as he came home for visit which was unplanned. We are going to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park which is near to where we live - there is a Donna Wilson exhibition on.

Little Mr Robotington - Photo-Etch Print NOW SOLD Thank you

2011-11-17T17:14:00.001Z

spreading my wings...

...to my first collaboration with one of my friends - the amazing Mark Penman. Since I can now print a bit more freely and a bit more freely at home - I came up with a plan of printing for others and first thoughts were that Mark's work would look amazing as screen-prints. We agreed to break in the idea gently with two one-colour screen prints for him to take to the Thought Bubble Festival. It is the UK’s largest annual event which celebrates sequential art in all its forms, including everything from superheroes to independent and small press comics. They are a non profit making organisation dedicated to promoting comics and graphic novels as an important cultural art form. Thought Bubble is taking place in Leeds with a main two day convention being held this weekend - 19th & 20th November.

If anybody would like to work together with me on anything illustrated related or print related - please get in touch.

2011-11-14T21:36:00.001Z

this weekend...

...my work and me will be in lovely Blackpool at the event mentioned in the poster above. I am no good at writing promotional words but this is the first of four Christmas Markets that I am taking part in this year. I also have work for sale at The Cooper Gallery in Barnsley as part of their Christmas Craft Exhibition which is taking place right now through to 24th December. If there is anything that has caught your eye - come along and take a closer peek. tomorrow is a print room day - exposing screens with the first printing/illustration collaboration and hopefully new things by me on my own.

2011-11-12T13:49:00.001Z

clear out...

...whilst getting ready for the Christmas Craft Markets and while I am not so well, I have decided that it is now time to have a portfolio clear out. the dry point print in the photo above can now be found in my etsy shop at a very reasonable price. many more pieces will be either online or at the markets at great prices - in the hope that pieces of my work may find a home in which they are displayed and loved. any sales will help raise money to go towards a possible period of further study for myself as this week has been the start of some MA investigations. The Mr Dr also had an interview earlier this week for a permanent job as a Research Fellow at the University of Warwick and GOT IT!

LION AND ACCORDION - NOW SOLD! Thank you.

2011-11-10T21:14:00.000Z

poster...

...to let you all know about The Bowery's Headingley Arts Trail that is taking part this weekend from 10am on Saturday. My work was selected to be within this lovely event and four prints can be found upon the walls of a lovely little (yummy) place on Otley Road. I ain't going to tell you exactly where or pass on a lot of information as then it can be like a treasure hunt! The work I chose to show is a selection from my printmaking portfolio and to describe it, I would say it is a positive reflection on who I was, am and trying to be/do as an illustrator. I had intentions of creating some new pieces but the return to self-employment was not smooth. More information about the Arts Trail can be found by clicking on this link. (I had written a lovely post about this event but blogger was having severe issues and lost my writing.) Also, I am taking part in Finest Imaginary's Christmas Giveaways - Kim is creative friend and we met a couple of years ago at a Manchester Craft Mafia Christmas Fair. Please click on this link - yes another one - to read a little interview about me and to enter. If you would like to feature my work on your blog/website or Q & A me, just get in touch.

2011-11-01T08:44:00.001Z

visit...

...today we have a photo and a few words from my good friend Cat. thought it would be nice to share something new and have a little change from my work and rambles. please enjoy.

'My name is Catherine and I run a shop on Etsy.com called JumpUp selling eco-friendly accessories, plushes and embroideries.
These brooches are inspired by mountains and made out of a lovely grey jumper that someone accidentally shrunk in the wash and donated to charity. It was a gorgeous jumper by Lyle & Scott but it was too small and misshapen for the charity to sell normally. The fabric was beautifully felty and soft...so I bought it from the charity myself and used it to create new things.

The snow caps on the tips of the triangles are white wool yarn which I stitched by hand. The felt triangles are sewn together by hand in layers to create a thick brooch. You could wear these on a jumper, cardigan, or pin them to your bag...anywhere you like!

I make all my items from my studio in my home in the south west of England (Cornwall, land of scones and clotted cream!) but I can mail them anywhere in the world. I make my own envelopes for mailing, using pages from books with damaged covers, sheet music, etc. You can see my shop homepage here.'

2011-10-25T19:22:00.003+01:00

second outing...

...of this 'ere print. originally i had said that there would not be another edition of this print but with the new print room, I felt that it was best to get stuck in with a print that I knew gave me good results - plus this print was the quickest selling print that I had ever done and it was all sold out. about four weeks ago, I took it to said new print room. there were problems with exposing and then huge problems with printing which caused a huge headache, a new squeegee was ordered, i took a break from the print room and today i returned where there was printing with very minimal mistakes. I attempted ten for the edition but got nine - good going. once natural light can be found, they will be in the online shops and will also be out at the forthcoming fairs but remember these were hotcakes first time around. they will definitely not be printed again - am not keen on giving myself a triple headache anytime soon. once they are gone - they are gone. in other news - i am off to spend the next few days lino cutting and doing some more work in preparation for the workshop. everything i have drawn has got woolly hats or scarves on.

2011-10-24T21:51:00.001+01:00

round...

...the corner is the 'C' word and this little fella may make an appearance if it should happen to s-n-o-w! He is a little lino print that I have been working on as part of the prep-work for my first ever lino printing workshop. I drew this design super quick while trying to come up with christmas themed things and think he came out rather nice. He may soon be turned in to a screen printed card ready for the fairs as it will be quicker for me to screenprint then lino print as there is a lot on my plate. below are the dates and places of the fairs that I am taking my work to show, tell and sell. Come and say hello.

Headingly Arts Trail, Leeds - 12th & 13th November 2011 (Exact Location to Be Confirmed)
Super Duper Fair, Floral Hall of the Winter Gardens, Blackpool - 19th November 2011
ReetSweet Christmas Fair, Millennium Gallery, Sheffield - 27th November 2011
ReetSweet Christmas Fair, Corn Exchange, Leeds - 3rd & 4th December 2011
Christmas Craft Fair, Elsecar Heritage Centre, Barnsley - 10th and 11th December 2011

There is also something special planned for the month of May 2012...

2011-10-23T16:47:00.000+01:00

basics...

...nothing is more enjoyable than just drawing. being self-employed is something i am proud of but these past few weeks have been tough. there has been problems with printing, problems with getting things made up and problems with chasing up late payments owed. this week i was asked to draw some Alice in Wonderland character roughs and draw I did. Unfortunately they decided to go in-house with the commission/work and I thought after the pap few weeks that i had, that out of it, i had enjoyed drawing the most even though the project didnt go anywhere. so i decided to just start drawing as after all it is where everything starts. i have scaled back printing plans i had until something clicks.

2011-10-10T21:04:00.001+01:00

action...

...from last week, while the sticker was from my birthday visit to the lovely Yorkshire Dales. We just so happened to be staying a small walk away from the Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes. The Dr Mr was happy as if wasn't a molecular biologist - he would be a cheese maker. last week was week three of self-employment and I think, looking back over my shoulder - that I got quite a lot done. I even tackled the accounts, reattempted the making of new screens and didn't get that upset when i figured out i was on the wrong bus! tomorrow, i am back in the print room to print said screens and no doubt there will be an update to come on that.

2011-10-08T15:46:00.003+01:00

just round the corner...

...is that 'C' word season. last year while travelling around America, we found, well I found some lovely snowman fabric that I wasn't quite sure what to do with. earlier in the year, i had started making and selling bunting that was made from my screen printed fabric bits but due to popular demand I couldn't print enough fabric to keep up so i started making it from my fabric stash. after the America trip, i thought bunting made with the snowman fabric would be nice and took it to all the winter fairs i did last year. it proved very popular and would be the first thing to sell out so this year, with plenty of time to go, i have started sewing some. above is the best way I thought of photographing it as the weather has gone down hill since last weeks sunshine. four lots of bunting can be found in the online shops and there will be some at the coming fairs along with regular colours of bunting.

for the next couple of hours today - i am playing office - doing the accounts so that it is all up to date. i used to be an administrator and quite like inputting data.

2011-10-06T22:40:00.000+01:00

rain rain...

...well the weather was beautiful last week and for a couple of days, i was walking round with my legs out and flip flops on. this week, the proper autumn/winter/UK weather is back and so are the clouds - grey ones with blue raindrops are back in stock and up on/in the online shops. soon to be making the last batch for the upcoming fairs, online shops and stockists. today's mission to the print workshop went very well and I will be printing a second edition of the raincloud pattern print on Tuesday - about 20 i think. whilst waiting for the screens to dry, i attempted character development with drawing the butterfly man, Martin. This task is not over and will continue in to the weekend - see where we get to with that project.

2011-10-04T09:25:00.001+01:00

virtual tabletop...

...if you take a peek over on BlogAndBuy, you will find a selection of twenty stalls by talented creative sellers and one of them stalls, Stall 20 is where you will find my work. I am so pleased to be part of such a big thing - proof that going part-time at the day job was worth it as it allows me the time to find out opportunities. When you view my stall, please share the link on Twitter and Facebook 'like it' - comment and anything you can do to help promote it. It will be there for four weeks.

Today is the first day of working properly at home, I have mainly been sorting bits out and tidying up the house. Hoping to print later after I have gone in search of breakfast and cleaned all the things off the dining table so that I can use it as a print drying table.

2011-10-02T21:56:00.002+01:00

roll up...

...roll up and ponder at the marvellous, magical lion with his good old pal The Ringmaster. These prints have been out on show and for sale at the markets but they are now in the etsy shop (see the sidebar to the right). Due to the very nice sunny weather, I managed to take some decent photographs of it and it soon will be in the folksy shop. A major clear out is underway as I desperately need to make room for new pieces of work - space in my portfolio and space in my working area. Printmaking on Thursday did not go according to plan - nothing major but it felt major - there are always little things to get used to when finding your feet in a new print room. Am getting back on that wagon come Tuesday which is a full working day at home with no visits anywhere - time to plan out new designs for me to take in on Thursday.

2011-09-28T21:32:00.002+01:00

second to last...

...page before the end and i have to say that it has taken way too long, longer than planned to get to the end of this sketchbook. i try and draw in it but something isn't working - whether that be down to my brain or lack of things i do in order to then draw or what - but here is page eighty three. i have started page eighty four and it is an illustration day tomorrow so it may get finished. though i found two more similar sized sketchbooks on the shelf the other day - intended for lion drawings but what to do - continue on with them or just stop? i think once i get into the new illustration routine it will be as easy as it was. big scribble sketchbook is going ok. am off to the new printroom tomorrow to expose my first screens there. excited - just a tad as it will feel like proper work then.

2011-09-24T23:12:00.002+01:00

drum roll please...

...very excited to say that i am now a full-time illustrator and a part-time breadwinner. finally made my way back to working more for myself but now have a little security with the pennies. this week has been the first week of my new hours at the day job and it has been a busy week with sorting out of things. now a member at WYPW in Mirfield for printing outside the living room and things are fast at getting ticked off the to-do list. i am preparing for a lino printing workshop with the WI ladies of Huddersfield and preparing new work for a total website overhaul and possible exhibitions. thought tonight the working hasn't gone quite to plan as the Dr Mr is home for a visit and although he is quiet happy playing on the ps3 his presence in my work area has played with the working atmosphere.

2011-09-12T21:00:00.002+01:00

in august...

...way back then, the Mr and I went out to the Emley Show which is very near us. It is a charity that raises money to help students who are studying agricultural and related subjects, through college and university. There were loads of animal related shows/competitions. The best one by far was the cow/bull shed and pictured above is me with one of my favourite bulls. There were loads going on and quite a lot to look at and walk around. I took my sketchbook but didn't draw a thing as it was so crowded so I took loads of pictures instead of which I have recently found the time to start drawing from.

This evening, I am working on de-stashing the fabric pile, sewing up bunting for the christmas fairs and making some kind of hand sewn hexagon things - once they are sewn up I will decide what is best. I have ideas but if it will be one or the other or both - I haven't got a clue yet! I am going to 'WING IT' as me and Josie would say.

2011-09-11T11:03:00.002+01:00

yesterday...

...lots of fun was had at the Saltaire Festival. Saltaire Arts Trail held a one day Makers Fair Special and my work was selected to be part of it all. It was a great day and i enjoyed talking to everyone who came by. Thank you to all who took home new treasures from my table. Unfortunately I was on my own so unable to wander round and speak to other stall holders. It was a long day and so last night it was early to bed. Today I was up early, cleaning and tidying, ready to make a start on the ever expanding to-do list. There is one week to go until I go part-time at the day job and return to almost full-time self-employment. Woooo!

2011-09-01T00:08:00.000+01:00

collection...

...of the paint that has slowly been building up to nearly a shelf full! i have been trying to take photos for the past couple of days of work/sewing/printing but no decent pictures to show. a fast click gave me the photo above after todays postman delivery. thanks to the day job and all the lovely shoppers at markets, online, shops - i was able to order seventeen tubes/pots on Thursday after I recevied an email offering me fifty percent off system 3 paints. my head is fit to burst with all the colour and layer options now avaiable to me without worrying if the budget will allow for it as they are now there to be used. my last full proper print - the circus one - was a five colour one so who knows what we may end up with once i get in the print room.

2011-08-24T20:15:00.001+01:00

date...

...for your diary. Saltaire Arts Trail is holding a one day Festival Special on Saturday 10th September 2011 and I am very pleased to let you all know that my work has been selected to be part of their Maker's Fair! Yay! i will be there with the usual wares and hopefully some new ones. as per the earlier posts, I have been printing nearly every day and am now at the final stages of sorting out a new batch of purses. once these are done i think i am going to hand paint the screen with a cat-i think that is what i have decided. the man and butterfly print is still on my mind but that needs some serious hours on it once the to-do list is smaller. best get over to the desk and crack on.

2011-08-22T18:57:00.002+01:00

printing session...

...from yesterday. i had a lovely day printing various bits and bobs. things i have printed before and also some new star gift tags. these i will post a picture of later once i have put the 'cotton' on. i am going to be printing this evening - hopefully raindrops for the left over clouds i have and some for badges. i have been intending to paint up a new design on my blank screen but what to pick out of the sketchbook? the screen fell on my wrist part way through the session as i don't have a counterweight balance-y thing to hold the screen up and my wrist is slightly tender-no bruise as of yet, i suppose I'll live. it was a fair thwack though. bit scary.

2011-08-20T12:28:00.001+01:00

this morning...

...i took a photo of what i printed last night. finally back in the swing after two weeks of holiday blues and all sorts of jazz. doing illustration work has been very up and down since we came back from a very lovely break in the Dales. last night i printed one hundred cards - fifty of each lion design. the new card rack is helping sales so stock needs to be replenished! am printing again today - raincloud purses as i only have one left and have a lot of zips to use, star cards, raincloud cards, bird cards/sketchbooks and raindrops/plush clouds. there is a new design i would like to paint out but unsure what i will get done in time. stay tuned for updates.

2011-07-30T19:14:00.000+01:00

back with the pencil...

...here is page 82 - drawing with the pencil today while sat at the lovely Cooper Gallery Summer Fayre in Barnsley. Nice day was spent chatting to people and had a couple of really nice customers visit me. there is only one and a half pages left in this sketchbook now but it has taken me a very long time to do the last few pages. alot of scribbling has been done in the big sketchbook which is just getting messy but i find myself a bit shaky handed when coming to draw at the moment - i think this is due to exhaustion and there is now six and half days of holiday to look forward to as i have booked a week off from the day job. yay. i am unsure where the sticker came from - think it came off a shampoo bottle. i haven't collected any fruit or price stickers or stickers of any kind for a while now.

2011-07-27T20:42:00.000+01:00

new...

...painting as fast at the claw hand and time will allow. there will be four new fish paintings around and about this week. first one is up on etsy now - i think this is my favorite of the batch as it has 'V' words on it, especially 'vagabond'. i should be printing or doing something else print related this evening but i am putting my feet up in front of the telly box with the sketchbook and a brew. i have been 'browsing' for smart phones and the best deals this week - no outcome as of yet - it is mind boggling the variety on offer and when combined with an o2 shop assistant sprouting jargon at you, when your current phone is a brick and has actual buttons, the brain aches.

PAINTING NOW SOLD

2011-07-26T19:04:00.000+01:00

painting...

...thought i would share what work is currently on my desk. i took this photograph about ten minutes ago - again i find myself struggling to get a clear shot but it is not too bad. i think my camera needs to be used more often. so this evening as you can see, i have some fish paintings to finish off. just got the robot fish faces to paint, then it outline and detail time. i have been doing these since Sunday. they haven't taken me too long but i originally meant to have them done last week but tiredness got in the way along with the day job. below are details of this weeks fair.

COOPER GALLERY SUMMER FAYRE - This Saturday from 10am - 4pm. Church Street in Barnsley.

2011-07-23T17:27:00.000+01:00

happy...

...time to go off topic for a post - thought i would share a photograph of the Dr Mr with his Nanna Duncan. There was a family group of us, his mum, his sister, his nanny and we watched him wear a silly grin all day on Monday as he graduated from his PhD at Manchester Museum from the University of Manchester. The weather was typical Mancland weather and though it was raining, we were glad it wasn't heavy rain. He looks very smart in his fancy gown and we are very proud of his hard work and achievements.

2011-07-17T19:27:00.000+01:00

yesterday...

...at Craft Candy's last ever fair was a table full of my wares and I would like to say thank you - a huge thank you with a hug using both of my arms as that's what i do - to all who came, looked, chatted and bought things. i was invited to be a part of it last minute on Friday night and had a little time to prepare but once all the work was put out and displayed right, it made me realise that i need not have worried. this weekend has been hectic. last night the Mr Dr and i went out for a stunning meal at the 3acres to celebrate his new job and the end of his PhD as it will be his graduation ceremony tomorrow. today i have been to see the final Harry Potter and it was intense and amazing. really enjoyed it. this evening, although i could nap forever, i am going over to the desk to continue with my work - sewing and maybe a bit of painting as i only have one fish painting left and i do love painting them guys.

2011-07-15T18:14:00.000+01:00

tomorrow...

...out and about with my printed and handmade wares at Craft Candy's Summer Fair in Sheffield at the Millennium Gallery. This will be Craft Candy's last fair and they are going out with a bang! The fair will feature over 30 stalls of contemporary craft, art and photography from talented makers from Sheffield and around the UK. it will be an amazing event that i am so pleased to be a part of - happy and sad at the same time. i have been at home for a couple of hours, soon to be printing some last minute bits as an order arrived yesterday. there will be a few new things to see - the new super card rack and the bits i have been working on-please see previous blog entries. Hope to see you there - come and say hello and i may draw in your sketchbook. (please note that on the spot drawings will not be masterpieces)

2011-07-13T22:02:00.000+01:00

looking...

...on the up are the raincloud mobiles that i made and printed years ago-more to be made soon as the calico seems to be multiplying on its own in the stash boxes. the updated online shops seem to be heading in the right direction. here is another treasury that my work is very nicely featured in - put together by BrooklynLoveDesigns. it all takes time, time i seem to have when i am napping but when i am not, time disappears with phaffing or way off the path thinking. time at the moment is spent trying to get my hands on much needed supplies via the internet and as usual - things are out of stock! time is now also taken up with playing Scrabble over the net with the Dr Mr whilst also talking on Skype. often try and do some drawing or sewing while waiting for my scrabble turn. he is home this Friday for a long visit as it is his Graduation Celebration weekend with the proper fancy pillow hat thing and gown on Monday.

2011-07-11T22:19:00.003+01:00

completed...

...this painting this evening. the whole work progress at the moment is very mellow and chilled out. things are getting made, re-stocked and listed. future decisions still have not be made but have been thought about in the old brain a tad more. i feel quite happy with what work i am planning - think i just need to carry on and it will come out in time. sad news is that my work will no longer be in Indie Cindy after the end of July as the pop-up shop is closing. good news is that i will be taking part in a couple of fairs this summer. there were more on the cards but i decided that it may be best to have a rest and part of the resting will also be done in my birthday week off. doubt it - i am sure the screens will be out for a spot of printing.

OUT AND ABOUT DATES
Saturday 30th July 2011 - Summer Fayre at The Cooper Gallery at Barnsley
Saturday 13th August 2011 - Summer Fayre at The Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield

coming soon will be the 'C' word dates but it is too early to mention them - we are only just in July.

2011-07-10T11:46:00.000+01:00

sorting out...

...it is the weekend and after a nice week at the day job - i have been at home working on the de-cluttering and to-do list of illustration. it is getting easier every day and up above is a Artist Proof print that was made by me in 2008 - now on etsy. i have been finding things in various places and they are going up for sale online and will be taken to future fairs. all proceeds as before are going to into the self-employment fund and hopefully printmaking fund. much drawing hasn't been done this week as a result of the clearing out but there is the birthday week holiday. we have booked one day out to go to a local farm/animal show thing. am excited to see the chickens, pigeons and hairy highland cows.

2011-07-04T19:35:00.003+01:00

little details...

...whilst sat in the garden in the glorious sunshine yesterday, i stitched into a fabric print of the old lion and accordion design. three of these were printed last year on to fabric and they have been on the to-do list ever since. at the moment, it seems right to be working through the to-do list again in order to have space ready for the fresh things. i really enjoyed working on this as it felt quite relaxing at the same time - it was a strange feeling and i wish there were more days like it. fingers are crossed for nice or enjoyable weather as i have booked a week off for my birthday. a as part of the birthday celebrations, the above print is listed on etsy for the special price of £30 seeing as that number is what birthday it will be this year. when i have finished the other one - that will be going on folksy. if anything doesn't sell on the online shops - they will be taken to my next fair which is in Barnsley on 30th July. More details of this to follow, along with other birthday related things...maybe.

...teeny tiny stitches can be seen here. thought i would add another photo as am unsure if any readers will be able to pick out where i have stitched. i put three colours in the mane and tail area, two colours on the little seat and a glitter type thread on the alternate bellows of the accordion.

2011-06-28T18:12:00.000+01:00

plush treasury...

...one of my old makes, the raincloud plush/mobile has been featured in an etsy treasury which was curated by AestheticExposure which is very nice and again the raincloud was only added to the online shop yesterday evening. some people have super fast eyes. this week in the evenings after the day job, i have been making the small illustrated badges, packing up printed cards and books. i have some print plans to put into action to make use of some unused supplies and half-finished things. hoping this may be towards the end of the week. taking one day at a time as my brain needs to slow down and rest.

2011-06-25T16:34:00.001+01:00

featured...

...in this lovely etsy treasury put together by aclementina which is very nice considering i only updated the etsy shop last night. i thought i would attempt the online shops again and sooner than planned with some of the nicer photos i have taken. proper photos of work, prints and sketchbooks will soon be done by a friend of mine once some of the work has been made back up. it is encouraging to know that people are looking at my work and like it enough to feature it and buy it as i am currently trying to make some major decisions about what to do. sometimes i think it is best to just wander but maybe a planned path will be the way?

links to either one of my online shops can be found in the sidebar to the right - etsy or folksy - give them a click and magic links will take you there.

2011-06-09T20:00:00.000+01:00

shining...

...in the sky that looks like it is going to rain, is a little star. screen-printed not so long back with my own fair hands using the home printing equipment. these were first released at the Saltaire Arts Trail and i am in the middle of printing the second batch with my new small squeegees. these will soon be on etsy in the update once me and the camera have a good enough period of time with natural light. originally, i thought i had a drawing to share this evening but turns out what i drew was rubbish on second sight. this weekend i will be visiting a friend and seeing the Mr Dr in Stoke and will be taking the sketchbook so i am hoping a change of scenery will do my brain wonders.

UPDATE
Huge thank you to all who visited my stall in Saltaire and Leeds these past two weekends. It is very much appreciated and the print funds are growing. I am deciding what is best to do with my time and am now considering joining a nearby print studio. These funds will help go towards membership, studio hours and possible supplies.

2011-05-29T23:31:00.002+01:00

shop...

...a snap of a small portion of my stall that is currently at Saltaire's Maker's Fair as part of their Art Festival. i was going to show you a full stall photo with me in it but decided that my face looked a tad funny. the card rack is a new purchase in the hope of displaying things better. i first bought a cardboard rack last year in August and although they are good - we couldn't put it together as simple as they made it look on the seven second video and ended up breaking it in frustration. after many moons of deliberating over this rack, i finally dived in and have used it for the first time this weekend. more people are looking and sales have increased slightly on these particular items. therefore Sir Alan Debbie would say - if you are thinking about investing in shop display things/equipment, give it a serious thought, do some research and/or ask other stall holders about their displays if you like what you and see. if you don't try - you will never know what works best for your work. i am off now to finish sewing two batches of red bunting as there is none left for tomorrow. if you are nearby or happen to be in Saltaire tomorrow, please come say hello.

LAST DAY TOMORROW - Bank Holiday Monday 30th May 2011 - Victoria Hall in Saltaire. All sales help towards new print supplies and to pay the taxman.

2011-05-27T19:38:00.001+01:00

over thinking...

...while trying to think outside the box and in layers and colours whilst also trying not to think too much. screenprinting is great once you get in the swing of it but trying to return to it after a break without the usual tools that can be found in a print room is difficult. up above is the first ever example of a two layered handrawn screenprint - the efforts of today's work. phew. i think the card stock/texture i used was ok but would work better on a smoother card. i am about to have another go at it with another card design and something else. please remember that if you would like to see my work in person and are near Bradford tomorrow, that i will be in Saltaire at the Maker's Fair - please visit the link on the right.

2011-05-25T19:43:00.000+01:00

getting ready...

...for the Maker's Fair that this weekend. bit of the same as before in the previous post but this time with purple fish. thought it would be best to post as often as i can. the new screen has finally arrived and is ready for my shakey hands to paint some freehand designs on it, no acetates with nice computer work on it - FREEHAND! with the new screen and with Friday being a holiday off the day job, i am hoping there will be time to make/do the things i planned to do last week. good news of the week is that the Mr Dr has finally found a post PhD job.

2011-05-23T19:27:00.000+01:00

in stock...

...a few more of the fish paintings ready for the Saltaire Makers Fair that is this bank holiday weekend. the one above features the lovely sherbet lemon fish. i am wondering whether to add a 'new' fish to collection? painting sessions have been stopped and started after the day job in the evenings. they just need to be wrapped and labelled ready for the print browser display. some work that was planned to be ready, may not be due to a screen order not being processed correctly which i am a bit 'GRRRR' about but easy come-easy go. i have Friday off work this week so a full day of prep before hand may work wonders.

2011-05-16T22:03:00.000+01:00

odd...

....to be drawing the lion sketchbook. it is odd to think about what to draw in it. i used to draw other people i saw in Manchester in here as lions but now there is not much to draw about when i have been scaling bacon all day in the factory so it takes bit longer than the norm to finish a page. the fish paintings are going well - two done - am doing them one at a time as before i used to do about four or five in a go. mechanical pencils are being lost and found on a daily basis - hence some weak drawing lines while others are stronger. am unsure to what lead is in what - B, HB or 2B. it is now ten pm and i think it is now time for some serious thinking drawing in the larger sketchbook with a proper pencil (one that you sharpen yoursen).

also, hello to everyone who has visited these past couple of days from craftgossip.com and from wherever else you have popped in from - all visitors are welcome new and old. say hello.

2011-05-15T22:36:00.001+01:00

maximum...

...output from one design equals good use of brain cells. while watching Eurovison last night - i was thinking about printing. i get the urge to print/work at unusual times. it was very very late and there were/are supplies that really need using - old card stock and mixed printing paint - hence these new small cards. they will be at the Saltaire Makers Fair that is at the end of May. I am hoping the blank screen will arrive tomorrow so that i can print some more out of different designs on the left over card stock. there are plans for designs of shimmering gold. unsure how to go about printing with fancy paints - worth a go and experimenting. today i started painting some fish on found paper pictures. output has been slow this weekend due to last minute preparations for a friends wedding that we are going to next week - super excited.

The lion badges that are in the post or two below this one have been featured on a huge website called craftgossip thanks to whoever put it on there - made me smile.

2011-05-14T17:06:00.001+01:00

irrelevant...

...post here about new shoes but i picked them with an illustration purpose in mind - colour! i also picked up a colourful flowery summer dress at the local village charity shop for £1.95 - BARGAIN! there is no pic of the dress though as the weather isn't so grand today for legs and dresses. back to the shoes - i had a voucher given to me for a high street shoe shop quite a few months ago and for the past two years i have been drawn to looking for purple shoes but never seen any that were quite right until i saw these. not quite purple but very nice in their own way. main attraction was the laces and colour stitching. on the work front, lion badges are calling me and maybe a spot of printing if i tidy the desk up. there are a few things to finish off before printing/drawing but i am sure Eurovision will help me tackle the list this evening.

2011-05-13T21:07:00.000+01:00

batch...

...another batch i have got on the go, are the lion badges. they soon find new homes out there once they are released which is very good news for me. it is very worrying when making a new item - whether it will be liked or not. these first appeared in August last year but i am unsure how long they will be around for as i am thinking that 'things' need a limited run and maybe a possible revamp in some fashion. i have lost two stockists this year which is worrying but then i have also gained two stockists. i enjoy what i do but time is limited due to the day job and i often find myself thinking in knots. the drawing is going ok and further scribbles are needed to flesh out my drawings of people type characters but my new screen still hast not arrived. important deliveries are always late.

CURRENT STOCKISTS - UPDATE

Cherry Cherry in Norwich, Harris Museum and Art Gallery in Preston, Comma in Oxford and Indie Cindy in Leeds. Please click on the links for more information.

2011-05-11T21:18:00.001+01:00

eight and zero...

...number 80 of the second lion sketchbook. we are nearing the end - just taken a while for me to get drawing in there. much prefer the larger sketchbook now. plus there is not so much observational stuff going on at the day job or when i get home. good news to share is that Indie Cindy in Leeds now stock a selection of my work. very pleased to have the illustration ball rolling bit more as the last few months have been quite quiet. i am still pondering every day while i as work about what it is i am supposed to be doing and the Dr Mister is still job hunting. another screen has been ordered - this time a blank one so i can play with drawing fluid and screen filler. happy may everyone.

FUTURE EVENTS

Saltaire Arts Trail - Maker's Fair - 28th, 29th and 30th May 2011 - Victoria Hall in Saltaire near Bradford & ReetSweet Fair - Sunday 5th June 2011 - Corn Exchange in Leeds.

2011-05-08T10:59:00.000+01:00

sketching...

...doodle time is something i really look forward to. some days the pencil flows and sometimes it doesn't. this is something i drew mid-week while i was watching the old bbc iplayer and thought i would share it, mostly being because it is 'people' related. the people drawing experiment is still going and we are getting there - i have reset my task of story illustrating - again there are no words as such, just loose ideas. in other news i am printing more at home and some more supplies finally arrived this week. just to add there are a couple of fairs in the pipeline - just a couple.

2011-04-24T15:25:00.000+01:00

printing...

...this Sunday afternoon has been one of printing. this time making a large batch of lion cards and some more purse fronts. cards are drying nicely on the dining room table while the purses are on another table. the living room is just full of tables at the Dr Mr's mother's house. i am gearing up to decide whether or not to order another image made screen or two, or to invest in some home exposure equipment as travelling to and from print studios is tad difficult with the day job. hmmm...decisions. researching everything is taking up too much time. after i have printed my name on the back of these bad boys and started off the purses, a spot of outside drawing in the garden is the plan.

2011-04-23T16:48:00.001+01:00

new...

...sort of. the to-do list has a lot to answer for and with the new home print equipment, i have been able to cross some things off it. as pictured, these are the first batch of raincloud purses - printed from a new screen that i ordered with a couple of my designs already on it. i miss the process of self-making screens though. i have used this design before to make a print but i thought it would look cool on some fabric - plus i get to use up some of the fabric stash that really needs using up. inside i have up-cycled/recycled some 'old' dotty blue fabric. these six are already on their way out to two stockists and this weekend i am hoping to print and sew more - i only have nine zips left! i have printed out more lion birthday cards and the sketchbook is full of more to-do things. today is Saturday and there is a long bank holiday t aweekend ahead of me so we shall see what happens with this extra playtime.

2011-04-17T14:12:00.000+01:00

spring...

...some how along the way, time has turned itself into spring. how did it get to April? i have been busy with the usual - day job, over thinking, bits of drawing and making of things. now the weather is nice, the Mr Dr and I have started venturing outside. We went to the flea market in town one Saturday ago but nothing grabbed me and this week we went to the new village charity shop. Inside there were quite a few clothes to be had - couple of M&S things and a nice summery skirt then in the cabinet next to the till there was this clock. Well I had to take it home as it reminds me of my Grandad who had clocks in every room - loud ticking noisy clocks. If I stayed over, he would wake up in a morning to find them all in the kitchen as once you heard them you couldn't take your mind off the tick tocking when you are trying to sleep. This one needed a bit of a tidy up and the hen's head moves - well pecks with every tick. It is loud just like Grandad's clocks were. I am not very good at finding things but this is classic treasure. Think I have found what I would like to collect.

2011-04-08T22:37:00.001+01:00

hurrah...

...up above we see the return of the 'lion 2' sketchbook. i have trying to finish this page since October 2010. finally got it together this week. there are only a couple of pages of this sketchbook to fill. in other news i have been working hard on sorting out the 'print room' whilst sewing the lion badeg batch. altogether there is now a print rack, screen clamp table top thingy, yesterday i ordered a screen with designs to try out and tonight i ordered quite a few bottles of acrylics and printing medium. ideas are flowing in a mish-mashy way and we shall see what happens as soon as we can put it all into action. the weekend is here and so is the sunshine so full steam ahead with the pencils tomorrow.

2011-04-03T16:47:00.000+01:00

on the desk...

..this April and not for much longer. I thought it was time I got into gear and tried to update this blog on a more regular basis like i used to. So here is today's photo taking effects. Not very good as the light is very drab with and without the flash. The Craft Candy Spring Fair went very well last week and thank you goes to all who came, saw and supported my stall. It is very much appreciated and has helped the print room funds, so that I am now the proud owner of a proper print drying rack! Very exciting. As you can see there are a lot of plastic 'project' bags in the top corner, mainly the lion badge making supplies - trying to make a huge batch of them to conquer the stockists with. Also some new bunting, sold out of some colours last weekend so fresh batches have been made. The desk is slowly being tidied this evening and then i ain't sure whats on the cards - brainstorm drawing i think.

2011-03-25T19:28:00.001Z

tomorrow...

...there will be four NEW little robotingtons in stock as well as some more of the lion badges made from recycled fabric. some of the new robotingtons have a new darker colour caused by random acts of multiple fabric dying. i reckon they look grand. this week has been a bit of a slow week as the mister had an interview for a job last week and he is still waiting for a reply either way. we have both been under the weather but the mister is now quite ill. therefore i am thinking forward and am looking forward to the fair. i will have my best excited smiling face on - i am not sure what my 'doing' task will be yet while i am there, there is usually some sewing to do but there is nowt half made so i may try and just draw like i used to do at fairs. so if you are out and about in Sheffield tomorrow near the Millennium Gallery, please come and say hello.

2011-03-18T21:48:00.001Z

final batch...

...of stitched and framed robotingtons. these past couple of weeks or so, I have been working on things for Craft Candy's Spring Fair that is next Saturday. unfortunately the stitched robotingtons will be the last batch for the foreseeable future as well as some other things as i am sorting out my supply boxes to make way for screen printing supplies. with the day job, the illustration work gets squashed in to the rest of the time so i think it is best for me to streamline my work a bit more so i can concentrate on the drawing and printing. this evening i am sewing and stuffing four small robotingtons and working on another batch of fox badges - they sell out super quick. the weekend started with a visit to a jumble sale that was in aid of the local scout group. best buy of the day was a 20p vase but i also got a 40p grey skirt and 40p to the knee jogging bottoms - great for them Zumba moves plus some vintage fabric for bunting.

CRAFT CANDY'S SPRING FAIR - 26th March 2011 - Millennium Gallery in Sheffield

FREE ENTRY!

2011-03-09T21:55:00.002Z

back in to the groove...

...taken me a couple of frustrated attempts with angry faces and many swear words but i feel like the ball has started rolling again with the drawing and ideas. up above there - there are some butterflies. trying to work out how detailed to make them. i have done some more flat-ish colour ones and next up are texture ones with Martin character development thrown in while i just go with the flow. aint too sure about the hedgehog yet so he is staying in the sketchbook with some other sketchy things. please remember that i will be in Sheffield at the Craft Candy Mini Fair if anyone would like to come and say hello - please see one of the previous posts for more information.

GOOD NEWS is that the mister is now a Dr of Molecular Biology - forgot to mention it before i think - was end of January when he had his big exam - fingers are now crossed while he proper job hunts.

2011-02-27T18:46:00.000Z

soon...

...very pleased to share the good news that my work has been selected to be part of Craft Candy's Mini Fair on 12th March 2010 at Bungalow and Bears in Sheffield. There will be nine stalls of crafty kitschness with jewellery and accessories to homewares and up-cycled goodies to get your mitts on. Please click on the link to find out more.

2011-02-24T23:20:00.000Z

ruthless...

...working as fast as my broken finger will let me. well it isn't broken, just swollen or bruised but i cant grip or bend it properly. I struggle a bit with the day job and sometimes when i am doing my work - i am still at the factory - hence the lack of posts/updating. finally finished off this huge batch of plush teeth that i screen-printed many moons ago. also visited a new print room earlier this week and booked myself in for a session of making new screens. also squashed in two zumba classes and a bit of nintendo DS gaming. tomorrow night is Friday night also known as drawing night - working on Martin and some general print plans ready for my first session at the new place.

2011-02-13T15:40:00.000Z

painting...

...building up a small amount of fish pictures. all are for sale and will be in the folksy/etsy update soon. yesterday i sorted out the final batch of teeth, all ironed and folded inside out ready for stuffing. lion badges are on the go as well - this time a mega batch of 150 will be made! the 'mane' bit of making is the best. today, the Mr Dr and I went for a little wander round the shops of Huddersfield. Was nice to get out and stretch the legs. must go back to the desk over there and carry on with the story/print plans.

2011-02-11T19:06:00.001Z

here we go...

...catching up with the 'to-do' list. i have stopped writing them for the moment and just think about them while i am at the day job. i can often be found scaling/loading bacon with a very blank face, daydreaming about my print room and story ideas. sometimes i sing very loudly to the radio over the factory noise even though i can not really sing. must go and eat a sandwich and carry on - there is a market to get ready for - it is tomorrow in Sheffield. please check out the link. Up above is one of four new fish pictures that i painted last weekend - painting claw is not attractive but i had fun getting stuck in.

FISH PAINTING IS NOW SOLD

2011-02-05T12:52:00.000Z

much needed update...

...with it being the weekend, I have got a little bit of time for a post of information. first up is a new stockist of my screen-prints, Comma in Oxford and it is a fun new design-led gift shop, stocking home wares, cards, books, prints, stationery, and vintage items. I am very pleased to have my work in such a lovely looking shop with other great arty type people. So if you are near by - why not pop in and have a spy and see what you find. Another new stockist is Harris Museum and Art Gallery of Preston who have some of my badges in their little shop. I visited them last week and it looks great. Onwards and upwards for 2011!

Also, I have been selected to have a stall of my work at the following events this year which I am extremely excited about. ReetSweet's Valentine Fair which is tomorrow in Leeds, Fifi's Markets in Sheffield next weekend, Craft Candy's Spring Fair also in Sheffield at the end of March and Maker's Fair as part of Saltaire's Arts Trail in May. More information to follow on each of these soon or please click on the links provided. I must get on over to the desk and get drawing.

2011-01-19T21:40:00.000Z

another update...

...posts are few and far between so far due to the same day job, the same stock making and a bit of the same tiredness. there is just a week to go until the mister's viva for his phd. fingers crossed. i have been fabric hunting again with the mother-in-law. best place by far is The Shuttle in Shipley near Bradford. up above there is a sketch from a story i have been trying to illustrate - i don't usually share big sketchbook pictures but i thought this blog deserved an update. more sketching will be done this evening on developing people characters. head shapes and eyes are hard to draw. don't think i can get away with dot eyes for much longer. and oval type eyes look creepy when i draw them. wheres my thinking cap?

2011-01-09T20:50:00.001Z

creeping back...

...in to the land of drawing with Martin and his bag of butterflies. a little rough i thought i would share to get the blog restarted. its from another one of my stories i am having a whirl at. i have been trying to draw every evening with a mixture of success. trying to find as much inspiration as i can but tis hard when i spend most of the daylight shut inside a factory, so all i have is my imagination and the telly. i often get a lift home, just as the sun is setting and try my best to look out the car at everything. was planning to go walking this weekend round the village where we now live but the mother-in-law and i decided to go fabric shopping instead. i got a little bundle of bargain £1 fat quarters and have already made some purple bunting up. there are now fifteen small robot project packs made up and stock levels are starting to rise which is good for both the material box and new year plans. there is new Larkrise to Candleford on this weekend so am off to draw while waiting for it to appear on bbc's iplayer.

2011-01-03T12:07:00.001Z

happy new year...

...all the best for 2011, to everyone who stops by and has had a read or look at this 'ere blog. posts have been sparse for a while due to the Super Mega Trip of late 2010, moving home, the full-time factory job and Christmas markets. Thank you to everyone who came to any of the markets, looked and bought a piece of my work. I also part-led my first workshop at the last market i did - which went very well - may this year lead on to more or similar. i am nearing the dream of being able to print at home, just have to make a final decision on what to order from the interweb shops. i have a lot of work to make up, draw and create, and plan to re-start on the lion sketchbook as its nearing the end. the big sketchbook has been drawn in a little bit and so we shall see where 2011 takes us, hopefully back to proper full-time self-employment and drawing stories.

2010-12-13T21:11:00.000Z

this weekend...

...will be the last fair i take part in for this year. this Saturday, I will be at the above fair with Manchester Craft Mafia and their friends in my second home, Manchester.i will also be doing a Christmas pudding bauble workshop - if the postman brings my supplies in time! there is a plan b in place. the snow is starting to stress me right out as it plays havoc with everything i try to do! back to the fair, i will be there with my wares and maybe some new show and tell things if i manage to squeeze in drawing/making time after the day job. entry is FREE and everyone is welcome. there will be lots of other stalls selling a wide variety of handmade gifts and treats.

2010-12-12T21:37:00.001Z

as i post...

...my mister's mother has kindly let me use her sewing machine and software to stitch my lion drawing into an embroidery! it was bit tricky to use the software so we called the technical guy for support - the mister. it is an exciting development as i originally decided against buying a new sewing machine in favour of silkscreens a couple of years back. it is an exciting to see something used in a new way. it is taking twenty seven minutes to sew and instead of leaving the machine to do its thing and get on with something else, we cant help but sit and watch it.

EDIT
we have got carried away and done another design - book reading lion. learning more about how it works. not sure quite what to do with them or how to go forward with it all. another thing i guess to add to the to-do list...wasn't i supposed to be just concentrating on picture books?

2010-12-11T13:38:00.000Z

busy...

...is not quite the word i would use but i have been trying my best to get on top of things this past week. working during the day and doing double-time overtime is bringing out the worst tired feeling ever but the light at the end of the tunnel will be some kind of print room set up as a reward at the end when the mister finds a job. i have been trying to do as much illustration work as i can in the evening until the nap monster attacks for the christmas fairs. some things have sold out - thank you - and its been difficult to replace some items though they will be replaced asap!

EVENTS
This Sunday - Christmas Shopping at HOLMFIRTH MARKET near Huddersfield, 10am until 5pm and then next week I will be at The Whitworth Art Gallery with MANCHESTER CRAFT MAFIA'S CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR in Manchester, 10am til 4pm.

2010-12-05T22:53:00.001Z

today...

...is slowly moving into tomorrow. above is picture of the lovely Leeds Corn Exchange and today's play date was with ReetSweet Events and their Christmas Fair. My stall can be seen second from the bottom left hand corner of the screen - near the tree. It was a lovely day - little bit more relaxed than last week's fair and there were time for a little bit of talking/seeing this time. Thanks to everyone who came and took things away - its really appreciated - its helping the print room fund grow! i am trying my best to get work ready for the up coming fairs but who knows what i will have as the day job is quiet tiring. quicker plans and ideas are having to be moved up the to-do list so we shall see what the results are. fingers crossed.

also...
...if you would like to read more about last weeks event that was in Sheffield and to see a picture of my grin, please click on the link Craft Candy to go to their blog.

2010-11-29T21:37:00.000Z

phew...

...and a huge big super massive THANK YOU to all who came to the Craft Candy Christmas Fair on Saturday, who came by, looked, chatted, questioned and bought. It was an incredible day and it was grand. apologies to anyone who came across from their stall to say hello - as i was on me own and unable to wander (the mister has yet to make a double of me_that's what his PhD should have been about). this week, i am again at work doing the day job, with all making/drawing crammed into the evenings ready for the next fair that is THIS SUNDAY in Leeds. Please see the ReetSweet Blog for more details. It is all go here and if anyone would like to give or donate me a screen-print room - you know where i am as then i could keep up with this long to-do list!

2010-11-21T21:08:00.000Z

update...

...Candy Cane Christmas Fair is THIS SATURDAY - 27th November and i will be there. This week has been busy and I mean busy! Settling back in to everything has been hard and job-hunting has been so-so. I did two fairs this weekend, Holmfirth and Saltaire and thanks to all those who stopped by the stall. Tomorrow i start a temp-job while the husband continues with the post-phd job hunt. nowt like trying to fit everything in and this weekend, i am really looking forward to the above Craft Candy Fair - I will be there with my work! The words below have been taken from their latest email.

Hi everyone, The Candy Cane Christmas Fair is THIS SATURDAY - 27th November and we have SO much on offer - original Christmas presents or fantastic treats for yourself! More than 40 hand-selected exhibitors will showcase the cream of the UK craft scene, filling the gallery with on-trend one of a kind pieces. Our guest experience is very important to us and as always our fairs are completely free to attend.

You're most welcome to browse the stalls, enjoy a coffee in the cafes, and soak up the inspiration. Choose from a vast selection of jewellery, bags & accessories, stationery, home-wares and ceramics. Our resident carol singers will be providing top quality festive cheer for the season to be jolly! Don't forget our fabulous raffle returns too, tickets are only 50p and you could win an exquisite selection of handmade craft.

See you next week - from The Craft Candy team.

2010-11-15T19:44:00.000Z

hello...

...just to say that i am back from our super mega trip. photo above is from New York when we found a Hello Kitty hiding in a courtyard place-cant remember where-on our way to MOMA i think! just getting to grips with living back in Huddersfield and a slower pace of life, catching up with emails, seeing family and friends and just general 'to-doing' of work. i have to say that i tried drawing on holiday but we were just moving around so fast here, there and everywhere, that there weren't really stopping time for doodles. resting time was taken up by burger eating and watching Law and Order-SVU or NCIS - terrible but addictive telly. the mister drove us from NY to California and back - about 8500 miles i think - give or take a few. there are photos to look at and draw from, plus plenty of inspiration in my head so we shall just have to see what comes out of the pencil end of it all in a few weeks.

EVENT
ReetSweet 2 - Art, Design and Neo Craft Shopping Fair at Leeds Corn Exchange Sunday 5th December - more info here and to follow! Put it in your diaries and pass on the invite!

2010-11-01T23:38:00.001Z

coming up...

...please put a note in your diaries for this special event. Craft Candy have invited me and my work to be part of their Candy Cane Christmas Fair which will be held at the Millennium Gallery in Sheffield on Saturday 27th November. Entry is free so if you are nearby or fancy a day out, please come and say hello. there will a great mixture of work on display - i believe about twenty or more stalls of art and craft. Please follow the links for more information. I will have the usual items with me as well as new prints and hopefully new art work on display - all depends on what i can do in the two weeks i have between getting back from the USA and the fair!

2010-10-25T18:46:00.000+01:00

in San Francisco...

...on one of the many piers, this one had boats or ships. just a little update - we are on day twenty-six of our trip - getting used to USA now. we have taken about two thousand photos - a lot to go through when we get back.

2010-10-18T04:58:00.000+01:00

another update...

...couple of days ago, we were in las vegas. the weather was lovely and we quite enjoyed our cheap days out. we visited all the free attractions, put a few dollars in the slots and enjoyed $1 margaritas and beers. we are now in San Francisco and have really enjoyed visiting both of these places - still haven't drawn yet but there are plenty of photos to look at for inspiration when we return.

2010-10-11T00:50:00.000+01:00

USA update...

...we are now in Denver stopping over for a rest and a day of exploring. We went to Chicago at the beginning of the week and here is a pic of the mister and i - in front of the 'Bean'. I could look at the reflections of the buildings in the Bean all day.

2010-10-05T23:34:00.001+01:00

hello from...

...the USA! just a quick one to say that the mister and i are away for about seven weeks. photo above is me doing my 'Up' pose of 'Adventure is out there!' We flew out of Heathrow on 30th September to JFK in New York and spent the next day walking over 100 blocks round the city in the rain - weather was just like Manchester. We then went up to Niagara Falls and drove on to Toronto which looked awesome at night-time as we drove along the Gardiner Highway through the city. Spent the next day walking round the city and went up the CN Tower. At the moment we are in Chicago and we have been to see The Bean, Buckingham Waterfall and up the John Hancock Tower where David Schwimmer (Ross from Friends) gave us a tour at the observation deck. (an audio tour) I haven't drawn a thing yet as my eyes have been too busy but i have taken loads of photos.

2010-09-23T23:58:00.000+01:00

slow and fast...

...everything has happened and is happening all at once! i have been 'all over busy' these past couple of weeks. the mister was writing his thesis and handed it in on Monday! we are nearing the end of packing the flat up to move and just about to start packing the holiday suitcases. bits have been sorted out already - mainly sketchbooks, pencils and camera. there is just enough time for a quick update with a lion page, an update about shops and a date for your diaries as Super Titan will soon have to go in a box. the online shops are now on 'holiday mode' but my work can be found in proper brick wall shops if you fancy taking a peek at anything.

PAD in Preston. CHERRY CHERRY in Norwich. THE SPIDER AND THE FLY in Edinburgh.
Soon to have a couple of prints in COMMA in Oxford.

Please put a note in your diaries for CRAFT CANDY's Christmas Craft Fair on 27th November 2010 at Millennium Gallery in Sheffield from 10am til pm. Please come and say hello.

2010-09-15T17:42:00.000+01:00

nearing the end...

...soon to be jumping right in to a new travelling sketchbook. the last week or so has been stop and start with work as there is alot going on. i am starting to book events for late November and December and just do work in general but it is forever exhausting whilst also trying to pack up a flat and a holiday suitcase. everything feels on hold and like i am living in limbo. i must crack on as i some how have now been struck by a force that says it is now ok to move that pencil (even though it said that last week). it was like a heavy weight last week - made me all jittery and all i could draw were wonky lines. lets see what this evening pans out like.

2010-09-10T22:25:00.000+01:00

trying...

...attempts to draw and print this week, did not go well. i even went outside for the first time in ages to draw but nope - the pencil didn't want to move. it has been a funny old week and i have tried my hardest to do things so in the end i decided to make some badges and stitch some more robot pictures ready for when we return from the trip. i am away for the weekend in Stoke again and the sketchbook is coming with me. i have made some plans ready for next week but there is only about two weeks to go before we have to pack up and move, then pack up and fly.

2010-09-06T21:03:00.000+01:00

seven and six...

...page seventy-six. not sure what to write about as i have been pretty busy with the doing of work. i have just sent loads of stock out and once again it all needs replenishing which takes bit of phaffing around. i spent much of yesterday ordering stock supplies, labelling and packing up work and wrapping up prints. today i took alot of parcels to the post office so new stock will be landing in PAD, CHERRY CHERRY and THE SPIDER AND THE FLY. i am not sure what to do this evening - i want to draw ready for the print room but something is telling me to wait until tomorrow so i may stitch lion badges as there is a fair few to do.

BIG NEWS
Put it in your diary - Craft Candy Cane Christmas Fair - 27th November 2010. I will be there with new prints, sewings and things, along with lots of other lovely stalls. More information to follow.

2010-09-05T15:17:00.003+01:00

UPDATE...

...i posted about this project the other day but here are some new bits of information. i have submitted some work (above print) but will be unable to be at the exhibition launch night as we are flying out that day-everything happens when i am in another country!

See the Papergirl Manchester submissions before they are distributed, at their exhibition launch night, on Thursday 30th September from 7pm at the Soup Kitchen in the Northern Quarter of Mancland. Papergirl Manchester will showcase artists from Russia, Estonia, Canada, France, Ukraine, Italy, Spain, U.S.A, Sweden, Italy, Germany and the UK. So far the project has received almost 700 pieces of work that will be distributed. The exhibition will feature at least one piece by each artist. so why not join Papergirl and everyone for a drink, see the work and find out more - or visit here wecurate or here papergirlmanchester

2010-09-05T10:56:00.001+01:00

finally...

...on Friday, i got to print the ringmaster and Brian. originally drawn in April sometime and it has been been waiting a month to get onto a screen since i potato-chopped it- here it is after two attempts to take a decent photo. i think i need digital camera lessons. this is the best i could do with the natural light from the patio type door things. in the end i went for five colours and left the red of his belt and hat band off/out. all 20 prints of the edition came out beautifully - good news for me who has never registered that many colours before! it was the biggest and best adrenalin rush ever - all in four hours. i recycled pots of colours that other people had left and they were quite good match's for what i had in mind.one will soon be on etsy and maybe a couple in the brick and mortar shops.

2010-09-02T19:47:00.001+01:00

stitching...

...while waiting for the print room and while looking at my materials box and while looking at my to-do list, i decided it was time to use up some stuff. the cross-stitch pattern was drawn out and tested back in 2007 and had been sat in the 'what should i do with this?' box for ages. i had a play around and adapted the pattern to fit in these little oval frames i had in my stash. they didn't take long to sew - three in a day whilst watching 'Murder She Wrote' and 'Ugly Betty' - i am chuffed with how they look. soon to be in etsy and stockists i reckon but i want to look after them for a bit first! today i went to the print room in my sunglasses and flip flops, to expose the screens ready for printing tomorrow. i am so excited to be in the print room properly - with the old day job it was stop start stop start all the time.

Just a little note to say - please do not copy this cross-stitch pattern as it is my own design and it is part of my work.

2010-09-01T22:50:00.000+01:00

fresh...

...printed yesterday during a mad two hour stint in the print room. i saw/heard/read about 'Papergirl Manchester' and thought i would join in. here is some info taken from the site - Papergirl is an art project from Berlin. In the style of American paper-boys, rolled art pieces will be distributed by bicycle in the streets of Manchester to random passers-by. With the support of Papergirl Berlin; it will consist of an exhibition, distribution of art and a party. Manchester will be Papergirl’s UK debut.

the first attempt of the raincloud pattern print didn't work out so i thought that this project was an excuse to give it another go as a Manchester project deserved something to do with Manchester rain. i only got twelve decent prints out of an attempt of twenty as the screen kept 'ghosting' and so I gave Janice of Papergirl Manchester eight of them and some lion postcards to hand out. one of the raincloud pattern prints is up for sale on etsy right now. it is a print room day tomorrow and i will be exposing a screen - the circus image.

2010-08-31T18:54:00.001+01:00

saturday...

...a super mega thank you to Deb and Vicky who came all the way from Stoke to help me out on the day-bless 'em. thank you to everyone who came and said hello - it was a good day but it was a little bit quiet as Pride was on, amongst a few other things. i was exhausted and it was time for a rest, so i stayed in the car after dropping my work off and went back to Stoke with Deb and Vicky. Deb and I crammed so much into our little weekend - chinese takeaway (it was so nice), watched a film, played bingo, visited a car boot and craft fair, visited Deb's work two days running, and we did a bit of shopping. i got home yesterday and was itching to do some work. i used to look forward to days off from work but now, i ain't so sure - i think i miss work.

2010-08-27T15:04:00.000+01:00

back in graphite...

....back on the sketching front of things with a page from the A5 book. the other day i had to wait an hour for fancy printouts from the fancy printers, so i sat in St. Ann's Square in Mancland and filled in some blank areas and drew a page and a bit. the print room was a game of half and halves again, i was still unhappy with the circus image so i only only exposed the one design but then was unable to print it as the tables are fully booked. so its a waiting game until Tuesday. i am itching to print as after Saturday it will be drawing and printing all the way until the USA trip.