brochure finished

Today Ive finally finished the artwork for the Humble pie brochure. Now its going to the printers, so I hope all will be ok and that it looks good when they print it up for my friend. It was quite alot of work, but good practice in illustrator, especially using text. Now she wants me to do the web design!

etsy purse

Ive made this purse for my esty shop, here it was featured in the fresh items. Hopefully someone will like it. Its similar to my last birdy purse which sold to a friend who saw it on Etsy! Ive nearly used that scarf up now so will have to start cutting up my next recycled garment, and I have my eye on a 1970s floral shirt.... I better say my goodbyes to that...here come the scissors!

Marathon Girl

This is the card I made for my friend who not only celebrates her 40th but is running the London marathon on 13th April!! Go girl!!! Did this in illustrator using a photo for help with the facial features.

Easter eggs

Today is my day with my 3yr old, so weve been making some easter cards, this one is using the floral design from yesterday....quite cute... Louisa did even better!

istock

This week I'm working on my istock portfolio application. They are very particular about stray points and clean lines. Ive now got 3 illustrations to upload, so its then a case of wait to see what they get back to me with. Here's my 1970s inspired pattern.

ceramic inspiration

I love this linear and simplistic design, its by a Swedish company, Rorstrand, made in about 1958, very typical of its era. Apples are so popular in design right now and I will be looking at this one for inspiration.

work time

Ive been thinking today about how people organize their work time. I know some like to allocate each day of the week to a different thing. I was trying to figure out if I could do that.... but after writing it all out on this post, I then hit delete!! I realized that I could not stick to such order. I think I'm a typical working mother, constantly multi-tasking and fitting every thing around my girls! Here's the logo Ive been working on for a friend who is starting a catering business.

busy bee

Ive managed to get more into the swing of listing things on etsy, its easy when you know how! Now I will have to see if people actually want to buy anything! Ive changed my blog to the esty banner, but somehow its not as cosy as my original one!! I may have to revert back, will see. Here's one of my little boy wall hangings.

etsy shop

Hey, finally got my etsy shop set up! Not much in it as yet, as it all takes time, first to make then to get used to the listing, plus you have to take a few nice photos of each item. I need to find the nice link to cut and paste, but for now if you want to have a look then here it is!

zippers are tricky

Well, I have a small confession to make.....Im going to open an etsy shop!! I know, I know, its alot to take on what with everything else I have to do!! But it just kind of happened, I got sidetracked into it!! I havent put anything in it yet, but have been working on a few 'proto types' (purses that didnt quite meet the standards) Heres my little doggie purse, Im not sure the zipper is finished off quite right,......so I guess that will go in the 'proto type' box !! Now wheres that sewing manual I found a few weeks back???

birdy

This one is going to be a little purse tweet tweet!

kittys stitching!

After a wonderful evening spent with creative friends, I have been inspired to continue my recycled clothes theme....especially after seeing Rachels very cute handmade sock cat. She has lent me a lovely book called 'Making Stuff' by black dog publishing. Its full of ingenious ways to re-use, recyle and get creative. Ive made myself an ipod cosy, using an old scarf. I just washed it at 60 degrees in the machine and it felted nicely. I really want to do some toys now, a sock monkey or cat.

thats better

Ive managed to save my jumping girl as a jpeg now without turning her blue! I think it must have been because the RGB orignal was saved as CMYK ...blah blah, something technical. (note to self... must learn to concentrate on finer technical points)

practice makes perfect

Over the last few days Ive been spending my work time practicing in Illustrator. My eyes are so tired!! I want to start a collection of illustrations on istock. To start with you have to read the training manual, which is very detailed. The vector files have to be so perfect with no stray points or open lines. Maybe I'm setting myself a difficult task here... but I would like to master illustrator and I hope I wont get too many rejections!! Here is my girl jumping....I will probably change it again before I submit it!! Oh dear, can anyone tell me why shes turned blue!!???

love this book cover

Over the weekend I spotted this wonderful book cover (author: Marina Lewycka, published by penguin). I love the simplistic retro style print that is made using only 2 colours and the paper colour, very clever. After some research I found out that 'gray318' is Jon Gray and is a very well established illustrator. Check out this interview with him.