a few more favourite ...

...pics from around my place this week ...

 

Have a great day!

bloggy homework

You may have noticed from my sidebar that I am doing the Blogging Your Way e-course (which is really excellent - I'm loving it!). We're into our third week, and our homework this week is to create an inspiration/mood board that depicts our blog. We weren't allowed to use anything digital to create it, so it was scissors and paste time with a stack of mags and other odds and ends. Here's what I came up with ...

I really enjoyed making this. The pictures and words (hopefully) convey what I'd like this blog to be in terms of style and content. I found it really useful and a worthwhile use of an hour or so on a Sunday afternoon. This A3 board is now going to live on my wall next to the laptop - as an inspiration and a reminder.
You should do one ... go on!

my creative space ... in the studio

Yesterday, I had a lovely few hours in the studio. I got to put up this print ...

 

... which I got here, and goes nicely on a little patch of wall above my printing table where I keep the inks I have mixed (and some other lovely little prints that I got here). I also did a bit of printing ...

... and some experimenting with printing ARTichokes. I want to randomly print in a couple of different colours and create a bit of a collage. I've done the first layer in red, and will do the next one tomorrow when I'm in the studio ...

 

Unfortunately, bloopers do happen occasionally when hand printing - not enough pressure resulted in a mottled tram roll menu, so I decided I might try and fill in the gaps ...

... I played around for a while and ended up with something in between - I left a bit of mottle in the middle which I am thinking looks a bit "aged" and "rustic" ... LOL!! Anyway, this "unique" apron is going to be for me ...

I hope your creative space is enjoyable and productive. To peek into other people's spaces, or to show us yours, visit Kootoyoo!

a few favourite ...

... pics from the last few days - food inspired ...

 

  

  

  

All delish! 

Best Ever Banana Bread recipe from here 

by the multi-talented Kirsty 

(it really was the best ever!)

how to enter the world of textile design

This e-book was launched today, and while it is focussed on the quilting part of the industry, from what I read of my copy today, there is lots of really useful info in there for everyone, and it's really well written. Lizzy House is a young and dedicated textile designer who wanted to share the information that many keep to themselves about how to start in the industry - what a breath of fresh air! I really like what Amy Schimler wrote in the foreword (I couldn't have said it better myself):

It can be a bit of a dilemma for artists in terms of sharing information. It is a lot of hard work for all of us in this business and it is a very competitive business. I think there is a way to balance giving helpful advice with the understanding that anyone asking is still going to have to do their own hard work in developing their personal style and establishing relationships with clients. That is not something you can give anyone.

I just thought you might be interested! You can buy your copy to download here. Cheers!

pear design progress ...

You might remember the pears I was playing with last weekend ... well I have ended up with this so far:

I really wanted something simple for the tea towels, and the opportunity to do a two colour print (my first one). Next on the agenda is some pattern work. Hope you're having a good start to the week!