I’m sure a lot of you are already aware of Design*Sponge, a brilliantly inspiring blog by Brooklyn-based writer, Grace Bonney.

I check in here regularly to refresh my ideas but as I’m about to own my own home for the first time, I’m particularly interested in the Sneak Peeks section. Here we get a glimpse into the homes of creatives from all over the globe – photographers, designers and stylists.

I’ve been a frustrated renter for years and I’ve never felt inclined (or been allowed) to put much effort into personalising my homes. Now that I have a blank canvas, I have so many different ideas that I can’t settle on anything!

By clicking through the hundreds of pics in Sneak Peeks I can start to get a better idea of what looks good. Everyone on here has great taste too and not at all biased towards owners exclusively, there are alot of rental examples where people have got stuck in and really made it their own. It ain’t Cribs either – not show-off-y at all, just lots of great tasteful styling and colour schemes!

 

 

Just look at that luscious vintage sofa!! From the beautiful home of Danielle Deboe – a particularly cool Sneak Peek in my opinion.

 

Totally Gorgeous Gift Wrap

I simply must get some sheets of this beautiful giftwrap for my pressies. A gift in itself!

Available through Nobrow, the design is the work of the ever so talented Lab Partners. I think the colour combinations are spot on!

 

 

A scruffy little sketch

I don’t normally share anything from my sketch books, it seems a bit like lifting the lid on my head to see messy inner workings, but I was told to so I have! Here’s an idea for my limited edition Christmas cards. It will be a single colour screenprint – probably red. Some of you will be lucky enough to receive one in the post.

 

The Christmas Prints are Here!

I managed to finish off the 2 new screen prints just in time for their shows.

First, here is ‘Sunset Forest’ which you can find at Unlimited in the centre of the Brighton Lanes in the run up to Christmas. I was really pleased with how this 7 colour screen print turned out. The final layer was so nearly printed in black but at the last minute I changed my mind and went for a very dark purple and I’m so glad I did!

In this peaceful scene we find a fox creeping through the forest of patterned trees. Both the patterns and the colour scheme are more than a little bit influenced by the picture books from my child hood!

You’ll also find a barn owl swooping towards us from the background.

 

 

There is also ‘Hare Moon’. A 6 colour screen print which came about following the popularity of the similar giclee print. This print is part of Soma’s Christmas show in Clifton, Bristol. No info on their site yet but I know the show starts on Saturday 19th November (this Saturday) and runs until the end of the year.

Both prints are £80 each and also available on my own shop.

New prints for Christmas

Currently printing away at Boxbird – desperately trying to meet the deadline for 2 Christmas shows/open houses. Soma and Unlimited

Here is a preview of both – I’m enjoying the colour combinations going on here. The mauve/orange one is making me think of sugared almonds!

Watch this space for the finished prints, hopefully completed this week.

 

Retro print goodies

Yum! just check out this beauty as seen on International Poster Gallery.

 

Considering Cafe Press

Pondering on selling through Cafe Press. For a while now I’ve been really keen to get my designs onto ceramics but a little stuck as to how to start the process without massive upfront costs (and a living room stacked with unsold goods ala Del Boy!)

One design: Sunset Forest, which will also soon be a screen print, has been submitted as a custom print for a sample to look at first. We’ll see……

I was recently asked to join the ranks of CultureLabel.com where I am rubbing shoulders with some big names such as the V&A, Saatchi Gallery, BFI and ICA. There are so many great galleries and studios selling art and homewares here, all under one roof so it’s really easy to click away and fill your basket with some very stylish stuff!

Below you see Loving Budgies cushion by Chloe Croft, You Brew.. print by Take the Proverbial & Gill McCall and Thunderstorm necklace by Bonbi Forest

 

New Kingfisher print

 

 

At last he is finished. This 6 colour silkscreen print took me a little while longer than anticipated as a couple of colours just didn’t come out right so required reprinting. Worth it though, I’m really pleased with the final result.

There is a layer of a beautiful metallic jade green ink to pick out the markings on the feathers. Just like a real Kingfisher, this print appears to change colour depending on the light and angle from which it is viewed: sometimes it’s blue, sometimes more green.

Quite strong colours on this one but the palette is fairly restricted to tones of turquoise contrasting with a zingy yellow. Colours which I hope evoke the cool reeds on the waters edge under a balmy hot summers evening.

It won’t be long until this print is uploaded to my web shop. I just need to finalise a few details first.

Screens prepared (only 5 colours this time!) and the first colour mixed. Hopefully in the next few days I can post you a pic of the new Kingfisher screen print.

I’ve purchased some delicious looking metallic ink too. I really hope it prints as well as it looks on the tube!