oh my [ i l l u s t r a t i o n s ]

First 2 colour Screen Print..

2011-10-12T14:30:00.001+01:00

And I actually quite like it

I like to ride my bike

2011-09-28T19:26:00.002+01:00

New Screen Print...

Reetsweet

2011-09-26T10:25:00.002+01:00

Reetsweet craft fair at the corn exchange in Leeds is happening this weekend - All weekend. But sadly Saturday will be my last time at the fair as I am moving out of Leeds. So come and see me one last time :)

more screen printing

2011-09-22T17:07:00.002+01:00

Screenprint

2011-09-21T22:54:00.002+01:00

I know I have probably over used this image but it was one of the images I chose to screen print on day 2 of my screen printing course.. It was quite hard work as we worked in pairs on a huge screen - and using a giant squeegee - next week I am hoping for better results as I will be working on my own screen.

Ps... exciting news: I am moving to London

Doily..

2011-08-17T21:05:00.002+01:00

I've been away

2011-08-11T18:56:00.002+01:00

I have just got back from being in Berlin for a few days - and it was just the break i needed - although there wasn't a moment of relaxation, (we did over 10 hours of walking on one day -and my find won't let me forget).

I have created a tumblr page, and in between that and finding a new job before i'm made redundant - i hope to keep this blog updated much more often.. Stick around.

Whats new..?

2011-05-26T08:34:00.002+01:00

Here are just a small selection of new brooches and earrings which i will be selling at my next few fairs - if they do well, they will soon be in my Folksy shop.

Craft Events coming up - Nation of Shop Keepers, and Reetsweet at the Corn Exchange in Leeds

new!

2011-05-21T22:15:00.002+01:00

Here is a little photo of some tester brooches and earrings just before they were baked in the oven... they have now been cooked. Some a little too big and some too small. So on to round 2!

Tea bags..

2011-05-17T19:21:00.004+01:00

Charity shop find, a giant tea bags jar. It has been sat on my shelf for a few weeks - empty. Not sure what to use it for yet.

Time.

2011-05-16T20:19:00.003+01:00

I have lost count of the amount of times I have done a blog post and said, "oh, it's been a while, but I am back now" so I won't say that again. But it has been a while - I look at my blog most days thinking i need to do something worthy of posting, I have been struggling with this, but here are some clock earrings and brooch i have made for your viewing pleasure. I can't promise I'm here to stay, but I'll try.

more bears

2011-03-05T20:32:00.002Z

A Mother's day card maybe?

A sketchbook page..

2011-02-27T21:59:00.003Z

Not something I usually share as i know things aren't perfect and how i want them to be, I have never been good at keeping a sketchbook as everything has to be perfect, if not, it gets torn out, but i'm learning. So here is a page of bears.

Folksy

2011-02-20T20:23:00.002Z

Some new items in my Folksy Shop. I am currently working on new brooches, badges and earring designs, so keep coming back to check what's new. If there is anything in particular you would like as a pair of earrings or badges let me know and i'll see what i can do.

FiFi's Market

2011-02-13T21:26:00.004Z

Another craft fair over and done with, I shared a table with Debbie Greenaway.

Tea and Biscuits anyone?

2011-02-09T23:44:00.002Z

Here are some tasty treats for your ears. I will be selling these along with lots of other things at Fifi's Market in Sheffield on Saturday with Debbie Greenaway, Pop over to see us.

My badges in action...

2011-02-03T22:28:00.003Z

Facebook

2011-01-31T11:05:00.001Z

Follow me on Facebook, if you like!

Making badges

2011-01-30T20:09:00.001Z

For the Reetsweet fair in Leeds on Sunday. Pop in to see some lovely crafty things...

Valentines day card

2011-01-27T18:46:00.002Z

Back again

2011-01-25T19:47:00.002Z

Well something i normally say is, "it's been a while" and this time it really has, far too long. Here is a new squirrel i have been working on and hopefully many more to come....

Long time no blog

2010-09-20T19:11:00.003+01:00

So it's been quite a while. I have been busy working, and getting in at half 7 every night, it is quite tiring. I see the shops have started christmas early so im joining in and here is one of my card designs, i am going to make a set of four, get them printed up and put in my Folksy.

2010-08-10T20:16:00.001+01:00

Follow my blog with bloglovin

Harewood House

2010-07-19T16:11:00.002+01:00

My Harewood House items will be on sale in the courtyard gift shop as of next week, these are some designs, they are on greetings cards and button badges, so if you fancy any get to Harewood House, it is such a lovely day out.

Hopefully i will have a select few of up to 5 of each card and badge in my Folksy shop next week as a limited online edition.

If you're interested let me know.

Bruges Zine

2010-07-14T06:50:00.002+01:00

My Bruges zine has been featured on Etsy.

Busy, busy..

2010-07-13T22:55:00.003+01:00

me and my very good friends Liz and Kieron on graduation day

What a very busy hectic few weeks it has been, with the Cube exhibition, Mr Thomas's Chop House, Graduating, and working on some new zines, cards and badges which will be heading to a very nice gift shop next week (i'll keep you posted on that).

I hope to do some new things for my Etsy and Folksy shop this week, so keep an eye out for that too. Unfortunately the job hunt continues though, which is taking up most of my time.

Folksy

2010-07-06T08:38:00.001+01:00

You can now buy my badges (and soon my zines) on Folksy. Go check it out. First 5 orders receive a free badge!!

Private View at the Cube..

2010-06-30T22:10:00.003+01:00

Last night was the private view at the Cube in Manchester, it's up until 3rd July so go have a peek, its a brilliant show.

The Cube

2010-06-29T09:52:00.001+01:00

If you're in or around manchester this week you should come to the Cube to have at look at the northern source show, its on till 3rd July.

New business cards

2010-06-24T13:41:00.003+01:00

have just arrived, ready for the Northern source cube exhibition starting Tuesday 29th June, where there is a showcase of work from a selection of graduate illustration students from the Northern School of Design, my work will also be up for sale at Mr Thomas's Chophouse arts fair starting today for a week.

school girl

2010-06-23T22:02:00.001+01:00

Just having a play around on the graphic pen as i have no scanner to put hand drawn images up.

Thank you

2010-06-21T13:37:00.002+01:00

I have been making Thank you cards recently to say thanks for gifts and help with moving in to my new flat, even though i have now been here for about 6 weeks, i still haven't got my scanner so here are a few photos to show.

2010-05-28T18:44:00.000+01:00

Come and join us at our degree show. It will be lovely i'm sure.

updating..

2010-05-14T14:37:00.004+01:00

my blog hasn't been updated much recently as i have had internet problems which are sorted now (at home), but now i have moved (to Leeds) and have no internet there now. So updating is hard. One more week of my degree left, then i am free. So hopefully lots of new stuff to come.

trying something new..

2010-05-09T21:35:00.001+01:00

Poems

2010-05-07T17:46:00.003+01:00

i have been illustrating poems recently which are going to be made in to a book, as part of my honours project, here is one of the images.

I've been lonely..

2010-05-06T20:40:00.003+01:00

..with no internet for nearly two weeks. But i'm back with good news, my entry to the macmillan book prize has been awarded as highly commended, which i am over the moon about.

Ahoy

2010-04-19T20:07:00.000+01:00

Its been too long.

2010-04-19T15:43:00.002+01:00

I have been working hard on getting my book ready for Macmillan and so, have been very busy. printing has been a nightmare, the library is the worst place to be, things never work or do what you want them to do. This resulted in getting Lulu to print my book, with it being so short notice it cost me quite a lot of what little money i have left. it arrived today, but its printed all wrong which made me very sad. But i had to get on with other work so here is a poem...

Etsy

2010-04-12T18:18:00.006+01:00

My Etsy shop 'Brown Paper Bag' is now officially open although at the moment it only has cecil badges in it, but throughout the evening and next few days ill be adding more. Keep peeking back to see what's new.

Cecil

2010-04-12T14:01:00.002+01:00

here is cecil, he is being made in to button badges as we speak.

keeping myself busy

2010-04-09T22:03:00.003+01:00

What i wore today..

2010-04-09T17:49:00.003+01:00

for the group What i wore today on flickr and blog made by Gemma Correll

Avoiding uni work

2010-04-09T15:47:00.001+01:00

..is not a good idea, but i don't like it and don't know what to do. So here is a drawing of me getting my hair 'coloured' red.

French Rabbit.

2010-04-08T21:49:00.001+01:00

I don't think this is blog worthy really but i found a drawing of him in my sketch book and quite liked him so i thought i would share him.

new endpapers

2010-04-08T20:23:00.001+01:00

with out the line.

(it may look like it has an outline on screen for some reason. i promise it doesn't)

A strange combination.

2010-04-07T22:36:00.002+01:00

This is something i was commissioned to do. I think the elephant needs re-doing (yes that is an elephant in the space rocket) but i actually quite like it, and even enjoyed doing it.

Endpapers?

2010-04-07T15:45:00.001+01:00

this is an idea for endpapers, they are supposed to be badges...any thoughts?

Inky owl

2010-04-06T23:00:00.001+01:00

I thought i would give my self a break from the story and so i have done a little inky drawing of an owl i saw at a farm yesterday.

Cheap Affair

2010-04-06T19:58:00.002+01:00

here is me and my stall on Easter Sunday.

bunting

2010-03-29T23:14:00.001+01:00

Squirrel with balloons

2010-03-29T14:50:00.001+01:00

This is a spread from my book, which i seem to have been working on forever. For some reason the squirrel doesn't look very clear on screen, he is fine printed out.

Party time

2010-03-27T20:52:00.000Z

I made a fox..

2010-03-25T22:41:00.003Z

i don't know if he is a badge or i could make his body, he is my first attempt, lots more practice required.

keyboard fox

2010-03-24T21:51:00.003Z

This is the last of my days work, iv done a few animal characters from my book in a different way, getting rid of the line, any feedback would be much appreciated.

Dog

2010-03-24T21:37:00.002Z

Cat

2010-03-24T21:28:00.002Z

Rabbit

2010-03-24T21:19:00.002Z

pic nic squirrel

2010-03-24T17:29:00.002Z

Charlies cheeks

2010-03-24T15:46:00.002Z

I am surprised at how much better charlie looks with no outline on his cheeks.

Charlie

2010-03-24T14:34:00.001Z

Badges at SEA

2010-03-19T00:09:00.002Z

All you need for a trip to the sea

2010-03-17T18:52:00.005Z

Nautical

2010-03-17T17:16:00.002Z

packaged badges

2010-03-17T11:02:00.002Z

Badges

2010-03-16T21:07:00.001Z

made with my new fancy badge maker.

mail dog!

2010-03-15T19:48:00.000Z

Cheap Affair

2010-03-15T19:41:00.000Z

I noticed this fair was happening on easter sunday, which i was so happy about as im not at work, so i better get on with making!

Stickers

2010-03-14T23:04:00.002Z

Charlies big forehead

2010-03-14T22:23:00.000Z

Someone new

2010-03-14T21:18:00.002Z

No surprises.

2010-03-14T20:50:00.001Z

It's Charlie

Not working so well.

2010-03-08T19:22:00.002Z

I don't think this works so well, i think its much neater, and thats because im trying to mock up the final versions.

What do you mean you have never seen a fox play the keyboard in the woods?

2010-03-07T20:14:00.002Z

This is an extremely rushed rough, i am working with the idea of using acrylic/water colour to paint the colour on to my page using the light box with an image underneath and then drawing the outline on top in pencil, i actually like it which is a change, the bulb for my light box has just gone which is the 2nd in 2 days, unlucky. So this was done pretty rough, it's just an idea for a page in my book.

Am i getting there yet?

2010-03-06T20:40:00.002Z

still a lot of experimenting going on, i am getting tired of seeing charlie now.

Nous Vous

2010-03-04T21:53:00.005Z

Today Nous Vous came in to uni to talk to us about their work and show us what they do. After that, and a couple in the pub at lunch, They ran a work shop, making motivational posters that we would want to see everyday up on our wall. With all that out of the way, it was back to the pub for a chat. They were nice, and it was a very enjoyable day.

Nous Vous

Kieron adding the final touches

Our poster, 3rd place

The winning Poster

Lots of Posters

I hate it

2010-03-03T22:58:00.001Z

I hate it when it comes to bed time and i have spent all day working in my tiny bedroom, and its going to take me about an hour to uncover my bed.

Fox

2010-03-03T18:21:00.002Z

Sketchbooks

2010-03-03T16:08:00.004Z

made out of old hardback children's books, my first attempt, now to make lots more.

Owl Tree

2010-02-28T00:15:00.002Z

New Foxes

2010-02-26T17:11:00.003Z

still experimenting

2010-02-26T14:56:00.004Z

I do quite like the pencil coloured ink Charlie. (top)

more experimenting

2010-02-26T14:30:00.004Z

so we had a crit on tuesday and it appears that i need to experiment more with the line of my work, and also some of the final pages need altering, i agreed with everything that was said, i think i was just rushing with the collage, trying to finish it off to get it out of the way in order to concentrate on my Honours project. But more work is needed on the book, so here is a mono print, and one that i photoshopped a bit of colour in to.

mugs and badges

2010-02-25T23:39:00.002Z

never drink tea whilst gardening..

2010-02-25T23:37:00.000Z

mug design

2010-02-20T00:06:00.003Z

More mug design ideas. I don't think ill use this one but i think i will use the idea, and try again with it. Please do not drink tea under water.

more story pages

2010-02-19T22:29:00.003Z

I think i am going with the collage style for my book, and i think its going to be kept quite minimal, im not filling pages with backgrounds and loads of colours, until the last spread, which is a surprise.

more squirrels

2010-02-17T23:10:00.001Z

Barbara.

2010-02-17T22:15:00.004Z

Now that i have my pages worked out, im trying out a few different techniques i have tried colouring in pencil, for this one it is still a bit of pencil crayon and a bit of collage.

Valentines gifts

2010-02-14T21:00:00.001Z

Pub drawings.

2010-02-12T15:09:00.000Z

Mug design.

2010-02-12T00:54:00.000Z

I am taking part in a garden exhibition at uni, the aim is to make something to display and then to buy another piece on display, to raise some money. I have decided to have 5 designs put on to 5 mugs this is just a quick idea, i am thinking, things not to do when drinking/ making a brew. This one is the suggestion; do not do it in the rain. (sorry for the bad quality picture, had to take a photo rather than scan...can't get stupid scanner working)

Valentines stall

2010-02-07T22:05:00.000Z

in the SU tomorrow, get your valentines cakes and cards.

Barbara

2010-02-07T21:05:00.000Z

Shopkeeper

2010-02-05T21:19:00.001Z

Party food.

2010-02-05T20:12:00.001Z

Badges and magnets.

2010-02-01T23:53:00.000Z

I have been struggling on my book so decided to make some badges and magnets instead, i just can't stop making them. I will hopefully have an etsy shop open soon, just incase any one is interested in them.

Charlie.

2010-02-01T12:26:00.000Z

here is something i am working on for the Macmillan competition. Just playing with colour and photoshop.

Preston zine fair..

2010-01-31T17:09:00.000Z

The fair was great. I really enjoyed being there, having a stall, and going round spending the money i had made on other peoples work. Here are a few photos of the fair. I think my most successful things were badges, mainly my new character badges. I am hoping to start selling them on here soon.

none stop.

2010-01-25T23:56:00.000Z

I have been sat at my desk since 9 this morning, it is now 11.55 and i have nearly finished printing/making my zines, here is what i have after this very long day.