Photographic fun

I've just added some more cards to my Not On The High Street shop. When the sun came out on Wednesday I took the opportunity to turn my living room into a mini photographic studio and dug out every old tin and possible prop I could find. I'm not the worlds best photographer but I was quite pleased with the results.

Me & You

I must be the worst person to give cards to. I love my stationery so much that I guess the pressure is always on to find a card which fits the bill and makes me smile. I'm not picky I just don't like buying cards with no thought or regard of the person who will receive it. Lovely hand printed cards make me very happy. I must say that my husband has done well for valentines this year with a beautiful hand screen printed 'Me & You' card from Bonbi Forest. Thank you - I love it!

Cards, cards and more cards

Well the photo above just about sums up my week.

I've spent the entire week cutting, packing and folding. On the upside it's fantastic to be busy and I can't believe that I'm managing to get the volume of cards out that I am. On the downside I've been over-doing and consequently haven't been well this week. So battling to get orders out while feeling rotten hasn't been the most fun.

I can't wait to spend some time on new designs so I have lots of lovely new cards and prints to add to my range - and so there's something a bit more exciting to look at on here. Fingers crossed for a bit of breathing space soon and the chance to do something new.

I'm going to try to take it easy this weekend but with a courier collection booked in for Monday morning I have a feeling that Sunday night will be a late one.

Happy February & new camera day!

White rabbits! - as my husband always insists on saying at the start of the month (not sure where that comes from.)

To celebrate the beginning of a new month (not really - just coincidental!) I've treated myself to a lovely new camera. It only arrived yesterday and I was getting quite distracted in my print room today. I was supposed to be printing but found myself stopping all the time to pick it up and photograph all the nooks and crannies and interesting bits and pieces. I think I had it on the wrong setting I've since discovered but the results are still way better than my little old faithful compact digital. I'm looking forward to experimenting with it and getting some great close-up shots of my work.

All things baby

It's been a busy January. I know we're not at the end just yet but it feels like it's been a long month to me. I've been busying away with printing and orders. My Not On The High Street shop is proving to be busy meaning many more trips to the Post Office. Martha (our not quite yet 2 year old) is getting very familiar with the Post Office routine now!

I mentioned in December about some design work I'd been commissioned to do for a London baby boutique called So Tiny London. That's finished now and the results are above. The brief was to create a black and white design to be used on shop branded cards/business cards incorporating the shop name in my hand-drawn type with lots of baby things surrounding it. A candy-shop of baby bits and bobs.

I had fun doing it and re-visiting all those baby things which our little girl is growing out of so fast!

NOTHS

After much deliberation I joined Not On The High Street before Christmas and my page has just gone live this week. I haven't got a lot on there just yet - it all had to happen quite quickly so I'll be adding more over the weekend.

Very exciting. I hope. I've had my first order today but I'm not quite sure what to expect in terms of sales. Perhaps lots more trips to the post office or perhaps not. I'm in their valentines catalogue so I'm hoping for a few orders but we'll have to wait and see when it comes out next week............

I know this is a little late but Happy New Year!

I had a lovely Christmas and New Year break - I really felt I needed it after a pretty hectic 6 months. I managed to stay away from my computer and desk - more because work chaos was replaced by lots of catching-up with friends and family from a-far. It was really great to see everyone as usual.

Traditionally I always love January. Not for all the resolutions but because I always get a feel of optimism when it's January again. While most people hate the dull and dreary weather (that is understandable in the current weather and I too will probably moan about it very soon!) I enjoy the feeling that the whole year is ahead of me and I can start creating some new and exciting designs and prints. I love to plan lots of fresh new things for the next few months. I've always had the luxury of having a fairly quiet first couple of months of the year though so my optimistic January mood is being challenged somewhat by my very extensive workload at the moment. I've certainly been jolted back to work with a big bump as I face a massive amount of work to do over the next 3 weeks. This mainly comprises of card and book orders to fulfill, more books to print and make and another online shop to set up (more about this to come) as well as accounts and the design work I started before Christmas to finish (more on this to come also.) Not to worry. I'm also trying to face these challenges with my January optimism (my husband may disagree with me!) and I start day-dreaming about making myself more efficient over the forthcoming year and possibly employing someone to do all the cutting, folding and packing to free me up to do all the lovely design and print bits. I think I can dream on for now but there's nothing wrong with a bit of January optimism in my books - afterall spring will be just around the corner and that really is something to look forward to!