Sunshine = print shoot

After waiting all last week for a bit of sunshine it finally came out long enough on Saturday morning for me to photograph prints for my website. Nothing too fancy - I just wanted some decent shots. Unfortunately I still don't have the worlds best camera (something I think I need to invest in) and therefore I think the results could have been better but they do the job I hope.

The two 30 x 40cm prints ('The Best Is Yet To Come' and 'Some Things Are Best Left Unsaid') are both hand screen printed in a signed edition of 100. They're packaged in tissue and a sturdy cardboard tube. They are now available to buy in my shop along with the Mini prints (shown at the bottom). Mini Prints is a set of three 13x18cm hand pulled screen prints. They come packaged in a lovely brown kraft folder bound in red and white twine. Dare I say they would make a lovely gift or even Christmas present!

I will be adding more new products to my shop in the coming weeks in readiness for the festive season. Due to Christmas card orders I start thinking about Christmas back in June but I don't really mention it much to those around me for fear of annoying them greatly. I always think that come October it's a bit more acceptable to mention it. Or perhaps not?!

On another note - anyone who may be wondering about my new website (is there anyone doing that? - I somehow doubt it very much!) it's still very much under construction but we are working on it and it will be a very exciting day in the (hopefully very) near future when I can actually announce it is done.

Jane Foster

Our very lucky daughter received a Jane Foster cat for her birthday back in April (thank you Auntie Jill!). I hadn't previously come across Jane's work but when I searched to see if she had a website I found she does a fabulously bright range of textiles and prints. I love her use of simple colour set against stark white backgrounds (which carries into her home and photography too) and beautiful vintage textiles. She has a blog which shows her work, home and inspirations. It's become a must-check blog for me. She has the most organised, tidy and spacious studio I've ever seen. I'm very jealous. If you saw my teeny tiny studio you'd know why. I'll blog some photos of my studio one day soon so you can see for yourselves.

I love the photo of all the cats together - brilliant fabrics and the multiples thing in photos always appeals to me. I think we may have to add to the cat soon with a lovely print or cushion.

Boo Vake

Boo Vake is a craft boutique in Perth which features contemporary gifts by artists and makers from the UK.

They've stocked my cards, books and stationery for couple of years now and Arlene contacted me to see if I'd be interested in a little design job. She wanted a design for the shop - a logo of sorts to be used on signs, postcards and business cards for the shop. The brief was pretty loose (one colour, orange or turquoise, simple abstract-ish shape with the shop name on). I came up with a few designs to choose from and Arlene decided on both of the above designs.

I look forward to seeing one of them going into print as the new Boo Vake logo.

Thinking time

Being mum to a very busy 16 month old means that my working pattern has changed hugely. When she's at nursery I print, design, cut, fold, make and package. What I don't seem to have any more are those lovely self-indulgent times sitting at my desk with a cup of tea and lots of time to think, day-dream and generally let my mind wander about my work. I have to stay very busy and very focused now.

As a result I sometimes feel I'm lacking the time to stand back and review what I'm doing, what I need to do next and the general direction my work is travelling.

This is where out walks come in. We're often found meandering around our small town or the surrounding countryside! She gets to see the world from her pushchair and I get to have a little 'thinking and inspiration time'. I think we both enjoy it.

Here are some snaps from todays wanderings. We often walk past the local allotments and how I would love to go in and have a nosy around all those old sheds and green houses but as the sign says - I'm not allowed. Shame.

Print, cut, fold, print, cut, fold.........

It's been a long summer of printing, folding, cutting and packing cards and books.

I did Pulse 2010 at Earls Court at the beginning of June and it's been non-stop ever since.

I love being busy and most definitely am not complaining as I'm at my happiest when I'm busying away in my print room or studio but sometimes I feel a little like I'm on a conveyor belt. I know that if I out-sourced my printing it would free up more time for designing and making other new cards and products and I wouldn't be working until stupid-o'clock every night.

The trouble is I just love the printing and making process too much. I love mixing colours and getting them just right and then labelling my jar of ink for future use. I really enjoy spending time in my print room and I love the physical making process. It just feels like I've properly 'made' something. For me it was always about my products being hand made. I have nothing at all against non hand made products and cards, it's just that for me printing and making are what makes me tick.

So I will continue (at least for now) to print, fold and cut.

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

It made a lovely change at the beginning of the week to work on some of my little map collages again.

I started doing these a couple of years ago when I had an exhibition at the Red Door Gallery in Edinburgh. They were very popular so I've been making them for the gallery (and some for Hooper & Shaw in Cornwall) ever since. They seem to have struck a chord with the Red Door visitors and I can't seem to make them fast enough - especially in festival times.

They're always editions of 1 and I don't use the same phrase twice making them all unique.

Cut out of old ordnance survey maps which I buy from a flea market in Pickering, you could get a bit of Scotland or a piece of Devon - who knows! I source lovely well-made small frames from Gillygate framers in York who do a fantastic selection of unusual small off-cut frames. They're all different too so the finished thing really is very unique. They always look great grouped together that I always think it's a shame to split them up. One day I'll get around to doing a group of them for our walls at home.

They've winged their way up to the Red Door Gallery now and will be available to buy in the shop.

The choice this time is:

All or Nothing

Not to Worry

The Best Is Yet To Come

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

Job Well Done

Contact the gallery if you want to snap one of these up.

I've noticed they seem to reflect what kind of mood I'm in at the time so you can generally tell my outlook. I think I must have been feeling positive this week!

Mengsel Blog

Thank you to Luzelle at Mengsel for featuring my 'Some Things Are Best Left Unsaid' print on her blog. Have a look at her website and blog - lovely screen prints and screen printed textiles.