Hot off the press

So last week I took a ridiculously early train from York to Stevenage for a little day trip to give my Christmas cards the nod as they went to press. This is the first time I've had anything Litho printed so it was all quite exciting to see how it happens. It's been quite a journey getting to this point with them so it felt like quite a big step.

I took a couple of photos but they don't really show the process very well. I didn't like to bug all the people hard at work in there with all the big machines by running around with my camera and getting in the way. The photo of the Litho press looks more like a big oven in the top photo so not a very good portrayal!

The whole 31,500 cards took just 45 minutes to print - confirming that there was no way I could meet such an order by hand printing them. So they're now going to be creased, cut and packed ready to send (not by me I hasten to add!) They'll be appearing in Paperchase for Christmas as a separate range from my hand printed cards. Now I can see the potential of printing in this way though it's got me thinking.....

I had a little wander around Stevenage before catching the train back and my conclusion ..... what a bizarre place a 'new town' is. The whole architecture and feel of the city centre was very strange. I take for granted that living near York you just get used to the cobbles and the old buildings but faced with so much 50's and 60's architecture and town planning I missed the soul that an old city offers.

Holiday fun

Only a week since I got back and I've finally found a minute to say I'm back and post a few holiday snaps.

We had a lovely week in Norfolk soaking up the lovely British sunshine and 'relaxing'. Now when I say relaxing I mean endlessly and I would love to say tirelessly (but not true - we were both shattered by the end of each day) chasing a 2 year old. She has quite a determined streak and when she wants to go somewhere there is very little will stop her. Cue one or both of us permanently in pursuit! That and leisurely taking holiday photos do not mix so now my holiday photos are fewer than usual and less varied (endless photos of Martha as I try and capture her while she refuses to stay anything like still and less 'arty' shots!) It was all good fun and we did love Norfolk - lots of places to visit, lovely sandy beaches, many great places to eat and Norfolk Agricultural show was great too (hence the chicken photo - quite a poser I'd say!)

So back to work last week with a jolt, a very full inbox and a stack of orders to send. I spent a day down at the printers in Hertfordshire seeing my Christmas cards for Paperchase go to press. All very exciting. I'll post some photos tomorrow.....

Whoop Whoop!

I've just realised that I always seem to have blog post titles which have exclamation marks. Well this one merits one. I'm going on holiday for a week. Whoopee! After such a hectic few months (and the last few weeks in particular what with the flurry of orders from Pulse and follow-up orders - hence the lack of blog posting) I'm really looking forward to relaxing a little and having a change of scenery. Back in a week!

Back in the big city!

I've finally got a little bit of time to blog some photos of my stand at Pulse. They're not the best photos - taken in a hurry and before the stand was finished (hence the bubble wrapped prints and plastic on the floor still) but you get the general idea.

It was great to be back in London - even though I only saw Earls Court, Clapham and Wandsworth and the train line between the three! Good all the same.

I met some great new shops and contacts, chatted to existing stockists and put some faces to names and had fun showing my new designs - all of which have proved popular (I'll do a post on this very soon too). Welcome to all my new stockists - I'll also do a proper post about them soon.

I even managed to fit in a night out catching up with friends who were also fellow exhibitors over mojitos, wine and food. We felt we deserved it after a long day talking to people.

So all in all a good show and well worth the effort and stress preceding it. I'm now busy with orders again and trying to fit in as much work as possible before a much-needed holiday. My evening working has been a little curtailed by a sudden shift in the sleeping patterns of our daughter - resulting in some very very late nights last week (and joyously early mornings!) but hopefully we'll get back to normal soon. Fingers crossed.

Not long now

Pulse starts at the weekend and even though I have lots and lots still to do I feel I might just get it done. Fingers crossed. All being well.

I always feel very nervous when it comes to this close to a trade fair. Trying to remember everything, writing countless lists, gathering things together, checking and double-checking that I don't forget something important.....

If you're around Pulse pop by and say hello (Launchpad - LP71). I have 12 new designs of cards and 3 new prints to show you. I've put a little sneaky peek on this post of a new card and print but there's lots more.

I'm really looking forward to being in London for a few days and getting out of my studio and meeting stockists old and new and exciting contacts. Working from home all the time and on my own I forget how great it is to get out and especially down to London to see some new things and meet new people.

I'll post lots of photos of my stand and new designs next week but that's me for now... better go and write another list.

Spots

Be careful what you wish for!

The last post I was lamenting having a night off doing nothing. Well the next morning I woke up covered in spots having caught chickenpox from my nephew. Four days and nights laid in bed and on the sofa ensued so I got my time off - just not quite what I had in mind and at my most busy time.

I feel much better now and am much less spotty. I wasn't going to post pictures of my own spots so instead here are some photos of some other spots. This is a lovely childhood game I've just re-discovered through my daughter. Thanks to my mum for never having thrown any of our toys away some wonderful 70's toys are appearing all the time for my daughter and her cousins to play with. They've really stood the test of time. I always prefer the graphics of the old ones too. Ladybirds may creep into my work somewhere soon as I love the shapes and my daughter Martha has had a bit of a fascination with them of late.

Back on the chickenpox/work subject. I'm feeling 100% now and cracking on at full speed this week as I think it's a matter of days before Martha comes down with it and less than 2 weeks until Pulse.

Another crazy week

At the moment it feels like I'm juggling so much my head is starting to hurt a little.

So - this was my week (or some of it - it was actually a way longer list than this):

1. Design and print as many new cards and prints as possible.

2. Quotes for a potentially huge order.

3. Pulse preparation - it's approaching way too fast and there's still cabinets to paint, vinyls to decide on and order, invitations to send out and a catalogue to finalise.

4. Finish my recent commission for So Tiny London

5. Orders to pack and send out to Paperchase, Oklahoma (Manchester), Found (Bath),

Dundee Contemporary Arts and Westmorland (Cumbria).

Busy busy!

And it's set to continue for the next few weeks. A night off - now that would be a real treat!

I've posted a few photos relating to all of the above - a glimpse of new cards and the

So Tiny London design to be used for promotional purposes for their shop. A pleasure to work with Emma once more.