Happy March!

There are signs of spring but the weather seems to disagree! Brrrrr....

My colour on the press today looks like a planet or a glistening jewel. Just had to take a picture before it all mixed together.

Oodles of doodles

I'm just enjoying drawing at the moment and then there will be an explosion of print!

Catching up

 A little behind in the schedule for my Christmas markets but still ticking off work from my 'to do' list which is positive!

This is a print I've had a sketch for for AGES and it's finally complete.

It's a companion piece to last years (!) Sugar Skull which I loved making but I think I love this more! It's those gorgeous colours!

Rain brings Autumn

After a dramatic change in the weather-it's time to welcome Autumn, my favourite season.

New ink colours and some new prints...

New drawings...

It's been lovely to just sit for a few days and draw...Sketching ideas for new prints . I'd forgotten how calming it can be...

Tattoo Lino prints

After the success of my Sugar Skull print last year and my research into it-I was drawn into the art of Tattoos. I'm not brave enough to have one myself (yet!) but the Lino really lends itself to this style and the bold, strong lines. So here is one I'm just about to start carving for an exhibition.

Lovely old block

Printed some letterpress postcards today and used a 'new' old block I've not long bought...

Hello again

Just popping by to say HELLO *waves*
It's been a while but I'm still here working away...

Feeling colder

There's a definite cool wind blowing in and the leaves are turning... I'm in the process of creating some new prints with a wintry feel to them... 

Here are some sketches for an as yet uncarved, unnamed linocut. Just about to get the cutting tools out...here goes!

Feng Shoo Eee

I'm lucky enough to have a large studio but sometimes don't seem to have enough table top space and there are areas that I don't use because they don't feel 'right' So I decided to have a move around. I looked up how to feng shui your studio space and one of the most important statements was "a creative person must not have their back to the door" oops! My main letterpress working space is against a wall and I cannot see my door to the studio -it makes sense to move it as everytime someone knocks on my door I jump out of my skin!! 

It's in progress at the moment but getting there slowly as I'm having to alter and move furniture around-also a new paper storage table I have is double sided so it should be 'floating' so you can access both sides..but Strangely enough each space feels right! 

Watch this space...

Bags of fun

I'm about to run a few printmaking courses and these are some cotton totes that I have block printed. Hope I didn't creep anyone out crawling through the undergrowth to take these pictures - Tee hee!

 

Lucky Dip

Have LOTS of drawings around that have never ventured out of the sketchbook so lucky dipped and decided to create a linocut of this lovely flower in a delightful vase...outline cut and ready to carve...

Letter mish mash

Sorting through old test prints and they look quite nice. I like experimenting with layers, colours and hope to do some abstract pieces...

 

Back to blogging

Things are moving on for me.. I've stepped into the wide world and set up an online shop, been selling at local arts markets and have some of my work in local shops. It is slow but been such a learning curve and the biggest thing I've learnt (ed?) is to be organised.

Once a set of prints is complete-sign them,mount them, pack them into sleeves with a lovely label so they are ready to go when needed! It's so much better and efficient... 

See now I wouldn't waffle on like that on Facebook. Here it's all about process and journeys and I like (and need) to  stop, reflect and record and blogging lets you do that!

Naughty me

Dear Blogger,

So sorry I gave not visited you for a while but I have a confession to make. I have been unfaithful. Yes. With Facebook and Twitter. Sorry. But I'm back if you'll have me because no one lets me share stuff like you do....

Here are some flowers to apologise....

Christmas Tidy Up

My Christmas markets went really well and I had lots of lovely feedback giving me loads of ideas for new designs and projects for 2013. Delighted!

A BIG thank you if you visited the Winter Market at St Georges Hall or Blackburne House Christmas Craft Fair and said hello or bought some of my work. You have no idea how happy it makes me feel and I seriously don't just mean in terms of me making a living.

Now looking forward to a little break but I've got an awful lot of tidying up to do including putting away all this type which when I think of it - I quite like doing!

Christmas things and nibbles

Yay! My Christmas Market at Blackburne House was very successful, had a really lovely day but note to self - must take more food supplies! Something to nibble on would of kept my energy levels up. But I learn new things every time I do a fair....

Here are some Letterpress printed gift tags and Linocut hearts - which were printed on my ADANA press as the lino block was almost type high, it just needed mounting on a bit of cardboard to bring it in line with the chase...


It was seriously easier to print than inking and running it through my traditional press but obviously I'm limited to 8x5 blocks - but thats okay small is beautiful!

Markets coming up!

I'm going to be at Blackburne House, Hope Street  on 1st December.......

Then at St Georges Hall on the 8th and 9th December......

Cant wait!

It's beginning to look a lot like "ne ne"

I'm not saying it until at least the 1st of December but obviously been gearing up to it for weeks now!
Had a late night working at the studio today. I realise it takes me a while to get going but once in the flow I don't want to stop!

I created a number of printed items today but here is a peek at some letterpresses gift tags. I'll be making some in other colours too...

Giant Decorations

Being busy the past few days. Love cutting and folding paper but this is big scale! Ooo I do like a challenge!