Pretty Much Penniless

I had such a lucky week last week - (I really should have done the lottery!) as aswell as the Orla Kiely bag from Dee Beale's blog I won a gorgeous Little Fille head band from the Pretty Much Penniless Blog. It's really lovely, big and soft and beautiful blue gingham, I love!

Pretty Much Penniless is written by Ellie Tweeter, and I've been a follower for a while now - she posts the most beautiful things, fashion hints and tips, and always looks oh so stylish!

Apart from anything, how beautiful is her blog banner?

Love this dress - from peacocks!!!!

And she takes lovely photographs, to visit her blog please click here.

Her is the amazing Little Fille headband as modelled by my pretty little sis ( I was having a very flat hair day! and thought she looked much better in it!)

Dee Beale

I found an amazing printmaker on twitter recently and couldn't resist sharing some of my favourite pieces of her work with you. I just love the simple, yet decorative and slightly retro nature of her prints. And oh how I absolutely adore the colours she uses, they're really 'happy' and I can't wait to make a few purchases on her site!. To find out more about Dee's work and follow her blog please go to: http://deebeale.blogspot.com/

I also won this gorgeous new Orla Kiely bag for Tescos from a giveaway on her blog - I love it! Thanks Dee!

Animal Baby suits

More animal patterns -I thought this would suit little boys babygrows :-)

More Tribal Kids Patterns...

Illustration Rally - Floral Pattern

I entered my folky flowers pattern in the Illustration Rally Blog's Pattern Rally - to see the post please click here. Really inspiring seeing all the other patterns too. There's loads of really great rallies you can enter on there and fantastic features on illustrators. I've also just entered their charity raffle to win an artists designed teatowel - to find out more click here.

A Canterbury Trail - Amelia's Magazine Illustration

Here are some illustrations I did for Amelia's Magazine for an article about the 'A Canterbury Trail' - a free mini arts festival. Sounds so good, so wish I lived closer so I could go! The band photo is of 'Cocos Lovers' - who are amazing - to listen and read more about them go to http://www.myspace.com/cocoslovers and to read the article (by the lovely Cari Steel) about A Canterbury Trail please click here.

More Tribal Kids Patterns

Started trying to design a boys tribal theme pattern. Needs quite alot more work, but am getting there :-)

Tribal Kids Patterns

Some tribal themed patterns for kids, am going to try and make them more suitable for babywear next, I have to say though am loving using the sludgy browns and greys with the bright pink and oranges. Hope everyone's had a lovely weekend.

Look what I found!

Picked this lovely little 70's Crown Devon Pottery storage jars and flour and sugar shaker from a carboot sale this morning - £5 for the set, bargain! Now to find somewhere to put it......

Kate Slater Talk at Just Imagine

Last night I went to the Just Imagine ( a really lovely childrens book shop in Chelmsford) to their illustrators group which had Kate Slater there talking about her book 'Magpie's Treasure'. It was the first time I'd been and I had such a lovely time, really inspiring - I absolutely fell in love with Kate Slater's Book and hurriedly bought myself a signed copy! Everytime the group meets they set a little brief to illustrate - this time people had illustrated 'Little red Riding Hood', and was lovely to see all the different covers people in the group had designed. I can't wait to get started on the next brief, will keep you posted!

To see more of Kate Slater's work please visit: http://kateslaterillustration.com/

And to find out more about Just Imagine Story Centre go to:

http://www.justimaginestorycentre.co.uk/

The picture at the top is taken from 'Magpie's Treasure' By Kate Slater

Black & White Pattern

Thought I'd strip yesterday's pattern from all it's colour, I like!

Tuesdays Pattern

Still not quite right, but am liking all the blue.

Monday Blues

You know when you have some days when you just can't make anything that looks right? Well I have had that today, all day! Can't seem to get a fully functioning pattern which I like the look of- but I will plough on! Hopefully will bring you happier patterns tomorrow :-)

Exhibition At Exchange Studios

During the week I work part time alongside my designing, teaching adults with learning disabilities, mainly Sensory Art classes, but also a Creative Textile class which I love. This last week I got together all my learners work and exhibited it at Exchange Studios in Harold Hill. I can't tell you how lovely it was to see all the people I teach having their work on display in a professional gallery, it looked amazing! The artists at the gallery also ran workshops for us all week, which everyone enjoyed, I know I did!

All the artists with their work on display were extremely proud of their work on display, and I can't thank everyone at X Presents.... at Exchange Studios for all the hard work they did in displaying and organising it. Here are some photos of the exhibition:

Circular canvases experimenting with printing, mark making and layering techniques.

Glass painting on acteate, and applique textiles pictures of tea and cake by the Creative Textiles class.

Fabric wall hangings using fabric paint and pens.

And union flags created by all my classes including the sensory and creative art classes at New Opportunities Havering.
To find out more about X presents, please go to: http://xpresents.co.uk/

More Make Do & Mend - scatter

Make Do and Mend

These patterns are for a commission I'm working on at the moment, might try out a few more ideas tonight I think.

Patterny Royals

Royal Doodles

I'm not really v.happy with this yet, but thought I'd post it anyway, as I haven't posted a fresh pattern for a while. I started drawing this while watching the Royal Wedding, hence the 'Royal doodles' might try and overlay it on one of the wedding pics later. Hope everyone's having a lovely Monday :-)

Abby Wright

I've been following Abby Wright's blog for while now, I really love her fashion illustrations they're kind of really simple, and yet really detailed and beautiful all at the same time. I love how on her blog she shows you sneak peeks at what she's up to, and exactly how she creates her illustrations - although it's pretty mind boggling - how she has the patience with a wacom for all those lovely flowing lines and detail I will never know!

Anyway, so I was thrilled to win her blog giveaway the other week - and what a lovely prize I received! This gorgeous print of one of my favourite illustrations....

These really lovely postcards.....

And some yummy pic n' mix, which unfortunately I couldn't wait to eat and didn't manage to get a photograph in time! Thanks so much for all this Abby!

To see more of Abby's work please visit: http://www.abbywrightillustration.co.uk/ and to follow her blog please see: http://abbywrightillustration.blogspot.com/.