Merry Christmas!

Just a quick post to say Merry Christmas! Sorry for the lack of post but I have lots to share with you in the new year. Have a good one everyone!xxx

Lionheart Issue 3: Adventure!

Lionheart Magazine issue 3 is here! And of course it's just as delicious as the last issues were. The theme is adventure and nestled between the luxuriously thick pages are beautiful images, stories and so many exciting adventures. Take a look at the gorgeous cover illustration by Gemma Milly...

I designed a pattern inspired by adventure for the inside cover - I've posted a close up of the original design at the end of this post

Look who it is! I was also featured :) I'm so honoured to be featured in such a wonderful mag, I can't tell you how excited I was to be asked to take part! Here's a little sneak peak of a few of the treats inside.

A piece by Fritha about the birth of her lovely baby Wilfryd - Wilfryd was born not long after Delilah, and I love reading her blog - we seem to have had lots of similar experiences trouble at first with breastfeeding, sleep deprivation....its lovely to read such an honest beautiful account of her birth story.

Here is one of the amazing illustrations featured in the magazine, this is by Natasha Thompson.

And this gorgeous back cover pattern design by Ruth Craddock.

My original files for the Adventure pattern design....

Issue 3 of Lionheart is available to buy now: http://www.lionheart-mag.comhttp://www.lionheart-mag.com

Inspiring India - The Exhibition, Cox & Kings Bloggers Challenge

So last week was the Cox & Kings 'Inspiring India' exhibition held at the Royal Geographical Society in London. Unfortunately I wasn't able to actually attend the event myself, but I really enjoyed seeing the pictures on twitter on the night itself and reading the other bloggers blogposts about it. 

For my final piece I presented 9 patterns I'd designed inspired by India on a tile board. I almost always see things as a series and so tiling my designs seemed the perfect way to show them. Alas, I didn't win, but was thrilled to have been asked to take part and exhibit in such a lovely location. The standard of work was so high - here's a few pictures of the exhibition that Andrea Farmer kindly sent to me (thanks Andrea!) I've also linked to some of the other bloggers - they're fantastic check them out!

Melody Seal, Andrea Farmer and Kellie Black's beautiful pieces.

The winner - Chetan, I love this piece! Such gorgeous colours and illustrative style.

Here's a closer look at my 'Inspiring India' design collection.

Cox & Kings Bloggers Challenge - a little taster!

Here's a sneak peak of a few of the pattern designs I'm working on for the Cox and Kings 'Inspiring India' bloggers challenge. I'm really enjoying this brief and can't wait to see my work in the exhibition! Cox & Kings specialise in escorted tours and luxury holidays. My final piece will be displayed at the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) on the 10th October with a lecture on 'The Mind of India' by Sir Mark Tully. To get tickets to the event please click here.

Adam's Tile Wall

Check out Adam the printer (who prints my tile stickers) bathroom! You can order your own tile stickers for from over 120  of my designs through Make Do and Mend Chelmsford.

Hidden Treasures

We've just bought a house (will blog lots more about this very soon!) and are in the very long process of making it ours. Anyway, as I was stripping the wallpaper this weekend look at the gorgeousness I found hidden under the nasty floral magnolia pearly wallpaper - I love it so much! If only there was a way to salvage it, but unfortunately there are only a few patches of it left *sigh* makes me realise how right this house is for us, if I could buy this wallpaper now I would paste it everywhere!x

Inspiring India: Bloggers Challenge for Cox & Kings

I'm thrilled to have been asked to contribute to the travel company Cox & Kings bloggers art challenge.  Cox & Kings are the world's longest established travel company and specialise in group holidays and luxury holidays. They've asked a total of 8 creative bloggers to create an artwork inspired by India, which will then be exhibited at The Royal Geographical Society, London on 10th October.

I was really excited by the campaign, as soon as I think of India I think of all the beautiful decorative textiles, patterns and colours. I've started a pinterest board to keep track of some of my inspiration, I can't wait to get started and get a handle on some of those gorgeous lines and jewel like colours. All the artworks in the exhibition will go to vote for a ballot at the event, and the art with the most votes will win the challenge. Wish me luck!x

Here are some of my pins, click the picture to get to the original source.

Autumn Designs

Some autumny inspired designs to get me going onto other ideas. I can't wait for cosy evenings and crunchy leaves :)

ShipShape Studio Shop Online Launch Party

Hello! Just thought I'd share with you a lovely invite I received yesterday.The wonderful ShipShape Studio is having an online launch party tomorrow - I met Emily the Creative Director and co-founder on twitter a while ago and love all the things that she's involved with. The studio sounds like a really exciting place to be!

I love the design of their website, and the shop has some really lovely things, here's one of my favourite things to buy:

This beautiful print, Yellow Flowers by Emma Block (one of my favourite illustrators) is available to buy online now!

The online party starts tomorrow at 9am - 9am Friday, see you there!xxx

A few odds and ends....

A summery pattern I designed recently in the midst of all the rain....

Ian, Delilah and I went to see the Olympic Torch in Chelmsford this morning, despite generally be up at 5, being out the door so early was a whole different matter! We made it though, Delilah was pretty unimpressed, but enjoyed breakfast after.

My little sister won Gold at Hampton Court Flower show with her college group! Very excited for her, here's a cute little picture of her amongst her creations.

My mum is currently having a give-away on her blog, all you need to do is follow and comment to win these lovelies...

Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend xxx

Warmth - Lionheart Issue 2

I was thrilled this morning to receive my copy of LionHeart Magazine, and as expected it's a delicious mix of gorgeous illustrations, sumptuous photographs and writing, all lovingly printed on wonderfully thick quality paper. Lots of my favourite creative people are featured (I'll have to do a more in depth post soon), I love the beautiful cover illustration from Natasha Thompson. I designed a pattern for the inside, outside and outer cover.........

It really is such a lovely magazine, it's already inspired me with lots of patterns ideas and I haven't even looked through it properly yet! Am going to savour it slowly over this week :) You can buy Lionheart online here: http://www.lionheart-mag.com/

Village Green 2012

It's the wonderful Village Green this Saturday, which is always a wonderful day filled with lots of lovely stalls, music and workshops. Perfect for a family day out - Get Cape Wear Cape Fly are playing too, which reminds me of being a University, seems so long ago now! This year my sister and I are going to be sharing a stall filled with beautiful floral arrangements in vintage teacups, pretty patterned mirrors and cards. 

On the day we will be offering little gift sets which will include one teacup flower arrangement, one pocket mirror and a card all for £10! (See the pictures below) We will be making some up in advance so if you'd like to order one please let us know!