doodles.

I bought myself a new fineliner this week (0.5 - superfine!) to do some doodles and then I got a little carried away...

Above drawing is based on the Mehndi patterns painted on the hands of brides from South Asia, Southwest Asia and North Africa. The drawing below is a based on the Dalecarlien horse from Sweden. I love his square shape.

I'm a little bit sick of making cards so I thought perhaps I might make some limited two colour gooco prints to pop in the shop... Any other thoughts would be appreciated! Thanks!

house of cards?

Excuse the cheesy title pun. Here's a pic of some cards I just printed using the drawing of houses I mentioned late last year. It's my first attempt at an albeit simple, two colour gocco print. I wanted two versions: one with the circle looking a little like the moon and the other being a sun... I'm still unsure if I like them or not.

speaking of packaging.

I don't usually post about graphic design work (because it's work) but since I was on the topic yesterday, I thought I'd show you this fun job I did for my Dad today - he keeps bees as a hobby. His haul of honey has grown to 40kg this year (whoa!) so he wanted a little label for his vegemite jars full of honey that he will give to family and friends. Perhaps I spent too much time on it but it was fun to create something a little bit vintage and simple...

250g.

I know it's probably not a good way to judge a quality product but sometimes when I'm at the supermarket, faced with a multitude of brands and labels for a single item, I buy the one with the best packaging... is that wrong? Look at this beautiful box of cocoa (or cacao) powder I got today. (It also happened to be the cheapest - bonus.)

360 down.

Struggling a bit this January to get back into the swing of things: craft, blogging, exercise, work - the usual. Think it may be because of the chilly winds and grey skies. I've also started a new job which takes more energy than you realise...


In any case, I started chopping up those lovely Amy Butler fat quarters I got for Christmas (thanks Zoë!) I'm going to add them to a quilt I started working on last year. Yes, it's taking me a while. Yes, a queen size quilt was a little ambitious!



So far I've sewn about 360 patches together - only another 400 to go! I'm guessing there might be a similar post next January with my progress...

London calling.

Happy New Year to you all! I've decided to forgo new year's resolutions this year and just enjoy. I was lucky enough to spend my holiday break taking it easy in both Oxford and London, UK with friends and family. Too much food and copious amounts of wine.

I also managed my little craft tour of London. I must admit my list was ambitiously long and perhaps during the boxing day sales was not the best time to attempt shopping around the city, however, thought you might like some highlights!

Stop 1: Cloth House (47 Berwick Street)
So many colours, so many beautiful trims... I took a while here.







Stop 2: Marimekko (16 St Christopher's Place)
Finnish textile and fashion label. Outrageously expensive (scraps were around 28 pounds - eep). Strictly for window shopping. Do you think it would be cheaper in Finland? Gorgeous patterns all the same.





Stop 3: Orla Kiely (31 Monmouth Street)
Wanted to buy everything. Wanted to look like their sales girls. Had no idea how much I really liked her work.




Stop 4 & 5: Borovick Fabrics (16 Berwick Street) and Spitalfields Market
I think I've mentioned it before but I have been itching to try using some leather in various projects. The first place I found was Borovick Fabrics right near Cloth House. I just bought scraps as I figured I would only be needing small amounts. I then went to Spitalfields Market and found out that I had been ripped off and should have bought all of my scrap pieces from there instead! Damn.



Stop 6: Dover Books (18 Earlham Street, Covent Garden)
I've been a little obsessed with old editions of etchings from Dover Books for the past couple of years so felt like I had died and gone to heaven once I found the one and only store that sells a range of their books.


Stop 7: Muji (37 Long Acre Road, Covent Garden)
The obsession continues from Japan. I can't get enough of this store. It's probably a good thing there isn't a shop in The Netherlands or Australia. Such cool stationery, toys, clothes, packaging etc. (No, I didn't buy all of these things - I wish!) Everything is so simple and well designed...


So then I got tired and caught the tube home. Good times.