Designers/Makers Columbia Road pop-up shop

Designers/Makers currently have a pop-up shop on Columbia road, London where 40 designer makers are showing/selling their wares.  Each designer is showing 10 designs so there's plenty to go and see!  My Beetroot Press hand-made items are showing too so pop along if you're near by, it's open throughout September and will be included as part of the London design festival 2013.

Here's the link to the Beetroot Press blog to see what items are selling.   And the link to the Designers/Makers website where the same items are on sale if you cant make it to the shop but would like to purchase something fab!

George at Asda: Girlswear

Hurrah, I found one of my prints online at George at Asda's girlswear.  Denim and floral print dress - Kittens and butterflies playing in the flowers.  Love it!

Kittens and butterflies hiding in the floral.

Keka cases by Solid Line Products

Hello  everyone,
  I know it's going to get really busy this month, I'm making loads of Beetroot Press stock for a Pop-up shop in Columbia road, London, I'll paste a bit more info soon, but feeling like I'm getting a bit behind...eek  

I've also recently licensed my designs to Keka by Solid Line Products, an American company.  They create and sell cases for iPads and kindles.  The hard back covers are water-resistant, use eco-friendly inks and they use the same type of vinyl used on race cars which is wrapped around recycled book boards.  I really want an ipad so feel like I have to get one now just so I can have one of my own designs on the case!....Although they don't seem to be shipping to the UK...yet

Here's the link to my page on the Keka website: Keka

More on Print & Pattern blog

OK, lets go right back to the start, there has been a lot more of my designs on Print Pattern than I'd realised....You have probably seen a couple of these before on here.  I'll start with the earliest post first.

A summery tea towel design...here's the link

Below is picnic-wear tray, which had matching plates etc and cushions further below.  I must have created that design in 2009, here's the link to Print and Pattern.

More picnic-wear below, and lampshades at the bottom.  I own the meadow floral style picnic plates and always get complimented on them, which is nice!  Link to Print and Pattern blog

Below is some bedding I reworked and coloured and apron design in bold graphic floral.  Here's the link to the post.

This one I definitely know about, here is is again, focusing on my more recent freelance work and Beetroot Press products I hand print and sell on Etsy and Folksy...here's the link

And last but not least here's the newest post on the site here.  Oswald the owl mug, ditsy floral hearts glamping cushion and this patchwork style bird was supposed to be a shaped cushion, but seems they added it mugs as well!  The last design is partly mine (the filigree bit) and then the design team have added a little birdie in too which is very cute.

That's it for now folks!

Print and Pattern lampshade

Hello there, I am obviously not on the ball at all.... Completely missed this on Print & Pattern blog about the lampshade design I created while at BHS....(posted in May 2012).  Although to be fair, I'd only just moved house from London's East end to the Cotswolds.  The lampshade was featured in Country Homes & Interiors and Ideal Home magazines apparently.  If anyone has the magazine photos, please send me them, I'll love you forever!  Going to see if I can find anything else now....

Gardening in small spaces

photo taken from Pinterest

With the weather warming up, it has sent me into our little patio garden more.  I bought a couple of herbs at a local fair Orange scented Thyme and Black Peppermint, the latter having an amazing scent.

I recently went to a friends new home, it's in Pimlico, London and is just the most perfect blank canvas, we were talking about how to plant up their outside roof terrace and patios and it inspired me to create an outdoor space mood board.  If you're tight on space in the garden, or prefer a fuss free and simple care for area to chill out in, here are some good ideas for you.

I love the idea of thinking as your garden as another room to your home, and bringing the outdoors in.  I have a nice green row of herbs and veggie plants along my kitchen window sill at the moment as we don't have a greenhouse.  Rocket salad, cherry toms, chilli plants, dwarf peas, parsley, basil, and dill. 

Utilising otherwise unused spaces, like walls, to plant features, can be a great way to maximise your garden potential.  I have a very small patio outside, and if we didn't rent, I would definitely be adding some verticle planting to my space, it's such a good way to add interest and colour.   

Hand printed textiles

Have a peek what I'm up to with Beetroot Press over on the blog.  Latest post has a few photos of myself creating silk screen prints by hand.

For those of you that don't know about Beetroot Press, it is my Gift and Homeware business, where I sell items I have designed and hand-made using traditional silk-screen printing techniques.  I also sell illustrations for children's rooms.  All are available on Etsy and Folksy shops.

Are you interested in seeing more of what I do at Beetroot Press?  Click on the Facebook link below to go to the Beetroot Press page and join in with seeing what's new or help me by giving opinions on what you like and would like to see in the future from me!

Beetroot Press Blog link

Facebook Beetroot Press page link

Picnic baskets - Summer is here (hopefully)

Hello hello everyone, it's been a while, I have been a busy bee trying to meet a few deadlines.   I was very excited to see some of my designs on the Bhs website.

Strawberry floral

It was over a year ago that I started freelancing, and one of my first jobs (from my lovely friends at Bhs), has now come into the shops.  The Floral Strawberry design, specifically designed for the hampers.  Love the vintage style basket below.

Perfect for vintage style picnic!

Top right door mat, taken from last year's photo frame design.  Cute a!

Strawberry picnic wine glass.

Fruity mug design!

I can't take any credit for the very cute mug design, but they put the flowers and strawberries to very good use!  Perfect for sipping an afternoon brew from.

Flower painting

Hello everyone, it's been so bitterly cold this week, snow, and windy weather do not make good companions.  I'm going a little crazy being stuck in the house, so think I'll have to brave it outside to clear my head, and get some fresh air.

  Last week there was a day of blissful sun, so I painted some flowers outside.  Below are some photos of what I produced.  I painted hyacinths as I had some in bloom, (which smell delightful), and some cute border florals and butterflies with watercolour paints.

Just need to work these into designs on Illustrator now!

New patterns

Hi there and happy Friday!  These last 2 weeks have been busy for me, so am very ready to relax this weekend.  I've added a couple of new items to my Beetroot Press shops on Folksy and Etsy, A4 paper prints for your wall, and more to follow in A3 too!

I've also started growing some peas, radishes and salad rocket, with tomatoes to follow.  We don't have loads of outside space so will be interesting to see where I'm going to fit it all.  Eek!

Scandi apple:  BHS design for kitchenware

I've also been working on updating my portfolio with new designs and revamping older designs.   Below are some of those and I'll add a few more in a couple of weeks.  Take a look at my online portfolio to take a peek.

Decorative frames: Paper goods

Zig zag: Home and paper goods

Paper cut sky: Home and stationary

Photographic floral: Girls fashion/Home/Paper goods

Hedgerow bird: Living/Paper goods