a little studio tour

 i have finally tidied up my tiny cupboard studio and took a few pics for you to see where i create my cards and invitations and of course write this blog and drool over other blogs and etsy sellers! 
above is my adjustable easel desk - it's from Ikea and is huge. it's ideal for working on as there is such a large area but the only downside is that it is a tad too big for my tiny workspace. behind my teeny tiny laptop are a couple of paintings my nan painted and gifted to me (along with many others) she is a fantastic painter. i love these because they remind me of her and really cheer me up and inspire me to keep on creating. i have two notebooks that i constantly use, one is for my all of my 'to-do's' and the other is for planning blog posts (which is kind of empty right now but wont be for much longer thanks to this). the old wooden box is a car boot find and contains my equipment such as my glue gun and paper-craft tools. i often take product pictures on here too for a more rustic effect. the Eiffel tower picture is actually a card from fellow etsy seller, Paula from Picard Creative, i received it as a thank you for ordering some of her hilarious magnets one Christmas for my girlfriends.

top left is my humble shelving unit - i think i got it from Argos and it was originally a yellow pine colour so i painted it white. i keep my card supplies, printer and mailing envelopes on here as well as my folders for various boring important bits and pieces. on the top is a white cushion i decorated with some old scarves and the rest of the scarves were used to make my makeshift blind. to the left of the cushion are some of the art dolls that i made with the help of my mum, she created all the hair and amazing clothes (they remind me of Downton Abbey) i had some children that we made and they went to a lovely home in Saudi Arabia in the end which is great. 

 my typewriter is my absolute favourite possession (a gift from my mum) and i use it all the time for adding text to my cards and and invitations quickly and easily. the ink still hasn't ran out and i have had this well over a year now. above the typewriter is my little washing line style photography area. the light here is best as it is right next to the window. i peg my cards up with the little pegs or a bull dog clip and snap away.

above left is a picture of my wonderful mum. i normally have her positioned so that she is looking at me and spurring me on to get things done. i am very lucky in the fact that she has always supported my creative endeavours and will often come round with a bag full of supplies for me to use in my projects. this picture was taken about 20 years ago when she was about a year or two older than i am now. isn't she beautiful?
i made the blind myself very quickly by sewing together two Laura Ashley scarves that i found in a charity shop (!) i then pinned it up above the window with some diamanté pins that i slotted into some holes that were already there (bonus). the fabric is so light that they hold it up really well. i then took a cut off from one of the scarves and pinned that to the left inside edge of the window so that i can tie the blind back as and when i need to. it took about and hour and half altogether.


well, that's it, my little tour is over - sorry it wasn't much but it really is a very small space. but it's my little haven really. here are some of my favourite studio tours from around the web.


+ fieldguided's tour
+ creature comforts Ez's workspace
+ industrial style
+ studio set up tips


Rx

new logo & website update

you may have noticed that i have a new logo for the blog. it's a slightly fancier logo than the new one for the shops and website. what do you think of them? i was getting bored of the old logo. i still have the same font but have now added 'handmade papergoods'(as that will now be my main focus) underneith and a bit of colour for the back.

i find that i change my mind a lot when it comes to my logo and website design. i get bored so easily and never feel quite satisfied with my choice of design. especially when there is so much amazing inspiration around from other blogs and designers. do you have this problem too? how do you cope with the desire to constantly update/redesign your logo and branding? i would love to know if you have any tips for branding and being happy with your choices?

for the website i have changed the body text to typewriter font and the colours are now black, brown and beige for a warmer softer autumn/winter feel rather than the dark blue and mustard theme from before.

love to know your thought on my new designs. i am loving the branding on this popular and beautiful blog i had to force myself not to add some pink roses around the edge of my new logo!

please don't forget my birthday discount code which ends at the end of October.there, i have added some pink now ;)

Rx

shop update

new Christmas cards and Santa gift tags available in the shoppe. take a look at the whole Christmas range here.

twelve by 2012

when i read this post from Danni from oh,hello friend i just had to participate. i don't normally get involved with challenges and swaps etc.. but as i have been meaning to get organised and get things done for ages so, i reasoned that by doing it this way (ie publicly) i may well get some things done for a change!

basically it is a challenge to get 12 things (or as Danni says 5 or 10 or whatever you feel you need - no pressure) done by 2012. i have a few things i have been meaning to accomplish and with time passing as quickly as it has been (have you noticed that?) i think by setting a goal it is going to make it a lot easier to achieve.

so, here is my list of goals to achieve by 2012

1. create more wedding invitation samples

2. list some covered notebooks in the shop

3. create a nice Halloween display for the house

4. paint the conservatory

5. get Christmas presents organised before December

6. make some more scrapbook pages for my mums album

7. strip and paint the bedroom

8. take down hideous folding door in kitchen

9. clean out kitchen cupboards 

10. blog at least 3 times a week

11. list a new item or renew an item every day in the shop

12. put everything back into the dining room dresser (it was painted yonks ago and i still haven't put everything back!!)

if you would like to participate then go over to Danni's blog for more details. i will be posting updates on my progress on the blog - that takes care of number 10!


+++if anyone else is joining in please let me know, i would love yo follow / encourage you!+++

32

it's my birthday today so i thought i would share a bit of the joy with a discount code for the shoppe. simply use the above code - BIRTHDAY for your discount which entitles you to 20% off anything in the shoppe. it is available for use in both my etsy shoppe and the big cartel shoppe. 
offer is valid till the 31st of October and can be used by anyone who follows/reads my blog, comments on the blog (before the end of October) and/or likes my facebook page. the discount code can be used for as many transactions as you wish until the end of October.


please note, i will be adding new items soon including unique Christmas cards and tags so keep checking back - i think you will like 'em!


the above photo is from Jaime Mancilla on etsy. i love her styling.

Rx

colour burst : seafoam

i'm not sure if it's all of the amazing weather we are having at the moment or the impending bad weather but i am feeling in need of summery colours and no colour says summer more than seafoam (or turquoise).

top left illustrates a great way to add colour to a room without having to overhaul everything - simple add a painted piece of furniture, even this small table makes a big impact on the room.top right is a gorgeous vintage print via etsy (original source is unknown). love the colour in jumper form - not sure it would suit my colouring though. bottom right, this is such a unique take on a traditional vase, it would brighten up a hallway no end.

hope you have a lovely weekend and made the most of the waning sunshine.

Rx