Seasons Nibbling and Wine Glugging.

Just a little note to say 'hello' and 'I hope your christmas was extra shiney'.

I'm off on my mini adventure tomorrow so I wanted to say 'toodles' and if you do buy anything from my shops I will be unable to process the orders 'til I get back on the 7th. Fingers crossed this shouldn't be too much of a delay. But I'll do my bestest to get everything packaged up nicely and sent to their new homes.

Have a rocking new year and 'cheers!' from me :)

All the best!

Tea For Two!

Ooo I'm a busy bee today. MORE prints up for grabs. This set appropriately called "Tea for Two" is a set of 2 prints that you pick out of the 9 displayed. Mix and match. Make that perfect customised gift for friends and a treat for yourself. They measure 6" x 8" and I'm more than happy to use specific colour schemes if you have something else in mind.

Bottoms up!

Foxes,Forests,Frost

A new fox shaped feature. Is now in the shops. Since the last post the frost has vanished! And been replaced by that miserable dribbly rain. Oh well, you win some you lose some.

I got in the festive spirit yesterday and watched White Christmas at work on the biiiiig screen and it was wonderful. I also bombarded the audiences with the entire Sufjan Stevens Christmas boxset. Now that was perfect. If only it would snow... sigh... alas Nottinghamshire doesn't really know what snow is and what great demand it's in.

I have a crazy notion that I should bake something. Trouble is I can't bake, I'm not very good at following instructions and I haven't a clue what... Where this random thought has come from I can't tell you. But seeing as I finish work earlyish this evening maybe I should try. Or maybe I should just go and see another movie :)

BEAUTIFUL WINTER

A little twist to a familiar picture. I thought I'd make a bit of a set from this picture. So to keep autumn company I give you winter :) They are in both shops (etsy + folksy) so go grab yourself a treat. We're getting lots of frost this year which makes a nice change from last year which was just grey and damp. I'm enjoying the new and improved (if slightly dangerous) sparkly path to work. Spices things up a little.

I've had a week of treating myself to stuff and things and I thought I'd share some of it with you.

Some Lovely new tape from CottonBlue. I can't help but just browse everything in this shop. It's all beautiful.

I've started the ball rolling on a commissioned piece by Pebble on etsy. I'm very excited about this piece of bling because Jayne's work is extremely special.

I also treated myself to some films. Because it's time I watched something I would like to and not something I may as well.

On that note... time for work...

A new Lotti and a Louise

Some new prints up for grabs. A familiar face and some new colours :) I think it's safe to say it's bed time.

night night

The Little Black Bear

There's a new print in the shops (etsy and folksy). I hope you like. I did these doodles around halloween time but I never got them finished or found the right colour schemes for them. The print measures 6"x 8".

PSSSST! THIS MONTHS 10DOLLAR PRINT IS IN THE SHOP! Same rules, once it's sold it will be relisted at it's usual price of 18 USD so grab it while you can! It's the frosty fox shown below :)

Running low on christmas cards

Hello, Just letting you know that the christmas tree card has sold out so if you purchase a set please specify which ladies you would like. There are limited numbers so be quick :)

until next time...

Tea anyone?

Well Saturday was interesting, going back to Derby and all. Was nice to do something with my weekend but I can honestly say I need to work on the whole "presentation" aspect of my work. :) hehe..... anyway!

Above are some new prints that are in the shop. At the minute you can grab your "Tea For One" prints on both etsy and Folksy. There will be "Tea For Two" coming as soon as I finish resizing images and work out a system to get them all online. There are looooaaads of different coloured cups. I've been working on these for a good 2 months. So I hope you like them. I thought I'd start small and let the collection grow. Of course if there are any specific colour themes you are after just drop me a line and I'll see what I can do.

Pay day's been and gone and I think today is as good as any to go start that thing called christmas shopping... I might even be naughty and have a cup of hot spicey wine at the market.

Shhh! Don't breathe a word!

This is bazaar

If you are local and fancy an adventure come to Derby this weekend (Saturday 29th) and pay us all a visit. I'll have some of my mini prints, Christmas cards, badges and regular prints up for grabs. I'm also planning some seasonal deals. So come and say hello :)

Winter Walker

A new print now in both shops. I'm currently getting ready (ish) for the This is Bazaar event in Derby next week. And I'm letting you in on a secret. I'm going to be doing some mini prints for the charming price of 5 English gold round pounds. I'll have some pictures to show you later this week. Right now I'm in the process of making them and getting my shoes on and getting ready to leave the house and face the bitter winter weather.

Go Team!

Christmas Cards now for sale

This years christmas cards are now up for grabs on folksy and etsy! Limited number. You can get them in sets of 3 or on their own.

Some better pictures of them are on their way. I'm waiting for the sunlight to come back :) I've got a stall planned for the "This is Bazaar" event happening on Saturday the 29th at the Quad in Derby. That should be quite fun. I'm still in the middle of making everything. Printing out the new prints. At least the Christmas cards are done.

Gone but not forgotten

The 10 dollar print has left the building. I repeat, it has left the building. Keep an eye out for December's print. I'll have it posted up there at the start of the month. I'll keep you up to date I'm sure!

Oh and another thing. This is what I spent my well earned night off making :) He's not a prototype. He's not a tooth either! Overall Success I say :)

Hope your Sunday will be better than mine stuck at work...

The $10 print

I'm trying out some new ideas and one has just started this second. (fingers crossed, on a monthly basis) I'm reducing one of my prints on etsy to $10. You will be able to get this print at this price for a limited time but once it's sold the print will return to normal and next month another picture will become the 10 dollar print. All at random. What do you say?

This months $10 print is:Do get in touch and let me know what you think. I'm just attempting to spice things up a little bit :)

Anyway back to breakfast!

The Girl and The Bird

A new print now up for grabs in the shop. Titled The girl and The bird. She's priced at $20 on Etsy and £10 on Folksy. Go check the loveliness!

Uh oh late for work

A VERY quick shop update. These lovelies are now up for grabs on etsy and when I return tonight they will be available on folksy too. They are priced at 10 USD which is roughly around 5-6.50 for us brits :)

Have a nice evening!

Oliver Jeffers

One of my favourite children's illustrator/author, Oliver Jeffers, has just bought out a new book. AND WHEN I GET PAID IT'S MINE! Blimmin' amazing. He has also written : The Way Back Home, How To Catch A Star, The Incredible Book Eating Boy and Lost And Found.

There will be a shop update tomorrow I hope. This weeks so damn busy. I have to get up tomorrow morning to go get stabbed by a doctor with nasty germs. Not going to be my highlight of the day I'm sure...

gutted

Prototype

I made him this morning. It's supposed to be a cat like thing but it's already been called a tooth... sigh... I'm off to the market in a bit to buy some proper fabric and CAT making equipment before I start work. Maybe I'll come up with some ideas there... maybe they won't be tooth shaped either :) Maybe I should avoid cream....


Oh and I also bought some new feet because OBVIOUSLY I needed some more... I'm not a shoe-shop-aholic :( I'm just fed up of having ugly shoes so I am buying nice ones...

Get Made!

We've done it! We've opened a shop :) It's located on St James's Street, Nottingham. Right next door to the Malt Cross. It's open on Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays so get your shoes on and go shopping! As it's part of our Nottingham Craft Mafia it's about selecting the creme de la creme of our crafty city and showing you all the lovely things you can get your hands on... and just in time for Christmas too!


Familiar prints on the wall ;) Available framed and unframed. A very lost looking elbow trying to read the manual for the til.


The shop's called "Get Made". And I've been keeping it a secret for ages in fear that something might get in the way and stop it from happening. But as you can see it hasn't :) NOW OPEN, GO!

All wrapped up and ready to go!

3 brand new portraits up for grabs! (Above L-R) Gwen, Marie and Kitty. They are up for grabs on Etsy and on Folksy. So go treat yourself :)
WAGAMAMA TIME!

Welcome November

Some of my prints are up for grabs at the lovely Kathleen and Lily's boutique located on Mansfield road in Nottingham. They are priced and £15 unframed and £25 framed so go check them out. The shop's wonderful. I popped in yesterday and spent a good while trying on amazing rings which were originally spoons. Why the hell not? Hope your Halloween was special! I've got some newbies lined up for this week so keep a look out.

grrr arg

Halloweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen

Heather

A new winter portrait now in the shop. She's called Heather.

Enjoy!

oh and ANOTHER thing (I'm nearly finished for todays posts honest) I've just opened andloaded up some prints for sale in my NEW AND SHINEY folksy shop! Huzzah! So if you happen to be a UK based Shop-o-holic (like myself) then go see!

www.folksy.com/shops/blackoutwell

A house on Orkney

Well yes my mum just bought a house on the Orkney Isles. Very very cool indeed. So we went up to see it and me being a sport suggested we take the low carbon route and avoid planes... oh dear god it's a long way away.

When the first day of trains came we heard news of a huge storm rolling in off the Atlantic but the ferries seemed to be functioning fine. We arrived a little late in the evening at about 1am (after setting off at 7:50am!!!) and got a taxi to drive us round to the bed and breakfast where we slept like washed up logs. Another early (ish) start at 8:30 with a giant breakfast (perfecto) meant we had the rest of the day to explore the main island and get a bus over to Stromness to see the cottage. We got there only to find out that the ferries for the remaining of the weekend had been cancelled... gulp. We paniced a little then settled into the idea of just booking another night or 2 at the B and B back in Kirkwall. We went and found the solicitors, got the keys and headed to the cottage, which is wonderfull! It needs a lot of work but mum's giving herself a year or so to get the work done and make the place livable again just in time for retirement. We spent an hour measuring the place and working out what can go where etc. Then as we plodded back into "town" we had just enough time to catch the very last ferry of the weekend... so we went for it! After an incredibly bumpy ride we found ourselves back in Scottland in Thurso... only to discover no trains... damn...

So we found a hotel and checked the train times and just relaxed. 6am rise and shine! On train at 6.50 and then came the 2nd full day of transport :( 16 hours, 5 trains, 2 million cups of very expensive and not very nice coffee and 3 bars of chocolate which came with the glossy magazine of nonsense I bought. FINALLY at 10:28pm I walk through my door. By 10:33pm I'm washed, clean and in my pj's curled up on the sofa.

If you wanna see some pictures of the place and the adventure I've put some on flickr. On the art side of the weekend there was a launch party for the Nottingham Craft Mafia and I hear it went well! Lots of interest and lots of wondefull things to see. Alas I couldn't make it cos I was on route to the North. Check the website for any upcoming information.

So how was your weekend?

PikaPackage

It's here! The October Pikapackage is finally here! I've been quite excited about this. It's an amazing project promoting all the loveliness that is art, illustration and craftiness. The deal is you pay a couple of pennies and get a pack containing a random assortment of beauties. You can see the October participants here. The Pickapackage comes in 3 different sizes. You can buy one with 3 pieces, 5 pieces or 10 pieces here. It would make a wonderful gift for yourself and others! The August one is still up for grabs so go get one quick before they run out.


I thought I'd include a picture of the site :) Forgive my scruffy desktop... tra la la... you can also download a pdf of the zine and read the daftness that is my "interview" :) There are links on the blog so go look!

VERY advance warning on the xmas shopping

I covet, therefore I am

Currently coveting.... sigh... you can't help but look when you're stuck in a dark room, starved of company. I have to admit though I can't imagine any of these items being flattering on me. That's the trouble with internet shopping and me... I just have rotten luck and no patience... but I've only just dicovered the wonders of Forever 21 and I can see me gazing, longingly, at their online catalogue for at least another 2 hours....

ug I'm just adding to the post now because everythings so blimmin' nice.

Cuttin' and Stickin'

Start the day with something different. After a useless nights sleep filled with unnecessarily traumatic (blown way out of proportion by the mind) nightmares about failed holidays, being told off and crap stuff like that... I woke up early and decided today was a day for cutting and sticking. I even did a tiny bit of painting. I feel much better... Maybe sewing is in question for later? Maybe not... I don't think I could handle another fight with my sewing machine... I have lots of blue fabric which I bought somewhere and I've been meaning to make a mahoosive whale. It was the first thing that sprang to mind...

I spent yesterday morning and early afternoon taking down the show. I breathed a huge sigh of relief when 4/5 coats of paint later the bright shapes I'd painted on the wall ceased to be. Phew!
On my way home I ground to a halt outside Schuh because I noticed they happened to have maroon converse on display in my size. Horray. I've been after a pair for a couple of years now and I think today of all days will be the day I can tick this shoe mission off my list. I found a library book under my bed... gulp... I'm in so much trouble... The more I think about it maybe that was what oozed all its negative vibes into my dreams. It was really shouting "Take me back!!" I will do that today... and the reward will be the cons :) and maybe I'll have a sweet nights sleep tonight. One can only hope...

I also accidentally inverted some of the winter portraits and I thought they looked pretty cool so I figured I'd show you... tee hee... very new wave/rave (I dunno new talk) warhol... hm. The colours are pretty special...
I apologise for the personal/surreal/mess of a post today :)

NOTTINGHAM CRAFT MAFIA

Ya heard right! Nottingham's own craft mafia site has now been launched and a link can be found here. It's a very exciting, great, amazing and fun thing to be part of and we will all aim to keep you folk in the loop about the inspiring, contemporary and beautiful works happening locally. The sites got some info on its main members at the moment so go take a look and see what's to come. If the Craft Mafia is new to you then it's worth taking a gander at their own site. I also recommend the Glasgow Craft Mafia site...

I got asked to do this months website banner and as you can see one of my lovely ladies is featured. Every month we will take turns and ask others to design a new banner so the website will be ever changing.

Shop Update!!! meet the girls :)

I found this gem in oxfam today on my way home from work and it inspired me to pull back the curtains and show you what I've been up to lately! The graphics are beautiful and the story is really cool. It's rare to come across something so lovely :) It's also got the appropriate Autumn theme... seeing as it's Autumn... and what I have to show you is also Autumn/ Winter themed...



Now for the main event. A great big shop update :) I'm happy to introduce you to 8 lovely new prints that will be up for grabs in the shop within the next couple of hours. It's all about wrapping up warm and layering up those woolies. Each print will come with it's own little blurb filling you in on some of their current fixations, secrets, favourite fruits etc.

Each print is priced at 20 Dollars which is around 10 English Pounds and is printed on archival watercolour paper. The colours and details are bold and crisp. The page measures around 7" x 9" and the image sits comfortably in the middle :) Get in touch if you have special frame requirements and need the paper to be different measurements. As long is the measurements are no bigger than A4 I can sort something out.

Top Left: May, Enid, Aims, Ella.
Bottom Left: Ruth, Connie, Claire, Lotti.

** Just a mini note. The prints you will receive will be on a page that measures 7 inches by 9 inches. The above photo is prints on off cuts of paper measuring 5 by 8 inches (didn't want such good bits of paper to go to waste). This means that the print you receive will be on a piece of paper ever so slightly bigger**

A very VERY quick note

The show comes down on Sunday so go see it while you can and I seriously recommend the brownies!

Warm

The wind has picked up and the trees are giving up some of their leaves but not without a fight. Halloween is creeping closer and closer. Before you know it it'll be dark by 5 and town will be decorated in red gold and green.

I figured now is a good time to start introducing you to my next project. Wrapped up for winter. You may have noticed the blog's had a tweak and one of the lovely ladies is featured on the banner. There are pleanty more to come and I'll introduce you all next week :)

-Don't get blown away!

ps - Remind me to get my pumpkin this year...

Just One Of Those Days

Well today appears to be the Hockley Hustle which had completely slipped my mind until I approached work to find it surrounded by lots of crazy goings on. We got live music all around the building and massive painting being done outside (my fingers are crossed to keep the rain away!). It's all quite exciting to be honest. So if you happen to be reading this today and are located in the Nottingham part of the UK then come visit! Go see some live bands. They are all over hockley so you can't miss them... follow the balloons! If I can find a lead I'll try and update this post with some hockley hustle pictures :D

But right now I am in the mood for a nice cup of tea and a giant piece of cake.

WHO'S WITH ME?!?

Hand And Heart Gallery

Take a peek! Tonight is the celebrations so I'm sure I'll have plenty more pictures to show. There are a few of the show in the making and some of Sophie's amazing illustrations up on my flickr account if ya wanna see. I think it's time to rest before this evening :)

Maybe see you tonight!

ps - I've got some great news and stuff to show you soon! Cool huh? :D

pps - you excited??

ppps - GOOD!

pppps - rest time...

Up And Running Around Like A Headless Something

Above: THE SET! 2 Prints for the price of 30 USD (roughly 15 quid or so for us Brits) Now up for grabs in the shop. Featured in the show and a secret I've been trying to keep for the last 2 weeks. Horrah to me for trying anyway :)

Below: The LIMITED EDITION colour schemes. Familiar faces but with a twist. Both are individually priced at 20 USD (10 quid roughly brits) and feature in the show! They are in the shop NOW. I've only done a very VERY small run of these prints (5 of each!) so seriously get them while you can because when they are gone they are gone... sigh... I'm working on some new colour schemes for other familiar faces. I'll keep you posted. But feel free to let me know what you think.



And finally the rest of the gang with some new friends. All of these chaps and chaplettes are featured in the show and are all up for grabs for the usual price of 16 smackaroonies (8-9 quidaroonies). Everyones int he shop as I speak. So go spend that hard earned cash! I promise you won't be disappointed :)


I think it's time to make a quick recovery and get ready for a variety of different meetings... woo...

ps/ of course Bruce and Alan are featured in the show. I just figured you wouldn't want to have a repeat of the last post... so you can buy them here (bruce) or here (alan).