Fallen in love.... with Iron ons

 

 Whilst in Paris we stumbled across the cutest stationary store called Papier Tigre.  Safe to say I wanted to buy everything from the cardboard office accessories to the notebooks.  Everything is designed to perfection and the whole store is beautiful.  In there they had a cabinet containing some gorgeous iron on patches, broaches and accessories by Macon and Leasquoy which I couldn't resist.  There's a huge range of cool Iron ons from geometric shapes to chips and a burger and I loved them.  I picked up two packs, one with a camera the other with a gun and bang speech bubble which I imaged on a shirt collar.  Each is embroidered and shiny and pretty.

I finally got round to Ironing them on this week, the illustrated instructions are simple and easy to follow  and I'm so happy with the results.  I used the camera one on the pocket of a plain white Topshop tee and the gun on the collar of a white Topshop shirt.  They are the perfect way to update an item of clothing and are super cute and unique.   I am so excited to wear the shirt, under jumpers, dresses and get a lot more wear out of a shirt I don't wear as its a bit plain!

I suggest everyone gets some and has a go!

Lx

Finding my way..

Since leaving uni I've never really figured out where I fit in.  During my third year I struggled trying to place myself 'in industry' because I like to do a bit of everything.  I was never certain that I wanted to work for a magazine or be a designer in a company.  There was so much pressure to focus your FMP to industry folk that would want to hire you that I cracked and thought this was the be all and end all, but it really wasn't. 

After graduating the last thing I wanted to do was go into full time work.  Yes I looked for jobs but with no determination and no interest in them.  I got part time work and decided to focus on me.  On what I actually want to do. What I actually enjoy  doing. 

Throughout the last year I have swapped and changed artistic styles and mediums.  From doing a print one day to drawing in detail with coloured pencil.  The problem is I enjoy doing too much! Recently, however I have started to hone in on one skill, linoprinting. 

Printing with lino has always been one of my favourite things to do since school.  Yes its hard and it takes forever but I think that why I enjoy it. I did a lot more screen printing at uni which was fun and a great way to print editions but I always go back to lino.  It's the way that you have to work hard and are so physically involved from beginning to end.  You do all the hard work and learn from your mistakes. I've always been one to go back to basics and lino does it for me.  

In the last couple of months I have set up an Etsy shop and made myself create new prints regularly, and its been going well.  Sales are still slow but then it's still really exciting when someone does buy something even if it is just a postcard.   It's kept me motivated and more determined to do well and by focusing on just creating linopints I have improved my skills.  I'm still working it all out and my press is a bit hit and miss sometimes but I think thats the beauty of it.  No two prints are the same, and I kind of prefer when they don't come out right and have a bit of texture to them, it adds to it... but maybe thats just me.


After my linoprint design being chosen for the Secret 7' project I have been wanting to develop it further and had an idea for a new print, a tattooed pin up girl in the same lined illustration. I tried it out and its probably one of my favourite prints! From this i've just begun to explore more tattoo imagery and I'm loving it and the response seems to be really good. 

I feel like I'm finally beginning to find a style I like working in and can develop into a series or project and I'm really happy with my work at the minute.  I'm glad I stuck it out and didn't get stuck in a job I hate, I am looking for a design related job so I can get out of retail but I can feel myself creating a name  for myself as well and things are getting exciting.

L x

I’ve always had a thing for girls with tattoos

After not having a lot of inspiration recently I was ready to make something but had no ideas.  After the sleeve cover design i had done for the Secret 7” project I wanted to try more of the simplistic style of illustrating and have an excuse to spend a day looking at traditional style tattoos again!  I found a photograph of a girl in a bikini which I liked and then went from there adding to it.  I started to carve whilst catching up on some Kardashian goodness and then by the end of the day had the beginnings of an edition of prints which I’m a little bit in love with.

I am definitely  going to be trying out a lot more line style prints as I loved how it came out and you can get in more detail than if you were trying to carve the black lines out.

The prints are available to buy along with other bits and bobs here!