My first Craft Market....

So last Sunday I took a big step and participated in my first craft market, Crafty fox Market.  I was so excited to have been chosen as it gets quite a few applicants every year, and being part of the Uncovered Section meant I was given a mentor to email in the run up to the event.  I haven't been to one before but have only read great things about it on the web.


I really didn't know what to expect, I turned up a little nervous with an optimistic amount of stock but everyone seemed very lovely and before I knew it the doors had opened.  Running from 11-5 I thought there was a good crowd, being on the 3rd floor the people came in waves but it seemed busy (although a few people told me at the end it was very quiet and the christmas fairs are much busier).
A lot of mums and dads with young children and not nearly as many 'trendy' 20 somethings as I was expecting in Brixton, there was a lot of browsing but not a lot of buying.

I wasn't expecting to sell out but I had thought I would get a few good sales, but that really didn't happen. I barely sold anything, just had a lot of people take a card and I'm optimistically thinking 'who knows they could buy online?!'   Hearing that it was quieter than usual and knowing that the people around me didn't make a huge number of sales makes it a little easier to swallow, but it is hard to not get disheartened. I have been waiting for this for weeks and really thought it could be a turning point for me but it just didn't turn out that way.  

I definitely learned a lot, the actual amount of stock that is worth taking and the amount of space I realistically need to display things well.  I also think I should have had a sign or something to highlight the fact that everything is handmade and handprinted.  Only after getting into a conversation with a few people did they really appreciate how much work actually went into them and how unique they all are.  I have also always been told my prints are cheap for what they are, considering some fine art printmakers would charge 3 times the amount I do, and even the cheapest things didn't sell, so it's all about the audience you are getting at these fairs and if that is the sort of product they are interested in. 

Overall I did have a good day, I wasn't sitting there counting down till 5 o'clock, there was a good atmosphere, music and food and drink, and it can be one of those things that can often take a while before it takes off.  I just need to take what I've learned, work hard and if I make it to the christmas fair just absolutely boss it.  

Busy bee....

I have been busy making these last few weeks which feels good.  Making things and getting stuck in is my one true love and spending a day printing is bliss for me.

I've been busy...

So having this week off work has given me a motivational boost, I've been a good little housewife and have been working out and most importantly making stuff!

Most recently this beautiful new print.  I have been itching to do something typographical again for a while and my brother bought me a new 'Drawing type' book for christmas.  I don't remember where I found this quote but its by E.A. Bucchianeri and I really liked it... mystery is everything! 

Also exciting is that I decided to print it onto sections from some vintage maps I have collected over the years.  Not only because they are gorgeous to look at but it means that every single one of the prints is completely one of a kind and I really think it adds to the quote. 

I love it and hope you do too, here is the link to buy it :)

l
x

I've been a terrible blogger recently....

but life kind of of got in the way.  I've been ill, had lots of exciting emails and been a very busy bee but I'm back and want to do things properly ha!

Exciting news, I now have my prints in two real life shops! which I will blog about soon and will be having an Urban Graphics greetings card out soon with one of my print designs on it :)

I want to do at least one post a week this month to get me going for next year as I really do want to get better at this whole bogging thing!  No doubt at least one of them will just be christmas related as Im obsessed and already listening to Wham! in cosy pjs :)

I'll do better I promise!
Lx

New print....

So I've been trying to venture away from all black prints but it wasn't going so well, but after continuing my tattoo themed prints I decided to have a go at illustrating a sugar skull.  I have always loved them, and painted my face as one for many a halloween party but this was my first go at illustrating it.  I love the intricacy and tried to get as much in as I could without making it impossible to cut out of lino.  By layering a gold layer of ink underneath it not only added a bit of glitter and sparkle but added another dimension the print and brought out the details more.

This is one of my favourite things I've done for a while and it is a limited edition of only 10 so if you want to pick one up for yourself click here.

Here we go....

I've decided to make a go of this blogging thing, I really enjoy it when I do it but become a bit of a slacker and forget about it. 

BUT...

I've had a bit of a re-arrange and made it look all pretty and have decided to regularly blog once a week, most probably on a sunday but we'll see how it goes and what day suits me best.  The post will be design related but anything from a review of a cool magazine I found, some ephemera I picked up in a charity shop or sharing cool designers/competitions/exhibtions.

I have also been busy making prints and so will post pictures of those and links to where they are available to buy as and when I make them and I might sneak in a few random posts about things I'm loving at the moment! 

See you on Sunday! 

Laura

I just wanna make nice things

Ohh Deer.....

I have been a regular to the 'Ohh Deer' website which stocks a wide range of stationary, cards and gifts illustrated by a whole range of wonderful people, and they also stock in shops like urban outfitters and Selfridges.  They run regular competitions to find new contributors but the difference is they use the publics opinion and how much the images are liked and shared as well as what will fit in with their brand. 

The current competition is to find a new range of greetings cards.  If you are an illustrator I say get involved, it's as simple as uploading 4 images and getting as many shares/likes/and notice as possible.  The link to get involves is here. 

I have uploaded a few designs and would really appreciate a like or a share.  Thanks :)

Also if you enter comment on this post with your link and I shall return the favour! 

http://ohhdeer.com/competition/occasionally-fun/view-artist/8394/lauranevill

Exciting news.....

A couple of weeks ago I bought a copy of Print isn't dead magazine (go check it out it is ace) and ended up tweeting about it, the founder then added me on Facebook and had seen some of my work and messaged me to say that I should email People of print to get my stuff in their online shop.  I did and within the week some of my prints were in their directory alongside the work of people like ditto press. I was so excited as it's the first exciting thing to happen in a while and it was nice to know that they liked my stuff enough to sell it. 

The magazine had a launch night last week which I attended, and after overcoming my fear of talking to people I met the lovely Lo Parkin who regularly contributes to the People of print blog and to the magazine.  We emailed after the event and she was nice enough to write a little feature on me to go onto their blog, go and check it out! 

It's all about making connections....

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!

Skull and bones

Been drawing a lot of bones recently and made up a quick Lino stamp today and I am really happy with the results, can definitely see this turning into a bigger project and trying to be even more detailed.  Also loving printing in grey! 

Mums the word

With mothers day soon approaching the thought of searching through shops to find a nice card isn’t my idea of fun.  So I decided to revert back to my childhood self and make my mum a card.  I’ve been looking at a lot of chalkboard drawings recently after discovering this amazing blog and artist and love the foliage motifs.   Using this as my starting point I drew up a simple border and added a big daisy at the top.  I kept the type relatively simple as the rest was very time-consuming and meticulous to cut out and I din’t want it to get too busy, and voila a handmade card.  

I have made a few of these and am making them available in my shop in the next couple of days when I get some envelopes, so why not send your mum something a bit more special this mothers day :) 



L x

P.s Let me know what you think of them!

For sale.

I have long wanted to sell some of the things I’ve made but have never got around to it but I am in the process of setting up an online shop to sell a few bits and bobs I’ve made and things I’m currently working on.  So watch this space!

L x