FAVE BLOGS ★GRAPHIC DESIGN★

Here are some of my favourite GRAPHIC DESIGN blogs...

Graphic Exchange

One of my all time favourite blogs, this showcases the very best of the best of the Graphic Design world covering all areas...

lovely package

The best packaging blog

Lovely Stationery

Same as above except all about... Stationery!

We love Typography

FAVE BLOGS ★SURFACE PATTERN★

I thought I would give you a little taster of which blogs I love, from interiors to crafts, photography and graphics...I am ADDICTED TO BLOGS! there I've said it...

Here goes...

★SURFACE PATTERN★

Print and pattern

An english pattern blog which covers all types of greetings, fabric and fashion fabrics, I check this everyday as it also has a fab job page.

Rachael Taylor designs

Rachael is a friend of mine, we worked together at Hallmark cards.  Rachael left and started her own business and is doing really well.  Not only does she design patterns for bags, phone covers, laptop skins, teatowels canvases etc she also runs a very succesful surface design course.

Pattern People

Mainly fashion fabric patterns, great for inspiration!

Paper&Cloth

A greetings company with a great contemporary style

Amazing artist

I have discovered an amazing artist while looking through images with my instagram app.  I don't know anything about him other than he is an Art Director from Tokyo and goes by the name QTA3.  He does collages, mixing vintage photography with bright colours and textures.  The images are a little strange but all have a real "feel good" message.  You can follow his tumbler with all his other images here.

Here are some of my faves...

★ NEW PRINTS ★

Have got some new prints in my RANKIDOODLE ETSY SHOP.  I have a few Scarborough themed prints, can you tell I'm homesick?!  and some customised hearts that would make great gifts for valentines day.

This one is a design based on the vintage bus blinds that are everywhere at the moment, talked about on my blog here.  It lists well known and loved streets and attractions from my lovely hometown.

A set of four Scarborough prints depicting The Spa, The Lighthouse, The Seafront and The Castle.

These prints measure 20 x 20cm and are £5 each or 4 for £15!!!

Lastly I have designed some personalised prints, a valentine heart and a new baby heart!  The customer can choose the wording (names, dates, places etc) on the print so it means something special to them.

              

              

These prints are £20 each and measure 30 x 40cm

★★★ For a 20% discount enter FRIENDS1 at the checkout ★★★

Gemma Correll

I have recently discovered the talented and hilarious artist Gemma Correll.  She draws really cute and quirky illustrations of herself, animals, food and everyday objects. Each drawing has a funny slogan or story, here are some of my faves...

I LOVE this next picture, it breaks my heart!!!...

Here she is at work on a mural...

On Gemmas website there is also a daily diaries section which is "a chronicle of a (mostly) boring life" which is sooo funny, take a look...

ou can visit Gemmas website here, her flickr page here and to follow her on instagram her username is Gemma Correll (obviously).

CHRISTMAS SALE

All my christmas items are now HALF PRICE in my Etsy shop here.

All cards are now £1.25, shop extra early for next year.

★ Canvas competition ★

I recently visited the Year nine GCSE Textiles pupils of Walkden High School in Salford, Manchester to give a careers talk.  I showcased my University Textiles work, images and samples of my greetings cards from Hallmark cards and some imagery and produced canvas designs from my current job as a Wall art designer.  I hope they found it inspiring, I tried to make the talk as inspiring and visually stimulating as possible with plenty of work to look at and pass around alongside an indepth powerpoint presentation...

I also set a Canvas design competition.  The pupils had to design and create a canvas which included a word, a pattern, a stitch and an object.  The winners would then receive their design printed on to a canvas to keep (3rd - 20x20cm, 2nd - 30x30cm & 1st - 40x40cm)

After working on the canvasses for a couple of months it came to judging time for me and Miss Quinlan (the Textiles teacher).  We were both very impressed with the standard and variety of designs, soooo here goes...

THIRD PLACE...

Georgia

SECOND PLACE...

Grace

AND THE WINNER IS...

Lauren

As I didn't have my blog this time last year I thought I would also show you the canvas competition winners from last year.  The competition was held for three classes so there was a first prize for each class...

Georgia

Holly

Nicole