Shades of Autumn

Hello!

School holidays are almost over and there has definitely been a feeling that autumn is on its way in our garden this week.  I've trimmed back lots of dead summer flowers and plenty more are starting to go over.  Its sad to see the sunflowers at the end of the garden fade away - but I'm already planning what bulbs to plant for spring.

With thoughts of autumn and winter in mind, I found some time to create an autumn version of my family tree print.  I've been wanting to create this version since last autumn but never got a chance.  It's feels good to finally see it become real....

As with my original family tree print it has 8 locket sized photo apertures which I hand-cut, making it each one unique. 

This print is now listed on my website, which has been given a bit of a re-vamp for the coming season.  I've streamlined it a bit more to make it easier to update with the new stock I'm developing for the run up to Christmas.  I'm working on lots of new designs at the moment for Christmas and 2014...

With just one more week to enjoy having the girls at home it'll be back into the full swing of things for me next week with plenty of things to get stuck into.  I look forward to sharing it all with you soon. 

Enjoy the rest of the week!

Best wises

Getting Out, About and Stuck Into New Designs...

Hello!

Hope you are all well.  I'm just about coping with working through the school summer hols, though it is always challenging.  

It's lovely having our girls around all day and at least we've been making the most of being based in the Westcountry by getting out and about with short camping trips and days out around Cornwall, Devon and Somerset.  My favourite day out so far has to be the one to the Eden project a week ago.  I've always wanted to visit it but it's taken us until now to have the chance, so we seized it and had the most fantastic day out together.   The kids were very impressed, had loads of fun making and doing things there..plus they learned loads of important stuff about the environment, food production and our planet which impressed me more! All I can say is  Eden Project - we will be back soon! 

As well as getting out and about, I've also been getting stuck into some new designs.  I posted some new gift wrap and notecard designs on here a couple of weeks ago - they were the beginnings of a new collection about the glories, inspirations and joys to be found in gardening.  I've given this collection the working title of 'Bloom and Grow' or 'Bloom' for short ...but I'm not sure yet.  I'm currently developing 12 greetings cards on this theme, some of which will start emerging as illustration prints in my Folksy and Etsy shops soon, like the two designs here.... 

You can now find 'Perch Long' and 'Bloom Where You Are Planted'  listed as:

Framed prints on Folksy: http://folksy.com/items/4432247-Bloom-Where-You-Are-Planted-10x8-Framed-Print

And Unframed Prints on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/159397168/a4-unframed-illustration-print-perch?ref=shop_home_active

As well as the new 'Bloom' range I've been having a bit of a sort out behind the scenes on my website to get things more streamlined and ready for autumn.  The thing about the website is you learn as you go and start to see ways of improving things and how to make life easier for yourself - but in order to make those improvements it often requires a good stint of concentrated, uninterrupted effort, so this is as good a time to do it as any.

And finally...

My other news is, I've been in the Western Morning News last week.  This little article about my Living The Dream range appeared on 8th August in the business section and if you want to read the piece you can view the online feature here: 

http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Greetings-card-range-nostalgic-reminder-halcyon/story-19630651-detail/story.html

Have a great week!

Best wishes