That's me for 2011 - Merry Christmas Everyone!...

2011 has been an amazing year for Artwork by Angie, I have many people to thank for helping make my little business grow some very healthy shoots in this past year...

Firstly, a huge thank you to all of you loyal blog, facebook, twitter and pinterest followers as your comments and support keep me motivated and inspired.  I am sincerely grateful and humbled by the kindness of many of you and thoroughly enjoy reading your posts and status updates too - THANK YOU!

I'd also like to say a MASSIVE thank you to everyone who has bought prints, cards or ordered my design services in the past year.  You've certainly kept me busy during an uncertain economic year - I only hope my creations have met with your expectations and in the case of brand designs, are helping to make your businesses grow stronger.  I can't express how delighted I am when you've come back for second helpings or have recommended me openly to friends and fans of your pages -  I really feel like I've made quite a few new friends this year :-)

I also want to say a very big THANK YOU to the publishing company I've been working with for most of the past year.  The Heart of a Garden approached me earlier this year after spotting my work on good old Folksy  (yes, I really was Found on Folksy!!).  Since then I've developed a range of 18 greetings cards for their stand at the NEC's Autumn Fair back in Sept.  The range seems to be hitting the spot as they are now being stocked in a wide variety of retail outlets, mainly independent gift shops or book shops....but if you're vigilant, you may start spotting my designs in some branches of:

There - that was my big news that I've been itching to share for a few weeks now, but I was saving it for Christmas!!

If you remember, a couple of blog posts back I mentioned that I was feeling elated because I'd had news that a certain organisation had ordered my cards and that they were exactly who I had in my mind as one of my 'dream' stockists whilst designing the cards...well, that organisation is The National Trust.  They've ordered 5 of the designs from the range, but I'm not sure which of their shops they will be appearing in, in the New Year.  I would be over the moon to find out where, so this is me putting a call out to all of you -  if you spot them, please, please, please come and leave a comment and let me know where you saw them as it would make my day - thank you!

That's Artwork By Angie done for 2011, as I'm now officially on a Christmas break and am looking forward to getting stuck in to all the festivities and family fun!...

That said, I'll still be doing a fair bit of behind the scenes designing as I've got some items to prepare for the NEC's Spring Fair at the beginning of February...but I'll tell you all about that when I return in January.

  

My online shops will re-open on 4th Jan and I'll be back blogging, tweeting, facebooking, pinning etc as soon as I can in January. 

All that's left to say is...

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas 

& a Happy New Year!

Angie x

Oh Christmas Tree! - How handmade are your branches?

After a bit of pressure from my children, our Christmas tree is now up and looking splendid covered in all kinds of handmade lovely things.  We've got gorgeous hand painted gingerbread men from Muddy Puddle Crafts.  These sit proudly next to some salt dough, hearts, stars, doves and extra gingerbread men that I made with my girls (they did the rolling and cutting, I did the painting as I'm a bit fussy when it comes to the main tree)...

...We've also made up the felt Rudolfs and toadstools we got from The Felt Fairy and they look great.  You see that knitted Santa, he was given to my daughter last year by the lady who volunteers at her primary school to sit, listen and help the reception class read and practice their phonics.  She made one for each of the children in the class, what a special decoration that is!...

...We also have some handstitched delights from Little A Designs....

...There is this beautiful hand stitched robin hanging from the bookcase.  We've also made up the Rosette Kit that we received as a surprise the other week.  We have decided to make it up into a star rosette for the top of the tree...

...Finally, below is the little toadstool my 5 year old daughter made.  It is her first ever attempt at backstitch, she had a little help with the buttons, but the rest is her handy work and I am so proud of her for persevering as she found sewing 'really, really, really tricky!'.  I think she did a brilliant job, far better than I would have at that age.  And she is so delighted that she's learnt a new skill - so thank you The Felt Fairy, your kits are great fun!...

I hope all your plans for Christmas are coming along nicely and that you are finding time amongst the stress and pressure to step back and enjoy the little things too.

Have a great week!

Angie

Feeling Rather Stitchy!...

I've re-discovered my sewing kit and am feeling a bit stitchy at the moment! This recent desire to sew has come about because for a while now, I've been wanting to make some fabric Christmas decorations which my children can lend a hand with.  Imagine my squeals of delight when this gorgeous little parcel above landed on my doorstep yesterday.  Its was a complete surprise from my friend Marna over at Little A Designs (please click the link as she's just started a blog of her own and its lovely!)...

...a couple of weeks ago I designed some instructions to go in Little A Designs, Rosette Kits (that's my doodles in the photo below).  Now I'm the proud owner of a Christmas themed Rosette Kit, complete with everything I need to make a very personalised rosette to hang in my house....

 It all looks nice and simple, I'm sure my eldest daughter will enjoy helping make it.  I'll let you all know how we get on and 'show and tell' the finished rosette on here.

Actually, that's not the only kit I have waiting to be worked on.  A little while ago, I did some design work for the lovely Annie The Felt Fairy  . Whilst doing the work I noticed she had these little kits (see below) - they look great fun and just the kind of project to enjoy with my girls, which they can hang on our Christmas tree when they're done....

 

....When we've made them up, I'll let you all have a look at them on here.  I'm a bit scared of showing and telling my sewing efforts really, as I know many of you blog followers are exceptional at needlecraft (eek!).  Please be gentle with me, don't forget drawing, painting and playing with vector graphics is my thing when all is said and done!...

...of course, last Friday was Children in Need day.  My daughter had to go to school 'showing her spots to raise lots'.  Problem was, she didn't have many spotty things to wear.  So I improvised, got my sewing box out and made this little number for her out of scraps of felt, buttons and embroidery thread - all hand stitched in a hurry (to say it was last minute is an understatement!)...

...still, the smile on her face meant it was worth it! ...

...Its not all about sewing though.  I'm very busy working on a variety of commissions at the moment, most of which can't be revealed yet.  Here's another sneaky peek at work done last week for you.  Can you see, I've been working on some portraits!...I've not done any for a little while and have totally enjoyed doing these.  I do love the challenge of trying to nail the likeness and capture people's expressions.  I'll show all in the New Year as these were commissioned as Christmas Presents.

Its almost the weekend, so have a good one everyone!

Angie

Craft fairs, carnival and a cheeky glimpse of work in progress...

I don't know about you, but I can't quite believe that its Christmas Shopping Fair season already.  I've done two fairs in the past few weeks and have two more to go next week and the week after.  I don't do that many, usually just ones that are linked to causes I care about most.  My theory is, by doing events for causes close to my heart I don't get upset if I don't sell much!....

..that said, usually what happens at these events is when I make a few sales it is swiftly followed by a few purchases from other stalls!  Its not a bad way to start Christmas shopping, but it does sort of defeat the object of having a stall in the first place.  Do you like my new sales assistant? that's my eldest and she's really giving it the hard sell, bless her!...

...Since my last blog post  our town had it's annual Guy Fawkes Carnival.  Bridgwater proudly boasts the biggest illuminated carnival in Europe. Approx 100,000 people lined the procession route to spend about 2 hours watching around 60 stunning carnival floats go by...

...They certainly entertained us with dazzling costumes and well rehearsed moves.  As you can see, some of the carts are like west end shows on wheels...

...Finally,  I've got a few things on the go at the moment commission wise.  I can't really reveal all for a couple of months, but as I'm such a tease I'm letting you have a cheeky peek at some work done last week...

....above is a quick glimpse of my desktop with work in action, these jolly little creatures are Minky Mooo's and they're bits of clip art I've been creating for Daisy Mooo's website (which is coming very soon, so you won't have to wait a couple of months to see those).

Hope you all have a great week,

Angie :-)