Accidental Vix

This time last year we had just got back from Montreal to celebrate my 30th birthday, and I have to admit it was a city I immediately fell in love with and dream of going back. So, as I sit here daydreaming of my fave city I thought it would be a good theme for this week’s Friday Faves, and some potential prints to remind me of a fab week:

Loose petals – Montreal Skyline (Montreal is such a diverse city and this captures it perfectly)

Jenna Sue Maps - Montreal City Map Print (Love the colour and simplicity of this print)

House of Mr Bond – 24 hours in Montreal print (I’d quite happily accept 24 hours in Montreal right now, and the rest!)

Better try and get my feet firmly back on British soil now and get on with some creating, have a great Bank Holiday weekend.

Xx

It’s hard to believe that it is spring and not only am I snowed under in general but I am literally surrounded by snow. What happened to spring sunshine? There are many reasons I don’t want to go back to this time last year but I wouldn’t mind borrowing last March’s weather. So, today’s Friday Faves are unsurprisingly weather related:

Koalita Craft – Heart table decorations (if this can’t entice spring out then I don’t know what can)

Laura’s Jewellery – Blue cloud earrings (would be great if rain were this pretty when stood under it)

2jacs – Sunshine on a stick illustration (wish I could really get sunshine on a stick)

Have a great Easter weekend, whatever the weather.

Xx

I’ve had a lovely week with my fab friend Jess from Jessie G visiting, so of course we both had the week off and it was time to be a tourist at home! Apart from the fact it was great not to be working for a few days, I never tire of plenty of creative chat time with Jess, and we had a cultured week whilst keeping up the natter. I grew up a mile from the Bronte Parsonage in Haworth, and like most things took it for granted as it was on my doorstep, so it was great to go round the Bronte Parsonage with Jess and be reminded of the fab Bronte sisters, which brings me to this week’s Friday Faves:

Pemberley Pond – Wuthering Heights Poster (they say never judge a book by it’s cover but I would buy Wuthering Heights 10 times over if this was the cover!)

Gardenmis - Linen ring pillow (if only I’d found this for our wedding!)

Jezebel Charms – Heathcliff and Cathy earrings (you can’t have Cathy without Heathcliff)

Thanks Jess for a great few days, and here’s to finding Heathcliff in the summer! Have a great weekend, whatever your plans and if you’re in London please pop on down to Spitalfields market and visit Jessie G Designs for some fab handmade goodies.

Xx

Well as Handpicked Hall opens in Skipton today there can be no other choice for this week’s Friday Faves. I will be there tomorrow with my baby bits and illustrations, but until then if you are heading down for the opening day today then here are a few of my personal faves, who also happen to be fellow Craft Soup creators:

Rose Cottage  Crafts  - I was lucky enough to meet Christine at last night’s premier , and after spending time chatting to her via Craft Soup it was great to see her granny chic creations in person and I am envious of anyone who can crochet as it’s something I haven’t tried yet for fear of being addicted and already lacking hours in the day! So, if like me you love a bit of vintage inspired crochet that would sit perfectly in any home then check out Rose Cottage Crafts’ website or pop by and say hi as she will be at Handpicked Hall on Fridays

Little Shop of Lathers – It’s always great to catch up with Claire as she is as bubbly as her handmade bath and shower creations. Last night I even learnt about Claire’s clever idea of a bath bomb equivalent for those who prefer a shower! The only problem I have being within 100 metres of Claire’s gorgeous products is that I can’t resist buying quirky things as presents. I can’t reveal too much about my purchase last night as it is a soon to be Easter present but I can say that if you want an Easter alternative to chocolate then this is your girl. If you’re in the area tomorrow then pop by and be tempted by the chocolatey aromas as you reach the Little Shop of Lathers stall.

Ruby Spirit Designs – Tracy is actually one of the first people to introduce me to Craft Soup when I met her at an event in Haworth, and I always like the chance to catch up with her as we cross paths on the creative circuit. As with Little Shop of Lathers I find it very dangerous going near Ruby Spirit Design products as they have a quirkiness and style that I have not seen elsewhere and I know that any products (yes, none of them have made it as far as presents as I have kept them all) will stand out as being unique. I even managed to find some gorgeous earrings at Handpicked Hall last night that match my brand colours, so I think I’m justified in buying them to wear on Saturday, right??

If you are in Skipton today, tomorrow or any other day please pop by to Handpicked Hall and suport local designers, sellers and businesses and enjoy this breath of fresh talent that is a welcome change to what is becoming a standard selection of high street chains in most of our towns and cities – celebrate local, handmade and British.

Xx

Life is one big rollercoaster, but the ride got a whole lot bumpier this week as anyone who knows me or follows this blog will know. Unfortunately that seems the way of the world and we just have to ride with it and hope for the support that we need to get us through. So, today’s Friday faves are self explanatory:

Nostalgique Images – Carnival Photography (love these colours!)

Littleramstudio – Rollercoaster, lino cut relief (can’t argue with this)

ColorWare – Red splendid spiral (A bit of fun for  a Friday)

Hope you have a good weekend, I’m hoping my journey will be a bit calmer soon!

Xx

As it was Valentine’s Day yesterday how many of you proposed, or were proposed to?? I love to hear a good romantic story so please share. This combined with the gorgeous blue sky but cold air and the need to keep warm has prompted the first Friday Faves this year:

Jessie G Designs – Valentine’s Card (A fellow interior designer and friend, I love how Jess has used wool to get a lovely texture to this print)

Mythillogical – Felted white bunny (A fellow crafty folker on Etsy, and just too cute for words!)

Chrissie Freeth – Handwoven lavendar heart (A fellow Yorkshire craft souper, the handwoven wool fabric is gorgeous)

Off to finish my screenprint now, but enjoy the sunshine, and if you’re inside and keeping warm take some time to explore these fab shops.

Xx

It’s nearly bonfire night, so there’s only one thing that can be this week’s theme… yes, you guessed it  - fireworks! And here are my fave firework inspired items from Etsy to start the weekend with a bang:

Purpleface – Nature’s fireworks (no need to look to the night sky for blasts of colour)

Candan Imrak – Lampwork earrings (perfect for wearing to a bonfire this weekend)

Ebi Emporium – Acrylic firework painting (love the texture on this canvas)

Have a great weekend, whatever your plans

Xx

Well my parents jetted off to Spain for the week today, and although it’s raining over there at the moment it can’t be any colder than here – I can well believe the forecast for snow tonight! As I sit here with my hot water bottle I’m dreaming of some of my fave Spanish cities:

• China town branch – Sagrada Familia illustration (Barcelona is definitely in my top 5 cities, and this is one of my fave bits of Spanish Architecture with so much life in this detailed sketch)
• Andre Rocha Design – Madrid A3 poster (I remember going on a work trip to Madrid for a few days and definitely want to go back)
• Loud n creative – Digital street scene, Barcelona ( I love the character of Barcelona and this captures the little streets perfectly)

Back to reality and the cold British weather now, so I’m off to finish making my next scarf.

Xx

Well the day is almost here, and time for yet another day of heavy lifting and packing boxes… we are moving back to Yorkshire this weekend! I’m not looking forward to the actual move but can’t wait to get back up North and start the next chapter, however daunting that seems at the moment. If you somehow haven’t guessed this week’s theme then here are some clues:

Kate Kelly Designs – We have moved postcard (love the little sketched house, and this definitely reminds me of home and quaint Yorkshire)

Urban Bark – New home invitation (so many things I like about this, the line work, combination of colours/pattern and modernity of it)

Sweet Potato Shop – We’re moving printable PDF (again I like the simplicity of this, and it’s appeal to a wide audience)

On with packing boxes before the rest of the helpers arrive tomorrow, and a big thanks to all our friends and family helping!!

Xx

Well my final day at my current job has arrived, and too quickly if you ask me! I’m very excited to be moving back to the Yorkshire countryside but there are a lot of friends and colleagues that I will miss – my Friday faves are for everyone at Brinkworth who I’ve been lucky enough to work with:

B – Beer o’clock must mean it’s nearly the weekend! (Newcraft – beer clock)

R – Restaurants and lunch breaks, can’t have too many of those to catch up with friends amongst the work, looking forward to my leaving lunch today (Suzanne Robertson Pics – food photograph)

I – Imagination, you won’t get far in design without it (Ladysnail – Imagination print)

N – North East London, and my long commute from South West London, a journey I won’t miss (Art Pause – London street map)

K – Keep going, there’ve been long hours and many mistakes but without them there’d be no good results (Typomaid – mistake print)

W – Work, well not much longer for me at Brinkworth so maybe I need one of these bags (Wobbly jobbly – Portfolio bag)

O – Oh dear, I hope I’m doing the right thing by giving up a job I love… (Wiley Valentine – Oh dear card)

R – Retail design, after all I design shops for a living (Glennis Photos – Antique Brass till photo)

T – Trips, our Christmas trips are definitely memorable, even if I only made it to Budapest! (Belsart – Budapest zine)

H – Hobbs, my client for a majority of my time at Brinkworth and I’m sad to leave the Hobbs team

Thank you Brinkworth, I’ll be back to visit!

Xx