Flower Girl

I've been playing around more with the pencil illustration I drew yesterday, testing how it fits in with the more linear way I sometimes draw. Could do with a bit more work, but I'll definitely be combining different ways of drawing in the future.

I've been working on something in a style a bit different to the one I usually use this evening. I usually work in fineliners and inks, though I've always used pencil in life drawing classes. I don't know why I've never used this media in other work. I used a similar digital method to usual, adding a textured background, and I had to play around with the pencil scan a lot more than you have to with pen, but I am pleased with the combination and feel it is something I could develop quite a lot.

National Stationery Day

Cavallini Ephemera Sticker Set - £9.95 - thepaperie.co.uk

Assorted Motif Sticker Pack - £4.95 - liberty.co.uk

Personal Library Kit - $15.00 - knockknockstuff.com

Floral Lady Birthday Card - £2.00 - Lizzy Stewart on Etsy

Rose Botanical Journal - $15.00 - riflepaperco.com

Vintage Camera Pencil Sharpener - £21.50 - Rose & Grey at Not on the High Street

As today is National Stationery Day, I thought I'd share some of my favourite pieces of stationery with you. It has been quite hard to choose just a few items to share! Websites such as thepaperie.co.uk and papermash.co.uk sell a lovely range of stationery, and are well worth having a browse. Etsy is also good for finding unique pieces, such as notecards, and many sellers will also personalise pieces, such as invitations.  I design and sell a range of stationery myself, which you can view and buy here.

I thought I'd do something constructive with the hours I spend browsing Etsy, and the internet in general, for pretty things. I've compiled this little gift guide of a few of my favourite things I've found.


This beautiful feather and fern print above is from The Wild Unknown .

This is an illustration for The Secret Garden, from fellow Middlesex University illustrator Emma Block, who has many lovely pieces for sale in her Etsy shop.

This screenprinted canvas bag, with illustrations of food from each state is from melangerienyc on Etsy. I love this idea, and I love the combination of hand rendered type and illustrations.

This 'Make Your Own Garland' kit, featuring illustrated birds from Kaye Blegvad is a lovely idea, and suitable for any age.

I love the idea of giving out and collecting recipes, and these beautiful letterpressed recipe cards from Brown Parcel Press on Etsy are perfect for doing so.


I've loved a lot of the items from Lush Designs for a while, and I especially love the details of the beetroot on this apron.

NEW RANGE OF GREETINGS CARDS, AVAILABLE SOON!

Last week, Lindsay and Claire of Ballad Of asked 10 illustrators to each create a 'horror-themed' tote bag, that could be used as special goody bags for their 'Little Book of Horrors' launch on 18th November.
I am one of those illustrators, and here's a sneak peek at the tote I've created. It has beeen hand drawn in permanent marker, which was a little scary to do, but I'm so pleased with how it came out.

This week I've been creating new things for my shop re-launch on Monday 3rd October. Above are some little snippets of a 2012 desk calendar I've been designing, based on seasonal fruits and vegetables.