felt tips ain't just for kids!

I've been enjoying the triangle trend of late and I'm seeing more and more geometric patterns out and about. I'm generally not one for super slick, clean lines so I decided to put my own spin on the idea. Here are the patterned notebooks I created using a fine liner and an array of felt tips. Who said felt tips are just for kids? It was quite liberating to hand draw all of the patterns with no help from a computer at any stage and it definitely gives them a bit of personality.

kiss kiss

It was my lovely friend Heather's Bridal shower last weekend. I say that for want of a better phrase but we certainly did shower her with many, many cakes. I decided to make these miniature lemon cupcakes for the occasion. I adapted this recipe but as always added a bit more lemon zest than the recipe said. When it came to spooning the mixture into the tin I added a little dollop of lemon curd to give a gooey centre. I'm a bit of a sucker for any food in miniature at the moment. Is it weird finding food cute? If so, I'm weird.

print workshop


This wonderful creation of a book is by Yellow Owl Workshop and is full of all sorts of printing ideas. There are templates for each project and many of the ideas don’t require extensive equipment. Below are just a few of the techniques it covers. Nick bought me this for my birthday and I can’t wait to find some time to get stuck in and try them out. If you love print I definitely recommend this book finds a home on your bookshelf.Oh how I miss printing! My degree was in Surface Pattern Design and Printed Textiles and unsurprisingly that involved a fair amount of print. I some what took for granted the access I had to printing facilities at uni and now frequently wish I could be back there without my lazy student attitude. I especially miss screen printing as I’ve always been of the opinion that everything looks better when it’s screen printed. Don’t argue, it’s true. So you can imagine how excited I was when I got a StencilPro printing set all the way from America for my birthday, courtesy of my very generous in-laws. It’s essentially the same as screen printing but you use StencilPro sheets instead of silk screens, sunlight instead of a bulb to expose it and water instead of nasty chemicals. So I’m eagerly awaiting a free weekend to have a go. I’ve already been planning lots of lovely projects in my head but as usual I’m about 6 months ahead of myself!




forever and ever

Nick and I have received quite a few wedding invitations this year but I have to say this was our very favourite! I work with Claire and knew that her wedding stationary would be lovely. Not only is she a trained illustrator but her 'husband to be' is a graphic designer. That's a whole lot of creative blood in one partnership! I love how both of their styles and strengths have combined to form this gorgeous stationary. I'm very much looking forward to the big day in picturesque Henley-On-Thames.

back to school

Aaah exercise books take me back to a time when I was about half my current height and grappling with how to join my handwriting. I loved that feeling of starting a new workbook at the beginning of a term, always with the intention that everything that went inside would be neat and beautiful (it never was by the 2nd week of term). Now exercise books seem to hold a nostalgic charm and always grab my eye in shops so I decided to design and make my own. I combined and edited old images, borders and fonts to make these four book designs, which you can download for free here. I printed the covers onto flecked or sugar paper and the insides onto card. Then I spray mounted the two sides together and used a long armed stapler to fix the paper inside. Very simple really. 

true love

My Sister in Law asked me to use 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7 as the basis of a poster for her and so I of course obliged. I love the Bible and I love typography so it was a win win!

oh i do like to be beside the seaside...

I recently celebrated my 25th Birthday. I had such a smiley weekend and was 100% spoilt on the present front. Nick also took me for a day trip to Brighton, a place I always love visiting. It's a town full of creativity and when the sun's shining it's so nice to be by the sea. There's so many cute little eateries and cake shops and rows of artists displaying their work along the sea front. I thoroughly enjoyed the antiques warehouse we found just off the Lanes. It was like a treasure trove that seemed to go on and on and on. Accidental discoveries are often the best. Here's our trip in Instagrams... 
Nick also made me the most delicious Birthday cake I've ever had the pleasure of eating. Anyone who knows me will be aware that I think peanut butter chocolate is kind of a big deal. Nick decided to go one better and make me a peanut butter chocolate cheesecake! ...a genius idea which outdid any cheesecake I've ever made. He can make dessert from now on.