*New Work* Quirky Dolls Update

A few weeks ago I introduced you to my Quirky Dolls, three new brooches I've developed  inspired by how Russian Dolls must feel crammed inside one another. There was Angry Anna, Stroppy Susan and Contented Camilla...check out my Etsy shop for more of their back story and the opportunity to make a purchase. The prints above are part of the same series which I have been busy mixing up new colours for this week and printing the first batch. The first couple of prints are heading off to a Gallery at the end of this month and I will be sure to get them into my Etsy shop in the coming week or so...at the moment the brooches are presented with a GraceInk label however I am in the process of developing some really fun packaging to accompany the little girlies so stay tuned.

Shop until you drop...

Well, I thought I was off to a good start, two posts in a couple of days in January and then suddenly it all goes quiet for a couple of weeks, seems like GraceInk has slipped back into her old ways...but fear not I'm back! I've been keeping myself busy (as per usual) and have been doing a little printing (above) of some butterfly bags. Not yet available on Etsy but they will be very soon, I promise. Just wanted to let you know that my work will soon be available in Leeds at The Bowery Gallery, so keep your eyes peeled for shoes and birdcages roaming around in that area. And I've just sent a new parcel of goodies to The Tayberry Gallery in Perth including my new Quirky Doll Brooches, bringing their own kind of charm to the area!

I'm also getting ever so excited about the BCTF (British Craft Trade Fair) this April,  I'm really looking forward to showing off my textiles to a new audience...I'll be keeping you updated on that over the coming months because it's definately more than getting myself down there for the 4 days it is on...so much to do, so little time. I can't believe it's February already but I guess a lot of people are saying that, where does the time go...

Adventures and Excitement in 2012

You're probably wondering where I've vanished for the past month and a half, apart from it having been Christmas and New Year, I have somewhat disappeared off the blogging radar and I'll tell you why...because running your own business is tough! Anyone that thinks it's all drawing pretty pictures and making new products would sadly be mistaken, there's admin, development, courses, networking, printing, distributing, invoicing, researching, events and exhibitions and that's on a good day! But you know what I LOVE it. I've finally set up a fan page on Facebook, developed these new brooches above, started getting my head in gear for an upcoming trade fair (my first trade event selling GraceInk products...scary), started taking lots of photos of my work for my website and managed to finally start listing more goodies on Etsy...not bad for 2012 so far.

I hope you enjoy GraceInk's advancements over the past month and I'm really looking forward to the exciting adventures that lay ahead in 2012, even if it has taken me half of January to say so. Whatever you're upto creatively I really hope it's a successful year for you guys too...work hard, smile lots, eat pleanty of chocolate and everything will come right in the end!

Christmas Shopping

I have a shop on Etsy, a great place to sell handmade goodies and to sweeten the deal over Christmas I'm offering free shipping within the UK...want to take up this offer then you'll need the coupon code GRACEINKCHRISTMAS11. I'm adding pieces all the time, if there's something you want to buy which is missing, please get in touch and I'll try and list it as soon as possible!

Birdcage Tape

The newest designer item to GraceInk's collection is this fantastic birdcage tape, use it for wrapping your Christmas pressies in style, sending parcels to the far flung corners of the world, making notecards and gift tags or for jazzing up anything that's just boring! Want to buy a roll then check out my Etsy Shop where I currently have it for sale. I'll be stocking the shop with lots of goodies over the Christmas period so be sure to make your purchases when I do...

Over the coming weeks and months I'll be posting lots of different ideas for the tape...have an idea then why not leave a comment and I'll give it a go!