Blombos Cave, Newcastle

Despite the heavy snow happening across the North of England and South of Scotland, I braved the wintry weather to exhibit and sell my products at an event to publicise Blombos Cave in Newcastle this Saturday just past. Blombos Cave are an online jewellery (and paper giftware) emporium which you should check out if you have a chance as they stock a huge range of hand-made necklaces, bracelets, cufflinks and much much more which would be great as a present and even better as a treat for yourself! GraceInk has a selection of the digital cards with various designs for sale on the website too (if you're looking for the connection!)

This is the GraceInk display of my work being admired at the event. I was selling quite a range of textile and paper gifts including my new birdcage notebooks and larger purses to fit a passport in. The wrapping paper which I had printed with the Trinkets design went down a storm along with the gift tags...must be everyone getting ready for Christmas.

My favourite jewellery item from the show had to be these brooches by Compass Alba, which featured parts of out of issue ordnance survey maps backed onto a beautiful beech wood. I even ended up buying one featuring my home and surrounding locations. Check them out here on the website.

Quilts and Crochet

It's been over a month since my last post, how time flies! I've been crazy busy getting ready for two events I'm doing this Christmas, one in Newcastle and one in Wales (more on those later) but I thought I would update you on a little project I helped with back in October. I produced a piece of fabric with my Chinese junks, scribbles and Indian shoes (I had free range to do what I liked which was great fun)! The fabric was used for the back of a crocheted baby blanket which was for a present, the crochet was made by a mother and her daughters, so it became a unique hand-made beautiful present for it's recipient.

Pushing Print Launch

Just wanted to quickly highlight the Pushing Print Event happening throughout Margate this October, which has recently celebrated its launch. I've been sent a few links which you might find interesting publicising the whole event as well as the partner exhibition at Qing (where work by GraceInk inspired by the Orient is being exhibited and sold).

Check out...
http://www.canterburyfestival.co.uk/eventdetail.asp?id=1335
For the advertisement in the Canterbury Festival and information on other local events.

http://www.yourthanet.co.uk/kent-news/Push-some-print-in-Margate_s-old-town-newsinkent40743.aspx?news=local
For an article from the local paper.

http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/launch.aspx?referral=other&refresh=y18CEn0791Wx&PBID=84956776-5fe0-4064-a733-83aabf1dd4b7&skip
For a picture article from the front page of the local paper.

Decor8 Blog

Check out the decor8 blog from the 4th October to read Holly Beckers raving review of the Papa Stour website and all about Rosie Brown, stylist and founder of Papa Stour...my Chinese Junk Table Runner has been featured! (it's a brilliant blog too, well worth a look with some beautiful and inspiring design...check out the day to day features just here)

What a wonderful WASPS weekend

I should be heading for my bed (it's been a very busy weekend), but while I'm still buzzing from the WASPS open studio in Selkirk this weekend I thought I better let anyone that couldn't make it know what they missed out on!!

This was my display (above) within the communal space that is inside the industrial unit that Wasps occupies in Selkirk, to keep it in line with the other artwork being showcased (which is mainly framed artworks) I kept it sleek and simple and tried to display my tea-towels like works of art instead of kitchen linen. I took a few orders for my tea-towels over the event, which is great, and will be busy busy over the next week fulfilling those orders.

Here is a sneek-peek into my working space where all the magic (!) happens, it's looking very clean and tidy which has to be said isn't a common occurence...especially when it comes to the way I work!

This is a picture of the wonderful activities which were on offer for kids and adults alike, everyone went away very sparkly. Overall there was over 500 people through the doors which was an amazing turn out and it was great to see loads of familiar faces (as well as meeting some wonderful new people too). Thank you to all those that could make it along, it's great to know that WASPS is supported throughout the local community! There was great performances from two local folk bands and plenty of yummy cakes too which altogether combined to create a fantastic weekend, I'm now going to sleep for a week!

'Prints of the Orient' Update

The event down in Margate has pretty much only just begun and I'm updating you on it already (I couldn't resist). I thought you might like to see a few images of Qing furniture and stationary mixed up with my illustrative/textile take on the wonderful land that is Hong Kong.

The cushions and tea-towels I have produced for the event are all inspired by a trip I took to Hong Kong at Christmas time in 2006 (it was to see a lovely friend and if she's reading this then she'll know who I'm referring too). It was an absolutely wonderful experience and one which I'm very fond of and have loved capturing onto my textiles over the years.

Other artists at the event include the wood-cuts of Dawn Gray, which even from this picture look impressive so I'm sure they would be a delight up close.

I'm a big fan of mixing old and new concepts and I think Qing Art have really managed in their shop in Margate. Don't forgot it's all part of the Pushing Print Event and I'm sure you have not heard the last from me on the subject just yet!!

Freshly Blended

Just a quick mention that Freshly Blended (a blog dedicated to the creative inspirations of graphic designer Nicole Lecht) blogged about Papa Stour back in July and included my work as one of three designers inspiring her creative lifestyle. To check out the specific blog about me, Libby Day and CLO then click here. To check out Nicole's brilliant blog and it's daily updates then you'll want to click here. Enjoy!