Friday 27 November 2015

Etsy shop find...a chat with Julia Staite!

This months etsy interview sees me chatting with Julia Staite.
I recently came across her etsy shop and loved it straight away. 
Julia is an illustrator turned designer/maker, and using collage, pen, paint and pencil, she creates whimsical artwork which she then uses to make soft toys, prints, cards, cushions and other items to sell in her etsy shop.

So, have a scroll down and lets get to know Julia and her beautiful artwork...


1. Can you tell us a bit about your background...

I did my degree in illustration and worked as a freelance illustrator after graduation until my first daughter was born.  
While taking some time off with her I started making things which developed into products so I set up an Etsy shop!  
I found it a much more flexible way of working and being at home with my daughter. 
Its now the main part of my work, although I do still do some freelance design and illustration work - such as my craft project page in preschool magazine DOT.

2. Describe a typical day for you…
Well my youngest daughter is only 3 and only does two mornings at nursery so I have to work around her most of the time!  
As a result I probably don't have an obvious routine - I hop about from one job to another depending on whatever is most urgent, in-between jigsaw puzzles and colouring in.  
When the girls are in bed I get to sit down and work in peace for a few hours!  
I usually only work on new designs in the evening when there are no distractions!  

3. Can you give us an insight into your creative process?
All my designs start as pencil drawings - I have to work things out on paper rather than the computer.  
When I am working on designs to print onto fabric I then digitally trace and colour them.  My favourite bit is turning the fabric into products - seeing the idea in my head become a real thing!

4. What’s the most rewarding thing about being a illustrator turned designer-maker?
I get to create every day!  
And I get to make things that other people like enough to buy for their children.


 5. What made you decide to open an etsy shop and when? And whats been your most popular item sold in that time?

I decided to open an Etsy shop as I was designing and making things any way and thought earning some money from it would be a bonus!  
That was in 2011 and things have changed a lot since then as the business has grown.  Overall my most popular item has probably been the personalised alphabet blocks as they were one of my first products but these days the softies are most popular.

6. Have you always been interested in designing children’s products?
My illustration style has always had a leaning towards the children's market but it wasn't until I became a parent myself that I became interested in designing for children.

7. What are you currently passionate about/ fascinated by and how is it inspiring your work?
I think inventing characters has always been my main passion, and my children are my main inspiration - and chief product testers!

8. What books/ magazines are currently on your coffee table?
I only wish I had time to read a book or magazine!  
I do like to flick through Mollie Makes when I get the chance! 

9. What art do you have on your wall?
Surprisingly little, its mostly photos of the kids! 
We do have two lovely early 20th century Japanese wood block prints on the living room wall though which I will never get bored of. 

10. What are your favourite books from your childhood?
Enid Blyton mostly!  
The Faraway Tree and The Wishing Chair especially!


11. How would you describe your designs?
Unique, whimsical and fun!


12. The best things in life
1. My family (of course)
2. A full nights sleep
3. Drawing
4. Sunshine
5. Coconut 

Its always nice to see the work spaces of designers, and Julia very kindly sent over some snaps of hers...





Thanks to Julia for being part of the etsy interviews.
You can follow her here:


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Wednesday 25 November 2015

Take four...feeling the love for sequins!

It gets to around this time of year and my inner magpie comes out in full force.
Oh yeah... sparkles, sequins, glitter.. the lot.
Here are four ways to wear them.



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Monday 23 November 2015

Colour crush...

I thought we'd start the week off with a calming colour crush post, 
aaaah...ease into Monday...



(clockwise from top left)

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

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Friday 20 November 2015

Anthropologie 'Aurora'...

I was having a little browse of the Anthropologie website recently, and noticed a new collection of kitchenware that is absolutely gorgeous... 'Aurora'.
There are measuring cups, a muffin pan, pie dish, rolling pin, spoons and other items available in the range.

Those colours...the gold tipped cups...that beautiful embossed pattern, yum!

I think some of these little beauties will be quickly making their way onto my wish list to Santa!








(all images above from www.anthropologie.com)

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Wednesday 18 November 2015

Mini colour crush...

Todays mini colour crush post features the very beautiful artwork of Angela Moulton.
How amazing are these colours!?


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Monday 16 November 2015

Little spaces...mellow yellow

More inspirational little spaces today.
This time it's clean and simple with a monochrome palette and pops of bright yellow.
I love the subtle little polka dot wall feature and that fab bold bear artwork by Paper & Pickles, gorgeous!


1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

x x x

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Friday 13 November 2015

Take four...a winter wardrobe

Ooh its cold out there!
And today, its wet, grey and windy with it... rubbish.
As always, there is some lovely inspiration to be found on pinterest and these are four of my current favourites for a nice wintery wardrobe.

Wrap up warm folks!



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Wednesday 11 November 2015

Colour crush...

A lovely mid week colour crush for you today...
Aren't these just lovely colours together?!


(clockwise from top left)

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

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Monday 9 November 2015

Calling all lovers of children's books...

I've come across some lovely instagram accounts recently sharing snippets from the wonderful world of children's books.
Being an designer/illustrator with a huge interest in the younger end of the market, I've always loved kids books and adore the beautiful illustrations.
So, if you're like me and share a passion for little ones reading material as much as they do, then here are a few instagram accounts you might want to take a gander at...


Book lover and mother. Here I share old and new favourites.


Sharing children's books we love. Explorations at our local library.


A picture book makers obsession with picture books.


Our goal is to nurture lifelong readers, writers and critical thinkers...


Reading, the most important thing you can do with your children.
Curating beautiful, meaningful books to inspire young readers.


Sharing my love for beautifully illustrated children's books.

x x x









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Friday 6 November 2015

Something for the weekend...painting terracotta pots...

I can never seem to find plant pots in really nice colours, and since my succulent obsession began I've been in need of a few more pots than normal.
So after an unsuccessful shopping trip to find some, I decided to just bloomin' well do my own!
You don't need much equipment and you can pick whatever colours you want, happy days!

Equipment:
Terracotta pots
Newspaper or an old dust sheet/towel you don't mind ruining
Surface primer (I used this one from Amazon)
Paint (I used the sample pots you can buy from DIY shops, but acrylic paint is fine too)
Paintbrushes/foam brushes (I tried both and found a normal paintbrush worked best but it depends on what you prefer)


After removing any stickers, give the pots a wash and scrub. 
Make sure they're clean and free of any dirt. 
Once dry, take your pots outside or put them in a well ventilated area ready to spray with surface primer.
I lay mine out on an old dust sheet in the garden.


I used a white primer but you can find clear or different colours depending on what you want the end result to be.
(Follow directions on the particular primer you're using) 
I gave them two light sprays to the outsides and they were ready for their paint colours


Yummy colours!


I painted some all over, others with strips of colour, did some mark making on a couple (using a black sharpie pen), painted gold shapes on another, (using washi tape to to mask out areas) do whatever takes your fancy...


Make sure you paint the inside of the pot around 1cm/1.5cm down from the top so you don't see the terracotta colour once you've potted your plants and filled them with soil.
Leaving the insides unpainted will help keep the natural porosity of the terracotta, allowing the plants to breath once potted.


And here they are!

(all photos in this post copyright of louise / loveprintstudio)

x x x




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Wednesday 4 November 2015

Three lovely things...

Three lovely things for your Wednesday...

Such a fab idea with these (1) DIY Alphabet crayon favours



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Monday 2 November 2015

Things that made me happy in October...

Well, thats it, another month gone.
I do like October though, those colours!
The boy and I had a week off together this month, and although we only pottered about,
it was nice just to have some time out.
We spent the majority of it on walks with Alfie, eating out, and gasping at the pretty succulent and cacti displays in the local garden centre (well, I did anyway, not so much for the boys)

Here are a few things I was feeling the love for in October...


Enjoying...
autumnal walks and all of those ombre trees!
the nights drawing in and the clocks going back...an extra hour in bed

Feasted on...
this overnight bircher muesli with pears (well, apples actually)
this blueberry coconut crisp
these easy salmon and potato foil packets
this rye soda bread
this breakfast banana split
this avocado, tomato and sliced egg open sandwich
this teriyaki chicken with vegetables

Listened to...
Lemar - Lorde - Hurts - Kat Edmonson

Loving...
these colours
my new House Doctor pillar lantern
the idea of this jam...must try soon

Buying...
a new dining table, chairs and gorgeous bench... one very happy lady!
Ooh, and a shed (one for the boy!)
new books for the shelf

Wanting...
this jacket
all of these 

Crushing on...
these colours!

Crafting...
with these little pots, ready for their succulent babies!

Sharing...
this lovely 2016 calendar

Reading...
The loveliest chocolate shop in Paris by Jenny Colgan
Home by Carson Ellis (well, more like gazing in awe at each and every beautiful page)

Watching...
The Woman in Black 'Angel of Death'
Third Person
No Good Deed

Inspired by...
this fabulous display

Following...
this pinterest account
this instagram user

Favourite thing that happened...
a fabulous 70th birthday party
and some much needed time spent with my boys

So, that was a round up of my month,
how was yours?


x x x
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