Thursday 29 June 2017

Etsy shop finds...a chat with Jessica Hogarth

Todays etsy interview is with the lovely Jessica Hogarth.
I was fortunate enough to meet Jess whilst we were both in NYC recently for Surtex,
such a lovely gal!

Jess lives in beautiful Whitby, creating gorgeous pieces of art that go on a multitude of products; homeware, greeting cards, art prints, wallpaper and many more.
With such a distinctive, individual style to her work, you may have spotted her coastal inspired designs in Oliver Bonas, Paperchase or John Lewis, amongst others.

Jess is one busy lady; a greeting card publisher, NOTHS and etsy shop owner
as well as taking on freelance work.
Pheweee.. exhausted just reading that right?

So, lets get to know a bit about Jess shall we...


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

Art wan’t my focus at school at all - I was musical and sporty and my extra curricular actives focused around this. 
I did do an A level in Fine Art but I hadn’t considered an artistic career. 
After doing a semester studying classical music at Leeds University I left, and reapplied for Printed Textiles and Surface Pattern Design at Leeds College of Art, which is where I spent a very happy three years gaining my degree and honing my skills so I was ready for a job in the design industry. 
I was fortunate to get a job in a design studio immediately after graduating but after 8 months I left, wanting to work for myself and launch a small product range alongside designing on a freelance basis. 
I officially launched at the British Craft Trade Fair in April 2012 and I am thrilled that my business has grown from there. 
After starting my business from my bedroom at my parents house, moving to a purpose built studio in the garden of their cottage and then to a business centre in Whitby, where I now have two offices, I am really happy with how the business has progressed. 
It has been hard work keeping all of the plates spinning, fulfilling online shop orders, launching new work to the wholesale market on cards and textiles, and also working on freelance projects but I wouldn’t have it any other way. 


2. Tell us about a typical day for you…

Is there a typical day when you’re self employed?! 
I come in to the studio in the morning, but I am a bit of a night owl so the time I start work depends on how late I was up the night before! 
I like to be really organised with emailing and accounts so some of my day is always taken up with admin type tasks. 
I also spend a fair amount of time on Instagram – it’s addictive! 
There always seems to be something to prepare for. 
I was recently in New York for Surtex, and the entire month running up to that was spent preparing my portfolio, the booth layout and promotional materials for that. 
Since I have been home I have been organising mail-outs to my wholesale stockists and of course following up leads from the show. 
I have been finding more time to design this year, which is obviously what I should be doing most of the time, but running a creative business is so much more than that.


3. What books/ magazines are you currently reading?

 I recently purchased Beth Kempton’s book ‘Freedom Seeker’ and I have just started reading it. 
Being a card publisher, I enjoy reading the greeting card mags – Progressive Greetings and Greetings Today. 
I have also been enjoying reading the chapters of House of Cards, by Sarah Hamilton. 
I was thrilled to be asked to be the digital illustration contributor to the book, and I have my own chapter, giving people step-by-step instructions on how to take a sketch to a final design, for digital print. 
The other chapters cover all kinds of processes from screen print to paper cutting, and I have been enjoying reading about other people’s studio spaces, as well as the history of greeting cards!


4. Who are your design heroes and what inspires you?

My design hero has got to be Anna Bond of Rifle Paper Co. Her artwork and eye for colour is inspirational. I am also a huge fan of everything that Marimekko produces. I’m a fan of anything Scandinavian, and this brand is no exception. It would be a dream to create something for them. I love unusual colour palettes and seeing other people’s beautiful design work also inspires me to want to do better. 


5. Can you give us an insight into your creative process?

All of my designs begin as black pen illustrations, before I scan them and colour the art on Illustrator. 
Sometimes I use coloured pens and pencils and for fun, when I’m sketching or playing with different ideas, but only black pen illustrations make it to the computer for artwork development. 


6. Where do you work? Describe your studio/work area...

I have two studios in Whitby, in a local business centre. One studio is messy and holds all of my stock, and the second one is smaller and where I spend most of my time. 
I have pinboards up on the walls with my recent work on, and I’m always playing music via Spotify in the background. 
It has white walls and some nice white muslin curtains made for me by my lovely mum – who also works for me! 
These allow the room to still feel light, but stops the sunlight blasting in and reflecting back off my mac screen!


7. In three words, describe your work... 

Naïve, nostalgic, colourful.


8. What are your big loves?

My friends & family, cats (two in particular), sunsets by the coast, Paris, and chocolate, lots of chocolate!


9. What’s the most rewarding thing about being a designer/illustrator?

I feel very lucky that I get to be creative for my job. 
It’s still as exciting today seeing my work for sale on products online and in shops as it was when I went self employed back in 2011. 
I love being able to, within reason, work to my own schedule, and collaborating with different people and companies keeps variety, which I crave.


10. What's your guilty pleasure?

Irn Bru!


11. Why do you like being an illustrator/designer? 
(in 10 words or less)

The creative industry is so friendly, I love being social!  


12. What’s the most popular item for sale in your etsy shop?

The most popular item in my Etsy shop is my Coastal Cottages tote bag. 
This print features on a number of products, but the tote bag is by far a favourite with my customers. 


And here's the beautiful studio space where Jess works...

 (all images above copyright of Jessica Hogarth)


A big thank you to Jess for giving us an insight into her world, and if you want to follow her goings on, click below...


**Jess has very kindly created a special code for you lovely readers!**
**Just enter 'JHLOVEPRINT' for 10% off orders placed in her etsy shop**


Happy days!

x x x
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Tuesday 27 June 2017

A colourful home...

Ooooh some colourful, lovely, yumminess to brighten your day, and home!



1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

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Thursday 22 June 2017

Creative Quarters... Hannah Rampley

The next designer to be featured in Creative Quarters is Hannah Rampley.

Hannah Rampley is a freelance textile designer and illustrator currently based in Edinburgh. 
Hannah graduated with a First Class Honours from Leeds College of Art in 2013 in Printed Textiles and Surface Pattern design, and has since been working in the industry designing both in-house and freelance. 

Hannah's work is often inspired by patterns and shape found within natural objects (specifically foiliage and fruits) and her most recent project entitled 'Living Garden' has been looking at how access to nature can improve positive wellbeing in people. 
The project looks at green areas within cities focusing on hidden areas of greenery and city botanical gardens and looking at the importance of bringing more natural objects into people's often busy, stressful lives. 
The project aims to bring beautiful, colourful foliage inspired textiles into people homes and lives.

Hannahs' work is often screen printed by hand from her studio at Edinburgh College of Art where she is currently working as an artist in residence. 
Alongside screen printing, Hannah draws, paints and collages to create her botanical designs.

Since graduating Hannah has worked on a wide variety of projects internationally from hand painting wall murals in restaurants and shops, to designing food packaging and adverts for billboard campaigns. 
Hannah has worked with many clients such as Anthropologie, Save the Children, Fortnum & Mason, Mama's and Papa's and the British Museum.

You can view more of Hannah's work on her website at www.hannahrampley.com or see her new work as it happens on instagram @hannahrampley 

Hannah also sells prints and products in her etsy shop- https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/HannahRampley


- - - - - - - - - - - - 


I hope you've enjoyed reading a little about Hannah,
and seeing a selection of her work.

To get in touch with her, please visit her website for details.


If you missed the last Creative Quarters post featuring Angela Nickeas, you can read it here.

And don't forget, if you'd like to be featured, 
please send examples of your work with links to website portfolios, 
and some info about you and your background, etc... 
to Louise at loveprintstudio@live.com 
Look forward to hearing from you!

x x x

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Tuesday 20 June 2017

Birmingham Seasonal Market...

We had a lovely afternoon at the Birmingham Seasonal Market last weekend.
Held at The Bond Company in Digbeth, Birmingham, it houses a great selection of street food producers and bakers, alongside wonderful artists, makers and vintage stalls selling their wares.

Jam vs Custard a doughnut scientist. 
I don't think I need to say much, just scroll down...
Eton Mess doughnuts, Jaffa Cake doughnuts...I mean seriously.

We had THE most amazing burger from OPM.
So good in fact, getting a photo of it was completely out of the question as it was devoured in seconds.
And not content with one lunch, hubby decided to have two, 
and tried the noodles from Buddha Belly
Well, it was a festival of food and all things yummy, would've been rude not to.

Leanne Ball of Rolling Roses was exhibiting her beautiful ceramic pieces; jewellery, spoons, trinket dishes and vases, and so too was Kitty & Min with their collection of homeware and accessories.

How brave is the wren were also there. A lovely travelling children's bookshop that pitched up for the day in their gorgeous little caravan stocked up with beautifully crafted illustrated picture books.

Here are a few pics from the day...


(photos above copyright of louise/ loveprintstudioblog)

x x x



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Friday 16 June 2017

Colour crush...

Well I hope you've enjoyed another week of celebrating lovely colour combinations here on the blog.
We're finishing the week off with a corker of a colour palette...
Nice bold primary brights, yum.
Happy Friday everyone!


(image credits clockwise from top left)

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

x x x

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Thursday 15 June 2017

Mini colour crush...

Todays mini colour crush features the wonderful work of Ophelia Pang.


x x x
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Wednesday 14 June 2017

Colour crush...

Half way through this second colour crush week and celebrating all things lemony and lovely!


(image credits clockwise from top left)

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

x x x

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Tuesday 13 June 2017

Mini colour crush...

Beautiful artwork and colours by Joanne Ho in todays mini colour crush post...


x x x

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Monday 12 June 2017

Another colour crush week!

And so begins another week of colour crush posts!
All of the posts this week will be solely dedicated to lovely colour combinations.
Kicking off with this li'l beaut...


(image credits clockwise from top left)

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

x x x

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Thursday 8 June 2017

Five creatives to follow on instagram...

If you enjoy following along with design, illustration and general creative folk on instagram,
be sure to check out these five accounts and hit 'follow'!




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Tuesday 6 June 2017

Inspired by... Susie Hammer

I just love Susie Hammers work. It's just fun fun fun all the way!
Based in Madrid, but originally from Poland, Susie is a freelance illustrator and graphic artist.
Creating the cutest designs using simple shapes and forms in bright, happy colours, they're sure to put a smile on your face.

You can follow Susie on instagram here
And visit her website here.












(all images above copyright of Susie Hammer)

x x x
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Friday 2 June 2017

Typography Friday!

It's Friday...time for a bit of typography inspiration!

Your face is glorious by Maddy NYE for designlovefest
Oh, ok. But by Jorge Lawerta
It is ok to take a break by Graphis
Say yeah by Maddy NYE for designlovefest


x x x

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