Mid week giggles...

(image above copyright of louise/ loveprintstudio)

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Little spaces...starry starry night

Time for a Little Spaces post today I think.

Last time we had some inspiration for a lovely whimsical girls room, so this ones for the boys!

Starry starry night...

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On my bookshelf...The Voyage

'The Voyage' is written by Veronica Salinas and features the wonderful illustrations of Camilla Engman.

It's the story of a little duck who finds himself lost in a strange place surrounded by creatures he can't understand, until he comes across a creature he does recognise, and everything is going to be ok!

A lovely little story about finding yourself and how important it is to be who you are.

It is available to buy here and here.

Even the end pages are yummy!

(photos above taken by me for use on loveprintstudio blog)

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This & That...

This fabulous gilded pretzel bottle opener from Anthropologie

That super cute DIY pretzel pillow from Studio DIY blog

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Colour crush...

A mid week colour crush with some gorgeous, deep autumnal tones...

(image credits clockwise from top left)

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Monday motivation...

(image above copyright of louise/ loveprintstudio blog)

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Colour crush...

Lovely fresh, icy menthol tones in todays colour crush...

That pop of lilacy pinks with the lime and blue is just yum!

(image credits clockwise from top left)

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Mid week giggles...

(image above copyright of louise/loveprintstudio)

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Creative Quarters...Abbey Costello

The next designer to be featured in Creative Quarters is Abbey Costello...

Abbey Costello is a Staffordshire based Textile Designer/Maker who has a passion for abstract bold textiles pieces, working under her studio name Abbey Costello Designs.

Abbey has had a passion for textiles and collage since school, where she made large canvas collage pieces which were stitched into. She took this mixed media theme all the way through college and eventually through to university.

She has a BA (Hons) degree in Textile Surfaces, her degree gave her to opportunity to develop her textured collages into digitally printed placement prints. Shape and texture are the most important elements of her work, taking inspiration from layers of texture found in worn out buildings and organic shapes. 

Abbey works from her studio at home in Staffordshire, where she is currently developing her first homeware collection. 

All of her designs begin with heavily dyed and textured papers, which are layered and used to make still life compositions and collages with a strong focus on colour, shape and texture. 

Although her work begins in a very hand drawn and expressive way, digital processes are used to tweak and bring together the final compositions, 

which are then digitally printed in the UK.

Whilst at university Abbey won a two-week placement with Hallmark cards with a commercial but painterly themed brief, as well as a winning degree show sponsorship with Be Fab Be Creative.

Abbey is passionate about her future design business hopes to launch towards the end of the year. 

She loves the versatility of surface pattern design and is excited to see where this path takes her. 

As well as launching her own collection she’d love to collaborate with brands and also work on some more bespoke pieces.

She loves sitting down with a massive pile of beautiful papers and seeing what happens!

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

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

*UPDATED*
Abbeys new website can be found here...
www.abbeycostellodesign.co.uk

If you missed the last Creative Quarters post featuring Alice Dart, 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!

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This & that...

It's Halloween weekend!

Here are a couple of 'spooktacular' themed images for todays This & That post...

This...selection of halloween macarons

That... little gathering of scary, yet cute painted pumpkins

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Etsy shop find...a chat with Katie Wilson!

This months etsy interview is with Katie Wilson whose shop 'In my backyard' is full of yummy artworks for you to purchase as art prints, cards, handprinted fabrics and even downloadable files.

Katie is an illustrator based in New Zealand and finds a lot of her inspiration in nature, and this shows in her whimsical illustrations where you can find beautiful birds, leaping rabbits, flowers and butterflies. 

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

Grab your cuppa!

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

I studied graphic design and illustration at Christchurch Polytechnic in New Zealand. 

I worked for a few years as a graphic designer, and then worked in museums for a bit. 

I finally returned to illustration about three years ago, slowly building my portfolio and developing my illustration style whilst cutting down the hours I worked at my day job. 

I managed to go full time last year - and I haven’t looked back!

2. What books/ magazines are you currently reading/browsing?

I always love looking at Uppercase Magazine, Frankie and ExtraCurricular.

 As for books, I’ve just finished reading The Luminaries by by Eleanor Catton. 

It is set in Hokitika - a gold rush town on the west coast of New Zealand back in the 1860s. I totally recommend it.

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

My top three art and design heroes are Cy Twombly, William Morris and Aubrey Beardsley. 

I’m inspired by the outside world and need to get out into nature on a regular basis.

4. Tell us about a typical day for you…

I generally get up early, around 6 and start work.

 It is my most productive time, so I try and make the most of it. I paint and draw for a few hours, and then often potter around in my veggie garden for a bit. 

Then it is back to work. 

I stop for snacks and to take the dog for a walk. 

If I have lots of client work on I sometimes work late into the night, but I try not to do that too often. 

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

Lots of my ideas come from doodling in my sketchbook and I try to set aside time everyday for working on personal work. 

I often sketch rough ideas out and choose one or two to take to finished art. 

I sometimes draw something over and over until I am happy with it. 

6. When did you open your etsy shop and how did you decide on the name ‘In my backyard’?

I’ve had an Etsy shop on and off since 2006. 

I used to make screen printed fabric, scarves and accessories but for a couple of years now I have focussed on selling prints and other illustrated goodies. 

I chose the name In my backyard as this is where I find most of the inspiration for the things I make.

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

Great feedback from clients and happy customers.  

8. Do you have a favourite book/s from your childhood?

Wind in the Willows and A Secret Garden are two of my favourites

9. Whats your guilty pleasure?

Chocolate! And coffee.

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

I work from home and share a workspace with my partner. 

He gets a small corner of the room and I have my paints, sketchbooks, packing supplies and stock spread out all over the rest of it!

11. What makes you laugh?

My partner and my animals. They are all very silly!

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

My Indigo Birds print is probably the most popular, followed by Run Rabbit. My personal favourite is my Neighbourhood print, and also my Village notepads.

You can follow Katies goings on on various social media here...

etsy | website | twitter | instagram | facebook | blog 

Thanks to Katie for sharing her world with us!

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Take Four...crafty pumpkins!

It's Halloween very soon and there have been lots of lovely ideas for crafting with pumpkins doing the rounds on pinterest. 

Here are a few of my favourites...

Pastel pumpkin balloons (top left)

DIY Pun-kins (top right)

DIY marbled pumpkins (bottom right)

Yarn covered pumpkins (bottom left)

(image credits clockwise from top left)

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Monday moodboard...Autumn days

I love autumn and everything it brings with it.

There's something about those darker, cozy nights...fire on, snuggly socks and jumpers and chilly walks with the boys surrounded by ombre leaves, followed by a big bowl of tomato soup and crusty bread to warm up..mmmm

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Colour crush...

Loving these dusky pink and lilac tones with greys, yum!

(image credits clockwise from top left)

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Take Four...

A take four post today with some fab ideas for party drinks and 'adult' jellies, (no ice-cream in sight).

Seriously though, those gummy bears!

Rose wine gummy bears (top right)

White peach, rose and elderflower jelly (top right)

Prosecco cocktails (bottom left)

Pink lemonade jello shots (bottom right)

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Little spaces...whimsy

Its been a while since we had a 'Little Spaces' post on the blog, so today I thought I'd share a lovely girls bedroom moodboard.

Not overly 'pretty pink' and traditionally girly but soft pastel hues and a whimsical, make believe feel.

And who wouldn't want a dress up mask like that!

And those pom poms!

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Colour crush...

Well, it's officially Autumn now...bring on the dark nights, cozy socks and hot chocolate!
Here's a colour crush to get you in the mood...

(image credits clockwise from top left)

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

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Monday motivation...

A little motivation is sometimes required on a Monday, to get through the week...

(image above copyright of louise/loveprintstudio blog)

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Etsy shop find...a chat with Naomi Wilkinson

Todays etsy interview is with Bristol based illustrator Naomi Wilkinson.

You can buy her gorgeous illustrations in her etsy shop as art prints.

Sunbathers, tropical birds, jungle animals and mermaids are just a few of the things you can expect to find, so head on over and have a looksie.

But don't rush over there just yet...

Get to know the illustrator herself here first. Grab that cuppa!

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

I'm from a little Victorian seaside town just outside of Bristol which was very pretty but quite dull. 
When I was 21 after a couple of years figuring out what area of art I wanted to work in whilst I worked in a pie shop I decided on studying illustration at UWE . 
I've always been into illustration and it seemed like the area of art/design which wasn't too limited. 
With Illustration you could work in any medium and illustration crosses paths with so many different areas of design ( fashion, animation, puppetry, comics, architectural, packaging design etc) which was really appealing to me.

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

I really love mid century designers and Illustrators like Alain Gree, Alexander Girard, Mary Blair and Nathalie Parain. 

I'm always really drawn to vintage graphic design and packaging design too.

3. Tell us about a typical day for you...

On a ''work day'' I get up early with my daughter and have breakfast and spend time with her till its time for her to go to my mums whilst I work. 

Then I make coffee, make lists ( I'm well into bullet journalling) put on a podcast/audio book and work on which ever brief i have on the go, eat lunch at my desk till its time to stop and make dinner, then we eat as a family and put Polly to bed and we either carry on working if we have lots of jobs or me and my partner sit and drink a beer and watch documentaries or a tv series like mad men until we realise one of us will have to get up at 6am with our little scamp.

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

Well if i have time I like to let the brief stew a bit before getting stuck in as thats when you can have a eureka moment. 
Then I make very very rough (like seriously rough) sketches which are then made into clearer roughs, those are sent off to the client and once I have feedback I play around with colour palettes and then get stuck into creating the final.

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

I work at a little yellow formica table in our bedroom.
I did try having a studio but it was gloomy and I like being able to come back to my desk without leaving the house.
It also means I have instant access to our fridge for snacks and the dog for cuddles.

6. What art do you have on your wall?

I don't have much as we live in a rented house but I don't have any of my own work on the walls as I'm too self critical.

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

I would say its joyful, simple and fun.

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

I love the variety of work that comes my way and I enjoy my job so much that 80% of the time it just doesn't feel like work. 

There are down sides ( its quite solitary and not very steady) but I love most things about it. 

9. What makes you laugh?

My dog, my partner, my daughter and the Adam Buxton podcast 

(especially the most recent one with Louis Theroux)

10. What’s the most popular piece of artwork for sale in your etsy shop? 
And your personal favourite?

I think its the tiger and accordionist print which I actually did whilst I was in my final year at uni! 

My favourite is probably my menagerie print.

11. Top 5 favourite things in life...

Aside from the humans in my life I would say it is

1. My dog Lenny

2. David Bowie's music

3. Hot coffee

4. Cold beer 

5. Books

12. What are you working on currently? 
And any big plans for the coming year?

I'm working on a couple of editorial pieces, a  design which will be used in packaging and a  very exciting project which I don't want to talk about for fear of jinxing it!

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A big thanks to Naomi for sharing her world with us.

You can follow her here...

twitter | blog | instagram | website | etsy

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