New Batboy Cards

We have a new designer and I am IN LOVE with his rather humorous batman inspired cards. You can shop all these cards here!

Weekly Round Up

*The day finally came where I could visit my boyfriend Andrew down in England. He is currently doing his RAF basic training so I flew down on Friday and stayed there 2 nights. His base is RAF Halton which is just outside London in a place called Aylesbury. We stayed in a Premier Inn in Tring which is a short taxi ride away. It was amazing to see him, after 6 weeks of being apart it was ace to see his face again! We chilled on the Friday night, visited Aylesbury on the Saturday and walked around Tring on the Sunday. We had to eat in the hotel room or at cafes because we couldn't go anywhere near the base that served alcohol, strict rules I was told! There was lovely pubs in Tring, one had a beer garden so we where so gutted but best not to break the rules! Our little Markies hotel picnic was so good, we had to spread the butter on the bread with a plastic fork though lol.  It went far too quick, but next time I see him will be in 3 weeks for his graduation parade *proud girlfriend* :)

*That's my stall at the March Hare Market last Saturday. It was an ace day so busy and sold lots of goodies. I will be going to it every month so it's definitely worth a visit if you live in Aberdeen or nearabouts. The next one is Saturday 25th May. 

*I spent a good 45 minutes browsing Etsy for washi tape, I love the stuff, one day I want to visit a shop just full of washi tape! Where do these shops exist I wonder....probs Japan...casual trip to Japan just for washi tape lol. I ended up buying this trio of washi tape. Been using it on my parcels it's so cute!

*My notonthehighstreet shop is going so well, my little owl earrings are the most popular item by far as they have been featured here :) 

*And lastly get 15% OFF EVERYTHING in Ginger Pickle-just type the code 'bankhols15' at the checkout. It ends tomorrow peeps!  

My print samples arrived!

As some of you may know I have been working on some illustrations these past few months, and I bought a new scanner so I could digitally edit my illustrations and get them made into prints! It was worth the £80 investment as it scans pretty good, I bought this Epson  one.  Here are some pictures of a few (but not all) of the prints!

I ordered some samples from Ripe Digital, I would highly recommend this company, they know what they are doing and are so helpful as well. Rik even choose the paper that would best suit the prints, and it's gorgeous, even shimmery almost! I might redo some of the photographs, it's so hard to capture what the paper is like in a photograph, and especially when the weather is a bit dull it just looks so dark even when I edit them...i'll redo it when the sun is out . I had a sample sale over on Facebook on Sunday, all sold but the little Joy print which is still available to buy. I have ordered 3 of each print so I will be uploading them to the website soon. They will be available to buy at £12.00 each.

10 Questions to Ask...The Aviary

1. Tell me about your creative business

The Aviary is a small, UK-based, independent design business. We create delicate and intricate illustrated homewares, accessories and gift items for mindful, ethical and stylish consumers, providing sensitive and meaningful products that last more than a season. 

Currently, we’re a team of two creative graduates (unless you count the cats!) I am an illustrator, maker and surface pattern designer, working full time on the business, creating new products, and taking care of the day-to-day admin. Ben works for The Aviary part time, primarily helping with technical issues in the studio and workshop

2. Describe your work in 3 words.

Detailed, Decorative and Functional. 

3. What’s your favourite pieces you’ve ever made? 

Ooh. this is a tough one! But I think it has to be the illustrated antique lens pendants. They combine a love of drawing, printing and treasure hunting! They’re probably one of the most labour-intensive pieces to make, but also the most rewarding. 

4. What’s your favourite food?

Aside from chocolate? Roast vegetable lasagna, or butternut squash, bell pepper and sage ravioli. Basically, anything that’s carb’ heavy! 

5.What do you like to get up to other than work? 

I’m a full-blown introvert so many of my favourite activities are pretty similar to those of your average octogenarian… Long walks in the countryside are cherished moments, especially if there’s a cosy pub and a pint of real ale at the other end. I also love watching ridiculous amounts of gritty drama and beautiful films, reading books by authors with unpronounceable names, trying (and often failing) to grow food, and going to gigs, galleries and natural history museums.

6. Anything in the pipeline?

Ben’s currently developing a new range of functional jewellery pieces that we’re both pretty excited about. I’m in the midst of finishing setting up our new screen printing equipment in the studio to produce lots more hand-printed homewares and apparel. 

7. What’s the 3 best things about having your own business?

Genuinely looking forward to work most days is easily one of the best things about being self-employed. 

Seeing a new product through from initial sketch to completion is also wonderful. 

Meeting like-minded designer-makers and customers.

8. What’s the 3 worst things about having your own business?

Being unable to accurately predict each month’s money is tough. And scary.

At this point in the business, having to do all the marketing, the accounts, product photography, packaging, posting, sourcing of materials and so on, as well as the all important designing and making can be quite stressful. 

The business is all consuming, so there’s not much time (or money) for ‘leisure activities’ at the moment. 

9. What is the 3 most important things for running a successful creative business?

There are so many things I could list here, but personally, I think the three key things are passion, talent and patience. 

10. Tell me something random about you…

Unfortunately, I’m too clumsy and shy to have any amazing or secret circus skills. When I was a child I used to write backwards, and even as an adult, I still hold my pen in a very odd way. Does that technically make me a contortionist? My drawings are quite tight and intricate, but my handwriting is often completely illegible.  

Remember and check out Victoria's Online Shop and Etsy Shop where you can shop the full range of her illustrated products. Also make sure to follow her on Facebook and Twitter!

10 Questions to Ask...Aekido

1.Tell me about your creative business.

I am a freelance Designer, Illustrator and Printmaker based in Aberdeen. I work from my home studio as well as Peacock Visual Arts where I do all my print work. I try and work on a variety of different projects from commissioned design work, to self initiated screen prints to collaborations with my Adrian Reid under the name The Happy Accident Collective. 

2. Describe your work in 3 words.

 Clean, bold, colourful

3. What’s your favourite pieces you’ve ever made? 

 My favourite piece is probably my ‘CircleCircleCircle’ screenprint which I created as part of a series. The idea behind it was to take a shape, a circle, and experiment with it to see what I could come up with, and push myself from doing the obvious. The final piece became based around halftones (tiny dots), allowing me to create shading and texture. It was super fun to print too!

4. What’s your favourite food?

 I’ve become obsessed Olive Focaccia lately.

5. What do you like to get up to other than work? 

 I’m also a photo snapping enthusiast so when I’m not working, I’ve usually got a camera in my hand and off somewhere exploring, or doing a photoshoot!

6. Anything in the pipeline?

 Hopefully launching a range of tshirts as part of my Happy Accident Collective!

7. What’s the 3 best things about having your own business?

 I guess it’s a cliché to say being your own boss, but it’s true! Being able to (for the most part) control your hours, and being able to do what I love 24/7!

8. What’s the 3 worst things about having your own business?

  Keeping your accounts / paper work. Sometimes working so much you feel like you never go out, and sometimes not having the security of always knowing you’ll get a set wage every week.

9. What is the 3 most important things for running a successful creative business?

 Being good at what you do. Being able to communicate what you’re doing / get your work out there and being able to have a business mind and not just a creative one!

Levi is one of Ginger Pickle's designers, you can shop his prints here!

Remember and check out Levi's Online Shop-where you can shop the full range of his prints! Follow him on Facebook, Twitter and check out his Blog to keep up to date with new work and projects, promotions and giveaways as well.