London Calling

London Shopper Bag from Sweet Home London

With all this mention of our capital city recently as London has become the spotlight for the design world with London Design Festival and Decorex I thought today I would turn my attention to London led design.  After the Royal Wedding earlier this year and with the Queens Silver Jubilee and the Olympics next year I am sure we are going to see alot more of the cities iconic images on homewares, accessories and even clothing over the coming months.  Trend Bible had predicted the rise of London landmarks and the union jack being used back in 2009 for their Spring/Summer trends for 2011 book.  I also wrote about this withstanding trend back in April for  The Academy in my trend predictions after the Royal Wedding.

{Landmark Bookends} {Biscuits}  {Black Cab PJ's}

Just imagine the fun you could have with designs including black cabs, the London Eye, Big Ben, red telephone boxes, London Bridge and of course we must not forget Buckingham Palace.  Mix this with our need for nostalgia I am sure we will see amazing products for our homes.  However I think designers will also play with iconic images of London to create modern approaches to the trend, offering perhaps the neon brights of the punk era. 

I would really love to know of your products with a London theme, maybe share a link with me on Twitter or add a link in the comments section at the end of this post.

Take care

Zoe

x

A Day in the Life - Valori Wells

For me wonderful designers are like celebrities and if I am honest I feel in awe or a little star struck when I meet or speak to one.  So when Valori Wells replied to my request for people to feature in my new Day in the Life feature I was very excited, having recently featured Valori in a Fabric Friday post.

fabric stash heaven!

Valori is an incredibly busy working mother, as you can find out now as she shares a day in her creative life.

day in my studio.....


My day usually starts with email. I get my computer time out of the way so that I can create. What I create depends on what deadline I have. Right now I am working on new fabric designs so I am at my drawing table.

Drawing Table

 these are some drawings in progress for new fabric.

 

My studio is above our garage in our house. It is pretty big and has wonderful high ceiling and lots of natural light. There is lots of space, although I can fill it up pretty quick. I have room for the whole family because I never want my kids to think of my studio or my work as something that takes me away from them. We think of it as another family room. These days I have to keep an eye out for the baby since he is crawling everywhere and taste testing EVERYTHING!!! I am sure he will eat some fabric at some point.

Mama Photo Wall

this is a bulletin board that is above my cutting table that I put lots of photos of the family, sketches, inspirational words....etc.

I have lots going on in the studio at one time....fabric designing, new fabric to make samples out of, painting (something I like to do for fun), knitting projects, sometimes silk screening, work from the store there are lots of projects in the works. My attention span is pretty short so I like to be able to work on what is inspiring me at the time. And when I get stuck on a project it is nice to have something else to work on. Like piecing a quilt - it can be just labor and then I can let my brain rest. In turn I usually figure out what I am stuck on and go back to it. Probably not the best use of my time but I have to be willing to stop and go with the kids around and life being as busy as it is. There are times when I have to work on store projects at home and it is nice to have more than one thing going.

Bird Box 

I have an obsession with boxes, containers....this one holds my birds (another obsession that I have), rocks that I like to draw on....other things that mean something to me. My girlfriend from college sent me the hand one day and she wrote on it “I am always here to lend a hand”.

Inspiration Wall

one of the walls in my studio with lots of ideas on for fabric, patterns, etc. sometimes just stuff that I like at the time.

Inspiration comes in so many forms...my kids inspire me. Their love for life and just being with them fuels my creativity. I take lots of photos - especially around my home and where we live. I look through magazines and love to go to galleries and look at other peoples art work.

My Red Chair

 My mom bought me this chair one year...my love!! I sit and knit there, read to the kids, just contemplate....

Painting in progress

I love to paint and this is a painting I have in progress for my girlfriend Carolyn..I do hope to get it done soon!

Friends

My stuffed friends...they are from patterns that I have done or just made them because. The kids love to get them out and play with them in the studio.

Thank you so much Valori for sharing a day in your life. I also have to have several projects on the go as I get bored easily, I just need to remember to make time to finish some of them soon!

Valori Wells

{website} {blog} {twitter}

Fabric Friday - Amy Butler Wallpaper

I know that it is Friday and should really be Fabric Friday but something very exciting has happened, Amy Butler has launched her wallpaper range.  As you all know I am a huge Amy Butler fan, so this news is fantastic.

Amy Butler has collaborated with Graham & Brown to produce an ecologically responsible range of wallpaper that has been printed here in the UK.

Amy has designed her fabulous new wallpaper so that you can mix and match to create many combinations throughout your home.

In this new collection there are six colourways, Moss, Midnight, Sunset, Ocean, Field and Stone.  Within each colourway there are six designs, hence 36 fantastic new wallpaper designs.

All the designs are printed on responsibly sourced FSC base using water base inks.

So all I have to do now is persuade my wonderful husband that we need to decorate.  Maybe he will be persuaded by the fact that you can just put the paste on the wall and hang the paper dry!!

A Day in the Life - Nicola Rowlands

Last Tuesday I introduced a new idea for this blog so that you have the chance to share a day in your life and for us all to learn a little more about the creative lives of other artists, designers and makers. I have had a great response and have some fantastic posts coming up over the next few weeks.

The first person to respond was artist and designer Nicola Rowlands.  Here are her answers to my questions-

When does your creative day begin?

Although I try my very best to seperate my work from my real life (ie I switch my computer off when my boyfriend gets back from work) I am nonstop looking at signs/the colours on the seat of the bus/peoples moustaches/writing down song lyrics on my hand/creating pdfs whilst sleeping...so in my mind, there is no beginning or end but in reality I get up around 6:30, shower, put my makeup on and that’s when my day starts.

Where do you create?

I sit at my desk to gather all of the research for a project, I sit on the bus to think a project through, the logistics of print/the reality of a project is discussed over a chicken shashlik at the Gurkha Grill with my longtime suffering other half, drawing is done in my living room accompanied by TV and tea and the finished product is usually picked up from a printers somewhere!

What do you create?

 Illustrations, greeting cards, designs for fabric, wedding invites, prints, stickers, mirrors, tea towels,  t shirts, logos...


Do you design/make/create full time, part time or as a hobby?

I’m self-employed...so it’s full time...and I mean full time!

If Full time, do you structure your day to include design time, making, admin and promotion or is it dependable on work load/orders?

I live by the power of The List. If the list says ‘think of 5 ideas for so and so brief,’ I get the bus to town and listen to my music and go through the project in my head.... and usually get to cross off ‘Post orders to so and so’ and ‘deposit cheque at bank’ off the list while I’m at it. So yes, I make sure that every aspect of a project is written on the list so that I can make time for each part and also get the deliciously satisfying enjoyment of crossing things off the list when they’re done.


If Part Time, is this an addition to another part time job or even a full time job?

I also run workshops at the BBC and freelance as a project manager at a web design studio... I love the variety but there is always a voice in the back of my head saying ‘you should get a real job...’

Where do you find inspiration for new ideas/designs?

It’s usually my constant desire to be better that inspires me to create new things... When I finish one project I’ve usually figured something new out or created a certain aesthetic that gives me an idea for my next project...if that makes sense?


Thanks Nicola. I am sure many of us can relate to working 'full' time when we're self empoyed!

Nicola Rowlands

{website} {etsy} {blog}

 {twitter} {facebook}

Please email me if you would like to share a day in your creative life.

buttonsandbows130{at}btinternet{dot}.com

Design Your Shop Banner

A couple of weeks ago I posted a link to Meylah to a tutorial on how to design an ad badge.  Yesterday I received another tutorial from Meylah to create your own store banner using Picnik.  I have had a brief look at this tutorial and again it is easy to understand, although I will advise that when I use Picnik it does tend to make my computer run really slowly.  This is a shame as you can create some fab photo collages in Picnik.

So if you don't mind taking a little time with the software this tutorial is worth the effort!

Also today I am pleased to welcome Booties by Dannie and SP Jewellery, my latest advertising giveaway winners. I have heard from two of the three winners and their badges are now visable in the right hand column.  I am still awaiting a response from Wellydog Designs, but will add their badge as soon as I can.

Another exciting thing to share with you is that you can now find this blog at

http://www.buttonsandbowsblog.co.uk/

I have finally purchased my own URL and after a bit of teething trouble have connected the two!  Don't worry you can still find the blog at http://www.zoeanddrew.blogspot.com/ aswell.

I have added a button in the left hand column for the web hosting company I purchased my URL from, but there are others and I hold no bias over web hosting companies.

Please feel free to give me a shout if you can't connect the two, I am more than happy to help after the hours I spent trying to work it out!!  Just contact me via Twitter or email me at inspiredcelebration{at}gmail{dot}com

Fabric Friday - Valori Wells

Olive Rose

Wow what a week, where did it go?  Friday is upon us and it is time for Fabric Friday!  Today I am going to feature another Freespirit Fabric designer, Valori Wells. 

Urban Flannels

Valori was introduced to fabric from an early age, as her mother, a quilting fan, opened The Stitchin' Post in Sisters, Oregon, which Valori now co-owns.  However Valori grew to also love photography and led her to study a B.A. (Hons.) in Fine Arts, focussing on black and white photography, at Pacific Northwest College of Art.  Graduating in 1997 Valori received the school's 'Outstanding Photographer of the Year' award.

Del Hi

With her love for photography and printmaking Valori has designed patterns for fabric for over ten years.  Drawing on inspiration from her photographs and the landscape in Central Oregon Valori produces fantastic design, often in bold large prints. 

Sole - Sunflower

In 1999 Valori joined her mother at The Stitchin' Post and has established a knitting department and created an extensive website.  By being involved directly with quilters Valori can draw on their needs for projects when designing new textiles.

Kashmir - Birds

Aswell as designing fabric and being involved with The Stichin' Post Valori has written three books, 'Simple Start, Stunning Finish', 'Radiant New York Beauties' and 'Stitch 'n' Flip'.  She has also collaborated with her mother on three titles and the pair have just completed a series called 'Oh So Easy'  and has co-authored 'Lifestyle' with her friend, Carolyn Spencer.

  

Urban Flannels

I always feel inspired when I write Fabric Friday, whilst we often just think of the fabrics, the designers seem to be busy with many other projects and Valori Wells is no exception. 

Advertising Winner Spotlight - Gooseberrymoon

Today I would like to introduce you to one of the winners of my advertising giveaway,

 Gooseberrymoon. 

Gooseberrymoon designs her digitally printed stationery from her home in North Wales.  With a passion

for paper, colour and design Gooseberrymoon combines these to produce a fabulous selection of stationery.

Aswell as creating beautiful notecards, Gooseberrymoon also designs wedding stationery and gift boxes that would make great favor boxes for any party or wedding. 

Gooseberrymoon is a Folksy success story with 200 sales and I can see why, the designs are fabulous and would feed any stationery fans habit!

Aswell as a Folksy shop Gooseberrymoon has a website.  You can also read about design insporations on the Gooseberrymoon blog.

Advertising Winner - Goosberrymoon

{Folksy} {Website} {Blog}

Fabric Friday - Patty Young

This week has flown by and I cannot believe it's Friday already. As the end of the school year draws nearer here in the UK life seems to get even busier. Well in Buttons & Bows tradition it is Friday, so that means it's Fabric Friday.

Today I have chosen to look at the designs of Patty Young. Having grown up in San Jose, Costa Rica, Pattys family moved to the United States in 1987. Two years later Patty started her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design and Photography, graduating in 1993. Initially Patty worked as a graphic designer for a number of marketing agencies, until in 2005 she left the corporate world to be a stay at home mummy.

However like so many women who become SAHM's, Patty started her own business. Drawing on her creative talents Patty launched MODKID,LLC, a design business that specialises in children's boutique sewing patterns. Patty has also started MODGREETINGS, which is a showcase of her original art work in the form of greetings cards.

Patty has also designed four fabric ranges for Michael Miller fabrics, Andalucia, Mezzanine, Flora & Fauna and Playdate.  These are all very vibrant in their choice of colour and the prints reminiscent of european travels, not surprising that Andalucia is inspired by the beauty of Southern Spain and Mezzanine draws inspiration from ironwork and fretwork Patty saw on her travels to Northern Europe. Her third collection, Flora and Fauna, is an eclectic mix of hummingbirds, moths and daisies, in bold fushia and lime contrasting with the neutral palette of black, grey and white. Pattys latest collection, Playdate, is a bright, fun mix of little girls and lollipops.

I am continually inspired by so many women as they combine working from home businesses in design whilst being a busy mum. Patty Young is no exception, she has sucessfully created two businesses, designs for a major textile company, all whilst being a mum. I love to read Patty's blog and follow her tweets and of course I adore her fabrics!

Big Love Designs

Sassy Apron

Komono Art

Bags and Buds

Sew Lovely Designs

Turtles R Us

As you can see Patty Young fabrics are gorgeous and very versatile, have fun sewing!

P.S. Appologies for the delay in posting , I had problems with Blogger.

LOST : One USP

I find there is often a post on the Folksy or Etsy forums about USP. When I first saw this abbreviation I didn't have a clue what it meant, but reading the particular post I soon caught on! USP stands for Unique Selling Point.  So now that I knew what it meant it led me to thinking if it was necessary to have a USP before starting out in business or was it something that developed over time.  Now every time I look at a small business I think of their USP, what is it that makes them unique?  Obviously there are main USP's, for example you may only design wedding stationery or be a photographer or make cushions but what is it that makes your product stand out from other wedding stationers, other photographers or other cushion makers? 

Sales are increasing for 'handmade' crafts and designs but also the number of people creating and selling is increasing, so it is more important to have a USP to succeed.  I certainly feel it is necessary to have a USP to stand out from the crowd, whether this is due to your particular graphic design style or that you only design and make silver jewellery or perhaps that you try to only use 'found' fabrics to upcycle.

Milly & Pip are a fabulous example of having a USP.  Each picture or home accessory is lovingly created to order, often being personalised and using 'found' fabrics to create the gorgeous appliques embellished with freehand embroidery.  Even though Milly & Pip are selling within the homes accessories market they stand out because you can have your purchase personalised and they are also helping the environment by upcycling fabrics that would otherwise find their way into a landfill site.

Personalised Embroidered Picture

Personalised Mr & Mrs Tea Cosy

Dots & Spots are another fantastic example of having a USP.  In every card, postcard, notebook, picture and print you will find dots and spots.  Each design is created using paper collage and then most are digitally printed so that more customers can share Dots & Spots gorgeous designs.

Dots & Spots have just celebrated their 2nd anniversary and are growing, with their first trade show, Home & Gift Fair in Harrogate, in the next few weeks. Read about how they started here.

Emma in Wonderland is one of my favourite photographers on Folksy and Etsy.  As her business name suggests her photographs are often daydreamy and Emma even mentions in her profile that she fell down a rabbit hole!

Summer Dreaming #1

The Library

Good Clean Fun

So whilst I plan to work from home I am stumped at finding a USP.  It has been suggested that I make cushions, but many people make cushions and would having a shop just selling cushions be unique enough to stand out from the crowd?? However I feel I have found a USP in Buttons & Bows by specialising in ribbons and buttons and am now looking at expanding my ranges and having my own website.  I also feel this blog provides a USP in that it promotes small arts, crafts and design businesses, mainly concentrating on the UK. 

Maybe after all of this time of trying to create a business/product with a USP I had one all along!

Todays featured designers & photographers

{Milly & Pip}  {Dots & Spots}  {Emma In Wonderland}

The Fabric Press - be a fabric designer

Yesterday I featured Spoonflower, an innovative company based in the US allowing you to be a fabric designer.  Today I am going to feature the UK's answer to Spoonflower! Based in Cheltenham, England The Fabric Press offer you the chance to have your designs turned in to a digitally printed fabric or even a bag, a tea towel or a cushion.  The Fabric Press has been developed by the business partners behind Rosablue, who already offer made to order home accessories. At The Fabric Press they have deveolped the idea of allowing other creative folk to design fabric, as an extension of the service offered by Rosablue. You can choose from 5 fabric weights to have your designs printed onto and can order a minimum of 50cm or a maximum of 3 metres at a cost of £36 per metre.  There is also a pattern clinic available to help with your designing before submitting for print, helping you with pattern repeats and difficult images.  Whilst the Spoonflower community is bigger and allows more options for printing I love the concept of The Fabric Press, as an innovative, small British business allowing more people to design fabric.


For all my Fabric Friday followers I have interviewed the designer behind Kristopher K Design for tomorrows feature, gaining an insight into being a textile designer.

You Can Be A Fabric Designer

A few weeks ago I discovered Spoonflower. Is it a new item of cutlery or even a new flower? No Spoonflower is neither of these but a fairly new business offering you the chance to be a textile designer.  For many years only design houses produced fabric by the bolt, employing designers but then in 2008 along came an alternative; Spoonflower.  After a complaint from their wives that they wanted to be able to print fabric to use for their curtains, two men came up with a revolutionary concept in textile design, allowing their wives to be the designers without the costly expense of minimum order quantities. Unsurprisingly they were not alone in wanting to design their own fabric with Spoonflower now having around 70,000 members designing their own fabric for their use or to sell. 

The Spoonflower website allows you to upload images that can then be used in pattern repeats in a vast array of colours even without prior knowledge of design. Once you are happy with your design you can order a swatch, a fat quarter, a metre or more and your designs are then available for reprinting anytime.  In addition to this you can offer your designs within the Spoonflower marketplace, allowing other people to purchase fabric printed with your designs, therefore allowing people to be independant textile designers without a huge outlay.  There is no minimum order, yet if you want to allow others to purchase your designs you will need to purchase a swatch of your fabric, with a metre of fabric starting at $18.  Spoonflower offer different fabrics to have your design printed onto including organic cotton.

Now there are no excuses....you too can be a fabric designer....I'm certainly planning on having a try very soon!

Can't see the wood for the trees

It's been a lovely Easter bank holiday here in Suffolk, not as much sunshine as I could possibly have wished for, but better than predicted.  We had a little egg hunt yesterday morning and my three year old is still hiding the clues around the house in hope of more chocolate appearing!  To help burn off some extra sugar fuelled energy we took the children to Rendlesham Forest this morning.  Whilst the forest is mainly evergreen the ferns are starting to regain their colour and buds are appearing on the deciduous trees, we were even lucky enough to spy a young deer.  Hence the inspiration for todays choices, let's see what I find when I simply search 'forest' on Etsy & Folksy.

Available from Lilac Mist

Available from Terror Dome

Available from Leaping Gazelle Studios

Available from Hannah Skoonberg

Available from Pop Wall

Available from Chilli Von Chillison