Show time!

 I think I had about 2 hours to go before opening time here!  I was feeling seriously brassed off and tired, angry with myself for yet again not being more together with my planning and ready to go home.....

 

It finally all came together at the last minute and despite the random clutter bursting out from my desk and various hidden spots, I think I managed it!

  

The back wall was awash with new designs open for comment and it was really nice to hear feedback and find out the favourites.

These are still in prototype mode.  I had fun experimenting with printing inks here but have yet to give this design a title, any suggestions?  Possibly 'space'!

The simple rik rak may stay the same or I might keep fiddling with it, it was meant to compliment this little family on 'parade' below.  This design was very well received and the orange and turquoise sold almost straight away. Again I moved away from more opaque effects and went for a very translucent print, like shiny sweets!

These were all reworked from designs I'd had stashed away for ages, I'd abandoned them, but came back with new ideas and am very pleased with the latter.

 

Block, is something new I've had milling around in my head and I finally had time to work on it.  It's a combination of tower blocks, shelving systems, book cases and windows that inspired me with this one.  I'm looking forward to making cushions and more tea towels with the screen too. 

So one more day to go.  I've almost sold out of tea towels and mini bags, so all that effort was definitely worth it.

I really want to make more of these too, Moroccan long pillow (now sold).

321 Here we go!

new prints, new tea towels, originally uploaded by Helen Rawlinson.

What with dysfunctional broadband and teaching at the Make Lounge, my daily blogging of studio 'sort out' has fallen way behind, which is not unlike my list of things to do! So here's a quick catch up and it's full on chaos. There's a glint of light at the end of the tunnel, but with just nine hours to go to private view mayhem I better get on with it!

Mellow Yellow, Day 4

Mellow Yellow, originally uploaded by Helen Rawlinson.

That was yesterday!
No internet connection last night so I'm on catch up.
Well, I tidied up a bit and then all the ink came out and it all got messy again. Today is print print print.
Note to self:
Organise drying space and shift some boxes before I start anything!

Day Five

Day Five, originally uploaded by Helen Rawlinson.

OK this is probably a bit mad, but maybe it will make me think about it for next time! Anyway, quick daily postings this week. My studio space laid bare.

Busy Times Ahead............

Ok it's double trouble weekend for me coming soon and I'm working like mad for both, with new designs I'm  printing like billyo.  I'll try and do some sneek peeks throughout the week!

Anyone in the vicinity of lovely Stoke Newington can pop along to our Open Studios Weekend and see all the action, hidden mess and hot off the press stuff.  There are a few new people this year and some gorgeous things to see and buy!  Thanks to the wonderful Sarah from With Relish and Rupert from Rude for the fab poster design yet again!

South of the river it's the lovely duo at Tea and Make, Sally and Esther, who have organised a little Pop Up Shop in New Cross.  I'm very pleased to be involved with this event as I was unable to join in last year.
There are some great people involved with this and I can't wait to see it all.  You can find out more and see the run through of artists on the Tea and Make Blog right up to the event.

I better get cracking!

WAWA and Flowers

 

I took a trip to Colombia Road the other Sunday.  I forget how lucky we are to live so near to such a vibrant flower market and fab shops.  The main reason was to visit my friend Richard in his new shop location.  Richard Ward owns WAWA and makes beautiful hand made furniture, sofas mainly.  He has kindly sold my lighing range for a very long time!  I was pleased to see how lovely it all looked in the new spot, just a door down from the original!  

  

 Spacious, uncluttered and as always a super warm welcome.

Richard, above left, having a chat with shoppers.

There's a really nice mix of interior accessories, plus some gorgeous leather bags by Matt Fothergill.  It's like a mini Heal's without the traipse into town. 

I've always loved the tile mossaic on the wall outside too, so it was good to have my camera!

 

More on Flickr

We ended up in a rather cool bike shop/cafe after our morning farm/market/park session. Just how Sunday mornings should be!

Oh and I sneeked back and bought this....just for Stanley!

From Nelly Duff By Anthony Burrill

Elphick's had some super prints too, I was very tempted by this by David Weidman, wonderful layers of colour. Maybe next time!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, originally uploaded by Helen Rawlinson.

A busy day at Holiday Club. Halloween is such a no nonsense theme that the kids get it straight away. A few pumpkins/cats/witches/skulls and such, dotted about and they go crazy. I have to get a bit bossy about the colours or they all end up black!
I was a bit more slap dash this time..a year on from my first official workshop..but I'm really happy with the results. Children are just the best in terms of one liners, inspiration and energy. So the odd pushy comment, moan about waiting and ink going everywhere, slipped off my back this time, not that I've got much of a back left after all this lot!

My Target Audience

It's always good to have a focus when I make something new.  So thanks to Edith and Jarvis for inspiring me to move on this idea and adding a personal touch. Happy Birthday kids!
I'll be printing more to order, hopefully for the Christmas hungry crowd.

You can find two options in my Etsy:
Plain reverse £15
Big Letter reverse £20

 Currently available in blue, green and pink.  Other colours from my range are an option too!

Of course the S is homeward bound.

Big Sacks Again

Big Sacks, originally uploaded by Helen Rawlinson.

More pics of the personalised version coming soon......

Just can't get enough!

Well I'm really milking this one!  I feel like this design is going to hang around for a while, so I may as well make the most of it!  I've actually had these two ideas in the pipeline for a year now but just never seemed to have the time to take decent pictures and do all the uploading.  Well they are finally here!

 

The poster came from some work I did with my poet friend, John Hegley.  Back when I paid a visit to my old mate Rachael Howard in West Kirby.  John was invited by Rae to the local primary school to do a workshop with the children...I'll blog more later when I've got all the details as it was a while ago and I've got to get some work done today!

 

We  were all exhausted by the end of the shoot!
Find them in my Etsy and Big Cartel Shops. FREE UK SHIPPING from the Big Cartel Shop!