Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Legoland!

OK so while I swan around in my studio all year making pretty things and having a lovely jolly time, my other half is slaving away everyday, going to work in the real world and keeping it all together for our little family.  Occasionally he manages to get the odd precious minute to himself to engage with his mathmatical, musical genius.  Here's what you get when you combine Lego, Christmas festivity and a lots of glue (I stand corrected: No glue!).  It was first tested on our boy and then a group of willing primary school kids in Walthamstow.  It's been tweeked and twiddled and here's the latest version....so without further ado, Happy Christmas to you all.... from our slightly bonkers family!

Just click on the picture to take you to the video

Cropping and Editing

group shot with moro, originally uploaded by Helen Rawlinson.

All part of the job!

Need a Last Minute Creative Christmas Gift?

If you are a bit stuck for what to buy someone this christmas, then these kits are definitley worth thinking about!  I've just added them to my shop too!

 The Stick It version from Duffy London is great for kids. With a little help they can have their very own designer lampshade hanging in their room in no time.

 

 I used these kits at The Barbican's, Do Something Different Weekend.  The workshop was a family orientated affair and their were some fantastic results, from all out glitter and glue spreading, to  illustrated adventures and favourite things.  Great for using with paper or wallpaper as you simply cut the paper to the edge of the shade and use adhesive clips to click it all in place to the frame.

 For the full on professional version, this is the best option and ideal for using with fabric as the edges are neatly rolled around the frame.

 

I used a some vintage Thomas The Tank Engine curtain fabric to make this one.  It took just under an hour to make and has a really neat finish, if you take your time over carefully rolling the edges!  This is great for using left over fabric to match in with your room and not just for the kids room either.

I've got a small supply in my shop, so if you are a bit stuck...off you go!

Printing, making, printing, making

My last show of the year, sounds like a grand statement! I'm happy to be keeping it local, so I will be at Abney Hall in Stoke Newington Church Street this coming Saturday..  I'll be sitting next to and catching up with my good old friend Rachael Howard and there will be lots of other gorgeous sellers there too. Heart Zeena, Roddy and Ginger and Sally Nencini are top of my list. And, it's all geared towards lovely kids.  So I hope you can make it, if you've got little ones to buy for this Christmas, I'm sure there will be a wealth of wonderful stuff!  I think my boy Stanley will be a big excuse to spend all my cash.....

 

 Click on the image for a larger view!

I'm busy printing and making this week, so I'll have lots of stocking fillers, hopefully!

Rae and I are only there on the Saturday, so get down the market for your local fruit and veg, then pop up to us for a bit of xmas shopping. JOY!

All the way around the alphabet.

All the way round! Taken for a very exciting reason., originally uploaded by Helen Rawlinson.

I've just spent a mad morning taking pictures of this shade. Hopefully it will have been worth it for a very exciting reason. Can't say until I know for sure. It was certainly a nice chance to experiment with my camera.
The tripod was 3 boxes and a child's chair. I'm such a professional.

Christmas Countdown!

On the home front, the Advent Calendar we made last year is back in all it's pride on the kitchen table.  The bad spelling has been amended and this year, instead of red, it's sporting pink and blue!

Adding to this we have a fab bingo version on the wall, by my wonderful studio neighbour Sarah, at With Relish.  Stanley is merrily colouring in the days with dayglo orange.

Studio Snow

Brrrrrrrrr!

New Lamps!

As the snow falls in our back garden, I've been cropping and chopping my new designs ready to go in the shop. I've only got a few of these and they are intended to go to WAWA when I get a chance, but I'll pop them in my online shop beforehand, so if anyone wants, go for it, as there won't be any more until after New Year!

 

I really should be doing my accounts!

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!