Inspiration Hunting

Last week Chris and I and some friends went down to London to Top Drawer and Home at Earls Court. These 2 shows are big trade events for retail buyers to find new products and ranges. All the big retailers go to scout out the latest trends and must have items, in our case the little retailers go too. Our friend Cathy was looking for new products for her wonderful shop LoveOne in Ipswich.

I went to find some inspiration for how I can improve Hello Pushkin to look more professional and make my market stalls look more interesting and appealing.

My favourite part of the whole event was the "Spotted" section where the smaller businesses looking for wholesale orders can be found.

Fracas Studios http://www.fracasstudios.com
Sarah Ray http://www.sarahray.co.uk
Claire Gaudion http://www.clairegaudion.co.uk
Sarah Knight http://www.stormyknight.co.uk
Tamasyn Gambell http://www.tamasyngambell.com
Roddy and Ginger http://www.roddyandginger.co.uk

Were my favourites. Hopefully LoveOne will have some of these brands in soon. I'll keep you posted!

I've spent my week preparing a wholesale order for a new retail client. Lucky me! Here are a few pics of what I've been doing. More news on that soon.

My paint mixing looked like a dolphin!

What could be better than glitter?

I've been busy making for the past few weeks, even over Christmas and have some new necklaces to show you. I've also had a couple of commissions which I will post some pictures of soon. These necklaces are not available online and will soon be in Loveone on St Peter's Street in Ipswich. If you like these necklaces and are interested in them please leave a comment as I can always do some custom orders.

All my new range are hand painted with acrylic paint varnished twice to protect them from the elements.

Finally, this last necklace is not available to buy. It is my first experiment with using glitter on my jewellery and I am so happy with the results that this one is just for me. I will be using glitter more in the future so again if you like this one let me know. I'd love to hear your opinions and feedback.

I have since noticed the little bits of glitter on the rest of the necklace and rubbed them off, little blighters!

College Trip to the V&A

Today I took my students to the V&A in London to see the Hollywood Costume exhibition. Unfortunately for us and for you, dear readers, you were not allowed to take photos in the exhibition. We couldn't even sketch!

It was VERY busy. So that's probably why sketching wasn't allowed. In fact in places it was far too busy and you couldn't get near the exhibits. What I did see and the information I got to read was really interesting. The costumes were amazing and there was so many of them!

My highlights were Indiana Jones' costume, René Zellweger's from Chicago, Nicole Kidman's costume during the beginning scene from Moulin Rouge and THE Marilyn Monroe dress from The Seven Year Itch. SO exciting!

I also learnt a lot about HOW important costume is to a film as a whole. Sounds obvious but the information was discussing how in a film you are seeing the character for a moment in their life. Their clothing choices have been influenced by what has happened before we "meet" them, what job they had, where they live etc etc. So interesting.

Well as I said I couldn't take any photos so here are some I took on the coach on the way to the V&A and in the café. So beautiful!

Things I Like

Below is a list of things that I like and therefore may be featured on this new "all round good stuff I want to talk about" blog.


Glitter
Cats
Sport
Lush products
Cosmetics
Chevrons
Magazines
Permanent markers
Fine liners
Nice card
Glitter paper
Neon paint
Nail varnish
Necklaces
Rings
Scarves
Hats
Sequins
Bows
Stars
Gold
Graphic markers
Sweet smelling shower gel
Coloured eyeliner
1950s vintage stuff
Stickers
Sparkly socks
Glittery stickers
Washi masking tape
Origins skincare
Bright lipstick
Vintage clothes
40s hair styles
Shiny hair
Coloured or patterned jeans
Cosy jumpers
Screen printing
Design books
Pattern

Work in Progress

Thanks to the Christmas holidays I don't go back to work until tomorrow and so that has given me some time to work on some artwork and new bits and pieces for Hello Pushkin. I've also been experimenting with patterns and different media in my sketchbook and collecting lots of inspiration pictures together.

My students hate doing "research"; when we ask them to look at the work of other artists to help inspire their own work. It is kinda forced because it's not images they've sought out themselves but it's so important to see what other people are doing. I'm sure you all know that!

So I have been walking what I talk and doing exactly what I ask them to do, because I would be at a loss for ideas if I didn't have inspirational images!

         Cutting up images for my sketchbook.

New earrings displayed on new card backing!

Chris has also been busy getting his hands dirty. Literally! Ages ago he bought an Adana 3 x 5 printing press and it's taken quite a lot of work to get going but finally he has and it is looking very smart and working like a dream! He has been printing some Thank You cards. Here are his instagram photos of the lovely job he's been doing.

Inking up the roller ready to get going

Inked up and ready to print.

Back to the grind tomorrow but I will be adding some new earrings and a couple of new necklaces to the shops soon. Just waiting for the shop I buy my chains etc from to open up again after the holidays.

Snobs Coffee, Town Hall, Ipswich

Since last Summer Snobs Coffee Shop has been resident in Gallery 1 in the Town Hall in Ipswich, where I live.

The space is still used as a gallery and is furnished with fabulous vintage furniture mainly supplied by the fabulous Jess Bradley of Betty Blue Hat, on twitter as @bettybluehat and you can also find her on Facebook.

It's such a wonderfully relaxed place to meet for food or drink, there are piles of interesting magazines and books and unique artwork on the walls. All this and you're supporting an independent business by visiting there instead of one of the big commercial coffee shops.

I popped in the other day and enjoyed a lovely cuppa and a Portuguese custard tart (Mmmmmmmm!!) I love their mismatched mugs and vintage crockery.



Make sure you visit if you're ever in Ipswich.

Stripes, Colours, Wood

I often have a product in mind that I want to create and I can get quite single minded about it. Just because the plan was to make a necklace I don't think any further than that. I hope that I can change that in 2013. So the other day I had a thought that I could use my wooden circles to make earrings as well as necklaces. Well DUH! So here they are....

In the Etsy and Folksy shops now.

What's Next?