Yum Yum Treats!

Had this gorgeous lemon meringue today at a little coffee shop with my friends! The shop had a short power cut so I began with pudding first! The portions were very generous but very yummy!

Take a Look at my Friend- Katy's Knits!

I love my friend Katy's beautiful knits and thought I would dedicate a blog post to her work and with it being Christmas just around the corner these cute snowmen baby blankets definitely make you want a snuggle with one.

Katy is a recent graduate from Hull College of Art, within her final year she chose to specialise in Knit and its easy to see why! So Talented! I can do a bit of knitting myself but more like the knitting you do with your grandma.

Katy's work also includes hand made jewellery items along with scarves, here is a quote from the lady herself about her work:

"No piece is the same meaning the wearer has a unique and personal item to wear. Colour and design variations are available."

For more information on Katy's work visit her blog: www.katysknits.blogspot.com or feel free to drop her an email: klbancroft1@hotmail.co.uk. She is also available for commissions!

The Official Picture!

I really can't believe its over! It has been about 3 weeks since graduation and it has to of been the proudest day of my life. This is my official graduation photograph I got took. I thought this might of gone horribly wrong but I am happy with it. The silly thing is the scroll you hold isn't the real certificate, you get that when you go on stage. I hope everyone is very proud from the Class of 2011, you all should be!

Blog App for The iPhone!

Just thought I would try posting from my iPhone on this new app. Here I have a beautiful photo taken of the view from my friend charlotte's bedroom. She lives in Danby and it was soo beautiful and sunny the other morning after I stayed over at hers!

CCAD Print Club!

This week me and one of my fellow printers Miss Charlotte Pennock set on a road trip to the monday night print club at CCAD! It was quite strange being back at uni, especially knowing we aren't students any more but we soon got back into the swing of things.

Whilst I was there I was able to get four of my screens exposed so I have more designs to experiment with. Technician Vicky was at hand to remind me about screen coating as I always dread it. I don't know why, I think its because I never feel confident doing it and usually make a mess.

The three hours seemed to fly by but I managed to print a few more bags for the college shop which I believe is still open so i recommend it for a look!

It was soo great to be back in the print rooms, I love printing at home although I definitely miss the atmosphere at CCAD. If you love printing I certainly recommend print club :)

Graduation Was Such a Proud Day!

Graduation came last week at Middlesbrough on the 23rd of November. Middlesbrough was covered with people in their red, black and grey caps and gowns. It was like a harry potter take over, so amazing. It was very windy! I was surprised everyones hats stayed on!

It was such a proud moment walking up to collect our certificates, but most of all it was so great to see everyone. I can't believe how much I have missed everyone. Everyone looked fantastic and fab in their outfits. Me and the girls had lots of pictures taken by our families.

I would just like to wish everyone a successful future and lots of happiness in the year to come. And pleaseeeee keep in touch! I miss you all lots and have had the best 3 years of my life, the hard work has certainly paid off :)

A Little Update!

WOW, If you have read my previous post you will know I produced some more of my tote bags to sell at the new Folio shop. The shop has only been open for a short while but I have had an email saying they are selling fast and need to produce more. I really wasn't expecting such a positive response but I suppose with Christmas around the corner, they would make a lovely little present for someone.

So exciting! So hopefully tomorrow I will get some more done and dispatched out!

The Shop is open, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 10-3.30pm so everyone go have a peek!

Talking About Surface Design @ East Riding College

Last month I took my portfolio and some sketchbooks into East Riding College to discuss Surface Design and life at CCAD. I do get nervous talking about my work, especially to a group of people I don't know but it was a great experience and has made me more confident.

I went into the college on three occasions, and showed my work to some textiles classes and a graphics class.

Whilst discussing surface design I talked about the course at CCAD, the trade shows I have been able to visit, competitions and also talked about the importance of copyright within producing designs. It was quite hard to explain the process of producing a design in repeat to people, who don't know how to do it but with practice it becomes clearer and easier to explain.

Everyone seemed engaged, it was great to share techniques and methods and also getting feedback on my work.

Guido Daniele- Fantastic Work!

The website www.lostateminor.com has introduced me to the work of Guido Daniele. I was so amazed by such detail in his work. Born in Italy, he graduated from the Brera School of Arts with a Major in Sculpting. Through the 70's and 80's he explored his love of painting in advertisements, tv commercials and programs.

During my Final Major Project of my degree I researched into the art of Trompe L'oeil. Guido Daniele uses the hands and body to as a blank canvas to create these beautiful detailed paintings. I love how the natural shadows of the hands/body add to create depth.

For more information about his work check out the links below :

http://www.guidodaniele.com

http://www.lostateminor.com/2009/04/01/guido-danieles-amazing-hand-painted-animals

Back to Drawing and I love it!

Found and empty sketchbook! Great place to start drawing again....

Really wanted to get back into drawing and designing and found a book on the wildlife of the Everglades. I love drawing natural forms and especially love drawing birds. I began by adding abit of dye to one of the pages and cracked on drawing.

I love my drawing of the stag, I thought it would take a while to get back into drawing but I'm very happy by this first sketch. I hope to apply some of my successful imagery to some more tote bag designs. I think this stag is very fitting with christmas just around the corner!

I'll keep you posted with how my drawings come along.

Folio- Cleveland College of Art and Designs New Shop....

And my cute Tote Bags...

Having got an email about the shop wanting items to sell, I thought I would get my inks and screens out and produce some more of my birdie tote bags. I have also included a new design with a larger bird on, available in metallic tones.

The shop is located at the Hartlepool campus. It will be open to the public, so it's worth going for a nosey to see everyones pretty things :) Opens 16th November!!!

For more information and to see more images of the beautiful things for sale please click on the link below:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.231015940296449.60228.115686861829358&type=1

Tigerprint Fun Pet Photography Competition.

Tigerprint are holding a pet photography competition so I thought I would enter this photo of Boo. It's really hard to get a picture of hamsters as they don't stay still and don't have many facial expressions. This is the best shot I could get of her standing still. Some of the other entries are good of peoples dogs and cats, they are very funny. You can see this picture of Boo and the other pets on the link below :)

http://tigerprint.typepad.com/photos/fun_pet_/boothehamster.html

Autumn Leaves Falling off the Trees.

Brrrrrrrr it's absolutely freezing outside! I do have to admit though- I love the frosty mornings they are refreshing when you have to walk to work. The nights are dark now at 5 in the afternoon so I've got my candles out to make things snug. However, I got used to it being dark early in Africa as they don't have the variation like we do in the summer, it's the same all year round.

At the moment we are doing up a house which hasn't been lived in properly for the past 10 years and managed to get one bedroom completed. The rooms style is monochrome, with a base wall in blackboard paint which is fun. I have injected colour with bright and bold accessories.

Fun at the Fair!

At the minute I am exploring life around me and looking for inspiration for my next drawing sheets I am hoping to produce in the next couple of weeks. In Bridlington we get a fairground that comes twice a year but I haven't been in ages since moving away with uni. Now I'm back I thought I would go have a nosey and took these snaps :)

It's very cold in England, someone take me to Dubai!

Again, inside the mall we got to see a waterfall, so fantastic and great to see! But what was really fantastic was seeing Anni's design she sold a couple of years ago in the Desiguel shop. We couldn't believe our eyes when we just went in for a sneaky look. I've never felt so proud of her. It put a tear in our eyes.

We also saw this huge sweet shop inside the mall, everything is to the extreme by the looks of things in Dubai and this sweet shop for me says it along, along with the huge aquarium.

Steve, also took us inside one of the largest shopping malls in the world! And inside it was just as fabulous as outside! Inside was the largest (sorry I keep saying this word but its true) Aquarium! I stood in shock that I lost Anni and Steve for a moment. Such a weird place to have one but it was huge, there was even a mini cooper inside the tank.

I've probably mentioned in an earlier post about the nightmare of a journey home from Africa me and Anni had but on a plus side we had an over night stay in Dubai. Oh my was it hot though and that was at midnight- it was about 40 degrees and I was having ice-cream for supper. It was great to get a taste of the place and we even got our very own tour guide- Anni's boyfriend who happened to be there with work.

The buildings were amazing, the image two photo's previous shows the tallest building in the world. I would definitely be scared to be at the top of it! The architecture to see was fantastics. I only got a few photographs as it was dark but what we did see was so beautiful.