Better late than never! Introducing Mlkwood Studio, Bridlington!

Its been some time, but I thought I would get my blog going again! After selling The Priory Menswear in 2017 to Internet Fusion, it sadly closed its Bridlington stores the summer of 2018. It was a sad time, but me and Leo thought we would go back to our creative roots. 

 We got the keys to number 12B High Street, Old Town the 1st October 2018! And along came Mlkwood!

The name is from the poem of Dylan Thomas.. "Undermilkwood" we have just slightly changed the spelling.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJtzOD3KbLM&t=188s

Mlkwood is part gallery, part creative studio. Leo with his background in graphic design, uses it for his office and create hub. Whilst I use my creative taste filling the place with original art and handmade goods.

We are both pleased that from coming from a creative background, a lot of the pieces to purchase are friends of ours, local and from slightly further a field. 

We have been open a year now! Its crazy! The place is completely different from when we opened, it definitely shows more of our personality. Going into Christmas, we are very excited and can't thank everyone enough for there support.

Anyhow, that's my first blog post done for a while. I hope to keep this a regular thing again, and share ideas and news from myself and the gallery!

I still have my print studio at home and desperate to get back in it, it just needs a Spring clean,

You can check Mlkwood out here:

https://www.instagram.com/mlkwood.studio

https://www.facebook.com/mlkwoodstudio

The website is still in progress.

:)

CCAD Degree Show 2015!

It is great to see everyone's work and even more so this year. Textiles took over their entire department, displaying work around the print rooms and the dye lab! 

Loved seeing all the printed lengths hung! Very inspiring! Great use of layering colours! I appreciate the hard work as I've been there myself!

Absolutely loved the print rooms being full! 

It was great to see how the students were able to spread out and use the space! 

It was great to see the work displayed in the area it was created! I think the public will enjoy seeing the print rooms! 

It was a gorgeous day as always and there was even a cheeky photo booth! Cannot believe it's been four years since I left! I still love creating and printing!

New drawings on the go!

I have been super busy over the last month or so drawing lots of new designs. I have now got quite a few of these onto a silk screen so I can next share with you how they will develop.

It does feel strange to stop the drawing stage as I still have the drawing bug but now its time to get messy and get printing! 

Harrogate Gift and Fashion Fair!

On Friday it was such a lovely day, the sun was shining and I had tickets to go to the Harrogate Fashion and Gift fair! We are now quickly approaching Christmas, yes! Dare I say it, its less than 100 days before Christmas I believe! I was also checking the place out to see if this would be somewhere I would like to exhibit in the future.

There was definitely a huge variety of stalls. Some certainly caught my eye, but I was good not to spend!

Out of Africa Gifts was a strange stall for me, it brought back many memories from my trip to Africa. All its product is imported from mainly Kenya itself. You could see how they were handcrafted. It was beautiful and was lovely to see many things I have myself from my own visit. The work is beautiful. 

I also met the lovely Jam Creations. I am very excited I bought some gorgeous items for my home from her stall. But I've had to save them for Christmas as they are now a treat from a friend. When I am allowed them! I will share them. Check out the business cards of some of my favourite stalls below...

Food stalls always catch my eye, especially if they sell anything involving chocolate. 

Love Brownies, definitely passed the taste test! They deliver also in time for Christmas which is fab! I was tempted to keep going round and round and eating all their samples :)

http://www.lovebrownies.co.uk

It was also interesting to see the layouts of stalls. I have used crates myself in the past but they seem to be as popular as ever this year. I need to get my thinking cap on how I can dress my stall for my Christmas events this year! 

Not long to go! 

New Studio Move!

So you will know that we have moved house. This has brought a lovely new studio for Lauren Cherice Designs. Located in my very own back garden! Yay! When we moved in we was left some lovely delights including this old metal filling cabinet! It is amazing for storing my dyes and pastes. It was also set up with some great storage shelves.

My screens and squeegees in their new home :)

It was missing one thing.... my print table. On Sunday with some extreme help from my bob the builder the table took back its shape. It was previously in my old studio but it wasn't a successful location due to the water supply not being able to work. Boo plumbing! I am very lucky to have both electric in my studio outside and a water tap in the garden! Yipee! This makes life as a screen printer a lot easier!

After a few hours the table was up! I can't believe it! A 3 meter print table in my own home. Wow, I know how I will be spending my summer days ready for my fairs! Dylan also approved the handy work!

So... with abit more tidying and cleaning I hope to have it all ready to go go go! I will post another pic when its all done :)

Cath Kidston Safari Collection 2014.

Have you seen Cath Kidston's new Safari Collection!

Well I love it all! Here is some of my favourite pieces...

The fabric itself you can purchase by the meter. When I was in Africa I was lucky enough to go on some safari's in my spare time. Which is was I particularly love this new collection. I have already been bought the mug with the giraffe's on but I didn't realise the fabric had elephants, lions, zebras and giraffe's on! I think I need a piece! 

Or maybe a plate...

Some women have an obsession with shoes, but mine is definitely with bags, especially if it has a gorgeous print on it. I think I may need this one....

Furnishing fabrics is also a passion of mine. I have myself produced a jungle print at university which does have some similar features to the Cath Kidston one. I love this cushion in the collection and how the trees have tiny detail of embroidery. So cute!

Or why not just have the cushion in the print iteself....

To see the full range and shop the collection here:

http://www.cathkidston.com/search?page=1&results=48&keywords=safari&ctry=GB&lng=

Print Print Print!

Hi all!

Again, I've had another busy week, I am trying to keep up and on track of my tasks! Here I have to share with you one of my new tote bag designs. It's Dylan! I couldn't resist. I do hope you all like him. We all know what my friends and family will be getting for Christmas. Dylan himself doesn't seen to even realise its him. :) 

I have been back at CCAD again this week. I thought I would have a go at doing some printing in my spare time on an evening. I was delighted to find an old backing cloth from when I produced my final samples. Can you see my tree, mirror and clocks? There is also the leaves design visible which was the design of my close friend Lindsay.

I love mixing new pigments too, yum! :)

Here are some more of my samples. I now have a couple of Mr Penguin and Mr Duck tote bags, they are just waiting to be photographed. My leopard design is also soon to be on a tote, I might experiment with colour further for this one as there is lots of imagery to play with.  

Last week, I also got a new phone and its yellow! It has taken some getting used to and I have missed my Mr Duck phone case dearly. So much so, I have still been using my old phone as a camera. He hopefully will be going to a new home soon.

New Stockist! Studio 61 Gallery.

I am very excited to share with you my new stockist, the lovely Studio 61 Gallery run by Karina Goodman. The Gallery is based near by to the beautiful peak district in Leashaw Holloway, Derbyshire.  I first came across Studio 61 Gallery via Facebook and have been following their posts for a while. I completely love the warm feel the studio has and knew my work could fit right in and make its self at home. 

Karina works and displays her own wonderful art work in the gallery and has the reputation of selling high quality made British work. I am very excited for my birdies and friends to have flown the nest down South. 

Available to purchase at the gallery is a selection of my screen printed cushions, giclee prints and greetings cards. Featuring the favourite love birds design and Mr Squirrel just to name a few. 

For further information about the gallery please check out their website: http://www.studio61gallery.co.uk

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/www.studio61gallery.co.uk

If your new to Lauren Cherice Designs... Here is a little introduction and update!

About:

Lauren Cherice is a Surface Designer currently based in the East Riding of Yorkshire. After graduating from Cleveland College of Art and Design in 2011 with First Class Honors in a BA(Hons) Textiles and Surface Design, Lauren launched her tote bag range. Lauren specialises in producing furnishing fabrics and accessories by traditionally screen printing her designs from home. 

Inspired by natural flora and fauna, she uses her own photography to help her produce beautiful contemporary detailed drawings. The use of pen, ink and other mix media allow her to create several layers within her artwork to give her pieces subtle depth that develops through into her prints. 

Stockists of my work: 

1. Alex May Gallery, Bridlington
2. Behind the Times, Bridlington
3. The Old Grammar School Gallery, Otley
4. The Joe Cornish Gallery, Northallerton.
5. Laure Loves Boutique (Online) http://www.lauralovesboutique.com
6. The Folio, Hartlepool. Soon to be online.
7. My own Etsy Store. http://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/LaurenChericeDesigns

Events Coming up attending:

1. Sewerby Hall, 30th June
2. From Yorkshire with Love, York. 28th July
3. Hornsea Leisure Centre, 4th August.
4. Others to be confirmed.

I am hoping to book more events later in the year along with finding more stockists for my work :)

Current and Future News

My dream is to have my own screen printing studio in which I can print fabrics and have workshops. This is currently in development but I am hoping to seek some funding to help me with this dream. At present I screen print all my designs for my tote bags and cushions from my home in Bridlington. To fund my love for printing I currently have part time jobs in retail. 

At the beginning of the year my mouse drawing was used for the Priory Mouse competition. http://www.priory900.org/name-the-priory-mouse/ I was very excited to be involved with the Priory 900 celebration.

I currently have a collection of screen printed tote bags and cushions for sale. I also produce my illustrations on greetings cards, iphone cases and giclee prints.

Social Media:

Blog: www.laurenchericedesigns.blogspot.com

Facebook:www.facebook.com/laurenchericedesign

Twitter: @Laurencherice

Email:laurenchericedesigns@hotmail.com

I hope this info has been useful and you feel you know me and my business a little bit more.

Thank you,

Lauren.