Paper toy workshop

During the half term break I had the opportunity to lead a workshop at Sheffield's Children's Hospital, on making paper toys. I had a fantastic day. I only worked with a very small number of patients, but they all loved it, and it was really great to see what an impact it had. One girl would barely grunt un response at the start of the day, but by the end of it she was laughing and joking. It would be amazing to do this all the time! 

Goodies from Lichfield

You may, or may not, have read my blog post the other day about a little outing we took to Lichfield. While we were there I managed to pick up a few pretties! 

We spent a while in a second hand book shop, and to be honest with you, if I had not restrained myself, I could have bought arms full of beautiful tomes! However, I picked carefully, allowing myself to get one; 'The Boy's Own Book of Ships' I just love all the illustrations, with their limited colour palette, which was probably done to save money on printing costs, but looks great. I think the images would look great on a terrific framed, though I wouldn't have the heart to actually take any out of the book; maybe I'll scan some of them in.

In another book shop I also found the England By Rail 2013 calendar, which I had had an eye on before, but it was too pricey. However, now we are well into 2013, it was £1 :) 12 beautiful reproductions of vintage England By Rail posters. I have put up a few pictures of my favourites.

Lastly I picked up a vintage silk scarf from a charity shop. It is a gorgeous teal colour, and will be adorning my neck or head on many occasions I'm sure.

Tigerprint Runner Up!

This was the third time I had entered one of Tigerprint's competitions and this time I was one of the four runners up. The brief was to come up with a female special relationship card. 

This was created through a combination of papercuts and Photoshop.

There some really lovely designs entered so I was so pleased to be selected.

Andrew Pavitt

When we were in London, I picked up a card designed by Andrew Pavitt. The one we bought was the squirrel one at the top. I love squirrels so I couldn't resist. It is now in a frame on our wall. I love the sense of pattern that comes across and the retro feel to them. Beautiful colours.

New patterns

Just a few new patterns I came up with the other month for a competition ran by Tiger Print. The prints are all designed to appeal to a male audience

About a girl

The latest 'mixtape' we received from Nick Taylor, another great one, find more of his work here

Unfortunately there will be no more mixtapes for a while, as the guy who organises the project is taking a break from it so he can concentrate on finishing his MA. I think we might get withdrawal and just have to keep making them anyway!

Lots of lovely goodies!

I was lucky enough to have an envelope full of goodies waiting for me when we got back from our holiday. They all came courtesy of the very talented and hardworking Armadillo boy (Jason Smith) go find more about him and his awesome work here

He is also running a very special project called the Oh GOSH project  in which he has rounded up a fine selection of artists and illustrators to created pages for a colouring in book and accompanying posters. All funds raised from the project will go to the Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital.

The big vinyl sticker he sent has already found it's way on to our campervan!

T-shirt, love bugs

T-shirt, love bugs, originally uploaded by Samantha Eynon.

Just thought this one was fitting for valentines day! Meet the love bugs!

Though I have to say I am hating the amount of cheap (though not always so cheap), nasty looking tat about for said St V day!

I was so impressed by the grotesque display at the co-op that I wrote this poem in homage!:


Blood red,

Sparkles lacklustre,

Bears suffocate in plastic bags,

Eyes stare vacantly,

Rows of clones march without intent