Fréya Art & Design

I recently came across these prints by Fréya Art & Design and was sure you'd like them too.

Not only do I love Fréya's drawing style and the fabulous colours her prints come in but her work always has such a sweet, positive message. Her illustrations just make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside :)

This is definitely the kind of art work I like to surround myself with. How about you? Could you see one of Freyas prints in your home? 

Psst...if you're looking for a wedding gift this summer these would be perfect...Don't you think?

image source: fréya art & design

Pocket Money Picks 29/May

Oops Pocket Money Picks are a little late this week!

Me and the girls got swept up in all the Sex and the City madness Friday which (due to cocktails) also carried over into me doing very little Saturday. Have you seen SATC2 yet? I'd love to be one of those organised bloggers with everything scheduled ahead of time but unfortunately thats just not me. 

Anyway, here are this weeks belated picks, enjoy....

1. Mini Creamer in Cinder (second) $9 - Pigeon Toe Ceramics

2. Valentine Duo $7 - Satsuma Press

3. Scottie Wrist Key Chain $6.95 - Namolio

image source: 1, 2, 3

DIY Thank You Cards by Eat Drink Chic

DIY wedding projects are back on Once Wed and I'm really excited to see Amy Moss has been drafted in as a contributor.

Have you seen Amy's latest project for Once Wed? It is divine as always.    

Apart from birthday cards, thank you cards are probably one of the few things I still send by post so I'm definitely going to keep this diy bookmarked even though I don't have any bridesmaids to thank just yet. It's a really versatile tutorial that you could tweak for all sorts of occasions.

Amy has put together a really thorough tutorial for assembling the cards which includes carving and printing with your own stamp! How cool is that? I have been wanting to try carving my own stamps for ages so I think Amy's great step by step is just what I need to get me started.

The heart shape seems like a good place to start for a complete carving newbie. Once I have that mastered maybe I can try something more detailed. While we're on the subject of carving did you ever see this video, Geninne makes it look so easy. I was in awe the first time I saw it.

See you tomorrow with 3 more Pocket Money Picks!

image source: eat drink chic via once wed

Primele Address Stamps

What is it about Tuesdays? Last week I was lusting after the Katie stamp and here I am, a week later, in love with an equally gorgeous address stamp by Patricia Mumau of Primele. 

How many address stamps can one girl need?...Two, surely ;)

Patricia also has a lovely blog where she posts all sorts of inspiring things including a look at the projects she's working on. I think you will really like it so pop on over and have a look.

Have a nice Tuesday all!

image source: primele via april may

Free Sunny Fiona Printable Poster

Did you have a nice weekend? It is glorious here in London so for the first time this year I busted out my cut offs, flip flops and shades, whoo hoo!

I had lots of new peeps visiting from Design Crush this weekend (thanks Kelly!) so hello to you if you're new to the blog, I hope you like what you find here.

I might be a bit late on this one but I just discovered this cute printable poster by Tammy Morrill of Sunny Fiona and had to share it with you. I love the sunny spring colours and can totally see this hanging happily in my (imaginary) craft room :)

Where will you hang yours?

image source: sunny fiona

Pocket Money Picks 19/May

I have taken a quick break from sunning myself in the garden to share this weeks Pocket Money Picks. Here you go, enjoy!...

1. Retro Wiener Dog Digital Print $8 - June Craft

2. Fox, Bunny & Blue Bird PDF Patterns $8 - Fox in the Woods 

3. Sew in Love Card $4.30 - Present and Correct

I am sure you all know how unpredictable our weather is here in England so please excuse me while I dash back to the garden. Who knows, this could be as good as it gets all weekend ;)

Hope you've had a great week. I love reading all your comments so drop me a line and let me know what you and the family are up to this weekend. Any craft projects on the go? See you Monday lovelies!

image source: 1 (via Emma), 2, 3

Free Katie Kirk iPhone Wallpaper

As pink and red is one of my all time favourite colour combos this wallpaper, celebrating all things Alice, really makes me smile. Is it just me or do you too remember a time when everyone thought red and pink clashed in a bad way? Well I love it, so there. 

Katie has posted instructions if you're not too sure how to add a new wallpaper on the iPhone so pop on over to the blog now and give your phone a shiny new look courtesy of the lovely Katie Kirk.

See you tomorrow with some more Pocket Money Picks!

Psst...do you remember I told you about The Working Proof? Well Katie has these limited edition prints in the store.

image source katie kirk via leah dent

Illustrator Clare Owen

Well, for the second day in a row my camera is not playing ball, sigh.

I have a lovely little printable all designed, printed and photographed just for you but do you think I can get the images off my camera..? No. 

I supposed it doesnt hurt to wait a little longer. In any case I have something just as nice to share with you...

These endearing illustrations are by fellow Brit Clare Owen. (I discovered her work via the equally talented Sarah Jane.) Who doesnt love a fat cat in a French beret or vintage sewing paraphernalia? She has such a sweet uncomplicated style and I really like the colour palette she works from. 

Illustration is something I have always had a soft spot for. Unfortunately drawing doesn't come all that naturally for me and the patience needed to improve isn't my strength either. It seems illustration as a career is not for me, but that doesn't stop me lusting after charming illustrations wishing it was! My new Pinterest board is fast filling up with some wonderful illustrations. Are any of you on Pinterest? Perhaps we can follow each other :)

If you could have gone down a different creative path what would you love to be doing now?

psst...you can see some of Clare's work on Flickr too ;)

image source: clare owen

Katie Address Stamp

Hummmmm, I think a stamp just like this would make me and my letters very happy indeed....what do you think? Happy Tuesday all :)

image source: lettergirl

Free Printable CD Sleeves and Labels by Dear Jesse

As I type this I cannot keep still as I bop my head along to the Fleet Foxes courtesy of Dear Jesse's 'Summer in the City' playlist. This lady has some eclectic taste in music so I assure you there is something for everyone, you really need to check this out ;)

Its not all about the music though. Jessica has designed some really fun cd sleeves and coordinating labels for you crafty gals to print till your hearts content.

Whether you're planning a road trip or looking for party favours Dear Jesse has it pretty covered. If however you don't want to download her selection you can always customise the back of the sleeve and fill in your own playlist.

I'd love to know what you think, oh, and don't forget to have a peak at the Dear Jesse archives because you'll find some lovely posts there. Happy Monday All...

 

1.Summer, Summer, Summer Time, 2.Cruel Summer, 3.Summer in the City, 4.Summer Lovin

 image source: dearjesse

Pocket Money Picks 14/May

Here are this weeks Pocket Money Picks....

1. Love Patterns Print $9.50 - Made By Girl

2. Paper Pencil Peace Set $6.20 - Lemontree77

3. Garden Lover Japanese Linen Cotton Blend Fabric $3.80- Stefaniexu

...

Don't you think the sweet Japanese fabric would make a lovely gardening apron? Or perhaps a shopping tote? It could carry all your fruit and veg from the market! The The Purl Bee had a tutorial recently to make a tote in just 20 minutes so perhaps that's a project you could tackle? Here's the link for you to bookmark.

Hope you all have a nice weekend planned! I love nothing more than spending the weekend either with my nose in a book or with a stack of magazines to read whilst eating breakfast in bed! I will be having a virtual flick through some of the e-mags from Holly's round up this week and I've just picked up the new Living Ect so I'll see you back here Monday... 

The Edible Garden

I know gardening isn't usually top of the agenda round here but I'm going to go off on a tangent just for a moment because I have to tell you about Alys Fowler and her show The Edible Garden. 

Even if you're not particularly into gardening or perhaps you live in a flat with little more that a few pots you should still get yourself a cuppa and watch the 6 part series that aired on BBC2 while they're still available on the iPlayer.

The whole show is filmed with a relaxed, vintage, thrifty vibe which I love and know you will too. I came away feeling inspired after every episode. I also love the clips that look as thought they were filmed on a vintage piece of kit and the sweet illustrations.  

Alys's garden which is going to feed her and her hubby for the year has crops of veg and salad mixed right in there with the wild colourful flowers. This results in the most amazing plot that looks a little unruley at times but really, everything has its place and lives happily with its neighbors.

I don't think I've ever been so exciting about gardening until I watched The Edible Gardener but her enthusiasm is contagious. I now have beans, tomatoes, basil, mint, carrots, cucumber, rocket and lettuce in pots on my garden wall and some good tips on how to look after them :)

Please click here and let me know what you think. Am I on my own with my new found love of gardening? Give it 60 seconds and I'm sure you'll come around.

Psst...if you are interested I found a great article in the Guardian which has a really interesting piece on Alys Fowlers background including her time living in New York and some thrifty garden tips too boot.

Image Source bbc.co.uk

Confetti Maze Quilt in the Works

This is what I'm up to today... I will show you more and explain next week when it all starts coming together.

I get so excited once a new quilt is underway, I get a real burst of energy but everything else I should be doing sort of goes out the window for a while. Does this happen to you too? Im sure some of you have got a new project on the go, I'd love to know what you're working on?

Lisa Rupp May Freebie

I am a big fan of Lisa Rupp's style of illustration (this Zebra is a fav) so I have no idea how her beautiful monthly calendars have passed me by until now?

Thanks to Kelly I am now happily in the loop! She always has the best links on Friday which with out fail send me down the rabbit hole and all over blog land as one thing leads to another, and another and, well you know how it is.

May's 'Life Is Good' calendar is so pretty I spent a good while filing and deleting all the clutter on my desktop so it could be displayed in all its glory without my icons sitting all over it. Don't you just love the colour palette too? If I were an illustrator (ha!) I would hope this sort of loveliness would flow from my pencil.

Hurry only 22 days left of May to enjoy!

psst!...if you sign up to the newsletter Lisa will email you each month with the new calendar so you wont miss out again!

image source: lisa rupp

Pocket Money Picks 07/May

It's Friday and look... my Pocket Money Picks feature is back! Lets all buy ourselves a little treat :)

 

1. Little Red Riding Hood Embroidery Pattern $5 - Comfortstitching

2. Trimmings Pack (hand screen printed!) $10 -  Umbrella Prints 

3. Fabric Bag with Bird $6.50- Jodii

...

It appears we are in for another dreary, grey London weekend so I can definitely see myself working on some Comfortstitching embroidery. How about you, what's in store for you and your family this weekend? 

I hope you all have a lovely weekend, perhaps you too can find some time for crafting. See you back here Monday...

Karolin Schnoor & The Working Proof

Have you heard of The Working Proof? Artists like Karolin Schnoor are paired with a charity who receive 15% from each sale made through the project.

The pieces showcased by The Working Proof are mostly limited edition prints created exclusively for the project which are printed by the artists themselves, signed and numbered so you know you are getting something unique and special when you make a purchase.  

Forest Lady by Karolin Schnoor

The crisp, clean lines, smooth bold blocks of colour and Karolin's use of pattern and shape really made her work stand out to me so I wanted to share it with you all here.

This print is something I could really live with in my home. I think it means something when you keep being drawn back to an image, I cant stop looking at it! Do you like Karolin's work too? You can see more here, she's a very talented illustrator with some wonderful projects under her belt.   

Who's your favourite artist taking part in the The Working Proof? I'm also pretty fond of Sol Linero who supports Medecins Sans Frontieres. Let me know what you think of Karolin's work, I hope you are inspired too.

image source: the working proof

Update: Karolin has an Etsy shop too!

Free Digital Kit With The Design House Digital Blog Hop

I have never come across a 'blog hop' before but I'm sure glad I did because it is alot of fun and you even get to come away with a goody bag for joining the party!

Intrigued?....Well let me explain what the 'Designer Blog Hop' is and how you get the goodies shown below ;)

The Designer Blog Hop is pretty much an online treasure hunt. Cool, right? 

Design House Digital have put together this fantastic free digital scrapbooking kit but there is a slight catch. You can't just download the kit at DHD you have to find all the pieces by following a trail around blog land.

Designers Kate, Jen, Tiffany, Carina, Melissa, Audrey, Deena, Meredith, Sara and Gennifer have each posted their contribution to the free digital kit on their own blogs so you need to make 10 stops in all to complete the kit.

If you start here at the Design House Digital blog you will find this piece of the kit and a link to the next blog which will have another part of the kit to download for free. Each blog leads on to the next so you shouldn't miss anyone or anything out!   

When you have completed the challenge and hopped on over to all the blogs taking part you should have found 18 papers, 19 elements, 3 alphas and 1 hybrid box for you to download for free along the way.

I cant say I'm really into digital scrap booking but I love playing around with all the elements you get with kits like this. You can print the frames out and use as labels or gift tags and the beautiful papers can be turned into note cards and envelopes.

I am sure you will come up with some crafty uses, I'd love to here what you would use the kit for! If you create a layout for scrapbooking or use these elements in a crafty project I'd love to see what you come up with so do drop me a line.... :)