Monday 29 April 2013

Home.

I'm back home in the UK for a couple of weeks to sort out my studio, launch new work and soak up some home comforts (mostly eat all the food I miss & can't get in Finland!) Enjoying catching up with friends and the little things in life...like grass, proper sausages, (not the German type!) Marks & Spencers and my much-missed fluffy orange helper!



I've also been taking the time to do things I've been meaning to for ages, like my website & branding- a bit of business spring cleaning! Have a peak at the new look at the link on the right, I'd love to hear what you think...

All this week, I'll be uploading exciting new products to my shop, keep a look out! Spring has finally sprung over here...




S x

Tuesday 16 April 2013

House beautiful...

Take House Beautiful Magazine's lead and transform you home into a fresh and breezy nautical-botanic hide away, you can almost smell the salt in the air...

Shop for our Lobster & Crab prints or aprons here.


Today I've mostly been working on my website, sprucing it up for the spring! Will of course share with you when I'm happy it's done...

S X

Monday 15 April 2013

Of recent.

I've been totally into my work still since my postcard project, really enjoying (long may it last!) I've been able to get so much inspiration from just 20 days of work, and have been busy since tweaking and dreaming up what to turn these into...my favourite part. It was a great way to work- sometimes I feel like my brain is so far ahead of things materializing, it was the perfect kick start. 

Here are some photos from recently...I'm trying to keep up posting on here more regularly!


We had a super busy but really nice Easter with two lots of visitors, so I found myself doing my Helsinki tour which is pretty perfect by now (If you're wondering what the heck I'm doing in Finland, see here and keep up!) It was also the perfect excuse to do some of the museums & galleries we haven't mooched around yet, so I'm feeling pretty cultured...

We also saw the sea for the 1st time since being here. Until now, it's been frozen solid enough to walk all over, which has been fun to stomp across the lots of tiny islands and take a gazillion photos! I've never properly lived by the sea before (except for at uni). It's pretty breath-taking and makes you feel quite small. Missing the little seaside villages and towns of the UK though- no fish n' chips to be found here...unless you want some slimy salmon. Not quite the same!

Anyway, I was thinking I should do my own version of my Helsinki tour on here, with all the design finds and good eateries I've discovered for you to share if you fancy a visit to Finland...I will when I have a mo...

Here's some worky bits...




Back soon with new product news and Stephanie Cole tours! X




Tuesday 2 April 2013

Answers on a postcard.

Hi! Hope you all had a nice Easter? Mine was a busy one with family from the UK visiting Finland to see us, lots of walking & plenty of eating as usual. Lovely. We're still getting such bright, sunny days here which I'm thrilled about, and even caught our 1st glimpse of the sea this weekend! (It's been solid enough to walk on-and still is in places. Will never get over that!) Feels like Spring is on the way here...

Here's the last lot of postcards from my 20 day drawing project.


Day 14:
Sometimes when I have no inspiration of what to draw, a quote will spark off something...(& painting my nails & a cup of tea!)

Day 15:
Today is day 15, and I'm thinking of spring at home in the UK...though hear it's not too spring-like at present there either... grumble grumble...here's some sheep!

Day 16:
A fox in some brambles. 

Day 17:
Some nice spring flowers after a sunny day here walking across the frozen sea.

Day 18:
Today is another lounging pet, there's quite a series of them now! This is a nice Airedale, I've always fancied one of them. Have you ever considered getting a portrait of a pet done? How about if he/she was on a nice rug?

Day 19:
Happy Easter one & all!

Day 20:
The last day of my project, another chinese proverb saves the day after a chocolate fueled weekend!

Feeling almost a little exhausted mentally from the strain of picking something to draw each day...but have so enjoyed. You see, for a creative person not able to convey this brewing urge is the death of all deaths. Slightly dramatic, yes, but I felt like a nomad after a month of not feeling much like drawing when I moved here...what.do.i.do? (Cue complete identity-crises-designer-strop) My fella deserves a gold star for bravery...and patience.

But I think it was worth it. Anyone who has followed my work will see it's pretty different now from this time last year. This has been the perfect time to start over, and like I've said before- learn from what I'd do differently from the first time around. That's not to say I'd change anything I've already done...it's just been almost like a social experiment to see what I would come up with here... 

The darkness and cold has brought out a load of colour I'd always been a bit afraid of using before at home in the Cotswolds (a bit of a Farrow-&-Ball-green / chicken bubble of a place!) 
I used a lot of colour before at uni doing Surface Pattern Design, where I had the time of my life. I also remember a day a visiting lecturer came in, who owned a fashion print house in London. On looking at my work, and then looking at me, she asked why a girl wearing a violet tie dye top was trying to be so un-feminine and graphic in her work. That really bothered me at the time, though now looking at something that's come straight from me, naturally, I realize & can come to terms with the fact- I am a girly girl. There, I said it...I will paint flowers & whales if I feel like it!

Go over to my facebook page & vote for your favourites! I love to hear what you think :) 

S X