Renegade Craft Fair November 2014

I had such a lovely market selling at Renegade Craft Fair.  And, comparing to 2013's market, I also mark it a bigger success.  In general I think that the atmosphere and the whole fair has gone from strength to strength in the 3 years it's come to London.  I'm so grateful and happy to of been part of it for the last 2.

I really planned hard this time with the layout of my table.  Last time, I remember, I really did just wing it.  In other markets I'd done, my table had looked good, so what would go wrong?  Well, it was fine really.  But looking at what everyone else had done, really had me questioning my display.

So I thought it out.  I thought about what I wanted, and even made a few bits to bring in the added character I was looking for.  The sign was a real hit :) and it was definitely worth it painting the crates white - each is a different shade of white actually, my Dad had me using up old sample pots they had in the garage!

 Along with this I also streamlined my products.  Having my own little illustration world, I really do tend to keep everything I've done - what if someone sees it at this market and loves it?!  This time, I was strict with myself.  Screen-prints and building watercolour illustrations.  This, i think really paid off.  My stall looked much more complete and finished, rather than the work in progress that was last year.

Big sellers for me this time around were; Cushions - I sold 5 compared to the 1 I sold in 2013.  Watercolour Travel Kit - A brand new item!  But it got so much interest, I was over the moon.  Watercolour building illustrations - It was definitely a good call to have my originals on display alongside the digitally printed postcards.  Christmas cards - Last year, only friends and family bought them.  This year, I sold out before all friends and family could get theirs and didn't have any for myself to send out!

So, thank you Renegade, and London, for a brilliant market!

Bespoke House Illustrations

These are my favourite pieces to work on!

It always starts off with quite a bit of pressure (on myself, from myself), to get the initial sketch right, and to then actually get paint to paper.  But the final outcome is always so rewarding, and knowing how happy the person who commissioned it will be to have a one of a kind illustration of their home - priceless.

Here are a couple I've worked on recently, one just before Christmas and the following just after.  Both were commissioned as gifts - such a lovely present idea!

These sweet house portraits are A5 in size and just £35 (no frame included).

Embossing your own Greeting Cards

I'm not sure if I've mentioned it before on here, but about 2 years ago I vowed to not buy any more greeting cards until I had used up the hoard I already had.  And I had (have) a lot.  But I also send quite a lot of post, so I was hopeful.  It turns out, a lot of the cards I did have were not always suitable for the occasion I needed a card for.  So I've been making the ones I don't already have.

At a workshop at Homemade London last year, the lovely Nancy Straughan taught us how to emboss your own cards.  Such a simple, elegant way to add a bit more to your designs at home.  Purely for one-offs though, you wouldn't be able to do it for 100's!

You need:

Thick card - this needs to be thicker than the card of your greeting card.

Blank greeting card

Bonefolder

Scissors or Stanley knife
Pencil

Step one:

Draw and cut out the shape you want to emboss from the thick card, and discard the actual shape so you're left with a frame like piece. 

Step two:

Open up your card flat and place the frame where you want to emboss your shape on the front of the greeting card.  You'll be working on the inside of the card so that your design stands out on the front.

Step three:

Hold the frame firmly in place, turn the card over and flatten out onto the surface you're working on.  Making sure you don't move the frame of your shape, use the bone folder to find where the shape is and press into it.  Focus on the edges for a more pronounced shape, and the middle to even it all out.  

Step four:

Once you think you're done, take a look at your handy work!  

Step five:

Repeat as necessary if you're after a pattern, or a word as I have done on my 'YES' card.

Do you make your own cards?  I'm still working my way through my collected ones as well as creating my own bespoke ones.  Looking forward to the day when I can buy cards again!