The 10th Manchester Artists' Book Fair

Manchester Artists' Book Fair is one of my favourite fairs I do.  The hall it's set in (The Holden Gallery) is just lovely, with a great big sky light giving everyone natural light to display their products in.  The people are awesome, sellers and shoppers alike - everyone is friendly and asks questions about my work.  It's really nice to think I'm helping to inspire todays art students - young and old alike!

Best sellers this year - book marks and magnets!  Lucky Dip bags went down well, and my buildings all got a lot of attention.

I've signed up for more Artists' Book Fairs next year so fingers crossed you might see me in a city near you!  If you have one to recommend, do leave a comment and let me know.


You can find more information for the fair on their website : www.manchesterartistsbookfair.com

The Sketchbook Project World Tour Book

The Sketchbook Project kicked off in 2006, and in 2011 fell onto my radar.  I paid the fee, got the sketchbook, got inspired, filled it out, and returned it to join the sketchbook library in Brooklyn NY.  What has come since has been a continual love for this great project.  The sweetest thing about this library is that it tells you when someone has viewed your sketchbook.  It's so nice to know that it is still being enjoyed by people who visit the library.

My sketchbook has been included in some cool stuff the last few years including being viewed by lovely people, going on tour and more recently being included in this bumper Sketchbook Project book.  This book documents sketchbooks from all over the world, but still only is able to include a handful (compared to how many sketchbooks and pages of sketchbooks there are!) of sketchbook page spreads.

This book is just amazing.  And whats more is that my work is featured (2 pieces) numerous times!  Not too sure how I managed that, but I'm feeling super proud of my little sketchbooks that I sent off to be part of this project.

You can find The Sketchbook project at The Brooklyn Art Library or online at : www.sketchbookproject.com


Have you participated in the Sketchbook Project or one like it?  I'd love to hear about it.

The 8th Manchester Artists' Book Fair

Myself and Kate Bufton behind our tables!

Back in October I took part in my 3rd Manchester Book fair which celebrated 8 years of the fair!  It's a great couple of days and I try and get caught up with what everyones been doing over the year.  Also a good opportunity to see family and friends in Manchester.

Hosted by Hot Bed Press in the Holden Gallery (part of Manchester Metropolitan University), you can see on their lovely new website the book artists that participated this year (and 2012 + 2011) along with photos - www.manchesterartistsbookfair.com

The old amongst the new - 'Statues of Europe'

Brand spanking new book!

Books and prints, bookmarks and postcards

Lucky dip bags and amazing folding books

Did you stop by and see the fair?  If not, don't worry, it'll be on around the same time next year so keep an eye out for a 'pre-fair' post on here, tweets on Twitter, and mentions on Facebook.

Badges, magnets and pocket mirrors

I've been a fan of a nice badge ever since I can remember.  And as soon as I started doing book fairs, it was something nice to have on your table to break up all the paper.  I've since branched out to pocket mirrors, utilising both my watercolour and screen printed illustrations.  Now I have something new again!  Not only have I new designs on my trusty badges and pocket mirrors, but I am also doing magnets.

HURRAH!

my little range of book related pocket mirrors

This year my pocket mirror range has really expanded and I'm proud to display 9 designs out on my table at markets and fairs, as well as 3 sets of 4 magnets and a couple of individual designs and 4 new badges.  Anyone would think I've been busy!

Book Print

Three colour ways - fluro pink, gold and blue all with a purple outline

This book pattern print came about because I wanted to make some nice bags to give out with purchases at Manchester's Artsists' Book Fair.  Turns out it's actually quite versatile!

 Various colours and sizes of bags

 I stuck to one colour with the tote bags and aside from trying to print it in lime green, am really chuffed with how they've come out.  The more I print the more I learn!

 Drying in the rack and being folded into books

I've printed this amazing folding style book before (back in uni, see the background of the blog, and in this post here) and I've often felt that people buy it a lot for the fun of the fold!  I've been selling them rather cheap for the amount of design work and concentration that goes into them - just £5!  So, as I'm coming to an end of my stock of the current book I've given this fold a re-vamp for those who are interested in the fold, and perhaps print, but weren't too keen on the illustrations.  For £5 you can now grab one of these beauties!  In either 2 or 3 colours, an edition of 30 books with the book print on them are now available - hurrah!

I had a few off cuts and hate to see paper go to waste so I'll be popping these book marks into people's bags when they purchase something at book fairs and craft markets.


Keep an eye out for this pattern popping up on other items as well :)

Book Fair coming up in October!

The Eighth Manchester Artists' Book Fair

My table at last years fair.

HURRAH it's back again!

The Manchester Artists' Book Fair happens every year and this is my 3rd year exhibiting - I'm excited to be going back!

Read about previous years here:

2011

2012

The Hot Bed Press - a printmakers studio in Salford - organise and put on a great 2 days of Artists' Books.  The Holden Gallery is full of creative loveliness spread over each Artists' table.  It's lovely to see everyones different take on the 'Artist Book', meet new people, catch up with customers and friends and enjoy little bits of Manchester for the weekend.

2013 will be held at The Holden Gallery on the 18th and 19th October - come say hi!

Have a browse on the website and keep an eye out for updates on Twitter - find me @charlsvallance.

www.manchesterartistsbookfair.com

BABE - Bristol Artist Book Event 2013

BABE - The Bristol Artists' Book Event - happens every two years and I am so pleased to be a part of it!  It's always a great weekend full of inspiring people and work.  It's a great excuse to meet up with friends in the area as well as catching up with book art people from around the country!

My next door neighbour at BABE for the weekend was the lovely Kate Bufton of 'Book Transformations'.  Her table was a wonderland of books, folds, little stories, and great pieces.

This amazingly bright and cheery table is Karoline Rerrie's.  It was lovely seeing some of her new pieces up close after having seen them online.  And of course having a good chat!

My neighbour from the last book fair in Manchester last year (read about here) is the awesome Sarah Bryant of 'Big Jump Press'.  Back in October Sarah had gorgeous books and prints on display.  This year, she's added to it with awesome postcards and notebooks...of which I picked up a couple - great for little gifts or having in your hand bag for that 'note to self'!

Coffee Club Collective is a great group of illustrators who have just published their first litho printed 1000 books full of illustrations to do with the circus.  I got my copy and I love it!

Were you there too?  Get in touch and maybe we'll be neighbours at the next BABE!

The Gifted Magpie

A gorgeous shop in Faringdon, Oxfordshire has just opened and the lovely Rachel has asked if she can stock my handmade cards, illustrated pocket mirrors and even a few copies of my 'Amazing Folding Book'.

 My little pocket mirrors and cards out on display in the shop!

I've been to Oxford numerous times and always enjoy the drive there, through gorgeous English countryside.  So having to venture past Oxford was a definite plus - more adventures!  I drove through and past so many quirkily named towns and roads, picturesque scenery and plenty of animals too.  Faringdon itself looks like a great place, lovely buildings and small streets.  A great place to visit for a day out - nice drive there, walk around, stop for tea and cake or a spot of lunch and then tell all of your friends about it by sending a card from 'Morning Mr Magpie'.

If this is near you and you get a chance to visit, leave me a comment and let me know!  I'd love to hear what you thought of the place too.

The 7th Manchester Artist Book Fair

What a great weekend!

This year Hot Bed Press managed to secure us two days in the lovely Holden Gallery, within the Manchester School of Art.  This meant that on Friday we saw lots of students and Saturday bought in people having a browse - I even recognised a few faces from last year!

I was honoured with one of the first tables as you walk in the room - can you believe it?!  Myself and Sarah, of Big Jump Press had our tables set up to welcome people in through the doors and to bid them a good journey on their way out too.

Over the two days I did manage to leave my table for long enough to enjoy a look around everyone else's tables, however, I only got photos of mine and Sarah's! Oops.

I had two new releases for this fair, my 'Down Your Street : York' screen printed book and my 'Lucky Dip' bags.  Both went down great and I had some awesome feedback.  I love hearing what people have to say about my work, it's even more fun when people are really not holding back.  I was lucky enough to hear my table be described as an 'Illustration Wonderland' - how gorgeous does that sound!? As well as '...and shit that's amazing!'  I also managed to get stocked up with more lovely stripy paper bags for future fairs in return for an Amsterdam card.

You can find a list of all the contributors here, be sure to check them out, some really stunning works.

p.s. everything on my table is available to buy and will be found in my shop here.  If it's not in the shop, send me a message and I can do a custom listing specially for you at no extra cost.


You'll find posts about the 7th Manchester Artists Book Fair on many other blogs, but after this one, you can have a look at Fishink's blog fishinkblog.wordpress.com :-D be sure to let us know if you got here from the other!

It's nearly the 7th Manchester Artist's Book Fair!

Not long to go now - YIKES I best get on with making books so I have something to sell!  Every year I think I should of had time to get up to Manchester so I could screen print a 'Manchester' book.  Yet again, I have not!  However, I will hopefully have one ready of York which is at least in the right direction eh?

Oh and also Lisbon, which is a newbie and an old favourite, my '(Delft) Blue' Amsterdam book will be available too.  I will also have some pocket mirrors, screen prints, limited edition prints of watercolour illustrations and a few cards too.

Best of British

Best of Britain

I entered a competition recently to design a postcard that portrayed the 'Best of Britain' which was set up by the Corinium Museum in Cirencester, UK.  The winning design then goes on to become a stamp design and feature on the front cover of a book of the best designs.  All entries will also be featured in a Jubilee Exhibition at the Corinium Museum from the 30th April till the 5th June.

I did a little collection of four designs as I couldn't pick just one! The first one (above) shows our Queen, she really does Britain proud. The background is the Union Jack in her colours along with tea, scones and bunting which are a few things that I associate with being 'typically British'.

This is my second of the four designs and it shows the traditional London attractions. The red telephone box, post box and bus, a black taxi and a guard from Buckingham Palace.

My third of the four designs shows British food! Well a selection, there is more than I realised or could fit on nicely. Bread, scotch eggs, jam, honey, chutney, strawberries, fish & chips and pie.

My final design brings together the United Kingdom through flowers of England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland.

You can see the winning design and all the other entries on the Best of Britain blog page here  And you can find the Corinium Museum website here for more details on the exhibition.  If you're interested in buying a set of these postcards, keep an eye out in my online shop here.

You can also now purchase the book of the entries at amazon here.

A little something for you!

Hello All!

So since joining Twitter, Facebook and having a Blog, I have entered a fair few competitions, met loads of people (some in real life as well!), enjoyed supporting other illustrators and artists, and I am so grateful for the support that you also give me.

As a little thank you, and as it is the season for giving...for a lucky participant I shall put together a little package of goodies for you to get through the post.  If you have any special requirements then you can let me know but ultimately it will be a surprise!  And yes, I shall post to ANYWHERE!

In order to be chosen you need to leave a comment on this blog post, or tweet to me ( @charlsvallance ) which of the following books is your favourite, and tell me why, as well as why you would like to win!  I shall choose the winner the old fashioned way by putting everyones names in a hat and selecting one :-)

Row of Houses

Wake up and Smell the Coffee

(Delft) Blue

Birds, Boats & Buildings

(THE AMAZING FOLDING BOOK!)

Buildings

Statues of Europe

You have until Sunday 18th December 12noon :-)

Thank you everyone!

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