Home Sweet Home

 I thought I'd share one of the lovely commissions that I worked on last year, they all make me so proud and happy but this one in particular from 2015.  People get in touch with me from all over the country/world with requests for these, and luckily, thanks to digital cameras, it is very easy to accomplish!  This is the largest size I go to currently and is just a bit smaller than A1.  Painting on such a large scale is quite daunting but such an accomplishment when it's finished and in it's new home.

If you're interested in having a house/home illustrated by me then just get in touch, charlotte_vallance@hotmail.com prices are very reasonable, starting at just £35, and there is one that should suit every budget.  You can see more information in my Etsy shop under the commission listings.

Not just for Valentines Day

Valentines Day.

You either love it or you hate it.

But I'm actually somewhere in between.  

So my 'Valentines' card this year celebrates an action rather than just full on love, which reminds me that love isn't just for a significant other.  It's for friends and family too, where ever they may be.

This was the valentine that I gave to my boyfriend last year, and we went on many adventures together, I'm looking forward to another year of that but feeling the pressure to produce a better card than last year...

 

You can buy this card (A5 and printed on a lovely textured stock) in both my Etsy and Not on the High Street shops, if you fancy exploring with someone you love.  Here are the links to the shops:

www.charlottevallance.etsy.com

www.notonthehighstreet.com/charlottevallanceillustrationanddesign

Onwards and Upwards

I love seeing customer photos - this one is shared by the lovely Tatts Treasures

Happy New Year!

We're nearly at February, 2016 really crept up on me!  I hope you all enjoyed Christmas and spending time with loved ones, however you celebrate.  I was at home with my parents and sisters for the most part and enjoyed time to crack on with some new Bookshop illustrations - hurrah!  Here are some pictures from during my illustration and painting process.  I've completed 3 new bookshops so far with more on the way once I've finished my January commissions.

If you'd like to see the finished ones then check out my Instagram feed @charlsvallance

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 Crafty Fox Market

I'd been hoping to participate in this market for ages!  It's so popular with stall holders and buyers a like that in the past I've not been accepted to sell.  But this time, I was successful and very happy to join the other sellers at the Dogstar in Brixton.  It was quite a quiet market - the weather got a bit chilly outside, but the cafe serving tea and coffee and lovely food, along with the bar, kept up a great atmosphere inside.

I love it when a market really makes me get my thinking cap on - this time it was signage for my products.  As my favourite pieces I've created are my building watercolours, I decided to focus my signage around this and created little folded cards with 'road sign' style signs to display prices of each product.  Really happy with the overall look that these give my table at a market now.

Have you been to the Crafty Fox Market?  Who is your favourite seller?  I had such a fab view of the other sellers work from my stall, however didn't get such a big opportunity to take a proper look around.

You can find out about the next Crafty Fox Market on their website or by signing up to their news letter : www.craftyfoxmarket.co.uk

Siblings Home

16 Hemdean Road, Caversham, RG4 7SX

This sweet shop - come - cafe opened earlier this year and I happily illustrated the new shop front for it's lovely owners.  Gavin approached me at Renegade Craft Fair back in November 2014 with lovely kind words about my watercolour illustrations and soon got in touch about creating a bespoke piece of their 'soon to be' open shop.

You can find them on Instagram at @siblings_home where you can see glimpses inside the lovely shop and peaks at what the cafe has to offer.  It's a bit far for me to go on a regular basis but I'm looking forward to being in the area so I can pop in for a coffee!

Wild Strawberry Cafe

What a lovely bespoke commission this was, and for such a unique venue!  Katy, who is the lady behind this fabulous cafe, got in touch for my to design a logo and postcard to advertise her cafe, in a yurt!

I drew inspiration from visiting the farm and shop that the cafe is part of, pick your own fruit, crates and flowers everywhere.  2015 will see workshops, events and much more come to this picturesque cafe and the farm it's on. 

We decided to stick to the recycled feel that Katy already had in practise with her menus, and had the postcards printed on lovely kraft paper.  It really compliments the design, and we're super happy how they turned out.

Find them on the Peterley Manor Farm website:

www.peterleymanorfarm.co.uk

If you'd like a bespoke illustration and design service for your own cafe, shop, bar, please get in touch!

The Elephant Fabric Company

I had a delightful request from Emily to design a logo for her new business 'The Elephant Fabric Company' last summer.  She was after a 'stamped effect' logo for use on her website and online shop.  Taking the name on board, it was obvious where to go for my imagery ideas, and the silhouette style links back to being similar to a stamp, and will be easy to transfer to other mediums as it's needed.


Here is is on the website, which you can find at:

www.theelephantfabriccompany.com

Emily has a blog going as well with ideas on what you can make with the material she sells - great ideas for some unique presents or treats for yourself!

La Maison Blanche - Limoux

It's been a long time coming to share this finished postcard!  You can see some of my work in progress in this post here.  There were lots of elements to take into account and include on the front, as well as keeping the reverse informative.  I was happy with how the design came out, but only working from photos this time, I want to visit and illustrate one while I'm there!

Here they are in a local shop in Limoux, advertising the lovely 'La Maison Blanche' to locals and tourists alike.  Maybe 2015 will be the year for a weekend in the South of France!


Would you like a bespoke postcard illustrated for your business?  Then please get in touch and share your ideas!  Prices are bespoke to the request but start at around £100.

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).

Personalised rugby shirt illustration

I love it when someone looks through my shop, doesn't see what they're after, and messages me with their idea and the lovely question of  'is this possible?'

This request came completely out of the blue, as I've only ever done one illustration of a rugby shirt, and it's on a Father's Day card.  But, could I illustrate the back of a thick stripe, white and navy blue rugby shirt with the text '5' (in orange) and 'Finn' underneath?  Of course I can, and I'd be happy to!

I've been lucky so far, my customers are very understanding with distance and the time it takes to ship/post an item as well as for me to actually illustrate it.  If we keep things small, everything is more manageable!

Personalised pieces like this start from just £35.

Do it Yourself Presents

So along with shopping independent for 2014 Christmas, I also made a few bits myself.  As you can't always find what you're after within your budget!  And the homemade touch is always appreciated.

Homemade tags :)

For my sister, I created her own illustrated range.  I chose a tartan, which I painted out in watercolours before scanning in and applying to a phone case for her iPhone 5.  I then used the original illustration to back a clock, and make tags for the rest of my presents.

My Sister's 'Tartan' range

For my Dad, I also made him a phone case for his iPhone 5.  He's a big fan of my Amsterdam print, so I created a bespoke pattern of the buildings in rows of streets.  I had originally tested out these cases in the summer when I created a custom one for myself.  Top tip - white picks up colour from clothes!  So I made sure there wasn't too much white around the edges here.  I also got him a discount card with Time  Out, and was looking at just giving a piece of paper on Christmas Day - not my idea of a present!  So I painted him a watercolour stand-in card and put the piece of paper in a box - much nicer.

For the bike mad boyfriend, I illustrated his motorbike on to a clock - it's always time for a bike ride then!

Bike Clock for the Boy!

For some Secret Santa presents, I made the cocktails and kittys bunting from Mollie Makes, and made the most of my own Christmas present making some madeline cakes.  I also made some cute photo frames for polaroid photos by following Claireabellemakes' tutorial here.

It turned out great!

Phone cases were printed with Awesome Merchandise for an average of £13.

Label cutter I've had for a few years, but picked it up in Hobby Craft originally.

Clocks I picked up from IKEA, a bargain at about £3 each I think.

Shopping Independent for Christmas 2014

As a small, independent illustrator/printmaker, I'm increasingly aware of where I am spending my hard earned money, and thinking where it will be appreciated.

It means so much to me every time someone buys something from my little shops.  Whether it's a complete bargain for a couple of pounds in the sale, or it's a commissioned, one of a kind piece which is worth a fair amount.  Every little bit counts!  So, if thats you, then thank you.  You give me the means to keep going (money) and the feedback I need to know I'm doing the right thing (spending your money on my illustrations).

In 2014, I tried to get most of my Christmas shopping done at Renegade Craft Fair London in November.  With so many makers, crafters, illustrators and printmakers, I had so much to choose from - I was spoilt for choice!

Promises Promises
- I sat opposite these guys for two whole days!  With a table full of lovely jewellery and sweet little taxidermy mice…I would of regretted not making a purchase. (Will update with a link soon!)

Hello Harriet
- I've followed (/known?) Harriet for a couple of years and love her work - as does my sister!  We'd be cooing over her gorgeous new dresses, but with a somewhat sensible budget for presents, I couldn't quite stretch but took a look anyway.  And I lucked out.  Harriet had also been a busy bee and done some adorable scarves which I knew my sister would adore.  Another tick on the present list.

Colette Moscrop Shop
- Also opposite me (at a diagonal) at Renegade, lovely printed materials - I could spy pouches from my view point.  Getting closer and I picked up a sweet little pin cushion, but with an added extra - you could also buy the material + filling to make your own!  What a lovely idea!  However, I am no expert at the sewing machine so i opted for this little nugget ready made.  Colette uses crushed nut shells to fill her pin cushions as they help keep pins sharp (and shiny too).

Sean Mort Print Shop
- I absolutely love Sean's work.  He seems to always have the right piece for a tricky-to-buy-for man in my life.  This year it was my Dad.  For the man that has everything and doesn't really have anything he wants….I got this great print for a man in a crafty house!  To put things in perspective, when I moved out, my Mum made my room into a 'sewing room'.

Mollie Makes
- Perfect for my Mum.  I know it's a bit of a bigger company, but they do well at advertising smaller independents.  My Mum is always asking for my copies when I have them , so a little 3 month trial subscription of her own was a great idea.

Dear Colleen
- I've bought tea towels from these guys in the past, but just couldn't resist this one for my little sister who has just gone off to University.  Bought a smile to her face when she opened it too!

Lucky Dip (Cat) Club
- Not at Renegade actually, but should of been!  This is one of the most fantastic ideas I've seen come out of 2014.  On a monthly basis, you can buy a single (or sign up for a 3/6 monthly subscription) 'Lucky Dip Box'.  Each month has a different theme and all boxes come with a personalised item.  Following on Instagram and it all looks amazing…I don't think I dropped enough hints though as Father Christmas didn't bring one.  I was at least, fast enough for the Cat Club box, which I gifted to my sister, as it was a collaboration between Lucky Dip Club and Hello Harriet!

(Photo to come soon!)

Old Letterpress Type Drawers as Shelves.
- Found at Portobello Road Market, they have a fantastic stand of letterpress bits and have a great selection of trays made into shelves.  This I thought would be great for my Mum to display all her sewing threads in.  They can all be on display and then she knows exactly what she has amiable to use.

Leelu

- I found this Little Bag of Happiness when searching for stocking fillers on Not on the High Street, and it was just the sweetest thing!  I got one for my sister, as she's away at University in Leeds now, she's not able to be home every time she wants to be so hopefully this will cheer her up when she needs it!  You can get your own little bag of happiness here.

Do you opt to shop in independent shops when you can?  Share your favourites below!

The Little Fox Market - August

It's always a pleasure doing this lovely local market -The Little Fox Market has friendly customers and the other stall holders are of brilliant standards and create a great atmosphere.  I've done a few of this monthly market over the last year, so it's nice to see familiar faces but also to meet new ones!

It's all the details that count - beautiful bunting and cute price stands!

I had Naida Crystal to the right of my stall...

...and Glow Beads was to the left of my stall.

 A happy customer at Naida Crystal's stall trying on her purchase!

As well as fabulous stalls full of art and crafty goodness this months market was packed with scrummy food as well!  We treated ourselves to some Ethiopian curry with couscous and flatbread - with a sprinkling of salad too!  There was also some delicious smelling chicken curry, and to top it off tea, coffee and an array of cakes (I went for the gluten free coconut sponge with vanilla frosting...highly recommended!)

To see more photos, have a look on The Little Fox Market's facebook page.