This and That ❤

hello dearhearts, I know... once again it's been FOREVER since I last made time to post a blog on here!

I'm all out of excuses. It's been a mixture of laziness, apathy and a general malaise that i've been trying to shift for the past few weeks.

things are looking up though, i'm on my holidays in Ireland at the moment; I caught the ferry to Dublin first thing this morning and after stopping off in Cahir, Co Tipperary South for lunch I finally made it to Cork this afternoon. If you're a long-time follower then you'll know how Ireland always cheers me up, if you don't believe me/remember, just check out the Ireland tag HERE.

this year I'm staying in Cork, Carlow and Dublin so i'm looking forward to visiting some of my favourite places and spaces + discovering a few new ones along the way.

so what on earth HAVE I been up to for the last month?! Well, not much really...

Well I say not much, actually i've been up to quite a bit, but none of it is particularly exciting, hence why I've been such a neglectful blogger (again).

I suppose if I had to narrow it down to some of the things i've been up to, this is what I would pick...

1. Brand New Website

Yes, I have a NEW website. I'd been meaning to get a new site sorted for ages (years in fact), as much as I loved my old site, I wasn't able to alter or edit much of it without the assistance of my trusty web designer. This meant that most of the info listed on the site was no longer accurate, my age was listed as 21 (i'm 24 now) and it said that I was still studying (I graduated in 2013).

 I needed a change so after a lot of consideration and online fiddling I spent some time setting up a new site myself. This time around it's quite a bit less cluttered and more streamlined with clear navigation and nice simple galleries showcasing my artwork, it even has a gallery for my painted work. And of course most importantly, the 'about' page is now 100% up to date.

if you're so inclined, you can check out the new website HERE

2. Brand New Painting

That's right, I finished another brand new painted lady for the ongoing (and neverending) Candy Doll Club project! This time it was a painting of the 'Buzz Buzz' illustration I created in September 2014 (read more about it HERE)

 

I often work sort of higgledy-piggledy when I paint a new picture, meaning that I'm often painting and adding finelined detail at the same time. It's not ideal but it helps me to keep track of the outline + work out what needs fixing/tweaking before it all gets finished. 

As always, the most challenging part of each painting is the hair! I usually end up blending 5 or 6 colours together to create the colourful 'ombre' hair. It takes AGES but it's always worth it in the end when it's all finelined and seamlessly blended.

My favourite part of any painting is adding in the outline. Almost all of my artwork has the same bold black lineart and it's without a doubt the BEST part of a new painting. As far as i'm concerned, putting the linework down makes the painting pop and come to life. 

Without the lineart my paintings would just be jumbled and meaningless, but a steady hand and a mug full of permanent markers turns blended colours and splotchy shapes into a neat, ordered design. Drawing the honeycomb pattern on this piece was time consuming but totally worth it. 

Anyway, she was painted in acrylic, posca and spray paint on a 24x24" wooden board and is all finished now, living on my desk with some of the other paintings I have lying about at the moment.

if you're local (in the Isle of Man) and think you might like to see some of my work in person (or dare I say... buy it!) I currently have four paintings in the Isle Gallery in Tynwald Mills. 

 I had some more numbers to talk about but I think i'll save them for another post! 

Hopefully i'll actually put together another blog while i'm here in Ireland, I usually post about some of the AMAZING shops and villages I get to visit, so fingers crossed this holiday is just as fruitful for my blogging habit, or lack thereof.

anyway i'll shut up now, thanks for stopping by, come and visit again soon!

And if YOU know of any brilliant places in Cork/Carlow/Dublin that I should visit while i'm here, leave a comment below or tell me on Twitter or Facebook or Instagram 

bye for now... 

ESC pocket zine

a couple of months ago, through Twitter and Facebook and the like, i started networking with a really groovy independent zine based in Dublin called ESC

anyway, earlier last month i was chatting with one of their super members online when they mentioned that they were looking for submissions for a new project they were working on for the 'Independents Day' independent zine fair in Dublin.

regular readers of the blog will be well aware of my total love and adoration of Ireland + all things Irish (seriously if you don't believe me click on my 'Ireland' tag and see for yourself!) so i was more than happy to get involved.

they wanted drawings and poems, that sort of thing, to put into a set of mini 'pocket zines' folded in a particular way to create little mini works of art.

well, i didn't think i'd have enough time to submit anything but then i ended up not being able to sleep for a few days so i had a go in the very small hours of a day and voila... i came up with a very messy, literally scribbled mini zine at around 3am in the morning.

i'm always quite contrary so instead of submitting some stuff to go in a zine, i just made my own and scanned it in to be printed out instead. here's one i printed out for my logbook but i thought i'd snap some pics of it before it gets hidden away. 

enjoy...

there were three 'themes' to pick from 'maps and legends, how soon is now + transfiguration'. they're all song titles, so i went for 'Maps and Legends' purely because it sounded the most fun...

when you open the zine you see this delightful doodle, then when you open it again...

 it's a map! well, sort of...

i used some more lyrics from the R.E.M. 'maps and legends' song as well, just because... you know

accurate representation of where i live + Ireland.

warning: sea monsters may appear larger in real life.

anyway when you open it again you get the final page(s)

a big ol' mash up of mythical creatures and a few books because, well i just love books so...

 here we have a scowling fairy, a goblin giving a thumbs up + a messy little Irish dancer and a happy Leprechaun.

the Dr Suess quote was needed. i know it doesn't make any sense or fit in with the theme but it's MY mini zine so i'll put what i want in it. oh AND 'your argument is invalid' i got my best scientists to prove it. and they did.

oh yeah there's also a sort of Ogre/Giant type guy, a pixie and a unicorn in there as well.

and the self explanatory back cover of the zine.

did you like it? it's a bit different to what i usually do i know but my tutors are always banging on at me about stepping away from the norm so this is the best i can do to that effect what with being a mental perfectionist and all that.

to see more of the pocket zines + to find out more about ESC you can head over to their site here - ESC zine

that's it for now, keep looking out for the rest of the 'May Draw A Day' posts as the month goes on, that's all folks... xX

Creative Café #11 ★

right so, it's time for another Creative Café feature! i'm kind of excited about this one since it's for such an incredible brand and design team!

go on then, go and get your tea, coffee or if you're feeling particularly hedonistic you might want to grab a glass of champagne, it's going to be a very decadent and rather pretty post so if you want to put some lipstick on that's fine too, maybe fluff your hair a bit...

got the biscuits, cake, macaroons... caviar?!

great, let's get started...

you may have remembered that during my recent trip to Ireland, while in Waterford i visited a fab little Vintage shop (Vintage Trig, read all about it here - Rainy Waterford) and at the shop, the very lovely Agnes told me all about a local brand called 'Bonzie' and their beautiful handmade boleros and fascinators she stocked in the shop.

well i did more research when i got home and asked them if they'd be willing to let me feature some of their designs on here...

fortunately they said yes so now i get to share their lovely stuff with you all!!!

so today's post is all about the very VERY awesome and fabulous Waterford based Irish design duo Yvonne and Ger, aka Bonzie

so basically, Bonzie is all about "Vintage Inspired Fashion by Modern Hands" this means that all of the incredible boleros, wraps, corsets, dresses, skirts, corsages, blazers, tees, collars, fascinators, hats, reticules, cuffs (and everything else they carefully make!) are all bursting with delicately exquisite details consisting of only the most sumptuous of materials!

"Bonzie" is an Independent Irish Design Label with Romantic Vintage Appeal. Aunt and Niece, design duo, Ger and Yvonne work on their creative passion from their studios in Ireland. 

 their designs are so decadent and beautiful, and so carefully created, it makes every item a piece of gorgeous couture! i imagine that slipping on a Bonzie piece is like becoming a princess for the day! everything they produce is just flawlessly stunning and intrinsically feminine!

unfortunately since i was only in Waterford for a day, i never got chance to visit the Bonzie studio in the city, but the boleros and fascinators in Agnes' shop were so gorgeous i knew i'd have to find out more about such stunning creations.

"Bonzie Designs is quickly becoming Europe’s leading must have fashion brand, utilising modern technologies and centuries old techniques." 

"Each Bonzie piece is hand crafted at their purpose built studios, using hand picked sumptuous textiles that are sourced from the finest mills around the World. Each piece encompasses intricate detailing that is unique to that garment and ensuring that no two pieces of Bonzie clothing are the same."

the result... perfection!

from what i gather, Bonzie offer a bespoke service to both men and women. they will help you create the perfect piece whether it's for your wedding, prom/debs, a party, burlesque performances, or extra special tailor made pieces, perhaps for a Steampunk convention, a Victorian fancy dress ball, no matter what it is you're after, they clearly have the skills and the knowledge to make it a reality.

using only the most wonderful materials, they'll create you the perfect tailored blazer, a frothy tulle gown, a stunning fascinator, corsets, skirts, accessories to make everyone in the room stop and stare, not to mention handmade corsages so intricate they'll delight the socks off you!

even their studio in Waterford looks absolutely divine! like something from a fairytale...

anyway, we all know i like to gush and ramble on during these posts so i'll hush up now! you take your time and look through some of their truly sublime pieces...

absolutely stunning! their creations are so amazing i'm running out of words to describe them!

if you'd like to get your hands on a unique piece of Bonzie Couture, you can contact the studio via - info@bonziedesigns.com

or visit their etsy shop for a better idea of the items they make - Bonzie 

i also recomend that you stop by their pretty website and have a look through the galleries - Bonzie Designs

you can also visit their blog here for more info on up-and-coming collections, projects + studio info and client testimonials - B O N Z I E

and don't forget to 'Like' their fan page on facebook - Bonzie

+ you can also follow them via twitter - @bonziedesigns

once again, i'd like to say a MASSIVE thank you to Yvonne and Ger for saying 'yes' and letting me feature their incredible label here

thank you thank you thank you! :) x

All images featured in this post belong to Bonzie© do not claim, use, distribute, reproduce or trace ANY of their work without their express written consent. All Rights Reserved.

* * *

so i didn't post yesterday after all! you see i WAS going to but then i got ridicuslouly distracted on Pottermore... if you don't know what Pottermore is, go and google it! and if you do know what it is... i got in on Friday night and i'm a Ravenclaw (message me if you're on already and would like to add me)

anyway, since then i've not really been up to much! other than working on commission files, i had a great catch up this morning with my old graphics teacher Rob who has enlisted my help for a small project

but apart from that... really haven't been up to much!

i've got a few more creative café posts lined up (as always!) so expect one or two of those to pop up next week!

but until then, that's all folks... ◕‿◕ ★ xX

ps - there's only 3 days left to enter the August Giveaway, there's been about 155 entries so far so if you still haven't entered... now would probably be a good time to get those entries in!

click here to see the prizes + find out how YOU can enter to get your hands on all those gorgeous kawaii goodies! -

 ★ ♥August Giveaway ♥ ★