May Drawing Challenge - Day 21

i've been v busy today editing stuff and tidying up stuff so i left the doodle a bit late. the theme was 'a ladder made up of words' so this is what i came up with...

my little ladder consists of the last few lines of "The Circus Animals' Desertion" by Irish poet and writer William Butler Yeats

here's the quote i used since you can't really make it out in the scribble above!

Now that my ladder's gone,
I must lie down where all the ladders start,
In the foul rag-and-bone shop of the heart.

(and if you want to, you can read the full poem here)

admittedly these 'made up of words' themes aren't really my cup of tea since i can't find a way to paint for them, but rules are rules so there you go.

and until tomorrow, that's all folks... xX

May Drawing Challenge - Day 14

the theme for today was a bit of a tricky one i thought, 'a tree made up of words' conjured up all sorts of images in my head and i struggled to decide on what to draw. i've been working in my college logbook all day sticking in research while listening to music. earlier this afternoon a particular song came up on my macbook and so i ended up doodling this...

yep no colour. i wasn't really in the mood to doodle or drawn anything today let alone attempt a colourfully painted tree so it's definitely my simplest doodle so far but is still quite clearly a tree made of words, well lyrics to be precise.

some lyrics from 'Follow You Down To The Red Oak Tree' by Irish folk singer James Vincent McMorrow. and just in case you're now sitting there wondering what the song sounds like, here's the video for it :)





anyway that's that and that's my doodle for today.

so until tomorrow, that's all folks... xX

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

cupcakes and postcards ★

so i've been busy, busy, busy again today working away on commissions stuff! (which i'll tell you more about in a moment) but first i want to share a recent logo design with you all...

it's for a very groooovy Cupcake Business in Coventry... run by my lovely big sister Simone!

i did various logo, banner and blog designs for her before i popped over to Coventry the other week

she really does make truly scrumptious cakes and treats! 

anyway, while i was there i ran up a design for some business cards! she sent me a few in the post so i can put some in my logbook for college

don't they look fab! i'm very proud of her for doing all this and she's soooo good at baking delicious cakes and sweets that i've always said she should be selling/making them professionally!

you can see more of her cakes on the Facebook Page - Foxy's Fancies

+ be sure to check out the blog too - Foxy's Blog

there's also a Twitter page - @foxysfancies

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something else arrived in the post as well, some brand new promotional postcards for me to hand out at craft fairs and the like

these aren't to sell though obviously, the idea is that if anyone buys anything from my etsy shop, they get a nice sugar skull sticker + one of these with their order, so that's the ONLY way to get hold of one! :)

anyway back to commissions, last week i was asked to design an Irish Pin-up girl tattoo for a lovely local client

it was great to get back to drawing a Pin-up and was especially awesome since she had to be Irish themed!

this is the finished (coloured) design for the tattoo artist to work from. i can't wait to see what it looks like tattooed properly!

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a separate commission has had me drawing all manner or vintage type things recently as well, here are some caps of how the flyer is currently progressing...

shame i STILL can't seem to draw guys! but oh well!

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i can't think of anything else to tell you all, i'm back at college tomorrow morning then i have a business meeting in the afternoon so lots to be getting on with i guess!

so until next time, 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.

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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 ♥ ★