What's this? What's this? There's colour everywhere...

What's this? a BLOG post?! surely not.

but yes, it is. it's been a year + one week since i last did a proper post on here and i thought, hhm... why not start again now! surely it's as good a time as any.

so why the sudden desire to inflict my opinions upon the world once more?

well for one, i was a smidge bored.

and for another reason, it's nearly Xmas time so i figured it might be nice to do a post about some of the lovely stuff i sell in my online shop, you know, as Xmas gift ideas for y'all

so here goes!

over the past year i've tried to expand my range of merchandise a little, so now i can offer even more funky stuff featuring my designs. here are a few of the things i think would make rather nice gifts for people you don't despise.

to start with, if you're in need a nifty stocking filler?! why not get them some groovy vinyl stickers to stick on their stuff - £2.50 for 3 

looking for something for the booklover in your life that isn't books?  then why not get them a bag that they can just carry their books in! + each bag comes with a free 38mm badge - tote bag £10

 

know someone with an iPhone 4/4s, then maybe you could get them a quirky cover for their phone + each one comes with a free matching postcard - iPhone case £10

 

if they have a sweet tooth maybe they'd like one of these pastel pretty cupcake necklaces - necklace on chain £8.50

or if cupcakes aren't their thing, maybe try a Macaron pocket mirror instead. each mirror comes in a little organza bag to keep it scratch free - pocket mirror £3.50

if they're particularly health conscious or the environmentally friendly sort then this set of bicycle postcards might be right up their street - His n' Hers Bicycle cards £1.75

if you're really struggling to pick something then a surprise goodie bag is always a fun gift. Each one contains 8 lovely surprises all bundled up in a sealed dotty treat bag! the contents of each bag are worth anywhere between £12 to £20 but i'll be selling these special treat bags at a verrrrry tasty price - Marvellous Mystery goodie bags £10 each

postcards can be nice framed so why not treat someone to a pair of funky folk art inspired designs - postcard pack £1.75

really not sure what to get the person that has everything?! then a piece of original artwork could be the perfect gift! 100% hand painted and hand drawn by me - original painting on heart board £40

 

 + obviously there is heaps more lovely stuff in my Shop, lots of other tote bag designs + pocket mirrors, postcards, badges, necklaces, greetings cards and stickers galore.
go check it out.
but only if you want to!

anyway i think that's it for now, who knows, perhaps i will resume regular blog posts now. better later than never right?! 

we shall see.

until next time, cheerio folks xX

Moustaches and Matryoshkas ★

so i've had a fun day at college today, local artist/menace Juan Moore came in to teach us HNDers all about Book Binding and what not and by the end of the class we'd all successfully made our own little hardback postcard books!

genius stuff, even if mine did turn out so wobbly and messed up (damn PVA...) that i can't possibly show you a picture! it was a joyous afternoon regardless

also... i've been wearing my new Moustache necklace all day!

since it's Movember, and because i just hate to be left out of anything, i stitched this little beauty together yesterday afternoon at college and have pretty much had it on ever since! 

+ today i also wore my awesome Bow Tire necklace (from Plastic Bat) so it was double hit of coolness for sure!

i attached it to a small ball-link chain so that i can wear it ALL THE TIME! it's hand free you see... i'm not holding it up here, i was attempting (and failing...) to fix my hair! here's the finished necklace being modeled by my little teapot (a teapot that i actually made in my first year of college... yes really!)

because Movember is the perfect time to sport a fancy moustache and i don't see why boys should get to have all the moustache fun!

* * *

also...

look at what arrived today in the post!!!

really awesome and groovy Matryoshka prints! yes indeedy. 

each print measures 6x8" and comes with a one inch border in white meaning the final size is 7x9". sadly, they DON'T come mounted and cello wrapped... 

only one is mounted/wrapped and that's because it's going to be an xmas gift for a family member of mine. if you ABSOLUTELY one want mounted/wrapped, email me and i'll see what i can do.

this is a limited run of just 10 gorgeous quality Giclée prints featuring my little Matryoshka design + each one is numbered, signed and stamped on the back, printed on premium grade 308gsm Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Paper . un-framed

and who knows... they might be worth something one day ;)

to get yours or to treat someone else to one (for xmas maybe...) head on over to my Etsy shop - Jade's Shop

all prints will be tissue wrapped and sent out in hardened cardboard envelopes to ensure they arrive in perfect condition. 

* * *

another lovely thing arrived in the post today as well, a super duper postcard + 3 lovely stickers from the very fabulous Harriet Gray

i'm a huge fan of Harriet's work so i was delighted when i found out i'd won a little mini lucky dip giveaway on her blog. 

her work is just divine! to see more of it, be sure to visit her website here - Harriet Gray

* * *

in other news, believe it or not but this year at college i actually have a logbook! (gasp... shock horror!) here it is in all it's fabulous stickery glory...

to be honest i'm still not all that great at the actual content but it sure is colourful this year!

and i am trying... honestly!

that's just a sneak peek for now anyway, there's just under 30 pages filled in so far... a long way to go now though!

* * *

and that's it i think! tomorrow i'm heading in to town to collect my little cousin Sienna for a day of Xmas shopping... + i need to gather some more items to go into the Xmas giveaway bundle for the grand Christmas Giveaway Extravaganza... coming soon!

so until next time, that's all folks... ◕‿◕ ★ xX

Cards and Stickers ★

well it's been an eventful few days! if you follow me on facebook/twitter then you will already know that i've been stuck in Lancaster, UK for the past 2 days due to ferry cancellations!!! :(

basically, i was supposed to catch the boat home on Tuesday afternoon but due to motorway closures, i missed it by 10 minutes...

and unfortunately, all of the boats were cancelled the next day due to bad weather conditions!

but i'm FINALLY home now, and that's what matters :)

this morning i popped to the IOM post depot in Ramsey to collect lots of lovely parcels

containing... funky new Greetings Cards AND Sugar Skull stickers!!!!!

yaaaay get excited!

the cards are lovely quality, i'm really pleased with the silky finish + i think they look rather cute packaged up with envelopes in their little cello bags 

there are currently 5 designs to choose from... 

the Sugar Skull

Matryoshka

Candy Girl

Macarons

and a new scrabble design for Birthdays

+ they ALL have my logo on the back as well

and as for the stickers...

well i just want to stick them everywhere! but they're not really for me, they're for all of you...

anyway, ALL cards and stickers are now available to buy via my esty shop

and for a limited time only, ALL greetings cards ordered will come with a free Sugar Skull circle sticker as well!!!

i'm still attempting to procure some cards for Xmas, i'm trying to find somewhere to get them printed, so i'll keep you all posted on those!

but in the meantime, head on over to my etsy shop and have a skeet at what IS available - Jade's Etsy Shop

* * *

in other news, another lovely envelope also arrived for me today containing a very pretty print featuring the work of the lovely Madi Barrett aka Madiillustrates

you may remember that i ran a Creative Café feature on her gorgeous work a few months ago, and if you don't remember, well then you can check it out here - Creative Café #7

anyway, i've had my eye on the print for a while so i decided to treat myself! 

and since i was Madi's 20th customer she also sent me this beautiful little pocket mirror!

love, love, love it!

now i just need to find a space on my 'wall of stuff' to put up the lovely print!

* * *

i've a few more posts to run over the weekend to try and make up for the days lost in Lancaster! so be sure to look out for those

i have to go into college tomorrow, on a Saturday!!! shock horror, but i really need to get stuff printed ahead of my assessment, which had to be rescheduled because i missed it... thanks to the boat being cancelled!

anyway, until next time, that's all folks... ◕‿◕ ★

Coventry Times ★

phew! it's been a busy few days, trying to get everything sorted for going away + finishing off some commissions and stuff

i haven't slept properly since yesterday morning when i woke up... i always seem to stay awake 24hrs when i'm about to catch a boat anywhere... so i'm a little highly strung at the moment, to say the least

anyway, we (myself + my dear mama) finally made it to Coventry late this afternoon, it's been miserable weather lately but there was a colourful welcome waiting for us as we reached our destination

the picture really doesn't do it justice, it was such an incredible rainbow! a double one, and the arcs reached right back into 2 full rainbows, brilliant stuff!

i also have 2 new drawing things to share with you

i got bored in the small hours of this morning while a big thunder/lightning storm raged outside and so i drew some little Kokeshi dolls...

i also wanted to do something with my Matryoshka dolls but i'm not too sure of the result...

i think i prefer them by themselves!

other than that there's also the first in a series of 'possible' xmas card designs

i started the drawings for them all back in August just after i got back from my trip to Ireland, but despite listening to my 'Christmas Music' playlist on repeat all day, i just couldn't really get into the festive spirit so i abandoned them!

i'm attempting to take them up again now but i may end up leaving it, not sure yet!

* * *

oh oh AND when i arrived in Coventry i found an email waiting for me directing me to a nice little feature of my work from 'The Young Creatives'

Meet 20-year-old freelancerJADE BOYLAN.

When she’s not illsustrating/blogging/writing/designing, Jade can be found reading/baking/collecting/watching Formula 1. ‘I kind of suck at proper hobbies,’ she says although we could not disagree more.

Jade spends most of her money buying books. ‘When I’m not buying or reading books, I’ll probably be drawing, watching movies, or writing books of my own! Books, books, books!’

Oh, and one last thing: she just can’t STAND celery...

these are just the images from it, the actual interview bit was v fun to do, you can see the full feature + read it all here - TYC

* * *

right and i think that's it for now, tonight i plan to sit in my hotel room and sleep... lots! 

tomorrow i think i'm off to see my big sister + my nieces and nephew so that should be suuuuper!

so until next time, that's all folks... ◕‿◕ ★ xX

Matryoshka Stuff ★

so remember a while ago when i told you all that i'd been asked to design a tattoo for the lovely Melanie, owner of the Alpine café aka my home from home, well i STILL don't have a photo of the groovy tattoo but i figured i could still share a bit of it with you all!

basically, Melanie loves all things folky so the decor of the Alpine is full of vintage books, posters, photos, cuckoo clocks, records and all manner of other funky bits and bobs

when she asked me to design the tattoo for her, she said that she wanted the main part to feature a Russian doll which i dutifully drew out for her

the finished tattoo features all sorts of stuff but the Russian doll, or Matryoshka, is my fave part of it, so this weekend, having nothing else to do, i decided to have a go at colouring the little Matryoshka (seeing as the version i gave Melanie was just black and white)

these were the results... 

(Copyright © Jade Boylan 2011. All Rights Reserved.)

this one above is the latest, or 'final' version. it's a little different to what i normally do especially seeing as the black outline has vanished! i wanted a sort of screen printed effect and i'm actually hoping to have a go at silk screening a proper version of this once i get settled back at college! fingers crossed it'll work... i'd love to see these printed up massive!!!

it seems that my current fascination with all things CMYK is still here, so naturally i had to have a go at a CMYK Matryoshka, here she is (above) looking very bright

this one here (above) was the first 'silk screen' version i came up with although now i think it looks more like a batik technique's been used or something?! 

and last but not least we have the original. this is the full line drawing coloured the way i envisioned it as a tatoo. Melanie has picked different colours for hers but when i drew it all out, this is how it looked in my mind. 

so yeah, Matryoshka times!

i finally got around to uploading the designs today so now they're available to buy on iPhone cases and t-shirts and stuff...

ok so the baby onesie colours don't quite pop as brightly but it's the redbubble colour conversion to blame, not me! god knows i try to retain colour quality but no matter how many times i use the colour conversion chart, they always end up duller :S

it's still cute though...

+ the iPhone case has made me even more desperado for an iPhone of my own :)

you can also get it on prints, postcards, canvases, guys/girls tees, baby tees, hoodies and stickers.

tees/prints/iPhone cases - Society6 

tees/prints/stickers/onesies - redbubble

feedback would be nice on this so if you like/love/loathe this design, drop me a comment/tweet/email and let me know! 

if people like it i will get some postcards/greetings cards printed up with the full blue background version

* * *

not much else really, working on the Matryoshka also got me tweaking a few of the other tattoo designs and i ended up producing a new wallpaper for my desktop since i thought the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy 'Don't Panic' had been there long enough...

it's supposed to look like a papercut... i'm not sure if it succeeds though! it's just a test piece anyway...

* * *

yup so i think that's it! i'm off back to College tomorrow so not sure if i'll be posting tomorrow night or not, depends on how the day goes i guess!!!

so until next time, that's all folks ◕‿◕ ★ xX