Colouring Books ♥

hello! It's been about 3 weeks since my last blog, which is a vast improvement for me and my blogging track record of late. It'll just be a quick post today, not rambling essay like last time.

So why am I making the time now to post a little blog? Well, i'm actually super excited to share my first ever colouring book with you all!

I've wanted to bring out a colouring book for years now, and i'm really pleased with how they've turned out, not bad for a first attempt. I was a bit nervous, even though I triple checked every page, I always panic that something might go wrong and i'll end up with something that I have to bin. But these arrived and they turned out perfectly.

I own a few colouring books myself but I rarely take time to fill any of them in (I get headaches from some of the more detailed ones!) so I thought it might be fun to have a go at creating my own instead. pretty much 'colour-in' for a living and when I post any of my lineart designs online, one or two people usually say 'oh you should make colouring pages', so that's what i've done.

as expected, the books are super girly and feminine, with girl gang themed pages and lots of candy and other sweet treats. Inside there's a selection of Candy Dolls ad a pair of Sugar Skulls along with some brand new designs created JUST for the books.

all of the images have a nice bold outline and while some of the candy doll images are on the detailed side, a lot of the 'montage' pages are nice and spaced, plenty to colour in without giving yourself a headache or hand cramp.

I think my favourite set of pages are either the 80's/90's ones (above) or the Space Babe ones (below). I had a lot of fun putting the pages together and coming up with cute things for each 'pair'. I think there's something for everyone inside, or at least for every girl. Someone asked me why I didn't put anything for boys in there... but why should I?! they get enough already.

So this is 100% girly, just like the rest of my work really.It has cakes and sweets, unicorns and trolls, a princess and a witch and heaps of GIRL POWER!

The colouring books are A5 sized (148 x 210mm / 5.8 x 8.5") saddle stitched with 32 pages and 28 pages to colour. The cover is 300gsm silk coated stock (nice and sturdy to keep everything safe) while the inner pages are 170gsm uncoated stock, perfect for pens, pencils, paints or even sharpies!

The books really are SUPER cute (even if i do say so myself), they're perfect for young, aspiring girl gang members, or grown-up girl bosses!

Here's a sneak at some of the other pages inside. As for the rest... you'll just have to order one of the books and see for yourself! 

speaking of which, I also have a brand new online shop. Although I still have items for sale on Etsy, I think my time with them might be coming to an end. So i've opened a brand new shop on Shopify.

and if you want to get your hands on one of my brand new colouring books, you can find them right HERE

if you do decide to get one, please, please, PLEASE send me a photo! I've already had a few snaps from customers, but so far I've yet to see anyone actually colour in any of the pages and i'm dying to see what cool colour schemes people come up with!

is that it, do you think i've plugged it enough? well, I hope so.

i'm just really proud of my colouring books, okay?

and on that note, i'll say goodbye, and hopefully it won't be too long until i'm back for another blog post!

so until then, thanks for visiting...

 

Spring & Summer Fashion times

it's become a bit of a tradition here on my blog over the past couple of years that every new season i run a post featuring shots from the latest collection by one of my favourite fashion designers, the very fabulous and super duper Austrian designer Lena Hoschek




i see no reason to break the tradition now so today i thought i'd share some of the gorgeousness that is her S/S 2012 collection!

this is the 4th time i'll have blogged about her designs, to read the previous posts and see the lovely past collections follow the links. A/W 2010 Hats and Happy Times, S/S 2011 50's Fashion for Spring and A/W 2011 Autumn Fashion

anyway on with the new designs! i say this every season but i think the lovely Lena might have outdone herself (once again!) this year

the new collection is divine! super girly and feminine with flirty colours and cuts + pretty nautical stripes, polka dots, florals and funky patterns

Lena's collection shoots are always absolutely fabulous, i'm loving the Italian location for this year's collection, clearly shot on and around the beautiful lake Valvestino in Gargnano in Northern Italy

so far i think my favourite pieces from the collection might just be the peppermint candy striped blouse and skirt (although maybe not together...)

since they remind me of Mary Poppins' when they all go on the carousel, Mary's dress is white and red + Bert has a candy stripe jacket on. (yes so i'm a sad geek, move on, embrace it...) i just love these pieces! i especially love the skirt and i might just really REALLY need it in my life (i wish!)

anyway we all know i'm a big Lena Hoschek fan, so without any further rambling and nonsensical gushing from me, have a little look at some of the glorious new designs for S/S 2012

isn't it all gorrrrgeous! 

once again, the amazing photographs are by the Austrian photography team - Lupi Spuma 

and to see the rest of the collection + to find out a bit more about the lovely Lena, check out her official website here - Lena Hoschek

and to see past collections + to buy your very own piece of Lena Hoschek loveliness,  (+ the A/W 2011 collection is currently on sale... ) you can head over to the shop here - Lena Hoschek Shop

oh and be sure to 'Like' the Facebook page - Lena Hoschek

All images featured in this post are from Lena Hoschek©

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so there you have it, more ridiculously pretty and gorgeous clothes that i can daydream about owning

oh and i know i said the blog was going on mini hiatus but i couldn't resist sharing the new collection with you all 

so until next time, bearing in mind that i genuinely have no idea when that'll be, that's all folks... xX

Creative Café #27 ★

hello dearhearts, i promised you a Creative Café post... so here it is!

you know what to do, however if you're a new reader and you're unfamiliar with 'the drill' it's really quite simple!

basically, you have to run away from the computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone for a moment... 

and get yourself a nice cup of tea, coffee, juice, water, champagne, smoothie or milkshake

+ oh and don't forget to grab a yummy snack in the form of a cupcake, biscuit, chocolate bar or piece of fruit

then settle down to enjoy some lovely arty times via the Creative Café blog post!

easy peasy!

so without any further ado let's get on with the post!

today it features artwork by the wonderfully talented Samantha Hahn

Samantha is an American illustrator living in Manhattan, NY. "Her illustrations feature delicate pen work and brightly colored inks for a range of editorial, publishing and licensing clients"

she uses watercolour paints and concentrated inks to create colourful and expressive illustrations

she really does create the most stunning illustrations overflowing with bursts of colour and fabulously delicate little details that make her pieces so fresh and vibrant!

her work is often very girly in nature, featuring lots of bright hues and predominantly feminine characters or themes

she works primarily with ink and watercolour but is also a very talented digital artist often creating gorgeous patterns, characters and designs using digital methods as well as traditional materials

 i particularly love the way she draws/paints eyes, simple lines yet always so expressive

i always find her work very inspiring, her illustrative style is exquisite and i just adore the colours she uses in her pieces

i also really love her text and food themed illustrations! always so gorgeous

have i rambled for long enough?! i tend to get carried away don't i?! 

okay i'll let you all scroll through some of her sumptuous illustrations at your leisure! enjoy...

super duper stunning right!

time for some lovely links now...

to see more of Samantha's beautiful artwork, be sure to head on over to her website - Samantha Hahn

she also runs a brilliant blog bursting with colourful images and lots of inspiration - Maquette

i want to say a big ol' THANK YOU to Samantha for saying yes and letting me run this mini feature, i hope you all enjoyed looking at some of her lovely work! thanks Samantha :) x

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

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in other news, you still have precisely one week left to enter the 'Blog Birthday Giveaway'

in case you missed the last post, i'm giving away a stack of super duper cute goodies to celebrate my blogs 3rd Birthday/Anniversay...... Blogiversary this month!

to find out how YOU can enter to win some prizes head on over to the Giveaway post here - Blog Birthday Giveaway 2012

i'm picking 3 winners this year as well so you never know... you might just be one of them!!!

so get entering! and until next time, that's all folks...

◕‿◕ ★ xX