Christmas Calling ♥

hello dearhearts, I'm currently away in Coventry on a little holiday to visit my family before Christmas. We're a little later across than usual this year and unfortunately the weather has decided to turn particularly vile for the time of year. If you live in the UK then chances are you've already experienced the delightful barrage of wind and rain we've been getting this week, along with a possible side of severe flooding and coastal damage, as Storm Desmond batters the country.

back on the Island, there has been some of the worst flood damage the island has ever seen, I hope that all my friends and family back home stay safe through these storms!

anyway, on with post I suppose...

There are now only 20 days until Xmas 2015, and I stupidly just remembered that I STILL haven't shared this years Christmas card designs with you all!

this is yet further proof that I am a forgetful eejit and I know that I've probably left it too late but I'm going to show you the cards anyway.

2015 Christmas Card Designs

So this year, instead of Christmas candy Sugar Skulls, I went for something a little more kitsch, so we have festive flamingo cards + Christmas cactus cards! Because if you can't be a little wacky and unusual at Christmas time, when can you?!

Christmas Cactus on pink polka dots

each design was created specifically for the cards, they were both ideas that I'd been playing around with for a while. I knew that I wanted to draw a Cactus and a Flamingo, it wasn't until I started adding Christmas stuff that I realised they'd probably make cute cards.

Festive Flamingo on blue stripes

they're very bright and vibrant, the designs are happy and although admittedly not very traditional, still plenty festive and fun. As per usual I've been sending them out as my own personal Xmas cards to family and friends, but they're available to buy via my Etsy and Depop shops, should you take a fancy to them yourselves.

the back of the cards

The cards are A6 sized (105x148mm) 100% professionally printed in the UK on 300gsm trucard, a lovely sturdy card stock with a light satin coating on the outside while the inside is blank and left uncoated, making it easier for you to write your own message in a fancy gold gel pen, felt-tip, fountain pen or a biro, whichever you prefer! + each card comes safely sealed in a cello bag, with a kraft paper envelope.



As if the cards aren't Christmassy enough, I also have some super cute Christmas glitter brooches available! there are 6 festive shades of glitter fabric + 3 cute charms to choose from

Christmas Glitter Brooches

These brooches are super sparkly but the best thing about them is that the glitter fabric DOES NOT SHED GLITTER!!! Which is perfect because if you're anything like me then you're one of those people that somehow ends up with glitter everywhere! Well, that won't happen with one of these. You can show your appreciation for all things festive AND sparkly without finding glitter embedded on your cheeks and eyelids three days later. All brooches are available to buy HERE

sparkly and fun

You're probably wondering why I'm bothering to offer any of these things if I'm away on holiday... BUT although it's true that the brooches won't ship until December 10th, I brought a big stack of the Christmas cards away with me so I will happily post them out to you while I'm in England.

aren't I considerate?!


Also, if you're in the UK then you might know that today is Small Business Saturday, which for those of you unfamiliar with it... "Small Business Saturday UK is a grass-roots campaign which exists to support, promote and inspire small businesses, on the first Saturday in December, and beyond"

 that means that today is the PERFECT day to go out (or stay in) and support a Small British Business. Regardless of where you live, there will be plenty of local or national businesses that you can support in person or online.

If you want a suggestion, then allow me to present my own Etsy Shop as a possible candidate for your generous patronage, in an utterly shameless plug ^_^

I'm also giving away a free Sugar Skull circle sticker with EVERY order placed today in my Etsy and Depop shops

anyway on that note I'll shut up for now.

so until next time, cheerio!

Happy Day ♥

hello dearhearts, crikey it's been exactly a month since my last post on here, i'm really not too great at this whole blogging malarkey am I?!
wait, don't answer that...

anyway I'm here now and I wanted to fill you in on a few of the things that have happened recently to keep me away from here... but then I thought 'nah'.

so instead i'm going to tell you about what I did last weekend because you see last Sunday I became a Godmother! woooooo!!!

I was over the moon when one of my very best friends Hayley, whom I've known since College, asked me to be Godmother to her youngest daughter Imogen. I mean obviously I said 'yes' otherwise I wouldn't be writing this blog. Although I was a little disappointed as I'd originally thought Hayley was proposing to me... oh well, you can't have everything I suppose!

Little Miss Imogen and her lovely Mama, Hayley.

Hayley and I first met the day we were both interviewed for a place on the Art and Design course. Luckily we both got accepted so on my first day of class she was the ONLY person I recognized or knew, so naturally I became her personal limpet. That was in September 2008 and we're still good friends now, so I couldn't have been quite as annoying as I thought! I feel very lucky to still have her as a friend as she's really nice and possibly even more sarcastic than I am! She has two very beautiful and adorable daughters and I felt very honoured that she chose me to be a Godmother.

the amazing (and delicious) Christening cake!

Anyway, the Christening day was last Sunday at St Peter's Church in Onchan here on the Isle of Man. It was a really lovely day, the sun was out and friends and family sat in the church to watch Miss Imogen Evie Reid get baptized. The Vicar was a little over enthusiastic with the holy water so most of the front two pews got baptized as well. I of course got a handful of water in the face, but I didn't burst into flames so that's one good thing!

proud parents! Hayley and Lewis with Imogen in St Peter's Church.

It was perhaps a little more eventful than planned as poor Imogen accidentally had a bump during the service and suffered a little nosebleed, there were some tears and crying but after that things went off without a hitch and after the Christening it was time for a bit of a party! Hayley and her family put on an amazing spread of food and sweet treats including a chocolate fountain (yum!) and more chips and pasty than you can actually imagine.

Gracie, Imogen's big sister.

along with the tubs of jelly and marshmallows and cookies, there were also some cupcakes that I made for the Christening. I'd met Hayley a few days before to take Gracie to the park and I ended up offering to bake some cupcakes to bring along. Now this might not seem like too big a deal but at the time I was in the early stages of a vile cold/sore throat, I had two commissions on the go and I'm not the most successful baker even at the best of times.

mid baking... oops!

So... as you can see, things got off to a great start. I had to wear a mask while I made them (so as not to give anyone else the dreaded 'cold') and it was going quite well; I'd made up the cake batter, I had everything ready and then, splash! While pouring myself a well earned glass of pop I ended up soaking myself and the kitchen floor creating a big sticky mess. Because apparently I am still a child and not in fact a twenty-four-year-old woman (with polar bear socks).

before and after.

It all turned out fine in the end though, after some very helpful mopping from Mama Boylan (thanks mum!) I ended up with 32 mini cupcakes (at about 11:30pm) so I decided to ice them the next morning ready for the Christening. I love piping pink vanilla buttercream onto cakes, it's surprisingly therapeutic and it's always fun to lick the spoon afterwards. Anyway they seemed popular at the Christening as there were only 2 left by the time I went home but it wasn't until I got back that I realised I completely forgot to try one myself!

the print I designed for the Christening.

It was probably more trouble figuring out how to transport the cakes from my house to the venue than it was to the make the ruddy things and i'll definitely think twice before I volunteer my questionable baking skills again in the future! Luckily my contributions weren't a total loss as Hayley had also (cunningly) managed to get me to volunteer for some less messy work. So as per her request, I designed a simple typography print with Imogen's birth info on for the Christening day. You will have seen it at the start of the post as well. Ducks are Imogen's favourite animal so there's four on the print; one each for her, her big sister Gracie and her Mummy and Daddy.

my gifts for Imogen.

I was definitely in a making mood all week because I ended up making two of Imogen's gifts myself. I stitched together a little pink bunny for her room and then I got my sewing machine out to struggle through making a string of pretty bunting. I love sewing by hand but the sewing machine and I do NOT often see eye to eye (it hates me for some reason) so the bunting is a little wonky, but still looks okay. The other gifts were a special laser-cut keepsake plaque and a cute teeny tiny pearl bracelet with her name + a little silver charm with 'goddaughter' on.

me... all dressed up!

Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures at the church and I couldn't manage to lure Imogen away from her mum/dad/grandparents/aunt/uncle to grab a snap with her. So instead you'll have to contend with a shameless selfie of me in the lovely dress I bought just for the Christening (it's from HERE if you're interested).

It was a lot of fun to be part of such a special day for Imogen and her family, so big BIG thanks to Hayley for putting up with me for all these years + asking me to be a part of her child's life!

* * *

as you can probably tell this was more of a personal post today. So if you only come here for the art then i'm sorry but I am a real person and I do sometimes actually go out and DO things. I do have some new illustrated bits n' bobs to share with you but they will have to wait for another time, so I will do my best to post another blog next week maybe.

so until then, thanks for visiting! byeeeeeeee.

Marvellous Merch ❤️

hello dearhearts! It's been a fortnight since I got back from my holidays in Ireland and I have been SUPER busy since I got home.

I'm having a stall at the local Vintage Fashion Fair this weekend and have been working hard every day to get new products ready + sorting out existing goodies to take to the fair!

so I thought I might give you all a sneak peek at some of the tasty new treats i'll be selling at my stall!

if you follow me on Instagram (and by now, you really should if you don't already!) then you'll probably have seen snaps of my new products but for those of you that haven't, here are some of the candy cute items i'll have of offer on Saturday...

first up we have some luuurrrvely new Candy Doll Club postcards! it's been a good while since I last got any new postcards printed so I thought it was about time I got some of my more recent illustrations made up. There are six new Candy Doll designs to choose from.

As well as three cute fanart designs as well. I picked three of my fave ladies from Japanese Pop Culture and created some fun illustrations inspired by them.

next up we have one of my favourite new products, glitter heart brooches!
All of these funky brooches are handmade (by yours truly) using top quality glitter fabric (that doesn't shed glitter!), laser cut wooden hearts, nickel-free brooch backs and a collection of cute hand-painted resin charms! There are lost of different designs to choose from and i'll have some of each with me on Saturday, so stop by the stall and treat yourself to a sparkly treat!

 if glitter isn't really your thing, I also have some lovely wooden Kokeshi Doll brooches. Each one has been carefully hand decorated using satin ribbon and teeny tiny gems and pearls, a very sweet addition to any outfit i'm sure you will agree!



I will also have BRAND NEW dapper fox brooches + rainbow elephants and a whole host of other random and one-of-a-kind designs!

onto my brilliant new Girl Gang sticker sheets! each sheet contains 12 different stickers in vibrant candy colours, a must have for any wannabe Candy Doll or aspiring Girl Gang leader!

as well as all of this lovely stuff, i'll also be be bringing some Special Offer items including MEGA Mystery Goodie Boxes and Candy Doll Club Membership Packs, sticker packs, greetings cards, prints, zines, cushions, tote bags and even a few original paintings!

so you know what to do, if you're a local then get yourself to Braddan Church Hall on Saturday and snap up some sweet treats!

and don't worry if you can't make it or if you live far away, most of the goodies are available to purchase in my Etsy Shop!

that's all I have for now! i'm working on a new Candy Doll illustration so y'all can expect to see that over the next week or so.

so until next time, thanks for stopping by! hope to see you here again soon...

Galleries and Gingerbread ★

so yesterday, before i headed off to the gallery times (more about that soon) i spent some time stitching and sewing at my college desk, so here's a snap of what i've been working on lately...

yaaay Gingerbread plushies! now it really must be nearly Christmas!!!

i spent my day at college making them. it was lovely to get back to some stitching! i think i've missed it!

even if my desk was a mess of felt, ribbon, embroidery floss and buttons all day...

some of these are already available in my Etsy Shop (on a made to order basis)

so i also realised yesterday that i'd completely forgotten about the 'Xmas Giveaway' i promised you all! i've just been so busy lately i honestly haven't had chance to gather up some goodies for it! (i haven't even started my Xmas gift shopping yet either!!!) so i've decided to postpone the giveaway for a while...

instead, i'll be holding a mahoosive NEW YEAR Giveaway Extravaganza! i promise!!! so keep your eyes peeled in early 2012 for some fun giveaway times!

so to make up for this (sort of... i hope!) + because today is Thanksgiving and tomorrow is 'Black Friday' i'm offering 15% off EVERYTHING in my Etsy Shop until the 15th of December 

all you have to do is type in the coupon code FESTIVEFUN when you make your order

so you know... Merry Christmas :)

* * *

right so, as i mentioned in my last post, some of my work is currently on display in a groovy group exhibition at a little local Gallery in Tynwald, and last night was the exhibition preview night!

 it was a fab exhibition but it was kind of weird to me, getting to display my work alongside some of the islands top artists and photographers! weird but brilliant :)

my best pal Courtney tagged along to keep me company and we had a laugh wandering around the gallery + the Tynwald café and shops all night

all together i had 7 pieces in the show. my 4 sweet canvases...

2 lovely framed giclée prints of the sugar skull and matryoshka

(+ some pretty mounted/bagged prints for sale as well...) 

and my 'un-domestic Goddess' canvas which miraculously... is the piece that sold :)

i didn't manage to snap too many photos but it was a brilliant night! and best of all, like i said... i actually sold something!!!

crazy awesome times! thanks to all those that popped along to have a little peek at all the work! the Exhibition will be running right through Xmas so if you live local and head to Tynwald to do any Xmas shopping, be sure to pop in and have a look!

* * *

so not much else to tell really, here are a few of the fun colouring/maze pages i've been working on recently for a lovely local commission

these have been sooooo much fun to work on! i can't wait to do some more stuff for 'Imagination Station' in the New Year

to find out more about Imagination Station + to download your own copies of the colouring sheets, check out the official Facebook page here - Imagination Station

and on that note, i'll say goodbye for now!

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.

* * *

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 ♥ ★