New Illustrations

Well Spring has officially sprung in Derbyshire and we have lots of lovely things going on here at Violet Lake Studio.  After months of being in a dormant state it's suddenly all go, go go!

I have been working on some commissions for two websites which is most exciting, a project for the Alzheimer's Society (more about that soon) and finally people, I thought it would never happen BUT....we are moving house! woooohoooo! It is early days for this so shall update when it's a bit more official.  I'm trying to be all calm and detatched like 'yeah, whatever' but it's all a lie *throws open the new John Lewis furniture catalogue enthusiastically and makes list*.  Good thoughts people, good thoughts.

OK, so work wise this is what I've been toiling over...

Here's a piece I created as a test commission for a lovely web based magazine called '91Magazine' which  is just a delightful read from start to finish.  Definitely my kind of magazine. It is based on the map from Issue 2 as per the brief. Fingers crossed they like it!

The other illustrations are for a website called 'That Special Dress' which is an uber stylish dress hire company.  I am a tinesy bit biased as it is owned by my sister but I think you will still agree it is fabulous!  It was a family affair in design - My sister and I spent a while hammering out ideas that would compliment the site but still in my style and my other half did a good deal of the designing/ digital wizardry. 

The 'how it works' page changed its look slightly, so the one on the site is a bit different - but I love both.

I think we did pretty good considering it was a fairly new venture for us all.  You can see more of my work on a sticker and some flyer's but you will have to order a dress to see those :)

The dresses are all lovely and I will certainly be wearing a few for some special occasions I have lined up this year.  However my favourite item is the Tracey Reece Fairy Tale Cape which is just so gorgeous you would never want to take it off!

That is all for now, hope you enjoyed the pictures :)

Spring

I have a memory of being about seven and waking up in my tiny, cosy bedroom, to sun gently peeking in over the tops of my curtains. My alarm clock was the sound of the cheeping (squawking) baby birds nesting close to the air brick.

It would only ever happen at this time of year, around Easter, and it signalled the start of spring. It wasn't just the sun, it was the quality of light, the colour it tinted my ceiling. It quietly whispered 'winter is dead'.

Then I'd throw on one of my 80's outfits  - something similar to one of these outfits (my sister had a hedgehog toy like the girl on the front row also, which I believe it was a puppet) and play in the garden.

Now whenever I see the sun just peeking over my curtains, I think of that delicious memory and know everything will be waking up again. It's a bracing kind of feeling that makes you glad to be alive.
I had that very experience this morning and it made me so happy. Sure, the weather can still be terrible in spring, but I always savour those sunny mornings. Sadly I can't go into the garden to play today but I will pretend I am.

Woodland Drawing

Happy New Year everyone.

New drawing I just finished in Silver point - kind of a botanical/ woodland-ish/ animal theme....The values are slightly darker than the actual picture (due to some digital enhancement) but Silver point is a tricky beast to try and capture. I may colour it but I haven't decided yet - what do you think?

This will be available as a print very soon :)

Happy Christmas

Papers from Minimega via Polliblog

WHOOOOOSSHHHHHH! What was that? Oh, that was the sound of Christmas flying past.

Yes, it's been and gone, now all eyes are firmly focused on New Year celebrations.  I had the most wonderful time with friends and family over the last few weeks and have been very spoilt.  So a BIG thank you to them for making it so special - although I have Wii arm now. I specifically blame my Sister who was an ardent supporter of using it this Christmas.  No, I'm kidding it was super fun. I hope you all had a great time too.

We are currently in the no man's land (so to speak) between Boxing Day and New Years eve when everyone wonders what is actually open and looking at the tree wistfully, knowing that it's twinkly days are numbered. Maybe that's just me? I'm trying not to eat all the bad things in the house as well. I had some minor heart palpitations during the Christmas Poirot and knew it was down to all the mega calories I'd consumed since Friday. Obviously my 2012 involves getting fit. Very fit  o_o

So I wish you all a fabulous and fun new year.  I shall see you in January peeps! *pulls party popper*

xxxxx

Free Festive Tags!

As this season is about the spirit of giving, I have created you all some tags which can be downloaded for free!  This is Marcel, just hanging out with you for Christmas.

I say I created them, but really I just made a nice design whilst my other half actually made them into the printable form you see before you. Yey husband.  I did attempt it myself but it led to an unpleasant episode of mardiness when GIMP crashed on THREE unsaved designs.  You might think I would have learned by the second time to save it more than once every 15 minutes?.....Anyway a lot of love went into these tags and I give them to you as my gift for this year :)

(FYI if you open this in Microsoft picture viewer it might look squished.  It should print fine)

Marcel :)

Follow the link and print

You can also go to here to download from a larger file.  So HURRAH for Christmas, and free tags to grace your presents - like a tag team of awesomeness! Enjoy lovelies, enjoy. Not long now.... xxx

I LOVE Christmas

What Christmas news do I have for from Violet Lake Studio? Well firstly - I love this time of year (who doesn't?) but that isn't really news. No, it is that I have just put my Christmas Cards up in the shop!  Yes, two designs for your sending pleasure :)

Little Deer 

Kitty-Cats

Pretty huh? They turned out really well in my opinion.  I have only printed a limited number because I really hate mass produced Christmas cards and I wanted to keep them special.  

Also we have our tree up - which you can see sparkling nicely away in the background of my Kitty cat card pic.  I spent a very happy Saturday decorating it whilst listening to the dulcet tones of The Buble.  We also have the Robin bunting up which I made last year (technically never came down) but it looks happy again now it's old pal the tree has returned!

In other non Christmas news I have been listening non stop to the new Florence & The Machine album 'Ceremonials' which my sister kindly gifted to me.  If you liked the last one I suggest you jolly well run (or click) to your nearest purveyor of music and buy it!  Honest to goodness, there are some epic gems on there.  'No Light, No Light' is my favourite track so far, enjoy.

How much is that doggy in the picture?

Good question, I don't know yet. Or indeed what she is going to be. However she is very cute and her name is Petunia....Yes.

I'm very excited about this make as it has endless possibilities! On to more important stuffs, it is Friday (as if you didn't know). What are you all up to this weekend? I hope its full of fun and frollics for you :)