Hello Again & Giveaway

Hello Blogland, how have you been? I haven't been ignoring you, I knew you were there I've just been a little... intimidated. I think that's the right word, but I'm back now with a new (ish) look. What do you think?

I've not blogged in a while and I'm of the habit, so I'm just going to throw some rambling thoughts I've had at you. My ultimate dream is to work for myself selling my work and designing loads of awesome stuff for folk and I was going to use this past week to take all my ideas and make the master plan as I had time off work. When I finally packed up last Friday and got home I dropped in a heap on the couch absolutely burst. Sod's law ensued and I've been full of the cold all week - my week off!

So my plans went out the window and I had a few PJ days watching telly, reading my comics and trying to finalise the line work for my 30th birthday tattoo (I'll blog more about that in another post, but here's a sneak peek).

In the middle of all that I started drawing, just drawing for no reason. Something I've not done for what feels like forever! It was so much fun and so relaxing and when I'd finished I felt happy with what I'd done. It was at that point I realised I have been putting so much pressure on myself to succeed. So much so that nothing was getting done. I've been going round and round in circles making plans, getting too stressed and abandoning them or just not taking the time to do the things I want. In turn this was making me frustrated and angry with myself and feeling like a failure.

Now that little burst of negativity is out of the way, what's the good point in this story? Well, realising all that made me feel like this:

It's time to stop making plans and just DO! I am going to design awesome things and sell then and I'm going to be happy doing it, because that's what I want to do. How's that for a plan? :)

***
So to kick off my return and to celebrate Halloween, I thought I'd do a wee horror-esque giveaway. Everyone loves horror movies and Funko Pop! Vinyls don't they?  Well, you're in luck. I have a cute little Jason to giveaway along with one of the sketches I did this week, here's a looksee.

I'm also offering to colour the sketch with some Promarkers if you'd like, I'll ask the winner about that when he/she is announced on the 2nd November. Please read the T's & C's and tell me what you're favourite scary movie is in the comments...

Thanks for reading folks, I'll post again soon.

1. Please actually do what the giveaway asks. I do check the winning entry to make sure the entry is valid. If the entry isn’t valid I will pick a new winner.
2. Once the winner is validated and emailed, he/she has 48 hours to reply and accept the prize. If he/she does not reply within 48 hours a new winner will be selected.
3.  The giveaway is international so enter away :D

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Creative Collective #1 - My Word of 2014

Finding ways to be more creative is always a good thing and something I'm always trying to do. So when I read about Melyssa's Creative Collective idea over at The Nectar Collective I couldn't wait to get started.

Our first assignment from Melyssa was to think about the year ahead:

Think of a word that you want to focus on in 2014.

Find a piece of paper, cardboard, old pizza boxes, whatever, and write your word out. You can include photos, magazine clippings, paint splotches, random household items, or anything, really, that embodies this word to you. Make it colourful, if you like. Then hang it somewhere in your house or bedroom where it can inspire you and help you maintain your focus throughout the year.

It took a while to narrow it down to just one word, but I kept coming back to the same one - Growth.

I did a fair bit of growing last year with regards to my outlook on things, but there's still plenty to be done. I should be kinder to myself - I'm my own worst enemy and critic so it's time to let that go and be a little bit much more forgiving.

This year I'm also challenging myself to meet my fitness goals - to grow to love myself and body more. A bit mushy I know, but hey! I've got the January blues at the moment being pretty unhappy with my weight, but more importantly unhappy with how unfit I am. This must change! If I get my fitness back I'll grow healthier, more alert and more energetic - all good stuff!

With each experience we grow and I'm aiming to take on new experiences and grow and learn with each one. The Creative Collective will be a great way to get this going, get creative and connect with new bloggers - again all good stuff. 

Like I said in one of my previous posts, this is my positive year and it's time to Make it So!

Have you linked up with Melyssa's Creative Collective yet? Join in by hitting the button below and get your creative on!

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How To Keep Calm and Focused

Keeping focused and calm during a big project can prove pretty difficult sometimes, especially if things go wrong. These past three weeks have seen ups and downs, disasters and successes as well as some stress filled days.

I've been working on the biggest project I've ever been commissioned to do so I was determined to succeed and make it happen. It meant learning a lot along the way and also thinking on my feet. It also caused stress when things started to go wrong and I had the horrible feeling it might not be done in time. Finding ways to stay calm, focused and motivated were essential to keep on top of things.

With all this in mind I wanted to share some of the things I've learned or rediscovered during the project.

Write It Down

Making a to do list not only helps you keep track of what needs to be done, but also helps you prioritise your job list. You can also use it to break down bigger projects in to more manageable goals. So instead of "Carina's Logo" you can break it down in to:

• Research
• Initial Sketches
• Finalise Design
• Digitise Line Work
• Deliver Final Design

This keeps you on track and focused on the smaller goals instead of one big intimidating one.

  Take a Breather

Breaks are important to keep you motivated, especially if you're stuck in a rut or suffering from the dreaded creative block. Take five minutes to do some deep breathing or half an hour to chill out and get some lunch. Going for a walk is another great way to refresh your brain. Go out and get some air and you're guaranteed to come back ready to go. Take a camera and/or notepad with you too as you never know when inspiration will strike.

Whatever you choose make sure you walk away from what you're working on and don't focus on it! I personally love taking half an hour out to read a chapter or two of a book. It totally breaks my mind away from what I'm working on, allowing me to go back completely refreshed and ready to work. Remember to set an alarm though as we all know how a book can grab you and keep you!

Workin' 9 to 5

It's important to try and set regular working hours and a working schedule. This will help establish a routine and keep you organised.

Get up early and enjoy your breakie! Breakfast is a great time to prepare for the rest of your day. I've heard of folk practising mindful techniques or thinking of things they are grateful for to help them start the day on a positive. I personally like to spend my breakfast time relaxing and focusing on positive things before I start my work. It really helps me to get in the right frame of mind before getting stuck in.
I also like to take half an hour to watch some morning telly. Either Frasier or Everybody Loves Raymond are my shows of choice as a good dose of laughter can also set you up for a great day.

Sort Your Space Out

I am a notoriously messy desk keeper while working! During a project my work space ends up covered in paper, notes, pencils, pens and empty cups that once held my tea. It's definitely something I still need to work on, especially as I feel way more productive when my desk is tidy! A tidy workspace will stop you getting distracted and in turn keep you more focused.

De-clutter your workspace and try to keep it organised. Organise your notes and inspirations on a pin board and make some cool storage pots for your stuff - the perfect excuse to get your DIY on (and make more mess), just make sure you tidy up after yourself!

And The Reward Goes To

Here's the fun part! Help yourself to achieve your goals by setting rewards. If you get all your research done or knock out ten sketches then treat yourself to a walk in the park or something sweeter. You know, that tub of ice cream that's been at the back of the freezer. Not all of it mind, just a wee bit. Go on, you;ve worked hard and deserve it! Or if you've been working solid for a few days without fail reward yourself with a day off.

Rewarding yourself this way will keep you motivated during a project, especially if you've been struggling with it. Recently I've been going for the ice cream reward, it's definitely been getting my days work done knowing the Carte D'or was waiting for me at the end of the day.

***

Well these are some of the ways I keep calm, focused and motivated whilst working on any project big or small and I hope you found them useful for your freelance work, art commissions or even personal projects.

Even if you're not working on something at the moment I hope there is something you can take away from the things I've learned. Best of luck with all your projects.

How do you keep calm and focused when you're working? Share your wisdom in the comments.

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Design Giveaway

Yes that's right folkies, I am indeed venturing in to the world of blog giveaways. As I want to promote design and general artyness I thought keeping it related would be sweet so I'm giving away a few tools of the trade - a Pantone sketchbook, some recycled pencils and bright pink ruler, both from Paperchase and some Letraset fineliner pens - all products I use pretty much on a daily basis, obviously these are shiny new ones and not my hand-me-downs!

If you love to draw, doodle, design, keep art journals or would like to learn how to do any of them, then this is the perfect way for you yo get started! If you're interested in winning some lovely sketchy goodies, enter below.

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My First Guest Post + Giveaway

Last week I had the pleasure of writing my very first guest post for the lovely Crystal over at The Happy Type. It was all about my creative process and I really enjoyed writing it.

Today while I was doing some research for a new commission I started to think about it and how I'd really like to write another one about how I got started. I was planning on scheduling a post about my tattoo adventures around the 5th anniversary of my first tattoo commission next month, but now I'm super excited about it. Hopefully I can try and arrange some kind of a reunion with my first client - I've still to reach out to her, but the email is in its 5th draft and almost ready to send, I'm just not sure how to write it - daft I know!

If you are interested in my creative process then head on over to The Happy Type for a read and don't forget to check out all the awesome posts there too. Crystal is a fantastic blogger and is one of my daily reads so check her out!!I know you'll love The Happy Type as much as I do!

In other very exciting news, I've teamed up with The Nectar Collective and all of these lovely ladies to bring you this great giveaway. If you'd like to win a $100 Amazon gift card, a $50 Etsy gift card and $10 Starbucks gift card then get clicking!!

**The giveaway is open internationally**

The Nectar Collective | Lost in Travels | Postcards from Rachel | Venus Trapped in Mars | Kayli Wanders

Treasure Tromp | 91 Dash | This Lovely Little Day | Daisy Bisley | The Wellness Doer

Creative Life Antics | Stamp in My Passport | Side Street Style | Growing Wild Ginger | Melanie Fontaine

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Rules

1. The winner will be contacted by email within seven days of the contest's end.

2. Winner must respond to that e-mail within 48 hours. If they don't respond, a new winner will be chosen.

3. This contest is open internationally!

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Small Business inspiration - Ink+Smog Editions

I've been designing various things for folk for years now, but I never put much thought in to making a career out of it. Recently however, I've found myself in a pretty cool place - Finally knowing what I want from my designs. I've thought about designing cards for a while now, but never thought it possible. When I got asked to design a friend's wedding invite a while ago I was excited and loved the process of it, just to be a part of such an important day felt amazing. A few lovely bloggers had said that my deisgns were great and I should really think about pursuing the greetings card idea. However, it still didn't click until I started designing two wedding cards at the end of May, one for Joni and Joe and one for Peter's cousin Ermanno and his new wife Rebecca. What a buzz there was doing it and now I know I can do this!

So now it's a case of finding and evolving in to the type of business I want to be and for that I've been looking for inspirational folk to learn from. There are so many talented artists out there that inspire me and one day I hope to find myself among the ranks of these incredible people. So without further ado I want to introduce one of my most recent finds:

I came across Ink + Smog through Julie Ann Art (who I will definitely be blogging about in the future). I was on Rosemary and Robin's Etsy store for five minutes before I decided I HAD to have something of theirs in our home! I have a gallery planned for our hallway and I'll be framing these cards up to be part of it.

The thing that struck me most when my parcel arrived was how personal it felt. Each card had a little bit of history and information with it including how it was made and what from. I loved this idea and have never had anything like it before. It makes you as a customer feel valued and a bit special and is definitely something that I appreciate.

The cards themselves just make me think of summer and as we have very short summers in Scotland (usually, I don't know what the hell's going on this year) bright colours are something I find myself craving. I also want our home to have a bright fun feel and getting that across in the art we have is perfect for two folk who appreciate all things creative!

I've worked in customer service in some way or another since I was 16 and although I've moaned in the past about it there is nothing better than putting a smile on someone's face with something you have done. This is why I really loved the postcard that came with my cards. The fact that Rosemary and Robin took the time to write a short note especially for me meant the world. My inner customer service geek, yes that is a thing, was smiling from ear to ear.  I truly hope that when I get my own store sorted I can make my customers feel as special as Rosemary and Robin made me. Thanks so much guys and I'll be posting pics of our finished gallery when I finally paint the hall!

You can find Ink + Smog here:

Blog|Etsy|Facebook|Twitter

No go check out their links and get some Ink + Smog goodies for your home - their cards are too pretty to give away!

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Latest Design - The Last Bit of Wedding Fever

Well sort of. I kept this one a bit quiet as I Joni and Joe have the occasional nosey over on my Facebook page and I didn't want them to see this before their wedding last Friday. So here it is, Joni & Joe's Wedding Card.

I also designed Joni and Joe's wedding invite a while back and this is what they used to create their amazing favours. I pinched a couple so I could eat one and then keep one, it's now hanging up in the office. 

I couldn't have been happier to design their wedding invites and wedding card. Knowing that I helped towards someone's special gives me a massive hit of the warm 'n' fuzzies and is definitely something I could get used to so if you have a wedding coming up or are looking for a uniquely designed card for someone you know, please don't hesitate to give me a shout!

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More Wedding Finds

Yesterday we had the pleasure of watching another awesome couple get hitched, which means we're at the end of our two week wedding frenzy so I have another wedding themed Finds of the Week for you. This time however,  instead of random finds, I've picked two amazing wedding illustrators.

Jolly Edition

Jolly Edition are my newest find from a Google hunt for wedding illustrators. They're style is so unique and beautiful and my Lord the typography in the first image?! ugh, ridiculously pretty!
I love their bespoke bride and groom portraits too, they're so lovely, romantic and they just feel so warm and loving. Yup I'm in love with these guys' illustrations!

Julie Ann Art

I've been a fan of Julie Ann's work now for a while, it's totally different from anything I've ever seen. I bought one of her awesome cards for our anniversary in March for Peter and another for my brothers birthday and both of them loved their cards. Julie Ann's designs never fail to bring a smile to my face. They're quirky, funny and cute as hell! If you're looking for a card that's a little bit different, head over to Julie Ann Art, you will not be disappointed!

 
What do you guys think? Do you love these talented folk as much as I do?   //Website//Twitter//Facebook//

What Happened this Weekend - In Pictures

I'm not going to write much with this post, but invite you to have a wee looksee at some of the pics we took from the wedding last weekend. Admitedly theres not many as we were havnig such a blast and enjoying the night too much so we kind of ignored the camera.

I have to weigh in on this one. This beautiful cake was made by Peter's younger cousin Lauren. Her cakes are incredible and so beautiful. As soon as Lauren gets a website I'm sharing it with you guys so you can see how awesome her creations are!

{UPDATE} Lauren's Facebook cage is here: Something Sweet

... and here's some shameless self promotion...

We had an amazing time and it was great to catch up with everyone and dance my ass off! Here's to our next wedding on Friday which will be equally as awesome!

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Finds of the Week - Wedding Edition

As this week and next week are all wedding crazy I thought it fitting that this weeks finds all be wedding related. This will be a real quick post as I have so much to do right now before I set off with a suited and booted Pedro  - Nice!

Have a wee looksee at some of the beautiful wedding stationery I found on my web travels this week. There's so much inspiration that I can barely sit still and can't wait to get stuck into next weeks card!

Also there's a little giveaway at the end of this post. Check it out if you'd like to win a fabby dabby ONA Bowery Canvas Camera Bag and a Little Miss Gee Scarf Camera Strap - very swish!

 

Plus here's a little sneaky peek at my card for Rebecca and Ermanno, I'll share more pics next week.

Have a great weekend all!

The season of 'GO GO GO' is upon us, so why not GO in style? That's why I've teamed up with some very lovely ladies to give away one ONA Bowery Canvas camera bag, Little Miss Gee camera strap and a Starbucks gift card (because we all know coffee is needed when we go anywhere.) These are such great bags to carry all of your camera gear in without screaming 'tourist' wherever you go! Enter below for your chance to win and spread the word!

Lost in Travels // The Nectar Collective // Postcards from Rachel // Until Only Love Remains // Brachel Boulevard 
Perpetually Caroline // Lego House // Side Street Style // Daisy Bisley // Kimchi Sweet Tea
Mr. & Mrs. Foster // Found Love, Now What? // The Happy Type // Treasure Tromp // Home Sweet 'Homa
Oh the Places We Will Go

ONA Bowery Canvas Bag // Little Miss Gee Scarf Camera Strap // $10 Starbucks Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rules

1. Open to all participants living within the United States.

2. Winner’s entry validity will be verified by me and if an entry proves to be invalid, you will be disqualified.

3. Giveaway ends on the 27^th of July at 12:00 AM EST. Winner will be chosen by Rafflcoptor and contacted by email no later than the 28^th of July. Winner has 48 hours to respond, if the winner does not respond, a new winner will be picked.

4. Lost in Travels is responsible for the payment and ordering of won items but not responsible for any packages lost in transit. 

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