Happy Harebells...And (Sort-Of) Christmas in July...

"Happy Harebells" sketch...

Hello there, and I hope you are thriving in your corner of the world.

This week's art and designs are such a mixed bag, that, like football (soccer!) they are a game of two halves.

First came this sketch of harebell flowers, that then made its way onto a really dear friend's birthday card. (I think she might actually be a newsletter reader too, so this comes with even more good wishes. And speaking directly to that person for just a second, no, I won't put this on anything for sale until you've had loads of time to enjoy it, and maybe not even then. Thank you for being you. ;-)).

Then there is/was... the "Christmas in July" situation...

And just like that, here we are again. The point in the year that astounds any sane person. Namely, that July is the traditional time in which artists and designers are supposed to prepare designs so that they are available/algorithm noted etc, in time for Christmas or pre-Christmas purchases.

And yes, I'm aware that it's the very last day of July, as am typing this.

In truth, I just couldn't face even trying to get festive in the midst of summer weather (and ooh, you know, the state of the world, etc).

But then some little robins and berries just made their way into some art the other week. And what do you know? That snowy robin led to an entire collection of designs.

I hasten to add, they are still very much a "work in progress".

But if you'd like a quick peek at the collection in its rough form, here's a photo.

Thanks to Jim for this pic, who came into our bedroom
when I was trying to get this into a photo, and took it for me.

So please watch this space, a little later in the year. (Update on September 10th 2025- the printable papers are for sale here, and the full collection on fabrics and wallpaper at Spoonflower here).

And with that, I'll leave you to your day (and huge thanks for reading down this far).

The next instalment might not be for a couple of weeks or so, as there is a huge amount still to do, not only for this collection, but also on items that'll be fun for you much sooner.

But there will be...

More soon.
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The Penguins Are Coming...And Why "Christmas in July," is Even a Thing...

Update on July 9th 2024 Cute "Penguin Family," sheets are available 
now in my Craftsuprint shop

 

Hello there, and hope you're finding 1001 ways to thrive, whatever is going on for you this summer. (I am aware that as I type, all my lovely USA  readers are probably much more into barbeques and fireworks than this post, so if you're reading this at all in the USA today,  thank you so much.

And yeah, I know. In the intro, I mentioned "summer". So why is this post about *penguin* craft sheets (of which there is a sneak peek above)? Update on July 12th: now available here, and as a shaped card version here.

(Aside from the fact that, as someone will inevitably point out if I don't, July is in fact, very much winter in the Antarctic, where penguins most frequently hang out)?

Once again, (if you've been reading this blog a while) it's the,"Christmas in July," factor.

But this time, let me try and explain it a bit better.

Why have a "Christmas in July", concept at all?

For the longest time, I really thought this was for people who just wanted to be mega-organised, and/or hang out with people they wouldn't see at Christmas (sometimes true) and/or for people who could never get enough of the festivities (sometimes also true).

However, as you may already know if you're a crafter and/or retailer (and if you are, thank you, I see you, and appreciate your being here too :-) ) :

* Crafters need to make items over the summer, so that when autumn and winter craft fairs come around, they have crafts and cards to offer on their stalls, and 

Click or tap here for "Christmas Bell and Berry"
designs for crafters and cardmakers 

*Similarly, retailers need to finalise purchasing decisions over the summer (if not before, for some) to have their shops stocked in time for Christmas shoppers, the keenest of whom start sniffing things out in September as well.

See this design on tote bags and much more
over at Redbubble...

Hope this helps

So, hope this post helps you, whichever group of people you find yourself in.

And if you still can't get your head round any of this, fear not. I hear you too, and will be back with something more summery next week.

More soon.
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Roses, Lilies, and Christmas in July...

Hello there

Just popping in quickly, as know that lots of people are busy with all things summer right now.

"Roses and Lilies"

Firstly, thought you'd enjoy this sketch of roses and lilies. It came from some flowers that *felt* like they flew in through magical means.

 Yes, OK, though unexpected, these flowers arrived by a very human-and kind-route outside our door. But still, it felt pretty magical on a wet Saturday afternoon. (Especially as I had just been thinking..."It's a shame my birthday flowers are finishing...and I need something new to paint...," but hadn't shared that thought with *anyone*.).

The original flowers

And just in case you're thinking, "No vase would match flowers like that," here is a photo of the flowers on the day they went into the jug (please excuse the dust-art comes first!):

Photo of roses and lilies in a jug, by Jim Fernbank

(Confession: I'd been waiting *30 years* since buying that vase for some flowers to come along that would match it quite as well as that ;-) ).

Christmas in July

And yes, though the festive red, white and green did catch my eye, though for later in the year. 

Which reminds me, that if you're a crafter, I'm running a Christmas in July sale on all my sheets and kits from July 28th 2023-July 31st 2023 inclusive. Click or tap this link to see it.

And...

But whether you're a crafter already making items for later in the year, or just enjoying all the beauty and flowers of summer (or cool of winter, elsewhere in the world)...Thank you so much, both for being here, and for reading down this far.

Have a lovely weekend, and more soon.

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New "Snowy Cottage" Design, and a A *Christmas in July* Sale

Click or tap here for details about this design

Hello there

Hope you're doing well (and beating the heat, if that is affecting you too).

Though things are fresher now, but this week's post came from a big need to cool off around these parts.

"What better way to do that," I thought, "than to offer some more Christmas designs..."

So, the "Snowy Cottage," you see above  was a welcome refuge from the heat (as was the insert sheet that goes with it). It's based on a line-and-wash traditional watercolour of mine, with added digital glitter effects in the background.

Christmas in July, for 30% off...

But to bring in even more that's cool  (in all senses) I hope, **** from July 22nd-29th 2022*** I'm running a 30% discount on 12 of my best-selling Christmas designs. 

Perfect if you want to make cards for sale at autumn fairs, grab a bargain...or just fancy cooling off with some more snowy fun. You can see and buy everything on sale by clicking or tapping here.

Happy Christmas-in-July!

More soon.

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Christmas in July: Free Holly Clip Art

Hello there. After a break last week am back and offering as you do in the middle of summer (as it is here)...Christmas in July.

Free Watercolour Holly Clip Art

Now, if you're new to the blog, this may or may not be a head -scratcher.

But if you've been reading for a while, then you'll know that as I like to join in with the whole "Christmas in July," movement, and offer a freebie to any person who's so amazingly organised that they're looking for Christmas supplies already.

Hence, today's offering is a hand-painted watercolour PNG holly sprig.

You're welcome simply to download and use them by right-clicking, tapping or clicking on the image (depending on your device). My angel policy explains the many ways you can use them.

(By the way, if you're reading this and it's not July, then of course, you can download this just the same at any time of year).

And if you'd  like to see this holly "in action", as it were, on some ready-designed craft supplies, then there's a DL-sized card front here, matching inserts (and verses) here, and an ultra-versatile patterned Christmas holly background here.

And with that, I'm off to enjoy the sunshine. As you do, in London, when you've just completed a  Christmassy holly sprig in July... :-)

Hope all's well with you, and have a great weekend. 

More soon.

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Christmas in July?

Maybe it's the chilly breezes this week, or maybe it's the almost-tradition of "Christmas in July," on the internet. But this week, I suddenly came over all Christmassy.

The result is an easy-to-make but oh-so-effective Christmas-tree shaped card. The sheet includes a Christmas-tree shaped verse to insert if you wish. So there's everything you need in one sheet.

This is a low-res preview of the sheet.

And you can grab the real thing over in my Craftsuprint store.

Have fun with this, whatever the weather and season in your part of the world at the moment.

More soon.

Christmas in July and August...

I'm up to my old seasonally-inappropriate tricks again. Yes, in the warm and welcome heat of this July (and now August) in London,  I've given in to the gentle nags in Zazzle's newsletter...and have been producing Christmas designs!

Digital watercolour and glitter "Merry Christmas," bauble and fir branch (painted in Artrage 4)

So, I thought I'd post them as some work-in-process (not all are finished or uploaded yet).

All were made in Artrage 4 first.

This "Noel" repeating pattern started in ArtRage 4.

I used the "stencil" tool to create a "Noel" in "Brock Script" font, and then added red digital glitter to one of them. (I'm still getting over how wonderful even the idea of mess-free digital glitter can be).

Then, in Patternshop, having rotated the images, I first of all thought the glitter edges looked too messy. So I got rid of them. And then, they looked too "neat".

So the glitter edges, that make it look that bit more hand-printed have stayed in this version of the pattern...so far. (Update: This design will stay as it is. It was my first Christmas 2014 sale on Zazzle-in August :-) Many thanks to the buyer!)


Portable mistletoe

At the moment, the idea I've had most fun with is portable mistletoe. By adding a watercolour sprig of it to various items, there'll always be mistletoe around when you need it this Christmas, on designs like this one...

"Kiss Me, It's Christmas" Mistletoe Tees by BoundingSquirrel
Find other Christmas T-Shirts at zazzle.com

Don't know about you, but that's enough Christmassy stuff for now. I'm off to enjoy some sunshine!