spoonflower competition - retro kitchen

Hi blog peeps! Do you remember this pic of my doodles? (above) Well as it turned out the lovely people over at Spoonflower just happened to have a competition to enter patterns based on the theme Retro Kitchen...now I'm either physic or that's one weird coincidence! So below I have taken a few screen shots of the design in it's development...the one stipulation was the colour palette which I do like, but found it tricky to work with, I guess that's the challenge! The competition ended Tuesday 8th but not sure when voting starts...here's the link to the contest page anyhow so if you could stop by sometime and vote for me that would be great! (voting is now open! VOTE HERE)

I named the design 'retro kitchen - let's bake!' so I have even more ideas for another range maybe more cooking utensils like pots and pans etc...I think I will definitely turn it into a print and maybe even a set of tea towels? One in the full repeat one with the detail...(like below) Maybe even recipe cards? What do you think? Not sure about colours yet though, something clean and simple...any suggestions friends?x

All images copyright Littletree Designs. Please do not reproduce. 

If you wish to reblog/pin please link back directly to here, thanks!x

littletree's blog crush...craftgawker/foodgawker

Hello all, thank you for the lovely comments on my e-course update post yesterday. Today I have two amazing 'crushes' to share with you, Craftgawker and Foodgawker...now you may already know about these great sites through other blogs or pinterest but have you ever visited the actual sites? Me neither. So I stopped by and boy oh boy...I was not disappointed!

The sites are essentially a collection of the best craft diy's/free printables/how to's and foodie recipes from across the blogisphere...all in one place for you to browse at your leisure! Pretty convenient huh? I warn you now that you will need to put aside some serious time to sit and look at these sites as you will get sucked in as you pour over page after page of craft and food inspiration...hopefully I haven't started you on a new internet addiction, if I have then I'm sorry, but I'm in the same boat!

Right...back to work now...must not look at the pretty pictures anymore...oh ok one more won't hurt...x

screen shot from craftgawker

screen shot from foodgawker

e-course update...weeks 1-2

Hello everyone, did you have a good weekend/bank holiday? I had to work a fair bit but still got to visit my sister in her new flat! How exciting!

So here it is, my very first e-course update for you! (Find out more here...) I thought I would put together a (very rough) step by step of how things have developed over the two weeks so far. Above are pictures from an exercise where we had to pick one shape, I chose circles, and photograph things in and around our home that reflected that.

From one image (the succulent above) we started sketching and experimenting with different forms of mark making and drawing, so you can see below the initial sketch and then the silhouette version.

These two images at the bottom are from the original sketch. I just scanned it in and re-printed it so I could include some of the different mark making/doodles into the leaves for texture and interest.

This next part in the exercise was to make a simple repeating pattern but as you can see I got a little carried away with the second one...

All images in this post are copyright Littletree Designs.

Please do not reproduce/reblog/pin without my permission. Thanks!x

So there we are! A sneaky peek into the development of a pattern, well in my brain at least!  I'm really enjoying the course so far, getting back to basics, having fun with paint and ink again...if you want to keep up to date regularly with how I am doing on the course I now have a flikr page with all e-course goings on...

Hope you all have a great week and fingers crossed that it doesn't rain too much! Please?! I'm fed up with getting soaked now...x

pinterest pick of the week...

Another Friday? Already? Where has this week gone...I suppose I have been busy helping my sister move and work for my e-course...speaking of which, this week we have been sharing our creative workspaces. This is my workspace above, very tidy for the photo after removing many a mug and notepad!

So today's pinterest picks are of course some dream workspaces (that I wish I had!)...The board is from Sam called 'creative space'...I found Sam through Jeska of Lobster and Swan, who had posted about another of Sam's boards 'cook' which is also packed with gorgeous foodie ideas. Click on the links here to take you to the boards and sources...Hope you enjoy swooning over these spaces as much as I have, there is a Bank Holiday Monday here in the uk so I will see you back here on Tuesday... have a lovely weekend. xxx

I want this space with it's pretty blue walls and twinkly lights!

Which one was your favourite?

littletree features...Natalie Singh

Hellooo Thursday...yup it's still raining...yuck...so today I have a super special treat for you that will hopefully put a little sunshine into your day! Now do you remember a little while ago I did an interview for Natalie Singh over on her blog The Homely Place? Well today I am returning the favour and she has answered a few questions and shared some of her work for my lovely readers here to enjoy! 

If you havn't come across Natalies work before you are in for a visual feast, bright colours and funky patterns with a retro/folk vibe. She has recently been working on surface pattern designs for which she has started a brand new blog Tree Hill Cloud which is also the name of her Etsy shop. Natalie has also started a People Fund Project selling teatowels and mugs to raise money to get her work developed for fabric, wallpapers and more. Click on the link to find out more from Natalie herself!

In Natalies Etsy Shop 'Tree Hill Cloud' (clockwise from top left) 1// 2// 3// 4// 5// 6//

- Three words that best describe your design style.
Hmmm.... not sure. I would say folk and maybe a bit retro - can't think of 3!

- Do you have a particular design process?
I usually have an idea of what I want to design, then hunt for images to use for my sketches and to create motifs from. I often find myself visualising the designs in my mind before they appear on paper. Or rather, the designs often appear in my mind when I'm trying to sleep and I have to sit up and note them down before I forget them. When I'm in the right frame of mind I'll sketch them out properly, and usually scan my sketches so I can develop them in Adobe Illustrator. 

Now that I'm doing a short course in surface pattern design ran by Rachel Taylor called The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design, I'm learning how it's done properly! And I'm beginning to find my way and have a bit more direction in where I'm trying to go with my work. It's helped me to loosen up with my drawing, and to understand 'how' to work; beginning with a motif and building on that, rather than the other way around!

- Having looked on your website and shops you have a real folksy/retro style, what inspires your work?
I'm inspired by ceramic and fabric designers of the 20th century including Figgjo Flint, Stig Lindberg and Bjorn Wiinblad. Also William Morris as the father of printed fabric. Also artists like David Hockney, Monet, and many more modern designers like Amy Butler, Designers Guild and Sanna Annuka to name a few. 

image copyright Natalie Singh

- What do you hope for your brand in the future?
I hope to be able to get my designs produced on fabric by a company like Robert Kaufman, and to design for transfer printed mugs and tableware. I would also love to develop a home decor range.

 - You moved from Sydney to London, how does life and design compare between Australia and the UK?
Sydney is just as hectic as London! I haven't lived there for 15 years so have forgotten a lot, but love the amount of art and galleries available everywhere in London.

- How do you balance work/life?
Since moving our business Artistic Visions out of the house, it's been a bit easier to balance! www.artisticvisions.co.uk

 - What is the one thing you couldn't live without in day to day life?
My hair straightener!

- Other than designing what else is a big passion in your life?
Getting out into nature.

 - I see a lot of tea and coffee pots in your designs so the big question is Tea or Coffee? And more importantly Cake or Biscuit?
I'm a tea drinker at home but coffee when I'm out. Biscuits because they're always in the home!

Thanks Natalie! I really hope you have enjoyed this little sneaky peek into a designers life and that you pop along and see more of Natalies work and support her project!x

image copyright Natalie Singh

All images in this post are Copyright of Natalie Singh. 

Please do not reproduce/reblog without permission.

Thanks!x

littletree's blog crush...Blue Eyed Bakers

A little blog love today, I came across this blog only last week but I am loving it! Packed full of sugary treats and baking delights Blue Eyed Bakers is just too good to be true! I have picked a few of my fave recipes to share but please stop by to see more! Have a good day all! x

image from Blue Eyed Bakers Blog

Samoas Bark

Pistachio Almond Loaf with Lemon Cream

Crunchy Peanut Butter Cups

littletree visits...Vintage Vogue

Hello again blog peeps, today I have some pictures of goodies I bought at the wonderful Vintage Vogue fashion fair in Brentwood on Sunday. Do you remember I went last year? No? Check out the post here for more on the fair...back to this year and my booty! There was as usual the boxes pack with gorgeous buttons, I wanted them all of course, but instead came away with just this little bag of mixed buttons (very restrained for me!) and some beautiful vintage fabric! All from the lovely Suzie Sharp who has a blog here but sadly no online shop that I can see...

images taken by me!

...but my big find of the day is this gorgeous Formica dropleaf table! It's only dinky, a table for two, but the Formica is in excellent condition and this super pretty blue! It was a bargain at £22.50 (a very early birthday present from mum) and from two of the loveliest ladies (mother and daughter) who run their own little company Red Cave. I have just popped by the website/shop and there are so many great knitwear pieces mixed with retro finds and handmade cards, all at really affordable prices. I urge you to stop by for a peek, you won't be sorry!x

littletree joins the art & business of surface pattern design...

Image HERE

Good Monday everyone! How was the weekend for you? Today I have put together a little colour palette based on a fabric by one of my all time favourite designers Lucienne Day. I just love her style, use of colour and her work is probably one of the reasons I became a designer! I am sharing this today because one week ago exactly I signed up and started my journey towards becoming a real (hopefully paid) surface pattern designer! How exciting! The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design is run by super talented designer Rachael Taylor and Beth Nicholls of the company Do What You Love which specialises in e-courses and retreats for those of us who want to do what we love for life!

Although I have a degree in printed textile design that was a fair few years ago now and as much as I'm happy with how my work looks it could do with a little more direction towards an individual style. The industry has changed so much since I graduated and we never did cover much of the 'what to do after university' side of things anyway, so I can't wait to get into more of the business how to's, licensing and selling my designs!

So over the next few months I will do a few regular posts here to keep you updated on how things are going with the course but as things get busier I may not be blogging as much...but I hope you still stop by, see how I'm doing and comment, I always enjoy reading them! Have a good week everyone!x

pinterest pick of the week...

Image copyright Littletree Designs

Welcome Friday, another weekend is almost here and so that means it's pinterest pick of the week time! This week I have been doodling around with drawings all related to baking (above) all grouped together in a little collection, maybe for a pattern or just a fun print...I don't know yet! And then the other day I was browsing around on Pinterest and discovered this great board by Elodie Le MiamMiam called 'home graphics' which was packed full of prints and patterns made up of collections all related to one another. There are so many lovely pins I had to share my favourites with you today...hope you enjoy my little collection of 'collections' and have a lovely weekend. xxx

As usual click on the links above for the sources.x

littletree discovers...cards at society 6

Now I think I may have been living under a rock somewhere because when did society6 start doing cards? And I have an account! Hmm...this had indeed passed me by because it's such a good idea and not a bad price either! I can't say all of the designs I have uploaded for other products necessarily work as a card but I have rounded up a few that I think are card friendly. As an extra incentive society6 are offering FREE shipping worldwide until Sunday! I would love you to pop by and have a look even if you just click the 'promote' button on a few! Ta very much! x

All images copyright Littletree Designs via society6