crumpets and crabsticks illustration

I kind of moved over to Tumblr:

2012-01-01T12:51:00.002Z

http://crumpetsandcrabsticks.tumblr.com

2011-07-17T02:07:00.002+01:00

I made this for my friend Dylan

I suck at making playlists, i put more effort into the packaging.

'Stargate' Inspired Rings

2011-07-17T01:53:00.003+01:00

Stargate because we were set the task of being inspired by a Science Fiction programme, intending us to make masculine forms, but i was sure i could make something feminine. I chose crystals like these because of the insides of a DHD device, and the basis of most of the technology in the stories.

Silver and Dolomite Ring:

Silver and Amythest Ring: (for sale size I)

Pegs

2011-06-13T21:14:00.002+01:00

So i've been taking a jewellery class...

Baillando

2011-05-31T23:55:00.001+01:00

‘Baillando’
Ballet Pattern for a shop in town [link]
just been playing about with a book of romantic prints, that we found outside a gig a few years ago, just yeh, messing about with collage based pattern, and printing, being as my printer just dries up if you don’t play with it every five minutes.
constructive criticism is always appreciated, excuse the phone photo. Will get a camera some time soon - recommendations for that welcome too.
x

knitting

2011-05-05T19:22:00.000+01:00

Censorship

2011-03-06T14:25:00.000Z

This week i put up some drawings in the Maidstone Hazlit Theatre's 'Through the looking glass' window as part of MVAN (Maidstone Visual Art Network) They are putting different Maidstone artists work in their each month.

Brilliant idea and all.

But it appears Maidstone Borough Council doesn't appreciate nudity.
I was kindly asked to remove them as they were giving people the wrong impression about the Hazlit, MBC and MVAN.

Well, this is what was in the window last month...

I don't think i've been posting much of the work i've been doing for this project because its all WIP and indended to go onto a different blog (securisvulnus.blogspot.com) as its collaborative with Jacqueline Marie Who was part of Whirlygig Collective.

This is some snap shots of what i put up (excuse the terrible photos)

Some kind of close ups if this helps?

Well this is what it looks like now. i'm debating whether i should replace the work or leave it like it is?

Ahh i dont know.
It's nice to know that this space is sucessful in the sence that people have been seeing it.... even if they have been complaining? Maidstone, you suck.

BEAR is not a bear

2011-03-02T21:11:00.000Z

it's real,
Brighton Zine Fest (previous post) went incredibly well, Thank you to all who bought a copy or stopped to have a chat with me :)

....and thank you for all of those who trust me to take their money and post them one when i got home. (Y)

Super Weekend, cant wait til next year. (and London Symposium in April)
find it here
http://www.folksy.com/items/1454205-BEAR-is-not-a-Bear-Book?shop=yes

Folksy Feature

2011-02-16T17:30:00.001Z

I've been featured on blog :D

Second down - i realise i need to whiten the background of my photo's a wee bit more.

http://100percentdelicate.blogspot.com/2011/02/folksy-friday.html

Thank you Catherine x

Brighton Zine Festival

2011-02-15T14:47:00.000Z

Brighton Zine Festival is this weekend. [link]

here's a sneak peak of what i will be bringing

my first lil mini 'le gun' style 16pg zine (since uni)

Avenge Thee + Naime update

2011-01-26T22:22:00.000Z

Shirts have been printed, and lookie here, someone wearing one! Eeeee :D

(Thank you for the photo Katie) [link to Katies tumblr]

COMPLETELY DIY Hand Screen Printed Greetings Card #1

2011-01-23T23:09:00.001Z

Screen printing update

2011-01-22T14:46:00.000Z

did some designs for some greetings cards recently, wanted to play about with some existing images i had, and do something for a friends birthday that's coming up.

So i drew the designs onto some acetate (clear plastic pockets for folders as acetate is expensive) and burnt them onto my screen. now those of you who have done professionalish screen printing at University or at workshops will be wondering how i did this.

it's called improvisation. and thank god for the internet.

I found some videos off of YouTube, that i cant find again, and a looong time ago i spoke to this awesome man in Whitstable who's wife was exhibiting on the sea front, giving out little wooden houses, and asking you to find them a new home. I think he may have run the Print Block on Whitstable Harbour. and his name was unusual. But yes. Thanks to him, and his wise words.

This was my set up. Excuse the state of my room, but i was too excited about all of this to tidy it up. simple as that its priorities.

So its a '500 watt' flood light (£12.99 from wicks) a clothes horse, some black fabric, a pillow, and a sheet of glass to 1, hold your transparency in place, and 2, keep it flat.

The good thing about the clothes horse is that it has variable height.
The bad thing abot the clothes horse is that, it can melt under the temperatures caused by the light.

Trial and error was needed for exposure times. it ended up being middle rung for roughtly 10 minutes. i did 5 minutes on this one with that height and it was under exposed, and washed out, then, 15 for a bigger one and over exposed it. so it really will depend. I advice leaving pleanty of time before you do this. it's not tight deadline stuff.

here are just some lovely close ups. everyone loves a close up.

Washing the screen is obviously next. dont do this in your rented perfectly white bathroom. it stains like a mother, using the hose outside is probably best. if you can handle the temperatures atm.

The fabric i've used hasnt given me great resolution. its a wee bit pixelated. but i kind of like that?

After it had dried it looked like this. The glass i used was a tiny buit small, but i thought id wing it, it left some lines, but i painted that in with my left over emulsion, exposed it again and it was fine.

...Then yeh, i printed it.
because it was a tiny screen, my squeegee isn't small enough, i used a piece of grey board to pull the ink through. it worked perfectly fine? i presume it wouldnt on a larger scale. which is why i invested in a larger Squeegee ( about £2 per Inch? - 'Wicked printing Stuff' - they have a lame name and website, but they are in Kent, do organic screen wash and non plastisol inks AND let me collect my order)

wasn't a great success to be completely honest. (wow my writing skills are superb, i'd be amazed if you're still reading this by now) some of the thinner lines didnt expose very well. (something to remember for next time) and the pixelation type effect did start to look a little unprofessional. but i show you and you can decide.

My favourite thing out of all of this, is feeling like a real 'artist'/creative person, having prints hanging up in my room. It's a little sad, but it got me through the day. Screen printing is stressful at the best of times, let alone completely self sourced and in your tiny room.

good luck if you attempt it and let me know, i'd love to see what you come out with.

2010-11-23T21:19:00.000Z

only gone and been featured [link] on Etsy by PaperPath [Blog]

BTW its 2nd in on 2nd row, paper book £1.50 - if it's been featured, it's obviously cool enough to buy it...so what are you waiting for? hmm?

I know its not much, but its a big deal for me :) its almost better than someone buying it...

Handmade and Bound

2010-11-21T23:19:00.001Z

Hand made and bound [Link] was today/yesterday.
Went better than i expected.
I dont think i've ever seen so many hipsters in one place for so long, constantly being renewed. I wish i could draw quicker.

I implore you, if you're uninspired go to a show like this.
If you cant get inspired from something like this. you're in the wrong 'job'.

Some of the things we were selling (as Whirlygig [link]) will be for sale in our Etsy [link] and Folksy [link] Shops as of Today/Tomorrow
I predict they will be roughly £1 each, and the cost of a first class stamp

My ones inc;

Wasted! Magazine - Issue 3

2010-10-26T00:11:00.000+01:00

More Avenge Thee + Naime (late additions)

2010-10-11T19:43:00.002+01:00

Last minute addition to the Avenge Thee and Naime T-shirts; available from 26rd October from The Cherry Tree pub in Canterbury for their music video filming [fb event], but will also be available from their big cartel [link] and myspace [link] in the near future i imagine.
It'll make sense if you listen to their album when its available, (i'll keep you posted) but basically, one of their songs - Ep1 pt 2, ends in a minute or two of the word 'Jazz' repeated 101 times. It's a simple design, based on the clients specifications. But there is a hidden message. That is all i am allowed to say.
Front:

Back:

Detail:

To see the previous designs go here [link]

Thank you cake card

2010-09-29T22:22:00.000+01:00

Just a Thank you Card for the ladies at work who have kept in a good supply of cakes over the last couple of months, it's a shame i have to leave this job. Blumming Governmental cuts. :(

Rubber Stamp Making

2010-09-07T23:20:00.000+01:00

Whirlygig Collective is going to Birmingham Zine Festival, and i've made us a stamp so we can stamp ourselves on things.

I made it out of a rubber, like eraser rubber, using the same relief technique as lino/wood cu, then stuck it to a bit of scrap mdf, and screwed a handle on it.

I even used a lino cutting blade on parts, (taped to a pencil because i've lost my holder somewhere in the most recent house move) it was very odd though, as the rubber by nature is obviously very bouncey, not at all like lino, and if anyone ever tells you it is, they're lying.

And this is how it prints:

I used half a £50 note style rubber from Hawkins Bazaar costing me £1, so 50p in total, everything else was lying around the house. well, and a ink pad from Sussex Stationers for £3.99.

See also, my how to make a screen printing screen at home thing: [link]

ALSO i now have a tumblr [link]

Noodal

2010-09-02T21:16:00.000+01:00

just something i've been working on

Wasted! Magazine - Issue 2

2010-08-31T23:13:00.000+01:00

More 'Wasted!' spreads:

(click for full readable view)

Also, got my cat back, and i am reminded - why does big piece of paper to cats means "i must stand and sit and lay and play on this?"

Wasted! Magazine

2010-07-25T01:16:00.000+01:00

So recently i've been volunteering my services to a friend Zoe, who started up this Zine called "Wasted!"...

Here's some of the spreads i did...

You can view or download the entire issue here: http://wastedmagazine.co.uk

Avenge Thee + Naime cont.

2010-07-05T23:27:00.000+01:00

Here's a little sneak peak of what might be expected from the Avenge Thee + Naime merchandise for Open Carpet. :)

More to come, :)

Home screen making

2010-07-05T21:50:00.004+01:00

Hey it's been a while, been busy with full time work ruining my life, and there was the Whitstable Biennale one day exhibition which was awesome, met some really interesting people, and they got me inspired. :)

two of these lovely people are in this photo (left to right) is Amy Curtis, Mark Sosbe and myself.
The exhibition was in this amazing caravan, the walls were all curved and interesting to post work up in.

I submitted my final major project work, and had postcards for sale, was a good day had by all : )

Photos courtesy of Mark Sosbe

SCREEN PRINTING
Gonna be screen printing very soon, made my own screen this weekend. :D was dead exciting.Buying the emulsion and squeegees everything this week.

So yeh, i bought some big flat frames from a charity shop, the small one was £1.50, the big one £3.90. (get in!) the massive amount of material was £2.99.

And it's not very interesting in hindsight but, i jus cut out a square of the fabric a lot bigger than the frame, and stapled it down, i would reccomend using a staple gun, i didnt have one, but a friend Simon reccomended that using a stapler works just as fine (yes and no - works, but is very awkward and messy) Oh, make sure you neaten up all the pins, get rid of any tape, and stickyness.

and when stapling, staple from one side, then its neigbour, dont worry about the taughtness till you do the adjacent sides, and make sure its completely flat and nice. i know there's professional screen stretching and stuff... but mine looks pretty much the same as the professional ones i've used?

I'm pretty chuffed with the way it turned out. :) and it kind of shows that if i can do it... all of us can do it and give it a go at home. :)

So this frame in the pictures is jus the right size to have an a4 print in it, and cost me under £2. and i can use it until the fabric gives out - and i have lots of replacement fabric.

Of course i'll keep you posted, i'll be screen printing a limited edition the 'chode' design [link] for Avenge Thee + Naime hopefully on shirts and a few totebags too (maybe a few paper prints) :) let me know if you're interested and i'll put one/some by for you :)

Avenge Thee + Naime - Hair repeated Pattern

2010-06-20T18:49:00.000+01:00

A little challenge i set myself...