Category Archives: Blog
This and That…
This week I was delighted to find out that my Sea Line Vase is featured in the UK Handmade Christmas Showcase amongst many other beautifully handmade items. The showcase is well worth checking out for Christmas gift ideas if you are looking for some unique presents.
Last weekend I enjoyed another horse riding session, this time on Thalia, the daughter of Amelia who I’ve been riding the past few weeks. She’s a feisty little thing! I’m looking forward to a jumping lesson on Thalia this Saturday. She has such beautiful colouring and markings.
Bonfire night is one of my favourite times of year… I’ve been lucky to see two firework displays this year, whilst cosying up to a bonfire.
After some time off having a bit of fun it’s time to head back into the workshop… I’ll be selling my work at a new craft market in Weedon this Sunday. Better get making!
NEW Greeting Card Range
Last week I had a random idea of printing some of my images of my work onto cards. Now, just over a week later, my idea has come to fruition! These new cards were delivered yesterday and I’m so pleased with them. I love it when a plan comes together.
There are currently 15 different designs to chose from. Each card is blank inside for your own personal message and comes with a rustic brown recycled envelope, packaged in a cellophane sleeve. They are perfect for any occasion from birthdays, weddings, new home, thank you, Christmas, or even just to say hello.
You can browse the full range of new cards on my website in the Card section.
Hope you like them! Which is your favourite and who would you send it to?
Summer Days
So pleased to see the sun shining again today! Looking back on some of my photos from the heat wave a few of weeks ago, I’ve missed sunbathing in buttercup fields, drinking cider, eating ice cream and melon to keep cool, and seeing some beautiful sunsets.
Bring on more sun!
#SBS Winners Event with Theo Paphitis
Yesterday’s #SBS (Small Business Sunday) Winners Event held at Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham was a fantastic day! I am still shattered from all of the excitement and can’t stop grinning from ear to ear!
It was lovely to meet so many other winners of Theo’s SBS competition, and to put faces to names of so many Twitter friends.
On arrival at the event, Theo’s extremely bling car was parked right outside. We all had a good chance to mingle and the food and drink was flowing well! We were wearing badges which made it so much easier to ‘recognise’ people. Suddenly I spotted Theo walk into the room and was off like a shot when I noticed he was shaking a few peoples’ hands – I didn’t want to miss my opportunity of that!
Theo gave a very inspiring speech and talked more about the future for SBS, and also about the new SBS website which is a great opportunity for even more promotion for all winners with our own individual profiles and website links.
When I didn’t think the day could get much better, Theo then announced that there would later be an opportunity for individual professional photographs with him and we would all receive a certificate too! I thought the certificates were going to be the same for everyone but they even had our individual names and business names printed onto each one, AND Theo signed them all personally!
There were around 250-300 businesses at the event, so Theo had a lot of standing around to do during the photographs – I assumed we would be rushed in, snapped, and then rushed out to get everyone done in time, but Theo took the time to ask our names and asked me if I’d had a good day etc, and told me to make sure I ‘do’ something with my #SBS win 
Such a lovely man!!
We also got a goody bag from Ryman’s – the leading stationary company who sponsored the whole event and who cannot be thanked enough for making it such a brilliant day!
If you want to find out more behind #SBS including how it started and how it is developing, visit the new official #SBS Website. If you have a small business and are looking for more exposure why not join in on Twitter and tweet Theo ( @TheoPaphitis ) a link to your website and a bit about your business every Sunday between 5:30 – 7pm. You never know, it could be your business he retweets as a winner next!
My Bowls used as props in Jewellery Photography
When I had an order for some of my ceramic tea light bowls a few weeks ago, it was nice of the customer to leave me a message on her order letting me know that the bowls would be used as props in the product photography of her jewellery.
I am delighted that my bowls have been used in this way! Isn’t the jewellery stunning? You will find more of the collection at kutuu.co.uk – have a look around at the many truly beautiful pieces. The simple shapes and natural materials make the jewellery easy to wear and often an ‘everyday favourite’.
A selection of my handmade ceramic tea light bowls are available in the Bowls & Dishes section of my website.
Coasters Featured in Asiana Wedding Magazine
I had an exciting email a few days ago telling me that my heart coasters had been featured in the ‘Asiana Wedding’ magazine. How exciting!
The Light Direction ~ Official Merchandise
I’m so excited to finally have the full completed collection of my official merchandise designs for The Light Direction available on my website. It has been a fun and creative process, and I am so pleased with how my designs have turned out.
The ceramic beach hut hangings, magnets, pendants, brooches, plaques and mini art easels were made and influenced by the ‘Beside The Sea’ theme of The Light Direction novel. The melted turquoise glass has given the pieces a touch of the seaside, along with the impressions of shells and natural textural markings.
To find out more about each of the items I have made for The Light Direction, including photos of the stages of which they were made, please follow the following links:
Beach Huts
Magnets
Pendants
Plaques
Brooches
Mini Art Easels
To read my interview with Ces Creatively, author of The Light Direction, please click here. The interview includes lots of photos and information including how I felt about having one of my unique vases written into the printed novel, my thoughts behind The Light Direction and more on my background.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ces of The Light Direction for this fantastic opportunity – I look forward to working with you!
New Website Launch!
After lots of hard work and late nights, it has all been worth it and I am so pleased with the look of my new website. The best part has been being able to manage all of the content myself, having full control of every little detail. It has been a lot more fun that anticipated too! It’s hard to believe I was only thinking about designing a new website a week ago, and now it’s all complete.
A huge thank you goes to my web consultant Matt Debouge of Debouge.co.uk, who worked extremely hard to help me get my new site up and running. Matt’s services are highly recommended, and also very cost effective. Throughout my web design process, I had remote support from Matt who was able to remotely connect to my PC and show me how to do things easily, allowing me to develop the site how I wanted it and to get it up and running quickly.
My favourite part of the new site is the featured sliding images on the home page, I think they are very effective and will be useful for showcasing new products and news.
I would love to hear your comments and feedback – all welcome!
Also it would be great to hear from anyone else who tries Debouge.co.uk for their web hosting and design – Give it a go!
My Creative Space
