It's a dogs life...

This week has seen me starting a new project, thought I'd give you a sneak preview. I'm digitally drawing these cuties. I can imagine them chasing my two dogs on the greenbelt! In fact I have always dreamed of owning a white labrador. We have, though, got a black rescue dog, the people at the kennels told me she was a labrador, she is nothing like a lab, she is neurotic, not ever still. She has only one saving grace, her shining personality. No matter what she does, you have to forgive that face, those adoring eyes looking at you saying "Oh no, have I done it AGAIN???"

I've been printed!

Don't you just love to get a post office slip in the post? Well my surprise was the printed samples from my first batch of scrap pages!!!! It never stops thrilling me when something of mine gets printed. This just made my day! I've been working with Tracy from Queen Of Hearts Design.

Watch this space, weve got many more designs to come!

Our scrap papers are distributed countrywide by Paper Explosion.

Where do the weeks go?

It's nearly 10 days since I was last here, what a week. I have been working on some scrap page designs and seem to get very little done in the end - but I work all day, I need to brush up on my concentration skills!!! I am working with a designer from 'up north' Tracy of Queen of Hearts. It is great to be working with someone who can advise, comment and push one to try new things! Thanks Tracy.

I am busy trying to decide what to order for my stand at the Hermanus Botanical Society Flower Show at Fernkloof Nature Reserve. It runs for 4 days from the 17th September, I would love to see you all there!

This is the first event that I am attending with my illustrations, stationary, linens and soft furnishings. I am seriously lacking in know how, what to bring? How much to bring? Questions, Questions Questions!!!

Make it Monday... exept it was Tuesday!!!

I had such fun yesterday, sewing these mini bags, I have had them in mind for a while and have been saving fabric for ever. My husband will be glad to see it put to use when he comes back from Johannesburg on Saturday!

I particually like ShweShwe and other african prints. The pink one, has fabric from a dress my mother sewed in the 50's when she was dating my dad. They will be appearing on my Etsy shop later today.

Elk's prize is on it's way! I will be doing another giveaway soon - so keep an eye out... and please comment so I know you are out there, it was soooooo nice to have new people come to the blog with this giveaway! Great to feel that one is not talking to oneself!

Christmas in July!

In designer world it's Christmas - in July... designing cards, wrap, and goodies to go out for the christmas season. I thought I'd give you a sneak preview of what I have be up to. As you can see I'm still loving the Shwe Shwe!

Enjoy.

Don't forget to go to the GIVEAWAY blog and enter, there is still 1 week left!

Kommetjie, Shwe Shwe loving and summery winters.

My favourite place in all the world, Kommetjie, Cape Town, never better than on a summery winters day! I love the round boulders, stacked by some nameless person into walking giants. The snaking path, wood over vegetation!

My new stationary has been uploaded on Etsy. It is so inspired by Africa, some of it Makoti Wax prints, Chaka prints all of it inspired by my love of the original Shwe Shwe prints. I chose one of my protea illustrations to go with it and hope you love them as much as I do!

Project 90 x 2030

Did some illustration work this week for Project 90x2030 whose vision is to see South Africans from all walks of life reduce the impact that they have on the environment by 90% by year 2030. Take a look at the website through the link above.

I totally support this inniative and was glad to be able to illustrate these little cliparts for them!

I haven't been this excited since...

I picked up a prize for designing the Pick 'n Pay Design a Bag Competition! .... since I had my kids! ....

Ok well that was a bit of an exaggeration,

but, anyhow I collected my Shwe Shwe inspired stationary from the printer today, and I am besides myself with delight. I wrote about them earlier here. It will be listed on Etsy by this weekend, and I want to do a giveaway on my blog as well, I thought a gift pack containing cards and a jotter.

So keep in touch and enter, I assure you you wont be disappointed. Details to follow.

Oils forever!

Prints of these little paintings are going to be for sale on Etsy this week, hop on over to my shop and have a look.

The originals were small - 30cm x 11.5cm painted in oil on masonite. The prints will be printed on A4 size paper. I love the warm spicy colours.

Listed on Etsy tonight

Tonight I am listed on an Etsy Treasury, here, thank you Lori. I found her wonderful photography on Etsy, here. Have a look. These are 2 of her pictures.

There be GIANTS!

Each day I drive across the neighborhood to drop and collect my girls from school. There are some beautiful trees along our way. Today I stopped and photographed them. Like old dames they stand proud, dressed in finery only nature could create.

The tree in the middle of the road has bark that swirls around the truck - how did her skirt get so wind swept? Or the majestic gum around the corner, her trunk pitted and scared, but utterly beautiful. In the schoolgrounds are a row of figs. Trunks, thick, stocking'ed ankles, standing as matrons along the fence.

I love my garden

Just had to go out there and draw... these lazy sunny days of Autumn are just to good to spend inside my studio!

OK so I am new at this...

Seriously enthusiastic, but there you have it, I couldn't wait a 'decent' amount of time to show off the other designs that I have been busy on... so here they are. These proteas are some of my favourite flowers and I enjoy painting them, these are to be cards - can't wait to get the proofs back.

Cheers for now.
Jacci

Getting Started!!!

Hi everyone, welcome to my blog.

I've had an exciting week, getting my designs to the printer. Ordering my display cases - amazing that my offerings will be going public! The pics above are four of about 16, had an amazing day with these designs.

These first offerings from my studio are to be cards, tags, notebooks and art jotters - but, first things first - the cards and tags. Have to get the first batch into the Fernkloof Nursery Shop in Hermanus for Easter.

Till next time

Jacci