Thank you!

I'd just like to say a huge 'thank you' to all of you who have supported my little shop, and to those who have encouraged me so much with positive comments along the way.

It has always been my dream to run a business and to sell useful every day items with my artwork printed on them.

I was so nervous about this, (and I'm still anxiously waiting to see that everyone's parcels have arrived safely!) but it has been an ambition of mine for so long that, thanks to my hubby who patiently put up with my worrying and excuse-making, I finally just did it!

I can't believe that I've sold out of a couple of items already and I am really enjoying having my little shop, (and even though it is in the ether, I can imagine that it has a duck egg blue door with a brass bell can't I!)

Thanks chucks, big time.

X

My Shop Will Soon Be Open! Whoop!

For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to have my artwork printed onto items that can be used every day.

I've also always dreamed of having my own little shop, and even though its not one that's made of bricks and mortar and has a bell that tinkles every time someone comes inside, my little online shop has had a lot of love, (and blood, sweat, tears and the occasional sweary word!) poured into it.

It shall be open on Monday 22nd October, so I thought that this could be a good time to show you the wares that I've been working on, (hope that's okay!)

www.mrsbertimus.co.uk

The 'Passing Storm' cushion has been printed with one of my original paintings (on both sides,) and is a generous 60 x 60 cm.

All of the items for sale have been made and printed in the UK.

The 'King Of The Magpies' pouch is also printed on both sides, and is perfect for all those bits and bobs.

The 'Mrs Whipple' tote bag is printed on lovely sturdy cotton fabric, I'm so happy with the quality of the artwork reproduction.

There is also a special edition 'Scrips and Scraps Scampering Hares' stationery set that includes writing paper, note-let cards and a notebook.

I really enjoyed designing and co-ordinating all the bits and bobs for the set...I'm becoming quite obsessed with stationery design!

There is also a set of art cards, all reproductions of my drawing-collages.

 The cards can also look quite fetching in a frame if you wish.

And finally are my sets of little notebooks, I picked some of my favourite colours for my stationery designs, I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed myself designing these!

I do hope that you didn't mind me showing you these, I didn't want this post to look like a giant advert, but I'm really excited that everything's coming together after months of work!

Hope you have a lovely weekend.

x

A Sunny Day Out In Falmouth...

On this rather chilly but beautiful autumn day, I thought I'd share some more of my holiday snaps from the summer.

Fancy a pootle around Falmouth?

First stop... The Kitchen, a lovely little cafe in a beautiful courtyard, just tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the high street.

And on such a sunny day I felt like I was sipping tea in some exotic foreign destination...

I fell in love with this metal bench...

and then fell in love with it even more!

In the same courtyard as The Kitchen is the most tranquil, beautiful plant shop called Toro, and as I have a rather unhealthy plant addiction, I fair did swoon when I walked in!

The air plants were stunning...

Did I happen to mention the air plants?!?...

Not far away, we happened to stumble across Un-Rap, a new, incredibly stylish zero-waste shop.

I was tempted by many things, but bought a big bag of organic chocolate, (and I felt no guilt at all!)

Middie thoroughly settled into Falmouth's laid-back vibe, and enjoyed sampling the gorgeous pizza we had for dinner!

And there was even some time for giant ice cream cone spotting!
Happy days!

Hope you enjoyed our day out chuck!
All the best X

Hope & Elvis Workshop Happiness!

In May next year I'll be teaching my first machine embroidery weekend workshop at Hope & Elvis, and I'm so looking forward to it.

We'll be stitching a hare, an animal that I've been obsessed with for a long time.

Here are a few of the examples I've stitched in the past:

I'm working on the templates that I'll be providing for the workshop, just in case folks might not be confident drawing our long eared friends.

I'd like to thank all those who are coming along, I am still shocked how quickly all the places went!

I can't wait to see you there!

PS: If you'd like to be added to the waiting list, and find out more details about the workshop, please pop over to the Hope & Elvis website.

Whoop! Can't wait!

X

Betwixt And Between...

This year I will have been a teacher for twenty-five years.

(That's over half my life!)

I'm really lucky to teach part-time on the Art And Design Foundation Diploma, and it's such an exciting time to see students really flourish and discover their creative identities before they fly away to University or work.

For me, and most teachers I would imagine, this is a strange time of year.

I feel as though I have just closed the story book, and read with teary eyes, 

'And they all lived happily ever after.

The End'

Yet in the blink of an eye, I'm reading

'Once Upon A Time' again.

When I looked around this morning before the students arrived, I could see that the tidy classroom was beginning to look a lot like an art room once more.

And so it begins again...

Today, one of my students had a real 'light bulb' moment.

And it gets me every time,

and I swear that I learn so much more from my students than they ever could learn from me.

Because she gave herself permission to create the art that she wants to create,

because art is whatever you want it to be.

And they're the moments that make me feel so happy to be a teacher.

X

Hello Harrogate!