'Little Box of Falmouth'

A while ago I posted ‘Wait… Mr Postman’, which to this day is the most popular post on my blog. To summarize, the post basically explained how I’d gained myself a crafty pen pal and how we intended to set mini projects for our self, send bits and bobs back and forth. It turns out that it’s incredibly inspiring, fun and to be frank, addictive. I wanted to post Sophie everything I’d ever made, but decided to refrain for fear I’d have nothing else to send her in the future.

Monday, whilst in work, I received a text from my mum saying that there was a parcel waiting for me at home. I spent the rest of the day eagerly anticipating going home and to open it and see what treats were in inside.

I started talking to the incredibly talented, Sophie Elizabeth Chadwick, last year through UCAS’s ‘Yougo’. We were going to be on the same course and we both loved tea and life’s simple treats. Even though I didn’t attend Falmouth last year we stayed in touch and talked about the idea of partaking in a gift swap and I was lucky enough to meet her when I was looking for somewhere to rent ready for September.

Anyway, I digress. When I got home on Monday, I sat cross-legged in my living room and pawed at the parcel. It took me a good ten minutes to get into it. Sophie had made sure the content wasn’t going anywhere. I felt really guilty opening it because Sophie had painted onto the brown wrapping paper and it was a shame that I had to rip it. I was really surprised once I’d managed to break into it though. Everything was wrapped with a little bow and it was all so neat and lovely and all the colours matched.

Inside was a handmade card. From Internet stalking Sophie for the last year, I’ve found out that she is a keen collager, so her card made perfect sense. The colours were lovely and she’s remembered that I adored Croissants. She’d included little letter that made me laugh and she insisted that I needed to visit a tearoom called ‘Dolly’s’, which I fully intend to do, wearing the tea themed badges that she’d made and included.

Behind the card was a box. ‘Little box of Falmouth’ was painted on the lid. Sophie’s letter hinted to the content but even though I knew what was inside it didn’t stop me from being blown away. It couldn’t have been more perfect. I couldn’t believe how generous Sophie had been with both her time and effort. She’d even included chocolate tea!! I’m yet to drink it because I’m waiting for the weather to cool down a bit so I can appreciate fully, badges, the sweetest earrings and the sweetest little bird, which she informed me was a ‘Pied Wagtail’.  Everything is taking pride of place on my desk! It’s all so inspiring.

I’ve been thinking about a few things that I want to send back although I feel that anything I send back is going to be really shabby in comparison. However I feel because of the high standard of Sophie’s work it will help me push myself, plus I have a really good idea of what to send back J

I feel so inspired. Thankyou Lady Chadwick!! 

You should check out Sophie’s Etsy too!!

Wait... Mr. Postman

I'm a terrible Internet dweller. I like to sit and spend hours just looking for inspiration and at what other creatives are doing. A few people that I follow on numerous different sites, I noticed, participate in art swaps. This was something that I really wanted to do myself. I thought the idea of sharing your work with another person for none profitable reasons was lovely and what ever you received back would help broaden you within your field, mine being illustration. Plus I love mail.
Last year I was going to attend Falmouth University, until I freaked out and decided I wanted to simply work, but before this I started talking to a few different people that were going to become fellow students. Sophie Elizabeth Chadwick (sophielizasquid.tumblr.com) being one of them. I brought up the idea of a swap, asking if she'd be interested in being my arty pen-pal and she agreed, to my delight... Sophie makes very psychedelic, natured inspired, some times collaged illustrations that are bursting with colour and fun.
Being the procrastinator I am and being super busy with work and family, it took me much longer than I would have liked to send off my first set of bits and bobs. However the moment I started creating it was incredibly satisfying and quiet addictive, I wanted to put everything into a box to send to her. Thankfully I restrained myself. In the end I made a card, some earrings, a Lino print and I sent some tea bags as Miss Chadwick shares the same love of tea as I do.
This was the first project that I had completed in almost a year, that though freaks me out... Not to worry Swansea Uni soon :) 132 days... Till I finish work... Not that I'm counting.
Anyway, I'd defiantly do this again and I can't wait to see what Sophie sends in response :)

Love Naomi x

Let's do this and Esther McManus

I've never really been pleased with the aesthetics of my blog. It was bland and dull and just horrible. So after many a headache and a little assistance from a very helpful Padhraic Mulholland (padhraicart.blogspot.co.uk), I've finally made something that I'm pleased with. Not 100%, but almost there. I'm now encouraged to write a lot more now too boot :)

Recently I've been looking into Zines. For those of you that don't know what Zines are, they are home made magazines about any subject of your choosing. They can be a solo project or a collaborative effort. It's completely up to the makers. Any who. I'd spend hours looking online at all the places in America where you can pick up these mini masterpieces and turn green with envy because there was no where local for me to get involved. Weeks this continued, until Bam! Inspiration. Look it up on Etsy. I have no idea why I never thought of it but I was so pleased once I finally looked. There are so many different types of Zines on there. Beards. Stories. Not to date men of the Internet advice. I plan to collect them, being a beard lover that ones next on my list.

My first Zine however was made by the lovely Esther McManus, who is a illustrator printmaker who draws comics. Esther's zine is called 'Witch's hat' which is a story story inspired by ancient folklore, trips to the woodlands and The Incredible String Band. I've been waiting excitedly for this to come in the mail for a few days and texting my mum every day to see if its here yet. Today it came and I'm so pleased with it. It's lovely and so full of thought and movement. Esther even included two illustrated postcards too, one has 'Thanks Naomi' written in the back which I thought was such a sweet touch. These will be making their onto my uni walls in September :)

Esther has a website and a blog too - esthermcmanus.blogspot.com

This is a really good website if you're like me and there is no where to get your hands on to some zines - http://www.zineswap.com/ 

Love Naomi x

Two posts in a day... My my!

During work I'm constantly itching to draw. This is something I drew on one of the bins. He's the bin man :) 

A quiet start to a new year :)

Hello, I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Like most people at New Years, I've started a fresh with a resolution or two. The ones that relate to art are; GO TO UNIVERSITY!! YOU HAVE GOTTEN IN! and the second is to be more involved in the art world. Talking to other Illustrators more, this involves a joint pen pal project. It also involves more blogging :) Hurrah!

In the last post I wrote that I hoped to get into Swansea University. Well I've gotten in! Unconditional. So technically there is no reason to for me not to start September. Why's September so far away? :(

I've finally got an iPad, which I'm blogging from now, whilst sat atop of the kitchen counter ;) on Christmas Day I downloaded an app called 'Paper'. If you have an iPad, this app is a must! Even though I absolutely love traditional means of creating pieces and that will forever be my first love. This app if really fun and inspiring. Here are a few bits I've been experimenting with on there.