Holiday time

It seems like so long ago that I sat down to write a blog post, this because it is. It's been ages. So much has happened in the past few months I don't even know where to begin.

Ok so here goes... Since August last year I found out my big brother was going to get married in November this year (2013) and it was to my delight that they asked me to design and make their wedding invitations. Of course I said yes. So for the past couple of month I have been hard at work creating them a collection of invitations that Oli, Jemma and I would beProud to send out. I am so pleased to say that I have finally fined them, and I'm really pleased with the final result. Oli and Jemma are also delighted too, as they have sent them it to their new home, and have already have some replies. AMAZING!!! 

So here area few snaps of the finished products 

In each hand made envelope slip contains: an invitations, informations about accommodation and a RSVP card complete with addressed envelops. Beautifully finished with lace and ribbon on the front. 

fingers crossed all there guest like their invites.

Now my next task is to make all the place names for all the guests. I best get creating again.

Now to the most exciting piece of news I have to share with you all...

At the beginning of June I had an interview with a greeting card company called Gemma. They are the market leader in licensed greetings, and produce some amazing things. The position that I applied for was a designer based in their studio in Andover.

The night before my interview I was so nervous, as this is all I have ever wanted to, design cards as its my absolute passion.  I thought the interview went really well. everyone was lovely and the office was very nice too. I had a week to wait before I found out if I was successful or not. (it felt like it was the longest week ever!!)

So friday came and to my absolute joy I received the phone call I had been waiting for ever since I left university. I was so excited. That just made my day!

Chloe Hoare is now a designer at Gemma.!

When it came to my last day working for Annie Haak Desings, I was sent off in style and very spoilt. 

A massive jar of sweet and a filo fax ( sad i know but I have always wanted one) It was a sad day as I have made some great friends there. But now I am looking forward to making some new friends at Gemma, and getting my teeth stuck into designing.

And of course one last card to say thank you to Annie for everything she has done for me over the past two years. 

Thank you Annie haak for a great send off :-)

In between all this excitement I also managed to fit in a holiday so I was freshened and ready to get stuck into my new job. 

So tickets were printed and we were ready for 9 days of hot hot sunshine.

Of course not with out of novelty sunglasses. 

Hello sunshine.. this is the life I could get used to.

Only to come home to sunshine and hot hot heat, Im definatly not complaining. :-)

Competition time!!

This month I though I would put myself out there a little bit more by entering some competitions.

I have entered the tigerprint female surface pattern competition. Today I sent off my designs so fingers crossed they will be short listed. :)

And here is the brief that I have been working too..

Brief

The aim of this brief is to design a contemporary surface pattern for a female recipient that could be used across a range of products including;

Gift bagsWrapping paperStationery products

Greeting cards

This is a really great brief to apply fresh, fun and trend driven colour palettes across gorgeous surface pattern that would appeal to a female customer.

Themes

Quite a number of our successful products for female customers feature flowers within the design but this brief is a great opportunity to try something different and consider a variety of icons. So by this we mean all those things girls just love!

Shoes

Fashion

Bows

Handbags

Jewellery

Make up items

Perfume bottles

We really want to see you push the boat out  with this brief and offer us something new and different for the female customer.

Inspiration

Your inspiration can be anything at all that interests you. Consider current trends and what you think could be the next big thing! Why not start by looking at some of the following areas:

Fashion & accessories

Interiors

Travel Destinations

Materials and techniques

Hobbies

Wildlife

And here are my designs.

After passing my advanced course in Adobe Illustrator I have been loving doing my designs on in. Its a new found love of my and I highly recommend it to anyone thinking of trying to use it.

All girls love handbags and shoes and as I have too many of the both to count I decided to design my prints around this. Using floral and eye catching colours to make them appealing to the female audience. 

I have also tried my hand a designing for a lampshade company this month "Quincy Lampshades"

they have some amazing designs check out there website. www.quincylampshades.co.uk

Here are the designs I have created for their competition...

Sticking to the brief that was set where specific colours needed to be used in all designs, I have tried to create a variety imagery for my submission. I have used a combination of geometric shapes and floral to create my designs. 

Hope you like them. :)

How quick does time pass?

I cant believe that the last time I sat down to write down everything that I had been up to was way back in February time. So so much has happened it that time , I don't even know where to start.

Well first things first we have finally moved into our very own home. :) and it is amazing I couldn't ask for anything better. There is one very happy girl. We have been so busy making a house a home doing our fist ever DIY! which hasn't always gone to plan. But never mind its well hidden. 

Say hello to number 55.

And of course that always means a toast is needed.. crack open the bubbly in our new purple kitchen (My fav room)

As we have moved our life our of our parents houses and into ours it was only fair that I set up home with a sparkling new studio... Ikea has been my best friend, I must say we are now the King and Queen of how to put up a flat pack. All kinds of furniture we have done it. 

And all that is now needed to finish off my little creative space is a book shelve to store all my creative inspirational books... which is on its way :) happy days.

With all the excitement of moving home, my littler sis has all been continuing her adventure across the world. As I write this she is now in Africa which is now her last stop on here 5 month trip. Crazy how quickly it as gone, so in just 19 days she will be flying home to see us all and I can not wait to see her.

She up loaded this amazing picture of her a few weeks ago and I must say I am very jealous of all the fun she is having and the amazing places she is getting to see. The trip of a life time and I cant wait to hear all her stories and see all her brilliant photos.

With all of this going on I am pleased to say that I have made time to do some designing and keeping my to date with my craft which is a true passion for me.

Cards, Gift Wrap and Invitations have been on the cards lately for me. Just as I was moving one of my good friends we moving to a new house as well so this meant a new home card of course...

I created two different designs, but of course I didn't send one to my new house!

Also there has been mothers day to celebrate all the wonderful mummy's out there.

Sticking with the same colour scheme i designed a gift wrap to go along side this card, which can also be used on its own and can stand out in the crowd.

This is no the best image and apologies for this however I will up load a better one ASAP. I also like the idea of this pattern to be used as a series of notebook cover. I think its fun and playful, just what you need when you are making notes in school or college something to keep you attention. 

And not to forget there is always a birthday card in amongst all this designing. 

And how could I forget out new address card that I have send out to all our families.

Count down to wedding day...

It is just over 6 months and counting until my brother gets married, eeek how grown up and I am on a wedding invitations and accessories designing mission. I am creating all the stationery for them from, save the date, invitations, RSVPs to table place settings. the pressure is on but I love doing it. I love the designing making and creating, I also can't wait to help sent up the table displays. Im so excited. 

Here is a sneak peak at my creations in design stage...

Its all starting to come together.

busy busy busy...

It has been a while since my last up date, and I can say it has been a busy start to the year.

What with filling in paper work ti buy our first house and wedding shopping with my sister in law to be.. and not to mention getting wedding stationery creative and of course creative for valentines day!

So here is what I have been up to lately...

First came the wedding save the date invitations. They were sent out and all I could do was wait nervously to hear people reactions of them. I am please to say they went down a treat :) panic over

Each one was hand finished with a delicate length of lace and crystal detail.

So now the next challenge is to create the actual invitations and setting plans..

One big day this month is of course valentines day and the shops are full of lovely heart shaped things, So I turned my had to creating my own greeting card for this romantic day.

Here goes...

And a group shot

Also on the creative front I have been creating some girly birthday cards with a little bit of sparkle to them. 

And who doesn't like pink!!

Final Major project collections

In my final year of University I chose to venture away from the usual textiles products that everyone was creating, and do something that was my true passion.. Designing stationery.

Here are a few of my final presentation pieces.

Also after uni I have continued to create things that I am passionate about.