"Baby Bell" Baby Shower Book

The baby shower was a success! Everyone went home happy and full of cake. That was the plan! And most of all I think AlliBell enjoyed it too!
Here's the baby shower book that I've just given to her (couldn't put it up before now because it was a surprise!) I didn't want to just stick an invitation on the front so - because I had so many left over - I decided to make it a bit funky, used an invite as a stencil and then spray painted it! I hoped that this would reflect Alli's creative/rock side. It didn't turn out as crisp as I'd have liked but there were no second chances with it. It was a "now or never" type of moment. Ha! The book is from Paperchase! One of my favourite stores. I always feel happy in that store!
Well, inside there were greetings, words of encouragement and advice for the parents-to-be. I also re-wrote some of the relevant things that happened during the shower for her to remember. Last of all I finished it off with a few photos and a copy of the invitations.
I hope that she likes it and enjoys reading it now and in the future :)

New cherrygorgeous design!

Image from cherrygorgeous.co.uk

Well it's finally here! My first ever official invitation design. This is the most recent design project I've had at cherrygorgeous based on Indian wedding stationery. I have loved it and learned a lot through it. My boss is a great inspiration! She has really helped me develop many skills over the few months I've been there.
The design isn't quite live yet but it has been Blogged and Pinterested! Look out for it being launched in bold and exciting colours!
If you are looking for eco-chic and stylish wedding stationery, look no further and go to cherrygorgeous.co.uk!

Colourful Quotes

Esther Orridge 2012

Esther Orridge 2012

For a while now I've wanted to make some quotes into graphical pieces. I wasn't sure how I'd do it but this shows my first attempt. A friend came out with a good one this week which was "I love epic!" and immediately I wanted to create a graphic to capture this forever. Each quote I have in mind has a specific story or meaning behind it. They are quotes from people that have impacted my life in some way or that I just have to record somehow. The top one is from the wife of a Pastor who is connected with my church. It's one of the quotes I try and live by because when I'm tired my attitude can stink!!
I also have another typographic idea up my sleeves but as with this idea I'm not quite sure how or when I'll be able to do it. So when I figure it out I'll pop it up here for you to see...
P.s I have no idea why it keeps changing the colours when you click on the images. If you have any ideas I'd appreciate the heads up please :)

Doodle Pebble

Esther Orridge 2012

I got bored last week (don't normally have time to) and found a few slate pebbles laying around the house from a trip to Whitby last year. So I decided to see how my line drawings would look on it. Here's the first I've ever done. Thought it was interesting - more than just on a piece of paper??
Was hard not to smudge the pen though and also keep the technique as I would when drawing on a flat surface!

Hand-Printed Gift Wrap

I found this beautiful printing idea whilst browsing for new books to add to my 'design shelf'. One part of the site I was browsing had a link to the company's magazine promotional site which let's you see what's in the next issue. This was one of the articles included. How gorgeous is this print? I love it. The colours fit with the colour schemes I'm working with at the moment too. The ink for further info is here:

http://www.makingmagazine.com/page.asp?p=99

Such a simple idea with such a wonderful outcome!

DSLR Re-training!

These are my attempt at a group 'outing' set by our tutors. We were given the task of experimenting with shutter speeds and the DSLR camera settings. I haven't used a DSLR for a long time (since college in 2006/7). I'm so excited to be able to get my hands on one again! I had a great friend explain all we were told in the classroom again out on campus so it was great to try it out myself. These are just 4 of the ones that featured as my workshop examples. I'm really happy with them. They may not be ground-breaking but they are a mile-stone to me :) Thanks guys for helping me! You are fab!

Technical Workshops - Flash Week 4

Well it's not the actual flash files uploaded (I still don't know how to yet) but these are a few print screens from the making of a few sample animations - learning the ropes.

Top: Mr Jelly - whilst learning the 'bone tool' Mr Jelly goes on an underwater adventure.

Centre: Count-up - Morphing characters from frame to frame.

Bottom: Crazy Bunny - Moving a graphic around the stage using the 'classic tween' tool.

Technical Workshops - Flash Week 3

For the past 3 weeks every Monday we Graphic designers have had 6 hour training on the software Adobe Flash. It took a while to understand, however, slowly but surely I'm getting to grips with it. It's interesting. I've already made a few small animations using basic shapes and morphing numbers which was pretty kool. I also created an Octopus and taken him on a journey through the sea (an extremely simple flash animation I did last week). I named him Mr Jelly.

This week we began to create our banners for the technical file side to our course this year. Although I had a few technical problems I managed to overcome them and get the file back to a stage where I can easily pick what I was doing back up and complete the task I set. First half (frames 1-60) will be finished this week ready to complete second half (61-120) next Monday.

Unfortunately I do not know how to upload these onto the blog which is a shame because I'm quite excited about them. If and when I can do this I will so you can have a look for yourself :)

Retirement of a Printing Block

14 pieces wood type - (10) 1" high numbers 0-9 and 4 punctuation marks dollar sign ($), period (.), colon (:) and exclamation point (!).
Relating to typography work.
This reminds me of Dad.
Also think that the fact that it has been used in industry before almost retiring as a piece of decorative work is a brilliant aspect to the product :)

"Doesn't it make you think what have they been used for I wonder?"
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=fp_recent&listing_id=39890356

The only time I'll have 'Chimmy Joos' of my own!

And the colour has gone again! Sorry guys. I know it sucks! It will be back again shortly...

Stencils. Whenever I do any stencil work I have to make them from scratch. Any stencil I use is either from a drawing I have done myself or an image/photo printed and then with either I will cut the stencils out by hand - most of the time I do it without planning and voila there is my stencil.

For these two stencils, I used two Jimmy Choo shoe images and make and sprayed them myself for a piece of college work. I have also used these in a module for University (first year again). It worked a treat!

P.s. And now I'm getting even more embarrassed that the background is indeed supposed to be white. Oh the shame!!!

A Technique with No Name

Wow!! A post with actual colour has finally arrived on my blog page!! Hallelujah!!

I haven't a clue what this technique is called - or even if it is classed as an official technique - but most of the time I like the outcome.

The first image demonstrates my favourite way to use the watercolour-pain-blowing. I personally think it works well for flowers. The hint of colour used instead of block-colours makes it appear more delicate like a lily should be.

I can never decide whether I like the lips one or not. I think I just like the colour used. I'm a big fan of fuschia!