Tigerprint Hand Drawn Typography Competition

I recently submitted some designs into the Tigerprint Hand Drawn Typography Competition

I hand drew the type and illustrations and then scanned them in and developed them in Illustrator.

Below are my 5 entries each using a different phrase, colour palette and style. I had so much fun working on this project, I don't often hand draw pieces with a pen on paper and this particular style of typography and illustrations is something I used to do a lot when I was at college.

It felt like getting back to my roots and I have now drawn even more pieces which I hope to develop and share soon! I may even sell the designs as prints if people would like to buy them!

You can see the designs on the Tigerprint website here.. 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5

All images copyright Rosie Simons 2012

Spoonflower Custom Gift Wrap

Spoonflower have been at it again! Adding yet more dream-worthy and exciting new features to their site! Now on top of custom fabric, wallpaper and wall decal printing, you can order custom printed rolls of Gift Wrap!

It looks like the gift wrap feature is a holiday special, so if you want some get in there quickly! Although I imagine that if sales go well they will continue to provide the feature.

I've always wanted to produce and sell my designs as gift wrap, and yet again Spoonflower has provided the opportunity!

If you would be interested in buying some Rosie Simons Design gift wrap please comment below or let me know via Twitter! (@rosie_simons)

How CUTE are their on site mock ups! It's great for imagining how the designs will look as gift wrap!

Images copyright Rosie Simons 2012

Developing my doodles

I was so pleased with how my doodles turned out I decided to try and replicate the look on the computer. I know this is very backwards but as I explained yesterday the doodles came from a new design I was working on.. so without further ado.. here are my digitally created doodles!

I loved how the doodles looked on brown paper so I mocked up the pattern on a sheet of brown paper. I would LOVE to see this printed as wrapping paper! I just love the texture of brown paper.

I got carried away playing around with different colour ways (as usual) and love the simplicity of the colour on white with the textured lines. Will reveal the whole collection this design is from very soon!

All images copyright Rosie Simons 2012

Doodle envelope

Sometimes I just really feel like scribbling away.. I'm working on a very hand drawn collection right now and have been drawing the motifs directly onto the computer using my wacom. So last night I did something rather backwards.. I drew the motifs I had been drawing on the screen, onto paper! A yummy brown paper envelope to be exact, and I was so amazed with the result!

I love the way the sketchy black lines look on the striped brown paper! I'm going to try and work this into a design somehow. It's amazing how something so simple can be so satisfying!

Images copyright Rosie Simons 2012

New Paperchase collection

If you're a regular reader of this blog then you'll know I'm a Paperchase fanatic. I find it so exciting when a new collection comes out and my dream has always been to design a collection sold in Paperchase..

I was browsing the website and noticed this interesting new collection.. the 'block press' collection.

I normally find myself drawn to the bright, fun and generally floral patterns in Paperchase, but this one is different and I love it! The pattern is designed to look like it has been block printed (maybe the original pattern was, who knows!) but the I love the outcome!

The use of textured papers and fabric help enhance the great texture of the print, the mix of colours and hand drawn style are fantastic and the texture of the print, as if it was a fresh block print, is so exciting! (yes, print nerd here!)

You can check out the range online here or in Paperchase stores, I bet it looks even better in person!

All images copyright Paperchase

Preparing for the holiday season

The holiday season is a very busy time for sellers on Etsy so I am starting to prepare myself and my shop(s) for the busy period and using this quiet summer period to add lots of exciting new products, both gifty and holiday season related, and hopefully open a new shop!

My current Etsy shop, iheartrosie, sells fabric items. Braided fabric bracelets, fabric hearts keyrings and other fabric items, such as fabric christmas trees and stars. There are also super cute friendship bracelets! Many items that would make great gifts this holiday season! (I'm cringing a little bit saying that in July, but there we go!)

I'm currently working on new bracelet colours and styles, and special holiday items, plush fabric christmas trees, stars and hearts, plush fabric christmas tree garlands and other nice things!

Here's a sneak peek of some of the fabrics I'm using for the christmas collection!

I've also been working on items for a new paper based shop where I hope to sell my own designs as prints and greetings cards. It's starting to come together so I will be able to share that with you soon!

Here's a little sneak peek of some of the things I've been working on! Let me know what you think!

All images copyright Rosie Simons

One finished project down, 3 and a report to go..

This morning I finished off one of my projects for the final hand in of my degree in 18 days (I just scared myself realising it's only 18 days away.. no idea how I'm going to get everything else finished!!)

So I thought I would quickly share a few images from the project I have finished.

The brief was to 'make something and explain how it's made'

So I made an umbrella, that has sections that would dissolve if the umbrella was taken out in the rain, and turn from a full umbrella into a detailed parasol.

It was a fun project, I designed the motif on illustrator and then mocked up how the umbrella would look

Then I made a sample panel to see how it looked and test how the dissolvable fabric reacted when water was poured onto it

Here is the finished umbrella, 8 panels each with the same rain cloud motif. The dissolvable fabric (inside the cloud and rain drop shape) looks very similar to the panel fabric, but is slightly more opaque and catches the light beautifully.

I am pleased with how the umbrella came out, I like it too much to dissolve the actual umbrella!

Onto the other part of the project, the explanation of 'how the object is made'. I decided to change this slightly from the brief as how the umbrella was put together was not particularly interesting, but how the umbrella 'makes its change' is much more interesting. So I made a card that has a dissolving umbrella (also made from dissolvable fabric like the cutout shapes on the umbrella) and another little surprise, when dipped in water!

The umbrella made of fabric, dissolves and leaves a cutout umbrella shape, and coloured ink appears in the writing! How did I do this? I used the paper from the 'magic painting' books for kids, when you paint water onto the page and colours appear.. (if you've never used one of these, try it, it is so much fun!) The card explains that when water meets the umbrella, something dissolves and something fun and beautiful happens!

More updates coming soon!

Pinterest

I've been meaning to post about Pinterest for ages but have been so busy with work! It's just 6 weeks until final hand in for my degree today.. EEEK. Too much to do is an understatement! But having joined Pinterest a few months ago I have found it has been great inspiration for my projects, I have created a board for each of my projects, in fact sometimes two, and used them as research and inspiration boards throughout the projects. It's great to find likeminded people and share things! So I thought I would share a snippet of those boards!

I have a lot of boards, but will just post a few screenshots of some of my design based boards. You can follow me by clicking on the link below! Really will post some design work soon, PROMISE!