Showing posts with label designer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label designer. Show all posts

Friday, 10 February 2017

A fresh new start!


It been a long time since our last blog post so we are declaring it a fresh new start for this space. After a manic period for Christmas orders (our best yet!), I can practically sew stockings in my sleep! It was a fantastic end to 2016, but I am equally as excited to share a bit more about what we have been working on in 2017 so far. Hint: it involves some beautiful fabrics...




I thought I’d start a new blog regime with a little reintroduction to me (I’m Kirsty!) and Elm Tree Studio. So grab a cuppa and let’s have a virtual chat. Talking of cuppas, I should let you know I’m a big coffee snob and can only drink fresh bean to cup coffee. I definitely can’t get into sewing mode with any decaf brews! I’m constantly in search of the perfect mug.  Being small, I have the bottom shelf in the kitchen all to myself for my mug collection and each one is for a certain drink - builders’ tea, posh tea, coffee, hot chocolate. You could say I’m quite particular about things, but I think that’s a good quirk to have when you are designing products too.



At home I share my space (but not my mug collection) with my hubby Darren (who weirdly doesn't "get" the need for more cushions in the house… a constant battle!) and my children, Josh and Chloe. We take care of two cats, referred to as "the boys" and two chickens called Omelette and Button.

So, coffee and family aside, I mentioned I’ve been sewing in the studio lots! Over the Christmas period, I stitched through the night on some occasions, to make sure all orders went out on time. I discovered Netflix and binge watched Gilmore Girls whilst sewing. I loved it so much I’ve watched it all and started again from the beginning. Have you seen it?

I also had some behind the scenes photos taken in my studio and thought I’d share them with you here, so you can see where everything happens.



January has been equally as busy, but I have returned to what I started last summer and I’m designing my own range of fabrics. The first one, Aster Flower has started to really take off and is now available on a range of textile products, lampshades, lamps, cushions and clocks.

It’s exciting to see the designs come to life on the products. The two existing colourways (dove grey and indigo) will be extended to include spicy mustard which is a beautiful shade! The product range will also grow to include some non-textile pieces. See all the collections here.





We were also thrilled to see our Embroidered Linen Lavender Pillows in Country Homes and Interiors magazine. Seeing our designs in print will always be exciting!



I’d love to know more about you and what enjoy, so do leave me a comment. I’m off to make a cuppa - I’ve just tried Perkulatte Coffee and it’s delicious. I’m really hoping that someone (no pressure, Darren) will treat me to their monthly subscription. Just imagine, fresh coffee delivered monthly straight to your door!


Love, Kirsty

Saturday, 1 March 2014

A little self improvment




Just before the madness of Christmas kicked in last year, I treated myself.

Shock, horror, something for me! not the kids, or hubby or even the house... ME

I booked myself onto Lyndsey James photocraft course. 

Lyndsey, for those who don't know, is an extremely talented photographer who specialises in the creative industries. I stumbled across Lyndsey's work not long after I started Elm Tree Studio, and surfing through facebook land I noticed her work on one of my favorite pages. Realising that my products were never going to sell through my photography skills, I knew that I needed help.

Last year, I went on one of Lyndsey's workshops in order to finally use my late fathers camera, a supa dupa Canon SRL. After just a couple of hours, cocooned in a gorgeous manor house in Ashbourne, Derbyshire I was snapping away, and producing shots that I loved...
I learnt to do foreground blur,background blur, lighting, using a tripod! Really everything that I needed to know for the types of shots I wanted to take for my business. The full course was two days, with the camera skills being on day one and photo styling on the second. Unfortunately, due to childcare, I couldn't do the second day, boohoo
So although my photography skills were and still are improving, I wasn't quite getting the style and feel of my images right. They didn't feel me

Learning to use my camera
Just before Christmas, Lyndsey posted about a new online e-course....
Photo styling, online, learning at my own pace, no childcare to worry about..... I signed up straight away!

Armed with my goody bag, notebook and camera, I spent two weeks gazing at my computer, scribbling notes, printing off lessons, raiding B&Q for wallpaper samples, ordering Annie Sloan paint samples, cutting, sticking, making pinterest boards..... ooh it felt like I was back at college, and I enjoyed every second.

Making a style board 

Painting props
Playing with styling

My essential sewing kit

I still have a way to go, and I'm still working through the lessons, but with each photo I take, my shots are improving, I'm liking the style, they feel me.

A new and improved product photo
So, if you want to learn how to take fabulous photos of your craft sign up now to one of photocraft online or real life workshops, you will have a wonderful time and learn lots of new skills.
To find out more, visit www.photocraft.org 

http://www.photocraft.org/