Are you 'Creative'? Are you, maybe, a bit of a Dreamer?

People who know me have often commented that I’m ‘organised’, ‘tidy’ even, and more recently, they’ve tended to use the word ‘focused’. 

This puzzles me because I would just love to be any of those things but I know that I am not!



In fact, I probably berate myself at least once a day for wasting time being ‘disorganised, untidy and decidedly unfocused’, for being a bit of day-dreamer in fact!

Going away to boarding school at the age of 11 was a nightmare for me – I never seemed to be in the right place at the right time, I never seemed to remember to read the lists on the notice boards which would have helped me to be more ‘organised’ and I always felt that the little locker where we kept our personal possessions was in a state of chaos . . . it had been OK at home, with four much older sisters and two older brothers as well as my parents to keep me on track, to make sure I arrived at the bus stop on time and so on. Without them I was lost and as a result, I seemed often to be in trouble.

And so, in the end, I resolved to become ‘organised’. I made lists, I kept records, I made lists of lists and lists of lists of lists! Which is why I have a reputation for being ‘organised’ . . . and also why I feel slightly guilty when I catch my mind wandering apparently aimlessly, wasting time . . . or is it?

I'm coming to suspect that the wandering mind is a necessary pre-condition for creativity. 

Some years ago, a really, truly organised friend and her husband, who ran a business from home, asked me to design a change of address card for their business when they needed more space than their home could provide. When we were talking about payment, my friend insisted I should be paid for my ‘thinking time’ as well as the time I had spent on the drawing.

But I’m not at all sure that I would call it ‘thinking time’. Thinking, in that sense, is a left-brain activity. Allowing one’s mind the freedom to meander so that ideas can germinate is more often a function of the right side of the brain I believe.


Friends have also often commented on the fact that I tend to be an ‘ideas’ person and my school reports often mentioned that I had a ‘lot of imagination’ and it didn't always sound like a compliment. And as far as art and design is concerned, I’m never short of inspiration – just short of the time to carry out my ideas! Often, if you asked me where I get my ideas or my inspiration, I would have to reply that I don’t really know but that I think it’s something to do with my tendency to day-dream.

I've been toying with the idea that a certain amount of day-dreaming is vitally important for an artist or designer. Maybe it’s the means  whereby we can bring a little magic into our work? Perhaps it’s what enables us to step into the shoes of our potential customers and make work they can connect with?

I’ve been wondering whether there’s actually any proof to back up my theory. It could, after all, be just one of my ‘imaginings’! But a few minutes before I began to write this blog post, I read through some tips for designers from yourindies.com and this is what jumped out at me –

‘Everybody wants to live the dream: if a designer can sell someone just a little bit of the dream, they will go home happy.’

A friend and I were browsing through some old photos of me as a child one day. She picked out one that I had always hated; it was a studio portrait photo taken at a time when I was somewhat chubby, to say the least. To my horror, my friend told me she liked it, and worse still, the reason she liked it was because she could see from the photo that I was a dreamer. I was mortified! It seemed that all my efforts to become an efficient, organised, focused person had been in vain and my day-dreaming self was exposed for all to see!



So, of course, I just tried even harder to be tidy, organised and focused and that’s why I still tend to give myself a hard time when I catch myself letting my thoughts wander away from the task in hand!

Which is pretty stupid. Because I'm coming to believe that we all have that imaginative, day-dreaming, creative child inside us, full of wonder and curiosity and asking ‘what if . . . ?’ and that’s something we should value!  

Of course there are times when we need to be ‘organised’, ‘tidy’, ‘focused’ - but not all the time!

We all need to give our day-dreaming selves a chance to meander down unknown highways and by-ways, following our curiosity wherever it leads us, asking questions . . . and, like a four-year-old, asking even more questions!

That's the best way I know to generate those supremely magical ‘Aha!’ moments that we call 'Inspiration'. 

(Just make sure you don’t do it when you’re behind the wheel of a car!)

Chevrons Everywhere . . .

. . . and here are some on

Mugs, Mousepads and More!

Chevron Neckties

 

Trendy Necktie, Emerald and Blue Geometric Pattern by helikettle
   

(OK, so these are slightly 'decorated' chevrons!)

Are you a sucker for scarves? Discover Glen Prince of Great Britain!

I'm an absolute sucker for scarves and shawls - so much so that I don't dare count how many I own!

So I was delighted to come across 'Glen Prince of Great Britain' on facebook! I hadn't heard of the company so I thought I would share some of their information and images here, partly for other scarf-addicts but also for anyone looking for ideas for really special Christmas Gifts.

Here's some information from Glen Prince:

"Glen Prince of Great Britain is a British family company set up by Mark

Lovell, Managing Director, in 1989 and was incorporated in January 1990.

The company’s headquarters are in Yeovil, South West England where a team of staff co-ordinate design, sales and deliveries to all Glen Prince’s markets."

"Glen Prince is one of the leading UK suppliers of High Quality accessories. We have been exceeding customer’s expectations since 1989. Based in the UK, we have continually sourced and designed scarves, stoles, shawls and rugs, using mainly natural fibres and specialized craftsmanship. 

By adhering to our principles of excellence in quality and service the Glen Prince brand is internationally recognized as one of high quality." 

"Our collection is based on high British tradition and values and our products are recognised all over the world as representing the best of British manufacturing."

"Our Cashmere range of scarves and stoles are the flagship products in the Glen Prince range and are made from the highest quality Cashmere. 

Hundreds of years of tradition and skill are incorporated into the production, down to the natural teases used to comb “Tease” the finished item, to its luxurious finish."

"Cashmere is the most exciting material to work with. It is difficult to get hold of and produced in a remote, primitive area of the world; it is complicated to process the fibre and it is very expensive. All the difficulties of dealing with cashmere remain the same and have remained the same for over a hundred and fifty years but it produces a wonderful product which Glen Prince is very happy to be associated with."

"As well as traditions we have branched out into our fashions here at Glen Prince with our lightweight 100% wools, cottons, silks and linens with trend inspired designs all of which are totally Glen Prince’s own. These designs are manufactured over in India to the highest standard and are hand-printed onto the fabric. 

As an extension to these fashion pieces we have the Glen Urban range which takes our fashion range down an edgy, streetwise direction which, incorporated with the Glen Prince range, means we can cater to every taste."

Here's where you can see more of Glen Prince's very special scarves and shawls - 

Glen Prince of Great Britain

Somerset

 www.glenprince.com

(where you can also see the fascinating Cashmere process!)

You can also see us at the following Trade Shows:

Who's Next: Hall 7.2 Stand H104.  6th-9th July, Porte de Versailles, Paris

Mode France: Floor 28, Room #29. 17th-19th July, Tokyo Hilton, Shinjuku

Pure: Stand T238, 4th-6th August, Olympia, London

The Box: 27th - 30th September, Espace Cambon, Paris

or

to keep up with the latest news and new collections,

Follow Glen Prince on 

Twitter

and

 Facebook!

Working from Home: 12 Tried and Tested Stress-busters

My computer workspace up in my attic studio

The number of people working from home is on the up!

The internet has made that possible. And the economic crises of the past few years have made it an alternative to being employed or useful as a feasible means to bring in some extra income.

Add to that the rapidly increasing number of people who live alone, and we’ve got a whole army of people like me, who both work and live alone.

Working from home has so many obvious benefits that I would never want to work any other way. 

But there are drawbacks too. 

One is that sometimes, coping with the sheer volume of tasks alone can seem overwhelming; all the more so without anyone to remind you to stop for a cuppa or even to have a conversation that isn’t about work!

My painting table

So here are my 12 Tips for keeping your sanity!


1. Begin by making a time-line, with goals and dates by which you hope to accomplish them. This not only gives you a sense of satisfaction when you cross off what you’ve achieved. It also stops you setting yourself unrealistic amounts of work to do.

2. Once you’ve written your fairly detailed time-line, break it down into all its different task and make yourself a work schedule. This may take a few attempts as you gradually discover how long each task is likely to take. But once you’ve done it, you won’t seem to be working ‘all hours’!

3. Make sure you get enough sleep. That will provide you with a good, solid base from which to cope with whatever ups and downs your work throws at you.

4. As with #3, eat well. Eat small meals frequently. I find three main meals and two snack meals perfect for me – and make sure that at least a large proportion of what you eat is good for you – ie not junk food!

My attic studio - you can' just see the foot of my big old easel  to the left and the desk at the end is where I make collages.

5. Get as much fresh air and exercise as you can. If nothing else, try to fit in some walking whenever possible. I have a mini-bike that I pedal while I’m watching television in the evenings on days that I don’t go out. And I can feel it removing any tension or stress that has built up during the day. If things are really getting to you, try counting chimney pots while you’re out. (And come back here and tell us all how you felt afterwards!)

6. Keep a journal. ‘Research has shown’ that students who keep a journal are in better mental health than those who don’t. You don’t necessarily need to journal every day but it’s handy to have this outlet if you’re feeling under pressure. Write whatever comes into your head – totally uncensored!

7. Watch the birds: I was amazed to learn that there is a condition known as ‘Nature Deficit Disorder’! Spending time in the country can do wonders for your spirits but it’s not always easy if time is short and you live in a built up area. But even if you can’t see any wildlife from your windows, it’s worth taking a few minutes out to watch the constantly changing sky.

My trusty old laptop downstairs in my dining room, where most of my uploading, social networking and blogpost-writing gets done

8. Talk to someone: not always easy! When you’re busy working so many hours alone, you really need someone to share the ups and downs with – but how likely is it that friends will be free to chat, just at the moment that you are able to take a break from your work? 

Many’s the time that I’ve decided to make time to catch up with friends, only to be greeted by one voice-mail message after another. That’s when social networking comes to the rescue! As long as you don’t get sucked into spending all your time on facebook when there’s work to be done, there’s a good chance you can find someone to chat with online and that can really help you to keep things in perspective.

9. Music – if the particular task facing you seems like endless drudgery - and some of them often do - the right music can help you whip through it in what seems like no time at all!

10. Chocolate – when all else fails, I eat dark chocolate. It actually has a lot of health benefits, including lifting the spirits. Again, like social networking, know when enough is enough!

11. Make sure you watch some comedy programmes on TV or DVD – or failing that, there are a lot of hilarious video clips to be found on YouTube. Laughter is a great de-stressor, one of the best!

12. More chocolate!

This is where the doodling that leads to the design process invariably takes place - while watching  TV!

How do you find working from home? 

Is it all positive or have you found some drawbacks?

You are most welcome to leave your comments, queries or solutions in the comments box below!

(very sorry about the captcha!)

Have you met my friends from the . . .

. . . Old Folks' Home?

 

'Young at Heart' Coffee Mug with Quote by helikettle
Look at Dancing Mugs online at Zazzle.com

Read about Pixie Copley, Graphic designer, Photographer and Fractal Artist.

I recently interviewed Pixie Copley from Cambridgeshire. As you will see, Pixie is a multi-talented artist - graphic designer, photographer and Fractal Artist!

www.photographybypixie.com
www.pixandmix.org.uk
www.hippygiftshop.com

Pixie on facebook 

Pixie on twitter 

As usual, my first question for Pixie was: When did you first realise that you were an artist?
I've always loved art for as long as I can remember, most of my school books were covered in doodles and I always knew I wanted to do something creative when I left school.

Rainbow Rose Flower by *photography by pixie

Have you had formal art/design/illustration training?
Yes I studies art, design and photography at college then started working in a graphic design and screen printing company where I learned more about working in the real world.

What was the most important thing you learnt from it?
I've learned so many important things and think they are all as important as each other, including good time keeping, sticking to deadlines and good communication.

What is the most important thing you have learnt on your journey as an artist and from whom did you learnt it?
I used to keep a lot of my photography and fractal art hidden away, it was personal and I didn't think anyone else would be interested in seeing it. I met some people while I was on honeymoon who persuaded me to start selling my photography as they wanted to buy one of my pictures to hang in their living 
room. I started selling my work online 4 years ago and haven't looked back!

Owl Eyes Poster by Photography By Pixie

Who are your favourite artists/designers/illustrators?
Dali, William Blake and Leandro Erlich 

What is your favourite medium?
My work involves lots of photography, graphic design and digital illustration and have recently got back in to a skill that I learned in my college days and have been creating felt art. I can't pick a favorite medium as I'd be lost without my camera, computer and wool fibers!!

How long has your business been up and running?
My business opened it's doors on 14th Feb 2007 so 6 years although we were working on business plans setting everything up for a good 6 months before that.

Do you enjoy the business side of things?
I love the business side of things, I really enjoy meeting clients and helping them to achieve what they want with the look and feel of their company. I don't mind doing the paperwork side of things, like writing quotes and creating invoices. The only thing I don't like is talking on the phone, I'd much rather meet people face to face but dealing with clients all over the world this isn't always possible. I know what you mean! I think there are probably quite a lot of us who feel like that about phoning vs face-to-face.

Purple Water Drop Poster by Photography By Pixie

Why did you decide to specialise in graphic design? 
I always wanted to be a wallpaper designer, a product designer or a shop window designer so I specialised in graphic design. 

Do you find that the business side of things takes up more time than you would like?
Oh yes, I'm always saying that I don't have enough time to be creative! I manage a graphic design studio during the day and also run the online shops which take up a lot of time too. Wow! That's a lot to manage - and you also spend time helping to promote other people's work too. I really admire that, Pixie!

Are you working alone or do you have help?
I have a team of 3 other people that work part time for my graphics company. 

I work alone at home a few days a week and in the evenings. I really enjoy that too. I can get my head down and really concentrate on things without distraction. 

Hippy Fractal Pattern Pink Turquoise & Yellow Poster by hippy gift shop

Do you paint/draw regularly?
I do a few digital illustrations now but don't spend as much time with a pen and paper in my hand as I used to.  I did buy an inkling pen a few months ago but haven't had much of a chance to play with it yet. I'm sure i'll be back in to my old doodling habits in no time! I'd love one of those inklings but I'm afraid I'd be playing with it constantly!

Are you still doing what you originally set out to do?
Yes I am but technology has changed so much over the last 15 years, when I studied there was no such thing as the internet or digital photography so have had to learn different skills to keep up with how the world is changing. Yes, it seems amazing that things we take for granted weren't even around 15 years ago.

How many hours per week do you work?
I was dreading you asking this question. Some weeks I can work a whopping 70+ hours a week at busy times but most weeks are slightly less at about 50 hours. 

Funky Rainbow Swirl Fractal Art Pattern Posters by hippygiftshop

Do you have regular contact with other artists?
Yes I do, a few of my close friends are artists and am also friends with a lot of creative people online. The creative community is amazing and I have met so many people over the last 4 years, I feel very privileged to be involved with such an awesome community.

What is your biggest achievement – or the one that pleases you most – so far?
That's a hard question too, up until a few months ago I would have said my first job was the biggest achievement, I started working there straight after college as a junior and within 3 years I'd work my way up the company ladder and was one of the heads of the design department.

My more recent achievements are having a photo picked to be displayed in the East Anglia Federation of photographers annual exhibition and receiving top marks for one of my photos that was judged by 5 top people in the photography world. Congratulations! That really is an achievement!

Do you have a favourite quote, art-related or otherwise?
Limitations live only in our minds. But if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become limitless - Jamie Paolinetti  I love that one too!

Crazy Blue Fractal Pattern Print by hippy gift shop

Pixie, it just remains for me to thank you on behalf of all who follow or read this blog! Your lovely, exciting work is so positively cheerful - I'm sure it brightens a lot of lives. 

THANK YOU!

Here, again, are some links to more of Pixie's wonderful work:

www.photographybypixie.com
www.pixandmix.org.uk
www.hippygiftshop.com

And if you'd like to get to know Pixie better, why not follow her on facebook or twitter?

Pixie on facebook 

Pixie on twitter 

Poppy Red - a Pantone Colour Choice for Spring/Summer 2013

Have you noticed Poppy Red in your local shops? It's one of the Pantone colour choices for Spring/Summer this year. 

But it didn't put in an appearance in Abergavenny until June. Maybe that's because, being the colour of fire, it's one of the 'hottest' colours, more associated with summer than spring. 

Or perhaps it was waiting for the poppies to bloom?

This oil pastel painting of a friend's garden is called, 'June Garden'. It's based on a photo I took when I had a birthday lunch with her - in June!

90th Birthday Card for a Grandmother - June Garden by helikettle
 

Whatever the reason for 'Poppy Red's' late arrival, there's a lot of it about now!

It's a colour I love - though, sadly, it doesn't suit me like it did when I was younger - so I looked it up in my big book of Colour. And here are a few of the interesting Facts about Red that I discovered.

• Like yellow and orange, red is a colour that demands attention and is hard to miss. That's probably why the post boxes and the older telephone boxes in the UK are red -

- and of course, red traffic lights mean 'Stop!', a signal you won't want to miss!

• Red is the colour at the top of the rainbow. Of interest to artists and photographers, is the fact that red appears to advance. Something red in the foreground of a painting or photo will give the image depth, especially if the background tends towards the blues, as in distant mountains.

• Red is the first colour that babies perceive. Small children are attracted to it. The red crayons are always the most worn down in the box!

• But in an environment with a lot of red, children become fractious - and maybe it's not just children! Red quickens the heart rate and stimulates the release of adrenalin. We use the phrase 'seeing red'; and 'red mist' is defined as, 'a feeling of extreme anger that clouds one's judgement temporarily'! 

• But on a more positive note, red fruits and vegetables are not only attractive but good for us. You can read what it is that makes them a healthy choice HERE. Although there are plenty of green apples and others that are speckled with yellow and orange, traditionally, the red apples were thought to be the juiciest.

• Red also stimulates the appetite - hence the heavily red-based decor of burger stalls and fast-food outlets.

• In China, Red is the colour of Luck. Just look at these Lucky Lanterns that are bought to ward off evil! So when it came to creating Chinese New Year Cards or Birthday Cards, they had to be red!

And of course, Poppies seem to be one of the most popular flowers with artists. They can be quite a challenge to paint as their colour seems to change with the light and their petals are so fragile. 

Poppies come in a variety of colours but I always think of 'red' when I think of poppies. And this collection of patterns has been one of my most popular.

Here's a blog post I wrote about this beautiful flower a while back -

Poppies

So how do you feel about Poppy Red? Is it a colour you're wearing this summer? For shoes maybe?  You'll certainly get noticed! 

But bearing in mind the effect of red on your heart rate and adrenalin, maybe stick to accents of Poppy Red in your home, rather than large, solid areas of this decidedly 'assertive' colour!