Wooden Decorations

Today I've uploaded a few of my hand-printed birch wood decorations onto my website.  There are only 15 of the birds and 10 of the hearts available.

Cambridge Christmas 2014

My favourite event of the year didn't disappoint.  The Unitarian Church Hall had people queuing at the gates at 12 noon and the hall was buzzing with visitors until we closed at 8:30pm.  Mulled cider warmed everyone up and home-made mince pies kick started the festive shopping experience.

My new Bike tea towels were a big hit and the Indigo Bird coasters were the best sellers.  I also sold out of my Pheonix Trading advent calendars, stocking garlands and paper-chains. I love being part of this event, together with the other 14 talented artists and makers.  Here's to 2015!

Photos from Ely Cathedral Fair

Well locations for a Christmas Food & Craft Fair can't get more spectacular than Ely Cathedral.  We spend a magical three days there, setting up on Thursday 13th November, with a preview that evening.  A full day on Friday, with a break for evensong from 4:30 - 6:30pm.  This gave us a chance to go out for dinner with some fellow stall holders.  The show continued on Saturday with huge numbers of visitors.

My best sellers were the new 'Cat in the Meadow coasters' and new Boats tea towels.  The Penguin cards also went down really well and I am busy making more Red Birdy decorations in time for Cambridge Christmas on Monday 24th November.

Our neighbouring stall was Slate & Nature run by the charming Jeanette and Gerard who'd come all the way from Northumberland for the show.  They sold wonderful reclaimed slate bird feeders, candle holders, garden ornaments and such like.  We swapped a few tea towels for a couple of bird feeders which are really beautifully designed.

Another favourite purchase was from the Ely Gin Company - a lovely selection of little bottles of flavoured gin.  Had to buy it for the packaging alone.

Penguins

For the last few years the Christmas advert from John Lewis always becomes a big talking point and this year is no exception.  It features a very cute penguin called Monty.  So I thought given the surge in interest of all things 'penguin' I would design some new hand-printed cards for my forthcoming Christmas shows.

Twitter

I'm not quite sure what to do with it, but I now have twitter @AlisonHullyer.  I'm sure it will be a great marketing tool as well as a huge time waster, so we shall see how it goes!

Etsy Shop now open

This is something I've been meaning to do for ages and have finally found the time to set up my own Etsy shop for my tea towels.  You can still buy them from my online shop but I know some people prefer to use Etsy.  I may add other items at a later date.  Happy shopping.

NEW Boats & Beach Huts Tea Towels

I was hoping to have these in stock at the beginning of the summer, but better late than never!  I'm really pleased with how they have turned out.  The nautical navy and red design is available from my online shop in unbleached 100% cotton or bright white cotton.  They are machine washable and can be tumble dried, priced at £9 plus p+p.

Drypoint Demonstration

Here I am at the Cambridge Original Printmakers show, doing my best to explain how I make and print my drypoint plates, made from perspex and cardboard.  There was a lovely group of interested people gathered round and I hope I managed to show how it's done.  My top tip was using a piece of chalk to wipe around the edge of the plate to remove any traces on ink, for a clean print.

Cambridge Original Printmakers

The show is going really well so far, with 1000's of people through the door, after our hugely successful preview evening on Friday night. The photo below shows visitors looking at Geri Waddington's wood engravings.

 

Jo Tunmer, Anthony Hopkinson and Sue Jones have done an amazing job organising 40 printmakers, as well as finding time to produce their own fantastic work.  I couldn't resist this solar-plate print 'Standing Proud' by Jo.

This is the display of artists cards and prints on the wall by Clare Crouchman and Tania Scott Durrant.  Plus one of the eye catching posters I designed on the iconic Cambridge railings.

I will be demonstrating my perspex and drypoint printmaking techniques tomorrow lunchtime, so if you would like to see how I finish off making these plates and how I print from them, it would be lovely to see you there.  Entry is free.  The show continues until Sunday 5th October.

Boats and Beach Huts

Coming soon!  A new tea towel design featuring Boats and Beach Huts (plus a few fish and light- houses) in a nautical navy blue and red colour way.  They will be available on white or unbleached cotton.  They should be here by the end of September and available from my online shop.  And you can also buy them direct from me at my festive events in November.

Demontrations and Talks

The Cambridge Original Printmakers show is fast approaching, the preview is in just two weeks time.  It then runs from 27th September - 5th October.  See my Events page for details.

I will be one of the artists giving a talk.  On Friday 3rd October at 1:30pm I will be demonstrating my perspex and cardboard drypoint printmaking techniques.  Talks are free, so come along and see how I work.

Other printmakers giving talks or demonstrations are Chloe Cheese, Stanley Jones, Andy English, Carry Akroyd, Kip Gresham, Sue Jones, Valerie Sims, Emma James, Wendy Poole, Tania Scott Durrant and Geri Waddington.  Some need to be booked in advance so look check the website for details.

New Christmas cards

I've held off until September to mention my two new Christmas card designs for Phoenix Trading.  This is the new little Robin Cupcake, sold in packs of 10 for £2.75.

It joins the other three in the range.  The first of which was the Santa Cupcake, which has now sold over 200,000 cards.

This is the first 'single' Christmas card I've designed.  It sells for £2 and comes with a funky gold starred red envelope.

A percentage of sales goes to the Phoenix International Charity and since 1995 they have raised over £1.6million for good causes.

Holidays

We were very lucky to be able to go on a two week whistle-stop trip this August visiting Italy, Croatia, Montenegro, Corfu and Corsica.  I managed to do a few sketches, nothing hugely successful, but I always enjoy sitting for a few minutes to really look at something.  If I've drawn a place I remember far more about it than simply taking a photograph.

Open Studios over for another year

Thanks to everyone that visited my studio over the last two weekends.  I had a record number of visitors and sales.  Great comments left in my visitor book and plenty of packets of jelly babies were consumed by all.  The Dandelion print sold out it's edition, much to a the dismay of a lady that arrived on Sunday afternoon hoping to buy one.  She had to make do with a coaster and notebook, not quite the same as an original, but it shows to get there early on the first weekend.

I now need to order more Bike tea towels and Green Pebble cards, update the stock on my website and return some pictures to galleries.  Then it's down to tackling the unenvied task of taking it all down and storing it until the next event in September.

Open Studios - 1st Weekend

With record numbers of visitors and sales this year my first weekend of my 19th year of taking part in Cambridge Open Studios, was a great success.  My coasters and new notebooks were a big hit, many being bought as end of term presents for teachers.

It's always satisfying placing red dots on the sold pictures and wrapping up the unframed prints for people to take away.   I'm really looking forward to the remaining weekend, my studio doors will be open to the public from 11am - 6pm on 19th and 20th July.  Thunder storms are forecast, so you are most welcome to come and shelter from the showers.

Cambridge Open Studios

July is the month that always seems to come around the fastest!  It's Open Studios month and I will be opening my studio for the 19th year from 12th July from 11-6pm.  I have lots of new work to show you, including new prints, tea towels, coasters and some special little notebooks.

Cambridge Original Printmakers Poster

I have been heavily involved in designing the promotional postcards and poster for the Cambridge Original Printmakers show in September.  This features the eye catching print by Anthony Hopkinson.

And these are the lovely postcards featuring Jenny Saunders, Susan Jones, Andy English, Kate Heiss, Charlotte Cornish, Jo Tunmer and my own Chinese Lantern print.

Bike Drypoint Prints

As I have been in a bicycle frame of mind recently I have also produced this little set of Bike drypoint prints. They are named after the streets where I sketched them in Cambridge.  I am open to commissions of your own bikes and can make a 'family group' if required.  Please contact me for more details.

NEW Bike Tea Towels

Today I received delivery of my brand new tea towel design.  Having lived in Cambridge all my life, apart from three years at college in Newcastle, I decided to design a bike themed tea towel.  The Tour de France is coming through the city on 7th July, so I thought this was an ideal time to get sketching.
 

Bikes are everywhere in Cambridge and it wasn't until I started drawing them I realised they come in so many shapes and sizes.  I've also tried to reflect the great many overseas visitors that visit our wonderful city every year, by including the word for bicycle in twenty different languages.

They are currently at a special introductory price of £9 on my website and there is a choice of black on unbleached (cream) cotton or bright white cotton.

Bumper crop of new cards

I have been very lucky and had a great commission from Phoenix Trading for a great range of cards.  The 30 and 40 came out in January and now I have added to the range.  So there are now special 6" x 6" cards for those big age milestones.

They also asked me to produce similar die-cut designs for a general Happy Birthday, Good Luck, Happy Anniversary and Congratulations.  As well as being die-cut they are also glossy, have embossed detail, are flittered and come with coloured polka dot envelopes, all that and only £2 from your local Trader.

Date for your diary

I'm really pleased to announce that I've been allocated a much sort after stall at the Ely Cathedral Christmas Gift & Food Fair.  The event will run from the 14 - 15 November 2014 with a special preview evening at 6.30pm on 13 November.

There will be over 100 exhibitor stalls plus a fabulous Food Hall and seasonal cookery demonstrations. Musical entertainment will be provided by the Cathedral choristers and local performers.

Friday 14 November: 9.30am - 4.30pm / 6.30pm - 9.00pm
Saturday 15 November: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Entry price £3.00 / Children under 16 FREE (when accompanied by an adult)