Lode Mill card

The National Trust shop at Anglesey Abbey has now been stocking my tea towels, coasters and cards for 16 months.  The best selling coaster by a mile is one of Lode Mill.  So I decided to have the print made into cards.  They arrived yesterday and look great.  Hopefully they'll be in the shop at Anglesey Abbey next week and prove to be just as popular as the coasters.

Look back at 2016 and forward to 2017

Nine favourites from 2016

Another year has passed.  As a new year starts it's been fun to look back over the work I've done in 2016.  It's been a bumper year for prints, with 18 new pieces produced, mostly spurred on by taking part in the 2nd Cambridge Original Printmakers exhibition in September.

There were also events I've been part of for many years such, as Cambridge Open Studios and it was my 3rd year at Ely Cathedral Christmas Fair.  Two new events were Histon Handmade and the Cambridge Etsy Handmade Fair. All achieved record sales figures.

My products on sale at Anglesey Abbey

I'm also pleased to be supplying ever increasing amounts of stock to my two local National Trust shops at Anglesey Abbey and Wicken Fen. I'm currently working on new Spring themed coasters and a new design for Houghton Mill.

I've signed up for Open Studios again in July, which will be my 22nd consecutive year.

First order of 2017 - Hogweed print and five coasters

Both my Etsy shop and website continue to receive orders and already this week I have posted two parcels.

I've also been thinking about holidays and we're planning a week walking in the Lake District which is always good for recharging ones batteries and also an exciting trip to Malta, Greece and Albania...watch this space.

Winter Open Studios

After a very successful first Winter Open Studio last year, I have been invited back to the Milton studio of jeweller Cheryl Bird for three evenings this week.  Also there will be Linda Barlett with her stunning jewellery.

We had such fun last year, possibly helped by the free flowing mulled cider and copious amounts of mince-pies.  If this doesn't get you in the festive mood nothing will.

Unfortunately I can't be there in person on the Friday, but Cheryl and Linda will be expertly manning the stalls.  If you can't make these dates but would like to come during the daytime please contact us.  This is my last fair this year, but I'll be taking online orders through my website and Etsy shop until mid December.

Cambridge Made EML Christmas Fair

I didn't have a chance to post much about this show before the event, but I just wanted to add a couple of photos and to thank in print the organisers.  This was my first time exhibiting with the Etsy Made Local group and I was very impressed with the venue, publicity, quality of work from other stall holders and the amount of visitors that came through the door.  We had 1000 each day on Thursday and Friday and an amazing 3400 on Saturday - very busy.

I was next to the ever popular Jo Clark who did a roaring trade with her prints, calendars and mugs of quirky animals.

I sold the last in the edition of my Rich Pickings print, which makes me happy and also sad to see it go.  The new Winter Berries print has also been very popular and was the best selling coasters by a mile.

Histon Handmade Christmas

The jeweller Claire Howieson has assembled 16 amazing contemporary designers and makers for my next show this Saturday 26th November.

I have exhibited with many of them before and can't wait to see what the new venue looks like.

See Histon Handmade website for more details.

Ely Cathedral Food & Gift Fair 2016

You can't beat Ely Cathedral as a magical venue for a Christmas Fair.  This was my third time I have been lucky enough to be selected and I had a prime spot in the central octagon.  I am starting to get to know many of the the other exhibitors and it's always great to buy from their stalls too.

I bought this lovely cushion by Anna Osborne of Speculating Rook (birthday present to myself).

And this quirky chicken mug from Amanda MacPhail.  As well as sampling delicious things in the food marquee including several chocolate brownies and celery vodka blood Mary (much nicer than it sounds).

Fingers crossed I am invited back next year.

New products

I'm not sure if it's in a printmakers mind-set to want to see images produced multiple times, but I do like to see my original prints reproduced in other forms.  My range of coasters now extends to sixty-four designs.  I try to keep all the best sellers in stock on my website or etsy shop and the others are available on request.  'Winter Berries' is the newest to arrive.

I've also added this design to my range of cards and some have already been delivered to Wicken Fen National Trust shop.

I think these must take the prize for the brightest collection of coasters!  They feature my new Bike prints and I had great fun arranging them in a very pleasing circle.