No Holds Barred (poster design)

I've recently been asked to help out a friend of a friend to design posters and/or a logo/border for a new pub based discussion group organised by a local church group.

The brief:
"The idea is that we will hold discussion evenings in a local pub. The themes will usually be general, and the discussion open to anyone. There are some ground rules and there will be a Christian input (a Christian input, not the Christian input - there is usually a whole range of Christian opinions on any given subject!)."

The request was to make the posters and leaflets "noticeable and professional". Something that would stand out on the pub noticeboard, but that the group could easily update and change each month.

Ideas:The group is called "No Holds Barred"- a phrase used in hand-to-hand combat, where no manoeuvres are prohibited. I started looking at wrestling posters and promo - they use bold colours, big fonts and simple copy.

Busy, busy, busy

Well - it's been ages since I've had the chance to sit and write something here. I figured I'd better explain myself...

The day job
I work for a large charity called the Together Trust - find out about them on their website here. I look after all their printed material, photography, brand ID, website and social media (which includes Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, a blog and YouTube). Recently I've found a new love for all things social media - I've been to a few gatherings and have a few social media surgeries booked to go to (find out more about social media surgeries here). It's been a very busy few months!

Dementia UK charity ball

I've recently been asked to design a poster and tickets for 'The Charity Ball' – a black tie event in aid of Dementia UK. All for a great cause, I designed the following for them as a donation. If anyone is interested in getting tickets, please contact Natasha or Sarah via the numbers on the poster.

Thanks to Helen at Dementia UK for sending me logos and brand guidelines (I love the brand lime green - it works so well with the black) and sending this fab comment; "I think you have done a brilliant job with the design!"

Thanks to Tash and Sarah for asking me to do the designs too. I hope the event raises lots of money for a fantastic charity.

Ticket (front - A6)

Ticket (A6, front)

For the boys

Well things have been a little hectic the last few weeks and I've not had much time to get on with making things for the TigerPants shop. I've seem to have had quite a few graphic design projects on the go recently. I've been designing invites and posters for a black tie charity ball in aid of Dementia UK, designing a logo and menu for a local coffee shop and I'm about to start designing a newsletter for Cornwall  Air Ambulance too. As soon as things are complete I'll add them here - but for now you'll just have to wait.

Anyway, one thing I have managed to play around with is making things for the blokes. I've noticed just how few handmade things are aimed at men. I'm guessing that there are lots of girly crafters out there who make girly things as it's what we know. I know what things I like, so it's easier to make things for people like me. However I set myself a challenge to make something for the boys.

I found this great tutorial about how to make Shamballa bracelets on the Beads Unlimited blog. 

Folksy finds - Handmade love

Time to get all loved up and have a hunt for the best valentines products from Folsky

The task:

Curate your own Valentine's Featured Items page by choosing 18 of your favourite Folksy goodies around the theme "Handmade Love". 

Here are some of fab Folksy finds. I hope you like them!

Gifts for her...

1. Single red rose

Lasts lots longer than a real cut flower!

A trip to the Knitting and stitches show

Back in November 2010 (I know - it was ages ago!) I went to the Twisted Threads Knitting and Stitches Show in Harrogate with my mum. Tickets had been bought months before and we were both looking forward to it. There were huge crowds outside when we arrived, but thanks to pre-booking it really only took a few minutes to get inside. Held at the Harrogate International Centre the show was much bigger than I expected.

The rather grand hall where one of the many cafes were

The curiosity project

A few days ago I received my first curiosity box. If you have no clue what the Curiosity Project is the head over to their website here. I first heard about it via twitter and was instantly hooked. It's an idea that is basically a mass exchange of hand chosen gifts from one anonymous person to another.

If you want to be involved you have to register with your address and a little bit of info about yourself. After a few days each person is sent an address with that persons info about what they like. You don't send a box to each other and don't get to know their name or who is going to be sending you a box. You can put almost anything you want inside the box - but it must be in a box.

This is my box...

My curious box

Time to relax

Sunday 4th Dec 2011

It's been a stressful and emotional few days. Two family members have gone into hospital unexpectedly. One very tragically didn't regain consciousness and died early Saturday morning. A very sad time for our family as he was young and leaves a young wife and son. Jon will be greatly missed.

Mr B. volunteers at Leighton Moss RSBP reserve. He visits at least once a month and I usually take the opportunity of a quite house to get lost of crafty things made. On Sunday he persuaded me to go with him. There is very limited phone reception there so it's a great place to escape emails, phone calls, work and traffic. I'm so glad I went.

New Folksy shop now open!

Thanks to the wonderful people at Folksy having a free listing day today, I've now got lots of items for sale in at www.folksy.com/shops/TigerPants.

felt Christmas tree and buttons

Free P&P offer

Hi - just a quick note to say you can get free postage and packaging on all orders at TigerPants shop until Christmas if you enter "FreePandP" at checkout.

Happy shopping!

Up-cycled tshirt and felt rose necklace

How to... make pyramid lavender bags

You will need:

• Two squares of material - each with a different pattern (aprox 10cm x 10cm) - cotton is a good one to use
• Threads in complementary colours to your material
• Dried lavender
• Dried rice
• A button.

Step 1

Choose two squares of material - each with a different pattern or colour.

Christmas shopping evening – 23rd November 2011

Why not come and see the TigerPants stall at this charity event? 10% of all sales on the night will be donated to the Together Trust.

Christmas shopping evening
 

Date: Wednesday 23rd November 2011
Time: 6pm to 8pm
Venue: Together Trust Centre, Schools Hill, Cheadle, Cheshire SK8 1JE

How to... make your own bunting

You will need:

8 material triangles (see below)

1.5 meters bias binding (I used 1.5cm wide)

Machine thread

Cardboard

Step 1

Make a triangle template from cardboard. My template measured 15cm (top) x 16cm x 16cm.

Flower power

As those who know me well, I have a (possibly unhealthy) obsession with flowers. I love them. I’ve been photographing flowers for ages. I used to borrow my Dad's camera and sit next to our pond for hours taking photos of kingcups and the dragonflies that would occasionally land on them.

I have three floral tattoos. Thanks to Sandy & Gaz at Sacred Art in Chorlton, South Manchester for their fab work – I’ll be back soon!).

LEFT: top of back by Sandy. MIDDLE: left forearm by Sandy. RIGHT: right shoulder by Gaz.

Pom-pom-tastic

Earlier this week I became the 4000^th follower of @MollieMakes on twitter. Not at all planned, but as a thanks and prize the very lovely people at Mollie Makes sent me a very cute knitted bee (I think my surname prompted that one) and a couple of crafty books.