Christmas Cards

I've finally finished designing my Christmas cards. Now I've just got to print them out and stick stars onto the tree design. That may take a while, as my parents have ordered 40 of them! I may be finished by tonight!

All designs shown are copyright of ellejanedesigns

The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design - Featuring Rachael Taylor

I've been meaning to say for the last two weeks that I have signed up for a fantastic design course called 'The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design' featuring Rachael Taylor.

Rachael is a UK freelance surface pattern designer, who's work is so lovely!!  Please take a look at Rachael's website here and for more info on the course here.  It's well worth a visit.

I can't tell you how excited I am to be taking part, it's just what I need at the minute.  My dream is to become a full time designer, so hopefully when I finish the course I will have that extra bit of confidence to make the big leap!! Exciting times ahead.

Pattern inspiration from nature

I've been out and about taking some pictures of nature for inspiration. I have to say I got a bit obsessed at taking pictures of man hole covers (who knew there were so many different patterns on them).  It was great to see how different patterns are just outside.

Baltic Mill Newcastle

I went into the Baltic Mill art gallery the other week, to have a look around.  If you have never been, it sits on the keyside in Newcastle, overlooking the Millennium Eye Bridge.

The exhibtions are very modern art, not everyones cup of tea (i.e my dad's), but the shop has lots and lots of design books and goodies. I could be there for hours!!

Witherslack Art Group annual exhibition - Jo Vincent

I visited the Lake District while on holiday and was recommend to go and I have look round the Witherslack Art Group exhibition.  It was set in a small old school room and was well worth the visit and had an interesting tree out side!!

There were a selection of artists, producing a range of paintings, jewellery and ceramic's.

One artist who I really loved was Jo Vincent a glass designer, who had some gorgeous pieces.  Take a look at here website here and take a look at few of her products shots below.

Back from hols

It's been a while since my last post, as I decided to take some much needed annual leave.  I wanted to completely switch off, so I went home to see my parents and I banned myself from using the computer which was really hard.

I'm back now feeling refreshed and trying to get into the swing of things again!

Lovely flowers

I absolutely love flowers and taking photographs of them.  I have visited quite a few flowers shows in the last couple of years and taken hundreds of pictures.

Here are a few of my photo's from last years Chelsea flower show!

New notecards are ready!!

The notecards I have been designing are ready now. I spent Sunday afternoon taking photographs of them, which I have just finished editing.  I will be listing these soon on Folksy!!

I have designed 3 different patterns and they all come in a pack with three notecards and three envelopes. Take a look below.

Christmas Pattern - Tigerprint competition runner up

I'm trying to finalise some ideas for Christmas cards this weekend, so I will be able to get them printed and photographed in time for selling.

Last year I entered Tigerprint's Christmas Surface Pattern and Icon Design competition, which I was chosen as a runner-up and I was so excited about!!! Tigerprint are a design company based near Leeds, who design greeting cards and stationary for Marks and Spencer.

The design below was the design they selected as a runner up. 

The Judges comments were "This snowflake design is a beautiful and intricate design, which captures the delicate and hand drawn quality. The design is very commercial and on trend for Christmas 2011.
Well-done Liz "

Take a look at the results page here


The two other designs that I entered are below.

Colour Inspiration

I have been looking for some colour inspiration today and as usual I have found some gorgeous colour combinations produced by Design Seeds.  I love this site!!

Design Seeds: petaled pink: {petaled pink}  

Design Seeds: bouquet color: {bouquet color}

Design Seeds: candied beads: {candied beads}

Notecards ideas

Today I'm currently playing around with some ideas for a set of notecards. Here's a sneak preview of one of them.

New Cards Online

Welcome to ellejanedesigns.

My new cards are now online to purchase from Folksy. 

To take a look click here. Let me know what you think!