Mudflats.

Check out this item in my Etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/listing/260001791/mudflats

Take a look

Hey, I found this really awesome Etsy shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/LizWilliamsarts

Development and thrilling moves

So much going on. I've got lots of new work happening and avenues opening up.  Sales routes are still difficult in such a huge online market, but that's what's happening just now, so I just have to get on track with the way sales work currently and go with the flow.  It's fun yet challenging.  Happy days.

catch-up

It's ages since I last posted; I've been sketching, getting a batch of National Trust images together for some potential business...and then must get back into my collages and my business planning. I always have far too much to do than I can fit into the time I have.

Flexing and honing artistic muscles.

I've found the past couple of weeks of visiting places of interest, amazing...and I have used some of that to hone some sketching skills...I suppose it might seem second best to sketch images that I have photographed, but it really is a totally different feeling of achievement, and I'm never trying to compete with a photograph when I sketch...anyway, here are a few of the sketches I've made.

The most inspiring times.

I've had some inspiring days taking photo's and building a volume of images that I can use to produce artistic work through Autumn and Winter.

A special week.

I often find it difficult to find time to do all I want to do in a week. This past week has been an inspirational one. In a way I threw the towel in and got so much more out of it than the usual seven days. Following my visit to Bodnant gardens, I joined the National Trust, and within two days Barbara and I were off to Plas Newydd on Anglesey. I cannot believe that in all these years I have not visited before...We had a great photo-taking visit...awesome, almost beyond words and that reservoir of inspiration is overflowing now. It stirred the writer in me...what stories this place could tell, the artist, because it is the most amazing place. I want to go back and explore the house...I want to sit in the gardens and paint and write...I want everyone to join the National Trust and experience these wonderful places. It cost me less than £30 to join for a year and I am now able to visit all the sites in England, Wales and Scotland for free. (email me for joining advice on linkz@talktalk.net)...

more products.

In a huge effort to expand the range of products I can offer. I've looked into Redbubble and quite like the pricing of their products and have decided to give them a go...small dividend on sales, but maybe a wider audience; I don't want to stop designing in order to wait for sales...as I love to design...I'd be interested in any comments on the site and the goods they offer and pricing structure....you can find me by entering lizdesigns in the search bar of Redbubble home page. Here is one sample of a design and a few products offered.

garden full of babies...

Well, apart from the multitude of young frogs, there are also lots of newby fliers in the garden. Lots of near misses as they swoop from tree to tree and make lots of noise with it. The dogs are starting to get used to them, not chasing them as much. It's been another warm day, very cloudy and a bit breezy but we've stayed out most of the day, done some sketching, some communication and work on book.

Lovely, cloudy day today.

It has been lovely and warm, though cloudy...great day. I've been sketching outside. Maybe another fabric design on the cards.

New Book now available

It's been a while since I created a book.  Sadly, with prices of printing rising it's a little off-putting, but I have wanted to produce something short and sweet which shows the simplicity of enjoying sketching and even doodling, and how easily everyone can get involved in the process of creating lovely and often surprising designs and patterns.  So I did it.  It's short, only 24 pages. (my effort to keep the price down as much as possible).  You can review for free and if you like it, maybe you'll buy a version of it.  All the prices and formats available are listed on the site.  Hope you enjoy.
simply designing

Take a look at my fabric shop

http://www.wovenmonkey.com/designers/lizdesigns/

Lots of designs that you can buy by the 20cm square, fat quarter, or by the metre.  Always open to comments.  why not let me know what you think, or what you might like to see in the future.
www.wovenmonkey.com/designers/lizdesigns/

Back to it!

Having had the most great week of painting, sketching and getting back into the groove.  It's been great fun... so now I am back to getting some products finished, which I love just as much...it's just good to let rip on stuff that doesn't need to be completed sometimes..fulfilling my flighty side where work gets neglected half way through.  I still have deadlines to meet and stuff to finish...so now I am ready to get on with it again.

cave painting

paper flower

balloons

silk paintings

So I have at least got some fabric designs finished..

A few more fabric designs

pink fairy

Florence in blue

best friends

Let's make lemonade

Puffins

Having lots of fun creating some fabric designs.  Will wait and see if there is any interest in them, as there's lots of competition.  Lovely way to spend some time sketching and computing out in the garden so I'm not complaining.
Must put a rota together so that I split my time more evenly.  Never enough time to do everything...

NEW! Fabric designs

I can now offer my first two fabrics for sale in the etsy shop.<a href="https://twitter.com/lizlinkz" class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false">Follow @lizlinkz</a> <script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');</script>

At the beach. 100 x 50cm

Serenity. 100 x 50 cm

New stuff....very exciting!!!

I have been extremely busy recently, all good, or so I hope.  I now have a developing range of fabric designs that can be bought by the metre, or made up into all sorts of finished products from phone cases, to tea towels, bags, biscuit tins...just about anything.  Here are two of the first.. a fantasy abstract first produced on 100% silk and reproduced on cotton.  It's called 'serenity', and within the design is an elegant woman figure which is mirrored creating a wonderfully colourful design which is repeated through the fabric...great for clothing, bags, cushions, tea towels, window blinds, amongst many other products.
Please feel free to let me know what you think of the designs. I am also able to produce customised designs...future designs include, wild life; badger, puffin, hedgehog, fox featured fabrics and paper.
I have also started a range of fabrics and papers called, 'Let's do it', currently consisting of; 'Let's make Lemonade', 'Let's plant Trees', 'Let' eat Cake', 'Let's count buttons', 'Let's wear hats', 'Let's collect pebbles', 'Let's fish', 'Let's beach it'.  Photo's to follow...I love my life...

another beautiful day...

8.30am, sat outside and it's hot already.  I love this nice weather.  Garden full of birdsong and baby birds, (bluetits and blackbird.) Dogs all lying in the sun, on top of the cut grass that's waiting to be burnt, It must be generating some heat...
I've had a few days going off at a tangent, trying out new stuff; fabric design for one, and a couple of possible new projects.  I also have a yearning to get writing..I keep telling myself that I have the whole summer, but I always have far more plans than time....but good weather always makes me feel that anything and everything is possible,

wear a hat in the sun.

a lovely blue sky.

sketching

blank greetings cards on Etsy

check out blank card sets on Etsy....These cards are great to send, unique, colourful and fun.  They make great framed and displayed pictures too.  All are signed on the back so make great original gifts. (click on the title to take a peek).
Hope you like.
Liz

blank greetings cards

I'm about to launch a range of handmade greetings cards that can be bought singly or in organised packs.  Also, the first of my baby princesses are almost complete.

 collage cards,  and abstract silk painted colour cards.  presented with envelope in cellophane sleeve.

'Keepers'...handmade to send to someone special, or frame.

I love coming up with one-offs and quirky pieces, like these 'I love', mini-boxes.

mini 'I love' trinket boxes 

I love pigs.

I love cake.