Gift Guide: Personalised Presents

What do you buy the person who has everything? Well, I can think of a thing or two...

Welcome to my weekly gift-guide; I’m thrilled to be sharing a selection of creative, quirky and downright awesome gifts with you here on Rachael’s blog. This week’s guide takes a look at stylish personalised options.

Do you remember the craze for personalised stationary and headbands in the 90’s? At school everyone had pencils with their name on. Everyone except me. The closest I could find was Leanne. I tried to convince my parents that Leanne was good enough, but they didn’t budge and I was forever stuck with a plain old HB pencil. 

Anyway I digress... In 2013 the trend for personalised gifts is still going strong. Sure, you can buy your friend a glittery name pencil and Alice band (heh) or you could give them something much more stylish and well, personal. Check out my examples below to see exactly what I mean. 

This amazing print can be personalised with your favourite travel destinations. It would make a fabulous wedding anniversary gift if personalised with special date locations and of course, your wedding venue. Available from Betsy Benn at Not on the High Street.

Yes, this is the second time in as many weeks I’ve featured a cake tin, but this one...well it has your name on it. Put yourself some delicious cake in that tin and you’ll never have to share again. Designed by Jonny’s Sister.

Another beautiful design by Jonny’s Sister, these typographical Love Letter Cushions are available in letters A-Z and a range of fabrics.

A personalised cheese board by Made from Slate is a sophisticated gift for the mature individual.

These Periodic Table cufflinks can be customised with your choice of elements. Hand crafted by the science fanatics at ShopGibberish on Etsy. Perfect for the Brian Cox in your life.

I hope you enjoyed this weeks picks! Have a great week. Leonie x

Module 1 Showcase - Part 2

We are thrilled to showcase some more of the beautiful work from our previous class of designers from the module 1 class (from the December 2012 class). We are very proud of the beautiful work this class submitted.

"I have been staggered by the quality of this course and the variety of content included. It is a rare gem when someone with so much experience is willing to share what she has learnt along the way - I really cant wait to build on this course with Modules 2 and 3!" Victoria Price

"I love how this course has encouraged me to return to the humble, yet wonderful art of experimentation. Through experimentation, I have become more open minded and relaxed about how I approach my work." Anne Waters anne carey

"Module 1 was greatly helped to understand and make pattern for me. Especially the week 4 course which was very good." Ria Choi

"What really helped me from this course is the demystification of pattern design. I would stress so much about what is expected, now I have a much clearer idea of what is needed. What really counts is originality, color and imagination and paying attention to trends is very important. But one can become a trend-setter having a unique style and with their designs! Thank You so much." Lisa Rivas

"This first module has really helped me to have more freedom with my design process. I am experimenting more and not getting so hung up on things having to look perfect." Karen Lewis

"The best thing about this course for me was the freedom it gave my designing. I have always been following briefs and tight deadline but this course brought back the fun into my creating. I have remembered just how much fun my sketchbook can be!" Poppy Westwell

"This course has filled me with the inspiration, the courage and the confidence to just get on with it! To get on with designing and sketching and drawing to create surface pattern. If I'd have seen some of my patterns before I started the course I wouldn't have believed they'd have come from men - It's been amazing and I can't wait for the next modules." Kate Cornish

"The most powerful element of the course for me was the confidence boost that it has given me to create my very own unique designs and send them out into the world. It has really opened my eyes up to the amazing possibilites of a career in surface design. It's my dream to have my own fabric line one day, and I really believe that I'm now on my way." Camille Condon

"The week on colour was so powerful for me and has completely changed my design style and the way I work; I had always worked in black & white but the colour week opened my eyes to the use of colour, where to find inspiration for it and how to use it confidently. The course has helped me to find my design style again, but more importantly it has given me the confidence to be a designer. " Lisa-Anne Burgoyne

"The most powerful element of the course is simply that it guides you smoothly through the design process in small simple steps and allows you to indulge in the playing and experimenting necessary to evolve. Even if it contains elements that you’ve done already or know you should do, it’s the fact that it takes you along a path, you follow it, you have a lovely time and you come out the other end as a surface pattern designer – the limits of this being down to how much work you’re prepared to put into it." Jo Taylor

If you have ever dreamt of seeing your designs on stationery, homewares, fabric or other products, our next session of classes begins on 29 April with Module 1, registration is open here.

Artist Review: Claire West

I am thrilled to be able to share some inspirational art with you every Tuesday morning as Rachael's new 'Art and Creative Writer'. This week, we're showcasing the exciting work of Claire West. 

Claire studied a BA (Hons) in Fine Art at Humberside and enjoys working mainly in acrylics, inks and mixed media. She believes art should be fun and explores colour in a vibrant and experimental way, often using combinations which aren't supposed to go together but which have an uplifting effect on the viewer.

Claire has exhibited widely across the U.K. and teaches workshops in painting and printmaking for all ages and abilities. For details of her art for sale, exhibitions and workshops you can visit her colourful website. More art eye candy next week, Justine x

Wallpaper Republic Collection: New Colourways!

Wallpaper Republic recently updated their website, so as well as the site being very very cool, our collection with them has been updated with some fabulous colourways! You can view the collection online.

'Contemporary' Wallpaper

'Sketchy Stems' Wallpaper

'Shapes & Squares' Wallpaper

'Quirky Motifs' Wallpaper

'Quirky Icons' Wallpaper

'Textured Honesty' Wallpaper

'Textured Geo' Wallpaper

'Tonal Floral' Wallpaper

'Organic Retro Leaves' Wallpaper

Module 1 Showcase - Part 1

As we are getting ready to run another module 1 session of "The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design", we are thrilled to showcase some of the beautiful work from our previous class of designers (from the December 2012 class). We are very proud of the beautiful work this class submitted.

 "Before the course began, I didn't know where to start or how to make a pattern work, but now the ideas just keep coming!" Susanna Öst 

 

'This e-course has given me strength to make my hobby, a PROFESSION. And it has also given me a confidence of DREAMING BIG in life.'' Nandita Singh

"Packed with such well thought out content, this class has provided me with a way to get organized and focused. I think it really opened my mind toward new creative work habits. So many things to think about and do; it is great!" Sandra Glennie

"I'm so grateful to the ABSPD course for re-igniting my passion for sketching, and also for giving me the confidence of putting my work out into the world. Thanks Beth and Rachael! (And, Kelly, too!)"Kristen Davis   

   

"The most powerful element of the course was going back to basics, picking up a pencil and drawing on a sheet of paper. I’ve been enamored of my computer for so long that I’d forgotten what it felt like to connect deeply and personally to what I am creating. Module 1 of the ABSPD course has helped me develop as a designer because it taught me to embrace my own uniqueness and not be afraid to put myself into what I am creating. Thank you." Cate Wilcox

"Rachael provides a huge amount of information, inspiration and encouragement in a relaxed and easy to follow format, which really helped me build my confidence and develop techniques to produce designs I’m really pleased with. It was also great to have the support and feedback of fellow classmates, and I’m so looking forward to Module 2!" Deborah Dewhirst

 

"Module 1 of this course has been amazing and really opened my eyes up to the amount of inspiration there is available to create pattern designs. Going back to basics and experimenting with collage and paints has really helped with creating fun design work." Sonia Atwal www.soniaatwal.com

 

"The most powerful element of the course, for me, was the getting back to basics - looking at shapes in a new way and looking for patterns where before I'd never noticed patterns and shapes and patterns everywhere.I am now much more confident in my ability to sketch/draw and create motifs! It's all been fab - have loved it and it has given me my life back!" Sue Tomlinson

 

"This course offered the perfect supportive and creative environment to explore new techniques and discover my unique visual voice. I really appreciated the spirit of play and experimentation. Thank you!" Nicole Piar 

If you have ever dreamt of seeing your designs on stationery, homewares, fabric or other products, our next session of classes begins on 29 April with Module 1, registration is open here.