New Birmingham Prints by Jennie Ing

My lovely friend, the super talented lino-cut printmaker Jennie Ing, has just completed these two new editions of Birmingham landmarks.
There are two prints at present: The Rotunda, seen from Moor St. Station, and secondly Birmingham Town Hall, with Gormley's Iron Man in the foreground. And apparently there's a new one in the pipeline to be unveiled at the MAC 'Marketplace' contemporary craft event this weekend.

Trying to choose is so hard! I love them both, and I'm sure the third will be equally desirable. If you can't make it along to MAC on Saturday 15th or Sunday 16th, the prints will be available from the Jennie Ing website at £80 each. But get in fast, the edition is tiny (only 10 prints of each), and they're going fast!

Incidently, I'll also be showing at MAC this weekend too, a good opportunity for some Christmas shopping, without the pain of the city centre!

SALE ALERT!!! Achica event coming soon.

Just a quick heads up for my 'Achica' event which will be on November 28th. A whole load of my prints will be available with big discounts, but for one day only.
Log onto the site here: http://www.achica.com/userregistration.aspx you need to be a member to take part.
There will be limited numbers for each print on offer, so get in early to bag your selection!

Don't say I didn't warn you!

First Cut in Manchester

I went along to the First Cut Exhibition at Manchester Art Gallery this week. What a treat. The work was breathtaking, so innovative and skilled. One of the finest exhibitions I've seen for a while. Of course, I loved the massive piece by Rob Ryan.

Robins branch out.

This new pack of Christmas cards is now available to buy from my Not on the High Street page. A pack of five of these sparkly cards will cost you £3.99, which also includes a donation to The Lavender Trust, a charity which supports younger women who suffer from breast cancer.
I've lots more cards and goodies on Not on the High Street, all freshly uploaded this week.

Back from Brighton

Just a quick snap of the stand at Brighton Art Fair. It went by in a whirl! A really good show, so good to catch up with friends and see lots of visitors to this fabulous event. The big otter print went down a treat!

Brighton Bonanza

It's nearly time for Brighton Art Fair! Hurrah! I've been extremely busy making new prints for the show, which starts next week on Thursday 20th September.

Here are afew more details:

Tickets

Tickets are available on the door at £6 per person (children under 14 free).
Private View tickets for Thursday, 20th September (6pm - 8.30pm) (sponsored by HARVEYS) are available online here at £10.
An exhibitor catalogue is included in the ticket price.

Opening Times

• Thursday 20th September 6.00pm - 8.30pm (Private View - ticket only)
• Friday, 21st September  11.00am - 7.30pm
• Saturday, 22nd September  10.00am - 6.00pm
• Sunday, 23rd September  10.00am - 5.00pm 

There's lots more on the website: http://www.brightonartfair.co.uk/

I have some 2 for 1 tickets for Saturday and Sunday, and some free entry tickets for Friday 21st. If you would like one to arrive in the post, please email me with your postal address. First come, first served.

It's been four years since my last show in Brighton, and I can't wait to go back!

Heart Home Magazine

A mention courtesy of Rona Wheeldon in the current 'Heartt Home' magazine.
http://issuu.com/hearthomemag/docs/heart_home_magazine_issue_5/93

Garage Damage!

It's been a funny old year for gardening. The allotment has been pretty much a disaster zone until the last month or so- but more on that later.
At home, we have finally made some progress with the plans to extend the garden. We had a dreadful old asbestos garage at the side of the house. We've had the asbestos removed, and demolished the 'palace of tat', to open up the area to the side of the house, and have a much larger garden. Almost 100% bigger.
New fencing has been installed, and the overgrown trees and bushes dealt with. Next comes the task of fence painting, then planning new borders, lawns and paths.

It was always our intension from day 1 of living here to tackle the huge tasks of removing the garage and dealing with the boundaries. Now it's out of the way, the fun stuff can really start, and I can start buying plants again!

Preview New Products Launched at Autumn Fair!

I'm very pleased and excited to announce the launch of some new products featuring my 'Red Squirrels' print.

I've been working with a fabulous and dynamic company, 'Go Creative'. Together we have developed some prototype products which we have been exhibiting for the very first time at The Autumn Fair in Birmingham.
The new range will become available to order from Go Creative in the coming weeks, but for now, here are some of the new goodies that we have been showcasing.

'House Beautiful' Article from Hus and Hem.

Well, what do you know?! A couple of my prints have turned up in the September edition of 'House Beautiful' magazine.
They are on display in the very covetable home of Jill Studer. Jill is the co-owner of 'Hus and Hem', a wonderful shop in Ledbury, that has a unique collection of Scandinavian design. They also have a brilliant on-line store (follow the link, but have a credit card ready!)
Lovely pad, Jill!

Studio Days

Lots of activity in the studio this week, as I'm working towards a couple of commissions. The picture shows a scaled up version of my otter print, 'Lazy River'. I'm hoping to get a large version of this ready for Brighton Art Fair 20-23rd September.

Here's some sketches, and the first screen prep for a print of 'Kew Leaves'. I'm planning to make an Autumn and Spring version of this in two different colourways.

If you'd like some tickets for Brighton, please email me, including your postal address. I have a limited number of invites and special offers for the event.

Laurie Hastings Prints

I've been looking at these beautiful prints by Laurie Hastings today. There's a lovely fresh feeling about this one, called 'Isle'. I suppose I just really want to go on holiday!
This is from an edition of 50. They are £40 each, and you can buy one here: http://lauriehastings.bigcartel.com/product/isle-limited-edition-silk-screen-print
This one also took my eye.

It's called 'Lily Pond', also an edition of 50, and is £30.
Laurie is based in London, you can see more of her illustrations and prints on her website

Hot Dog!

It's just too much for Stanley! This isn't what should be going on during your morning walk!

Barny Brooches on 'Not on The High Street'!

Hurrah! You can now order my 'Barny' brooches on 'Not on the High Street', by following this link:
http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/ruthgreendesign/product/wooden-owl-brooch

Available in black or teal, these brooches are printed onto laser cut birch ply, and look lovely on a coat or jacket. They come in a natty little black box, so make an ideal gift.

Wedding Invites

Every now and then a real gem of a project comes my way. This design for wedding invites was a joy to do, and my lovely clients seemed very happy with the results.

Cloud Busting

I had a lie in today. A weekday lie in is a special treat- I worked all weekend, and I have a cold. That's my excuses over with.
While I was at the Urban Art Fair in Brixton, a lady walked past wearing this beautiful cardigan. I accosted her, and demanded to know where she had found it. She obligingly showed me the label, and it revealed the name of a very great favourite of mine, 'Numph'.

Numph is a Danish label, and I have been following their collections for 5 or 6 years now. Look carefully at this sweater, and you can make out the cloud pattern that is knitted into the weave- just lovely. Anyway, I did some on-line shopping during my duvet day, and found one here: http://www.cove-online.com/p437/Numph-Fun-Cloud-Cotton-Ice-Cream-Cardigan/product_info.html
And the Numph website can be drooled over here:
http://www.numph.dk/
And you'll be pleased to know that I am actually out of bed now, and getting on with some work!

Heart Home Blog

Rona Wheeldon has been kind enough to write about me on the marvellous blog 'Heart Home' today. I'm chuffed to bits!

Rona's own blog is called 'Flowerona' , and celebrates all things flower related. A real breath of fresh air!! Thanks Rona.

Hello! Oh, it's been a while, sorry about that. Things have been a little busy round here.
Well, I'm back now. I thought I'd introduce a new project- I've been working on these laser cut and printed birch brooches. There will be four designs, this is the first of them.

They will be for sale on 'Not on the High St' some time over the weekend. Keep 'em peeled!

The reason I've not updated the blog for a wee while is that I've been exhibiting at the 'Pulse' show at Earl's Court. It was a great event, with tons of inspiring design. There will be a bit more about the show over the next week or so.

Now i'm back, I'd like to go and sort out the allotment. PLEASE stop raining!!!

Rainy Afternoons.

The rain is belting against the studio windows as I'm working on new things for Printfest. I'm trying to make a multi layered print of otters floating about in the water. The screens are made, now to sample the colours.

This is the magic cupboard where I expose my screens! Looks a bit like a scene from E.T!

Busy at Bellwood and Wright

On Saturday I visited Bellwood and Wright Fine Art in Lancaster. I was invited to do a 'meet the artist' day, a new venture for me.

I've been represented by this gallery for a number of years, so I was keen to spend some time here and get to know Sarah Bellwood (the gallery owner, along with Andrew Wright) a little better.

The gallery has a wonderful collection of work on offer- some of my favourite printmakers are here- including Angela Harding, Jane Ormes and Sonia Rollo.
We had a really busy day, the gallery was buzzing with visitors all day. We made lots of sales, selling almost all of the work that I took with me. I'm planning to drop more off at the start of May, so be quick!
I had a whale of a time, and am planning a return visit towards the end of the year. Lancaster is lovely, can't wait to go back!

New 'Girls Who Draw' book.

The new book from 'Girls Who Draw' is out! Loads of lovely new illustrations with an 'Endangered Species' theme. There are two covers: Mina Braun's colouring book, or Helen Entwisle's zine cover.

Another fine job by Karoline Rerrie, who has printed the covers and organised the whole project. You can buy them from my 'Not on the High Street' page, priced £4.50 each.

What if the U.N was run by Sausage Dogs?

We went for 'walkies' down to the Ikon in Birmingham on Saturday, to watch our sausage shaped pal, 'Frank', take part in this art installation. Bennett Miller recreated the United Nations with dachshunds as the representatives!
Loads of folks and 70 dogs turned out for the event. Surreal and top quality fun!

Silly Billy

Here's Billy, acting the giddy goat! Should be on the website at the end of the week.

'Noisy Neighbours' Greetings Cards.

These two greetings cards have just been added to the 'Enchanted Garden' range by Cardmix. They are two of the illustrations from 'Noisy Neighbours', and I'm chuffed to bits with them! They'll be available from my 'Not on The high Street' page very soon.

Ben Javens for 1973

My heart did a little flutter of excitement today when I saw this amazing new collection of cards and wrap that Ben Javens has produced with1973. They are breath-takingly wonderful!

From Plot to Plate.

I've been out in the lovely, sunny Springtime this morning. The plot is being steadily spruced up for sowing. The purple sprouting broccoli is producing a nice crop at the mo, and one I don't really deserve as I was very half hearted about looking after these plants over the Winter.
So here's some pictures of it in all it's glory, both growing and on my lunch plate! Delicious!

Thankyou Helen

A big thankyou goes to Helen Hallows, who nominated 'Branch Out' for a Liebster Blog Award. It's a smart idea, a kind of  'pass it on' between bloggers who like each others stuff. You can read Helen's blog here. It turns out we are both in the 'In Print' exhibition at Ferrers Gallery at the moment.

The Liebster idea is that you should nominate someone else to receive the award- it has to be someone with less than 200 followers. So, I'm nominating Jane Ormes and Mina Braun, I love both of their prints and enjoy their blogs very much.

Uniqlo/Orla Kiely Collaboration

As of March 19th, Uniqlo UK will launch their Orla Kiely Collection. How exciting!
Here's the link: http://shop.uniqlo.com/uk/store/clothing/ut/orlakiely/

Mark Hearld Illustrations

I have to hold up my hands and say my last two posts are completely lifted from the St. Jude's blog, 'All Things Considered'. But how can I resist passing on news of this fantastic looking book by Nicola Davies, which is illustrated throughout by Mark Hearld. The little chap on the cover is enough to sell it to me on it's own!

Simon Lewin has written more about it here, where you'll find more pictures too. You can pre order from Amazon, which is exactly what I shall be doing this very afternoon!

Angie Lewin Sofa

Look at this! How marvellous! St. Jude's have collaborated with Sofa.com to create a new range of furniture. How can I make room for an extra chair?!