Can I get a screen print?!

When you’re working as a digital designer getting messing and physically working with your hands isn’t something that happens regularly. I was really excited when I found a master class in screen printing at a local brewery. When I started with this design it was an intricate set of 3 poppies. Once I got going I forgot how annoying it is to cut a stencil with an Exacto knife (scalpel in the UK). I powered through, with a pint of course and ended up with a nice stencil. The best bit was getting to screen print though. Just getting covered in ink a bit and physically working with a medium was something I missed. I definitely want to get my own screen printing kit soon.

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Snowboarding in July?!

When work decides that they need a team day, they figure out a way to do a winter sport in July because why not?! I have never been snowboarding so for me this was a new activity. I was just ecstatic that I didn’t fall. I can’t say that for my pal Jane, but she was doing really well up until that point.

We were taught to go backwards, which is the most frightening thing. Though apparently this is done so that going the other direction is much easier. I DON’T BUY IT. But hey I really had fun and it did make me want to go again. I’m not sure when I will but I like it. Want to snowboard indoors in Glasgow? This is where we went!

Did someone say Beyonce?

Beyonce and a weekend in Dublin is exactly what the doctor ordered. When Helen and I heard that Beyonce was coming to the UK and Europe we were on it. We did everything we could to get these tickets, but when we saw that the Dublin tickets were the cheaper option we thought why not. When life sends Beyonce to Dublin, why not make a long weekend out of it?

We spent a great deal of time wandering around and simply seeing what Dublin has to offer. Doing so we found Marsh’s Library which was founded in the early eighteenth century. It was a different library from the Old Library with Book of Kells, so it was nice to see something else. The Book of Kells is amazing, though and I would throughly recommend both libraries. We also popped into the Irish Museum of Modern Art which is a brilliant collection of modern art and a great stop for us.

Then it was time for Beyonce. There isn’t much that I need to say about that. It was amazing. I can’t believe that I got to experience such a great show. Helen and I decided it was early getting to the stadium ridiculously early to get as close as we could. And as you can see it worked. Such an amazing concert which I could do it again.

We were so close!

Two Trips in one + a Festival

When we decided to go to Primavera in Barcelona we thought hey why not make a massive trip out of it. Especially when you see spending 24 hours in Paris at the beginning and the end of your trip is the cheaper option. Upon arriving in Paris we got the metro straight to the Notre Dame, because although I spent a summer in Paris Colin had never been there. Touristy things were the name of the game.

The Eiffel Tower was the next stop for us and we immediately became those people with the selfie sticks that everyone hates. Hence the stupid faces. But we did end up with cute photos. The second day that we spent in Paris was at the end of our trip, with no sleep due to a ridiculously early flight. Which meant that trying to see Sacre Coeur was not the happiest one. But with such a beautiful site, you can’t be upset for too long.

Notre Dame

Impressed?

Sooo tired

Then there was Barcelona. A totally new experience for me. I had never been to Barcelona, much less Spain. But I knew when I got to our apartment, that I was wanting to stick around for a while. I mean any city with a beach has got my heart, but oh man was that water cold. It was not swimming weather for me that’s for sure.

Barcelona is decked out with amazing sites. From Sagrada Família to Park Güell to the Dali Museum, my art and architecture love was definitely fulfilled. If you haven’t done so go to Sagrada Família and pay the extra euros to go up and check out the view. I mean take a look, you can see all of Barcelona and parts of the church up close. Park Güell was packed so it was a little harder to see everything you wanted. Still it was a stunning site to be seen. The Dali Museum was a dream and a half. It’s Dali, what else is there to say?

He’s crazy! So cold

Sagrada Família

What a view from Sagrada Família!

Dali Museum time!

Dali Museum

Dali Museum

Dali Museum

Primavera… just wow. A long weekend of music with some of the greatest people Glasgow has to offer. Tame Impala, Sigur Rós, Animal Collective just to name a few. With the heat of the sun and all of the stages being within walking distance, this is one of the best music festivals that you could imagine. I was so impressed and I had so much fun with this goofy bunch.

Off to Primavera!

The best people!

Check Out Primavera next year!

Family visit just in time!

Sometimes it’s a struggle living so far from home, but my mom manages to make it all easier. She manages to afford to appear just at the right time. This time I picked her up from Edinburgh and after a quick evening there, she flew to Berlin.

Mom heading home to visit my Oma, was the perfect opportunity for me to follow her. The three of us barely get to be in a room together, so I was so excited. This was the perfect refresh for me. They both have been such amazing rocks for me, that it was great to just have them together. Of course with 3 strong females it got a little stressful at times, so goofy times and face masks were definitely required in the evening.

Ma and her pie

Hey Edinburgh for a second

Off to Berlin

3 Generations of Giggles

After a quick catch up in Berlin my mom and I headed back to Scotland so my mom could get to know Glasgow. Unfortunately I had to let her explore on her own, but I managed to surprise her and book another Rabbie’s Bus Tour for her and I. The tour left from Glasgow and drove down Ayrshire. It was just the two of us on the tour, but that meant more Mother-Daughter time. Once back in Glasgow I thought I’d introduce my mom to gin. Even though she said she had tried gin, she claimed that she didn’t like it. Well Gin71 in Glasgow managed to fix that, with their amazing gin flights.

Glasgow to Ayrshire bus tour

Glasgow to Ayrshire bus tour

Glasgow to Ayrshire bus tour

Glasgow to Ayrshire bus tour

Glasgow to Ayrshire bus tour

Glasgow to Ayrshire bus tour

Gin71 in Glasgow

Gin71 in Glasgow

D&AD All Done.

So this is my finished project for D&AD. I’m pretty happy with it. I tried to keep it clean and simple. To see how I got here look at this post.

D&AD Work in Progress

D&AD New Blood is something I’m really excited about. I haven’t been doing much for myself recently when it comes to art direction so I’m excited to be working on this.
But when I started I was overwhelmed to say the least… I mean look at how many briefs there are and they are all great choices. I spent so much time thinking about what I wanted to do. I mean currently I’ve been focusing on design so I didn’t want a purely design brief. I found myself narrowing the briefs down to 3 that I liked the best.

 

WORK IN PROGRESS NOTES… EXCUSE THE TINY IMAGES AND SKETCHES, I’M STILL WORKING AND DON’T WANT TO REVEAL TOO MUCH. (shhhhh……)

Ford, DesignBridge and John Lewis were the ones I focused on, but as you can see from my notes those three turned to the one very quickly. I decided the DesignBridge brief was the one for me. I’ve been working on it for a while and I think I may have the concept narrowed down. And although the brief is a product design brief I’m going to include some print ads that present the concept further. I can’t wait to present my idea for how to make a beauty brand that breaks the cliche and stereotyped gender branding types.

 

 

Tattoo

I got a tattoo… Ok tattoo number 3. But this one is amazing and I’m obsessed. I worked with the amazing Daniel of Inkdependent Tattoos to design this amazing flower piece. I knew that I wanted peonies and a feminine tattoo. Daniel managed to come up with this and I loved it. After hours and hours with 2 different sessions he finished it.

So it begins…

ALL DONE!!!

I love it and I can’t get over the detail that is in this. Below is the finished product that I added once it healed and looks normal. Go to Inkdependent Tattoos if you want a detailed tattoo they are professional, funny and ridiculously talented!

Detail

Drawings

I’ve found that some times it’s really hard to want to create something when you are creating and making things all day for work. So I’ve found away to stay motivated. essentially like when people are trying to lose weight they have fitspiration images they look at in. I decided to hang up my drawings on my wall so that I will continue make more. I started with one and it seems to work because I’ve been creating more as time goes on.  I do feel slightly narcissistic staring at my own drawings every day, but it keeps me motivated.

Want to see close ups? They aren’t the best drawings in the world, but I’m proud of them and they keep me inspired to create things. So here they are 😀

 

 

Brooklyn was a dream.

All the things that happened there just couldn’t happen. It was all dream stuff. Or was it all real and true and was it that she, Francie, was the dreamer?― Betty Smith, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

I love NEW YORK! My friend Abby lives in Brooklyn and she showed me the greatest week that I could imagine! I had to work during my week there, so we decided that I’d follow Abby in the commute from Brooklyn to Manhattan. Then I worked from coffee shops when I got there. So much fun. I thought the commute would be terrible, but 40 minutes and 2 subways with your best friend is really not that bad. While in NY we went to the Whitney, wandered around Brooklyn & Manhattan, ate at Chobani (yes the yogurt, they have a restaurant), went to the most amazing gym, visited the 9/11 memorial and crossed the Brooklyn Bridge. I couldn’t imagine a better week with Abby. It almost convinced me to move to NY… We’ll see what happens in the future. Abby! I may be coming for you! 😀