inspiration

maybe because it's wildflower season but I'm feeling all daydreamy in regards to flowers at the moment, I've been drawing lots, and I am in love with the pattern and style of these flower illustrations from around 1600. a couple of flower projects are on the go, and hope to have them ready soon, actually I should be showing them off today, but well there was a bit of a 'cough' glitch, and now it'll be another couple of weeks. so enjoy these pretties in the meantime.

butterfly pins

a new little collection of acrylic pins, inspired by the butterflies on the island of rhodes, but also a good excuse for a large dose of colour and pattern, two of my favourite things. some are already in my etsy shop and also at La Trap shop + gallery in Mets, Athens.

sea level - ceramic tableware collection with ArtMind

I know I've been hinting awhile about the new collection I've been working on with ceramicist ArtMind, and a few of you were even in the little group we reached out to with an opinion poll. Thanks to everyone for your encouragement and opinions (or votes) because at last the pieces are finished, and we're able to show them off.

The collection is named Sea Level, as all the imagery is inspired by plants and animals in or by the water, and we picked a colour scheme to match.

All the pieces feature my illustrations, that have been turned into decals for ceramic by a professional printer. 

Mitsy hand picked the ceramic pieces we'd be using, they're made by a Dutch company and it's a really fun collection of tableware that she felt (and I agreed) matched out style and theme perfectly.

The collection at the moment consists of a bowl, a cup, a plate and saucer, and we've created four themes, for four sets. What's fun about the series, is that the plate is made to fit neatly on top of the bowl, and the saucer sits on top of the cup.

The first set became available in Mitsy's online shop today, the seadragons. The other four will be added over this week so keep checking back. The seadragons will soon be joined by the coral series, the narwhals and the waterbirds (not necessarily in that order.)

Lastly, we wanted to share with you the recipe for the Thumbprint Jam Biscuit that made me ever so hungry while photoediting the other day, perfect to have with a cup of tea in one of our new pieces!

Ingredients:
225g self raising flour
100g cold butter
75g sugar
1 egg
2 tbs milk
raspberry jam

Preheat the oven at 200°C and grease a baking pan or use a baking sheet.
Add the flour and the butter in a bowl and mix it with your fingers until the mixture looks like breadcrumbs. Add the sugar. Whisk the egg and stir it through the mixture.
Add the milk little by little through the mixture until your dough is soft. If the dough is too dry, add some more milk.
Scoop teaspoons of the mixture onto the baking tray. If all goes well, you will have enough for at least 12 biscuits. They grow a bit while baking so leave some space in between them while baking.
Make the top of the biscuit a bit flat with your spoon or hand and press your thumb into the middle.
Add a bit raspberry jam into the thumbprint hole.
Bake the biscuits 15 to 20 minutes in the oven until they are golden brown.

Take the biscuits out of the oven and let them cool down.
You can keep them 3 to 4 days in an airtight container.

fishes

something new, now in my online shop, a Hello Sardine keychain. there's two styles, the stripey fish or the spotty fish.. with another style to come soon, dotty. too good to eat!

just finished up a series of pins based on images from ancient greek art - figures that are painted onto pots and vases, or made into sculptures and statues. me resist an animal, inside a pattern, not possible. 

these pins are available at Koukoutsi, on Skoufa 81, and their new shop, drosini 9, Kiffisia.

lastly some current work in progress, a bit of a garden love and envy.

open again

 

I'm back to work again after my month away, so from today my online shop is back open. Lots of new things in progess... the previously promised new ceramic work is coming along well. Some new Greek themed pins (you can perhaps make out a couple in the top photograph) and a new fabric design, all belong in the coming soon section, so keep checking back for updates.
This year (yes I know it is April already) I'm going to try and be a bit more regular with my email newsletters as well, so if you're not already signed up head over to my website to put your name down.

just letting you know I'm going to be on vacation, and so my online shop will be closed for 4 weeks from Saturday March 16th, till Monday April 15th. I'll still have access to the internet (I should hope) so I'll still be around to answer any emails in the meantime.

Lots of exciting projects happening when I return, Mitsy and I should have the new line of tableware just about ready to launch in the week I get back, and well, we'll see about some other things too.