Work In Progress - Button Bags 1

So, after I was rudely interrupted by gorgeous sci-fi logos (oh and don't get me started on the new Will Young video - wowza!) it's time to get down to what this blog's really about - discussing my latest projects.  You know the sort of thing: ideas, inspirations, plans, progress, snags, hopes and fears (aargh, enough with the Will thoughts!)

They say you should look for a gap in the market, and I've been looking at making something that everyone is being encouraged to carry with them these days - reusable shopping bags.

I found this site, carrierbagshop.co.uk, which sells a wide range of blank bags.  I bought 5 samples of their cotton shopping carrier bags and I'm currently experimenting with decorating them with buttons, beads and sequins.  Then I'm going to carry them round town, firstly to test out how well they hold up to being manhandled, but it'll also give me a yummy warm glow to walk about showing off my work!  I'd love it if someone stopped me and asked me where I got it from, in which case I could say I made it and give them my card, but we're all far too British for that to happen.

What I love about this idea is that each bag would be entirely unique.  The bags cost just a few pence, as do the decorations.  The real cost of the item would be the labour needed to create it.  That's where I fall down because I always think people would be put off paying too much if I was to charge the full hourly rate for the time I spent making it.  So more research needed into similar items on the market and how much they sell for, methinks.

The nice thing about this product, though, is I can make it in my spare time, watching the telly.  It's not like I need to devote a 9-5 career in an office with loads of specialist equipment.

So here are the designs I'm working on (click on the photos to see the details more clearly).  Now you can see why I'm a bit obsessed with Union Jacks:

As well as the red sequins in the diagonals, there will be red buttons in the St George's cross part and blue beads/sequins/small buttons in the triangles.  The white parts will be left blank, to let the design breathe.

I've been sewing the sequins on in short horizontal rows on this bag.  For the next one I'll try long diagonal rows and see which one I prefer.

This format also lends itself to two other backgrounds, onto which I've just tacked the shape for now:

The blue bag will have the red and white sections filled in and the red bag will have the blue and white sections filled in.

I can extend this idea to many other flags, providing they're quite a simple geometric design.  So that can be tricolours such as France, Germany and several other European countries, crosses like the Scandinavian flags, or those which consist of diagonals, circles, etc.  If I can find some star shaped buttons of an appropriate size, that would allow me to tackle other countries such as the USA and Australia.  More complex flags could be a possibility if I could find sew-on motifs for the country's crest or whatever it is I need.

My second design is a heart which is a simple shape but which would be very eyecatching when you see it in the street:

I've just put a line of pink buttons on for now because I thought it might look a bit flat if I did it all in red.  So the pink acts as highlights, I'll add some dark red/purple down the opposite edges as shadows, and fill the rest in bright red.

The final design in my test batch is a flower based on a Dandelion I created using the Bodoni Objects font at college:

 

Bodoni Dandelion by ~ValWoodhouse on deviantART

Bodoni Dandelion: The Bag.

This one will be slightly different because it's following a line rather than filling in a shape.  So for this I'll probably be more consistent about the size of buttons I use.  As you can see, it's based around 2 large fancy buttons for the base of the stalk and the centre of the flower.  The rest will be just be small green buttons for the stalk and leaves, with yellow, pink, orange, red, purple or whatever else takes my fancy for the petals.  Each petal will hopefully be 2 small buttons with a matching medium sized button in the middle.

Except for the flags, other designs can be put onto any colour background.  I just happened to have ordered samples in black and natural.

One of the joys of creating these bags is the randomness of sticking my hand in the button bag and seeing what comes out.  There's so much geometry and planning that goes into the designs, I like something totally unpredictable to balance it out.  Some parts, such as getting into small corners, are dictated by the size I need to fill.  Other than that it's just going to be the fun of letting the pattern do its own thing.

My red buttons, including teddy bears and ladybirds off my niece's old baby clothes - aah!

Once I've created the bag I need to test its durability.  As I mentioned, I'll be using it to do the job it was intended for, so I can check how well it works as a shopping bag.  I'm a bit concerned about the stitching on the inside of the bags, this may snag or fray with use, leading to decorations falling off.  For that reason I'm contemplating adding a lining to the bag once it's decorated.  This means I'll have to source some material - either full sized pieces or maybe scraps which I could turn into a patchwork.  This has the bonus of adding to the recycled, eco-friendly feel of the bag, but has the downside that it's extra work and therefore extra labour costs to pass on!

As for the decorations themselves, for now I'm buying some cheap stuff from the greetings card shop.  Strictly speaking they're for use in paper craft so it remains to be seen how durable they are.  If the idea takes off I may splash out on some metal sequins, in particular.  (I had to test out how well those red plastic sequins coped with hand washing, when the white bag had a close encounter with some ham and beetroot on toast.  A couple of them got a little creased but the bag stands up to some gentle cleaning, I'm glad to say!)  Other than that, job lots of buttons and beads will serve me fine.  Ebay seems to be the best place to get them from, a lovely big random bag for a couple of quid.

Ideally, though, I would love to be able to use recycled materials as much as possible.  So if you have a tatty shirt with reusable buttons you're chucking out, a box of beads or some old sequins that could be given a new life, please get in touch with me and I'd be happy to take them off your hands.  I can't pay a lot but I'd certainly refund your postage.  In particular, I need them in bright/dark red, white, royal/navy blue, yellow, green, pink and purple.

If anyone has any experience in bag making or sewing in general (i.e. more than me, which is none) I'd appreciate some feedback about my ideas.  Any tips on how to make them practical, rather than just a work of art, would be especially welcome!  If you can point me in the direction of similar products so I can check how much they retail for, that would be very useful too.  Of course, if you like what you see and want to place an order or discuss how to take the idea further, I would do the cyber equivalent of kissing your feet, whatever that may be.

The comment box is down there somewhere, waiting for you.  Thanks!

We Interrupt This Blog For a Fangurly Squee-Flash

Best laid plans and all that, but I HAD to take time out to comment on this:

New Doctor Who logo, © BBC.  The word "squee" was invented for moments like this.

Britain's favourite time travelling alien gets a brand new logo to launch the 2010 series, when Stephen Moffatt takes over running the show from Russell T Davies and the brilliant David Tennant is replaced in the title role by the equally brilliant Matt Smith.

If I'd just seen the words on their own, I would have felt a bit "so what?"  It's the new idea of the DW TARDIS insignia that's the beauty of this design. Just a D, a W and a glowing chevron. Yet they have the confidence in their brand to know that's all it needs to get across the title of the show.

In fact, ignore the words.  Yes, they'll probably get used in the title sequence, but the Smith-era merchandise allows the option to just feature the insignia.  Having that on a T shirt, badge or whatever is a classy, grown up alternative to the character action shots that are aimed at the kids, but it leaves room to have those as well.  That insignia on its own says, "I love Doctor Who.  You can see I love Doctor Who.  You don't need to see the words 'Doctor Who' to know that.  You and I are more intelligent than that."

Then once the initial impact's over, the details start to make themselves noticed.  The brushed metal texture. The cool blue taking over from the fiery red and orange of the old logo. The way the serifs on the D and W exactly match the base and roof of the TARDIS.  The fact that the serifs in "Doctor" face left and those in "Who" face right.  The very slight bevel giving the effect of it being cut out of steel, making the DW TARDIS look all the more tangible (especially with the reflection underneath).

Then there's the animated version, which you can see below courtesy of the official BBC Doctor Who site:

This is really going to grab people's attention.  I can imagine it vworp-vworping its way onto screen at the start of every episode, followed by the opening scene and then the full title sequence.  Then fading up again at the end of the episode to introduce the "coming next" sequence and maybe even vworp-vworping away to blackness at the end of the credits.  I'd actually be very disappointed if they didn't use it as a 2 second sting trailer in the run up to the 2010 series.  This year has been a bit of a Who-drought and to see a "blink and you'll miss it" flash of the DW TARDIS will have millions of fans up and down the UK so excited there'll be serious danger of spontaneous Who-fan combustion.

The best test of a design classic is trying to imagine life without it.  Doctor Who's been on screen for 46 years (give or take), surely somebody somewhere must have come up with the idea of turning the D and W into a TARDIS shape.  What, they haven't?  Wow, it's so obvious when you think about it but, in all those years, we've never had it.  Now we do.  It's bold, cool, sophisticated, clever, iconic and instantly recognisable.  I only wish I knew the name(s) of whoever designed it, because they deserve a HUGE namecheck for their inspired brilliance.  It's been less than 2 hours since I first clapped eyes on it and already I know I'm looking at a design classic.

*That is the end of this squee-flash.*

Autumn Fair 2009, Review Part 3: The Really Trendy Stuff

Although a trade expo like Autumn Fair has the whole range of gifts and homeware, whether you want a pair of earrings or a fireplace, as you walk around you tend to notice certain styles and fashions start to dominate.  The more shows you attend, the easier it becomes to notice which are the new trends and which are the old reliable products.  As a designer, it's important to be able to tell the difference because you can come up with something that's en vogue but will date quickly.  Alternatively, a more timeless style might not be so eye catching but could provide you with more opportunities for sales in the long term.

Here are my 4 favourite trends I've picked out from this year's Autumn Fair.  As before, company websites are linked to if possible and all copyrights are acknowledged and respected.

Huge Flower Canvases

Flowers are always one of the most popular subjects when it comes to affordable art.  This year, though, dainty daisies are out and extreme close ups are in.  Whether you choose a painting or photograph, the latest canvases are well over 20 inches square, exploding in colour and zoomed in so far you can count every grain of pollen.

I've struggled to find any examples to post here, but have a look at this excellent interactive catalogue from The Art Group.  Flower prints can be found between pages 28 and 36.

Scrap Wood

Autumn and Spring Fairs always do a lot to promote ethical trade, using a special logo to indicate the most eco-friendly companies on show.  In the past I've seen such great products as ornaments made from drinks cans and shopping bags made from juice cartons or newspapers.  This year, though, the trend is for using wood that's recycled, reclaimed or those odd bits that can't be used for anything else.

Loftcat have import rights to this attractive driftwood mirror:

Driftwood Mirror by Loftcat

Driftwood is also used by Box Brownie Trading for a range of bespoke hand-made ornaments, including this 56 cm heart.  It'll knock you back £125 but that's comparable to buying a good limited edition print and for that money you'll get something that's completely unique to you.

Driftwood Heart by Box Brownie Trading

They also make driftwood trees, 2 ft for £50, 3 ft for £75, which you could smother in tinsel, baubles and fairy lights for a more environmentally sound alternative to real or plastic Christmas trees.  At those prices they would be a big investment which should last for many years and save a fortune in the long run.

Some of the most dramatic uses of wood came from Makasihome, with their range of furniture, mirrors, lamps and accessories made from tree roots.  They are not only unique but full or character, with each piece being shaped around and inspired by the natural growth of the roots.  A wonderful change from mass-produced furniture that would suit both indoor and outdoor use.

Root Chair by Makasihome

70's Childhood Nostalgia

Everyone loves to be reminded of the good old days, and this year they're aiming straight for the hearts (or should that be wallets?) of 40-somethings like me.  Call me a sucker but I'm sold on it already!

It was rare to find a kid who wasn't into The Beano or The Dandy (Beano for me all the way) and Wild and Wolf have a new range of products reproducing strips from the golden age of both those comics.  They're available on mugs, key rings, journals, playing cards, water bottles, flasks and even first aid tins.

Beano Tea Mug from Wild and Wolf

The same company also produce the Ladybird Archive Collection, which has won a Gift Association Gift Of The Year 2009 Award.  The selection of products is mostly similar to the Beano and Dandy range, but based on those classic Ladybird books which taught all kids my age how to read.  I especially like these activity kits which contain all the stuff you need to create the craft projects in the book (I had most of those books but I don't think I actually made anything from them!)

Ladybird "Things To Make" activity tin by Wild and Wolf

Pulpshop also use the iconic Peter and Jane Ladybird illustrations (by the late, Walsall-based, artist Harry Wingfield, incidentally - I'll never miss a chance to big-up a local) on homeware including aprons, mugs, cake tins, coasters, memo boards, tea towels and trays.

Children's Tea Party - Ladybird Classic boxed mug, £5.95 from Pulpshop

Although they don't actually use the Crayola brand name, this range of crayon mugs from Gift Republic looks a dead ringer for every kid's favourite colouring tools. There's 12 different colours to choose from, priced £5.99, each with an evocative name and a tag explaining why they're so called.  To illustrate, I've picked 3 to match my blog!

Custard Yellow, Flamingo Pink and Black Cab mugs by Gift Republic

Bastardised Union Jacks

If you're in the UK, you very likely saw an example of this over the summer, as EDF Energy used a Union Jack made of differently-patterned green materials to promote its Team Green Britain campaign.

This fashion continues with a number of products I noticed at the show that take creative liberties with our flag.  That would be illegal in some countries, you know!

Before you scroll down, have a think about the sort of products you might expect to fly the flag.  We've seen it on T-shirts, Mini Coopers, Noel Gallagher's guitar, Geri Halliwell's dress, but I bet you'll never guess what the last product on my list's going to be...

The Union Jack is a design that's cropping up a lot on soft furnishings.  This gingham cushion, jollied up with buttons and bows, is available for £15.95 from Dot Com Gift Shop on behalf of Rex International Ltd.  A similar design is available on bunting, pennants, aprons and hot water bottle covers (mmm, it'll be winter far too soon!)

Vintage Union Jack cushion by Rex International

It's also, unsurprisingly, a popular image for adorning travel accessories.  Flowers and polka dots form this pretty little passport holder from RJB Stone.  You can also get a matching luggage tag, back pack and purse to fly the flag on your holidays.  Bunting and a cushion complete this charming range of products.

Union Jack passport holder from RJB Stone

More travel accessories from Think Pink, taking the design to extremes but definitely getting away with it.  Make an impact with a luggage tag, cosmetics bag, washbag and this weekend holdall:

Union Jack Weekender Holdall by Think Pink, £39.99

So now we come to that final product.  The most unlikely use I have ever seen our national flag put to.  Yet... I want one.  I would do unspeakably pleasurable things to Santa Claus to have this in my house.

Ladies and gentlemen, brace yourself for...

The Union Jack...

...door stop.

Yes, no more pesky door open/closed conundrums with these little miracles, which combine flags with cute animals.  What's not to love?  The most bizarre thing is there's more than one company that makes them!  The first two are by Cake:

Union Jack Dog doorstops by Cake

Duckling doorstops by Cake

The third is by Lucy Tom, who also makes Union Jack dogs:

Union Jack Chicken Doorstop, £25.00, by Lucy Tom

In my next blog, you'll find out why it could be good news for me that these Union Jacks are in fashion, as I finally get down to showing you some work in progress.

Autumn Fair 2009, Review Part 2: I Want One Of Those

Autumn and Spring Fairs are always packed to the roof with amazing new products from the world's most creative people.  Whether you're looking at paintings or greetings cards, toys or household gadgets, there's nowhere better to find the cutting edge of modern design.

As I walk round, I mark off in my show guide the names of companies that particularly catch my eye, then when I get home I see if they have a website so that I can learn more about their business.  Not all of them do, and some won't let you get past the home page without a trade log-in.  I find this a bit short sighted, as I don't see the harm in allowing your best work to be seen by anyone who's interested, as long as you have sufficient copyright protection in place.  Great design should be celebrated, not hidden away!

So in that spirit of celebration, I wanted to show you some of my highlights from Autumn Fair 2009.  Manufacturers' websites are linked to as much as possible, otherwise please consult the "Find Suppliers" tab at http://www.autumnfair.com/ 

All copyrights are acknowledged and respected.

Greetings

No obvious new trends in the greetings card market this year.  Recently there have been a lot of cards with the hand-made look, but these days that seems to have died down a little.  Now there is literally something for everybody, whether you want traditional styles, humorous, cute, rude, artistic, celebrity branded, eco-friendly or covered in glitter.

Holy Mackerel caught my eye for their unique blend of comedy and food:

Egg-White Wedding greetings card by Claire Grove, £1.99

What's Yellow and Dangerous? greetings card by Claire Grove, £1.99

Nicebergs greetings card by Minimiam, £1.99

Homes and Gardens

I've worn out a few bird tables over the years and I can tell you that very few of them are that well designed.  They can look very smart when they're new but normally they're a pain to keep clean.  So when I saw this by ATP Gifts retailing through Sugarbowl Gifts, I didn't think it was very practical (or even that the birds would be too attracted to it) but I did think it was a very stylish garden ornament.

Filigree Wire Bird Feeder, £13.99, Sugarbowl Gifts - sold out until March!

Sugarbowl also retail a range of garden-themed gifts by one of my favourite comic artists, the pun king Simon Drew:

Fruit And Nuts of History tea towel by Simon Drew for Sugarbowl Gifts, £4.99

When most people buy a mirror, they just get one in a bog standard rectangular plastic or wooden frame.  There's much more to them than that, though.  A good designer mirror can be a dramatic focal point and instantly brighten up a room which doesn't get much natural light.  Here are just a couple of the magnificent examples from this year's displays:

Swirl Mirror by West Decor

Metal Framed Star Mirror 110x92cm by McGowan Rutherford

Windhorse Trading Ltd displayed some of the biggest windchimes and mobiles I've ever seen, including this 65 cm tall beauty:

Butterflies & Hearts pink paper mobile by Windhorse Trading Ltd

Art

Marvell's Ltd have this lively range of metal and wire wall art:

Fleet Of Boats

Pacman

I'm a big fan of Banksy, he's anarchic, hilariously funny and also a technically excellent artist.  Various companies have now licensed his work for books, postcards, T shirts and mugs.  Panorama London have reproduced some of them as canvases, so you can have your own Banksy on your walls.

Pollard Street by Banksy, 13 x 17" canvas, £50.00 RRP

Jewellery and Fashion Accessories

This is normally a section of the show I just walk through to get to somewhere else, as I'm not particularly interested in jewellery.  A couple of things did catch my eye though.

Sequins are definitely "in" this season and Suzie Blue have a large selection of various bags and purses absolutely smothered in the things.

Sequin Barrel Bags by Suzie Blue

I also noticed a few stalls specialising in cufflinks.  They puzzle me a bit, not having a man in my life.  Do men really wear them any more?  If they do, would they wear novelty ones like these by Onyx-Art?

Burger & Fries cufflinks by Onyx-Art

I do like them, I think they're cute and funny, but I just don't understand what sort of man would wear them and on what occasion.  If you have any insights into the subject, please feel free to let me know!

Toys and Gifts

With Christmas less than three months away (aaargh!) here are some unusual and stylish gift ideas, starting with some of the gorgeous smelly girly stuff on offer (Autumn Fair is as much a treat for the nose as it is for the eyes).

6 assorted egg shaped bath fizzers by Bath Bubble and Beyond packaged in real egg boxes:

Egg Bath Fizzers by Bath Bubble and Beyond

The same company also produce a range of soap cakes, which your retailer will sell by the slice.  Please resist the temptation to eat them!

Lemon & Lime Soap Cake, 12" diameter, by Bath Bubble and Beyond

Adorable little cupcake lipglosses from Natural Products (UK) Ltd:

Naughty But Nice lip glosses, Natural Products (UK) Ltd

Next, something for the boys (whether or not they've chosen to grow up!)  The cleverly-named DIYnosaur Lamps by Moedik which, as the name suggests, come in kit form to create a fully working table lamp.  Various beasties available.

DIYnosaur lamp kits by Moedik

Syot exhibited a stunning range of retro pedal cars for the little kids.  I can't imagine they're cheap but, if you're looking for something special, these would really get the neighbours' heads turning.

Pink Princess pedal car for 3-6 year olds by Syot

Siam Selection had this range of cute, and sometimes cheeky, novelty oven gloves:

Oven gloves from Siam Selection

The Write Gift have a very inventive alternative to greetings cards, a range of soft toys which are designed to be written on.  They're perfect for the last day at work, get well soon, best wishes and any other occasion when you would normally club together with friends, family or colleagues to buy a keepsake for someone.  They would certainly treasure this for much longer than a card.

Munin Monkey from The Write Gift.

I can't let this section go without name-checking one of my favourite mugs!  I'm sure all dog owners will recognise the sentiment on this one by Repeat Repeat, available picturing a few different breeds.  Cat lovers can choose from similar designs celebrating the annoyingly endearing habits of their own pet-of-choice.

Daschund mug, £7.95, by Repeat Repeat

Last but by no means least, if you're a fan of The Apprentice you'll have seen this product in the 2009 series. Sir Alan might not have been impressed but here are some satisfied customers in action.  Yes, it's the Cardboard Cat Playhouse from Suck UK!

In the third and final part of my Autumn Fair review, I'll be looking at some of the top trends I noticed at the show.  Check back soon for that!

Autumn Fair 2009, Review Part 1: Whither Twitter?

Autumn Fair International, held every September, is the little sister to February's Spring Fair, the UK's biggest trade event for the home and giftware industries. As both events are held just a short train ride from me at Birmingham's NEC, they form two of the highlights of my year.

Although they're aimed at retailers buying stock, I can get in as a Graphic Designer and spend the day exploring the halls (5 in Autumn, all 20 in Spring) and discovering the latest trends in giftware, greetings, homeware, toys and jewellery.

It's tough on the feet but I always come out of it buzzing, inspired and wishing I had the money to set up my own gift shop. It would have to be a ruddy big shop, though, because I'd want to stock up on EVERYTHING!

During my time there, I managed to stumble across the last 20 minutes of a Talking Point Seminar by E-commerce consultants Intelligent Retail. I picked up some very useful tips about how Google ranks websites based on how key words are used on them and why outgoing links from a site are as important as incoming ones.

This was also the first time I'd heard a professional opinion on the year's internet phenomenon, Twitter. I'd never really seen the point of it, from a personal angle. I'm not really interested in what Stephen Fry's had for breakfast, as much as I love his shows. In fact I've never even used Facebook, either. I've dabbled with MySpace but let's just say this camel had her back broke over there a couple of months ago. Yet speaker David Fairhurst managed to get across Twitter's business benefits quite enthusiastically. It can be a very quick and efficient way to target a specific group of people, who you can search for and monitor using Twitter management tools. You can then instantly alert them to new products, website updates or any other news you want to bring to lots of people's attention. So now I'm seriously thinking of joining, to network with graphic design businesses and anyone else who might be able to get me off the ground.

Of course, if I do join and you're reading this because you found it on my Twitter feed, thank you for popping over. But as that feed doesn't exist at the time of writing this, we're getting into serious wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey stuff here.

Best move on...

In the 2nd part of this review I'll link you to some of my favourite products at this year's show, followed by what I saw as the current top trends.

For Those Days When You Really Need An Octopus Thong

Hopefully you'll have noticed a number of my designs along the left hand side of the page, along with that very distracting kaleidoscope.

If not, go and have a look at them now.  I can wait.

*Taps toes and hums tunelessly.*

Welcome back.

Mmmm... don't you think that heart would look gorgeous on your T shirt?  Wouldn't your tea taste better coming out of a giraffe mug?  Isn't that snowman just screaming to carry your Christmas card greetings?  Have you really never yearned for - joy of joys - an octopus thong?

Well my friends, pine no more.  Simply click a button and give in to temptation.

Each image links you to its own shop on http://www.cafepress.co.uk.  There you can treat yourself or a loved one to all sorts of amazing gifts, clothes and homewear, each printed with your chosen design.

Here are just a few samples of what's on offer:

You'll find the full range of products on each page and new offers are being added all the time.  At the moment, each design has to be ordered separately through its own shop.  Prices are set in American Dollars but can be displayed in UK Pounds, Euros, Australian and Canadian Dollars.  Prices other than in US$ are calculated using the current exchange rates and therefore may vary on a day-to-day basis.

I get 25% commission on all sales so, if you're enjoying this blog, I hope you'll have a look round my shops and support my work on there, too.

And if I've STILL not convinced you... 

Woohoo... you KNOW you'll look good in this...