TishTash and the City

Only one day until I head stateside to NYC and I can't wait. It's been a bit of a last min thing, but with one thing and another I REALLY need it! Maybe I will find some new inspirations whilst I am over there, or at the very least a nice dress or few...he he.

Trying this Flickr thing out..

It's good to try new things I know, but sometimes it's hard to know exactly what you've got yourself into! Steph has been wittering (in a good way ;) on at me for a while to use Flickr to showcase my work and get my stuff out there. So today I took the plunge and signed up!! I am still finding my feet and really not sure what I am doing...but here's to trying something new!!

Introducing my latest drippy...

Those of you who follow me and my work will know that I have become known for my signature drippy design and over the past 2 years have produced lots in every shape and colour (well not every, there are still plenty I want to try out..but you get the gist!!).

I thought I'd introduce my latest drippy "Black Forest Gateau Drippy" to you which is now happily in its new home in Nailsea near Bristol. The mix of burgandy, brownm cream with a little bit of bronze thrown in really work and make it such an eye catching piece. I love it and it was hard waving it goodbye, as I quite fancied it for my own home. I figure that's a good sign! Fancy a drippy? Commision TishTash with your own colour scheme!

Greetings One and All...

Thought I'd take a few minutes this morning to tell you about my TishTash greetings cards. I have been working on various styles for a while and now have quite a selection , ranging from hand painted flowers, to funky paper designs. They come in lots of different sizes and colours, some blank, some for special occasions.

Sometimes I find it hard to promote my own work as it's so personal, but recently I plucked up the courage to start sending my own cards out for friends as birthday and thank you cards and the reaction has been really good. People have commented how unusual and funky they are, and in true TishTash form how much texture they have! So I am gaining confidence and am now even doing some made to order comissions. So far I have done 50 invites for a 40th birthday which were fun and then a set of 40 thank you cards for a friend who had recently had a baby.

A single card is £1.50 or you can have 4 for £5.00 - what a bargain methinks! I have plenty of cards available, so if you are interested in stocking up check out my website or email me (natasha@tishtash.co.uk). There isn't any cost difference for comission cards or those bought from my stock, so whatever your requirements I'd love to hear from you.

I am always working on new designs, so expect more soon! Hmmm...it's probably time to start working on Christmas soon...eeek! When I find a spare moment I'd also like to expand my stationery range and do writing paper sets and notebooks, I will just keep on looking for that elusive spare moment!!

TishTash & Handmadeheaven Hit Frampton...

For those of you who follow our movements, TishTash and Handmadeheaven are on the event roadshow again, this time on the 14th September at the Frampton Country Show (check out the picture)!

I've done this show for the past 2 years and it is a big event in the Gloucestershire county calender, with all sorts of events (shooting, horse shows, dog trials - you get the gist!). If I'm being honest the past 2 years haven't been a roaring success for me, but I always live in hope and think "this could be the year!" Well that's what I keep telling Steph of Handmadeheaven who is happy to give it a go with me. It works out well sharing a stand as our colourful products work well together and it brings the overall cost of breaking even down!! So, we will be giving it a go and I am sure we will fill you in on our day when it happens.

So, I guess that means I should think of some new inspirations, as I do like having a couple of new pieces at each show.

If you have any ideas of events Steph and I could attend in a reasonable proximity to Gloucestershire, then please get in touch!

TT x

New TishTash June Brochure OUT NOW!!

Hello again and Sunday Greetings.

It's been a traumatic few days with one thing and another, but let's not go into that...


For those of you not all that in the know about TishTash, every month I produce a new brochure to showcase all my current work for sale. It gives people the chance to browse my work at leisure and it's also a good way of getting me known and spreading the word. My new brochure is now out containing lots of funky pieces, some new framed artwork (check out "The Splattering" below) and even some sale items so people can grab a bargain!

If you are not on my brochure mailing list but would like to be, please email me (natasha@tishtash.co.uk) and I will be happy to add you in...you will also get all my latest news then too!

Back to my paint brush...

One day to go....

Aside from my art and all things TishTash, I am also extremely passionate about my day job working for a marketing agency in the Cotwsolds. However, currently my stress levels are rising and it's all taking over my life a little as I prepare for the company summer party which is this year themed "one night in Hollywood". Tomorow is "the day" and so final preparations are on and the panic is setting in....mostly because I still don't have that all important outfit to wear! A girls got to have a great dress and all that! ...and don't even get me on to the thought of stepping on to that stage and presenting the evening....argh! Keep everything crossed for me! Photographic evidence on Friday....should I survive!

TishTash xx

Photographic Evidence from the Weekend!

Well I finally managed to sort out some photos from my past weekend exhibiting at Sudeley Castle (thanks Steph!), so I thought I would share them with you!

As you can see the combination of my bright funky canvases and Steph's fabulous contemporary fused glasswork worked a treat! Although I am not sure even the pictures do it real justice. It was a colourful feast!

I think it may be a while before I do a similar show as it is so much work to prepare, but it was fun to get out, spread the TishTash word and meet lots of other talented art and craft people. I now have some interesting comission work to get on with, some preparation for the Cheltenham Art in the Park exhibition in July and a few other new experimental ideas to explore! I look forward to telling you all about it soon...so as they say, watch this space! Ps...3 days on and new blogging habit going well!!

TishTash Goes Spotty, Hearty & Flowery!

For those of you who have followed TishTash's progress over the past couple of years, you will have seen some crazy styles develop! Of course the TishTash Drippy remains my signature style which I still love painting. However, some new styles are starting to gain demand and see me exploring new themes and avenues which is all exciting stuff!

You may have noticed that sets of 2, 3 or 4 paintings have become popular in recent years and this is definitely a trend I can testify too. As soon as I have painted a multiple set it flies out of my shop...so I really should be painting more of them... however, all that lining up means that they can be a bit time consuming and so they aren't always practical.

Recently I have had some fun little sets comissioned which I thought I'd tell you about. My "Spotties" have always been popular, but now I am painting sets of 3 of these for people with bold childlike outlines, and more spots in metallics and bold contrasting colours. So far I have done 2 spotty sets in pinks/red/ gold and one in teal/ chocolate brown/ beige and I have others planned. They are going down a storm and I am really quite fond of them...even if I do say so myself!

On the success of these I am now working on sets of "hearty" and "flowery" ones which I hope will be available from the end of June. You can see my first hearty one "Hearty Green copper Dopper" which is currently for sale in my Etsy Shop (http://www.tishtash.etsy.com/) and will shortly be available on my website. A set in Pink/ red/ gold is currently in progress and bold primary colour flowers are in concept stage.

Prices for 20cm x 20cm canvas sets are £28 for 2 and £36 for 3. Other size sets and prices available on request.

I can't tell you how great these look on neutral walls and you can hang them in a vertical line, horizontal line or as you like.

If you would like any more info, or are interested in exploring different colour schemes then get in touch with me on natasha@tishtash.co.uk.

I'm Pooped after a weekend at the Castle!

It's been a while I know! I realise I haven't been the most inspiring blogger ever (slight understatement!!), but I aim to change all that after pledging to my friend and very inspirational blogger Steph (of www.handmadeheaven.biz) that I would be better!! I have commited to 4 posts a week, seeing as I do actually get up to a lot, so I should really start telling you all about it. This is the first, so let me tell you about my weekend and why TishTash is a wee bit pooped!

This weekend I did my first show of 2008 (yes I am aware it's June!). Over the course of 2007 I realised that craft and art shows may not be the best forum for me to sell my work and having lost plenty of time and money on what can only be described as "crappy" shows I decided to give it a rest and just focus on my website and gaining new commission work. It has definitely paid off and I may actually make some profit this year (whoohooo!)...it only took 2.5 years! Anyway, I digress...this weekend I decided to do the Designer Arts ad Craft Show at Sudeley Castle as it's just on the outskirts of Cheltenham where I live and it looked good on paper as it was being held at the Ballooning Grand Prix with 10,000 people expected. However, it's fair to say it's been a challenging weekend!

First off I am currently crippled with a bad back and so was unable to carry any of my work or set it up. My very lovely boyfriend Gary got left with this task much to his horror...and mine when he never seemed to put anything where I wanted it...he he he. Add in the very long days (10am - 7pm) and a real lack of people and thus sales and all in all it wasn't great!

That said one of my regular customers turned up to put a smile on both mine and Steph's faces as he purchased one of my fave paintings "Drip Green Square Tastic" ( a funky lime, chocolate brown and gold number in classic TishTash design) and some glassy goodies from Steph! His purchases meant we both broke even which is always a relief for any fair. However, that was pretty much the end of the sales...as we sat there for what seems like 3 weeks and many bags of chocolates later!

So we aren't rich just yet....but on the positive, we handed out loads of postcards and as ever we met lots of nice and talented people. One to mention is the fabulous vintage clothing designer Charmaine Bartram (www.charmainebartram.com) who is super talented and whose work wouldn't look out of place in the likes of Vogue and probably the Sex and the City Film. I made a few purchases from her stand, totally wiping out any money I did make...but then again why change a habit of a lifetime as I always do that, but I do end up with some fab one off bits!

Anyway, I am off to bed now tired and wishing I'd had a little bit of a weekend. Back to the grind of the day job tomorrow and a particularly challenging week as I have the company summer party happening on Thursday which i have organised....

Please eagerly await my next 3 posts this week, when I tell you all about my exciting new plans!!

Nighty night. TishTash xxx