TishTash Tax Return is done...

The dreaded "Tax return" has been hanging over me quite some time and even though I had until the 31st Jan 2009 if I did it electronically, I wanted to get it off my "to do" list asap. Steph and I agreed to do the end bit of form completion together just to try and make sense of it all. It's done anyway and somewhere in the postal system.....hurrah!!! I'm just keeping all my bits crossed that it's correct first time around and I don't see that form quicker than expected!

Today is the day...

It's a bank holiday here in the UK, so I have a much needed extra day from work and I can't wait. I've arranged a creative day with Steph from Handmadeheaven and we're going to try and inspire each other with new ideas. The main thing I want to achieve is to make even a little progress with my accessories range, as I have a big mountain of gorgeous bits and nothing to show for it! We're also both hoping to finish off our dreaded tax returns which have been hanging over us for ages....eugh!

Fingers crossed I'll have some photos to show you our days efforts later!!

TishTash gets everywhere these days!!

You ask most people who have their own business and they'll tell you now and again they like to "google" themselves and see what came up. I hadn't done it in a while, but did the other day and what a shock.....I found myself in The SUN!!!! It looks like they index off Etsy where I have a online shop....oh how funny!!!

TishTash continues to appreciate Handmadeheaven...

Just look at what has come out of the Handmadeheaven kiln this week. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE this picture and am sure it won't last long in her shop. It's just a gorgeous retro blend of colour and you really do just want to eat it. No wonder Steph is keeping it away from me at the moment :)

Handm@de Fair Promotional bags...

I've told you about the fair I'm doing in Oxford Town Hall on 9th November called Handm@de. Well they've come up with an idea I love of making promotional bags up containing items from the stall holders, as well as business cards/ promotional ideas. They are planning on making up 200, but of course you don't necessarily have to send in 200 items, they will just mix and match bags according to what they get. I was up for sending something in. Canvases aren't really practical, so I'm going to send in some of my original art cards (see above) and some hand painted book marks (when I get around to making some!!). I just need to get making some new cards now to fill up my stock levels!! I have a couple of months thankfully!

TishTash Stationery gets lift off!!

My creative juices haven't exactly been flowing lately, which has been frustrating when I've wanted to do something. I love nothing more than experimenting and producing new things and a month with no creative output has been strange. However, today I managed to do something....it's only small steps, but I found some therapy in trialing out my new hand painted notebooks. They're drying as we speak and tomorrow I hope to finish off with some lace/ ribbon detail. So far so good. They'd definitely make a nice gift or stocking filler this Christmas. I have big plans for some tishtash hand painted writing paper and envelope sets too. I like to try and keep the art of letter writing alive in this email age and producing new stationery all helps. Pictures of the finished articles and details on how to buy soon!!

Today I am appreciating...

The work of Emma Bishop who I happened across on www.artgallery.co.uk where I also sell my work. I have a bit of thing about wacky city scapes not being a landscape kinda girl and there is something really simple and appealing about these paintings, coupled with their fab colouring. This one is called "Ambour Harbour" and it's really taken my fancy. However, I am being strong, if I put up many more paintings I will be far from minimalist! No new news for me on www.artgallery.co.uk, things seem a bit quiet, but at least I can get inspired by checking out everything else on there!

Still no creative flare...

I'm not sure what's going on. I haven't really produced anything in 3 weeks and I'm worried my creative spirit has flown off somewhere. I have bags of gorgeous new materials for my new accessories range and I can kind of see what I want to get to, but somehow I just can't sit down and do it and as any arty type would say, there is no point in forcing these things..... sigh...Maybe I should stop beating myself up!

A Ring Tastic Sunday..

I've told you on numerous occasions lately how much I love Handmadeheaven's new fused glass rings. I have 4 of my own to prove it! However, as stocks continue to fly out of Steph's shop I agreed to spend Sunday afternoon lending a hand creating plenty more to keep the fans happy! I turned up armed with my latest copy of Vogue and all the new autumn colours (just so we can meet the demands of the fashionista!) and we sat their cheesy movie on in the background glassing away. We agreed to aim for 100, but I think we even went a little over that. Steph totally clocked me when she said I was doing loads in the colours I like....well you have to try don't you! ...guess that all my pals will be getting for christmas this year!!

New Promotional & Supporting Materials for TishTash COMING SOON!

In the absence of being able to create and produce new TishTash art, I am turning my attentions to sorting my personal admin out and doing things I've been meaning to for a while, like designing and printing new painting labels, postcards and compliment slips. To the left you can see an example of one of my new little lables which goes on the back of my paintings with the name on. I just have to figure out how to print them now and try and make the most of the thousands of Vista Print emails I seem to get each week!! I haven't thought about the other things, but it's time for a change as I've had my original marketing materials 2 years...my how time flies. I'm learning some new design packages at work, so I'm hoping I'll be able to do a lot more work myself rather than having to rely on kind pals all the time. There is a lot to be said for being self sufficient!!

Where has my arty mojo gone?

I am struggling creatively at the moment. I'm not sure what is going on, but I sat in my studio for about an hour on Sunday and couldn't find the inspiration for anything. I then dumped all my card making materials on the dining table hoping to find the enthusiasm to do something in front of a dvd...no such luck. What is going on?? I really want to create and hopefully get something to show for TishTash accessories....but no such luck right now. I just have to hope it comes back one day soon! In the meanwhile I'm going to embrace catching up on my massive reading list ;)

My gallery is up to date and raring to go!

After an initial success on www.artgallery.co.uk, I got myself into gear and listed some more of my paintings. I now have 24 canvases for sale on the site and people do seem to be looking as you can see the number of views per painting. However, I fear it may have been a case of beginners luck as there have alas been no more sales. It's good to get out there and try these things and the best thing about this website is that you only have to pay if you sell something, there are no listing fees etc. I shall persist anyway and I like looking at all the other artwork which appears...it inspires me if nothing else!!

All quiet on the tishtash front...

I know there's been a bit of an absence of TishTash news and views this week and no new artwork to ogle. Other things in life have taken over and whilst the ideas are flowing, not much is going on in the studio. I do have a couple of interesting base coated canvases which I hope to tackle this weekend, but other than that I'm just plodding along seeing what comissions come my way. I have been catching up on admin and my looming tax return, so it's not like I'm being lazy! I've also been trying to sort out some rental business I did with a big FMCG company. I forgot how many paintings they had! I have all this stock I never thought about...maybe I should be worried about that...hmmmm.

Loving more rings!

More glassy appreciation today as Steph Jones of Handmadeheaven launched more rings into her range. These delights are called "Bubblz" (after a bit of inpiration from moi - glad I can inspire someone today!!) and they are super. I liked them so much I parted with my cash and bought my mum one today, just because and I am also promoting them left right and centre to my pals. Get them fast before they no doubt sell out methinks!

www.folksy.com - The UK etsy??

Well it had to happen eventually, that someone would make a venture with the UK version of Etsy where you can buy all things handmade. Etsy, is a fab place, for those of you not in the know, it's US based and currently much of the customer base is in the US and so not only does UK art and craftwork look expensive with the exchange rates, but the postage fees are really prohibitive. That said, a lot of people are looking on there and it's good for exposure and I have sold a few bits, so it's worth giving it a go. Now we have Folksy which is the UK based version and it will be interesting to see how this one goes. Steph and I had big plans for something similar, but with busy day jobs and side businesses we just never found the time to take it forward which is a shame as we both felt really passionately about it. For now we will have to see what happens with Folksy. It's still in beta stage which means they are trialling it and testing for errors etc with a limited sales base. However, TishTash shopped was launched on there yesterday and I am happy to give it a go and support something even closer to home.

Rings Rings Rings...

Today I'm excited and nope it's nothing related to TishTash I'm afraid. Glassy pal Steph has produced a new line of rings and she has created one especially for me. I think I am her guinea pig. Maybe I will have to complete a survey on durability etc? I'm not sure, but I hear it's pink and brown and I know I'll be getting plenty of comments on it already. Who needs a bill board huh!?

Loving the work of Chris Taylor too!!

I LOVE this painting too! It's by Bolton based artist Chris Taylor and it's called "The Dribble Painting". It's totally up my street and I like his wacky naming too :) He's a man after my own heart!!

Loving the work of Shirley

Shirley Gorak is a painter and creator of abstract works, living and working in Lancashire. I discovered her work on www.artgallery.co.uk where I am also selling my work. I like her work because it's funky and has plenty of texture and I hope she sells well. I fear this website could be bad for my purse as I keep finding more stuff I like than I sell...he he!!

NEW! Choccy Egg

After loving my previous choccy egg trio so much I kept it, I have been busily painting up another one. So today I introduce to you "Choccy Egg Stripy Tastic Trio" which is made of 3 canvases of 20 cm x 50 cm x 3.75 cm. I lOVE it again, but of course it would be greedy to keep 2 sets! So, if you'd like to grab your own choccy egg trio you know where it is!!

Drippy withdrawal comes to an end..

The "drippy" is my signature style you could say. I live in hope tht one day people rave about the TishTash Drippy as a famous artistic style..he he. Not only do they look eye catching and fab on any wall, but they are also really therapeutic to paint, especially after a stressful day in the office. Or maybe that's just me getting high on the turps? Hmmmm... I haven't done any larger size drippys in a while and I realised I was rather short of stock after a few sales and gifts to friends, so I am back in painting mode and this drippy if first off the paint brush! I recently did a commission of colours similar to this and loved it, so I decided to do a similar design in choccy browns and berry pinks. ...and thus "Berry Brown Drippy" was born. It's 60 (h) x 60 (w) x 3.75(d) and is on sale in my shop for £125. However, you can also comission it in whatever colours you'd like. Oooooh, I feel inspired more by more drippys. I haven't done any green or browny shades in a while...

My favourite things...

I regularly chitter chatter on about my glassy pal Steph and her gorgeous glassy goodies. However, her glass wear really does go straight to the top of my favourite things. She has such a flare for colour and is brimming full of ideas and she's just a top and inspirational person to be around. This rainy Saturday morning I just had to share with you one of her fab lattice bowls which is fresh out of her kiln (and yes methinks it's already sold and off to its new home as most of her stuff flies out of her shop as soon as listed!). It's called "Tropicana" and what a vision of summer fun it is! I am very lucky to have my very own lattice bowl Steph gave me as a pressie, but I'm quite tempted to buy myself another! Steph is also the owner of a very delightful blog (she is even on a website declaring her delightful!) detailing all her news and work in progress so I strongly recommend checking that out too!