Cards now available!

My cards are now available to buy on my website at £7.00 (including postage) for a pack of 5 cards with brown envelopes. 

www.kiranravilious.com   

Cards

I had these greetings cards based on my original lino prints printed. Available on my website soon! £7 for a set of 5 with brown envelopes included.

           

 

Being a worrier

Are any of you worriers? I am a worrier. I worry about everything. It is definitely connected to having very little or low confidence too. It's something I need to work on for sure. People who know me will know that that is just how I am. I don't need constant reassurance or my hand holding. I don't worry about money or the kids much. Those sort of things I can deal with. I don't worry about Ben. I know him. I do worry about people I don't know too well. I worry about upsetting people. I also think having kids and being with them all day means I have too much time to think about stuff. I need to buy a kindle. That's for sure. I also need a holiday to get away from being stuck in one place for 2 years now. I need to draw and print more. If I can convert worry into creativity, then I win!

Repeats

Extracting a design from a cushion/fabric that I printed and using photoshop to create repeats. Much fun! New products featuring these designs will be available soon! Sign up to my newsletter (if you haven't already for updates!)  Sign Up to Newsletter!

House Beautiful magazine feature

Earlier this year, I got an email from one of the writers of House Beautiful magazine asking me if I'd like to have my work as part of an editorial feature. I sent them some photos and the June issue is out!

My first ever magazine feature! So pleased! When I started printing, I never thought my work would be seen by people, in a magazine - sitting on the same page as Sanderson's and Marimekko! I carve and print my designs at home. Most times, my two girls and my dog are around me... playing, dancing, shouting etc. etc. Everything I do comes from within me. There are no shiny surfaces here. I trained as a graphic designer and have spent many hours in front of a shiny Macintosh with clean clothes and clean nails and clean hair. Printing however, isn't as glamorous, but being able to carve my own design, print my own fabric and to make it into something in this case, a lampshade is so very rewarding!

Designs for Gazelli

I've been meaning to blog about this for awhile now but I've been so tired! It's only around now, 7pm in the evening, once the kids have been fed and are in bed, that I feel it's okay for me to sit and use the computer without feeling guilty! Anyway, let's get on with what I really want to write about. A couple of months ago, Gazelli asked me to print a few cushions, a throw and a couple of bags for their treatment room at Urban Retreat, Harrods. After a few emails, they chose some of my designs they liked best and I started printing. They decided to go with their monochromatic colour scheme so all the designs were printed in black on white linen. The one challenge I had was sewing the shoe bags. I didn't have any in stock so I had to sew them myself. It took me quite a few hours, but I was so pleased that I managed it! Now I'm thinking, woah, look at me!  Maybe I can make some clothes for the girls! Or maybe not! :P

 

A month later, I get another email from Gazelli. This time, they wanted some bags for an event they were having at Harrods. They gave me their design and I converted it into a drawing and then transferred the design on to lino. Carved it. Printed it and ordered a stamp with their brand to stamp on to the bags. This time though, I left the sewing to the experts! 

One big challenge was drying space! I used every corner of my house, shed, garden! I printed about 100 bags in total - in 5 days! I was chuffed to say the least. Gazelli also invited me to their event at Harrods which my friend Anna and I went to. It was SO nice to see my cushions in situ and to see people with the bags. A great experience in all!

A tee for Jill

Friends

Is it important to have friends? Awhile ago, I wrote about how I talk to myself whilst walking my dog. Now, I suddenly find I have friends! Three ladies from my neighbourhood, parents from Jill's school, friends that have become great friends, virtual friends I hope to meet someday who have similar interests as me, the man on the bus. I really like all these people. I don't know if they like me though. I think time will tell. I am not a very likeable person! I hope, I make one good friend. It's so important to have one good friend. I know, if I went back to Singapore to live, I'd have at least five good friends, but because I have to live here, one will be fine! :P

Being Mum

Being a mum is probably the most difficult part of my life at the moment. My four year old is driving me to the brink of wanting to run away from it all. Part of me worries that I just MIGHT! I love my two human and one canine children to bits. However, at times, I feel I am probably not very good at being mum to them. I was brought up by very strict parents who didn't spare the cane. They were so strict, I was ill most of the time from being so scared and nervous. I really do not want my kids to be scared of me. What good did it do me?

My daughter Jill however, is constantly whining at me. I think she thinks I should be scared of her. I am starting to feel like she bullies me. I am tired. Both physically and mentally and at the moment, the only person who puts a smile on my face and makes me completely happy is my baby, Nina. I always said, I would never have a favourite child and I promise you, I don't. Nina is just a happy-go-lucky baby. She is quite happy to sit and play on her own. She babbles away to herself in her cot. She has all her meals and she calls everyone 'mum'. I know all children are different. I just need to find a way to make Jill realise her behaviour really isn't helping her or anyone else around her. It definitely doesn't help my creativity. The last time I picked up my sketch/doodling book was probably 5 months ago.
My only hope is that she starts full time school in September and things will get better from then. Or will it?

Giveaway!

I'm having a little giveaway on my Facebook page! I know not everyone uses Facebook so next time, I'll have one here. If you'd like to win this bag and you're on Facebook, click here: http://tinyurl.com/6m2kaw6 Then 'like' and 'share' it on your wall with your friends for a chance to win this hand printed blue sunburst linen bag!