Kiran Ravilious

Cards now available!

2012-05-20T11:21:00.004+01:00

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

2012-05-18T14:03:00.001+01:00

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

2012-05-15T20:15:00.002+01:00

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

2012-05-14T16:55:00.004+01:00

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

2012-04-29T11:41:00.002+01:00

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

2012-04-20T19:56:00.002+01:00

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

2012-04-19T17:48:00.000+01:00

Friends

2012-03-08T15:45:00.000Z

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

2012-03-06T10:39:00.003Z

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!

2012-03-04T19:07:00.001Z

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!

Spring is finally here!

2012-03-01T19:37:00.000Z

It has been a lovely sunny day here in Leicester! My daughters were out in the garden... wrestling with the dog! I'm so glad that I've finally sent all my orders from Top Drawer! I know it's been more than a month since the show but each cushion and each lampshade is inked by hand and takes a good few days to dry. I also make each lampshade so, it's all very time consuming but very satisfying to pack them all up, send them away and for the happy buyer to ring me to tell me that they look great. What next? I think some new designs and works to add to my website! End of March is my deadline to get this sorted!

These lampshades are on their way to Essex!

Spring

2012-02-20T16:20:00.001Z

I'm so ready for you Spring!

Spring is probably the most inspiring of all seasons for me. There are always new plants and flowers to discover. Summer is when I like carving! I sit in the garden when the sun is out and the heat makes carving lino so easy, like carving cheese! I'm looking forward to Spring and of course summer!

Website launch!

2012-01-24T21:41:00.004Z

My website www.kiranravilious.com is now up and running!! My very own shiny new website. I'm so excited about it! I designed it and also took most of the photos on the homepage! It's a fully editable site so any time I want to change anything, I can! I've got more products to add in the next week or so. I just need to get them to Joanne at Nine Photos- the very clever lady who took photos of the cushions on white background for me! For now, I present to you, my website www.kiranravilious.com AND, a huge thank you to Ultimateweb who have done such a great job programming it for me!!

Website

2012-01-19T10:26:00.001Z

We spent last night uploading products to my website. I'm really pleased that it's almost ready and hope to have it up and running by Monday next week!

Top Drawer stand

2012-01-18T20:13:00.002Z

Top Drawer ended yesterday. Four exciting days. Getting there, setting up and three days at the fair itself. I met lots of interesting people. The other exhibitors exhibiting at Spotted and Spotted plus were all really nice. Apart from orders and hearing what people thought of my work, the one other important thing I have come away with is meeting a bunch of people I got on with. Sharing a similar experience definitely helped. Another interesting thing was that quite a few people came up and asked us if we had any connection with Eric Ravilious. Some were really pleased to meet Ben, my husband who is the grandson of Eric and to talk about Eric had his work and other artists like Edward Bawden and Peggy Angus and also the work of James Ravilious, Ben's father. Interesting!

Here are some photos of my Top Drawer stand. I wish I could have taken some better photos and also photos of other exhibitors stands but, I left my SD card at home! :( Bummer!

Setting up the stand

First day. Feeling quite excited even though my lampshade fell and had to have it on the table and regretted bringing it! But, I sold a few!

Ben kindly went and bought a stand for the lampshade. Perhaps a little bit too tall but, the Laura Ashley buyers said the design worked really well on it! Yes, I was a little lost for words and suddenly VERY pleased that I brought it along!

Cushions, lampshade and teatowels

Leaf cushion

2012-01-12T13:29:00.001Z

A new year, a new design. Leaf is printed in salmon on a light coloured linen cushion. Available soon!

Promotional material for Top Drawer

2012-01-09T16:52:00.001Z

My postcards and business cards for Top Drawer this weekend arrived today. I spent a couple of weeks designing them and I think I'm pretty happy with how they look!

2011-12-30T12:40:00.001Z

This January, I'll be exhibiting at Top Drawer under Spotted with Charlotte Abrahams. I've been really lucky to have been picked by Charlotte to exhibit with other designers who have never exhibited at a trade fair before. Pop down to see my range of hand printed designs on cushions, bags, tea towels, lampshades and more, from the 15th - 17th of January, Earls Court, London, Stand SP7.

Something for Juju

2011-11-23T17:24:00.001Z

I told my daughter Juju that I had something for her in my shed. "SHED?", she shrieked! Juju LOVES going in my shed. She normally comes out of it covered in ink...just like me. I'm looking forward to when she can start helping me! So, we walked to my shed....

We stop and pose for a photo before heading to the shed....

I show her what I've made for her.... It's a shoe bag with my strawberry print on it for her P.E shoes. She has her eyes on other things in my shed!

I printed her name on it using these stamps that my sister-in-law gave me for my birthday! I love them!

Jill really wanted to get some printing done too...

Dreams....

2011-11-23T13:34:00.002Z

We all have dreams. What's yours? Mine is to live somewhere where I can have a little shop and a studio. I'll sell my work and make a living out of it. I'll work in the shop which will have wooden floors and a timber framed roof. Little pots filled with herbs and seasonal flowers everywhere. My girls will come to the shop after school. They'll go upstairs where we live. My dog will greet customers! And my husband will be there with us. I won't be here. I'll be happy. I'll be living the dream. For now though, it is what it is, just a dream...

Christmas & Stuff

2011-11-16T19:37:00.003Z

Everyone seems to be gearing up for Christmas. I do like the festive season. Last year, we had a lovely Christmas. It was the first year that Jill had become aware of it (presents galore!) and for Ben and I it was lovely watching her unwrap her presents and listening to her little squeals of delight even at the simplest and cheapest of presents. I carved and printed some stars a few weeks ago. At first I was too ashamed of showing them to anyone but the more I look at them, the more I think they're no TOO bad after all - although by no means perfect stars! And no, that isn't Holly, I know. I found it lying in our garden, and I thought, why not! (Better than my idea of stealing Holly from the park! :P ) Update: I got lots of positive comments about my stars so they are now available in my Etsy shop!

This year, I was just thinking how sad it is, whenever Christmas and New Year is over and Ben goes back to work after being at home with us and suddenly it's all quiet and life goes back to normal. Out of the blue, I receive an email.... asking me if I'd like to exhibit at Top Drawer - Spotted in London! I've been contemplating going to Top Drawer but it costs quite a bit and I wasn't sure I was ready. However, this opportunity was something that I couldn't pass on! Even if it means carrying all my stuff on the train to London. I'm so excited to be one of 12 designers to be picked by Charlotte! Never in my wildest dreams!! Now I am just hoping it'll all go well!! Eeeeekkk!! So exciting!!!

Winners!

2011-11-01T16:15:00.003Z

Wow! Thanks to everyone who gave their thoughts, comments and suggestions. So it looks like there is no clear preference. People seem to like both. The thing that has helped me the most are thoughts on photos with a white background. I too, like Jesse and Kerry have looked on Etsy to see what other people selling cushions and tote bags have come up with and it is usually the ones with the white backgrounds that stand out. I would love to give my shop a lifestyle feel but like many have said, I can have multiple images on my Etsy product page. Soooooo, I think I'm going to try and achieve a white or at least plain background for my products, WITH photos of them in situ too when you click though. So, thank you to all of you who left your comments. I now have to pick ONE person to win a bag. The decision was really tough, but, I've decided to pick Catherine Candlin! Thank you Catherine! Your suggestions and tips were really helpful and I tried photographing my white bags and cushions on a coloured background and they look much better than trying to photograph them on a white background and ending up with a washed-out look. So, thank you Catherine. Please drop me an email with which bag you'd like or if you' like a design but want it in a colour of your choice, I can do that too! AND, seeing that this blog post 102, I'd also like to pick Kerry, to win a drawstring bag! Kerry, thank you for your constructive comments. I'll be posting photos of my drawstring bags in the next couple of days for you to choose one! Please email me with your details, Kerry! To everyone else again, Thank You!!!

Photos & A giveway

2011-10-31T18:16:00.003Z

I've been taking new photos of my work. I've got some new designs and I've also been printing some of my favourite designs. If I thought printing was the hard bit, then I was WRONG! It's the photography bit that is the most painstaking for me. I just don't know.... My husband Ben who is a web developer, has been giving me lots of tips. He makes e-commerce websites for people as a living so, he knows what sort of photos work best. But I'm just not sure. Ben says simple photos. A cushion on a white background is what we want for thumbnails. I think I agree with that for photos on my own website where I intend on having a slide show of my best products on the homepage. Products in situ, not just on a white background. But what about Etsy & Folksy when you get a page of thumbnails as your homepage? I don't know. I'm not totally happy with the photos I have on my Etsy or Folksy shop at the moment. So help!

For my Etsy and Folksy shops, do I go for:

This? .........................or This?

And finally....

This ................

Or.... This.....

Or, are they just too different to even compare? I could do without this dilemma....

The person who gives me the most contructive comments/suggestions/criticism will win a bag of their choice from my shop!

2011-10-18T17:10:00.000+01:00

Hope everyone is having a nice day. Plans to open a new Etsy shop is in store this week. The sun is out today and I've been trying to take photos. Definitely the most difficult part of the process for me.

New work

2011-10-12T10:52:00.002+01:00

Dear blog,

I'm very sorry I keep neglecting you. I do want you in my life, so I am going to work on this relationship I'd like to have with you. Instead of talking to my 'imaginary' friends in my head or 'talking' to people I see on the street, I have come to realise that it would be less strange if I simply 'talked' on here. So, here is to blogging and also to hoping that my followers will want to interact with me more...that is if I haven't frightened a bunch of them off with this post.

Some new work.... (some of you might have already seen these on my Facebook page). More to come!

Cushion covers 100% natural unbleached linen

Light, foldable tote bags in linen & cotton

I'm REALLY hoping to have everything photographed and ready for sale very soon!