Here I am !!!

You can now find me at

Yes ann Design

and follow me on Facebook here Facebook

Lots of new designs, especially for Christmas

Hope your all well !

Are you ready to WRAP ? - matching gift tags to the cards, being a stationery FREAK, the wrapping to me is just as important as what is inside !

So next on my very long list is Wine Bottle Tags, do you give a bottle for Christmas ? and should I do a New Years One ? ..... you know when you go to a friends and the wine just gets dumped and no one knows it was actually from you and it really was kinda special and maybe a few dollars, would a gift tag that you write a message on get a little less lost ?

Happy Four Eyes

I grew up being teased with glasses, smashed a few in my time (sorry mum), decided myself being back then as a teenage qualified Optometrist that I didn't need them, now today I picked my new part time ones up and was SOOOOOOOOO excited and am very proud to wear and more importantly see up close when on the computer and drawing, look out world that 1mm that annoyed me just got reduced to looking that little more closer ! So thank you Christopher McMahon Optometrist @ Runaway Bay !

Design Competition

Time to start entering with the big guys in design competitions, here is one I have just submitted for UK company Steamcream, who are looking for a new design for a cosmetic tin, I like how they run these competitions looking for new designers, luckily they also award by artistic merit when judging as well as just number of public votes, because im not really a fan of making people vote who are not interested in that kind of thing. 

Gets you motivated to design even if its a long shot off winning.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas !

Exactly two months today to the 25th December .... 

www.madeit.com.au/inmypencilcase

2013 Christmas Collection in the SHOP !!

www.madeit.com.au/inmypencilcase

Dear Blog

Dearest Blog,

Honestly, I truly am sorry for not posting for a really, really long time,  I have done some new designs I promise!, and I will focus on Christmas for the next week or so, and then a brand new side for me in Surface Design on a few products under the brand name yesann, so for now my Madeit Shop is open with some cards, and new designs will be loaded in the next few days.

.... a sneak peak at some new reindeers to introduce you too, after all apparently Christmas is actually not that far away.

Speak Soon xx Vicky

Some homemade presents

We have a great family living across the road, they have four lovely kids, my little guy calls them the giggly kids because when they first moved in all we could hear was their giggles from the very very big tree in their front yard.  

We made some little merry christmas gifts, chocolate spoons with marshmallows in a mug, just add frothed milk, stir and slurp, I also squished in a gingerbread man and candy canes.  

They are so easy to make just dip spoons in melted chocolate, pop in the fridge to chill, I did a double dip then put on the marshmallow, fridge again and package however you like.  

Oh Christmas Tree !

Christmas to me is a memory of smell, and thats a real tree. 

Back in NZ where I grew up the pine and white lilies is etched forever as a happy childhood memory of Christmas.  

Not sure why I really love white on a tree but I just like to keep it simple.  

For those that know me, your thinking .. mmm ... she has a 5 year old ... {and he is a little arty I must brag}, I did let him put the first decoration on and after the photo's I will let him at it to add his handmade beauties.   

I mega-over-decorated his room as a snow cave a couple of weeks ago for a surprise so he is quite contempt to add wonderful kindy and homemade-handmades to his own room.  Next year I don't think he will let me away with it. 

Finally got round to my FB Page

I finally got round to creating a Facebook page but still have my training wheels on, now to figure out how to create the badge from blogger to facebook ? in the meantime you can just use the trusty link and ....

Come see me over here www.facebook.com/inmypencilcase

Santa, Red Glitter & Clay

Sams Beautiful Creations for the family and kindy teachers 

My little guy was devastated twice in one day, and thank you Santa for coming to my rescue !

After a marathon drive to a few suppliers  from one end of Sydney to the other to get hold of some more secret recipe clay for another market on Saturday at Balmain, it was a mega long apparently very BORING day, we then found a magic key that opens any door when you do not have a chimney aka chim-a-knee .... now not so boring day after all.. 

Twas all good until little guy (5) dropped it and it broke, and after a plate of watermelon to console such devastation about the key he accidentally dropped that plate too, knowing that it was a favourite of the MUMMY MONSTER he was again crushed .... all in one day ! 

Thank you Santa,  although you also dropped the bowl and broke it a little more whilst trying to unglue your super glue fingers, but I cant really remember because you have that special magic red glitter that makes adults forget when they see you.  Hopefully mummy wont get fingerprinted in the next few days cause they really aint gonna find a print .. ouch. 

And then we did clay.

ON SALE !

Christmas stock on sale !

MADE IT SHOP

Down That Little Lane

To Market We Did ....

Balmain Markets 

Such a great day, we met some amazing market neighbours, so very welcoming  since we were the newbies ......  shared with my talented friend Karlyn who makes kids clothing from vintage tablecloths & sheets  http://www.facebook.com/marlymartha1

Now shall we do another next weekend ? ...

This Little Piggy .. Sneak Peak

This little piggy goes to market ... 

To Balmain Markets in Sydney to be exact,  this Saturday 8th Dec with my lovely friend Karlyn from Marly Martha, if your in Sydney come down and say hi to us .. we will be there sunbaking in a forecasted sunny day and hopefully selling our handmade's !

Clay Tags & Tree Decorations 

Christmas Card's

Gift Tags that I cant be bothered turning around in photoshop, but you can buy them straight ! .. ha

12 Days of Christmas Garland, mini printed envelope with ribbon and pegs packaged,  you can add your own little notes and special things for the last count down for your special someone. 

2012 Reindeer

Here he is again in a couple of new designs ! he is certainly part of a collection now, apologies for the not so good photos !

Absorbed In Pattern !

Back in April (the last time I blogged, .... following is my excuse for not blogging)

I signed up for an online course with UK Designer Rachel Taylor see her website here, three modules and 15 weeks of study I have finished this week, and loved every minute of it. 

I have finally found my place in the creative world in Surface Pattern Design !

What the hell is that you may well ask, so my future (hopefully) will be to design patterns, illustrations for surfaces, these can include stationery,  things like cards, wrapping paper etc.  Fabrics and textiles for surfaces like bed linen, swimwear, bags, cushions. wallpaper, ceramics the list goes on.  

My head is full of designs and gradually I have been and continue building a portfolio and a brand which is called Yes ann! (more on the name another time).   So my to do list is long, as I venture out into the real world hoping that maybe some one will like my designs enough to license or buy them as well as create some of my own products to sell.  As soon as my to do list gets crossed off with new websites, blog etc, I will be sure to let you know. 

In the meantime its only 76 days till Christmas and I have some Christmas Cards just loaded up in my online shops (over there on the right ) 

Nice to blog you again ! 

Lest We Forget

Learning German & WIP

Last week I was contacted for a custom order from Switzerland from a lovely girl named Rahel, I really enjoyed learning the translation for her 30th birthday invitation, her party is in June and I will also be designing a range of party decorations for her as well, which is something I have been meaning to do for ages anyway to match the invites. Looking forward to seeing photos of her party its in an old mill, sounds amazing, if I win lotto Rahel, think I might gate crash your party myself !

Some poster prints designed for some little munchkins I know...

And a design I did for a competition

Happy Easter Blogger's

Finally, the Easter Bunny should be coming tonight, if you have been good that is ! 

Table preparations before bed took     F.. O.. R.. E.. V.. E.. R     by Master 4, 

think its all in place after much consideration and moving around,

 display of arts and craft collected, 

even a test bite of the carrot was done

Next stop..  fast asleep !

Happy Easter Bloggers

Easter Freebie !

EASTER FREEBIE ! 

Well how excited was I when the Easter Bunny asked me to design a letter for him this year, he sent a special letter to my son Sam yesterday in the post and how very excited was the little munchkin that the Easter Bunny even knew about his swimming.


So as the Easter Bunny is so busy making and wrapping he has asked me to giveaway some letters, all you have to is join/follow my blog, add a comment and I will send you the file via email. (If you are already a follower, just leave a comment)


PS: if you are new to blogger, make sure you put in your email address in your profile so I can send you the file, if you dont want to share as public on your settings, please email me directly at inmypencilcase@hotmail.com otherwise I wont be able to contact you.


The giveaway will finish midday Thursday 5th April 2012.


This is the file you will receive via email pdf format ready to print on A4, (without the watermark) of course,  pop it in an envelope and post it or leave it out for your special someone to find. 

And this is the personal letter the Easter Bunny posted to Sam !

Happy Easter everyone !

Printers Drawers

My local shops recently opened a second hand shop its chock a block full of "good stuff".  I found these drawers and was so excited when the owner explained that they were from an old printing factory, made from kauri with brass handles and little metal label holders, I was in love, my heart was beating with treasure hunt success ! Looking around for the actual cabinet the owner advised me that there is no cabinet it was thrown away by the man he got the drawers from.  Aaaahhhh, that saying one persons trash is anothers treasure comes to mind. 


Anyway I still loved them and remembering a cool idea a friend recently did with a drawer on her wall, here, I went ahead and bought them.  One for the sprogs room, one for my art room and one is going to my friend that I stole the idea off. 

I had to give them a good clean.

Made with Wire

I love working with wire, I have made a few things over the years with wire and quite like starting with a pack of straight pieces and a vague idea to see what eventuates.

With all the bird cages and lampshade frames in vogue at the moment it inspired me to make something today for a besties daughter who is turning 5 next month.  My friend is coming for a flying visit and stay on the weekend, so an opportunity to get her to take something home made back on the plane, I forgot about customs so I had to undo a bit and take off the stick that was on the birds perch.

My little guy had a great time with his and whipped it up in less than five minutes,  he also did the frame for the bird perch for mine as he told me I was a bit slow at arts and crafts and needed a hand from him... thanks Sam, I was actually very impressed with your work at only 4 years of age !

Here is Sams ! named Alfie after his cousins bird who flew away one day

A couple of wire pieces I made a few years ago.