Christmas is SOOOOO last season

Its so hard being a designer and a mother at Christmas time as I really don't want my lovely white and pale grey house being polluted with a load of shiney red and green tat.  Unfortunately I can usually cope with it over the festive period by drinking lots of wine!  Today it was so cleansing to put all the Valentine stuff on our websites and remove all the Christmas stuff!  Now I just have a couple more days and I can get my home back to being calm and tranquill...........

Local Business Accelerator Competition

What a funny old week.  First of all I have made some monumental mistakes this week.  Like finding my mobile phone in the school carpark - even though I hadn't realised I'd lost it.  Like sending an order of 70 cards out to a new customer - without any envelopes.  Like forgetting how to start my new car (its automatic and you have to press the brake).  DOH! Jane my business partner said I'm on my last warning haha! I think its because of Christmas and all the stuff you have to try and cram in. ANYWAY.... our GeordieMugs business got shortlisted for the Government Business Accelerator Competition where they find business and help them grow quicker to aid the economy and create jobs. Have a look at the link below. Fingers xd - we'd LOVE the free advertising which goes with this prize as it fits right in with our promotional strategy for next year!  Ooohheerr!
http://www.newsguardian.co.uk/news/business/latest-news/nine_chosen_in_business_competition_1_4044176

Merry Christmas From GeordieMugs

My Christmas illustration for our customers and shops (ho ho ho) I think I may need to listen to some Christmas music as I feel particularly unfestive at the moment - maybe because I'm designing our Valentines range at the moment!!

OOOh MTV

Oooh we got a job to do some Christmas cards for MTV Geordieshore - how fab. This is the inside of the card, can't show you the outer work for obvious reasons!!  Nice to work for such a trendy brand!

Paper Mache Time

There never seems to be time to do anything I want to do and I never get the time to paint these days.  I'm either designing for my business or doing DIY on the house.  So I decided to do something I wanted this weekend and also make something for my friend Katie as a Christmas pressie. So here's Buster my paper mache dog.  Katie is like me and LOVES dogs - he looks so cool I will be reluctant to see him rehomed.  Fortunately I know Katie will treat him very well!

New Teatowel has arrived HURRAH

Our fantastic 3 colour teatowel has arrived - its uber posh on heavy unbleached premium cotton. and is lush retailing at £9.99 and free postage! We've had to reorder more Whey Aye Man mugs too as they've sold out.  Its hard to estimate how many we need of each product! Its all good!

Scouse Stuff Opening 2012

New venture for us. Due to the success of our GeordieMugs stuff we are now designing for our mates in Liverpool.  The website www.scousestuff.co.uk has been purchased and a holding page has been put up.  Its due to start trading in January 2012.  The world will be mine mmmwwhhahahha!

New Coasters and stuff!

Yesterday we received our fantastic high quality melamine coasters - we are so pleased with them and think they'll sell really well as they are so easy to post. Its been a great week for us at GeordieMugs as we have now got even more new shops to supply and the Christmas sales are off the scale!!
I've had time to do some work for my lovely agent too this week so enjoyed doing some fab new Christmas card designs.

Christmas Stuff now on sale!

Had an overwhelming response already to the new Geordie Christmas cards which went on sale last week.  These two designs are by far the most popular (theres 12 designs in total).  Our little Geordie Empire is going from strength to strength - we estimate we've sold 24,000 (yep thats twenty four thousand) Geordie cards since 1st February this year - not to mention the mugs, teatowels and postcards.  Can you believe it???  We have some big plans for next year so again I'm back to the drawing board working on top secret stuff again!

GeordieMugs Have Moved!

We've moved (well I haven't I'm still in Hampshire) but our office in Newcastle has.  Now got LOADS of space to store all the masses of stock which is coming in for Christmas!! GEET IN!

New Hoose New Design!

Had to redesign the new hoose card as our fabulous new printers who print our cards were having problems with the old design and this one is much nicer anyway! Busy busy as usual at Geordiemugs this week. I don't know where the time goes! Great to be childfree for a few hours each day now my son has returned to school! Yippeeee!

New Mug New Design

This is a new design I've been working on which has now had an official copyright lodged so I can show it off.  It basically says GrEat sense of humOuR frienDly wIth a warm hEart (spelling out Geordie).  Totally lush!!

Ooh and this is my new 18th Birthday card design! Makes me laugh... oh to be 18 again!

New Geordie Tea Towels are on their way!

Oooh here they are the new GeordieMugs Tea towels.  These will be available the buy from 12th September.  They are exceptional quality  - unbleached cotton 79cm x 50cm so are really big.  They will retail for £5.99 each or a pack of three from us for £15!  We've spent ages trying to find a manufacturer in the UK who could produce a quality product as theres loads who do "cheap" rubbish but thats not what we are about.  We figure if we sell a product we need our customers to be 100% happy with their purchase. want.  We are very pleased with them!! http://www.geordiemugs.co.uk/

More of my Space Boy Stuff

 

I honestly work everyday designing stuff but can't really show you ANYTHING as its all under wraps until Christmas.  Or I'm doing like I did today which is resize millions of illustrations to send to our printers who are now printing all our cards. So heres some new products I found on RJStones website of more products featuring my space illustration.  I love the suitcases!! Think I may have to get some myself. Have put a link on the images to their website.  Right back to my top secret work......

Going Home...... Newcastle!!

Back from holidays but no rest for me. Off to Newcastle (my very favourite city in the whole world) to see with MY OWN EYES the displays of my designs in Waterstones and Fenwicks and our other lovely stores we supply. Jane my biz partner sees them all the time and I'm yet to see them so looking forward to that. Always nice to see your work in store or someone wearing something you've designed! When I designed for M&S it used to happen almost daily! I drew this piccy above a few weeks ago and have it framed in my office. Can't wait to see me Mam and Dad and drink wine with Jane! LUSH MAN LUSH!

New Geordie Designs Nana and Granda



Heres the latest in the Geordie collection - I really like the composition of the Nana card.  I did a radio interview this week on BBC Radio Newcastle as I'd been selected as a positive role model (ooerr).  Didn't get chance to get nervous as they literally rang me up and then put me on air! Great PR though.  Still loads going on with the whole Geordie Empire new products are now designed and ready for manufacture.  Count down to Christmas - apparently its only 150 days away! haha!

Thanks Teacher - New Geordie Card Design

I was designing some leaving presents for my sons teachers as its approaching the end of term and came up with this little Geordie card design.  Oops I'm supposed to be doing Christmas designs!

So much stuff going on

Sooooo much stuff going on. Everyday I'm designing Christmas stuff but can't show you any of the new work as its all hush hush ITS TOTALLY LUSH!!  Heres a design I did last week which Jane (my biz partner) begged me not to market straight away as we have had so many orders to fulfill without adding more! We've been doing lots of work with manufacturers for our new gift range which will add a whole dimension to what we do.  Also been approached by another BIG HIGH STREET store (can't say who just yet) who want our stuff so its manic!! Still manage to paint/decorate/walk dog/be a mummy/wife/drink wine/ and see friends Phew!!

Geordie Mugs is having a HOLLIBOB

Geordiemugs are off on holidays! Yippee - basically Jane my biz partner is off on holidays but I'll be running the retail side for a while whilst drinking wine at home! Currently working on Christmast designs at home - will show you more once the whole range is done! Got more and more stores on board now its all going really well. We are DEEED HAPPY!

Life is bizarre!

Life is strange - for the first time I've got a mega sucessful business and live in a georgeous huge house and have a lovely family. The downside is illness and death all around. My hubby has had an op for skin cancer and is recovering (and will be ok) and our friend died (suddenly aged 44) which was a big shock. So I'm embracing everything positive right now! Onwards and upwards! Christmas designs currently being worked on right now its ALL GOOD!

Cheers Man Geordie Card - THUMBS UP!

Really nice to revisit some of the early designs and revise them to bring them more in line with the rest of the range. Life has been really tough lately with illness and a lovely friend passing away suddenly, makes me happy to be able to do something sunny and happy again - so pleased to have such a lovely family and amazing biz partner and of course fab customers! Onwards and upwards with a BIG THUMBS UP! xx

Shy Bairns Get Nowt New Card Design

New Shy Bairns Get Nowt card design amended design to match mug as requested by our customers! Back from my holidays now to a storm of Geordie Love - blimey the sales are off the scale - I'm honestly not complaining. 

Shy Bairns Get Nowt New Geordie Mug and other newness

New stuff on our website including our fantabulous new Shy Bairns Get Nowt Mug which means Shy children get nothing. Meaning if you don’t go for it you’ll end up with nothing Its kind of a Geordie Mantra and something that helped when me and Jane were setting up the Geordie Biz.  It looks better in real life (a bit like myself hehe!)

Fab Feature www.cardandgiftblog.blogspot.com

(Click on the image to see the blog)  Totally fantastic feature today of my GeordieMugs work in the lovely card and gift blogspot.  Very happy - seems we are getting Geordie love everywhere these days! Nice to be appreciated!

New Design

Just revised a design as the old design wasn't selling too well - it was dark in colour. Love this one fits in well with the rest of the range too.  Ramped up production now.  Printing is now taking place in Geordieland so  been getting that all sorted this week.  Didn't get through to the finals of the Entrepeneurs challenge but did get a full page feature in a newspaper from it which has led to a new customer.  We are currently selling around 4500 cards per month now which is mad isn't it?  More still to follow.....

More Geordie card designs

Another busy week - really great one for design - firstly me and Jane got our first massive order through for Waterstones the book shops so are supplying them in the NE now!  YIPPEE  More new designs are being requested all the time so heres the latest ones (Cleva and Gannin) can't believe we've now got 34 cards in the range (not including the seasonal cards) - only started with four designs originally!  Had to squeeze in a couple of stationery designs for my lovely agent Rory for Surtex next weekend in New  York.  Phew! Totally love it - closing date for IWCYC (Entrepeneurs challenge) is today so fingers xd we'll be shortlisted! ITS ALL GOOD!

My Space Designs!

How fab - just noticed that a piece of work I did last year for RJB Stone is now out as a big cushion and a little alien cushion. RJB Stone are the lovely people who brought the owl cushion which has sold loads all over the world and been copied over and over.  Hope my stuff does as well!
Have a look at http://www.rjbstone.com/section.php/51/1/space___aeroplanes_and_rockets

Kips Birthday Invites!

Had a design consultation with a very difficult client today - my almost 9 year old son, for his birthday party invite - must be mad having the kids for a sleepover too.  Must remember to stock up on extra rose wine for that night!!  As usual the Geordie stuff is taking up lots of time and I really should be designing for Surtex (May 15th in NY) but just can't seem to find enough hours in the day! Looking forward to watching the Royal Wedding tomorrow!  Have fun y'all!

Geordie Mugs Business plan!

Our video about our business plans!! hehe!  We had a laugh making it!

Fathers Day (June 19th 2011)

Had to get this design done this week so we can get our new catalogue printed as theres been loads of new designs added to the range.  Its a really exciting time for Geordie mugs as we are filming a video this weekend all about our business, AND we've got a BIG BIG BIG High Street Store (who contacted us) about to start stocking our stuff!! Can't say who it is til its all signed sealed and delivered!  Oh and we are going to be featured in the Journal sometime in the next week!  FAB FM!!!  It is incredibly hard work but me and Jane LOVE IT! As ever this work has been copyrighted to stop thieving fat gits knicking our designs!

New Geordie Anniversary Card

Heres my new Geordie Anniversary card - we get loads of requests for different types of cards but Anniversary has been requested over and over again so thought I'd better do one.  I think its cute!

Sick Child + Being a Designer = Stress!

JEEZAZ WHAT A WEEK!  My eight year old son has been really poorly with tonsilitis - me being the fantastic mother I am sent him to school THEN took him to the docs! His temperature was really high - not as high as mine was when I realised I had all the Geordie stuff to print, plus sort out quotes, website to update. Oh and I was also trying to get some work ready for the Print Source show in New York this weekend!!  Getting enormous positive feedback on Twitter for all things Geordie and GeordieMugs have entered the If WE CAN YOU CAN entrepreneurs challenge too.I'm now getting ready to have a fab weekend with my old mate Michelle down in Kent!! - GIN OCLOCK I THINK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ooh cards in bundles are now on the http://www.geordiemugs.co.uk/ retail website!

To Me Dad Geordie Birthday Card

Had a rethink about using the word Faather as its a bit wrong!  And I actually don't know anyone who uses it so had a chat with Jane and came up with this.  Geordie still but much nicer!  Busy week in Geordiemugs - on a tread mill but getting lots of support and loads more new shops and tourist offices stocking our stuff so its all good.

New How To Speak Geordie Postcards

Just been waiting for the copyright to come through for these new designs (theres more in the pipeline too) which are to be my new range of Geordie Postcards due to be on sale in a months time at all the shops we (Geordiemugs) supply in the North East.  The Nick Az design has already proved to popular with friends and family and I think these will do really well!

Busy Busy week!

Done a story of t-shirt placements for my agent this week for the 11-14 boy age group - its a hard area to design for - my 8 year old son (going on 20) said he liked my designs so hopefully they'll sell.  This is one of the designs in the sketch stage as I can't show you the finished work for copyright reasons.  Geordie wise things are going from strength to strength now that we secured a big contract with Newcastle Tourism.  Its all work work work right now but am enjoying it so so much - was Jane my biz partners birthday too!  I'm so happy to be working with someone so motivated and efficient!

Bonny Lad and Bonny Lass

Been really busy this week already with new designs, website, meetings and production of the Geordie stuff which is selling so so well now!  Learning by listening to our customers about what they want to see next so heres the latest requested designs.  Copyrighted now so able to show!  Enjoy!

Geordie 18th Card

Can't seem to make any decisions about colour today - and have changed this design about 50 times.  Anyway here it is the finished 18th card for all Geordies.  May resurrect my Happy 16th Birthday Mam design too!!

Fine Art Stuff

My hubby was a bit upset to see that non of my paintings are on line anymore since I took down my website, so I thought I'd put a few up as they aren't in galleries at the moment. This one is called Grannies house (75 x 50cm mixed media).  I will at some point do another exhibition when I get a mo.  Itching to paint at the moment just no darn time! I'll put somemore paintings up when I get a mo.

Geordie 21st!

Heres the new 21st Birthday Geordie Card design.  Keep being asked for more "age" Birthday card.  Still working on the 18th card.  Half term here so have child and dog in background distracting me!

Geordie stuff is taking over the world....

This card is our best selling Geordie card at the moment. Only been on sale for two weeks now and already having reorders from the shops we supply in the North East.  YIPPEEE!! Got a big hot new design up my sleeve for new mugs. Will show it once the copyright is lodged!!

Its Christmas (AGAIN)

Doing more Christmas cards for my agent to take to New York!  Todays work has been a bit bizarre - really not back into it after my operation.  Can't show you todays work as its not finished - heres a piece I did before Christmas (in December 2010) which is currently doing the rounds!

Nana Knee

Had an operation on my knee yesterday so am suffering today.  Will be back to work on Monday when I will be designing Christmas cards for my agent!!  I'm a rubbish patient!

Mam's Day (Mothers day) is coming

All Geordie girls love their Mams and I'm no different so heres my Mothers Day design for the Geordie range.  I like it as its funky with the Rob Ryan paper cut influence and still kinda pretty!  Another weekend approaches - have achieved loads this week having my biz partner Jane here with me.  Got some exciting stuff about to happen but am sworn to secrecy (for now).......

New Geordie Designs

New Geordie designs now on sale at my websites http://www.geordiemugs.com/ and http://www.geordiemugs.co.uk/
Its all gannin canny!!  Working on more to tailor with requests from our shops!

Little Red Riding Hood

Theres lots of the Little Red Riding Hood story coming through in the shops now.  Heres an illustration I drew a few months back for a commission for RJB Stone.  Lots of gifts have now been made with this artwork just waiting for them to hit the shops.  Having a bit of a "Funny Friday" as my printer has gone wild and only printing with massive stripes so have decided to do some research today. Have a great weekend XX 
THIS WORK IS COPYRIGHT RJBSTONE LTD!!