Sorry I've been busy

Well! We used to import signs into the UK from China - took ages, wasn't ethical, cost loads by the time you added on all the additional costs.  SO I tried to find a supplier in the UK - no luck - everyone was dead expensive or crap. So we have bought the kit to produce signs in house and they are fabulous - slightly rustic, made of wood, made by us AND we can put anything on them.  Had some funny requests already (who am I to question).  Loads of wholesale orders flying out with a few new big projects in the pipeline.  Including me being asked to design for a huge sporting event (oooh - can't tell you who or when or why just yet).  Then its Christmas - all our Christmas stock is now in the warehouse (the gnomes are all busy packing up big big orders)!! Our expansion continues with the National brand - eeeeh just enough time for wine (occasionally)!

My New Geordie Poetry Range!! YIPPEEEE

The collaboration between creative writer Matt Reilly from Low Fell and Jo Burrows (Bykerlass) strangely enough from Byker, created this amazing range of cards and gifts which have already been purchased by most of the leading retailers in the North East.
The range is printed on heavy 300gsm card is larger in size than our regular cards and is printed with a satin finish. The cards are pure quality for both design and wording any recipient wouldn’t be disappointed. They are available to purchase at £2.75 free P&P from our website.

Here’s some info about Jo and Matt
How long have you been working on this range? Jo: Well I have to say that we initially talked about this idea in October 2013 but I was up to my neck in Christmas orders so we started properly in January. Matt has been really quick to respond to briefs but I have had to fit this range in around my other products and business activity.
Matt: I have written rhymes for cards for friends and family for years, and have been an admirer of Jo’s cards and gifts for a long time, so it has been great to bring those two things together in our collaboration on this range.
Is this range going to develop further? Jo: We have more products and cards in the same ilk which are lovely and will be ready for Christmas (watch this space). We also have another region of dialect inspired poems to publish too! (We’ve been really busy)
Matt: In a word ... Yes! It’s a really fun range to work on, and Jo and I work really well together, so I’m looking forward to developing this range (and the other regions) even further.
Whose work do you most admire in your given field?
Jo: I love Caroline Gardner. I love the way she stays classy and keeps innovating whilst everyone else is behind her trying to keep up. I really try to model myself on her each time my work gets “interpreted” it makes me dig deep and innovate with new products and ideas.
Matt: I have two inspirations when it comes to writing rhymes for cards: the comedian and writer Spike Milligan, and Purple Ronnie’s creator Giles Andreae. I’ve always loved the type of poetry that appeals to everyone, from eight-year-olds to 108-year-olds, rather than the really cryptic stuff I read at college. For that reason, I wouldn’t call myself a poet. I’m a creative writer who loves to write daft rhymes! Even so, I take my work very seriously.
What’s the most difficult part of creating the cards?
Jo:  For me its doing Matts lovely words justice and choosing the right look and feel - I still need my customers to recognise my design style whilst offering something new and innovative.
Matt: It might sound obvious, but the most difficult part for me is finding the right words. I can write rhymes quickly and easily, but it’s never my aim to just write a rhyme. I’m always trying to write the perfect rhyme, with the perfect rhythm. I’m really happy when I find that rhyme and rhythm combination. I love all of the cards Jo and I have collaborated on, but there are a couple of them that I’m really proud of.
What is your usual creative process?
Matt: Jo will send me a creative brief, outlining a Geordie word or phrase that she wants to use on a card. Then it’s ‘thinking cap’ time! I approach the writing in different ways depending on where I am: I usually jot things down in a notebook, but sometimes things come to you in the most random of places. One rhyme came to me almost fully formed when I was sat on the Metro, as it crossed the River Tyne, so I quickly typed it as a message on my phone and sent it to myself! When I’m happy with the rhyme then I’ll send it across to Jo so she can work her design magic!
Jo: I usually look at the words and match a look or image to the words - if its a celebration the artwork needs to be joyous for instance.  I usually have a specific look in my mind before I start designing a new range.
What draws you to creating these regional dialect cards?
Jo:   I love my accent and love quirky words and love being able to celebrate accents (not just Geordie) in a positive way - being proud of where you are from is a great British trait.
Matt: I spent my early years in Manchester, so when I moved up to north-east England it was like learning a new language. As a writer, you can’t help but fall in love with a region that has such a rich vocabulary all of its own. When you look at them, Geordie words and phrases lend themselves perfectly to rhyming. I feel like these rhymes are my chance to pay tribute to the place I now call home.

Click here to see Matt’s website – www.mattreilly.com – he is available for commissions and collaborations.

Rosie and Radish

Had a GREAT week last week seeing customer being told how fabulous my work is in the sunshine with my Mam - eating cake and drinking coffee! Whats not to like??   Had a chance to meet up with two fellow designers who have an amazing brand called Rosie and Radish.  We are totally kindred spirits and have a mutual appreciation of each others work.  Check them oot at www.rosieandradish.com

New Biz card

So next week is a big big week for me and our biz. Presentations to big big buyers (Dragons Den and the Apprentice meets Geordie Shore)....  so I did a new biz card in honor usually I NEVER have them as I think they are a bit crap but thought as I should get some done.  I think they look fine without being corporate. Oooooh fingers xd it will all go well...

Yorkshire Speak Range

Our fabulous Yorkshire Speak range is now in loads of lovely shops all across Yorkshire. Its been in production since January this year so it seems like its been about for a really long time. 
Had lots of dialect help from fellow designer Dawn Machell http://dawnmachell.co.uk/ as she is a Yorkshire lass and was pushing for us to do a Yorkshire range.
The influences for this range are pretty apparent. It combines lovely retro colours and textures along with hand drawn fonts. It is stylish and humorous together. As ever the whole range was made in the UK.
It consists of high quality melamine coasters, beautiful large ceramic mugs and cards. There is a textile element being added so watch this space!

We HEART this range totally its REYT GUD!

Famis

Had a big spike in twitter activity yesterday.  Steph McGovern from BBC Breakfast business tweeted a picture of loads of my cards she had bought in Newcastle.  She has 75,000 followers so I got some really nice tweets about my work (ahhhh) nice to be appreciated.  Chris Ramsey the comedian is a friend of a friend and he liked his Best Daddy in Hebburn card (in the TV show he became a Dad)!
Soooo I'm now available for red carpet events should anyone wish to hire me!! haha!

Jingle bells.....

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas - well not really outside but inside we are surrounded by snowy scenes, penguins and polar bears.  We are just putting together our Christmas 14 product line up and its looking mighty good!  hohoho!
We also have an exciting new range coming out very soon too and have collaborated with an amazingly talented writer to produce this jaw dropping collection (honestly its that good) even our printers who NEVER comment on any work said how much they all love it!  Watch this space.....