An Autumn Day in the Park

I am VERY excited to share with you the first few images from the shoot in October for the A/W collection, with my fantastic team of talented friends.

Photography by Alexander Petricca. Make-Up by Emma Wray. Modelled by Talulah.

 Thanks guys, you're the best!

Autumn-Winter Collection Is Here!

Hello again! It's been a while I know, but I've been squirrelled away in my work room getting my new collection ready, and finally it's all listed in my Etsy shop!
I've previewed it on my Facebook page, and at the few markets I've had recently and it's been very well received, so I'm super excited to make it available to everyone now. The prints I've picked for this collection are perfect for the cooler weather and longer nights, lots of dark florals, warm reds, plum, navy, and popping yellow and cerise for a flash of colour. I'm also very pleased to have collaborated with my friend Alex on the photo's for the new collection, I'm sure you'll agree the product shots are perfect, and I can't wait to show you all the lifestyle shoot, so watch this space!

Reef Knot Cuff in Elysian

Josephine Knot Cuff in Ros

Eight Knot Bracelet in Mirabelle

Reef Knot Bracelet in Thorpe

Re-designed for A/W - Josephine Knot Bracelet in Milla.

Hoop Drop Earrings in Thorpe

Knot Drop Earrings in Milla

Button Stud Earrings in Ros

Eight Knot Necklace in Thorpe

Reef Knot Necklace in Ros

Eight Knot Pendant in Elysian

Josephine Knot Necklace in Mirabelle

And if last season's brights are more your thing they're still available through Etsy with 40% off!

Outside The Frame

I'm not as organised with my Christmas stock as I was last year (when I began in July...) so I've been racing through a few new ideas to get them into my Etsy shop and to other stockists as soon as possible. Yesterday I whipped up a batch of these kanzashi flower decorations;

When it comes to my product shots I have a go to set up of:

•  Big A2 sheet of off-white paper blu-tacked to the wall so it falls into a curve against the dining room table.
• Sheet of white foamboard to bounce back light and reduce shadows.
• Camera set on 'macro'.
• As much natural light as possible, but not too much, and only from a certain direction, and not too bright. 
• Everything else can be fixed in Photoshop. Usually. Unless I've done a really bad job.

After a brief forage around Etsy this morning for Christmas decorations generally I came to the conclusion this category, more than any other, is full to the brim with shabby looking photos of what may or may not be shabby work. Determined not to fall into this trap I did the only sensible thing and snuffled round the shrubbery outside the flat for a goodly sized twig.

I know decorations are best shown hanging up, obviously, but I've not had any photos 'in situ' for any of mine for the past couple of years. Why? No idea. What I do know is that I don't like product shots of ornaments hanging on an actual Christmas tree, I know it should make sense, but I think it looks too heavy and cluttered, and a plain white or grey background will always win you brownie points with treasury curators.

Keeping my set-up much as I would use normally I rested my branch at either end on a vase, with my paper backdrop where it usually is, and Catsby where he usually is, right in the f***ing way.

Pesky felines aside I'm quite pleased with the results, not perfect but a good starting point. You can see how there is still a lot of space around the ornaments so it doesn't feel too busy, but it adds a wintery feel and shows them off as they would look on your tree. Having many branches gives lots of options for hanging things so you can create some depth in multiple shots.

I tried it out on a few of my old designs too so I can keep it consistent across the shop.

For muffs, a slightly different/precarious arrangement;

So, a multi-purpose twig, what every Etsy seller should have to hand, perhaps you know someone who might need one too? It's a budget friendly gift idea!