Nicola Pearson

New Etsy Print...

2012-02-11T13:57:00.005Z

hello all, happy weekend! My new little lion print is now available in my Etsy shop here. He can be personalised to any little persons name you wish! and will hopefully be coming soon as a BIG poster - currently A3 so quite big already! Was jolly hard getting any good photo's this morning on this gloomy dull day :(

*design and images are copyright owned by Nicola Pearson 2012*

Button Box Cards Shop

2012-02-03T16:56:00.003Z

My friend and colleague Elise, who owns the lovely Button Box Cards, has now opened her Etsy shop! Go over and take a look ... here is the link... Button Box Cards Etsy

**PLEASE NOTE ALL IMAGES AND DESIGNS ARE COPYRIGHT OWNED BY BUTTON BOX CARDS**

Wedding Invitation Photo...

2012-02-02T10:29:00.003Z

I pinched this one back from my mum to photograph to show you. These were the finished article with neon pink ribbon :) I like neon pink! It's very on trend it seems at the moment, but I would just like to take this opportunity to say... I have always liked it :) thank you and toodle pip :)

Wedding Stationery

2012-01-12T12:46:00.010Z

I don't think in the rush of everything going on last year that I ever posted my wedding stationery for you to see...
So then... here it is!
It was hard work - even harder when it's for yourself I think! It was worth all the hard work looking back, hours spent printing, cutting, running out of ink, running out of paper, ordering more... again, packaging and glue- ing ribbons! would say I'd love to do it all again... but erm... actually no, if I did I'd sent it all off to the printers!
I'm afraid that in the rush to get them all sent out that I didn't have any photos of the invitation as a finished product :( shame... they were in a soft grey envelope with a contrast skinny pink neon ribbon to keep it all together! One day I'll re create one for a pic! I was really pleased with them. I am working on some for a friends wedding at the moment (it's going to the printers needless to say!)

My Gym Girls...

2012-01-12T12:23:00.002Z

On a water bottle... tee hee!
This project was for HS group fitness, and I hear the boot camps are well and truly underway!

Spring Ranges

2012-01-12T12:02:00.004Z

I know it's still the depths of winter here in the UK, but not as brrrrrrrrrr... cold as it usually is around these parts anyway! Hooray! But they're here... slowly but surely creeping in... the SPRING fashion ranges! We're also full steam ahead with the trends for SS13 here in design land so it's all go- never stops... well only for lunch and sleeping now and then!
Here is one of my new boys tee shirt graphics and knit pattern design completed for the Mamas and Papas babywear new season. I know I say it EVERY time but the little models look so good and are so well styled, just beautiful! You can see the full ranges and BUY THEM here.
First up... boyswear!... Little Westerner theme...
I will update on some girls and more trendy boys over the coming weeks...

**PLEASE NOTE ALL DESIGNS AND IMAGE COPYRIGHTS BELONG FULLY TO MAMAS AND PAPAS **

2012-01-05T16:06:00.001Z

Sailing towards the new year...

2011-12-27T14:38:00.003Z

Lovely hot air balloon graphic tee shirt for Ted Baker girls... more to come for the spring! You can buy it here at Debenhams.

2011-12-23T14:18:00.001Z

It's a work/cat balance...

2011-12-15T15:39:00.008Z

Seeing as THIS...... is what I have to contend with each day to get my work done...
and I'd seen these recently on the internet ...tee hee ...
... and todays choice of seat was...I thought well if you can't beat 'em... join 'em hey!...
sorry lulu!... you can just about see some little paddy feet in amongst the fluff!

a little Christmas present... for me!

2011-12-14T10:21:00.004Z

I love stumbling across wonderful little gems of genius on my daily travels through this vast thing called t'internet (where I come from it is) , so was so chuffed to find Katie Ruby's blog via my favourite website of the moment (after pinterest!) society 6. Her illustrations are gorgeous. I have treated myself to this one 'the Lady of the Ocean', loving the 'musical facial hair' print also. If you like the look of Katie's work too, visit her blog here to see some more of her lovely and interesting work.
*Images and designs copyright owned by Katie Ruby*

Last week for any posted Christmas wrap orders...

2011-12-11T11:58:00.004Z

Hello all, just a quick note, the Christmas paper has been proving very popular! Please make any of your final orders by 16th December (this Friday) to make sure you get it in good time for Christmas. I have reduced the price as a **SPECIAL OFFER** for all the last minute shoppers (of which I am always one!) Thanks all for your interest in my work it's always lovely to hear that people appreciate what you do! Link to my ETSY shop here.

Santa needs a pay rise...

2011-12-08T14:03:00.002Z

Holly Berry has just opened her online shop and I really do feel that her 'love' blanket (it spells out love in morse code in it's weave- how clever is that!!) would feel very at home and very welcome at my house! sigh...
I better get saving up, then maybe lulu* could buy me one for Christmas next year! ;)

*lulu is my cat

Crafty Christmas...

2011-12-07T00:00:00.002Z

...as well as my Christmas wrapping paper I have been crafting away for the fairs I am doing this month... these are the tree decorations I have hand printed and stitched! They went down well at the craft market last week. I love adding quirky decorations to my tree and making it a collection of all sorts of the weird and wonderful and all different bright colours mixed together. We don't have our tree yet... so some sticks we collected on a woodland walk last week in a jar are standing in for the time being :)

It's there!....

2011-11-30T12:32:00.005Z

My quality 100% recycled Christmas wrapping papers have now been fully stocked up in my Etsy store HERE. ALL DESIGNED BY ME AND PRINTED IN THE U.K
Please see the post below too for extra pictures!... ho ho ho!

My Wrapping Paper has arrived!... Merry Xmas is allowed to start!

2011-11-30T11:04:00.007Z

...albeit months after the arrival of everything Christmas to our high streets, my nikkipea wrapping paper in two of my designs has arrived! woo hoo! and will be available to buy on my Etsy shop very soon (hopefully today if I get my skates on with things!) and will also be for sale at the craft fairs I am taking part in over the next few weeks. I am very pleased with it indeed! Please have a peek, I hope you like it! Its a high quality matte finish print on 100% FSC standard recycled paper. Designed by me and printed in the U.K.

**Please note design is copyright owned by Nicola Pearson 2011**

Craft Market...

2011-11-29T12:38:00.004Z

If anyone is in or around the Huddersfield area on Thursday evening please drop by our craft market at the Nightingale Pub, 75 Acre street, Lindley, HD3 3DZ. There will be lots o' gorgeous items on sale from Button Box Cards, Butterscotch Beige, Jewellery, Original paintings, Crafty bits, Christmas decorations and art prints from yours truly! Hope to see you there and spread the word! :) I will post some pics of what I have been making (apart from a mess at home!) very soon!

Brown bears, bunnies and funnies

2011-11-10T17:23:00.005Z

They do like to dance to a bit of Roni Size

Just some of my old designs ... have been having a clear out from the portfolio and some of these were never used but I still like them... thought I'd share a few with you!
**Copyright belongs to Nicola Pearson 2011**

Embroidered Penguin

2011-11-09T14:30:00.003Z

I always love Penguins new and exciting book collections and these are no exception. The original designs depicting Black Beauty, Emma and The Secret Garden were embroidered by Jillian Tamaki taking her 2 months! they look amazing. you can buy them in the UK at penguin when they are released for sale. With my current new found interest in horse riding again after a ten year gap I think the Black Beauty edition will be on my xmas list!

Winter Babes...

2011-10-26T19:04:00.004+01:00

It's that time of the year again... for wrapping up warm and getting cosy! But of course trying to stay ever so stylish whilst doing it! These are the new baby boy and girl limited edition ranges from Mamas and Papas, which I designed the prints and embroideries/ patterns for. I always feel very proud seeing them in the catalogue photoshoots with these real little cuties showing them off oh so well! Please follow the link here to M and P if you wish to buy.
**please note that all copyrights of designs and images belong to Mamas and Papas fully**

Boot Campers!

2011-10-24T20:34:00.003+01:00

I illustrated these two little ladies for part of a re- branding project by Steve Rowe Graphic Design for HS group fitness, who run fitness programmes and boot camp for women in West Yorkshire. I am really pleased with them and excited to hear that they will be making an appearance on lots of goodies and promo material for HS group fitness in the near future!

happy weekend all...

2011-10-21T18:35:00.002+01:00

Print and Pattern Book 2

2011-10-15T11:31:00.004+01:00

I'm in it!! ... look there's my name just there!... Yipeeee! I have been looking forward to seeing this all year! I have never been in a book before, so I feel very proud to have been featured in Bowie Style's Print Pattern book 2! If you get chance to have a flick through the book it really is beautiful with gorgeous full colour spreads from some of my favourite artists and designers such as Rob Ryan, Beci Orpin, Chamo, and Niamh Smith to name but only a few! Thank you print and pattern!

Spotted...

2011-09-27T10:03:00.003+01:00

One weird little dude on a skate board, in shutter shades and headphones... one of my paper and cloth characters... in DPAM Paris! tee hee! He looks ace!

Tee hee hee...

2011-09-16T20:18:00.004+01:00

hee hee! I am so chuffed... maybe even 'stuffed' at how this little tee turned out! I REALLY enjoyed doing this one! What could be more fun than decorating innocent woodland animals with silly facial attire!! You can buy the teeshirt here at Peacocks. It's in a red print. This was my original design in blue.

***PLEASE NOTE ALL IMAGES AND DESIGNS ARE COPYRIGHT OWNED BY PEACOCKS***

All grown up!... and out!

2011-08-25T00:00:00.004+01:00

With childrenswear taking up 99.999999 percent of my working life it's so nice to sometimes get the chance to work on other new areas. I have worked on a few prints for maternity wear now with Mamas and Papas and it's been really exciting seeing them come to life in their new A/W 11 catalogue with a lovely bump to fill them out! Here is my favourite from the New Nordic Tales range, you can buy it HERE
**PLEASE NOTE ALL DESIGNS AND IMAGES BELONG TO MAMAS AND PAPAS**

Little Softies

2011-08-23T14:31:00.003+01:00

Been admiring some little soft things on Etsy again. They are most beautiful little creations.
Top Images - by Royalmint
Lower image - by Sian

New Ned in the Etsy shop

2011-08-18T17:08:00.002+01:00

I have added a new print and a new Ned soft character to the shop today after the little Cotton Baked Gang are proving to be quite popular! More to come very soon! Go to the shop HERE
IMAGES AND DESIGNS ALL COPYRIGHT OWNED BY NICOLA PEARSON 2011

Exciting Finds

2011-08-01T14:48:00.009+01:00

TWO wonderful finds REALLY tickled my fancy after doing a bit of research today! ooh! That's good going for a Monday... The first is these gorgeous cushions (above) from Atsuyo Et Akiko based on the original Winnie the Pooh illustrations by AA Milne. They must've proved very popular as all sold out now! I can see why, Winnie the Pooh is such a favourite of mine! I will always remember playing Pooh sticks with my grandad, and it's nice to remember the classic illustrations as well as the disney cartoons.

Soft Gallery

The second is the Danish brand Soft Gallery (above). After working in childrenswear for many years now it is SO refreshing to come accross something so NEW looking and unusual! and just to my tastes a little bit odd and edgey... Perfect!! they do womenswear and accessories also but can't find an online shop to order to the UK. Their mix of the pen and ink illustrated graphics with the folk chunky and metallic embroideries overlaid is just my cup of tea at the moment, so pleased I found them!

Not an early bird!...

2011-07-24T23:40:00.005+01:00

Why is it I always feel awake and at my most creative when it's BEDTIME!! I have been working today so now I just want to chill out and look at blogland when really I need to be asleep for a far away (well farther than my spare room) work day tomorrow :( !!
I've been working on a lovely bird themed design which I can't show yet :( Hopefully one day I will be able to! Whilst researching nice birds I came across one of my old favourites... I've loved Matt Sewell's work since my uni days and even own one of his original works thanks to my lovely friend Abbie, but have for some unknown reason got out of the habit of following his recent work... nice when you re-discover things! Images above and below Bluetit and Secret postcard by Matt Sewell...

Sanna Annuka Postcards...

2011-07-22T18:30:00.002+01:00

I ordered these lovely postcards today from Sanna Annuka's 'Navajo' range. I always love her work and like how these have a very new and fresh look. You can buy them from HERE

oooooooh weddings!

2011-07-22T17:52:00.008+01:00

I am getting REALLY excited for my friends wedding, which is now only 2 weeks away!! yippeeee! Since researching for all that time for my own wedding, I just can't stop looking at all the wonderful blogs and wedding related loveliness over on Etsy. I just love it! Here are some images I just had to 'collect' onto my desktop, thought I would share them. To anyone out there planning their own wedding it is very stressful! but well worth it all in the end! Keep truckin' (as my mum would say)

Items:
Gold dress (unknown)
Twig ring- Colby June
Bird ring - Miranda Chambers
Two wedding dresses - Etsy
Hair flowers - Percyhandmade
Bracelet - Lonkoosh
Blue gold dipped crystal necklace - 443 Jewelry
Quartz double crystal necklace- Novella

Oh no too late!...

2011-07-21T22:35:00.003+01:00

I had my eye on this necklace on Etsy, trying (falling on deaf ears) to hint for my birthday to Stef... but I just checked back and it's GONE, sold, and worst of all a note saying 'last one until further notice'........ oh........ no....
Learned lesson: just buy things for ones self!! I really loved it, I think I thought maybe I'd feel like Supergirl when wearing it! oh well... an excuse to search out some more unusual and lovely jewels instead I suppose... weep!

New Designers Show

2011-07-20T15:24:00.008+01:00

I went down to London a couple of weekends ago and visited the New Designers Exhibition in Islington with my lovely friend Michele. The show exhibits the best of all the UK universities new design graduates from textiles, jewellery, print and ceramic design. I aways enjoy a good nosey and this year there were many fantastic designers to see! These were a few of my favourites...
Miranda Chambers is a jewellery designer and maker from Sheffield Hallam University. I loved her gorgeous bird rings based around the nursery rhyme of "two little dickie birds" Peter and Paul. I love how you can wear the pair to sit together you can buy Mirandas work on her Etsy site HERE* and visit her website HERE*
Jessica J. Long is a textile artist and embroiderer from Yorkshire. I love her traditional use of embroidery techniques combined with a contemporary illustrative look. I'd love to be able to embroider so well! You can see more of Jessica's work at her website HERE*
Michelle Taylor is a ceramic artist from the University of Wolverhampton. It's hard to choose only one of Michelles pieces as a favourite image to show as they are all so cleverly made. I strongly recommend visiting her website to have a closer look at all of her work HERE* She uses a mixture of ceramic, china, textiles and detailed stitching and embroidery. On her website she goes into more detail around the thoughts and emotions behind her work... “I like to provoke thought and stir emotion through a sensitive approach to my art practice ... I use the language of textiles and ceramics as a starting point for examining ideas around loss and memory....”
Very unique and beautiful art work.

**PLEASE REMEMBER ALL IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHT OWNED BY THE INDIVIDUAL ARTIST/ DESIGNER**

Beach boys...

2011-07-19T11:02:00.006+01:00

Unfortunately things don't feel very beach-like at all round these parts ... it's rainy, dull and cooooooold! :( But for any lucky ones off to the sunshine... check out some of my boys trendy-cool board short patterns that are currently for sale at Peacocks!

**PLEASE NOTE ALL GARMENT IMAGES AND PRINTS ARE COPYRIGHT OWNED BY PEACOCKS**

I Raced for Life!...

2011-07-15T17:37:00.005+01:00

I completed my Race for Life on Sunday in 29 minutes and 37 seconds! I was so so so proud of myself as I ran all the way... no sitting, stopping or even walking! This is a real achievement for my being a non runner until the 29th year of my life! It is such an amazing event to take part in to see everyone coming together to raise money for such a great charity, Cancer Research UK. Well done to anyone else who has raced or will be doing this year, you're all brilliant! and thank you to everyone that sponsored me... Bring on next year!

A Word on Shirtiness...

2011-07-12T23:36:00.003+01:00

Another of my graphics in action...
shirty [ˈʃɜːtɪ]

adj shirtier, shirtiest

Slang chiefly Brit bad-tempered or annoyed

[perhaps based on such phrases as to get someone's shirt out to annoy someone]

shirtily adv
shirtiness n

It's all gone a bit Arty...

2011-07-12T18:56:00.007+01:00

Some of the beautiful NEW! autumn/ winter ranges I worked on along with the brilliant Mamas and Papas garment designers. They are available online to buy HERE. Girls range called Artists Muse, Boys range is called Arty workshop.

***PLEASE NOTE ALL IMAGES AND DESIGNS ARE COPYRIGHT OWNED BY MAMAS AND PAPAS***

Some close ups of the graphics! Squirty paint tubes! yeah!

am completely in love with...

2011-07-06T22:45:00.003+01:00

Gorgeous chunky folk and mexican style embroidery at the moment! It has been brewing for a while and it's a full on obsession now... I need to get my embroidery threads out! Loving Aida Coronado's shop on etsy... (photos above)

Faster faster!...

2011-07-05T14:30:00.003+01:00

Turning out to be a bit of a busy one this week, and looks like next week same again... yesterday felt like I was working away so fast to my deadlines but each time I looked at the clock time was going double speed making my work pace that of a slow snail! I really hope that doesn't carry on all week, as it's quite inconvenient!

Kreativ Blogger... 10 things about me!...

2011-06-30T17:56:00.015+01:00

Earlier in the week, I very gratefully received the Kreativ Blogger award from Buttonbox cards, thank you again Elise! So, in keeping with the awards tradition here are 10 things about me before I pass it on...

1. First things first...
I love tea. I drink 2 before I can even start on the day ahead and many more throughout. I remember drinking it as a small child through an orange beaker with a lid which my little sister then inherited. I really do believe that in a crisis a cup of tea holds magical powers. I have tried in the past to drink fruit tea, green tea, chai tea is quite nice, but the good old PG always emerges as the winner for me. I've cut out the sugar though... much better au naturel!

2. I'm a new Mrs...
As well as this being my 30th year of life... eek! I got married this year to a wonderful Mr. We have been going about our little lives together for 7 years now and it felt lovely to make it official. We had the BEST day ever back in April, and we'll treasure it always. I only have to look at the photos to feel a sunny smile brewing and it reminds me how special all my friends and family are.
3. On the run...
Since in life you can't have the good without something coming to trip you up before long then naturally this wonderful year has also been a bit of a rotter too for us. My mum was diagnosed with breast cancer after our wedding and so we've all been a bit in shock and scared but she is so brave and doing so well, she's AMAZING! I am doing the Race for life in a weeks time to raise money for Cancer Research UK and feel so proud that I can actually now run! Training has been hard but worth every minute and every penny raised. I need to come up with a silly pink outfit to wear on the day now!

4. Malaysia on my mind...
After travelling to Malaysia earlier in the year for our honeymoon and I must add, trip of a lifetime! I have been fancying myself as a bit of an amateur photographer as there was just so much to photograph. It's something I'd love to learn more about. Malaysia was such a fantastic place with beautiful wildlife, landscapes, people and not forgetting food! I am even more addicted to chilli, lime, coconut and rice than I was before!! This is the recipe of the moment in our house, from the BBC good food website. There is also, luckily, a fabulous Malaysian restaurant near to us in Manchester called Ning, so am hoping that the Mr. will take me for my birthday! (little hint!) Our Malaysian adventure is never far from my thoughts!

5. Oops... oh no...
I am very clumsy, mainly at home, I just seem to fall down, walk into stuff, slip, bang my head, drop, break and ruin things quite a lot! I am currently sporting a finger bandage on one hand and a blue finger tip on the other where I dyed it through my rubber gloves. I put it down to having my mind on more interesting things!

6. Feline duo...
I have a lovely little sidekick, lulu, my cat, she is at my side all day when I'm here. She does like to get us into some scrapes by fighting with the neighbourhood cats and dogs and getting stuck up trees so that we have to phone tree surgeons from the yellow pages to fetch her down. She's a legend!
Due to my love of cats my best friends have always likened me to one. I must admit I like to sleep like one!7. A funny family...
as a child whilst my friends dads drove 'normal' dad cars, my sister and I had to endure the onward looks and finger pointing as we were chaufferred around in various Citroen Dianes and 2CV's! Well that was when they weren't on the drive being 'mended' by my oil-covered father!(normally with some adverse after-effects!) I think we went through about 7, if not more! They usually met their grizzly end in quite dramatic ways such as the floor falling out on the motorway, bursting into flames again on the motorway, or the accelerator pedal getting stuck to the floor! (that wasn't actually the end of that one - just a very scary way of stopping!) But looking back I wouldn't have changed it! We loved driving along with the roof off poking our heads out on a quiet country road, piling the roof rack high to go camping and having to drive around in a bright pink undercoat painted one whilst my mum was painting it a new shade of red! So thank you mum and dad, although we slunk down in the back seats as teenagers to avoid any public sightings, Vive la deux chevaux! I get very excited if I see one nowadays!

8. REVELATION: In case you haven't already guessed, I am ultimately a bit of a geek. Geeky leeky was one of my nicknames for spending hours in the University library! I just loved it! I now sport some VERY geeky glasses to finish off my image just perfectly... and I love those too!

9. I do love BBC radio 2! I just listen to it all day, all the shows, whilst I work, the only one that causes me to switch off sometimes is Jeremy Vine, sometimes I can't deal with all those opinions flying about! But I love Ken Bruce and Simon Mayo especially, and am getting into all the folk music in the evenings and the special programmes they do now and then... goodness me don't I sound like a hoot!

10. Just one little ranty one... I hate bad customer service... It's nice to be nice and customers should be looked after... ok... that is all!

I am now passing my Kreativ blogger award onto Victor Fox, In her own words... "the work of clare miller. a graphic designer by day, an illustrator, painter, creator, fox lover by night." I love reading the Victor Fox blog, all the way from Australia! I love how Clare works in all sorts of different styles from her own illustration style, commercial work and photographs, she seems like a girl after my own heart! So here you go Clare, an award just for you! Please pass it on as you wish!

Hooray!

2011-06-29T18:48:00.002+01:00

I've been trying to put my new award on here all afternoon (well not constantly) I have done other jobs too!... mainly filing receipts for my accounts - yawn! and dyeing things (a top, and unfortunately a finger - must've been a hole in my rubber glove!) bright turquoise for a carnival party I'm heading off to at the weekend. But blogger really does my head in sometimes when trying to put pictures on and it wasn't letting me. I hear this happens quite a lot to others too- how frustrating!! Anyway it's now working and I can post my Kreativ blogger AWARD! I was nominated by Elise over at Buttonbox cards, thank you Elise! I don't often win ANYTHING! and since I've entered blogland I am pleased to say I'm doing rather well! Winning giveaways and now this! How exciting!
Rightio, so the deal is I have to tell you all 10 things about myself that you wouldn't know already! I am compiling a list of good and not that good things (I am a bit boring really and 10 is a lot!) but will post them asap! ... and pass the award on it's way to another Kreativ blogger too of course :)

Summer Sunday...

2011-06-26T18:22:00.004+01:00

Well what a lovely sunny day we're having! and after cutting the end of my finger whilst doing housework this morning (See I knew it's safer to just leave it!) I decided to give up on the mundane stuff and do my favourite passtime of pottering, rummaging and making more mess. Taking these photos were one of todays projects! We were so so lucky to receive this beautiful bird couple from my wonderful friend Abigail Brown for our wedding present back in April. I just love the colours she has put together and I can just sit and gaze at them for ages! I have been meaning to photograph them outside so I could post them here, and this lovely Sunday we've had today seemed like the perfect day! Abbie works so hard on all of her carefully made birds and they are so special to us :)

Hoop the hoop...

2011-06-13T21:32:00.005+01:00

I have been planning (daydreaming when I should be working!) a new photo wall for my house when the wedding photos arrive, and thought it'd be really nice to incorporate some artwork in with the framed photos too. SO... have been Etsy-ing about again to rummage out some ideas. These were my favourites so far on the hoop front! Makers as below:
1 & 2 by rugglestitch
3 by bylina
4, 5 & 6 by the merriweathercouncil
7 & 8 by butterscotch beige
9 by sisterhipster
10 by fric de mentol

Just Cute

2011-06-10T00:32:00.004+01:00

By Axelhoney

Etsy Treasuries...

2011-06-10T00:18:00.004+01:00

One of my characters made it to TWO treasury collections on Etsy this week, thank you annemariesbreiblog and minifood, I just need to work out how to put my own ones together now... I am Etsy obsessed at the moment more than usual!

my progress...

2011-06-07T22:46:00.003+01:00

I have been training for a couple of weeks as I'm going to do the Race For Life in July!! Its a 5K run that raises money for Cancer Research UK. Those of you who know me will know that I am not the best at running or ever have been! But I really want to do this well, mainly for my lovely mum and for all the lovely people that have sponsored me so far, thank you so much, I have been overwhelmed by how generous people are! I am really enjoying the feeling of getting better each time I run (I can see how it becomes addictive). So I have got just over a month to bump up the distance and bypass the bench! I WILL do it!!

Wordy Wise-ness...

2011-06-06T16:38:00.004+01:00

So the question goes... "Hows you and yours?"...
Well ... if the truth be told, at the moment things are not as best as they could be with me and mine. Today I saw these doodled sentiments over at the notebook doodles and they made me smile and rung true of how I am feeling at the moment. The fact that there is a 'mine' in with the 'me' always makes things a whole lot better (if that makes sense in a riddled kind of way), and we're doing our best all together...

a Monday cheer up...

2011-06-06T15:50:00.002+01:00

Some of our beautiful flowers from our wedding. Looking at these helps the Monday blues seem a bit more colourful! Photo by the very talented Polly Rawlings.
We're getting the professional pictures back sometime this week!.... yipeeee... can't wait!

'Hare-y' Weekend Finds...

2011-06-05T15:57:00.008+01:00

I had a brilliant weekend this weekend (and a bonus extra day on Friday which was the SUNNIEST! day of the year) We went to Yorkshire Sculpture Park in Wakefield for some inspiration which was just fantastic. Without intending it to be, we enjoyed quite a 'Hare' and bunny themed weekend... ( I think Hares might be my new favourite for a while!) Sculptures by Barry Flanagan (top) and Sophie Ryder (below). New purchase of a wonderful vest I bought by Brat & Sukie with a bespectacled smart Mr.bunny. More of their quirky illustrated tee-shirts shown above! (I might have to start a collection!) We also went to stay with friends and their wonderful house bunny, Jasper! Hoppity hop....

I won!

2011-05-30T14:05:00.004+01:00

I was very pleased to discover I'd won the giveaway held by Butterscotch Beige last month! I never win anything, and I am over the moon with my lovely vintage bunting! Thank you Ellie! Please take a visit to Butterscotch Beige to see all of their lovely work.

Freshly packaged...

2011-05-29T16:53:00.003+01:00

Another one of the Cotton Baked batch has found a new home, so here he is, Earl all packaged up and ready to go on Tuesday. It's really exciting to think of where they're all going off to! Only a few of the first edition set left now! Will be starting on Cotton Baked batch 2 very soon! Will keep you posted... My Etsy Shop

All I can say is Wow!...

2011-05-26T18:36:00.004+01:00

I'm having a bit of a researchy hour (or what will turn into about 7) ... found this gorgeous 'Majestic Medallions' skirt on Anthropologie in their 'Modern Folklore' story, and couldn't not share it... it's absolutely gorgeous!
Please find it HERE.

This weeks colours...

2011-05-26T13:04:00.006+01:00

After having a bit of a clear out of my constantly gathering images files, that seems to be scattered in all sorts of places across my computer, I thought I would share some of the ones I still go 'ooh' at! I really have no idea where I gathered them from or when (sometime in the past 2 years) but they show my love of all things muted and my growing love for all things zappy, pink and orange... lovely!
The bottom picture is of a beautiful Kashmiri wall hanging, made from old saris that we bought whilst in Malaysia. I will post some more photos of it once we get it in situ at the house... as with a lot of things at our house, it has a 'temporary' place at the moment.

Love Letters...

2011-05-26T12:46:00.003+01:00

I have been meaning to blog about some of the gorgeous things I have come across over the past year whilst planning my wedding. I am normally a dedicated blog and Etsy explorer at the best of times, but it is a very exciting and fun time indeed when you have a fully fledged reason to actually BUY things... and IN BULK in some instances... eeeeeek!! This was one of my most exciting orders, presents for my lovely bridesmaids... I love Rosies Armoire and especially the postcard and letter make up bags she makes, so to choose and buy 4, well it was just brilliant!! I especially loved these particular ones as the addresses feature Manchester and one even mentions Ashton, the place where I live, we're famous! yey! Please visit the Rosies Armoire website HERE and Etsy shop HERE. More lovely things to come soon!
**PLEASE REMEMBER ALL IMAGES AND COPYRIGHT BELONG TO ROSIES ARMOIRE**

Berlin

2011-05-20T11:12:00.010+01:00

I was lucky enough to get away to Berlin with my best friends a couple of weekends ago, to celebrate the year we are all 30! and to say goodbye to one of the gang who has moved to Australia... (think I might need to start saving up if that's to be the next trip!) It was such a lovely sunny few days in a fantastic city. I am really getting into my new camera and so become a snappy tourist wherever I go these days and have my camera permanently attached to my hand. Here are some of the sights we saw, some taken from a six person bicycle tour we went on which was a giggle! and some of the interesting locals I spotted at the Brandenburg Gate, Pariser Platz. My friend Rob really impressed us all with how much German he could sprechen. It has made me really want to learn again as lots of random words came back to me from school but would love to be able to put more sentences together. A new task for me! Wish we were back there, drinking raspberry beer, dancing to german techno music, eating wurst! sigh... we'll be back soon!
Danke Berlin! Sie waren wunderbar!!

**PLEASE NOTE ALL IMAGES BELONG TO NICOLA PEARSON 2011**

New Print in the Etsy Shop

2011-05-19T17:46:00.008+01:00

I have put a new print into the etsy shop today... am annoyed my photos didn't come out better so may re-photograph them, but for now it's there anyhoo, Please take a look HERE.
**ALL COPYRIGHT BELONGS TO NICOLA PEARSON 2011**

Boys of Summer...

2011-05-15T22:56:00.002+01:00

Here is the latest baby boys range from Mamas and Papas, called 'Now in Colour'. The photography has really reflected well the summer, 1950's, cinema theme well. I worked on the prints/ embroideries and badges again for this season with the wonderful garment designers. They are all available to buy at the mamas and papas website.
****PLEASE NOTE ALL DESIGNS AND IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHT OWNED BY MAMAS AND PAPAS****

Surf into the summer

2011-05-15T22:45:00.003+01:00

Hopefully some of our lovely U.K sun will come back again very soon! I think we were all just starting to get used to it! Hopefully some cool little dudes will be seen in some of my boys surf prints on a beach near you very soon! I was really pleased with how they've turned out. All garments can be found at http://www.peacocks.co.uk/
and ***all designs and images belong to Peacocks***

Back and ready to go!

2011-05-15T22:10:00.014+01:00

Hello all,
I am back from my wonderful honeymoon travels now. I have seen lots of wonderful sights in Malaysia and so hoping to get back into work with some fabulous inspiration. Here are a few of the sights we did see! Borneo... Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi. Work posts to follow!... thought I'd show the fun bits first!

Giveaway!

2011-05-04T16:48:00.004+01:00

I am back now from what has to be the BEST month in my life! April 2011 will take some beating now. I will post some pictures from my wedding and travel adventures soon, but just wanted to quickly blog about this giveaway over at Butterscotch Beige
You can enter to win some of the lovely Ellies fabulous vintage bunting. Her Etsy shop is now open too so check it out HERE

**Please note all images and copyright belongs to Butterscotch Beige**

A New Mr and Mrs!

2011-04-06T19:38:00.005+01:00

It was my last day of work today before I go off to get Married! on Saturday... I wanted to share these super surprise wedding gifts from my lovely work friends. I cannot wait for the arrival of and to welcome this super Mr and Mrs into our home... aren't they brilliant... so cute and funny! You can see more here from the artist Chroma ntication here on Etsy.
I am always very excited when it comes to work gift times too as I know 'Mrs Buttonbox cards', Elise will have been letting her creative juices flow and coming up with some very clever bits indeed. This one was such a treat ... a whole filled jar of lovely little beautifully wrapped wedding goodies... which all came with their own little tags... see the full post HERE on Elises blog.

Yummy recipe...

2011-03-27T23:06:00.004+01:00

I recently discovered this great website http://www.theydrawandcook.com/ and the first recipe I tried was so yummy I will definitely be trying more! The marmite as the secret ingredient tempted me in and it was delicious. I made it for all my lovely friends that came to my hen party this weekend :)

Current Desktop...

2011-03-22T09:43:00.003Z

My favourite image at the Moment...I can't remember where or when I came across it but I would love to meet this post box in real life :)

New Button Box Cards blog...

2011-02-23T18:46:00.003Z

My good friend and work colleague, Elise Rowe, has set up her Button Box Cards blog very recently and just as we'd all expected it's so very lovely! Please take a peak here to see her work and inspirations. Elise hand makes gorgeous greetings cards with beautiful details and trims. I am certainly a regular customer! (some buttonbox cards designs above) ** Please note all designs and images belong to Button Box Cards **

Studio Animation

2011-02-10T21:37:00.004Z

The studio I work with, Paper and Cloth, have put together this great little animation... HERE. It came as a nice surprise for me as I didn't see it until it was all done and dusted! (my work is near the end, the bus stop characters)... take a peak...

38 Degrees | Save Our Forests

2011-01-29T21:02:00.000Z

38 Degrees | Save Our Forests

Very Fun lights! Cable and Cotton...

2011-01-23T07:26:00.004Z

Oooh, I have made a new discovery! Been playing on this website for far too long now as it's such fun!.... At cable and cotton you can customise your own coloured cotton fairy light arrangements. Their colour palettes are so lovely it's so hard to choose! You can mock up your unique set of colours and size as you wish and then mix them up to get your perfect balance... beware though it's addictive! I have just ordered a small set but fear this could be the beginning of a new illuminated lifestyle for me :)

2011-01-12T18:08:00.002Z

More new members of the Cotton Baked club...

2011-01-12T17:46:00.005Z

Hello, I have been busy again stitching some freshly Cotton Baked creatures... Please take a closer peek at my filling shop HERE to meet the new folks.
Now available for taking home are Rex, Daisy, Norris, Felix, and a very special one to me Harold. J. Fox

**PLEASE NOTE THAT DESIGNS AND IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHT OWNED BY NICOLA PEARSON 2011. MY WORK TAKES A LONG TIME TO DEVELOP AND CREATE SO PLEASE BE NICE AND DO NOT COPY**

Harold. J. Fox and Norris

New Blogger...

2011-01-09T12:29:00.002Z

Please take a stop by this lovely new blog, Butterscotch Beige. All work is by a fab designer I have worked with in the past, Ellie Thomas. I love this bunting!

**PLEASE REMEMBER ALL IMAGES AND DESIGNS ARE COPYRIGHT OWNED BY BUTTERSCOTCH BEIGE **

Meet Ned...

2011-01-09T12:23:00.003Z

New Character in my Cotton-Baked, Etsy shop... little Ned, first one ready for a new home!

**PLEASE NOTE THAT DESIGNS ARE COPYRIGHT OWNED BY NICOLA PEARSON 2011. MY WORK TAKES A LONG TIME TO DEVELOP AND CREATE SO PLEASE BE NICE AND DO NOT COPY**

Etsy Shop! (Said in a shouty voice!)

2011-01-07T21:52:00.007Z

Yey! I have finally got around to inventing some characters that I am keeping for my limited edition etsy shop! I hope you will take a stop by my shop HERE and see my little 'Cotton-Baked' characters. Only two at the moment, but they're keeping each other company and will be joined by many others very soon.

**PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THE DESIGNS AND ITEMS FOR SALE ON ETSY ARE COPYRIGHT OWNED BY NICOLA PEARSON**

New Exciting Year...

2011-01-06T13:10:00.009Z

The year 2011 is looking like it's going to be a very good one indeed! We have just booked our honeymoon and are preparing away for the wedding. One of my bestest friends is getting married in the summer and we're all currently eagerly waiting the arrival of baby Hartrick, my friend Penny is due within the next couple of weeks! Here are some snippets of the illustrations I have done for her nursery. I will post the full scene once it's all finished and up on her wall. I was asked to work on a Brighton theme as baby bumps daddy, Dave was born and spent his childhood living there. I really loved working on this and felt very honoured to be asked! Thanks guys! Looking forward to meeting little bump very soon! x

2010-12-02T08:55:00.001Z

New Colours...

2010-11-04T10:02:00.002Z

John Lewis have produced a new colourway of my 'Peacock feather' print... and I like it! you can buy it here
**PLEASE NOTE ALL IMAGES AND DESIGNS ARE COPYRIGHT OWNED BY JOHN LEWIS**

Poster Style...

2010-10-17T11:05:00.003+01:00

I came across these designs from www.obeythepurebreed.com Of course being cats I was drawn to them and had a chuckle. There are loads of dog ones too.

and... My Notes are currently wearing....

2010-10-17T10:55:00.002+01:00

the notebook I'm rocking at the moment IS..... papaya art

Nice and Vacant...

2010-10-15T13:51:00.004+01:00

I love this brand I discovered whilst mooching around New Look in Cardiff yesterday so checked out their site. Vacant mens and Pretty Vacant womens are a small independent label based in Brighton and stocked in... well New Look in Cardiff as far as I know! But hopefully elsewhere too.
I was drawn to them by the cat hair teeshirt but here are some others i loved....

Get your sneaks on!...

2010-10-14T23:57:00.004+01:00

You can buy my sneaky sneakers teeshirt HERE at Peacocks stores. It's got Gold Bling foil on it too! Yeh!
**PLEASE NOTE ALL DESIGN COPYRIGHT IS OWNED BY PEACOCKS**

Too Cool For School... (In fact too young but still soooo cool)

2010-10-07T23:49:00.003+01:00

The new winter collections are out! Here are some images of the boys 'Tailor Made' range I worked on the prints and graphics for the Limited Edition Baby wear at M&P. The amazingly talented garment designers always do a cracking job. Please go to the Mamas and Papas website to see more. These were my favourite snaps... along with the main graphic teeshirt I designed.
***PLEASE NOTE ALL IMAGES AND DESIGNS ARE COPYRIGHT OWNED BY MAMAS AND PAPAS***

In love with Brian...

2010-10-07T23:28:00.003+01:00

This lovely handsome fellow had been living rough, bless him! outside the hotel where my fiancee works for about 3 weeks, so we took him in.
He wasn't in the best of states really and had a snotty nose and poorly tummy :( With no sign of an owner after putting posters and web posts up I really wanted to keep the little ginger boy but my female cat would have none of it and proceeded to turn from the sweet and loving girl that she is into a screaming banshee from hell... although he did just completely ignore her!
So he was passed from pillar to post a bit whilst I tried to find him a home, to a friends, my sisters, back here, clocking up a variety of names en route... Ron Weasley.... followed by Rupert and then currently and finally... Brian Straycat. I am now pleased to say he has a permanent good home where I can still go and visit him... yey! As you'll be able to tell I fell ever so slightly in love with Brian.

Off to the party... (I wish!)...

2010-10-07T23:24:00.003+01:00

A big floral print I did that features in the new seasons party wear at Mamas and Papas... more to come! ****Please note all Images and Designs are copyright owned by Mamas and Papas *****

Excellent Music Video...

2010-09-30T23:12:00.004+01:00

My friend Jim posted this great music video to me, which features his cats Socky and Daisy. I love love love it! Have watched it over and again. Please take a look... HERE...such clever work, and the songs pretty catchy too! :D

Little Model...

2010-09-22T16:54:00.002+01:00

My friend Rachels lovely little son Charlie wearing one of my m and p bibs. He models it so well!

Back to School...

2010-09-05T11:32:00.002+01:00

It's back to school time now for some :( ...and back to crazy busy work time too for me!....I was pleased to see that Lesportsac had used some of my graphics from the 'Daytripper' print on their back to school promotion. It's just a shame we can't buy them here in the U.K. You can visit the site here. Check out their new artist in residence too called Pianofuzz... very cute stuff! Their own website is really supercool too!
***All Images and Designs Belong to Lesportsac***

New season tee...

2010-09-02T16:54:00.002+01:00

Another new tee graphic, modelled by a cool dude, I was pleased with my sketchy motorbike.... grrrrr! am embracing my manly side!! lol :D Available at Peacocks now!

Calling All Styling Assistants...

2010-09-02T09:11:00.003+01:00

My friend Polly is looking for people to help as a stylists assistant. If you are interested please go to her blog here for more details. You can contact her from her blog. Thank you :D

Birthday day off..... ahhhhhh

2010-08-31T09:41:00.002+01:00

Birthday flowers :)

Shoooooooes!

2010-08-30T11:41:00.005+01:00

Can you tell I'm supposed to be working today?... ah-hem, well I am doing a bit of hard graft amongst the online blog searching and a (weeeeny) spot of shopping! oops! Well it is bank holiday Monday, I am working in lieu of my birthday day off tomorrow woo hoo! Anyway, I just came across these fabulous shoes again from Irregular Choice, you can buy them here at Schuh in the U.K. I really wanted them but when I tried them they were too high for long gangly me (I should stand proud in towering heels but it just makes me feel like a giant and nervous of toppling over!) Hopefully someone else might enjoy them instead x

I Can't Wait...

2010-08-30T11:32:00.003+01:00

For nechepurenka to open her shop so I can buy one of these little fellows! I love him! :D
*****IMAGE BELONGS TO nechepurenka.blogspot.com*****

Lots of baggage...

2010-08-22T20:35:00.006+01:00

This print which I worked on 2 years ago now has finally appeared at Lesportsac! I have been eagerly waiting to see it in print on the bags since ever since then so it's been a long wait for me!! Here are a couple of the bags... along with some parts of the original artwork, it was a collage based design idea with lots of different types of sketched little girls and dogs, shops, bags. There is another print in the series too so maybe we'll see that one soon!
****All Images belong to Lesportsac USA****

New Autumn Print...

2010-08-22T15:13:00.004+01:00

I was very chuffed to see my peacock feather inspired texture print finding a new home amongst the new John Lewis toddler girls Autumn collection. I created this print for the the studio I work for Paper and Cloth. Animal prints and textures are everywhere again this year and I think this is a nice but different take. You can buy this item HERE, although it says it's low in stock, which has to be a good sign!....and there is a dress in the same print too!
***ALL IMAGES AND DESIGNS BELONG TO JOHN LEWIS***

I support the DEC's work. Please donate as much as you can

2010-08-19T19:20:00.002+01:00

By following this link HERE

2010-08-14T14:15:00.002+01:00

An idea for a ladies wear graphics project. Although I don't think this design ever got used, I really love it :)

A favourite...

2010-08-14T14:06:00.003+01:00

This is part of a design I did a few years ago now for the studio I work for, Paper and Cloth. I have always loved it. The colours are quite brave for me I normally go for the softer tones.
*******Image is copyright owned******

Blue boy...

2010-08-02T23:39:00.004+01:00

Hey! or should I say 'helloo there bear'... just posting some more of my Autumn/ Winter range work. This was a favourite of mine to work on...
****PLEASE NOTE ALL IMAGES AND DESIGNS ARE COPYRIGHT OWNED BY MAMAS AND PAPAS****

Off to my favourite place of all places...

2010-07-31T12:21:00.005+01:00

Manchester! ... well I do live here (which is lucky)... but I still get excited about going into 'Town', meeting my lovely beauties of friends, eating, drinking, and SHOPPING! woo hoo, thank goodness for Saturdays. It most likely won't, however look like the photo from a few weeks ago today... bit drizzley, but us North Westeners are developing webbed feet now so it's all good xxx

New Teeshirts....

2010-07-30T13:00:00.004+01:00

Some new older girls and boys teeshirts I've worked on out this week at the Peacocks store here. A blingy zebra and a sketchy building front based on a cuban street and Harley :)
***PLEASE NOTE ALL IMAGES AND DESIGNS ARE COPYRIGHT OWNED BY PEACOCKS***

A door for the day...

2010-07-27T12:51:00.002+01:00

A lovely door we came across hidden in the Warwick Castle Gardens.

Nicola Pearson

New Etsy Print...

Button Box Cards Shop

Wedding Invitation Photo...

Wedding Stationery

My Gym Girls...

Spring Ranges

Sailing towards the new year...

It's a work/cat balance...

a little Christmas present... for me!

Last week for any posted Christmas wrap orders...

Santa needs a pay rise...

Crafty Christmas...

It's there!....

My Wrapping Paper has arrived!... Merry Xmas is allowed to start!

Craft Market...

Brown bears, bunnies and funnies

Embroidered Penguin

Winter Babes...

Boot Campers!

happy weekend all...

Print and Pattern Book 2

Spotted...

Tee hee hee...

All grown up!... and out!

Little Softies

New Ned in the Etsy shop

Exciting Finds

Not an early bird!...

Sanna Annuka Postcards...

oooooooh weddings!

Oh no too late!...

New Designers Show

Beach boys...

I Raced for Life!...

A Word on Shirtiness...

It's all gone a bit Arty...

am completely in love with...

Faster faster!...

Kreativ Blogger... 10 things about me!...

Hooray!

Summer Sunday...

Hoop the hoop...

Just Cute

Etsy Treasuries...

my progress...

Wordy Wise-ness...

a Monday cheer up...

'Hare-y' Weekend Finds...

I won!

Freshly packaged...

All I can say is Wow!...

This weeks colours...

Love Letters...

Berlin

New Print in the Etsy Shop

Boys of Summer...

Surf into the summer

Back and ready to go!

Giveaway!

A New Mr and Mrs!

Yummy recipe...

Current Desktop...

**New** Button Box Cards blog...

Studio Animation

38 Degrees | Save Our Forests

Very Fun lights! Cable and Cotton...

More new members of the Cotton Baked club...

New Blogger...

Meet Ned...

Etsy Shop! (Said in a shouty voice!)

New Exciting Year...

New Colours...

Poster Style...

and... My Notes are currently wearing....

Nice and Vacant...

Get your sneaks on!...

Too Cool For School... (In fact too young but still soooo cool)

In love with Brian...

Off to the party... (I wish!)...

New Button Box Cards blog...