R.S.I!!

Eek, I didn't realise it had been so long since my last post! Oopsie! Today has been spent updating my etsy and Folksy sites at long last, because the sun has reappeared and I was able to take some product shots on Saturday. Yippee! I've got some new t shirt designs and a couple more bibs. The tee pictured is my fave and I'm wearing one now. It's a bit of a change in direction because I just wanted to play with colour more and use some shapes that I felt would carry strong tones well.
I've started to do custom kid's bibs and tees, with names printed on them, hopefully they'll do quite well. I always loved anything with my name or initial on it when I was small(er)! I must must must get some shots of those at the weekend.
Other than new ideas whizzing around my brain, I've been digging a spot of exercise of late - I did the Great Manchester Run a couple of weeks ago and managed to beat last year's time, 10k in 1 hour 5 seconds. Next year I will do it in under an hour! I raised nearly £200 for Mind, the Mental Health charity as well, so I'm really pleased. Muchos gracias to all those that sponsored me.
I've also been going to intermediate (killer) yoga classes on a Wednesday and hula hoop classes on Mondays! Fun fun fun. I've even bought a hoop, bring on the abs of steel. This is all old news for those following my ramblings on Twitter, soz!
Tomorrow I'm facilitating a workshop at Manchester Art Gallery, hurray! All is pretty sweet in the Nell Camp. Hope it is for everyone else too :) xx

MAPS Festival...

MAPS festival is on this weekend in the good old Northern Quarter and we at the Craft and Design Centre are pleased to be a part of the fun. There will be paper cutting and embroidery activities from 2-4 to celebrate the end of the Craft Mafia exhibition, which is brill and worth a peek - it's your last chance!
We've also got bands on from 3-8, with all the studios and the cafe open for business. Come holla at me! It's free entry and therefore no excuses are acceptable for not coming on down to support local musicians, artists and all round good eggs. Start the Bank Holiday Weekend in good cheer! xx

Bloom

Print by Charlie Harper, one of my most favourite illustrators.

Tiring of making excuses, I resolve yet again to move forward and make changes in my life. I read this poem on The Love Diaries blog today and it resonated with me.

Risk, by Anais Nin

And then the day came,
when the risk
to remain tight
in a bud
was more painful
than the risk
it took
to blossom.

I'm in a strange mood today, maybe it's because the sun has gone away again. Over and out. xx

This Week's Round Up...

Illustration by Lock Sin.



Been a bit shy on the blog front of late, this week has been pretty productive due to a surge of energy thanks to the sweet, sweet sunshine and the pure glee of cycling to work.

Things that have been keeping me going through the lean times here at the Craft Centre are: creativity, past loves, losing track of Springtime crushes, barbeques, rocking out, bedroom dancing, pop hits, positive thoughts and bullshit avoidance tactics. Sweet deal.
I really wish I had some money for new tattoos, I would fully be getting this sexy little mama on my upper thigh...best do some work then, eh? Pow! xx

In love with my shoooes

In love with my shoooes
Originally uploaded by little nell smith

I don't usually do 'what I wore' posts, but I have a tripod now and I'm not afraid to use it! So a little light posing was called for before I went out last night. I went to see Gideon Conn at the Deaf Institute, I have seen him many times, but my friend Nick is making a film about him for his Masters, so I thought I'd show my support. Thoroughly enjoyed myself!
I mostly wanted to post pictures of these brillo shoes I got in New York, a fabulous vintage find, I'm sure you'll agree! They were only $14 and look like they've hardly been worn! Huzzah!




Yesterday I received a call from Dena, a lovely lady that I have freelanced for at Manchester Art Gallery, facilitating family workshops. She has a new job in Barnsley and has asked me to help with a workshop there on Saturday, I'm excited, it sounds like it will be a lot of fun!

More tricks up my sleeve...

Hurray hurray, another project is go! Over the past couple of months I have been in talks with Sam of the Ministry of Craft. She is an absolutely lovely lady (with an uber cute baby!) and I'm very pleased to announce that I will be heading up my first T Shirt printing workshop on the 6th of June, at The Friend's Meeting House in Manchester City Centre. Check out the Ministry of Craft website to book yourself (and a friend!) a slot. Wouldn't that make a brilliant pressie?! Go go go, do it now! It'll fill up fast ;)

It's a helluva town

IMG_1406
Originally uploaded by little nell smith

What can I say? New York was amazing, amazing! I flew First Class, gobbled much food, drank my own body weight in fine wines, stayed at the swanky Soho Grand, shopped shopped shopped, went on a helicopter ride over Manhattan, had my mind blown by the collection at MoMA, walked through Central Park, goggled at the Guggenheim, drank cocktails at the Rainbow Rooms, chomped a cheeseburger at the Union Square coffee shop and generally lived it up. The only disappointment in the tale is that we saw no
celebs until we were dining before our flight home, when we witnessed the massive horse-like visage of Piers Morgan. Yeah, great. Still, a roaring success, felt like I was away for 2 weeks rather than 2 nights!