February WIP: Pebble Branding

Lots of you will know that my Mum is opening an exciting new shop in Aberdeen called Pebble, if not then here's some info: 

"Pebble will bring you an assortment of gifts, arts and pretty things with an emphasis on Scottish designers and makers. The name Pebble came from Lorraine's love of the sea which has previously been the inspiration for her jewellery collections. It is a nod to the uniqueness of her designers' work in that no two items are identical, like pebbles. Pebble will sell a range of jewellery, accessories, home wares, stationery, original art, ceramics, bath and beauty products as well as edible treats – all handmade or designed in Scotland. 

Pebble aims to make your gift buying experience satisfying and seamless. From the carefully curated products to gorgeous gift wrapping they've got it covered. They even offer loyalty cards so you can treat yourself after treating your friends and family! The shop is decorated with vintage upcycled furniture and quirky displays in the pastel Pebble colour palette giving it a fresh and fun feel"

Although I've been really involved in the whole shop planning and designing process this is my Mum's shop and not mine - lots of people have mistaken it as a joint business venture. The shop opens on 1st March so is still a work in progress but I've officially been behind the branding from logo design, stationery, packaging and website to shop sign, social media and photography. Unofficially I've been helping choose stock (candle and chocolate samples - yes please!), painting furniture, programming the till, working on shop layouts and displays and other odd jobs! 

The thoughts behind the Pebble branding was that it had to have a fresh and effortless feel. The colour palette, typography choice and use of circles mean it can easily be applied across all the items needed for a shop. The pastel tones are chosen to represent a soft seascape and the ombre effect sits really well with the liquid like font. I chose to use the circle "pebbles" with icons to represent what's unique about the shop but the logo can also be used without these. The icons are really fun for stickers and using throughout the decor too. Most of the branding and design work is done now apart from the website as we're waiting for the shop to be filled for photographing before that goes live!

The Pebble launch weekend is from Saturday 1st March 10am-6pm to Sunday 2nd March 11am-4pm. It will be a proper party with balloons, cakes and treats, a lucky dip with every purchase and grand prize draw over the weekend. Pebble is located at 198 Rosemount Place, Aberdeen, AB25 2XQ. Hope you can make it! (if not I'll be doing a blog post about it afterwards)

You can find Pebble on Facebook to keep up to date with the countdown: https://www.facebook.com/pebblegiftshop

February DIY: Jewellery Cabinet (part 2)

Earlier this month my jewellery collection filled the best part of a built in cupboard and about 6 boxes that sat on the mantlepiece. As I'm moving later in the year I decided now is the time to downsize, I can only keep what I fit in this upcycled cabinet! After drilling in the screws for the adorable rose handles I got to work trying to sort through the masses of jewellery. In the end I have necklaces in the side sections - the hooks came on the cabinet already. Sentimental and precious jewellery is in the bottom, one drawer for earrings (stored in a compartment box from Home Bargains, the lid cut off) with a few of my favourite nail varnishes in the back, one for hair accessories and the top part for brooches, rings and pendants. Now it’s like browsing a shop when I decide what jewellery to wear in the morning and I can actually see everything at a glance! This is definitely encouraging me to wear different jewellery so I'll be sharing more accessories posts soon. 

February Places: Almondine

Almondine opened their first Patisserie on Thistle Street in Aberdeen just before Christmas. I'd had their yummy macarons before so knew I had to go but it was just a case of finding the time - in January I was lucky enough to make it down twice. The atmosphere is so relaxed; a simple colour palette of silvers, baby blues and dove greys makes it feel so fresh and delicate. I love the attention to detail with the silverware too - little candles on the tables and silver pots for tea and hot chocolate. Their signature hot chocolate is truly the best I've tasted, served with a carafe of water since it's very rich! The choice of patisseries changes but there are always macarons in a selection of colours and flavours. They are all so pretty you'll be spoilt for choice! The little Almondine printed chocolate is such a nice touch, and tasty too. This time I chose the chocolate eclair, which was perfect with the proper chocolate crème patissière filling - I have to admit that it was a little bit of a chocolate overload but that's my fault for having hot chocolate with a chocolate based treat! The macarons can be taken away in a cute branded box of 7 which would be a lovely Valentine's gift.

I'm already planning my next visit, maybe an evening as it looks like it would be so cosy on a cold night. Almondine is open Monday to Thursday 8am-6pm, Friday 8am-7pm and Saturday 10am-7pm. You can find them on Facebook or check out their website below:

http://www.almondine.co.uk/

January DIY: Jewellery Cabinet Up-cycle (part 1)

While helping my Mum find furniture for her new shop (Pebble, opening March 1st!) I came across this vintage style jewellery cabinet in a second hand shop. At first I wasn't sure because the roses painted on it weren't quite my style (they were all along the top too) and the handles were a black bulky metal. I did love the the way it opened out to hold necklaces and has wee compartments for my (many) rings along with a little mirror in the top so decided it was worth buying and putting a little work into. I got overexcited and took off and binned the old handles before taking the first photo but you get the idea!

It's been a nice and simply up-cycling job, just a case of filling in the old handle screw holes, sanding the roses off and painting a couple of coats of white eggshell paint all over. I want to keep it plain as then the handles can easily be changed to fit the style of the room it's in. I decided that these pinky red ceramic rose handles (about £1.50 each on ebay) would be perfect for a slightly more modern shabby chic feel. The reason I've split this post in two is so I can show off the organised inside and finished outside in the next one without going into photo overload!

January WIP: Business Planning

This work in progress is almost a DIY post too so may have some useful ideas! Since leaving uni I really wanted to streamline my design process for dealing with clients. These projects can involve a lot of juggling so I want it to help from start to end of getting an enquiry and sending final artwork files. I've been busy adding to my website and designing matching, yet practical stationery and forms. I think it's important to make the most of all these contact points as this is the full experience that clients will remember from dealing with me, and who says forms can't be pretty? I've worked in an office before and know how dull and formal paperwork and stationery can be, so keeping that in mind it should be a lot more fun having organised my clients into washi tape covered folders and floral sketchbooks and seeing these things scattered about the studio! So far I have my website, business cards, client questionnaire, estimate and invoice templates, letterheads and project planners. Feeling much more organised and better get on with the actual design work now!

2014: A Big Scary Year

2014 was always going to be the "big year" in the sense I'd be graduating and leaving home. The reason it's now become scarier than originally thought is that before Christmas I left uni (just my honours year, still have a BA in Visual Communication!). There are lots of reasons for this but some of the more important ones are that I wasn't learning what I wanted, and to learn on top of jumping through marking criteria hoops meant no time for experimenting, real client work or Bottled Treasures. Truth be told, I've felt it's been holding me back and that 4th year just isn't right for what I want to do. After making that decision and telling everyone (no one hates me, it's ok) I've spent the last couple of weeks taking a Christmas break to reflect and plan what I want to achieve myself over the next 6 months of what would have been my last semester.

Now for the fun bit! Instead of resolutions this new year I've written down my personal and career aims, quite simply where I want to be in 6 months time when it'll almost be time for me to get ready to move to our wee cottage in Falkland (Fife). I've got some evening classes booked, design jobs lined up, big plans for Bottled Treasures and ideas for more inspiring social media - including this blog. Sunday is going to be blog day and each month I'm aiming to do 4 posts, one each of the following:

- DIY: craft projects, recpies etc

- WIP: previews, sketchbooks, new designs

- Places: day trips, adventures, holidays

- Wish Lists: gifts, purchases, dreams

Here is the first, apologies for the giant introduction; I wasn't sure how else to explain!
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January: Gift List

Since it's January and Christmas is over I can finally share some of the lovely handmade gifts I bought for others, along with a few of the presents I was given.

1. 365 days of Inspiration. David got me this thoughtful little book, perfect for someone leaving art school who needs to stay inspired... 

2. Sarah Coonan Ceramics: My 100% Handmade secret santa sent me the blue tartan heart brooch, I love it and so did my sister, so it was lucky I was bad and opened my present early enough to order Amy a red one as part of her Christmas. 

3. Whimsical Lush Print: For my brother, it's so tricky buying handmade gifts for boys! 

4. Leah Carroll Laser Cut Brooch: My Mum got me this at a craft fair in Dundee. Love the little bow detail!

 5. Notebook & Craft Tool Holder: David's Mum & Dad made me these adorable personalised gifts. The notebook is currently filled with my big 2014 plans.
6. Crafty Giraffe Paper Cut: We ordered these customised cuts for a few people this Christmas. This one was for David's sister Emma (Fairytale Asylum)

7. Doodlestuff Doodleclips: Fun and funky, these hair clips were a wee stocking filler for my Mum. Jilly who makes them (not me, another Jilly - how unusual!) does lots of fab quirky brooches. 

8. Ceramic Houses by HodgePodge Arts: From my Dad to my Mum with a little help from me. 

9. Velvet ribbon candle: From my secret santa, Ashleigh. I can't remember the scent name but it was something floraly and moss - smells so good and fresh and looks perfect on my desk.