Happy Ethel!

So pleased to see that E for Ethel are happy with their new logo and website that I designed for them. Hooray!

Messagemark Instagram Love

Polyhedra "Kite Print" - perfect for a boys room.

"Retro Mod" Prints hanging in Moyra's lounge.

Nigel the Kookaburra having an afternoon siesta!

Polyhedra Garland Kit  - Well done Kristy!

At Three Card Trick

Polyhedra Garland in white at Council of Objects

I just did a tag search for "messagemark" on Instagram and found these posts from my customers! I love seeing where my products end up! Thanks for sharing lovely people! 

Toodle-pip,

A fresh face for E for Ethel

I've just completed a brand refresh for my lovely friends Dan and Amanda from Adelaide cafe and gift store "E for Ethel". The design brief was to retain some text elements from their existing logo, and also compliment the look and feel of their newly handpainted window and street signs.

I included a pattern of knitting in the logo set, and kept the tea cup element to link the visual message back the two distinct sides of the business, cafe and hand made products. View all elements of the brand set here>. An enjoyable job to work on with the most gorgeous couple. Now onto the E for Ethel Website!!

Toodle-pip,

New work digs...

After spending the last five years working from home, I decided it was time to mix things up and look for a new environment to work from. Ok that is not totally true... if I am to be 100% honest here, my main motivations to work away from home were:

+ I was starting to feel a bit trapped within the walls of my house
+ I was needing a clearly defined separation between my work, study and home life
+ The days would roll by, weekends would come and go, and I started to feel like I was stuck in one long continuous day
+ Conversations with my cats were becoming more and more interesting - was this a sign of madness or was I simply craving more human interaction?

For those of you who have done the whole work from home thing, you will totally understand it has many benefits, but at the same time can become both challenging and stifling.

I was starting to feel like I was lacking structure and also discipline in my life. There were too many blurred edges - for example, weekends were not weekends anymore, and work was way too accessible and I would catch myself after dinner checking on something or answering an email. I was also beginning to allow clients to contact me after hours as if that was ok too. Over time this kind of balance, or should I say imbalance between work and relaxation time started to take it's toll. Throw full time study into the mix and you have the potential recipe for a complete break down.

So when the opportunity to work in the most awesome creative space with Bek and Tim from  One Small Room was presented to me, I pounced on it! They recently set up business in a character church hall for their overflowing creative endeavors (interior design / architecture, styling, vintage furniture restoration etc) and were kind enough to offer me a corner to work from all styled up and ready to go!

And the best part, when I leave I can totally leave work there and I now have a more balanced home life. It is incredible what this simple change has done for me. I am even enjoying jumping in the car or jumping on the train with work as the destination. The time and space between home and the hall gives me a moment to clear my head and prepare for the day. So different to walking from the kitchen straight to the desk! I have also discovered that I have so much more free time for study and the things I enjoy the most - like chatting to my furry friends.

It is amazing, and quite possibly the coolest creative space west of the city! More central for client meetings too! So it now seems timely to point out when you will find me in my new work digs ...

Business Hours: Tuesday to Thursday 9 – 5pm
4A William Street, Croydon (by appointment)

Here are a few happy snaps of the amazing collection of vintage goodness also sharing the hall space with us...

Toodle-pip,

Published in the UK

Last year I was approached by Sage Publications, a London based publishing house who asked to use one of my illustrations for a book cover. If being paid to use an illustration for a book cover wasn't enough, the title of the book certainly grabbed my attention. I am currently in my second year of studying counselling and psychotherapy! Crazy!

A copy of the finished book arrived in the mail today! The really spooky part... this week at college we will be studying the same topics found in this book. Is the universe trying to tell me something? The way this book has landed in my lap, there are just too many synchronicities to ignore! It's now on my must read list!

The image used on the cover was from my 'Polyhedra' range.

Toodle-pip,