Hexley update

As promised, here is an update on my Hexley project!

I've spent some time working in my sketchbook developing some of the background to the town as well as researching costumes and everyday Victorian things to use in my illustrations.

The six outer settlements around the town of Hexley are now villages with proper names:

* Little Hexing __ (Welcome Centre)

* Cogcott __ (Transporation Centre)

* Swinworth __ (Zoologoy Centre)

* Hytheby __ (Oceanography Centre)

* Totfeld __ (Climatology Centre)

* Ryeham __ (Farming and Botany Centre)

Inspired by Victorian photographs, I have also been working on a series of illustrations on the people of Hexley. Here is a rough idea for Elizabeth Bridges - made using a combination of scanned pencil sketches and digital painting.

I've had a busy few weeks - it's not quite over yet either. On Saturday I will be exhibiting 2 paintings in the art exhibition at the Tendring Show. It's a big annual country show with over 20,000 visitors. I'm looking forward to visiting - especially seeing all the animals, it should be a good day for gathering reference photographs, sketching and having fun too!

Over the next few weeks I'm hoping that I can find a better balance between working on my online shops (photographing/ listing items etc) and creating new illustrations. There are so many ideas I have for new designs, it's just trying to get everything done! There is my new exciting project to be working on too - I'm organising a Christmas Craft Fayre in my village. I'm in the very early stages of planning still but should be finalising details like time/ place/ number of stalls etc soon. :)

Victoriana

Lately I've been working in my Hexley sketchbook - making notes on the town and working up to some new paintings. (I'll be posting some updates on Hexley here soon very soon.)

While researching I stumbled across an amazing website packed with everything from Victorian/ Edwardian fashion to Victorian house plans! If, like me, you have a love for all things Victorian go and take a look - you won't be disappointed!

Summer Fayre, West Bergholt

I will be attending the Summer Fayre, West Bergholt today - please come along if you are in the area! There will be lots to see and do - as well as crafts there will be games, a BBQ, bouncy castle, stalls, donkey rides and more!

The fayre starts at 2pm, following the primary school's fun run, and is at Heathlands Primary School, West Bergholt near Colchester.
Fingers crossed that the weather brightens up and we don't have any more rain today!

Trading prints and a new Etsy treasury

Recently I was contacted by a fellow Etsy seller, Sally Harless, who asked if I would like to trade prints with her. I've never traded my work before, but took a look at Sally's work - I immediately loved her illustrations so agreed to trade... and a few days ago a package arrived with these wonderful prints in! :D Now all I need is to buy a frame so I can hang 'Don't Let Me' on my wall.

I've also included one of Sally's pieces in my newest treasury, titled 'Whipsers on the Wind...'

New Crafting Supplies Shop

Having spent many months debating whether to open a second Etsy shop I finally took the plunge last week! I decided to separate my crafting supplies from my artwork; my illustrations and artwork will remain in my original shop while supplies will be in my new shop - hfcSupplies (Hazel Fisher Creations ~ Supplies).

The new shop will stock buttons (mainly vintage), clock hands and crafting kits. For a time I will still have some supplies in my original shop but these will gradually be moved over to hfcSupplies as the shop in stocked.

It's exciting to be opening a new shop (a lot of work too!) - I hope that I've made the right decision to be running 2 shops on Etsy!

Jewellery Making

I have a big collection of beads which I've been wanting to use for a while and last weekend I finally decided to have a go at making some jewellery again!

I started off with a necklace using some of my vintage buttons and (mostly vintage) beads. Wrapping the wire around the glass drop beads was a real challenge - I don't know how many times I started again but I did get the hang of it in the end!

Next I tried a bracelet to match my favourite orange top. The cute little glass beads which look like mini oranges were perfect for this project!

Stall photos

Thought I'd just share a couple of photos I took of my stall at Colchester Crafters on Saturday:

I enjoyed meeting the other crafters there and am looking forward to the next meeting on 3rd July! For more information go to the Colchester Crafters website. :)

Colchester Crafters

The first meeting of a new craft club in Colchester will be on Saturday - I'm really looking forward to it! The meeting will be at the Lion Walk United Reformed Church Hall, Colchester on 5th June from 10am to 2pm.

It should be a good opportunity to meet other people interested in crafts from the area. There will also be stalls (I will be selling my work there) so even if you are not a crafter please do come along!

For more information take a look at the Colchester Crafter's website.

Treasury Feature: The Birds

Here's a new Etsy treasury my 'Storytelling of Crows 2' ACEO has been featured in.

Titled 'The Birds', it's full of atmospheric pictures of stormy skies and flocks of crows. You can see the treasury in full here. :)