Photography For Bloggers with Emily Quinton

I've always been a keen photographer taking pictures whenever the opportunity arises and as a designer always trying to be creative with angles (often a little too much!), effects and a little bit obsessed with the macro setting! Despite having a good eye for things I've never really been 100% happy with the pictures I take and always wanted to learn how to take better photos, especially beautiful ones to use on my blog. Then I came across the delightful photographer and blogger Emily Quinton (of The Start Up Wife)  via Holly Becker's Blogging Your Way Course and when she announced she was going to be teaching a photography workshop for bloggers, I think I was one of the first to sign up! 

So, a week last Saturday, my friend Mel and I, some of my fellow London Bloggers (Geraldine, Kate, Jane & Kirsty) and a bunch of other lovely creative ladies took to the back streets of trendy Shoreditch for a full on session with Emily and our cameras. As you can imagine with Emily's crafty and blogging background we were all greeted with gorgeous little goodie bags filled with stickers, pencils and Moleskin notebooks. 

We learnt all about composition (the 'rule of thirds'), how to get the best lighting, including taking pictures in 'the golden hour',  which type of lenses to use and some very good tips on how to achieve great quality photos, even on an iPhone and which apps to do it with! Then to finish off the day we had a lesson on how to save, edit and use our photos to their best potential on our blogs and with other social media.

Below are some of the best images I took during the day. Let me now what you think! Which is your favourite?

All in all was a day packed full of great advice, hands on practise and lots of fun. Emily is teaching the workshop again in September (see the link above) and I highly recommend it if you are a blogger and looking to improve your photography skills or if you want to take photos of products for a website. Even if you aren't a blogger it is still a great day and you will come away having learnt so many key skills to put to use in your photography. It's not a course to teach you how to use your camera mind you and it can be taken with any camera or camera phone. I was lucky enough to borrow a friends digital SLR camera for the day which has now very kindly been donated to me so I can get in some much needed practise and have fun taking lots of beautiful photos. Thank you! And thank you to Emily for being such a star and a great teacher. 

If you'd like to check out some of the other girls posts you can do here. Me Plus Molly, Papermash, For Bella and Will

Close knit Christmas in Streatham!

The Ninja Knitters have been busy round our neighbourhood this weekend. Streatham Common never looked so pretty! The local businesses on our road have been suffering lately due to the long term closure of the road and the Ninja Knitters decided to knit the community back together....

Bookmarked Blog : The Fresh Exchange

One of my favourite blogs lately is The Fresh Exchange written by Megan of Hitch Design Studio. If asked which bloggers I aspire to be like, Megan would most definitely be one of them. Not only does she seem like a really loveable girl I'd like to meet (and a big dog lover too!) but she is an extremely talented graphic designer with a unique and elegant style which is portrayed throughout her blog. 

She says in her bio how she 'believes in simplicity' and it's this simplicity I love about her blog. It is a prime example of how very simple use of graphics can really inject personality onto your posts. Her photography is so dreamy and she brings each image to life with a little piece of handwritten typography . The power of a few little words! How beautiful is her hand lettering?

The blog shares her inspirations as a designer, stylist and blogger, she advises and gives tips to other bloggers while sharing her own thoughts and ideas. Her latest posts have been following her travels and documenting her recent trip to Europe. How fun are these images? (You can see an image from each day of her trip here.)

All her posts are completely original and unique to her, she features in most of them herself and even using her own handwriting in a lot of them. Her whimsical style collages are so cute and I love her weekend suggestions simply overlaid on a great photograph. 

If that wasn't enough to engage you, she also makes the cutest little videos of snippets of her life with her family and friends. She certainly seems to have the perfect life!

What really amazes me is how Megan finds time to create such a beautiful blog and do all the things she does. She also runs Hitch Design Studio, check out some of her fab design work,  and she is the co-founder of the wonderful Blog Brunch an online collaboration by bloggers for bloggers which holds a monthly chat and question time on Twitter. 

So, hurry over and check out The Fresh Exchange, I'm sure you will love it as much as me and it will give you heaps of inspiration. 

A Taste of Creative Mischief

Well leading on very nicely from my last post and much to my joy, Holly has given us the task of creating a mood board for our blog. I set this blog up 12 months ago and did it very quickly, tinkering along the way making changes as I learnt new things, however, I never sat down and actually thought about what personality I wanted my blog to have so this exercise has been great for me.

The result, something of elegant sophistication with a touch of fun and mischief, a bit like one of my favourite style icons Audrey Hepburn. So classic and stylish but I love her cheeky mischievous side.  The colours would be crisp black and white with muted greys and dusky pinks and pops of bright colours. I want it to look edible and sweet with bit of glitter and sparkle. It needs to have a modern editorial style but also be natural and friendly with a handmade touch. I will cover contemporary design styles alongside emotive photography and hand crafts such as stationery and paper goods. Typography, particularly hand lettering is a big passion of mine at the moment so that will feature heavily. 

I've taken inspiration from some of my favourite blogs; Besotted Brand, Breanna Rose, Blog Milk,  Lobster and Swan, Elephantine, Sania Pell and of course......Pinterest!

I'm really quite chuffed with the feel of this board and can't wait until I have the time to start implementing it in my blog. What do you think? Anything you'd like to add?

Book Love: A Vintage Tea Party

I just came out of a meeting and popped in to Oliver Bonas to pick up a Birthday present when I just happened to stumble upon the most amazing book which got me drooling in more ways than one! It’s not new to the book shelves but it’s the first time I've seen it and it got purchased to go straight on mine….after I have read it cover to cover and given it a photoshoot so I can share some of it’s beauty with my readers. 

The book is ‘The Vintage Tea Party Book’ by Angel Adoree and she invites you to join her on a journey to create the perfect vintage tea party... 

It’s beautifully designed with handwritten typography (one of my favourite fonts Lady Rene) mixed with doodles and seductive photographs. The ingredients are just as creative, for example Raspberry Soup, 24 carot oysters, a Salad Cemetery, Saffron & Tea shots, Bunting Butties, Rose petal sandwiches and Lollipop Jam Rolls. 

...and it’s not just about the food, it is interspersed with ‘how to’s’; make hair pieces, pinnies and aprons, decorate chinaware, candle making, style your hair and it even includes the history of the Union Jack (if you are interested)!

I'm organising one of my best friend's baby shower this weekend and it's not surprising that it has a vintage tea party theme. Some of these yummy ideas will definitely be featuring. 

Mischief meets...Wit & Whistle

Some of you may know that I am currently taking Holly 'Decor8' Becker's e-class 'Blogging Your Way'. As part of my homework this week I am starting a new regular column here on MFP&Me 'Mischief meets....' (name to be confirmed, any thoughts?) where I will interview creatives, designers and artists who have caught my eye. I'll be finding out how they got to where they are now, what inspires them to be the creative, and all about their design processes and working environment.

First up is one of my fellow BYW students, Amanda Wright of Wit & Whistle. I first came across Amanda's work whilst doing my 'homework' and getting to know my classmates. I loved her style as soon as I landed on her home page and I knew she was a girl after my own heart. With my plan to set up an online stationery shop one day, Amanda has inspired me so much. She is 'a self-proclaimed design nerd' as she states on her website and the designer and illustrator behind a range of witty and fun stationery. Here's what she had to say about what makes her tick.....

• What is the essence of your business? 

Stylishly, quirky paper products -witty and whistle worthy (and soon home goods too)! 

• How did you start doing what you do? What made you decide to start up on your own?

I studied graphic design at the NC State College of Design. After graduating and working at a design firm for a few years, I felt like I was squandering my creative juices on clients with limited imaginations. My husband loves his job in the video game industry, so he repeatedly told me to quit and find a career I love too. Finally I took him up on it, and I launched Wit & Whistle in 2009.

 • Where do you work? 

My studio is in the basement of our home. (A picture is worth a thousand words, so I'm including one!)

• Do you do everything yourself or do you have a team?

The first few years I printed, folded, and cut each and every Wit & Whistle product by hand. This year I've started having many of my products printed at a local printing company. Now I can spend less time manufacturing and more time designing new products. I'm working on a line of tea towels right now, and I'm excited that my mom will be joining Wit & Whistle as my seamstress!

 • What is a typical day for you?

I wake up and lay in bed while checking my email on my phone (which I occasionally drop on my face). Once I'm dressed and ready to go, I make my morning commute down the steps to the basement. One of my dogs, Mabel, accompanies me and spends the day supervising from her pillow on the corner of my desk. I spend my mornings shipping orders and replying to emails, and I reserve the afternoons for drawing/designing/blogging—all the fun creative stuff! I don't follow a very strict routine, because a little variety keeps me on my toes.

 • Which materials couldn’t you live without?

My sketchbook, a Pilot Precise V5 Rolling Ball pen, and Adobe Illustrator.

 • What is your design process?

It involves a lot of trial and error. I sketch and re-sketch things over and over until I come up with something good. It takes tons of experimenting and tweaking before I get to the final design, and I sure wish I knew a shortcut! :)

• Are there any designers/artists you particularly admire? 

Lately I've been crushing on Molly Jacques and Rifle Paper Co.—what stationery designer isn't insanely jealous of Rifle?!

• Which are your favourite blogs?

The Life and Times of the Plume

Oh Hello Friend

Elephantine

Thanks so much for sharing Amanda! One more question, is your studio always that immaculate?!! I'm so impressed.

You can see more of her work on the website and check out Amanda's blog too where she talks about her life behind the scenes. Stationery isn't her only skill, she is a pretty awesome photographer too!

All photos are courtesy of Wit & Whistle. 

British Love: Jubilee Weekend

The weekend we have all be waiting for is nearly here, whether it be because we are truly British and can't wait to celebrate the Queen's 60th Birthday or we are just looking forward to a 4 day weekend of parties and good cheer. I have to admit, I am proud of being British and my excitement is a bit of both (and the fact I get to eat cream tea without feeling guilty! Scones, Jam and clotted cream, mmmmm......). This tea towel by Victoria Eggs pretty much sums the weekend up for me (I'm not really obsessed with food, honestly!)

We are actually escaping the crowds this weekend and joining some friends on a campsite in the beautiful Cotswolds (you can't get more British than that!). It will be my first ever camping trip so it will be interesting to see how I get on without my home comforts. Fingers crossed that English weather puts it's sun hat on or I might be needing these wellies!   Here are a few other items I would like to be taking with me.

Wishing you all a very happy and fun filled Jubilee weekend x

1. Tea Party Tea Towel by Victoria Eggs
2. Harvey Nichols Jubilee Lunch Box (image from CR)
3. Mulberry Union Jack Bayswater Bag
4. Cadbury's Limited Edition Dairy Milk
5. Hunter 'Original Brit' Wellies

Colour Love: Sundaes on Sunday with Louis Vuitton

I spent my Friday night in, catching up and reading this months magazines and have to say I am totally IN LOVE with the Spring Summer 2012 ad campaign for Louis Vuitton's range by Marc Jacobs. It's shot by Steven Meisel and directed by Marc Jacobs himself. Icecream parlouresque, it's so pretty, pink and retro, filled with pastels and candy. All my favourite ingredients!

All images from WWD

Watch the behind the scenes video of the shoot with Marc Jacobs

Typography Love: Happy Pancake Day!

Typographic poster by Tom Daivey

Pancake day always takes me by surprise and by the time I remember and get to the supermarket all the eggs, oranges and lemons are completely sold out! Might try and be a little more inventive this year. Usually we eat them for desert (or at least Jonny my OH does, I have been know to just eat a whole plate of them with orange juice and sugar for my dinner!!) but I'd really like to have a go at some savoury ones. Anyone have any suggestions?

Pancake alphabet by Mitchell Goldstein

Belated Love: Valentine's and Buttons

Image from Eva Black Designs via Pretty Paper Things

Well, we are drawing to the end of Valentine's Day and I'm only just getting round to posting on here. I had planned to fill my blog with lots of oohs and ahhs, hearts and pink & red things I've been collecting over the weeks, but as usual I'm running behind schedule...

So, here is a quick little post that I couldn't miss sharing asap.  Today I stumbled across the blog of HermioneRose and  her delicious buttons. Made lovingly by hand in Cornwall. The cupcake is my favourite!! They remind me of the hours of fun I had with Fimo as a child. Hermione I think they are good enough to eat!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!!

Designer Love: Dana Tanamachi

I know, I am a bit behind with the times and the work of Dana Tanamachi. Design Sponge did an interview with her back in August last year and her wonderful cover for Oprah's O Magazine has certainly been doing the blog rounds lately. When I first came across her work I was so excited that I saved a collection of it in my blog folder with the intention sharing my love. Sadly too many other things took over and I completely forgot to share my new found treasure with you.  Luckily my friend Jo of Daisyspotter reminded me last week when she wrote her own post. Thanks Jo for reminding me!

Dana is a graphic designer and chalk letterer from Brooklyn, New York and one very talented lady. I am completely blown away by the incredible detail of her work. Chalk is such a hard medium to use (I remember having to write on the blackboard at school, it was never neat or in a straight line!), she makes it look so easy. 

I think the way she works is a real inspiration. Read about it in her interview with Design Sponge. I'd love to have a look at her notebooks, I bet they are magical. In her interview with idesign she tells how it all began with a doodle on a chalk board at a friend's house party . You see you never know when a little moment of creativity will unleash something amazing that will grow to become hugely successful and unique. I'm still waiting for my moment!

See more of Dana's work here.

All images are taken from Dana's website.

Book Love : Good enough to eat!

As you can see I haven't been very active on my blog lately, mainly down to being completely snowed under with work. I can't complain though because I am working on some really lovely little projects and I am reminded just how much I enjoy the job I do. 

Another great thing about being so busy is that I am doing lots of mood boards and hunting around for inspiration which means I come across lots of lovely and exciting things.  I will be taking advantage of my first free weekend in months and dedicating some much needed time to my poor neglected blog by posting lots of delightful things I have found. So watch this space!

Today I found this good enough to eat book, Eat Me: Appetite for design by Victionary (it's been out since September, how did I miss it?!!!). It looks like a wafer biscuit, with a bite taken out,  and is filled with loads of tasty ways of using food in design. It includes a showcase of case studies from product designers, packaging and branding experts, entrepreneurs and artists. 

"EAT ME takes out a slice of modern life where food has been taken as the medium to promote social interactions and ginger up every day life"

All images are courtesy of Victionary and Dezeen Magazine

As a avid lover of books, design AND food, I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of this book. Sadly it doesn't seem to be available anywhere in the UK BUT, woo hoo! I just discovered that Dezeen Magazine are offering a giveaway of 5 copies to their readers. If anyone knows anywhere I can get a copy please let me know, just in case I'm not one of the lucky 5 Dezeen readers :-)