Commission in the Countryside

'Dolliedaydream' also known as Keri Gray got in touch with me after seeing my illustrations via twitter on my website and in Arkadia magazine. She writes a lovely blog all about fashion and her life by the sea in Dorset.

She needed a new blog header, and of course I was more than happy to oblige. I love taking on commissions and bringing people's ideas into reality.

This drawing also coincided nicely with a family week away in Herefordshire. Drawing and painting is never a chore for me, always a pleasure, so having some time with some extra pairs of hands to help with our 3 little lovelies gave me the opportunity to get drawing!

Have a look at some of the things we got up to in beautiful Herefordshire, and of course Keri's new blog header......

Meeting some wriggly friends

Beautiful girl with some beautiful daffodils in the woods

West Midlands safari park!

Pony riding.

Ludlow Castle

The evenings and time at the holiday house spent drawing, and here's the finished blog header.

Keri wanted to include her love of yoga (she's also a yoga teacher) , life by the sea with her little boy and Chinese Crested powderpuff dog, and of course her passion for fashion. She also requested that I use a colour palette inspired by french patissiere 'La Laduree' who make amazing macaroons in beautiful pastel colours. 

So, there is the finished piece, I am very happy to say she loved it, and I keep having a peep at her blog and feeling a little bit famous, and very pleased with how it looks! 

You can have a look at my commissions page here and if you would like me to make your ideas a reality with my pencils, pens and paint, then I would be thrilled to hear from you. You can get in touch by email at sarah@sarahlovellart.co.uk or via facebook or twitter . 

Thanks for reading, would love to hear what you think if you would like to leave a comment below. 

xxx

Who Ate All the (Dorset) Pies?

Who doesn't love a pie? They are certainly a very popular dinner choice in our house!

I was recently contacted by 'The Dorset Pie Co' , who saw my illustrations on line. They needed some branding for their delicious pies. They have a range of scrummy flavours, including Chicken, Ham and Leek, Moroccan Chicken, Homity, Spicy Bean to name a few, and asked me to come up with some illustrations to compliment their delicious creations.

Here's a taster (!) of what I came up with, follow the link at the bottom to visit their website. They are also regulars at local farmers markets, so it'd be worth following them on Facebook and Twitter, so you can get yourself one and make your own mind up!

Chicken, Ham and Leek Pie

Lamb, Mint and Potato Pie

Steak and Kidney Pie

Beef and Ale Pie

Look out for the 'Dorset Pie Co' Logo!

They sound delicious don't they? With more flavours on their way, keep an eye on their website here , check out their facebook page here and follow them on Twitter here .

I'd love to hear what you think if you'd like to comment below? You can also follow me on Twitter or like my Facebook page to keep up to date with what I am up to, or little gems that I find on my travels online!  

Hillarys Blinds Country Crafts Competition - Adventure through the Giant Poppies

Thanks to 'Craft Blog UK' I saw this competition run by 'Hillarys', who make beautiful blinds and shutters to name a few things, and thought I would give it a go!

I had to choose one of their beautiful fabric designs and 'cut, stitch and blog' my way into their competition. As soon as I saw their selection of fabrics to choose from, and spotted the poppies, I knew straight away what I wanted to create.

I have used the poppies as a backdrop to add some familiar characters (if you've seen my paintings) to. Have a look at the series of pictures below to join my little story. Big thanks to 'Hillarys' for the fabric, and fingers crossed!

The beginning

I start to cut out and place the poppies onto my material

More poppies and some extra flowers using a selection from my stash!

My little family of felt creatures, ready for their adventure.

Putting them all in place

The sewing begins

A little further along and all the animals are in place.

The white horse leading the adventure.

Adding hand stitched detail for the eyes and noses.

And here is the finished piece! 

It measures apx 1metre long by 50 cm wide.

Hope you like it, would love to hear what you think, if you want to leave your comments below, thank you xx

Visit my Website

Visit Hillarys Website

BRAND NEW! African Wildlife Colouring Book

As I write, my first box of my brand new, bright yellow, gradually depleting 'African Wildlife Colouring Book' is upstairs- so exciting! I now have 2 colouring books.

Following the success of my first Uk Wildlife colouring book, I made number 2. It took me a while to decide what to go for, but following a visit from our lovely friends and their beautiful daughter, who announced she wanted to colour in a lion, it was decided, Africa it was!

The book features 20 animals from the wilds of Africa, including the likes of a crocodile, dik dik, meerkat and black mamba snake to name a few. Each hand drawn picture is accompanied by 3 fun facts about each animal, each letter is also loving hand stamped. Did you know that gorillas laugh when they are tickled and cry when they're sad?

When I got the sample , I was so pleased with how it turned out, so was my daughter who simply loves colouring. Have a look at the pictures below and see what you think.....

Front Cover

Back Cover

One of the pages featuring a Gorilla and her baby

My number 1 critic getting straight to work on the sample copy as soon as it arrived!

Love this one she coloured, a golden ninja meerkat!

If you would like to read more about this book and my Uk wildlife one too, just click on this link to see them on my website here .

This book would make an ideal gift for little ones or grown ups alike, anyone who likes to colour, and let's face it, who doesn't?!

I'd LOVE to hear what you think if you'd like to comment below, thanks for reading x 

It Must Be Love!

Happy new year, welcome to 2014. Christmas and new year over, it's onwards and upwards to Valentine's day. I love a bit of romance, but not the really soppy stuff, it's the simple things that always get me, little things that make a big difference.

With this in mind, I have created a few new Valentine's card designs, simple, yet beautiful and something to make that some one special smile.....take a look....

Foxes, I have a thing about foxes, I love to draw them, and they have this beautiful quality about them, so had to include them in one of my new designs, 'Fox Love', as I said, simple and beautiful!

'I am so in LOVE with you' something a little bit different, but this little phrase was dancing about in my head for a while before the design took shape. I have to say it was inspired by my wonderful husband, and this card has inspired some more ideas, so watch this space.

Head over to my Valentine's cards page to see and buy these, plus some more designs too. May you have a very LOVEly Valentine's day xxx

A Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Sarah Lovell Art

Hi everyone,

Well it's been a busy year, and I have loved the start of Sarah Lovell Art. I never thought I would have my own little business, and be making things (my favourite thing to do) and then people want to buy them and stock them in their shops! It's all very exciting, and it never gets less exciting when I get a new order.

I thought I would sign off for this year with a little round up of my favourite bits from 2013, I have learned so many new things and met some wonderful other designers and makers along the way. Here goes...

My first card order from the lovely Gullivers book shop was wonderful, I remember going in there , and tentatively showing them my small collection of 9 card designs and them saying they would take 4 of each!

Tis Tac in the flowers, one of my first designs inspired by my daughter's favourite toy!

Feb this year, I won tickets to the amazing 'Design Your Career' which was held at the Dance Pavillion in Bournemouth. This was a real turning point for me, and got me soooo inspired and fired up to really get going with my business, the speakers there were just fantastic, if you are starting up your own business, I couldn't recommend it enough!

I have loved taking part in the various fairs and markets this year. I now have my own gazebo! Going to these and selling things I have made to people and receiving lots of lovely feedback, well, when your an artist and people want your art work in their homes...you can't beat it! My favourite fair that I have done has been the amazing 'Anonymous Travelling Market' , if you haven't been, then go, you will not regret it! 

I have entered a few competitions, one of which was run by the very inspiring Lilla Rogers Studio, I found out about it on Facebook, and thought I'd give it a go. There were over 1500 entries, and unfortunately I didn't get through to the 2nd round, but it did result in me having this print (below) to sell, which has been one of my most popular prints I have done! I'm sure Lilla Rogers will be giving me a call some day!!! In the mean time, I find her very inspiring, and I read her book 'I just like to Make things' which is excellent! 

A Midsummer Night Fairground Limited Edition A3 Print

Lilla Rogers book, definitely recommend it!

Next I think it was my first feature in a magazine 'Arkadia' who found me on Twitter (I have become a big fan of twitter and learned lots about the power of social networking) They featured 2 of my prints including the above 'Midsummer Night Fairground' and , below, 'I Believe in Unicorns' A3 print! It was sooo exciting to see my art work in a real magazine!

Arkadia Magazine.

There have been so many highlights this year, and these are just a few, if you would like to see more of what I do , you can look at my website here . I also do commissions, and would love to hear from you if you would like one. 

There are lots more new products in the pipeline and coming soon in 2014. Watch this space!

A Perfect Stocking Filler, Ideal for the Little Scooter or Biker in your Family this Christmas!

If some one special in your family is hoping for a new bike or scooter this Christmas, then why not make it even more special with a set of fabulous bicycle and scooter ribbons?

They will give your bike or scooter an individual, fun twist, your little one will love! What's more, their set of wheels will surely stand out from the crowd, in the park and playground.

'Pinky' Ribbons

Tropical Ribbons

'Summertime' Ribbons

'Classic' Ribbons

Limited Edition 'Fairground' Ribbons

All the ribbons are handmade and attach to handlebars with a soft colourful elastic, so they are super easy to interchange between bikes and scooters. They really do make riding more beautiful!

Available exclusively from Sarah Lovell Art CLICK HERE!