HaPPy ChriStMas & A GrEaT 2012!

Best Wishes

From

Kate Smith Designs

Kate Smith Designs_Christmas Snowman Card 2011

Join in with Minty & Monty Christmas Carol Singing on the Kukkle.com

Minty & Monty Christmas carol Singing

Minty & Monty Christmas card

Kukkle at Christmas

I’m pleased to tell you that you can buy more Minty & Monty Cards on Kukkle.com

Kukkle.com is a great website with lots of Christmas and everyday occasion personalised cards you can custom, by changing the font colour and size,  you an even upload photos from your facebook account and add a filter to change the look of the photo – IT’S AMAZING!

There’s lots of other fantastic cards designed by my friends too!  So Go on, give it a whirl- Enjoy!

It has been exciting times for Minty & Monty, as they visited the Brand Licensing Europe 2011.

It was nice to see old friends and meet some new clients who I spent some time talking to them about a secret project I’m working on at the moment.

Minty & Monty & Kate Smith

I heard on the radio yesterday that it’s National Cup Cake week, that inspired me to draw…Here’s a Cup Cake to celebrate. I wonder if I manage to eat a cupcake by the end of the Week? http://www.nationalcupcakeweek.co.uk/

cup cake

Kate Smith Designs Well Dressing Stand 2011

During the Summer I had a stall at the Artist Market at the West Hallam Well Dressings. My Hubby helped which was lovely, he put all his selling tricks in to practice! I managed to sell a few cards and prints, but the main aim was to get general feed back on Minty & Monty The Tree house Twins, all comments  from children and adults were  very positive. Here’s just a few below that was written in my comment book:

“Wonderful designs, can’t wait to place an order”! Tracy

“Love Kate’s work and so does our daughter. It really makes her nursery.” Andrew

“ Inspiring children’s characters, lovely, cheerful illustrations of which children can relate to and associate.” Heidi

“Beautifully made. Very creative. Lovely to see something different for children”. Glenda

jelly fish doodle dairy

Jelly Fish sand Scribble

On my annual holiday to Devon, I was sitting on the beach and there was thousands of tiny jelly fish, this inspired me to draw- This is just one of the many pages of jelly fish out of my doodle dairy -I had a very jolly doodle that day!

Bee illustration

Just lately I’ve been a really busy buzzy bee, I have just completed putting together a Book called ‘It’s Ok’ for young parents by young parents. It was an Arts for health project which the Quad asked me to do. Hopefully I’ll be able to put it on my website for you all to see.

I’m in the progress of  finishing  a Logo for ‘Cafe” Culture & Arts Forum Erewash-which is also exciting!

I have designed a range of 6 Minty & Monty Father’s Day Cards and today I have completed  a logo and some more secret character designs -including another Bee !!  Thats why I have bee’s on my mind Today!

My Prints that I donated for the ‘Arts Auction Pakistani Floods’ helped to raise a grand total of over £2.500, I couldn’t go to the event but a friend has forwarded me some photos of the evening and the floods Logo which was designed by © Stanley Donwood 2011( Radiohead artist).

arts Auction Logo

Auction hall

Auction Gavel

Auction 2

Wishing you all a Happy Easter!

I love Spring

“I love Spring” This is such a beautiful time of year, the flowers are starting to hello again!

I’ve started a little bit of spring cleaning and this morning in the recycle bin , I noticed on a scrap piece of paper this tiny little drawing, I thought to my self – I can’t throw her away……… after Scanning  and colouring her in here she is!

I just wanted to let everyone know I have donated some prints for the Arts Auction- Pakistani Floods. The Art Auction is to be held at the Cube, Deda on Saturday 19th March to raise money to help victims of the recent floods in Pakistan. Fingers crossed that they will sell all my Prints! Here’s just a sample of the Prints donated, To view the rest go to the blue link or their website http://artsauction.co.uk/

Just Curly

Moo Cow

I noticed yesterday that the Snowdrops have just started to appear in the Garden. A lovely sign that spring is around the corner.

February has gone by like a flash for me.

On Saturday I was at a Creative Networking event called ‘Creative Garden” I met some new and familiar faces. It was well worth the visit as I got the opportunity to catch up with some old friends and make new contacts to help develop my business.

I helped with a Board Games workshop at the Quad which was great fun, it’s such a pleasure to help children and adults be creative…they have such lovely , imaginative and original ideas. It was great just to help to draw out Game boards with a pencil and a ruler. I can say that I was a little rusty as I take using illustrator And Indesign software for granted these days!

Futuristic Racing Game

Princess Game

Treasure Island Game

Shooting Star Game

Stand on one leg

With regards to my freelance illustration work. I’m very busy and I’m enjoying designing  a friends wedding invitations!

The Sun has definitely had his hat on today, he has made the  winter morning frost sparkle!

Happy Sunshine

I have lots to smile about this January, I’ve managed to meet up with  lots of dear friends, who I’ve not seen for along time. I’m planning a Arts for Health drawing project at the Quad in Derby which will be a number of workshops , I’m really excited about it. Arts for Health is an area I’ve always wished to get involved with, so there’s another ticked box on my wish list!

Just before Christmas I have started to create some more secret friends which I’m enjoying, I’m in the 2nd phase of development…. but I’m afraid I can’t say any more than that at the moment.

I have updated Minty & Monty’s Logo, see what you think, comments gratefully received.

Minty & Monty New Tree Logo Colour