London Montage on Lorraine :)

Last week my work was shown on ITV's Lorraine :)

There was a whole feature on how you can decorate and style your home this year with British inspired artwork and accessories - and there mine was!! SO EXCITING!! 

 

Available at Isme.com as well as the Graham and Brown website for a small £25 

A perfect patriotic accessory for you home and just in time for the Jubilee and 2012 Olympics :) 

xx

Im Making Mojitos :)

So I've decided Im going to try and grow a plant this year - I have failed in the past but this year I am determined! I bought a strawberry mojito kit from Sainsburys and inside you get all the bits and bobs to grow your own strawberries and spearmint! 

I planted them a couple of weeks ago so there isn't much happening at the moment but I'm very excited to nurture my new plants into healthy organic summer produce - I feel like the female equivalent to Alan Titchmarsh at the moment :)

 

                                           

I'll keep you all up to date on their progress :) xx

Easter Cupcakes

To make Easter just that little bit extra special, Lotte and I decided we would make cupcakes and delivered them to our nearest and dearest.

With a little help from our friend - the hummingbird bakery cookbook we made some yummy earl grey cupcakes 

Definitely worth a go :)

Ingredients:
For the cakes:

• 3 earl grey tea bags
• 3 tbsp hot water (just boiled)
• 80g butter
• 280g caster sugar
• 240g plain flour
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1/4tsp salt
• 200ml milk
• 2 large eggs

For the icing:

• 50ml milk
• 500g icing sugar
• 160g butter

Method:

1. Put the teabags in the hot water and let it infuse for 30mins.
2. Preheat oven to 190′C and line the muffin tin with liners.
3. In a mixer, mix together butter, sugar, flour, baking powder and salt until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.
4. In a jug, whisk together the milk and eggs, then pour in the infused tea, squeezing out every drop of liquid from the teabags. Save the teabags for the icing.
5. Pour 3 quarters of the milk mixture into the dry ingredients, mix slowly to combine first, then increase speed to mix till the batter is smooth. Pour in the rest of the milk mixture and mix until smooth and lump free.
6. Fill the muffin liners no more than 2/3 full, bake for 18 – 22 minutes, until well risen and golden. When cooked, cool on a cool rack entirely.
7. To make the icing, put the used teabags in the 50ml milk and leave to infuse for 30mins.
8. Mix together the butter and the icing sugar, now mix very slowly at first as it will go everywhere… if using mixer, remember to cover it with a tea towel first. Then mix in the tea flavoured milk until fluffy.
9. Ice the cooled cakes and decorate! 

Enjoy :) xx

Happy Easter Everyone

Happy Easter - hope everyone had a lovely Easter break and ate lots and lots of chocolate.  

Every year my mum decorates our house at home with Easter decorations including an Easter tree - so this year I wanted to do the same in my new flat.  I suggested it to my housemate who had never heard of an Easter tree!! Well after a bit of explaining she soon got on board with the idea and we spent the next evening blowing eggs and covering them in paint, glitter, buttons - we even had our very own Easter Bunny :)

Claire Mayes (age 6)

Haha my mum still likes to hang these every year :) 

( a beak and a mouth??!! )

Follow Me on Pinterest

I had mentioned before that I had come across the amazing website which is Pinterest, well now you can follow me too.  If you type in Claire Mayes into the search box you can see the different things I have pulled and re-pinned and even become a follower of mine.  

If you start your own boards let me know and I'll make sure I follow you too xx

London Montage

I mentioned the other week that the L.O.VE piece of work I did for Graham and Brown was now available at Marks and Spencer, well I recently found out that the other piece of work, the London montage, is also available as an online purchase - how exciting!! 

It is available on Graham and Brown's website - check it out!! xx 

Short and Snappy Weekend Project

These are just a few illustrations I did over the weekend.  I wanted to do a quick snappy project and try and develop 3 characters over the weekend.  I drew a Father Christmas, a Princess and a Pirate. These two are my favourite...not too bad considering I havn't done any character work for 3years x

 

New Orla

One of the girls at M+P had this last week....I love it!! Its definatly my favourite design so far

Think a trip to Tesco is needed xx

Good Morning Monday :)

Good Morning :) So I'm back from Huddersfield now.  I had such an amazing time at Mamas and Papas,  I learnt so much and met all lovely people.

Iv now got my new desk space set up with everything I need including my new Wacom pad, Cee-Lo Green, a cup of tea and one of my Mums rasberry muffins

Now to crack on with some work!! xx

Yummy!

Doily DIY :)

I saw these on Pinterest this morning and think they are beautiful :) I love the shadows cast on the walls, I have two lights in my bedroom so I better get collecting old doilies....first stop my Grandma xx

Donna Wilson

I have been doing some print research this week for some pattern work and I am loving Donna Wilson's new additions.  Her style is so fun and unique I don't think there is a single piece I don't like....here are just a few of my current favourites 

perfect for snuggling up on the sofa with a cup of tea and a smushy film :)

First pay cheque and these WILL be mine <3

i love pinterest

A few weeks ago I discovered Pinterest and I love it!!

Have a look....I promise you'll love it tooo xx

Marks and Spencer :)

Wayyyy back in February I mentioned that some of the work I had done for Graham and Brown was going to be sold in Marks and Spencer....and now it is!! It is available to buy on the Marks and Spencer website.  Im so so excited!! Check it out :) xx

Mamas and Papas :)

Seven weeks ago I begun my eight week internship at Mamas and Papas and I am enjoying every single second.  I have been working with such lovely people and being involved in really exciting projects.    Since being here I have worked on colour trends, created collections of patterns including character patterns, produced presentation boards, been involved with fabrics and fabric costings, produced design specifications and attended design meetings. Although Im really sad its coming to an end Im going to make the most of my last week and a half :) 

Eden Project

While I was in Cornwall there was 1 thing I really wanted to do and that was visit the Eden Project.  It was amazing to see so many different and unusual plants and flowers...I would definatly recommend a visit if you have never been :) xx

Sand, Sea, Shopping and....Rain

Hayle, Shopping, Scones, Tea, Padstow, Fishing, Sand, Sea, Pasties, Photos, Eden Project, Mevaguissy,  Seals, St Ives, BBQ's....I LOVE CORNWALL!!

So after I graduated I went on holiday with my parents down to Cornwall, I hadn't been since I was young so I was really excited to see everything again!! I had a really lovely time even if there was a lack of sunshine!!! 

I was so happy to have a blue chalet!!

A real Cornish Pastie!! 

Last day in Padstow :) 

After a brilliant week away I cant wait to go back!! xx

Im backkkk :)

Helloooo, sorry Iv been gone so long.  Been up to lots of exciting which I am just about to post and show you all :) Enjoyyy x

Graduation 2011 :

I had the most amazing graduation day yesterday.  Trentham gardens was beautiful and the sun helped make the day just that little bit more perfect.