the green gal

Palette picking 5

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And relax. That's exactly the effect this image and colour palette has on me. A lovely touch of calm and tranquility in quite a hectic week.

Palette picking 4

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In commemoration of the last typewriter to be made in the UK pinging off the presses yesterday, I thought I'd use this fab ad as inspiration for today's palette. I don't know where the advert was published originally but I found it on Uppercase's website where the brains behind the magazine are working on a book all about the wonderful typewriter. They're looking for crowdfunding to help them get the project off the ground so do take a look at the site to see how you can get involved. If you want to see the last British typewriter being made watch this video on BBC News' site.

And in case you aren't sure if I own a typewriter myself, I do! A gorgeous teal-coloured one, as you can see in this photo from the Christmas gift fair I did on Saturday, it makes a great focal (and talking point) on my stand. The typewriter illustration that adorns several different items of the green gables' stationery is my drawing of this very typewriter.

Oh, and don't forget, tomorrow, Thursday, is the last day for free shipping at thegreengables.co.uk/shop so don't miss out!

Gift wrapped & ready to give (with free shipping too)

My love of stationery continues, as well as The Eco Stationery Club stationery subscription I have also put together a range of stationery gift sets that are wrapped and ready to give from the green gables. And of course they're all eco-friendly…

stationery gift sets

All you need to do is write a message on the tag and give to your lucky friend or family member!

You may have spotted some new notebooks in these pics too. There are now A5 versions of the vintage Singer sewing machine notebook, as well as the simple things illustration pattern in black and white, and colour…

Plus, to thank all the lovely folk who are cracking on with their Christmas shopping now rather than leaving it until the last minute, I'm giving free shipping within the UK on everything at thegreengables.co.uk!

So, happy Christmas present-hunting!

3, 2, 1… competition time!

I haven't treated you all to a gift from the green gables in a while so I think it's about time I did! So, who would like to win a stationery bundle?! You can win three sets of six postcards, two greeting cards and one A5 notebook AND you get to pick the designs you win. 

I've only shown you a few examples here so take a look at the postcards, greeting cards and notebooks at the green gables to decide which designs you'd like to win. Plus I'll chuck in a couple of mini sticker sheets too!

You can put your name in the metaphorical hat in any or all of these ways, each one counts as an entry:

• leave a comment on this post telling me which designs you'd like to win

• sign up to the newsletter at thegreengables.co.uk

• share this post on your blog, on twitter or facebook, just be sure to link to me so I can count it as an entry

• follow @thegreengal on twitter and retweet my giveaway tweets 

• like the green gables on facebook and share the competition post

I will pick a winner at random after midday GMT on Friday 5 October and one lucky person will get their choice of postcards sent to them!

Everything July

I've managed to forget to do a recap for the last couple months but at least I've remembered this time! So, here are a handful of my favourite posts from last month…

I launched a few new products

A spot of movie-watching inspired this free printable poster

The super talented Jessica Swift caught my eye

I got excited about new magazine The Simple Things

and I exhibited at a gorgeous vintage country fair! Now, what's in store for August…

Drawing a day: 2 August

My second daily drawing, this time I decided to draw my favourite vintage thermos flask (I have a few) which we use when we go on day trips. Somehow tea tastes better fromf this than it does from modern flasks.

You can find out all about the Drawing a Day challenge here.

Modern Vintage Style

I was lucky enough to receive some vouchers for my birthday recently so I treated myself to Modern Vintage Style by stylist Emily Chalmers. 

I haven't had time to have much more of a flick (and snap these pics while I was at it) but I can already tell it will be one of those coffee table books (not that I have a coffee table) that I will delve into whenever I want an inspiration boost.

The photos were taken by Debi Treloar whose work you may also have spotted in Selina Lake's Homespun Style, among many other gorgeous books.

Are there any interiors books that you love and would recommend? I've got my eye on a few more titles but would be glad to hear of any in particular that you enjoy.

My weekend

It was my birthday on Friday so the husband and I took ourselves off to Hastings for the day. Following excellent advice from twitter folk we stuck to the Old Town. We were glad we did as we found lots of interesting little shops and cafes, a pub so old it looked like it could collapse at any moment and so many junk shops I was in secondhand heaven! We parked by the beach and when the clouds broke for a few minutes I snapped the pic above. If you plan a visit to Hastings Old Town be sure to check out the brilliant Made in Hastings and Butlers' Famed Emporium.

My weekend

I spent Saturday at the Village Vintage fair in Cuckfield, West Sussex, above is a snap of my stand. I met some lovely folk who said very kind things about my illustrations and the green gables products as well as spending their hard earned money with me. And I bought a fab vintage dress from my stand neighbour so all in a good day. 

Summer fair season

Whether the sun is shining or the rain is pouring down, now is the time for summer fairs. I'm doing two this year – one I've done a couple times before and another that's brand new to me. This Saturday is the Vintage & Handmade Fair at Shalford Village Hall in Surrey. I've taken part in the last two fairs and they have such a lovely atmosphere with talented small businesses and friendly visitors. I will have my full range on display plus a few new stationery products too!

  find it here

There are three new additions to my range of A5 recycled notebooks, all featuring my hand drawn illustrations with signature stripy inside covers.

find it here 

I'm hoping to bring along new postcard designs too but it depends if my printers can finish them in time (you can see one in the top photo). I'm also trying a new idea, it's not on my website yet as I thought I'd see how it goes at the fairs, plus I'd love to know what you think. These are gift tags with my popular typewriter illustration hand stamped onto brown manilla tags (measuring approx 11cm x 5.5cm). They're available in sets of three white, blue or red tags, what do you think?

You're a discerning bunch so I'd love your opinion. And I will, of course, have my paper bunting with me – both plantable and colourful versions! You can find out more about the fair on Vintage Pixie's site.

The other fair I'm exhibiting at is the Village Vintage Country Living Fair at Cuckfield Recreation Ground in West Sussex on Saturday 7 July. This is a new one for me but it looks absolutely gorgeous, I'm worried I'm going to want to leave my stand to spend lots of money at other people's stalls! Plus they have a Champagne Hay Bale Bar…!

If you can come along to either fair I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time and leave with your purse a little lighter. Do pop by and say hi to me too!