:) Find my illustration embroidery-Life in sepia -in this months Mollie Mag. Inside is a tutorial and Monique drawn template to help you create your own retro stitch-drawn camera art work.

A big thank you to the talented and generous Bee Smith- Milliner for lending me her magical studio to photograph my art work. My illustration camera stitch project is soon to be seen in Mollie Makes Magazine.  Thanks Beep, Yippeee xx

I created a how-to Illustration/Embroidery project for Crafty Magazine. Stitch guide, hand drawn template and steps included. See images below for a taste of the project. Featured in Crafty Magazine, page 55, available  NOW in stores. To buy in the UK check WHSmiths or for international sales check www.craftymag.com. 

Monique Jivram for Crafty Mag. Illustration-Embroidery.

Crafty Magazine featuring Monique Jivram

Crafty Magazine featuring Monique Jivram

Time’s a-ticking. Free embroidery template.

I thought I would draw and share a free embroidery pattern with you.

Click here for a high resolution version of ‘Time's a Ticking’

Small print:

This pattern is created by Monique Jivram © www.moniquejivram.com. It is for personal use only. I release this artwork under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.2.0 UK: England & Wales License/ Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States License.

You may freely use and enjoy the embroidery template as many times as you like but….. please follow this two rules:

1.    Give me credit (a link back is always appreciated- that way, everyone else knows they can use it too).

2.    Don’t make a profit off any use or modification of my work.

Thank you for respecting my licensing. By using this pattern you are agreeing to all the legal restrictions regarding this pattern.  Aside from that….. I really really really hope you enjoy and feel super inspired by the template.

xxxx

P.s. If you really want to use this artwork to make a profit please talk to me and maybe we can work something out so that everybody wins.  Should you want to tell a friend or show me what you do with it, please do as that’s super inspiring.

This week and last week I was invited to showcase my work at John Lewis, Kingston-upon-Thames for British Craft and Design month 2013.

A few pictures from the showcases:

xxx

My studio

This weekend I had a studio spring clean. As everything was a little bit tidier I thought it might be nice to share some studio photos with you.

This is where I draw:

Sad news for London's Covent Garden.

The Dover book shop will be closing in March. The Dover Bookshop has been a huge source of inspiration to many designers specialising in royalty free images and will be closing after 27-years in Earlham Street.

Julie Verhoeven, Paul Smith and even Vivienne Westwood have used Dover pictures in their work. Artist Stanley Donwood also made use of Dover imagery in the title graphic on the cover of Thom Yorke's album, The Eraser.

It’s hard to miss with its bright yellow frontage and sign featuring a design donated by the artist Eduardo Paolozzi, a long-time fan of the shop. A treasure of a shop that is really worth checking out before it disappears.

For now, the Dover Bookshop is running a closing down sale, with 20% off all Dover titles in the shop or a 10% discount online (with free P&P).

Best of luck to Tim and all his staff at the shop.

The Dover Bookshop is at 18 Earlham Street, London WC2H 9LG

A little showcase of some of my new work:

A few drawings from the archive.

xXx

When I have the time I will embroider everything.

A little ethnic inspiration, one of my mood boards:

1.       Wear colour.

2.       Feeling a bit artsy.

3.       Parna Linen.

4.       Pinterest.

5.       That bohemian girl.

6.       Pinterest.

7.       Aida Coronada.

8.       Calabash design.

9.       Blue grass thread sky.

Fontastico

I've recently started making my own fonts using my I-pad. It’s a lot of fun (I’m a font geek) and I’m really looking forward to using them in my work.

Check out www.2ttf.com to make your own fonts on a I-pad.

Here is a font I made, it’s called Monique font:

Head over www.snippetandink.com/50-fonts/ for lots of FREE pre-made fonts and to www.handmadefont.com for some beautiful unique fonts to purchase.

Happy fonting

xx

I was lucky enough to spend a day in the magical world of welsh fine artist Rebecca Rendell.

Re:create artist Rebecca Rendell creates compelling mixed media installations making connections between humans and objects whilst considering the space the objects occupy. She creates touching and impressive installations responding to objects that she has catalogued.

Although we work in such different mediums and come from greatly contrasting heritages, I am always fascinated to see similar interest in our work and always inspired by Rebecca’s work and thought process. She is defiantly one to watch.

Last month she created a key sculptural installation simultaneously I created a key drawing.

Here’s a few photos from her studio space and a picture of my key piece.

www.rebeccarendell.com

 Some of my drawings from the archive.

xXx

 A few years ago I took on a private commission to illustrate and embroider on a jacket. I liked it so I made another for myself:

Although its winterery- Brrrr- here in London, Ravens Court Park is still boasting some awesome early autumn colours. I'm completely drawn to these sharp reds and juicy oranges and can see these tones sneaking into my drawings. 

Brace yourself, here come the instapics …..

Embroidery at the the Design Centre. 

I love that you can see the front and back. 

Design Centre

Floral ribbons front and backDesign Centre

The design centre at Philadelphia university houses 200,000+ objects related to textiles and fashion. Click here to visit their blog. 

Is that a sofa without any cushions?

Throw Pillow Cover made from 100% spun polyester poplin fabric. Individually cut and sewn by hand,double-sided print finished with a concealed zipper for ease of care.

Click here for more information.

Society6

This typography book is the handiwork of French designer, Marion Bataille. This is a mock-up of the book videoed by staff at Roaring Brook Press, who are publishing it in October this year.

Roaring Brook Press

Some of my drawings from the archive.

xXx

Wherever I go I seem to come back with little samples of fabrics. Some of them give me inspiration for my work so, I thought I would share a few of my treasures.