Laura Skilbeck

New Valentines Cards for 2012

2012-01-09T16:01:00.003Z

It's that time of year again... to let your loved one know exactly how you feel... with one of these lovely new Valentines cards... available in my Etsy shop just as soon as this baby gives me a second to list them!

I am going to send baby Rosa the one that says BE MY BABY. But as Darren pointed out she already is!

Art house mead cards

2012-01-06T18:05:00.002Z

my favourite inspiration for today is this card that I gave to amy and maria because they are moving to london. it is made by art house mead, a brilliant project making things to sell that feature the artworks of adults with learning difficulties. Amy thought I had made this card myself. I love how simple and to the point it is, I think it is so easy to spoil a drawing by over-doing it.

Ideas and inspiration for today

2012-01-05T20:30:00.001Z

Sketches of the light up plastic rabbit that Rosa got for Christmas bought from the brilliant Oklahoma gift shop in Manchester.

Todays inspiration!

2012-01-01T20:02:00.001Z

A picture in the newspaper of baby pink, baby blue and white pencils that tell you how nice you are. I like the colours, the stripes they make, the font stamped on the pencils, and the sayings. Oh and I like the polka dots in this photo too I don't know why I've always liked polka dots! minnie mouse? Rock n roll skirts?

My inspiration for today

2011-12-31T18:45:00.001Z

Two sheets of dusty pink tissue paper (from a christmas present), a piece of brown leaves wallpaper, a torn bit of brown envelope and a blue stamp that didn't get stamped! They sort of accidentally ended up together on my table. I love the colours, the subtle shades, the patterns, the feel of the paper, and how nicely they go together.

My inspiration for today

2011-12-30T22:29:00.002Z

My friend Amy's brilliant website! I just found out that she has put a lot of her art work onto a website and it is great... click here to have a look for yourself.

I like the wonky, sensitive and subtle quality that runs through all of the work. I like the care and time that you can see has gone into each piece. I like the washed out colours. I like that there are a lot of different types of work that all have a similar quality, you can still tell it was all made by the same artist.

I hope if you keep looking back at my inspirations list you will see how these things feed into my own new work.

My inspirations

2011-12-28T22:44:00.002Z

Starting with what has inspired me today, this interview with the brilliant lisa stubbs on artonomy website... http://www.artonomy.co/2010/10/21/lisa-stubbs-illustrator-artmarketing/ I like the simple colour palattes, the use of pattern in the background and the rosy red cheeks. hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Xx

I can't believe it!

2011-12-07T15:59:00.002Z

phew finally got round to making a new card out of the doodles I've been doing over the last couple of months! Available in my Etsy shop and stockists soon! I would LOVE to know what you think....

Welcome!

2011-10-02T21:41:00.001+01:00

Here is the lovely little reason for not having had a second to update my blog in 10 weeks! Baby Rosa was born at 9:45 on saturday 23rd July weighing 10lbs 5oz, she is so amazing and so exhausting!

Happy Birthday to Kate!

2011-06-20T18:04:00.002+01:00

I am just going to meet my friend Kate and I haven't seen her since her birthday in May so I am taking her this birthday card - the first copy of a new design that I have JUST finished minutes ago!

Not all of my sketchbook is inside a sketchbook...

2011-06-16T01:06:00.002+01:00

a lot of it is on scraps of paper and things I've found like this picture of foxes on the inside of a cardboard envelope that arrived this morning. Then I keep all of the little scraps in a folder and that is a sketchbook folder.

Learning to draw foxes

2011-06-15T01:06:00.001+01:00

Can you tell I haven't got round to looking at a picture of a real fox yet?!

Today

2011-06-13T22:19:00.002+01:00

I am practicing drawing different animals and working out very complicated things like what makes a mouse different from a cat and what makes a dog different from a bear and if a mouse has a pointy nose then what makes it different from a fox?!

2011-06-12T23:10:00.000+01:00

my painting for today.. a bear playing guitar on a mug with musical notes! I'm hoping to get some similar ones in my etsy shop very soon!!

2011-06-11T21:17:00.000+01:00

2011-06-10T22:39:00.001+01:00

My drawing for today (an idea for my next cup design)...

2011-06-09T22:37:00.001+01:00

Today my drawing is on a cup and saucer - the first one I have ever painted. Hopefully I'll do some more and put them in my Etsy shop soon.

2011-06-08T22:35:00.000+01:00

Day 2: It's funny how different my bears looked after I had looked at a picture of a real bear! I will never be able to go back to the funny creatures that I drew yesterday now! I think I will always try to draw without looking first and see what comes out.

2011-06-07T22:31:00.000+01:00

Today I'm starting a new sketchbook and a new project, to do a drawing every day. From looking at the artist sketchbooks on the Book By its Cover blog I've realised how nice it is to look inside other people's sketchbooks so I'm letting you look inside mine! Here is Day 1: Learning to Draw Bears.

2011-04-21T10:39:00.004+01:00

Yippee! My new website where you can read my diaries is finally finished! This is what I looked like at 3am when I was putting the finishing touches to it! let me know what you think... www.lauraskilbeck.com

be my babies

2011-04-01T00:08:00.001+01:00

be my baby girl, a photo by lauraskilbeck on Flickr.

These are the baby boy and girl material designs that I've entered in the latest competition at Spoonflower.com

You are welcome to download them to use as a VERY cute desktop background! If you have got babies on the brain like I have!!

2011-04-01T00:06:00.001+01:00

be my baby, a photo by lauraskilbeck on Flickr.

Tea towels on line!

2011-03-23T15:52:00.006Z

I finally got round to printing some more tea towels.. this time in lovely pastel colours on fairtrade, organic cotton. Click here to go to my etsy shop and have a closer look! More designs coming soon!

I Beleaf It's Your Birthday!

2011-03-10T20:14:00.001Z

When I collected and pressed all of these leaves last autumn I didn't know what I would do with them but I had a feeling they would turn into something good!

I've been busy making these cards all week - each one has a different leaf stuck on it. Click here to get 'em from my etsy shop quick before I run out of leaves!

They have even got their own basket in Oklahoma (it says 'have a LEAF through these cards by local artist Laura Skilbeck)...

Yippee! My handmade cards are available in the Cornerhouse Bookshop on Oxford Road, Manchester...

2011-03-03T20:21:00.001Z

Love is in the air!

2011-01-10T16:37:00.004Z

With these new Valentines Cards available now in my online shop CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE!

It's CHRISTMAS!

2010-11-09T14:19:00.003Z

Well its not but it soon will be.
Here are my new Christmas card designs...

You can buy them HERE in my online shop but please note that I will be on tour with Hotpants Romance from the 20th November until the 6th December so get your orders in now! Orders placed during that time will be sent out first class, first thing on the 6th.

They are also available to buy offline in Manchester (in Oklahoma, 8th Day and The Cornerhouse Bookshop) and at Hebe in Holmfirth.

Limited Edition Recycled Paper Handmade Notebook

2010-10-07T23:38:00.005+01:00

New in my shop!

Very limited edition lovely little handmade notebook.

Each one is unique as this book contains paper that has been reclaimed from misprints and the back of sketchbook pages (but the front of each page is blank for you to write on).

Approximately 270 x 216mm (the size of a c6 envelope)and 30 pages but because they are so unique each book varies a little bit in size.

These will only be available sporadically depending on how many bits of paper I have that need recycling!

28 Days In The USA

2010-08-20T16:33:00.006+01:00

New zine available in my shop! full of drawings and other bits and bobs from when Hotpants Romance toured the Southern States of America. This is a full colour edition but a b/w edition is included in this "The Biggest Fan" zine box set made to celebrate the opening of Salford Zine Library at Islington Mill in Salford. Both the box set and the zine are available to buy at the wonderful Good Grief! shop which is full of handmade artists books and situated on the top floor of Afflecks Palace in Manchester.

Thanks to MCLD blog for this brilliant review...
"28 Days In The USA is the best travel zine ever - it's got some random photocopies of American sweet wrappers, some sketches of the author's legs, sketches of the weird stuff you see in the USA (like a freeway sign "Drive Thru / 10 pc dark / $8.99"). This disparate set of things might not sound like much when I describe it that way, but together it tells a story so convincingly - it reminded me totally of being in America and being confronted by the alienness and familiarity of it, the weird isolation that you get imposed if you don't have a car, etc."

2010-06-07T15:31:00.002+01:00

A new painting of an old cat.

2010-05-13T18:42:00.003+01:00

Catching the sun in Blackpool on Tuesday.

more photos HERE.

2010-05-13T18:24:00.000+01:00

pictures from court (see post below)

2010-04-28T11:04:00.002+01:00

On Friday I will be appearing in court as part of an Artwork by Maria Dada.

She will be holding a press conference at The Civil Justice Centre (1 Bridge Street West, M60 9DJ) To launch her new record label Paper Records. The label will only appear on paper - bands and acts that she signs will be named, talked about, photographed, but never get round to playing any music.

And since the press conference is taking place in court there are no photographs allowed. So in typical court style I will be making chalk drawings to document the preceedings. Except they won't be in typical court style they will be in my wonky style! Hope you can make it, starts at 10:30am and goes on for at least an hour.

2010-04-21T16:33:00.001+01:00

After many long late nights turning into a zombie in front of my computer screen my new website is now up and running! www.lauraskilbeck.com

2010-03-31T22:17:00.004+01:00

Exciting new things in my shop...
a very cute tea towel and a luxury bird feeder! click HERE to find out more or HERE to go to my Etsy shop and buy them in American Dollars.

2010-03-19T19:18:00.002Z

Come and keep me company on my stall at the next craft fair at Broadstone Mill in Stockport:

More info on facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=305226746613&ref=mf

2010-03-19T09:47:00.002Z

To celebrate the sun starting to come out my handmade artworks are now available in two real offline shops! One is on the top floor of Afflecks Palace in Manchester and sells lots of other brilliant art works too and is manned by the #1 illustrator David Bailey. See here - goodgriefshop.blogspot.com/
The shop looks like this:

And the other one is the lovely is Oklahoma, also in Manchester!
Please pop in and show your support for local art!

2010-03-15T11:07:00.002Z

If you happen to be in Texas this March don't miss The Lovely Eggs at South by South West Festival --- I've just designed this poster for them!

2010-02-28T00:02:00.001Z

Just up late at night making bird feeders! In my shop SOON!

2010-02-23T23:14:00.003Z

Don't miss the next Cheap Affair at Islington Mill where I will be selling my handmade cards and screen printed goodies!

2010-02-23T23:09:00.003Z

I've just designed the artwork for this limited edition release by The Lovely Eggs and Hotpants Romance. Last June both bands toured together and held a raffle at each gig, the winner of the raffle would meet the bands and have a song written about themselves! This tape is that very collection of songs and I believe there are still a few copies left - email hotpantsromance@hotmail.com to get your copy now!

2010-01-21T21:59:00.003Z

brand new in stock! UNBELIEVABLY cute birthday and valentines cards.
Limited edition - Don't let that sweetheart slip through your fingers make this February 14th the perfect day to tell them how you feel! Cute birds style!
CLICK FOR MORE INFO AND TO BUY

2010-01-03T16:07:00.002Z

new gig poster - come one come all!
www.thenightingales.org.uk
www.hotpantsromance.com

2009-12-07T23:27:00.006Z

We had a very nice time at the Cheap Affair Christmas Market on Sunday - thanks to everyone who came along and bought our things and told us how much they liked them!!
Here is a picture of our stall... I sold my screen printed things, poems and Christmas cards, Mike sold home made Top Trumps and Jay-Z Christmas Cards, and Amy and Maria wrapped scarfs on their heads and told peoples fortunes! (see picture below)

Here are all the new things now available in my shop.. click the shop link on the left if you would like to buy them.

2009-12-01T13:59:00.002Z

new pictures and a funny photo from when I went to Blackpool.

2009-11-25T23:10:00.003Z

New cards in my shop now...

2009-11-25T12:57:00.002Z

Now available! New shoulder bags!
I've been very busy getting ink everywhere and fighting with an old pressure washer and have finally emerged with these lovely hand screen printed shoulder bags.
Available to buy in my shop here
or in american dollars HERE

2009-11-18T20:28:00.003Z

Don't forget to come to the Twin Peaks night at Islington Mill on the 13th December tickets are selling like hot cakes or hot coffee and you can get them from quaytickets.com .. Here is my new Twin Peaks inspired drawing for the zine 'Flesh World' available on the night.

2009-11-10T17:01:00.004Z

New poster! for a very special gig, starting at 4pm on 13th December, in which bands from around Manchester will between them play through the entire 3 cd Album, 69 Love Songs by The Magnetic Fields. More information is available on Facebook HERE if you are interested in coming along or getting involved.
Unfortunately Hotpants Romance will no longer be playing at this event as the date has changed to clash with the Twin Peaks night - we like the Magnetic Fields but we like Twin Peaks more!!

2009-11-08T14:07:00.001Z

OUT NOW! the November issue of the wonderful Shrieking Violet magazine.

An independent guide to fun stuff to do in Manchester as well as art, poetry and more! Available HERE and featuring my poetry and illustration 'My Car and The Council' - a poem about Manchester City Council - Stay tuned or join the mailing list to find out what happens next in this TRUE story!

2009-11-04T19:34:00.001Z

I now declare my shop... officially... OPEN!
With it's first product, this set of 4 hand-made and beautifully illustrated animal Christmas cards. Quick only 50 something shopping days til Christmas!
Visit the shop HERE to be in with a chance of winning the Managers Special Mystery Prize for our Lucky Fiftieth customer through the online door!
Or if you don't have a bank card you can buy them in person on the 6th December at Islington Mill in Salford.. if there are any left!

2009-11-03T17:55:00.000Z

TONIGHT ONLY! exhibition at my house! here is a picture if you can't make it.. a new series of illustrations called my favourite thing about you.. real exhibition coming soon...

2009-10-29T14:00:00.001Z

Hello and welcome to my new blog

The first bit of exciting news I can announce is that one of my illustrations (Tribute to Elvis Tribute Artists) will be appearing as no less than the centrefold in the next copy of the very good looking Cheap Magazine... Out Soon and available to buy here (for just £1.50!!):
www.myspace.com/cheap-zine

AND ALSO... On the 6th December I am taking part in the Cheap Magazine art fair (A Cheap Affair) at Islingon Mill in Salford. Along with other artists and illustrators including Amy Pennington, Maria Dada, Matthew Walkerdine and Craig John Barr, we will be running a stall selling lots of lovely illustration things like books, 'zines, t-shirts, mugs and original screen printed posters AS WELL AS poetry for sale, written there and then, on the spot! and many other exciting one off things! As well as hanging around and maybe even drinking beer - we hope to see you there!