Introducing Designbirdie

Hi Fellow Etsians! I’m Mandi Cromer – these days also known as Designbirdie. I’m a freelance illustrator with a background in Animation and Children’s Educational Software and in my spare time I have loved getting stuck into running my Etsy Shop.



I have two gorgeous kids – Ruby and Isak - who are still mini - so designing and making often takes place around my kitchen table, rather than my studio that I share with my Graphic Designer other half, Phil.



All of my illustrations and designs are inspired by daily life - the stories, patterns, findings that I bump into everyday... and I keep a sketch pad handy (good old visual diaries, you can’t beat them!) and everything of interest goes into them.



An idea will constantly sit in my head until I try it – it doesn’t seem to go away! And I have a weird sense of humour – I’ve always been fond of playing with words and interpreting objects differently.






Starting an Etsy shop has been a real eye opener for me. The one thing I’ve found so interesting about Etsy is trend watching – I never really did that before and find it challenges me and pushes me to try new things. I’m finding that through Designbirdie I’m actually revisiting some of the techniques and interests of my college projects 15 years ago, which I'm loving! And I've always had a passion for affordable, original art - and Etsy allows that to be a reality for shoppers and sellers.












I just want to add that I have been blown away by the Etsy Ireland Blog. I find it informative, inspiring and very supportive. I feel if I were to bump into a lot of you at craft fairs that we’d chat like old friends! That’s got to be good!

Visit me on Facebook and Twitter by searching for 'Designbirdie'
Or check out my Etsy shop and website at
www.designbirdie.etsy.com
www.mcromer.com

Mandi

Some of Dandelion Daydreamer's Favourite Illustrators

Hi everyone, Sorcha here from Dandelion Daydreamer. Sorry this post is a little late in the day, my electricity was cut for 2 days (you gotta love French administration!) For this week's post, I thought I might introduce you to a few of my favourite illustrators. Be warned though, hide those credit cards and be prepared to lose an hour of your life as you browse their enticing shops!

 

 

 First up we have a big favourite of mine, Catherine Campbell. Expect to be blissfully enchanted by girls in tea-cups with wise owls perched on their wind-swept hair, beautiful mosaic style collages and pretty sirens of the sea calling out to long lost sailors. Gorgeous!

Rob Ryan is the mister of romance, never before have I yearned so much to own an original piece by an artist! His work varies between intricate paper cuttings and 2D stylised screen-prints. Like an infinite love story, his body of work heralds all things romantic and sweet. The dress above is a piece which made the cover of Vogue. If you are going to buy one thing of Rob's, I recommend his book, "This Is For You", probably the most delicious coffee table book ever to have been created.

I love Leigh Viner! I recently had her on for an artist interview on Dandelion Daydreamer. I have an art giveaway every Tuesday and never before have I seen such a reaction to a giveaway! Leigh's illustrations evoke a sense of sensual feminity, they sweep you into a world of tender fleeting moments where contemporaory fine art meets fabulous fashion illustration. I love the brave brush strokes, the melange of mediums - light and airy pencil meets dark broody acrylic and they hit it off! Most of all I favour the forgotten watercolour droplets carving their own paths on the canvas.

I hope you enjoyed my favourite illustrators! Feel free to pop over to Dandelion Daydreamer to meet some more of my cherished ones  :)