Introducing...Amanda Artworks

Well, all work and no play would make Rosie & Radish a very dull duo and this was our mantra for Progressive Greetings Live this year. We loved the social side of the show and met some truly inspiring and lovely greeting card folk!

We were very lucky to have the delightful Amanda Hemmer on the stand next door to ours. Amanda creates cards from her original artworks which are inspired by vintage films and Latin Culture. Her cards and prints are beautifully vibrant, a riot of colour and texture (seriously the pictures don't do them justice).

Super stylish pair: Amanda and her other half - the charming John!

If you would like to see more (or make a few purchases) visit www.amandaartworks.com.

Love
Helen
x

13 Things We've Learnt from our PG Live 2014 Experience ...

1. Although road trips with mice can be fun, never totally trust your Sat Nav (or you might end up doing a ten point turn in a back alley the size of a 2 man tent).

2. Industrial strength velcro and freshly painted MDF are not a match made in greeting card stand heaven. Avoid such a combo at all costs.

3. Carrying paint pots, brushes and metre-long spirit levels (amongst other things) on public transport does not go un-noticed (even in London where supposedly 'anything goes').

4. 'Granny Chic' is the future. Long live the M&S natural tan tight.

5. We really do love a nice glass of wine.

6. Its very useful to take a useful note book with you wherever you go to jot down lots of very useful stuff.

7. Chalk (essential for drawing aeroplane 'zooms' on our stand) is very hard to come by in the big smoke. That stuff is sacred. If you ever find yourself in such a predicament head to your nearest coffee shop and ask for assistance.

8. Me and Louis were meant to be together.

9. It's scary how much fun you can have with a stuffed crocheted mouse. DJ Rad-Maus is in da haus.

10. This trade show malarky is very tiring.

11. It's amazing how everything seems hilarious after very little sleep. (See most of the above).

12. The world of greeting cards is such a wonderful, friendly industry to be part of and we loved every minute of it ... It was made even better to come home to pack orders for our lovely new customers!

13. 13 really is our lucky number. We were established in 2013. PG Live started on the 13th May and our bestselling card to date is number 13 in the 'Scribbles By Radish' range ... Radish loves being a little clever clogs!

Amy Xx

Radish - Our Lucky Mascot...

It all started with a little throwaway comment with my friend Liz over coffee. She had shown me a picture of a gorgeous little crocheted mouse she had made for our friend's little boy and I said "Can you imagine a crocheted Radish?!"

I didn't even think it would be possible. Liz had no pattern and only the illustrations of little Radish to go from but for the last few weeks important questions like this have been raised...

"Just how big is Radish's tummy - little pot belly or big?"

"Should he have eyebrows?"

"How curly should his tail be?"

"Are his ears floppy or structured?"

"Whiskers pointing out or down?"

"How thick should the stripes be on his jumper?"

After crocheting up an absolute storm, I came face to face with Radish's crocheted counterpart yesterday. It was such a lovely feeling to see a little character that first came to life in my head, then my sketchbook, then in Amy's card designs and then finally, in full 3d form, sitting in front of me, complete with a little crocheted yellow balloon, good luck card and his belongings all packaged up ready for his trip to the Big Smoke next week at PG Live! Liz is truly the Crochet Queen!!!!

From illustration...

...to real life crocheted Radish!

If you would like to see this cheeky little fellow in person, he will be resting his little pot belly and floppy ears on Stand 655 at PG Live on Tuesday and Wednesday next week. Come along and say hello!

Love,

Helen
x

Sneaky Peek: Numbers by Radish

So here it is ... a little sneaky peek at our third and final range that we will be launching at PG Live in only 10 days time!

Our ‘Numbers’ range showcases our graphic design roots and our love for all things bright and beautiful. The retro numbers not only provide the perfect platform for Radish to strike a pose on, but are also a very fitting way for us to count down to the start of our very first trade show on the 13th May.

So here goes ... Let the countdown (and 10 days of complete chaos and panic) commence!

Amy Xx

Sneaky Peek: Scribbles by Radish

You might already be familiar with the second of our brand-spanking new ranges. We introduced Scribbles by Radish with our Valentines Day cards back in February, whipping up a frenzy with all you romantics out there. Our Scribbles Mother's Day cards also went down a storm, so we thought it would be rude not to extend the range to cover all occasions.

Helen took a different approach to illustrating this range. She ditched her pen in favour of pencils to give the range a sketchy, innocent feel. We don't want to give too much away before PG Live but here are a few of the newbies in the range for you to take a gander at ...

So that leaves one more range to reveal. It's going to be bright. It's going to be bold. It's going to go where Rosie and Radish have never been before. We will reveal all in a few days. The countdown is on!

Amy Xx

Sneaky Peek: 'Daydreamer' Designs...

Okay, so we might have been just a teeny bit giddy in the last post about the up and coming Progressive Greetings show but reality has now well and truly sunk in...

Panic? Us two? Never!

(Well maybe just a tiny bit - ahem).

So we have been pretty quiet on here of late and the reason behind that is the fact that we have been busy working up our three lovely ranges.

Right from the very start of our Rosie and Radish adventure Amy and I have been really keen to work up a range that allows us to embrace our love of vintage print, whimsical illustration, pastel shades, ditsy florals, and swirly typefaces. Our 'Daydreamer' designs have been created with all of that in mind...

We hope you like them!

PG Live Prep!

With only 8 weeks to go until we exhibit at PG Live, team Rosie and Radish are cool, calm, relaxed and everything is under control. And if you believe that, you'll believe anything! 'To do' lists as long as our arms, last minute jitters and panic induced hysteria is definitely a more familiar story.

So when we met last week we decided it was time to focus, concentrate, and act like the true professionals that we are (After a quick PG Live promotional photo shoot that is) ...

So,  just incase you didn't quite catch that - On the 13th and 14th May 2014 we will be exhibiting our three beautiful new card ranges at PG Live at the Business Design Centre in London. You can find us on Stand 655. We promise to be on our best behaviour.

Amy Xx