I met Jen Lewis last year at Fresh on the Market in Preston. Her stall was full of beautiful canvases combining paintings, illustrations and photography. She has recently expanded her collection to include pretty household textiles and accessories made from reclaimed fabrics.

Jen has kindly agreed to share a typical day in her life with us.

A Day in the Life of Jen Lewis

Up with the Lark

I work as a cleaner part time so Thursday to Saturday I’m up at 5.50am for work (and 7.50am every other Sunday)! On days I’m not cleaning I get up around 7.30am, if the weather outside isn’t being too cruel I’ll go out for a short walk to wake myself up, then back to the house for breakfast, which I try to keep healthy, although sometimes the easiest thing is a bowl of sugary cereal, and I have been known to prepare the odd “full English” on a Saturday morning! I don’t always have the TV on, but when I do it’s usually the digital sports news channel!

In an Artist’s Studio

I work from the spare room in my house, where I have a large work table, computer, loads of drawers and boxes full of materials, plus plenty of great books and magazines for inspiration!

I check my emails first thing, and if I have any orders that have been paid for the first job is to get them packed up and posted, luckily the Post Office is only a short walk so I’m there quite a lot, running errands! If I need any materials I would usually pop out first thing and get these too. Even though Longridge is a small market town, there are many useful facilities and shops, which mean the expensive bus trips into Preston are thankfully rare!

Then it’s back home to concentrate on either promoting my work through the web, or getting on with works in progress or sometimes painting commissions. Jimmy my pet budgie spends a lot of the day in his cage on the drawer unit next to my computer, and has sometimes been known to fly around and try to sabotage the computer keyboard! His constant chatter keeps me company throughout the day!

A Spot of Lunch

After sitting at a computer, over a canvas or sewing machine all morning, lunch is often a welcome break! My mum works in and around the Longridge area, so if she’s in the vicinity she will sometimes pop in for a spot of lunch with me. I also like to get out for some fresh air and get another short walk in around this time. Often I will come across something in the morning that I need for the afternoon’s work, so this is also the perfect time to pick any essential materials up.

Clocking Off

I usually get finished around 5-5.30pm but if I’ve been cleaning in the morning; I’m really ready to leave the studio from 4pm onwards! I cook myself tea, trying to be as healthy as possible, although I slip to the occasional pizza or Chinese takeaway when the budget allows! Some evenings I will carry on working, or browsing the internet for inspiration and looking at others’ work. If I have work the next day, I’m usually in bed by 8-8.30pm; but a big part of my life is watching football, and if Preston North End are playing I’m either down at the Deepdale ground for the evening, or listening intently on the radio (the same scenario occurs on all Saturdays between August and May)! I’m a passionate fan and, believe it or not, shouting at those players really helps me relax after a hard day being creative!

Every once in a while there’s a gig in one of the local towns or cities (mainly Manchester), and my mum and I love these evenings where we dance the night away with great rock bands; believe it or not another great source of relaxation time!

Thing I Like Best About Being an Indie Designer/Artist

It sounds silly, but I just love to be creative in general, and to come up with fantastic original ideas. I also like to think that my products can brighten up people’s lives (cheesy as it sounds) and that I can make a worthwhile difference somehow!

Things I Like the Least About Being an Indie Designer/Artist.

I honestly can’t think of anything. Apart from a bit more cash flow (!), there’s nothing that I’d want to change, I LOVE being an indie designer/artist!

For more infoemation read Jen’s blog at www.illustratorjen.blogspot.com.
Buy online at www.illustratorjen.etsy.com.

Well it certainly is cold outside. And inside for that matter. I’ve been shivering for the last few weeks and have taken to working in my fingerless gloves and scarf.

If you feel the cold then stay snug as bug in these cosy neckwarmers. They’re available to buy from the fabulous Bettyjoy store. And while you’re browsing check out the cute range of accessories, toys, jewellery and homewares. There are some great gift ideas here and many of them for under £10.

And if that isn’t tempting enough there’s free shipping until 3rd December. So go now and shop, shop shop!

www.bettyjoy.co.uk

If cute, kawaii and kitsch is your thing, you’ll fall instantly in love with On Cherry Lane. The brainchild of Rebecca and David Nia, this delightful haven of all things pretty is chock full of indie surprises and unusual Japanese imports. Quirky plushies rub shoulders with bunny earrings and peapod necklaces jostle with cupcake keychains.

Think lovebird wristlets, ice cream tunics and mushroom stamp sets. I really can’t say enough about this site. Go there immediately and prepare to be charmed!

www.oncherrylane.co.uk.

A few years ago when the internet was relatively new, one my friends remarked that he had travelled all over the world via his PC. I remember thinking how amazing that was. Today we take it for granted. I regularly email people in the US and Europe and don’t give it a second thought. When I received a message from Iris Mishly in Israel, I had that same feeling again - a kind of awe that someone across the world was reading Indie Quarter and that they too were involved in craft and design.

Iris Mishly is a polymer clay artist. Her main focus is fashion accessories and jewellery the ‘millefiori’ way. Her colour combinations, patterns and designs are unusual and very pretty. My eye was immediately drawn to her Hamsa Home Decorations. Each decoration is made entirely of polymer clay and contains a Hebrew blessing for the home and for everyone who lives in it. Each one is unique.

Other items include charms, earrings and hair slides. And if you like to make your own accessories, Iris also sells polymer clay canes which can be cut and baked and used in a variety of art projects.

Buy from www.irismishly.etsy.com (international orders welcomed)
Read Iris’ blog at polymerionline.blogspot.com

In 1994 David Tragen moved to Barcelona hoping to be inspired by the city’s creative buzz. Barcelona’s plentiful supply of discarded furniture became the source of this creativity. He began restoring tables, cabinets and an old woodworm ridden bed for his new flat. This was the start of what would become a career as a furniture designer/maker.

After years of study and work experience at some of the best workshops in Britain, David set up his own company and now designs and creates furniture for domestic and commercial clients. Functionality, strong aesthetics and exceptional craftsmanship are fused to create truly exquisite objects. Go to www.tragendesign.com for more information.

Something a little bit different to round off the week. Deborah Moses is one of the UK’s most experimental and contemporary fused glass designers. Her family has a long history in commercial and art glass and Deborah began her own career after studying in London and Bristol.

Deborah’s inspiration comes from water, ice and rock formations, as well as her Cheshire surroundings. Her work includes sculptures, tables, chandeliers, wall art, platters and jewellery. My favourites are glass chandeliers. They remind me of my wedding day in Sweden. We stayed in the Ice Hotel where there was a chandelier made solely out of ice and lit with fibre optics - very similar to Deborah’s work.

Visit www.thesilverzebra.co.uk for more information.

With the days growing shorter and autumn just around the corner, we’ll soon be spending much more time inside. At this time of year my thoughts usually meander over to the house and getting everything ready in time for Christmas. Take a look at these beautiful homeware items from Julianna Grove Presents. This is a really unusual collection of new talent and undiscovered artists.

And as well as homewares you can buy handmade jewellery, ceramics, accessories, cards and candles. Go to www.juliannagrovepresents.com.

I’ve just treated myself to one of the porcelain leaf decorations by Hannah Ayre.

We bought some beautiful black and white bed linen recently and since then everywhere I look I see black and white in clothes, accessories and homewares. I’ve picked out a few indie examples to share.

Top Left - Black Ribbon Tie Bolero by Enamore at Vintage Style
Top Right - Reminisce Necklace by Evod
Middle Left - Teatime Tea Cup by youcanmakeithappen
Bottom Left - Black and White Mini Houndstooth Wallet by Blissful
Bottom Right - Halloween Trick or Treat Plate by Wood Tattoos