06 Jun May in studio: Through Instagram

An Instagram Round up from the studio here at six0six design for the month of May. What I have been up to in a snapshot, quite literally.

April ended with the release of my Pride and Prejudice pencils in the Quaintly Subscription box. Here are some of the photos from subscribers that I shared below. It is always one of my favourite things to see my work with its new owners. Its a bit of a wheres wally spotting my Pride and Prejudice pencils.

At the start of May I released my new Emma Jane Austen quote pencils. Which I first revealed on Instagram below.

I know I say I love all my new designs BUT I really REALLY love my new Emma pencils. Link in bio.
I loved painting the floral designs and gettting to reread Emma of course! But most of all I loved seeing my design idea come to life.

I also delved into the design process behind the Emma pencils in a blog post. How I start my design process and how it evolves into the finished product, in this case my Emma pencils.

I shared how I gift wrap my literary pencil sets.

Pink peonies and pretty packaging. All my literary pencil sets come with the option of being gift wrapped in a vintage encyclopaedia page, red bakers twine and a cute little gift tag. Because like I always say, it’s the small finishing touches that make the difference

Supporting handmade. Being part of an amazing handmade community means I get to buy from the most amazing little businesses. A few weeks ago I treated myself to a purchase from Little Birdy Designs – I only meant to buy one of her gorgeous coasters but I couldn’t resist adding some extras!

There was a lot of map heart orders in May. A lot!

I showed sneak peeks of some map pen orders. Including this Map Pen gift with a hand illustrated map of Crouch End, London. I talked about the style in which my maps are drawn.

The maps on my location pens are each hand drawn and painted so my customers know that when their order arrives it’s a totally unique item. Made just for them. I have always loved the colours in maps. The vibrancy and the legends and cartography of how to read different maps. My favourite type of map is probably the national geographic maps from pre 1980, they changed the paper on the newer ones and they just aren’t the same. My style of cartography is influenced by them and a lifetime of collecting vintage maps. And every time I draw a map or make up an order I am getting to be a part of someone’s story. And that folks is why I do what I do.

I try to take time each week to be creative just for creativity’s sake.  The busier that six0six design gets the harder it is to carve out time for creativity that doesn’t have a customer behind it. But I believe its so important to relax my brain and this is how I do it. At the moment I am obsessed with brush lettering and calligraphy.

I always like to share my lovely customer reviews.  Because they genuinely to make my day. When someone takes the time to write a review or send me an email it is always the highlight of my day. Knowing that something I have made has given someone pleasure, that they have been gifted and loved is the best feeling ever.

I always think that its good to show behind the scene photos.

While I was finishing sewing one of my map prints today I couldn’t help noticing how it looked a bit like a Matisse or Man Ray abstract artwork on the reverse. Does anyone else see it? Or is it just me!

If you liked this little trip through May please leave a comment, let me know what your favourite picture was, or better still hop on over to my Instagram account and tell me there.