I've been writing up and illustrating my worries lately, to support my son who is suffering from a lot of anxiety, and I think it important to keep the communication about this going. So on my Instagram feed (@nancynoodledoodles) I've been posting these every couple of weeks when I can...sometimes it's a little uncomfortable, but the feedback I've had is great, so I hope to keep going!
2016 was a mad, bad and sad year for many people, and I for one felt I didn't achieve as much as I'd have hoped, getting bogged down with my own creative insecurities...which am sure any illustrator or designer will tell you is very common.
Plus I'm the mother of two kids, with an almost full time job, it's hard to channel one's creative juices in the very little time there is left over after everyone is asleep and quiet in the house. I tend to want to just watch a box set or two, so...trying to turn over a new leaf, as it makes me feel better!
So I've kicked off 2017 with a set of posters and ideas which I hope to realise very soon, but they are based on one of my first loves in life TEA! Anyone who works with me knows I drink a lot of this stuff, and if it can help me up my game then so be it!! Anyway watch this space new bits and pieces happening soooooooon!
It will all be OK! Staying Safe Online is now in the shops!!
I am very proud to say that a new book I designed and illustrated has now been published, and is available to buy, woo hoo! Written by the phenomenally and very witty Louie Stowell, it is a book on a subject close to my heart because of my very tech forward son- with all sorts of hints and tips for children (10 years+) to use the internet safely.
The Federation of Children's Book Groups teamed up with World Book Day to celebrate National Non-Fiction November. They drew up a list of 100 of the most exciting, intriguing, non-fiction books for children and young people of all ages, and I am delighted to say that Staying Safe Online was on this list! I'm so very chuffed with this recommendation.
Ride 'em space cat!
Over the summer, I illustrated and designed a set of posters for the Arts Award scheme that runs nationwide for children and young people developing them as artists and art leaders.
www.artsaward.org.uk
The posters are to help remind both tutors and students the main stages of their journey towards their qualification. Each of the five different posters reflect the different levels of the qualification.
I really enjoyed this work- if you would be interested in commissioning me for your posters then give me a shout! Thanks x nancy
New branding alert!! Yee haaa!
Illustration above for Georgina's branding.
Georgina Chapman runs a freelance floral design business mainly for the events industry and she is definitely not your usual florist. George is drawn to bright colours and unusual arrangements, and while she can reflect elegance and subtlety within her work she wanted to stand out. So I created a colourful pattern that she can use on her website and stationery, along with a custom made "g" to hold her company name and detail. George is a dream client- she had a basic idea, but was happy for me to really go for it. And then she agreed foiling rose gold on her business card would add some extra class. I was in designer heaven!
My dear friend Kate has started being a clever yogi bear. She teaches Vinyasa Flow Yoga in London in her spare time. She is also a marketing guru extraordinare and thought it would be good to create a logo and a little "avatar" of herself. So she asked me to see what I could come up with...here you go!
Kate's using her avatar logo on her Facebook page.
We've had a few requests for custom web design recently, and do get in touch if you think you'd like to discuss a project. We're able to custom make a design and code it simply for you.
There have been two "passion projects" that have gone live recently. First Ascot Jams and St. Paul's Primary School. Have a look, both of these are being updated every now and then, but we think everyone involved have done a great job!
www.firstascot.co.uk
www.stpaulsschoolswanleyvillage.co.uk
This logo started a a little doodle off the back of my calligraphy stuff. We really liked the rough and ready feel, and so we all decided to keep it that way.
Logo for family band The Black Shews
I've been working recently with an arts company, creating a set of illustrated posters. Here's a small glimpse of how they have been going. These are COMING SOOOOOON!!
I have been having a busy few months! Work with Usborne, working on my own stuff, just about treading water and managing to keep things going! I've had a variety of projects on the go so will try and update everything in the next few days...watch this space!
To celebrate the Cupcake Kit coming to shops near you, I tried to take some shots of it to show you all what it looks like, in the trendy Instagram way. Thinking I could squeeze this in while looking after my daughter one rainy Friday afternoon, I set some stuff up for a quick snappy session. Ha ha. These are the totally unmessed with results. No time to artfully position anything. And my delightful daughter did what she does best. She wore the cupcake cases as hats and posed wonderfully! Excellent foot shot too, see if you can spot it!
New kit. Woo hoo, super pleased with it.
These little bad boys are for decoration on top of a cupcake.
I did the patterns on the cases too.
Woops!
Perfect!
Good evening! I thought I'd better make something to celebrate me finishing my website and do a bit of promotion. So what better way to do this than hopping on coat tails of Fifty Shades and Saint Valentine? I am being honest though- I've felt embarrassed for ages I have had nothing to show online. But now here we are. I can relax now right? :)
Our Modern Day Calligraphy course on Saturday was so fun! My girlfriends and I went into a bright back room of a pub off St Johns St, and on each table there was a carefully placed clipboard with various papers, a little envelope with a pen nib in it and a dip pen, a small bottle of black ink, and tumblers with water and napkins for blotters. Gradually the tables all filled up with hopeful calligraphy students and our hosts gave a couple of little speeches and off we went dipping our pens and sploshing black ink into shapes and eventually characters that resembled a fancy alphabet.
We carried on in this way for a while, Chiara our lovely Calligrapher circling each table and sharing helpful tips to "avoid pushing the pen up the paper", or giving advice on how to grip the pens and hold it straight, in my case resting my shaky left hand and arm fully on the table for better support and not using my wrist as much while writing.
Holly writing her movie star name!
Our designated three hours flew by in a flurry of black letters and work gossip, with a short pit stop of coffee and a Danish - mine barely touched the sides - no greasy fingerprints on my calligraphy sheets! By the end of the session we were certainly all more comfortable concentrating on more elaborate letter forms and had moved onto trying to produce our phrase.
Mine ended up being "Epic Strut" words used in a magazine I'd been reading on the journey up. I liked the short punchy sound and I hoped I'd be able to justice to the slightly tongue in cheek meaning...my strut is certainly not epic unless I've had a couple of glasses of whiskey.
Alas we ran out of time but I can honestly say we were all inspired to carry on producing more calligraphy, and I'm told we might be able to get our hands on some neon ink before the next course (stage 2). Stop the press, shut the barn door. Neon pink? Am in heaven, let me just epically strut...ok no.
Anyone that knows me well will tell you I have a tricky time with shoes. This is because my feet are a strange shape- I have very long big toes and for some reason none of my other toes are as long and keep to themselves (how very unsociable!) So when I find a pair of shoes that is really comfortable and that I love I really wear them into the ground, as these are few and far between. So I've been really loving the current trend for Chelsea boots as they are on the whole not only comfortable but they look fab! I've just purchased some from Superdry and oh my they are cute - I keep randomly staring at my new shoes when I'm on the train. Or at my desk. Or when making tea for my colleagues. Here's a picture of my lovely new boots...
I love these ones too which are from Yoox. I hate to say colour "pop" like they do in magazines but I do love a bit of neon these days, gang.
I was given a great looking book for Christmas "Hand Lettering Ledger" by Mary Kate McDevitt, and I've been wanting to do a bit of hand drawn type each day...have I? Of course not! At least not at home, definitely for work. But it is time I did this kind of thing more for myself as I really love hand done typography and there is a lot about at the moment. I just need to think of a saying to write out at my calligraphy class tomorrow. Very tempted to use a swear word, after the week I've had, I should be allowed a little leniency on my potty mouth but there has been a phrase I keep coming back to...
The type class is called "Modern Day Calligraphy" and is run by Quilllondon.com in a back room of a pub in Islington. I'm really looking forward to seeing what they do, and what they will get us to do.
Not a great start in the picture above some weeks ago, but hopefully I can think of something a bit better when I think I will use this phrase for my class...wish me luck!
Welcome to my blog. My name is Nancy Leschnikoff, and I'm a Children's Book Designer, Illustrator and mum of two little rascals.
Here is where I might discuss my plans be it parental or creative, my observations on the design scene and occasionally maybe have a good old rant about something that has caught my attention.
I like to mix it up a bit, and my life has become very blurry around the edges being a parent who works mostly full-time in London, taking on small design projects at home too and I like to pretend I'm still in the thick of things creatively so I hope my updates will be interesting and give an insight as to what happens at home and in the office...I mostly have limited time, so it might be that I just put the occassional picture on here. Lets see!