Alexia Claire's 2012!

Whilst making my wishlist for what I want to achieve in 2013, I was intrigued to have a recap on what I managed to achieve in 2012. It turned out to be a good move as some of my wishes for 2013 seemed a bit daunting. Once reflecting on 2012's little surprises I felt better! Sometimes you just can't plan for things to happen, these are quite often the most exciting achievements. Here is a quick recap on some of my favourite moments of 2012 for Alexia Claire (in no particular order...)

I was selected to be part of the Maker's Fair at the Saltaire Arts Trail

Not on the highstreet personally invited me to be a seller on their website twice last year. An offer which I think I will be taking up in a few months time this year.

I attended my first craft fair outside of Leeds at the Reetsweet Sheffield Millenium Gallery

I met a couple of owls... of course! This little guy was called Ben. 

I became a member at a nearby screen-printing workshop. I've met lots of great artistic people since being a member here, it's meant I can expose new silk screens and either print with them in the workshop or take them back to my studio at home.

....Which meant I could produce this brand new range! Each of these fabric baskets features a British species which is either currently endangered or in a threatened status. I will be making a donation this week to the People's Trust for Endangered Species, who contacted me to say they loved my baskets!

I did the Reetsweet craft fairs at the Leeds Corn Exchange numerous times during 2012! I always enjoy doing these events. You can usually find me knitting away on a top secret present or doodling. 

I was featured in Vogue!!! Back in June my laptop sleeves were in the UK Vogue. 

I moved house and studio! It was a lot of fun kitting out my new studio, something which doesn't seem to stop, I'm always finding new 'useful' things that I 'need' for it!

I collaborated with the lovely people at Out of Yorkshire to produce this screen-printed bee basket which they sold as a hamper containing all things bee related!

The Craft Centre & Design Gallery invited me to be part of their January 2013 exhibition.

I had my second brochure printed! 

I had lots of great custom item requests. Including laptop sleeves for a web design agency, iPad sleeve for JC Drums, stationery for a solicitors...

My involvement with MoonKo continued throughout 2013. With lots of support, sales of baskets and exciting possibilites...

One of which was being part of the absolutely amazing Ghosts of Gone Birds exhibition at the Onca Gallery in Brighton. There were endless fantastic pieces produced by artists for this exhibition across all forms of creativity. With even talk of a visit from David Attenborough and the exhibition even now moving to Swansea and beyond!

I had my first enormous wedding order of baskets! 

I gained a new stockist at the fabulous newly opened shop Chirpy. It's handily very local to me here in Leeds, located in Chapel Allerton I think we will all be hearing lots about it this year!

I also became a seller on the then new craft website Georgiana May. If you are a crafter /designer maker I highly recommend applying to sell on this website.

The book cover I designed last winter for Sublime Science was a roaring success in both it's printed and digital form! You can buy it here or download it here. Full of awesome science experiments for kids to brighten up those rainy days in! (Book two on it's way!)

I created a logo for the band Strike Up the Colours (the pirate ship!) which they now use on their merchandise.

All in all a very exciting year for Alexia Claire, I am already looking forward to doing this post for the end of 2013, who knows what this year will bring for us all!

Alexia Claire in Vogue!

I was very lucky to receive a call from Vogue magazine last month. I now have my Russian Doll laptop sleeve featured in this months issue! So it goes without saying how giddy I was to receive my free copy through the post a week ago.

The laptop sleeves pictured here and listed in my Etsy shop are for 13' Macbooks. However any of my designs can be custom made to fit your laptop sleeve dimensions, or even an iPad or Kindle. I also make sleeves to fit your particular phone. Any questions on this please do not hesitate to email me at alexia@alexiaclaire.com.

There is an Etsy listing here for custom laptop sleeves too.

Saltaire Arts Trail | Alexia Claire

At the beginning of May I took part in the Maker's fair at the Saltaire Arts Trail. It was my first time taking part although I have visited it many times and always wanted to have a stall here. It was a great experience and everyone did very well. I saw some familiar faces and made new maker friends too. I'll be back next year!

I have a newsletter that you can sign up to now, you will receive a free how to guide for printing from your own home, with easily found materials. 

I had lots of lovely compliments from people passing by about my basket - plant combo. My baskets make great plant holders! 

Don't forget you can get any of my laptop sleeves custom made to fit your laptop size. Or maybe you want an iPad or Kindle cover? No problem! Go and take a peek

Custom Laptop Sleeve

For those of you who might not know, not only do I sell MacBook sleeves in my shop, I make custom laptop sleeves for any size, this includes Kindles and ipads. I will always try my best to make the sleeve you want and this was my most specific briefing yet (apart from my own Alexia Claire branded one of course!) It was for one of the Directors at Snapshot Media, the digital media agency based in Leeds for his MacBook air. Maintaining the company's brand colours and featuring their logo!



Here is my own personal laptop sleeve - I've had a couple of questions about it on the train now and then!



Other laptop sleeve designs I have done can be found in my shop.

Handmade Laptop Sleeves

I have been making laptop sleeves for quite a while now but never got around to listing my silk screen printed sleeves online. Well now here they are! You can buy through my Etsy or my Folksy shop. The ones listed are all for a 13" MacBook as that is the laptop I have. I do however make sleeves for different sized laptops, all you've got to do is drop me a message with your exact dimensions and chosen design and I can take it from there! Email me at alexia@alexiaclaire.com. They are padded and have a toggle fastening. Here are a couple examples.