WINNER

My Hubby wasn't around to pick a random number so i used an online one instead and the winner is......Number 7!! TopFloorTreasures!! well done i will message you the prize!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!! Whoop!

Yup its that time again

The winner of the giveaway will receive a prize worth £20

THE CATCH??? it's a surprise, i am not going to disclose the prize just that it will be fab!!! can u afford to miss out????

Just leave a comment here and like my fan page for the chance to win. (please say "hello i just liked you" on fb so i know u are new) or let me know if u have already liked me.

The winner will be plucked out of my husbands head (we give each entry a number) and announced Tuesday.

Good luck!

Question time pt 2

Following on from my previous question i am doing some more! this time with a shop feature for those who asked me.

First up: Jet Jewellery

Hi Bon, Do you think it is important to have a colour scheme through your shop i.e. should you have the same colours running through you banner, item pics, packaging and business cards or is it nice to have an eclectic mix?

Hi!
I believe it's important to have a scheme throughout your branding but i don't think it is necessary in photo's i know a few shops actually photo their products with their branding in with it which can work nicely, take this one for example from Wychbury












next up is: Ali Debuc of Mud Meddling

What would you say is the best way to achieve a consistent look to photographs, even when the items being pictured are all very different?

Hi Ali, well the best way for me is to keep things like:
the background, the lighting, the props the same then all you need to do is to alter the positions of the props around the object you are photographing, that way the item can be very different but people will start to recognise the shop from it's listing photographs.



and lastly: Lynsey Wilkins of Purple Shmurple


My 10 Questions -

You recently re-did the branding for my shop Purple Shmurple, are you pleased with the results?

I am very happy with the results, the branding sits well in your shop and is one of those that will be easy to remember and recognise, most importantly it is unique!

What software/hardware do you use for your work and why?

I use a 27" Mac which is my prized possession. I was always against macs until i started my degree and i fell in love with them, i am a true believer that the mac is the best machine for graphic design work. I always do my work for Folksy in Illustrator and Photoshop. For my freelance work i use all sorts: Fireworks, Dreamweaver, InDesign and i dabbled in Maya for a little bit, but have forgotten everything i ever knew!! lol

Illustrator gives me great flexibility as not all banners are the same size for example folksy and etsy so elements need moving and resizing and Illustrator is a mathm,atical programme which means i can scale to any size with no loss of quality.

Photoshop is great for playing around with textures and brushes, if i know i am only doing a banner i will do it in here if i need to do something that requires more depth.

You recently obtained a BA in Graphic Design, what would you say is the most important thing you have learnt from your studies?

Hmm it's hard to focus on this as i learnt so much, i think the main thing i took away with me, that i use the most, is the importance of branding. I did a dissertation on the effects of emotional advertising and it taught me a lot! Brand recognition is such a massive part of the world today, maybe thats why i am so anal about a good Banner LOL

Have you had to do branding or design which you did not want to, like or approve of? (you do not have to disclose what!)

Luckily No! i am happy to face most challenges but if i don't agree with the subject matter or where the branding will be used i won't agree to take on the project.

What would be your dream graphic design-based job/project?

My ideal would be to deign fabrics, the process isn't cheap at the moment and i have only used one American site as i am waiting for the English version to arrive, but when it does i want to have my own business of fabric design i love it!! if i truly had the time i would to design my own stationary ranges to, but my graphics shop keeps me to busy along with a 18month daughter!

Have you always wanted to get into Graphic Design/What made you get into it?

I have always been arty and loved creating in one form or another, i did graphic design 14yrs ago but it was very different then! i then went into many jobs i didn't enjoy but all offered me some sort of creative outlet, a lot of my colleagues kept asking why i didn't pursue a career in design or art. So while i was sat in a VERY dull job that i didn't enjoy i thought "bugger it"

I spoke to my husband and we discussed the financial's and the rest is history :), best career move i ever made.

If you could do any other job (than Graphic Design), what would it be and why?

I would love to work with animals, preferably training, so i spose a dog trainer

Is there anything within your business that you feel you need to/would like to improve on?

My programme knowledge! i def know enough to keep me going but there are so many little hidden tricks in these programmes that i could be training forever. I really would love to also improve my range as mentioned above, i can only dream of offering a stationary range.

What is your workspace like - do you have an office/room, music you like to work to etc?

My Itunes is full of allsorts! one minute i will have a classical piece on, next thing you know i have Dolly Parton or Metallica playing. My desk is a mess, so much so i am not even going to post a piccy lol. My office is one end of the living room, which at the moment i prefer as i can keep an eye on the little one while i work.

From a business point of view where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

I honestly don't know at the moment, things seems to be sweeping me off my feet at the moment, my photography business took off so well my feet have yet to reach the ground.

I would like to be in a position where i can rely more on my shop for an income rather than my husband, that would be great. I have plans to develop an online shop that can cater to everyone rather than just being on folksy.


Well thats it guys, i hope u enjoyed it!

Whats in a Logo?

This is my first Official post based around the importance of branding.

Today is Logo's! now people may have a different approach to me but these are my thoughts and reasons as to why a great logo is so important in such a competitive world.

Crafting seems to have taken over the world again, and there are more and more sites out there dedicated to wonderful crafts that can make a home and a person feel extra special. With so many shops out there though how can you tell the hobbies from the business.

Quite frankly to me the branding! if a business truly takes itself seriously it would look at it's branding and professionalism some very serious and deep thought.

I am to going to sit here and pick out good and bad because i feel it's unfair to some shops that genuinely want to be as branded as others but simply can't afford expensive designer fees to create them something unique, sometimes when this happens (and i see it all to often!) people buy "packages" that they simply put their name onto, only problem then is other Tom, Dicks and Harry's have the same!!!!

If you look into my shop that is not the case! I truly believe that every shop should be unique with it's branding so it can be easily recognised amongst others.

I know many of you out there agree with me.

If said Nike to you, whats the first thing you think of (other than what they sell) the Tick!
McDonalds - Golden Arches
HMV - The Dog

the list will go one, and if u fancy a challenge you can test yourself here

If you are thinking about getting yourself a logo done there are a few simple things to think about and these are things i always come across with my clients.

1. Do you always have to state the obvious?
2. If a logo doesn't work it black it's not worth using
3. Are you after a logo or something pretty? (alot of people want bells and whistles and this detracts from the logo)
4. How do you want your company to come across?
5. Is it scale-able?

Dont forget to test your branding with friends and family and preferably with another designer as they are more likely to give you an honest opinion. I hope this enough to get you started! ut if you still rather someone else do it you can find my listing in my shop.

October giveaway winner !!

is........NOfkantsCurios!!!

i got my husband to choose a number between 1 and 20 and ur number was picked. Well done. Please PM me with what you would like, if u want a book from my other shop and let me know as i will be uploading the new ones soon.

October Giveaway!!

Well its been a while but now things are slowing down (in my head maybe!!) it's time for another giveaway. Just leave a comment below and ur name will be entered to win anything from my any of my shops up to the value of £25

Can't get better than that. Good Luck and winner will be announced on Sunday.

August Giveaway Winners!!!

After inputting all the names into the fruit machine the winners were picked!

1st Prize Naomi Lock
2nd Prize Mandy
3rd Prize Blue Button

Congratulations all of u!! please message me at shop
to claim your prizes.

Question Time

Time for you all , to learn a little something from me! Let the questions begin:


These are answered in the Order i was given them:

1. What inspires you?
what doesn't inspire me! This lady inspired me A LOT when i was at Uni doing my degree, every piece of artwork she does amazes me. Nature inspires me a lot, especially with colour palettes and shapes, i love the fact you can take something so complex as nature and simplify without taking away it's beauty.2. Where do u see Bonnita Graphics in 5yrs time?
Taking over the world of course!!


3. Cats or Dogs?


BOTH! i really want a god but live in a flat so can't, but we do have 2 beautiful cats

4. Where do you see yourself in 10yrs time?
If i am honest i don't want to look that far ahead, as long as i have my family and we are happy that will keep me satisfied. I of course would like to be a little successful in my job and earn enough money to keep us "comfortable"

5. If you won the lottery what would be the first present you would buy yourself?
A house with an office and craft room!

6. If you could choose 1 women (dead or alive) to be your nan, who would it be and why?
Betty Page!! this woman was inspirational to me, she was discovered on a beach and shot to stardom. She choose to hide away once the wrinkles set in and no public saw her face after as she wanted to remain beautiful in peoples memories, alas she died a couple of years ago, but my has she left a legacy. 7. Where do u get your inspiration from?
Lots of places, i have been known to be out and seen something very odd and taken inspiration from it, especially shapes. I was at the Whistable oyster festival last week, and the beach was covered in crab and lobster shells, the patterns were amazing.

8. If you knew the world was going to end tomorrow what would u do and who would u spend it with?
My family! they are my rock and life and every last second would be spent telling them how much i love them and how wonderful they have made my life (not as exciting as u hoped huh? ;)

9. Who-what encouraged you to get into design?
I have always been creative and arty, i remember my first colouring book was flower fairies! and i would spend hours colouring them in. When i was approaching 6th form they didn't have a lot of the options they do now so wasn't really sure of my direction. I worked in an office for a few years and if any of you have worked in a large corporate office u know how playschool it can be! We use to have decorate your pod competitions and all would look at me lol. I went on to do another BORING job after that required that monthly emails to be sent out but they had to be eye catching, people kept asking me why i wasn't a designer by trade. So after many a thought i finally gave up work and went back to Uni at 28 this was daunting as i also wanted to start a family, my husband agreed i could go and off i went! THE best decision i ever made, and i finished with a 2:1!

10. If u were an animal what would u be and why?
hmmm this is tough, i would prob say an Eagle, these are my favourite, the freedom and perspective they have is amazing.

11. If you won the lottery tomorrow and never had to work again, would you still sell your crafts?
we all say it but i would like to think that it won't change me as a person, i will never stop designing, my brain would explode if i didn't have a creative vent. I love what i do and i love the enjoyment people get from designs i create for them. Satisfaction and happiness is far more important to me than money and no work.

well we have come to the end! i hope you enjoyed your read and got to know me a little better, now go buy my stuff!!!!! lol

New products added to shop

New Blog

Now Momoaby is no more, i have to start a new, so i will be updating at least once a day on this blog from now on, with advice tips and useful links! I hope u find this blog enjoyable and of some use.

Spread the word and let everyone know!