Yet another bird...

 I've only ever used Photoshop to clean stuff up etc; but since getting a Mac (secondhand but I love it!) and a scanner/printer, I've been able to try out using it more creatively. It's been fun! I'm looking forward to using these birds for a new project. I've got another one involving people too...I just can't not draw people! During my MA, we had to do an observational project and some of the group would go to any lengths to avoid drawing people. But I was the opposite - I had to be forced to put them in a setting of any sort!

More Birdy Love

Been doodling birds of my own for a story I'm developing.  More to come soon hopefully!

Also, on the bird front, check out Nicky Fijalkowska's blog, Knit For Victory, for details of Worthing Bird Art Trail -  including her wonderful knitted birds (yes that's KNITTED birds - how much better can life get!?) which are currently on display in Worthing's Wool Bar, Warwick Street.

Must fly!

Loving Matt Sewell

I really do badly want this book. But my book buying has got out of control recently so I am at least going to wait until payday.

But...it's SO lovely!

But it's been out for ages and I didn't even know about it, so surely I can live without it a few more weeks.

But it's not THAT expensive!

But I'll be sorry when I'm broke.

Although the book would make me feel better.

But I don't really have room for it.

But I do like birds very much indeed.

And it will be nice to look at with children too. And a nice bird book is missing from my collection.

Ooohhhhhh!!!!

Can't wait!

Tomi is one of my utter favourite illustrators. Hope this is going to be released in the UK!

Moonlight Serenade

I was messing about with paints at my friend's house and ended up with a moonlit sky. So when I got home I added these three chaps having a night time singsong!

Hope you are all enjoying the sunshine.

More exciting post....

Ooh, a game! I've received the soon-to-be-famous Matchbox Pictionary! I've had my go, but of course it's top secret until the game is over. Now to send it to the next player....

Just because I like it....

Loveliness through the post!

Exciting post is so much fun, and here's what plopped through my letterbox this morning...

What a treat! I went to uni with Gemma, and was lucky enough to see this book develop from the very beginning. Gemma is such a lovely, talented person and we were all absolutely thrilled when she won the Macmillan prize for this book.

The story is funny and touching, and the illustrations simply beautiful - I just love the anxiety on the crocodile's face.

It's a wonderful book for anyone who has ever had that feeling they don't quite fit in - or hasn't yet found their hidden talent! Get your copy here, or even better, at your local independent bookshop.

Storytime at Wychwood

Here are a few pics of the Wychwood Festival where Jo Empson and I had arty, musicky storyish fun.

Wychwood Festival!

Looking forward to a weekend at the Wychwood Festival in Cheltenham, where, as well as grooving to acts like Kate Nash and Public Service Broadcasting, me and the Mister will be helping Jo Empson with her storytelling/music and art-making extravaganza! Co-starring the puppet I made by the way!

Dry Eye

I was reading Grimm's Fairy Tales recently, and came across a great story about a girl whose wicked stepmother sent her out in the snow wearing a dress made of paper. Today the girl sprang up in my sketchbook, just for the hell of it!

In other news, I didn't once leave the premises today, not even to go to the shop. Instead I drew the above picture, made a puppet's wig and looked at new scanners and printers online until my eyes dried up.

Studio Capers and Exciting Things

Please excuse the massive break...I have finally moved into my new little studio in my garden, which I must say is wonderful.

The first thing I finished in there was a puppet for my friend Jo. Head on over to her blog where she can tell you about it herself!

I've also been doing some other exciting work... here's a little bit of it.

There are big changes all round actually, as well as completion of my studio; and very exciting ones. I have taken the difficult step of handing my notice in at the lovely nursing home I work in...because me and the Mister have actually been approved to become foster carers! We are very very excited and can't wait to get started. This change will also give me more time for my illustration career, so it's loveliness all round really.

Sadness and reaching out

For several years now I've been reading the beautiful blog of Gretel Parker, an artist, illustrator and maker of exquisite needle-felted models. Her tales of the ups and downs of living in the countryside and struggling to make ends meet by way of creating have always inspired me.

Recently, Gretel has suddenly and tragically lost her beloved partner. Now left with not only the most unimaginable grief, she faces the worry of losing her small cottage (after only recently moving).

I have found artists and illustrators to be the most caring and generous community of people,  and some fellow artists have set up a fund to at least ease Gretel's financial worries for a few months. People worldwide have contributed. If you can, please consider donating by clicking here. There's also a raffle of artwork here.

I don't know Gretel but my heart goes out to her.

"The gift that you were once given will always be yours".

Never Ever

 Here's a trailer for the fab new picture book by my dear friend Jo Empson. It's so funny and beautiful and great to read aloud too. Buy your copy here or even better, from your local independent bookshop!

Life & Lampshades

I have been trying to keep busy, though probably not with things I should have been doing. I have been trying to deal with one task a day, fitting this around my main pastimes of crying, laying on the sofa, and blowing my nose.

However I did go on my work Christmas party on Friday and remembered how therapeutic dancing all night can be...even Gangnam style with your drunken work friends. I can't very well do that at home though - in fact, I haven't even been able to cope with much music at all when I'm on my own, especially Christmas music, with one exception...I can only listen to strange and lovely Sufjan Stevens.

Enough of that...no drawing to show, but I did make something today. Fed up with looking at this dreary sight in my kitchen...

I took a vintage plasticTupperware jelly mould, (99p from Ebay), some bath plug chain (from B & Q) and some cup hooks...

...and made this lampshade!

"Make do and mend" is alive and well here at Fluffycloud Studios. I like to think of myself as a downmarket Kirstie Allsop.

Mum

 As the sun rose on the morning of Remembrance Day, my lovely, brave, funny, glamorous mum died. It is impossible to imagine life without her at the moment, but as a family we are helping each other through it.

Thank you to my friends for your cards and messages. Unfortuately I have misplaced my mobile phone (now having taken the place of Chief Loser of Stuff) so I apologise if anyone has called or texted and got no response.

 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Graduation....well, nearly.

For various reasons I couldn't attend my MA graduation ceremony. But I was there with my lovely classmates in spirit! I can't offer you a photo of me in a cap and gown so instead I give you the fabulous Grayson Perry, who received an honorary doctorate, and whose speech, I hear, was fantastic. Congratulations everyone and I miss you!

Doodles

I've had a welcome week off this week after an exhausting few shifts, which left me physically and emotionally drained! Here are some drawings I did - just good old ink. More to come.

The book is Bambert's book of Missing Stories by Reinhardt Jung, and published by Egmont, as far as I know still in print. It's a quirky and sad book much liked by me, so I decided to illustrate it myself!

( Oh and happy 3rd birthday to my lovely pooch Poppy!)

4 Days Left to Pledge!

Want to see a brand new, independent comic for 9 - 12 year olds, packed with scrumptious words and pictures from emerging and established writers and illustrators? Want the 9 - 12 year olds to be able to come to workshops and see their work in print too?

Yes? Well head on over to the Loaf Magazine People Fund It page and pledge what you can afford (in return for treats). There are four days left to get this project up and running.

No? Then I cannot help you.

Niceties

 I love September. It's my absolute favourite month of the year. The weather is usually golden and lovely, and the air smells nice, with memories of summer but promises of winter. The best month to take the dog for long walks. It's a new year too, really, for everyone going back to school or college. And you know what that means...new stationery! Sharp pencils, fresh exercise books, exciting pencil cases...all things that have made me very happy over the years (and still do!).

Of course my years of official serious studying are over. I still started a new sketchbook though. Seawhites print these for schools, and sell off the ones they do wrong cheaply - I got this one for 25p. The Mister went to Langdon Park School so I was especially pleased with this book! Because it was so cheap I could be breezy, even daring, about the first page.

In other news I spent an  afternoon with a very dear old friend yesterday. And today I made Career Plans. Hurrah for September!