Merry Christmas!

Here's my Christmas card design for friends and family.  I thought it would be fun to draw myself, my husband and our cat as baubles on the tree.  I used a bit of artistic license as I'm not big on wearing hats and Lee's chin isn't quite that big!  Apparently I've made him look like he's in the band Devo with his red hat but that wasn't intentional!
Wishing everyone fabulous festive fun over the holidays and I'll look forward to some more blogging in 2011...

Matchbox Labels No 8

 I haven't posted any of my vintage matchbox labels for a while, so here's a cute little Dutch set featuring alcoholic drinks for your delectation - enjoy!

Illustration Friday - Sneaky

Temptation proved too much for Tim and he couldn't resist a sneaky peek!
I've not had time to submit anything to I.F for a few weeks but here's a quick one for this week's topic.
I can't believe it's only a month now until Christmas, I suppose I'd better get on with making my cards and buying presents etc!

Open All Hours

I have just opened another little shop for my gocco prints on folksy, the U.K version of etsy.
This birdie and some of my other prints are looking for new homes.  You can check it out here.
There are lots of lovely handmade shops to discover there, just in time for Christmas shopping!

Wedding Music

I recently illustrated an article on choosing wedding music in the latest issue of Destination Weddings and Honeymoons Magazine.

The issue is just published, although I haven't seen a copy so I thought I'd post my 2 favourites.  Ipod dj or live band?  We had a band play at our wedding and they definitely added something special to the day for us so I would choose live music every time.

Kids Drawings

I recently went to visit my little nieces, they both love to draw and did some lovely pictures for me while I was there.
This is Daisy's princess, it's her 4th birthday tomorrow so Happy Birthday Daisy!
















Here's Pricilla, a very special bird indeed!  Drawn by 6 year old Louisa.  I love the colours and all the details, she has even got eyelashes!
They both look at my blog so I'm sure they'll be excited to be published artists!

Happy Halloween

Here's my entry for AGM's annual pumpkin carving contest. My agent in the US runs this every year just for fun and I always like to try and take part.

I had fun carving him this afternoon, a rare chance to dig out my old lino tools and make a mess!  The trickiest part is trying to get a decent photo when it's alight and this is my best effort!

Take a peek here to vote for mine and lots of other fun and quirky pumpkin creations.  Have a great time this Halloween weekend:)

Illustration Friday - Spooky

Grizelda the witch was preparing to dish up the soup for her supper and she couldn't resist admiring her beautiful reflection in the soup ladle!!

Just a quick one for this week's topic and another chance to play around with hand lettering which I always enjoy.

Teacher's Pet

A little spot just published in the Nov issue of Family Circle magazine, about students who keep a pet while they are away at college.  Here's 'Pi' the cat who must belong to a student of maths, never my favourite subject it has to be said!!

Featured Artist

It was a nice surprise today to see that I was featured on a lovely Australian design and inspiration blog. 
If you like your design with a dash of retro then it's definitely one to check out...  Thanks Diane for featuring my work:)

Today is also my 1st 'blogiversary'!! I've really enjoyed my first year of blogging and it's been so nice to connect with other creative people all over the
globe.  Here's to many more....

Illustration Friday - Transportation

An older image this week, an editorial commission I did for a short story about a retired couple downsizing and wondering what they would do with all their old crockery.

I thought it was a quirky fit for this week's topic.  'Gravy boats' are the latest form of transport don't you know!

A stitch (back) in time!

Here's a new illustrated proverb from my hand lettering series in progress... I'm not much good at sewing but I've always loved sewing ephemera and have a collection of old knitting patterns, mending cards, buttons and needle books etc.  I love the graphics on these and I've framed them in my studio for inspiration.

Illustration Friday - Beneath

Ted looked like a tough guy but beneath that hard shell he was a real softie!!  Just a quick one for this week's topic, I always enjoy turning objects into characters.

Illustration Friday - Old Fashioned

I've been working on some more hand lettering designs for my portfolio based on old proverbs and sayings.  Apparently this one which refers to mediaeval falconry first appeared in print in 1670!  Pretty 'old fashioned' then, so I thought it would be quite fitting for this week's topic.

Pika Package

I'm pleased to be participating in the latest pikapackage project over at the fabulous Pikaland blog. It's a gocco themed package featuring 17 artists in total, and there's a free zine which you can download at the site with a short interview with each of the artists involved.  There are packages for sale in the shop and there's also a giveaway!
Take a peek here for a chance to win one of 2 lovely packages with lots of gocco goodies including some of my prints...

Illustration Friday - Proverb

I always enjoy an opportunity to draw some hand lettering so here's a little illustration for this week's topic.  I don't eat too many apples myself but does it count if you eat them baked in a crumble?  Now that I could eat every day!!

Matchbox Labels No 7

It's Friday so I just thought I'd share some of my favourite matchbox labels, check out these cute Polish tv cats! No doubt I'll be watching some (rubbish) tv later! Wednesday is the only decent tv night here now that Mad Men has started again! Hooray!

Here are some more cool cats, don't ask me why they are smoking pipes and I wouldn't recommend it but I love these graphic images!

Talking of cats, check out my new website side link, it's my cat drawing now animated and pink! Thanks to my husband for putting it together for me:) He now works for Pixar, can't you tell, ha ha!

Illustration Friday - Dessert

Bernice was busy studying the main menu but all she could really think about was dessert!
Just a quick one for this week's topic. I couldn't resist drawing another woman with a wacky updo!

I just did a little interview over on Bee's fabulous blog, take a peek here.  Thanks Bee for the feature!

Gocco Giveaway Winner!

Thanks to everyone who entered my giveaway:) I asked my husband to do the honours with the assistance of Hank, the cowboy beaker!  The winner is..... Amy Alisha!  'Miss Beehive' will be on her way to her soon....

I do hope to do another giveaway soon, so watch this space!

Interview

I just did a little interview over on the 'Popartrockgirlyeah' blog, you can take a peek here! Cheers Michaela for the feature:)
Hope everyone has fun this Bank Holiday, it looks like we may have the sun back!!

Giveaway Reminder

My 'Spring is in the Hair' print below has just been featured on the 'experts agree' blog with some other lovely prints available on etsy. Thanks Samantha for the mention:)

Just a reminder that you can still enter my giveaway, please leave me a comment on my previous post by
the 31st of August for the chance to win a print of your choice...

New Gocco Prints and Giveaway!!

Here's my latest print hot off the gocco press!  I've just been busy updating my etsy shop with new prints and I thought it would be a perfect opportunity for my first ever giveaway!  I really appreciate everyone who takes the time to check out my little corner of blogland:)

To enter please take a peek at my etsy shop and pick your favourite print.  I'd love it if you would add my shop to your faves too, if you have an etsy shop/account:)

Please leave me a little comment below to let me know you're in and which print you'd like to win!  Cheers!

I'll pick a winner out of the hat on the 1st of September...

Matchbox Labels No 6

I haven't posted any matchbox labels for a while, so here's a little Czech set featuring fab fifties furniture. How's that for alliteration!

New Gocco Prints

Here's a little peek at Miss Beehive, actually she didn't misbehave too badly and printed quite well.  She could also be called Miss Register!  I always try to achieve a slightly misregistered feel to my digital work and I've enjoyed creating a similar feel with these new prints. There is something so nice about printing work by hand and it's such a shame that Gocco have ceased production.  Now that I've got the printing bug I'm hoping supplies will be available for a little while longer...

New Gocco Prints

I've been busy gocco printing today, fun and frustration in equal measure!  Here's a sneak peek of my first new design 'Custard the Cat' hanging up on the drying rack fashioned by my handy husband.  I'm participating in the latest gocco pika package project so a few of these will be included in my contribution and the rest will go in my etsy shop.  I'm planning to print some more new designs tomorrow, watch this space.....

Illustration Friday - Double

Well I've been neglecting my blog a little of late, so I must make amends!
Here's a little image for Illustration Friday.  This week's theme is Double, so being an identical twin myself I had to draw twins!  My sister and her family were up for a visit this weekend which was lovely.  Despite living quite some distance apart and leading very different lives we still have a very strong bond although it's a long time since we looked like this and we don't do much skipping these days!

Here we are in glorious 1970's technicolour.  Just look at those cool
matching outfits and ragdolls!  That's me on the right, so now I know where my love of orange comes from!

Ripple Project - Hope Floats

I've just contributed this image to the Ripple blog set up by illustrator Kelly Light to raise funds to help the birds and animals affected by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.  Please take a look at the blog here.  Artists from around the world have contributed small works of art which can be purchased by donating $10 to one of 2 charities helping with the clean-up operation.

It's so terribly sad to see all the wildlife affected by this manmade disaster and I hope my contribution will raise a little for this very worthy cause.

Illustration Friday - Paisley

The Paton family from Paisley were a close-knit clan!

Here's my contribution for this week's Illustration Friday topic.  I had fun working on this one and learnt a few interesting facts too!  The paisley pattern which originated from Kashmir was used on shawls which were made in Paisley, Scotland in the 19th Century.

Shelf Life No 2

I was the lucky winner in 2 blog giveaways recently, so I have a couple of new additions brightening up my studio windowsill: a fab Nelly the elephant card from Bee which I framed and a cute stained glass egg man from Flora.  I think they both sit nicely with my 70's cat mug, a recent charity shop find.  Be sure to check out their lovely blogs and head over to Bee's for a new giveaway this week...

Vintage Children's Books

I recently spent a lovely few days visiting my parents and while I was there I found these 2 fab books which I had collected years ago and forgotten about.  It was great to rediscover them and bring them back to the studio to join all the rest of my books.

I particularly love the bold illustrations in this one, and I've just found a flickr group dedicated to the work of Bernice Myers. Take a peek for some fantastic vintage illustration...

Know your onions!

I love it when the alliums burst into life in my garden, and am always amazed by their firework like brilliance.  Here's a photo that I took last week when they were in their full glory.  Luckily even the seedheads are fantastic so when they start dying off they are just as beautiful.

I've just worked up this little drawing from my sketchbook, the little bulb vase is looking very pleased with herself for putting a such a display!
I might print this design on some cards with my gocco....

Football Heroes Gold

I've just received a copy of the book that I worked on last year, it's a great collaborative project featuring the work of 45 illustrators and portrays famous footballers from World Cup history.  
I chose to draw 2 players from the 1950's, I can't claim to know much about football or even to be a fan but it was nice to be asked to take part in such a fun project and I enjoyed the chance to draw some 'real' people!

Matchbox Labels No 5

It's such a beautiful sunny day here today, not a cloud in the bright blue sky!  Summer is here:)
I thought I'd share this little set of Czech matchbox labels from my collection.  These have such a great summery feel and I love the bold graphic style.

Featured Artist

I'm featured artist this week on my US agent's website, you can read my little interview here!

Sweet Shop Stickers

I worked on a little book of stickers for Galison/Mudpuppy last year and it's just been published.  I haven't seen a copy yet but here's a sneak peek from their website.
It was a real treat to be asked to draw lots of cakes and sweets!

Craftsville

My birdie gocco prints have just been featured on the fab new website Craftsville.  It's definitely going to become a great new port of call for lovers of all things handmade.  A big thank you to Helen for featuring my work and good luck with the new venture.

I'm busy working on new designs for prints and hope to get gocco-ing again very soon....

Illustration Friday - Cocoon

Nancy is busy knitting herself a cocoon for winter, it may take her some time so she's starting now!
Just a quick one for this week's topic.  I always enjoy any opportunity to play around with hand lettering, so I had fun with this one.

Matchbox Labels No 4

Here's a few more matchbox labels for your delectation!  These are food/drink themed and from Germany.  I love the fisherman with the pot belly, I think he may have eaten too many herrings!  Cute little cat too!  Hey, my illustrator husband has just started his new blog, take a peak here...

Shelf Life No 1

I thought I'd share a little photo of a few of the cute characters who sit on a shelf above my desk.  The one on the left is a Carlton Ware pepper pot and the middle character is a strange mouse, rabbit hybrid, wearing blue eyeshadow!  I spotted it in a charity shop many years ago and had to bring it home with me.  They certainly make me smile on a daily basis!

Illustration Friday - Ahead

Celia woke up from a bad dream calling "Ship Ahoy, Danger! Stormy weather ahead"

My take on this week's Illustration Friday, I do like drawing ladies with big hair!

Matchbox Labels No 3

The sun is shining and the birds are singing so I thought I'd share another set of my vintage matchbox labels, this time with a bird theme.  I wasn't sure of the language on these but with the help of google found out it's Lithuanian. I just love the orange backgrounds and simple graphic shapes.

Art Exchange

I recently took part in an art exchange and as a result received some nice surprises in the mail: a lovely drawing and book by Kristyna Litten, a chirpy gocco print from Andrea Smith, a cute string of paper boats by Tamryn Bennett, some fun stickers from Michelle Vandermeer and some sweet cards by Nina Seven.
Thanks everyone for brightening up my post!

Pikaland

I was featured on the excellent Pikaland blog yesterday. I just stopped by to leave a comment and Amy got in touch, thanks Amy!  Thanks also go to Julie for featuring me on her blog and to Julissa for awarding my blog a 'Sunshine Award'.
I've been illustrating for a long time but only recently started my blog and it's been great to meet so many nice people out in the blogosphere!

Illustration Friday - Linked

A slightly older image for this week's topic.  I illustrated this little spot about choosing an engagement ring a while ago for You magazine.  It seemed to fit the 'linked' theme quite nicely so here it is!