Illustrations galore…

Well, I did say I would be back today with an update on my illustrations, so here I am!

The weather has continued to be glorious here in London, and what better way to spend a sunny day than sitting outside drawing and painting?

While tidying my studio I found a stash of paper, approximately postcard sized, which needed using up.  I’ve been feeling the urge to paint and draw quite a bit recently so I decided to indulge myself.

Mostly they’re just in my usual style, but a few of them use words to create the shading effect.  Please do click to view larger versions of the photos and see all the details.

 

These will be available on Etsy some time in the next week (when the handy protective sleeves and hard-backed envelopes for them arrive!).

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Spring is blossoming…

… and so is the creative urge.  It’s been a little while since my last post, but I have been kept busy with work.  On the bright side that does mean I’ve been enjoying the fine weather and revelling in the blossoms and buds that herald springtime.

The last few days have been particularly glorious, with the weather exceptionally warm and sunny.

Bit of a plant overload there, but I couldn’t resist!

Anyway, I’ve been at home for the past day and a half which has been bliss as I’ve spent the time in my own garden.  I’ve taken the opportunity to catch up on my correspondance (I illustrate all my letters to this friend)…

… learn how to cross stitch (I’m taking part in a Secret Friend swap, and my Secret Friend sent me a lovely little cross stitch kit)…

… and start a series of illustrations which are a little different to my usual style…

More about those tomorrow if all goes to plan!

 

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Jabberwocky: ACEO set

What’s an ACEO?  Click here to find out.

I rarely paint these days, but this morning the desperate urge came over me (sounds dreadful doesn’t it?!) and I came up with this:

A set of 9 ACEOs, intended to be sold as a set, which together form a single painting.  Gouache, watercolour, acrylic and ink.

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A new blanket, and a new page!

I’ll start with the blanket!  Last year I fell in love with this pattern, but lacked the funds to buy the yarn for it.  Midway through January this year a friend (the lovely Sally from Sow & Sew) recommended I try Kemps for bargaintastic yarn, and I succumbed to temptation.  In my defence the yarn I bought was on sale (I ended up choosing the Stylecraft Kon-Tiki, a 50% cotton 50% acrylic blend).

So, it’s taken me six weeks but the new blanket is finally finished.  It was good fun to make, the octagons and squares were easy, but my goodness the sewing together was so dull!  Seriously, it felt as though it would never end.  I did wonder if I should have tried to join-on-the-go as I went, but came to the conclusion that it wouldn’t look as neat if I did that, so I was stuck with the sewing at the end.

Would you like to see it?  Of course you would!

It’s really rather lovely, and I am very pleased that I finally got to make it.  The colours are more subtle than the other blankets I’ve made, but I like that.  I think this might end up being the new blanket for my bedroom 🙂

Finished size of the blanket is approximately 130cm x 85cm.

Onto the second part of this post – a new page!  Click here, or just click the new page link at the top of the screen for ‘Surprise the Artist’

 

 

For my reference, because I’m prone to losing small bits of paper, care instructions for this yarn:

Stylecraft Kon-Tiki DK. 50% cotton, 50% acrylic.  Machine washable 30 degrees.  May be dry cleaned.  Cool tumble dry.  Do not iron.

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