First ......

....delivery of cards and badges packaged and ready to cost out posting. These should then be winging their way very shortly to Aardvark. Am feeling very excited about this new venture!




I hope they sell well!

Back to basics...

...been reading back over my blog and noticed a distinct lack of textile/designer maker progress information which of course is what this was all supposed to be about when it started. I seem to have got a bit side tracked on the illustration front (good fun though!).

So, to catch up a bit.....progress recently has been made in the shape of the following...

1. a request to become involved in the Saltaire Open Houses Arts Trail this September. I participated in this last year and hope to feature some of my ceramics there again. More on this later in the year.

2. receipt of an order for some cards and badges which came about after answering a call for "quirky seaside items" from Aadrvark - a new tea room/gallery in St. Leonards - which I wish was a bit closer so I could pay a visit, because it looks scrumptious! The cards and badges are based on some collage work I recently did with wire and fabric on a seaside theme. This is one of the card designs....















and.......saving best for last

3. confirmation that San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles are going to feature my work in the Unchartered Stitches: Beyond Knitting exhibition in June-August this year. They will be showing three of my portrait pieces and I feel very greatly honoured to be taking part.

Here is a sneaky peek at one of the pieces....




















So all in all not a bad month so far!!

Challenged, Inspired and....

...........created this ....not quite sure what it is, maybe a card design, maybe an illustration for a magazine. Just had fun messing about with wire (the umbrella) a sketch (the face) and a scanner and photoshop. Inspired by syko's mini quilt ...challenged by Carla at thriftin and craftin.

Its called rainy day blues!

Artists and Illustrators(5).....

....last one for now....Loops! flickr site...colourful, fun and quite different again! Great work!

This one makes me smile!

Artists/Illustrators(4)...

...yet another different, individual style can be seen on the flickr site of maarissaruf I particularly like the intensity of this shadowy figure




















Thank you for kind permission to post

Artists and illustrators (3)....

...for a change of style, mood and technique try visiting the flickr site of mariel manuel for absolutely amazingly expressive illustrations that are both thought provoking and full of mood ...intense!

Thank you mariel for permission to post this image and link.

inspired by ....

...the artist/illustrators using text ...this is my attempt. I first drew the figure then scanned and then photochopped it about a bit to get this......

Artists and illustrators....

...continuing from yesterday and sticking with the mixed media techniques, I would like to recommend a visit to the flickr site and etsy shop of Carambatack. Wonderful work!


I really like the idea of painting straight onto printed text.

Because...

...the knitting (and the deocorating!) is taking much longer than expected and I have little to post on the textile front, and because I've been posting mainly drawings, I thought it would be good to link to some drawing/illustration flickr favourites .... recently found and not yet mentioned in the side bar.......there is so much talent out there it's amazing!

Today therefore may I introduce you to snugglemuffin whose illustrative ideas, technique and style are simply great.




















I love the way the printed pattern and text are incorporated into the illustration.
Very effective! Snugglemuffin's flickr site and blog are well worth a visit.

Up late....

...last night posting more piccies on flickr. This time of a drawing I did a little while ago from a photo taken by "the ghost within" called "heart of wonder". Its a beautiful photo - such a sad face! - that I tried hard to capture in pencil and gel pen. Thank you ghost within for permission to post my efforts.




















I'm still knitting - whilst cleaning, cooking, food shopping and oh, decorating (why on earth did I have to choose a paint colour that's going to need 3 coats!!) - and slowly, slowly the knitting is getting longer and bigger. When I get to it, I'll show you the next stage ...but in the meantime its back to the knitting....or should that be decorating?

been knitting......

....and playing on filckr uploading some illustrations like these

I drew this from the front cover of a recent issue of Selvedge then photo-chopped it about a bit. Photoshop is a new toy for me but I can already see endless possibilities.

Frustrating day...

...very little time to do any textile work today as real life has taken over! I have though been busy with faces here and on flickr...


....these are a mixture of old and new drawings - I must try and make more time to draw!

the scent of hyacinths....

...is filling the house!

and I can't stop photographing them!