dabbling

I had a wee shot of a friend's (very expensive) camera at the weekend, took a pic of Jack, then went at the original in Photoshop. The original is at the top, my effort underneath. I think it's quite cute...

winter juno

Finished illustration for the winter issue of Juno. One more to do - a lantern parade!

collecting her nectar like bees

Illustration rough for the Winter issue of Juno magazine - this one will be fun!

Quote (from upcoming Juno article "The Venerable Years" by Ruth Meyers):

"I worked with one play leader in the seventies before playgroups came under the homogenising umbrella of education, who sat in the one place all session to the most wonderful effect. I saw her as a solid and benevolent presence for the children. The place she usually chose to sit was the dough table. I never saw her scribble one note or observation, neither did she dole out progress reports to parents. She was always surrounded by small groups of children, they came and went, collecting her nectar like bees. The children glowed and animated with such sweet juice of the gods! She was always covered in flour because she loved to play with the dough as she chatted to the children. I find it hard to imagine such an easy, cosy and child-friendly scene in a playgroup or nursery today."

surprised by joy - impatient as the wind

personal illustration

I think I finally have to accept that I am no longer waiting for summer to arrive. The patio is covered with leaves and this morning the air was cold and crisp. Although I'm dreading the long, dark winter, I have to admit I do like autumn (it looks too good not to!). Plus, with the onset of the colder weather I have the perfect excuse to finally buy the merino wristwarmers I've been hankering after, which don't seem so frivolous now... I've also treated myself to a couple of books by Eva Montanari. Her illustrations are amazing and I'm hoping the stories are as surreal as the images suggest... perfect reading for gloomy autumn evenings.

phase II

Tartan Day seems a while ago but above (top) is a pic of the band I got together for the day. They were fabulous, especially considering most of them only met for the first time at the rehearsal the night before!!! Andy is playing the bass. It was also incredibly lucky that Graham Dolan (second from right) was passing through on his way to Shetland. He was kind enough to help out and share his knowledge of trad guitar accompaniment with Scott and Andy. Looking back (and now that my knee is healing nicely!), it was a big success!
The cupboard project has progressed, phase 2 and 3 above. It's on the wall now and I just need to source the perfect handles!!!

balkan

Have been working on my cupboard - won't be long now but I don't have any pics to post yet (mainly because it's late and I can't be bothered hooking up the camera...) Meanwhile here are a couple of links to the excellent bands I have been listening to while I work No Pasaran (I'm biased as my brother is in it - Happy Birthday little brother!) and the Jani Lang Band (who I'm going to see with aforementioned little brother in the fabulous Spiegeltent next week and where I plan to unleash my inner peasant!)

tartan day

Just had the crappest weekend ever!!! Tartan Day on Saturday and it all went brilliantly, the band was amazing (even after all the last minute hitches), lots of folk turned up to try out instruments and the leaflet was a big success... then I fell over in Union Terrace gardens, laden with armfuls of stuff, and completely mangled my knee!!! A month's work and I couldn't enjoy it as I had one leg covered in blood!!! Totally walking wounded. My knee looks like someone went at it with an enormous cheese grater. I stayed to take pics of the band (what a brave little soldier I am!!!) then spent 2 hours in A&E.. and then the car broke down on the way home!!!! Finally got home at 9:30ish, tired, sore and starving. Am typing this with one leg at a jaunty angle on the settee as I'm supposed to keep it elevated... Poop indeed!!!