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!!!

folk it

Images for my cupboard project, right now I'm liking a folk art stylee... It's very decorative but I reckon if I stick to muted colours it'll look quite modern too. I'm trying to keep going with the growing boy illustration too but I'm itching to get started on this [have a spot picked in my kitchen for it and everything!].

a new project

The cupboard is my latest project - it's pretty ugly just now but I have big plans for it... For once the sun has been shining and Jackson and Kenzie have been making a den in the tree. [no prizes for guessing who inspired the boy in the illustrations...]

the growing boy

Current personal project... right now have gone back to listening to Neko Case, The Fox Confessor, definitely one to have on when working on a kids' book...