lists

I spent a bit of time creating a banner for the Etsy shop yesterday (it looks tiny here but bigger on the site). Meantime I need to get on with the latest Juno illustrations which are due on Monday AND write my biography for the article on my prints they are including in the next issue. I'd also like to update the print website in a similar style before the magazine comes out.

Oh my gosh! I'm suddenly feeling the need to write a to do list!

In addition I'm determined this year to do something about my workspace (aka the sofa, the kitchen table, the computer desk overflowing with scraps of paper, cds and sketchbooks and well, mostly the kitchen table). Since what was once my tiny studio is now my son's tiny bedroom, I am being super inspired by this fabulous blog post, perfect inspirado if like me you suffer from a total lack of space...

resolution

Gosh, I am a terrible, TERRIBLE businesswoman! Maybe even the worst ever! In a burst of energetic enthusiasm I finally spent some time this afternoon adding prints to my Etsy shop, The Painted Forest, something I've been meaning to do for absolutely ages. Except then I went foraging around the other illustration prints available and ended up buying the fabulous print below by illustrator Jamie Mills. So much for that as my 2011 business plan, although yay! it does mean I will finally have something to put in the huge charity shop frame that's been propped up in my hall since I bought it.

Anyway, I now have a few prints up for sale over there and will be putting more up over the next few days, pop over and heart your favourites! Soooooo many fantastic illustrators on Etsy - make yourself a coffee and spend a few hours browsing and being inspired. It's totally addictive I warn you!

perilous tightrope

I have a magazine deadline looming and am snuffling and sneezing my way through (over) the roughs. Hopefully over the worst - lots of steaming hot tea and spicy food has made me feel a little bit better... AND I have finally got some ideas down on paper, always a relief. The perils of being last minute...

Actually, I should probably point out that the little blob by her hand came from a smudge on my scanner, not me (I'm not really that disgusting, honest!).

red and gold

Things that are cheering me up on a grey December day.

private collection

One of my illustrations (bottom right) sitting next to work by the fabulous Martin Honeysett, John Byrne and Gilbert and George no less. How very cool is that?

I wish me a merry christmas

Yesterday I received two Christmas cards with my own illustrations on the front - very strange! This one is from the lovely people at Juno magazine, who are also going to feature the Painted Forest in their next issue.

With a whole bunch of new bottles just arrived in the drinks emporium, I have found the perfect way to add some (alcoholic) warmth to the cold, dark evenings - more fabulous wine by some young punks. I get to obsess over the fabulous label illustrations, Lee obsesses about the deliciously unusual grape combos, then we both drink it. Like I said, perfect (and very more-ish). I feel a collection coming on...


Meanwhile the big freeze continues, making it a huge effort to do much that involves going outside (as that would involve me, a spade and mucho shovelling. Brrr), but on the other hand it does give me plenty of time to sit in my cosy kitchen with some lovely coffee writing this post! And I am kicking myself for not finding out until after the event that there was a spectacular lunar eclipse this morning. It was amazing by all accounts and apparently only happens around once every 400 years... darn!

seasonal sprouts

Finally, after much faffing, procrastination and snowy havoc, my Christmas card has made it to the printer and only a week late! Now all I have to do is remember to write them and post them when they return...