Blogging for 10 years!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've just realised I've been blogging here for 10 years!!!!! It was my main social media platform for ages then Instagram took over so I mostly use that. But, I still have a fondness for keeping this up so here I am 10 years later, still working away, still loving my job with my kids all grown up and a few grey hairs.... Thanks for following along with me, it's always great to get comments and mentions.

 Here is my advent calendar for 2020 The Countdown to Christmas

I've had a few issues with my photos so please see my Instagram, for the links to pics I mention here : )

Elton the Owl!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He says have a great week...

Hibernate - a new fabric range fromDashwood Studios

I'm super excited to tell you about my new group of fabric designs which will be in the shops soon. Dashwood Studio's licensed 8 of my pattern designs recently. The group is called Hibernate and is inspired by animals that sleep the winter away. They have the best idea I reckon. There are autumnal floral's and lots of cute animals in the group. You can buy the fabrics here

There's definately been a nip of autumn in the air recently...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...so I've been inspired by collecting autumn bits.

A dancing zebra

 ..because some days you need to see this...

Great weather for ducks

Children's patterns

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are a selection of kids patterns I have done recently : ) Cool lion and cute rhino anyone?

Oh I Do Like to be Beside the Seaside....

Rainbow stripes

I LOVE a stripe and a rainbow - here they are together : )

A Dazzle of Zebras

I worked on the illustrations for this book written by Sarah Creese. A super fun job with a great final book  all wrapped up in a fab glittery cover - yey!!!!

You can buy it from Amazon now here.

Garden inspiration

Our garden inspires my work and play. I love watching what happens in it, working in and creating a garden I love to be in. Also, I'm now allowed to have friends over to sit in it for a natter and catch up. Socially distanced of course ; ) Brilliant!!! Here is some art inspired by my garden.

My week of work last week...

I love my job, I get to do so many different things. Last week I created art for some new books, did some painting outside, worked on some product designs AND worked on a greetings card range. Variety is the spice of life they say : )

Fiesta - new fabric range

Oh I do love a bit of maximal patternage so I loved working on this group for Dashwood Studios. It was inspired by the colours, the art, the embroideries and the people of Mexico. I can't wait to get my hands on some and get sewing myself. You can buy some online here

Lucky Charms...

I'm not really a lucky charm sort of person but I do collect all sorts of rubbish as a keepsakes...

It's mental health week....

...with a focus on kindness. Be kind folk especially now as I reckon lots of people are struggling : (

Painting...

I love having a play with paint. Always good to have a faff, some fun in uncertain times.

Me time!

Carve out some time for yourself in the next few days. It's good for you  : )

Collage butterfly repeat...

For me it always starts with colours and a pattern. I may have an idea of what I am going to do with the pattern but sometimes I just make a pattern and then figure out what to do with it later. I think, sometimes, you have to just go with the flow and make stuff without an end in mind. Here is a little collage I did last night. Then I thought how nice it would be to collage lots of bright butterflies using patterns and scan them in to make a repeat image.

Animals enjoying some peace and quiet in the zoo during lockdown...

Hugs from my house to yours!

Lockdown week 6

When social distancing started I wrote a list of activities that my kids could do. The idea was to encourage them off their screens and laying on their beds so much. It hasn't worked. I however am ploughing through that list myself and have made candles, done some gardening, made some art for our summer house and done the sculpture trail bike ride. Oh well at least I tried...

Chair and cat!

Hiding!!!

My husband is a gardener. He is often followed around by a robin or watched from a patio door by a dog but this week he was watched by kitten hiding in the undergrowth : )

Bee-utiful Day Today

Ladybirds

A ladybird pattern. Apparently they are thought to bring good luck, we all need that just now : )

My dream garden

...with a parrot of course....

Happy Stay Home Easter Everyone!

Painting with a flat brush

Check out my Instagram account here to see how I created some cute doggies with paint and then digitally made them into a pattern

C A K E !

I hope you are all doing well and staying safe in these extraordinary times. I'm still making art and am trying to stay focused even with a house full of people. The jig-saw puzzles are out, the games have been taken out of the cupboard and there has been lots of baking. Yum!

The strangest of weeks...

There is a new normal but at least the sun has shone and I have been inspired to make some springy art...

Waiting!!!!

Workshops

For the last year I've been teaching workshops. I got sick of being by myself and working alone so decided to get out and about and share my love of creativity by teaching folk to sew and make. I still have my day job of creating art for many different wonderful clients but it's so nice to be able to get out and meet folk and hopefully inspire others to create.

You can see all the workshops I run here

Happy International Women's Day!

The Cat and the Pea

...because I think we've all met a cat who thinks she's a princess....

Seeing your mates and having a G & T...

... always a great idea....

A School of Fish book...

A school of fish, a book I illustrated about groups of animals. It's got touch pieces, flock effects and lift up flaps. I'm really pleased with it. It's not available in the UK yet but will keep you posted : )