where were you when we were getting high?

So, I've gone and started yet another Moleskine. This is a kind of travel one. That's four different themed ones that I have on the go now. 'Cos, you know, I don't have anything else to do (that's sarcasm, I have SO much on). I know that it's just another avoidance tactic. I am conscious.

Still, at least I'm drawing. You can click on the drawings if you would like to read the text. Although I don't recommend you do. All this stuff is written in the early hours of the morning. The spelling, punctuation and grammar is shocking. But more than that, I always sound rather unhinged.

i was just sitting here thinking

How long exactly can you put off washing the dishes? For me, it's precisely this amount of time. Click on this drawing. It looks a bit better that way. Not a lot, but a bit.

Oh, and a little shout out to one of my very favourite, and one of the most fabulous, blogs on the whole of the entire interweb. I first came across Penguin and Fish through Suzanne. Back then they had featured her work. I've been secretly wishing they would feature mine, in a desperate needy sort of way, ever since. And, my wish came true. Thanks Alyssa!
Warning: you WILL lose the rest of the day if you click HERE.

you've got a lot to answer for

A few weeks ago I was going through the registration process for yet another online account. I said to my niece "I've got to think of another password, I never ever remember any passwords".
She said "Use bumhole".
Me: "Bumhole?"
Her: "Yeah".
Me: "Bum? Hole?"
Her: "That way, every time you look in the mirror you'll remember it".
Me: "Thanks for that".
Obviously, I used it.

Cut to yesterday, when somebody was helping me out with some technical difficulties I was having with an online project. They said "I'll just need your user name and your password".
Of all the passwords of all the accounts in all of the world.

Needless to say, I won't be using bumhole for any future passwords. But, she was right, I didn't forget it.

These are her feet. The cheeky bumhole.

don't look back in anger

The sun is out here, in the UK, this weekend, which means one thing. Actually, it means a few things. Across the country people are wiping down the white plastic garden furniture. Back gardens are filled with the smell of burning sausages on disposable BBQs. People dressed completely inappropriately for the time of year and temperature. Oasis tunes blasting from kitchen windows. And, of course, copious amounts of alcohol being consumed.

Me? I'm drawing pixie shoes. It's a worry.

Actually, I'm going to put this drawing away for a little while. You're probably getting as bored with it as I am. I promise I'm going to draw something a little more normal next. I was thinking of that sugar sachet collection. It's all relative, right?

all the things that you've seen will slowly fade away

As I slip into another of those mega drawings it seems like a good time to, once again, do a step by step post.

This drawing has been in my mind for some time. So, let me take you to a place where I go.

I'm not exactly sure where it's heading, but it's where nobody knows if it's night or day.

So stick with me, but, please, don't put your life in my hands.

I'll just throw it all away.

Take that look from off your face. No, I haven't been smoking crack, again.

It's just THIS SONG has been playing in my head ALL day long.

how soon is now?

For those of you who have asked, I will get around to reporting on my trip to Bologna Children's Book Fair soon. Really, I will.

One of the great things about the trip was getting to meet some fellow drawing-bloggers. I know, from being a part of the online drawing community, that quite a few people have met up with fellow artists. This was the first time I'd met anyone who I communicate with online. It's an odd experience, and one day as I was walking around a small Italian city with three bloggers, who all have the love of illustration in common, it struck me how amazing and weird and wonderful the internet is (daily, I'm struck by how mind blowing the internet is, it's just that sometimes you remember where you were when you were struck).

Of course, I've known Miguel, and his work, for some time. Also, we are both participants in the MoleyX 12 group (I say participant, but that's probably pushing it a bit when it comes to me). Meeting Miguel was like meeting an old friend. A lovely experience. I had never come across Anah's work before . And, even though we could not understand a word that each other said (!), she was such a delight to spend time with. Then, there was Lapin, whose work I knew vaguely. I certainly remember commenting on some of his gorgeous drawings in the past. It seems that every man, woman, child and (probably) animal that meets Lapin falls in love with him. And, I'm no exception. Have a look through HIS BLOG. You won't be disappointed. You might just fall in love.

I have uploaded a set of photos, from the trip, to Flickr. Every picture, apart from one, of the Fair came out blurred. True to form, I had the camera on the wrong setting. So, I have no pictures of my work at the Fair. No photos of me there. Maybe I didn't even go? Actually, there is just this one, thanks to Anah's old Polaroid and a passer by. Spot the Brit. The clue is you're looking for the self conscious, awkward looking one.

Take a stroll around Bologna with me HERE.