on the beach

So as the rain continues to fall, and fall, and fall, and fall here in the UK look what's turned up in my inbox. Yes, that's only my little Moos sunning themselves on a beach in Hawaii. The swines!!

They don't 'alf get around, you know. See them in other lovely locations HERE. Thanks to my friend Joanie for these lovely pics.

with my small axe

Here's yet another little themed book I have on the go. It's a book I turn to when I don't want to do one of those big mad drawings, but just a small (ish) sketch. It's a little book of travels around my house. Around my life.

It's been cold here in the UK. Non stop rain. Absolutely chucking it down. I was looking at these logs that live in a box in the wall of my living room. It's been so chilly I was even considering burning them. I didn't, a) because it's July and therefore supposed to be summer and b) because I thought I'd draw them instead and c) because they look too good to burn. They are a box of good looking logs. Yes, I'm shallow.

i'll be back again and again and again and again and again...

....with a little help from my friends (you know, I only ever speak in song lyrics these days). So, a little while back I asked if anybody fancied colouring in my black and white drawings of this girl. And to my amazement some of you did! And, with the most fabulous results, too. Way better than my attempt. So without further ado...

Kathleen (age; post adolescent):

Hannah (age; 10 years):

Beth (age; 9):

Jeanne (age; 60):

Laurel (age; 7):

Grace (age; 13):

Gianluca (age; 29):

Andrea Joseph (age; no spring chicken):

And, finally...

Lara the cat. Age; what's it got to do with you?

Thank you all so much for taking part, guys.

Psssst, also check out Pippa's gorgeous blog for her versions and a bonus story about my girl and her mess; HERE.

don't be light

I've been piling on the pounds recently, so I dug out all my old wholefood cookbooks in an attempt to get healthy. I have an extensive collection of cookery books from the 1960's and 70's. I found them all in charity shops and bought them all for the illustration. I just love those drawings. I believe that this illo was heavily influenced by that whole vibe.

This one started life as a 'simple line drawing', as many of my drawings do. Five days later I'm still undecided about it, but after all that time it's being posted. Undecided or not.

born to (not) run

Another drawing from my travel themed Moleskine. And some more nonsense that, no doubt, I'll regret sharing.

every day, once a day, give yourself a present

Bowl of chips and malt vinegar, Vanilla Kitchen, Tideswell.

I love Tideswell village. Recently I've been making the trip at least once a week to do some drawing. I love drawing so much. I want to keep learning. I want to learn how to draw buildings and landscapes. And, for me, there's no better place than Tideswell. It's a gorgeous village. Hopefully, one day soon, I'll show you some of the drawings I have made there. Drawings, that is, of the views, rather than the things I am comfortable drawing. Like chips.

Wooden Owl, charity shop, Tideswell.

My buddy Tim and I spent the most perfect day there recently. Apart from a gorgeous meal at Vanilla Kitchen (which is one of the best places to eat in the whole of the Peaks) the whole town was gearing up for Wakes week so there was all sorts of stuff going on. And, my favourite little charity shop was open. It's very rare to find it open. I've blogged about it before, and if you don't have much of a life you might want to read about it HERE.

I got this little wooden owl, a tiny padlock and 6 used German stamps for just 50p. Bargain. Actually, Tim treated me to them, as a birthday gift.

To be fair, he did also treat me to Neil Young tickets, a bed settee in a Travelodge and dinner at Ikea. He sure knows how to treat a lady. Thanks, chuck. This note's for you.

the way we were

These two drawings are a kind of memory drawings. Well, the idea is from a memory. I've just used a bit of creative license. I remember as a kid being told to go and tidy the living room which would have been full of toys and books and stuff. I would pull the settee out and pile absolutely everything in the room behind the settee then push it back into place. You see, creative even back then.

So, this girl has been told to tidy up, and that's what she's done. In her way.

These drawings are crying out for some colour. I really love monochromatic drawings. I am never that happy when I add colour, but with these I really feel the urge. So you might just be seeing them again, sometime in the near future.

Kids, (big and small) you have my permission to print these off and colour them in yourselves. You have to let me see the results, though. And, I might just post them.