one week like this a year'd see me right

(Click on image to view)
Phew. PHEW. I'm back. I've had a wonderful, full on, couple of weeks. Full of music and laughter and wine. And fun, of course. Over the next week or so I'll try and get back to all the emails, comments, messages etc that I've received recently. Right now, I'm exhausted, after a long long drive.

Here's a little something I've been working on for approximately three months. Not a solid three months. I've been working on it bit by bit. Off and on. More off than on, I might add. It's a tribute to my best buddy. Thanks for a great time, ducky. Long may you run.

on the road

I forgot to mention, in my last post, that I would be away this week. It was all the excitement about my 'dates' with Stephen Stills. Of course, they weren't really dates (only in my head) I just went to see him playing live. Tonight I'll be dating Alan Partridge. Then in a couple of weeks Paul Weller. It's all go when you are so popular. I don't know how I keep up.

Anyway, all going well, I should have a drawing to post over the next couple of days. So, I'll see you guys soon with new drawings, news on my prints, some other creative projects and all the gossip about the men in my life. Until then, cheerio my ducks.

isn't it so

Hey folks, I'm in a bit of a rush but wanted to post something before I go. I don't have the time to add the links that I wanted to add. I may get to add them at a later date. Seriously, I should have left the house five minutes ago. Why am I always late for everything? That's a question I will ponder for the zillionth time while I drive through the hills. To my second date in a week with Stephen Stills. Ok, it's not quite a date. I'm just going to see him in concert.

(Oh, and I'm calling this one Everyday Matters Challenge 164, draw a camera.)

don't look at my shadow

Now be honest, are you laughing at the cat paw? It's a bit rubbish, isn't it? Did you even know it was a cat paw? I actually drew around the actual paw. Which, as you can imagine, the cat was thrilled about. I nearly lost an eye for this drawing. And you're laughing. Thanks a lot.

Illustration Friday; Strings.

push it along

While I'm on the subject - and since I don't have anything else to post - I thought I'd share a few of the inside covers of my ol' Moleskines. So, from top to bottom;

The Sepia One.
Quite minimalist, for me. It's all relative.

The Ballpoint One.
I'm really not happy with this, it seriously isn't working. There are bits of it that I like, for example, the train ticket and the fiver. The rest, however, is a mess. I'll keep you posted on this one. It WILL change.

The Diary.
Some of you may recognize this. It's the pocket at the back of my diary Moley. The drawing is an oldie. But I like it, so thought I'd post it again - while I'm on the subject.

going places

Ok, kids. I'm back with you. Really, I am. Thanks for continuing to visit even though there hasn't been much new work for you to see. It's going to be all about the Moleskines over the next few weeks. I've got some endings and some new beginnings to take care of.

From top to bottom;
1. The Sepia One (I'm so close to finishing this one it hurts).
2.The Ballpointy-Journally-Memory-Could-Turn-Into-Spare-One-One (a new one. I've only drawn on the inner cover and haven't quite decided on the direction of this Moley, although I know it is going to be strictly ballpoint).
3.Spare Moley (very nearly finished).
4. The Brand Spanking New One (hasn't even been opened. I have lots of ideas for this one. Lots.)
5. The Diary (where I am planning world domination)

one day it'll all make sense

Nearly there, folks. I've nearly finished the children's book drawings that have been taking up all my time over the last couple of weeks. I'll tell you more about it in my next post and then, I promise, back to 'normal' drawing and posting.

Oh, yeah, and this is a collection of hat pins that I found cluttering up the old dusty attic. The old dusty attic in my head, that is.

you can't dance alone

Click on image to view.

Well, today is my blogs second birthday. I did have something planned for it, but didn't quite pull it off in time. Ambitious but rubbish, that's me. It will still happen - just not when I intended. Anyway, all will be revealed in the next couple of weeks so stay tuned folks. My excuse, for not getting my act together, this time, is that I am frantically trying to get some of this children's book down on paper. The aim is five drawings by the end of the month. Yikes.

This birthday is a good opportunity to say another big thank you to all you guys. For all the visits, the comments and the encouragement that you've given me over the last couple of years. I've learnt so much in that time. On lots of levels. It has been quite a journey. The fact that you choose to join me makes me happier than you'll ever know. Cheers.

i got the cat spit blues

A little while ago I asked you where you may find all the items in THIS picture. The answer is, of course, they are all things that you would find in a pixies hat. Obviously. Fortunately, I mean unfortunately, nobody won the million pound prize I was offering.

This a drawing from the children's book that has being living in my sketchbook, and my head, for the past decade. It took me five days to draw. When I'd finished it, yesterday, I put it down on the floor and went into the other room (I know, I know). When I returned the cat was sat on top of the drawing taking a wash. She looked up at me, shook her head and a globule of saliva plopped right onto the drawing. It is not waterproof ink. So I had an orange stain that I had to try to hide. I think I've managed it. It was the pencil in the jar - which had a fine wood grain before the spittle incident.

This drawing is on A3 paper. I usually work on paper half this size. I've just been to the print shop to get it scanned. I was going to take some photos and post them, but it needed scanning. I want you to stick your beaks into every nook and cranny. So click on the image to view.

there's something happening here

As I said in the last post, I've been moonlighting over at our MoleyX group recently. Whilst I'm loving this project hugely there is one downside. You cannot post your drawings when you've finished them, you must wait until the next person in the chain has received the sketchbook.

I find that quite frustrating. The waiting to post. I was the kind of kid that would go hunting the house for hidden Christmas presents when there was nobody at home. I WILL open early birthday pressies. And then stick all the wrapping paper neatly back together if need be. So, what I'm saying is, this part of the project is testing for me.

This is my contribution to Juj's Moley. In my opinion, these little Moleskines don't seem to scan that well. They usually look better in photos. Luckily, I love messing around with the camera. Unluckily, I end up having to try to pick the best shots from about 80 snaps. I am not exaggerating. Even now, just as I'm about to click on 'Publish Post', I'm still undecided as to whether I've chosen the right ones. I'm rubbish at making decisions. But, hey, that's another song.

Anyway, you can see the full set of photos HERE or visit our MoleyX blog HERE. You decide.

it's been a long time coming

So, some time back France Belleville and I started this draw off thingy.

It started with France's great drawing of Tom's camera that you can see HERE.

I came back at her with THIS drawing. I wasn't too happy with back then, but it has grown on me a little since.

Then, a couple of weeks ago, she threw THIS at me.

And finally, here's my response. Drawn in black ink with a little help from a big fat 2B.

Yes, it was supposed to be a drawing of the front of the camera. I did try but I got all freaked out by all the circles (I have terrible OCD tendencies when it comes to drawing circles, they have to be perfectly round or I'll have a nervous breakdown). So it ended up being a side on version. I will attempt the full frontal version again sometime in the future. But, one thing is for sure, I definitely won't be getting into any drawing matches with Mademoiselle Belleville* ever again.

*Of course, I'm always up for a challenge with Madame Van Stone. Congratulations France and Tom.

hanging out my old love letters

(Click on drawing to view)

This was an interesting drawing to do. It stirred up so much stuff, about school and what it was like being that age. I hated school. I know that's a strong emotion but it's how I felt about it. What I didn't know then was that such strong emotions would make good material further down the line.

I can't remember doing much graffiti on my desk at school. But that's one of the great things about drawing. Now I can live out all that stuff on paper. My teenage rebel can have the space to run wild (with her pen) and do all those things I was to scared to do.

Another thing this drawing brought back was how many crushes I had back in the day. Lots. And lots. Even though they've now all drifted off into my long term memory they, too, make good material. There's one still continues. Decades later and I'm still worshipping at the altar of Paul Weller.

'Exercise Book' print available HERE.

keeping the faith

Another quickie. It's not great but it's filled my head with ideas and possibilities for future drawings. Sometimes, that's all you can ask of a drawing. So, here's a little pot, of colour pencils, decorated by moi. That's French, that is.

slooshy sloshy, slooshy sloshy, get that dirty shirty clean

I'd love to say that this was all my own idea, but I can't do that. I saw the very excellent Susan Rudat's washing machine drawing and thought 'why oh why wasn't that my idea'. Then I stole it.
And, here's a pile of dirty clothes thrown in free of charge. I'm too good to you.

i started something i couldn't finish

Here's a couple of photos of the contribution I made to Miguel's Moleskine for the MoleyX project.

The whole set of photos from that project, so far, can be seen HERE. And, I highly recommend a visit to the blog for a little surprise from one of our drawing blog stars.

I also made a different version of this drawing in my own sketchbook which you can see HERE. Both of these drawings include three gorgeous buttons sent to me by the lovely Emma-Jane. A kettle, a pencil and a ladybird. Can you spot them? Thanks EJ.