between the lines

I seem to have been waffling on, in my posts, quite a lot recently. So, in this one I'll just let the drawing do the talking.

You know the drill; click on the drawing for a better view.

dig my earth

So above is another one of those 'idea' spreads from my spare Moleskine. A couple of pages where I planted the seeds of future drawings. The left hand page soon grew into this drawing, below.

And, then later sprouted into this drawing:

The right hand page of the sketchbook, at the top of this post, hasn't actually grown into anything. Yet. But, it's all still there for future reference. And, that's another good thing about getting this stuff down in a sketchbook or notebook; I find it's the best place to turn when one might be going through a bit of a drawing funk. Cos if these ideas interested you enough to write them down in the first place, you can bet your bottom dollar that they'll still be inspiring at a later date. They are just all patiently waiting, below the ground, to blossom into a beautiful flower. Or a firm, young carrot.

makes me feel i'm from another world

Not content with just drawing on air mail envelopes I've actually take to drawing the little buggers too. I was going to take this opportunity to have a right old rant about the Royal Mail. I am seriously fecked off with them right now. There's been a much higher percentage of people not getting their mail from me this time round. Specifically the stuff I posted before Christmas. I'm not sure how they can justify this. Or how they expect small businesses, in a difficult time, to soak up the extra costs of resending orders. Plus, when I think of all the time I've put into getting this stuff out it just makes me furious. And, that's not the half of it. It's, perhaps, not so bad when you actually have the stuff to resend but when an original drawing goes missing then that really hurts. To anyone who has not yet received their order (if you ordered over a couple of weeks ago that is) then please get in touch and I'll put it right. Big apologies, once again. So, I'll save that rant for another time. I still haven't started the tax returns.

door to the river

When I made that humongous Moleskine post last week it took me back to France, to when I exhibited my Moleskines. Obviously I've been showing my sketch books online for the last few years. But before the exhibition in France few people had ever seen them 'in the flesh'. And, at first, I was quite reticent to show them. Specifically my 'spare' Moleskine. I had never ever shown anyone this book before. You might have seen a few of the finished drawings from it but that's it. The reason for that is because, apart from those odd finished pieces, my spare Moleskine is full of lists, quotes, lyrics, doodles and thoughts. And that's quite scary. I've always felt that peering into that book is a bit like finding John Nash's shed in the woods and opening the door.

But, to my surprise, many people at the exhibition really enjoyed seeing these pages. Yes, they commented on the obsessive content but it struck a chord somewhere with folk. So, I thought maybe I'd show you some here. The top spread is one of those pages. It's where I chuck everything onto a page for future reference. Then below are some of the drawings that came from those seeds.

Is this stuff of any interest to you? Cos there's loads more of it.

You know, there could well be a lot of posts this week because somebody is desperately trying to avoid doing their tax returns. So let me know if you want to see more.

how a fool begins

As, it seems, I've taken to of pinching things from the wonderful Suzanne Cabrera (you know; quotes, ideas, her signature, her identity) I have decided to continue in that vein and am using a theme she chose for the amazing but almost dead MoleyX group we were involved in for my brand new Moleskine. Although Suzanne chose 'mail' as her theme I have expanded on that a little. My theme is more a mail/travel/air mail/letters/pen pal themey theme. Look, I know what I mean.

This Moleskine will have some kind of narrative running through it (I hope). Which starts with the story of a friendship. I am looking for some help with this project specifically from any Scandinavians out there.

If you are Scandinavian and would like to contribute please could you leave a comment and I'll get in touch with you. Cheers, my dears.

i don't expect you to understand

You know, I cannot quite believe I'm actually saying this but, folks, but I am actually finally on top of all of the recent orders. Yeah, I know, I bet you never thought you'd see the day either. So, as of yesterday, every single actual zine, print and original drawing are now in the mail. I actually cannot believe it. I am going to celebrate by drawing. Yep, I'm going to do an actual drawing this weekend.

Thanks to everybody not only for the orders but for your patience too. I know what a loser I am when it comes to getting this stuff mailed so buge (big huge) thanks. I'm really pleased with my little zine and I hope you are/will be too. The only issue is on the back cover where some of the writing got chopped off. Should you want to write like nut, but couldn't follow the instructions because of the chopped offness (hey, I haven't slept for a month, I cannot think of words), then you can simply click on this drawing and see how it's done.

Thanks again guys, I appreciate it muchly.

you are the only thing

I thought I'd take a moment to bang on about the Moleskine sketchbook. Actually why stop there? I might as well take this opportunity to bang on about the Moleskine in general; sketchbook, notebook, diary, etc.

Obviously, there hasn't been too much in the way of drawing getting done, around here, recently as I've been going doodlealley trying to finish off hand decorating these million and one envelopes. And, talking of envelopes (it seems to be the only subject of conversation I have these days) while I was out the other day, desperately trying to source more, I popped into my favourite shop and only local Moleskine seller in the area.

I was going to treat myself to a new Moleskine sketchbook and diary. Perusing the lovely shelves of Moleskines it struck me that it really is the perfect product. It's a product that is so beautifully designed (like a Clark's desert boot, the Eames chair or a Swiss Army knife) that it doesn't need advertising as the customer does all the advertising. Just like I am. Here. Now.

Anyway, I was most disappointed to find that the shop didn't have any Moleskine diaries left. That's what you get for buying a diary on January the 12th. How would I live without my page-a-day diary? Not only do I fill my diaries full of all the extremely important dates for all the extremely important things I'm going to do (don't laugh) but I also fill them with stuff like this;

But, mainly I fill them with stuff like this; lists, references, lists, quotes, lists, lyrics and more lists. This one I made whilst watching the History Boys. I loved the big pin board they had at the back of the classroom (I will have one of those myself one day) that was filled with portraits of icons and idols. I listed some of the people I could spot of the board in the film and added some of my own. For future reference.

I also use my diary to plan drawings and blog posts (NO, don't laugh. I actually plan this stuff). And how would I possibly do without the detachable address book that fits so perfectly into the back pocket of the diary? One less thing for me to doodle on.

Anyway, after perhaps an hour of deliberation (can I do without a page-a-day diary? am I really a weekly planner type of gal?) I settled for the planner. I'm sure I will come to terms with it.

Then I had to choose a new sketchbook. Damn I love new sketchbooks more than I can say (I live alone). That anticipation of the clean pages. That inner cover waiting. Just waiting. What will it look like in a years time? Which direction will it take? I love that space.

Will it be another place to through down ideas like my 'spare' Moleskine, above? A place to work through all those lists and pull a drawing out of the hat? Or will it take on a colour theme like the Sepia one? Still the only Moleskine I've ever completed from inner cover to back pocket.

Or perhaps it'll become the second volume of my travel Moleskine. I'm so close to finishing the first volume. There's definitely a possibility of that. I loved this theme and am not quite done with it yet. Although of course it could be something completely different. I quite like the idea of combining my love of food and drawing and making a kind of foodie-skine. Who knows?

One thing it won't become is a ballpoint Moley. For me, these two mediums didn't quite go together. I don't know why. It's just a personal thing. So the ballpoint Moley that I started, below, doesn't actually exist anymore. I pulled it to pieces.

Anyway, sometimes you need one that is no longer in sketch book form, cos sometimes you need the paper for those little odds and sods that you might want to draw that are not part of any theme.

And, one thing is for sure, to celebrate my love for the Moleskine this year will see more of my little Molezines. I already know the theme for the next one of those. I've been obsessing over that for the last couple of months.

Finally, they threw me out of the shop. I purchased my new books and went. Dreaming of all the possibilities. All the possibilities that a new book and a new year can bring.

i feel there's something in the air

So whose bloody stupid idea was it to launch a new zine two weeks before Christmas? Oh, yeah, that would be me then. Anyway, it's about time I gave you an update on your orders and this is where I will be apologising profusely for the time it's taken me to get them out to you.

Now, I have a whole string of excuses for this zine being late - Christmas post, snow, away for Christmas, New Year, yada yada yada. My main issue, however, has been envelopes. You know, it feels like I have been living, breathing, sleeping and eating envelopes for the past two months.

It started when I first sourced this really gorgeous airmail envelope for this zine. They were perfect. Which was great pity as they don't actually exist. Because, it seems, that companies can advertise things for you to buy even though they don't actually have them in stock. How does that work?

I ordered this envelope from three different companies in the end. they all took my order and money but not one of them actually had it in stock. I rang every stationers in the United Kingdom. Nobody had them. It was so infuriating, especially as I'd tried my damnedest to have everything in place for when the orders came in. The original order for the envelopes was placed early November.

Look, I know it's only an envelope but by this point I was totally obsessed. Nothing else would do.

Anyway, none of that matters now. The envelope, it seems, was discontinued. So I had to come up with a replacement. Now, this is true; I ended up with plain white envelopes which, in blind panic, have all been personally doodled on and decorated by my own fair hand - all 200! I hope it goes some way to making up for the time it's taken. I really do because this little episode has taken two years off my life.

Every single zine, print and drawing ordered up to this date will be shipped by Tuesday. Many of them are already on their way. Then I am going to curl up in a dark corner and rock for some time.

Remember folks you are not just buying a zine you are buying a nervous breakdown in an envelope.

To buy 'How to Draw Like a Nut' click HERE.

in the twist of seperation

Hello folks, and a Happy New Year to you all. No, I didn't fall off the face of the earth I just got distracted by the holidays. The festive season didn't start too well for me and all I really wanted to do was lock myself away at home alone but my friends and family had other ideas. Which I am very pleased about. It was just 'what the doctor ordered'. Hope you all had a great time too.

Here's a couple more drawings from my travel Moleskine. I've almost finished this sketchbook. Just a few pages to go. I am then going to treat myself to another Moleskine for the second volume. I've enjoyed this theme so much I can't stop at one.

You might recognize the drawing above. I made THIS POST about it a couple of months back. I really liked the simplicity of the composition, but I don't do simplicity (as you might have noticed) and I wasn't at all confident that I could leave the page as it was. I was right to not be confident because this is what happened, below. Now that I see them on screen I'm not sure which I prefer. What do you think?

So, I know things have been slow around here but I have so much happening in the next couple of weeks. There'll be creative new year resolutions, news about how business is going and how trying to become an illustrator is working out, updates on all of your orders, new posts on my children's book blog and, of course, LOTS of new drawings. I hope you'll be joining me in this next phase of my journey in 2011 (2011? surely that can't be right).

Happy New Year my friends.

i heard it in the wind last night

Oh well, I didn't get around to a new Christmas drawing this year, so the sprouts are getting another airing. For those of you from outside of the UK who might be wondering why sprouts, well, I'll tell you why. In the UK it is the law that on Christmas day you must have Brussel sprouts. Honestly. You can be locked up unless you have at least one on your plate. And nobody wants that.

Hope you all a have a wonderful Christmas (assuming you celebrate it). Thanks for all the visits, follows and comments. They are much appreciated. I'll be back with loads more drawings very soon.

And, once again, a big thanks to those of you who have bought my drawings, zines and prints. You keep the wolf from my door.

Merry Christmas everybody.

the craziness begins

I'm sorry to bang on about this again but a girl's got to do what a girl's got to do. So here's a little more promotion, and some photos, of my new zine 'How to Draw Like a Nut'. This zine contains the answers to the most frequently asked questions, some ideas to get you drawing and a mini tutorial. Plus lots of nonsense.

A HUGE big thanks to everyone who has ordered so far. I hope you enjoy them when they do arrive. I look forward to hearing your feedback on this new (compared to my Molezines) format. I shall keep my blog updated with all updates(?) - I ain't great with words.

So thanks again.

Buy your copy of 'HOW TO DRAW LIKE A NUT' HERE.
Cheers, my dears.

i've been whistling down the street

It wasn't until the day I was leaving Clermont Ferrand that I realised that I hadn't bought any souvenirs of the trip. We'd been so busy at the exhibition that I'd forgotten - which is ironic as I was there to exhibit my travel sketchbook that was themed 'souvenirs of my travels'. So on our final day we had an hour before we had to be the airport to find some souvenirs.

Luckily my stadar (a kind of radar, or gaydar, that detects stationery outlets in the vicinity), which had been going off for the whole trip, pointed me in the direction of a great big stationers close to our hotel. Now, for me, stationery plus souvenirs ticks so many boxes I couldn't have been happier.

So, here are my souvenirs of Clermont Ferrand; a half blue and half red pencil, two stencil maps of France and a ruler. Mission accomplished.

I'm not so happy with the blue and red drawing, above. No doubt I'll mess around with that some more in the future.

Of course, there are also all of the sugar packets, napkins, tram tickets, receipts, bills and business cards I also collected during the trip, but hey that's another drawing. Or six.

These drawing are a part of my aforementioned souvenir themed sketchbook. You can see the rest of the series HERE.

leave no track don't look back

The girl who served me at Cafe Nero in Manchester Airport must have thought I was a total pig. I bought three Espressos, Sicilian Lemon cheesecake, these Amaretti biscuits and some hazelnut chocolates in the 15 minutes I had spare before boarding my plane.Of course, what she did not know was that I was only buying these Amarettis to draw. There was no way I could ignore gorgeous packaging like this.

The Aftermath

After I'd finally finished drawing them, earlier today, I decided that the only right and proper thing to do would be to eat them. It would be wrong to let them go to waste. However they had been to France and back in my hand luggage and were pretty much powder and crumbs. Therefore the only thing left to do was to tip my head back and basically pour them down my neck. I am, of course, a total pig.

These drawings are from my travel sketchbook. You can see the other drawings from that book HERE.

Now where are those handmade chocolate Florentines that I bought to draw?

raising the spirit of peace and love

I've been playing the Plastic Ono Band album for about 6 months now. I'm completely obsessed with it. And, it hadn't even occurred to me that there were two significant anniversaries taking place this year. It's hard to imagine John as a 70 year old man. I guess he'll always be 40. And then there's today's anniversary. 30 years since his death. I remember hearing he had died before I left for school. I didn't know then how much he would come to mean to me later in life when I fell in love with music and, of course, the Beatles.

When I came into this world the Ballard of John and Yoko was top of the charts. That makes me happy.

to follow where you are

So you might have seen a bit of this drawing before. Half of it to be precise. This is the last piece of artwork to be finished for the new ballpoint zine. I'm looking forward to seeing it all printed and assembled. It's quite different product from my previous Molezines so, as yet, I have no idea how it'll turn out.

I'm hoping it'll look pretty cute. I'm quite happy with this spread, anyway. But, to bed now. I've been awake until the wee hours for the last three months. Or at least that's how it feels.

Night night.