Happy Christmas

Wishing you all a very 

Happy Christmas,

and a 

Happy and Healthy New Year

x

Some snowy designs

"Let it snow,

let it snow,

let it snowwwwwww!"

Beach huts and bunting

I have been working on a piece of art for some friends

 who have recently moved to a new home by the sea.

And for me, any excuse to paint beach huts. . . 

or seagulls, is good enough for me!

and Im rather cuffed with this piece, and so were my friends! 

: )

"Happy New Home"

Some old friends

Thought I'd re introduce you to some of my old friends!

Just because . . .

. . . they make me. . . 

. . . smile : )

"Boo"

Images 36, Best of British Illustration

http://fmillustration.typepad.com/blog/2012/10/images-36.html#

Heres my entry that was selected for the 

Images 36, AOI Best of British Illustration

in the children's book section. 

Click on the link below the pic for a really good detailed Blog 

on the Frances McKay website

This story about Mother Hen, has prompted a follow on story, about King Rooster, 

In fact he is being shown at Frankfurt Book Fair this week by Frances, 

so "Good Luck King Rooster," and big thanks to Frances, I so hope he is accepted : )

Heres a sneaky peak

The Cat's Whiskers

Just a big cheeky smile, to get the week started! 

"Hello!"

New card designs

A first peak at some of the new cards, being launched for the new cat range 

with Heritage Art Papers. 

They are becoming rather popular in cathedral gift shops, 

(especially as most Cathedrals have their own resident cat!)

Miss Cordelia Pig!

A few weeks ago in my blog, 

I showed you the starting point for a new character of mine

Miss Cordelia Pig!

Well this is how she is looking now, 

I feel that although she is rather hairy, rather muddy and rather smelly, 

Cordelia is completely content and in "Pig" terms, feels rather dainty indeed!

A new character in the making

A new little guy who is starting to take shape, 

and who is preparing for Frankfurt book fair. 

Cats with Attitude!

http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/inkyrose/product/mounted-proud-siamese-cat-print

Ive now added my 

"Cats with Attitude"

print range to our "InkyRose," page on the "Not on the High Street" website,

and Im rather chuffed with how it looks, so fingers crossed now for orders!! 

Here's a few of them;

http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/inkyrose/product/mounted-tortie-and-mouse-print

http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/inkyrose/product/mounted-cat-print-scruffy-ginger-cat

http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/inkyrose/product/mounted-grey-cats-back-print

http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/inkyrose/product/mounted-persian-with-attitude-cat-print

A Gold Star

Well after my latest blog, 

"OMG, Team GB, you are AMAZING!!!!!"

This illustration, is taken from a story written by Frances McKay,

about Sam the Cat who through being rather sneaky and quite naughty, 

actually ends up being a true hero, and earns his 

"GOLD STAR."

Its the taking part!

Its the taking part that counts!

At least thats what good old British spirit says!

"With a run and a jump, and a whoops and a skid!"

"Poor Mavis!"

(From "Keep practicing Mavis!" a story in progress)

Piggy dreams

Meet Cordelia Pig.

Cordelia, like most pigs is not the most dainty and graceful of animals!

But in her dreams . . . 

. . . Cordelia is a fairy pig!

"Finger Blobs"

"Crunch"

"Tweet"

"Joy"

"Squeek"

"Squidge"

"Boo"

"SHINE"

"Nutty"

(Whoops, sorry Sammy!)

A creative weekend

This weekend, could have been one of short fuses and ratty boredom, 

but in the end it turned out really well indeed! 

I am working on a project with pretty tight deadlines at the moment, 

and that means working over a weekend is often very helpful in pacing out my schedule.  

The above photo shows part of my work from over the weekend, 

work by Latter number 1, 

(Thats me! Or if you include my husband in this, I guess I'm really Latter number 2!)

This is actually an anniversary card for my parents

 but based on some characters similar to that of my current project for 

Little Tiger Press, 

(of which I will show you more of in a later blog, 

although for a sneaky peak, have a look at my website diary,) 

http://www.jillustrator.com/blog/blog_june.html

See both this month and May's page : ) 

I will now get back to my opening sentence, as to why potentially

 it could have been a weekend of short fuses!

Both of my daughters were off school with a nasty bug for some of last week,

and although bless them, my priority has been to look after them, and watch many Disney films with them, and give out much essential cuddle times too, towards the weekend when they were almost better but still just tired and a bit worse for wear, we were still stuck in the house, after the 5th day of 

NOT LEAVING THE HOUSE, Ahhhhhhh!!!

Anyway, instead we ALL enjoyed a very pleasant weekend of craft, sewing, painting and designing!

Latter number 3's design work, and see below a lovely handmade wool flower, 

And here is Latter number 4 painting and below her fantastic bear 

that she stitched all by herself!

And lastly another project that I am working on, 

designing a Christmas range of cards for Wells Cathedral who have their own resident cat! 

These are part of a new selection that are becoming very popular, 

designing specifically for Cathedrals, with Heritage Arts Papers

other ranges can be seen here 

http://Live.heritageartpapers.com/catalogue.aspx?ItemID=12b3f150-ebad-4934-b470-c514c0911473