so that was september...

From left to right:

*Out from the dusty depths came my tights, boots and coats. It wasn't the happiest reunion but I think I'm just about over it now and ready for that thing we call Autumn.

*Nick and I celebrated 2 years of being married. So much has changed since that lovely day but I'm very thankful for where we are.
*This was my very first month of Freelance Fridays. Aside from the pleasing alliteration, it's been so amazing to have an official day dedicated to doing my freelance projects. It's made my weekends a lot more relaxing. Welcome to my studio...our dining table.
*Leaves are turning golden and lining the pavements. Nick's 'I love Autumn' t-shirt has been worn all through Spring & Summer but has finally lost it's irony.
*Plans have been underway for our church to move for a trial at a new venue next Sunday. For more info check out the Trinity West blog.
*My favourite children's illustrator came to town! We made the most of it by visiting Mr Jeffer's new exhibition at Lazarides and spent an evening listening to him talk about his life, work and inspiration at the Southbank Centre. What a legend!

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so that was june...

From top left...

*Thoroughly enjoying these colourful doors just down my street. I walk past them everyday but only noticed them last week.
*A bunch of flowers from our neighbours, handpicked from their back garden brightened up our house for a week. Who said neighbourly spirit didn't exist in London?
*A Birthday trip to London Zoo. My enthusiasm over getting to meet Madagascar's King Julien & Maurice in person (or lemur) seemed to embarrass Nick somewhat.
*Birthday presents! Nick added to my ever expanding collection of Oliver Jeffers books along with 'I want my hat back' by Jon Klassen.
*Summer is here! There was more than enough sticky humidity to go round but the sun was out and I was smiling.
*I've been beavering away on all the styling details left for the wedding I'm helping out with. 3 weeks to go!

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the panda that lost his smile

Here’s a post all about a book I made for Nick just before we got engaged. Back then chronic fatigue slowed my hectic pace of life down to almost a stand still. This meant I had a lot of extra time confined to the four walls of my Thames Court bungalow. Although not particularly impressed with my situation at the time, I can now look back with a massive amount of thankfulness. God had a finely tuned and much more beautiful plan for me than I could have ever thought up myself. A bi-product of much more time spent at home was more opportunity to get stuck in to slightly longer term creative projects. This book is one of those.

I’ve always wanted to illustrate a children's book and after many an enthusiastic discussion with Nick (he was equally enthusiastic I might add), I decided to write and illustrate my own story as a surprise for him. I thought long and hard about what the story should be about and realised it obviously needed to be about Nick himself, with the slight modification of transforming him into a Panda called Cuthbert. Before you ask, no Cuthbert did not get his smile back when he met the panda version of myself. It's funny how many people have asked that question! Now that really would be a bit self indulgent wouldn't it!

What seemed like a fairly straight forward idea was actually quite a lengthy process. As usual I decided to complicate things for myself by collaging everything by hand first before going anywhere near a computer. My carpet got very well aquatinted with snipped bits of newsprint and coloured paper! Finally I found blurb.com where they allow you to either download their software or upload each page online to create your very own, shiny, new book. There are loads of paper and cover options to suit any project so I would definitely recommend it!

It was an exciting moment to actually receive the printed book in the post, although much more exciting to give the package to Nick! I’d love to make another little book sometime although I’m not sure when I’ll have the time for that in the near future. To spur me on Nick has bought me nearly every book by Oliver Jeffers, which provides endless inspiration! Have a peak it his website. 

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