New treats

I've got a new collection of pretty new things, most of these are actually presents. My sister sent me my christmas present! She wasn't home for christmas, for the first time ever, as she was in Australia (now she's travelling! Lucky girl). She gave me a lovely smelly candle, a little leather pot thing, an owl print. My absolute favourite is the infinity bracelet she gave me, it's so delicate and pretty. It's very tiny, and when I saw it I thought 'That's not going to fit on my wrist! It's tiny and looks like a kids' bracelet'. Turns out that it does fit and I have the wrists of a small child, just as well, they'll go with my child sized feet.

The last one is a gorgeous ring I bought myself as a treat (something I'm doing a little too much of recently), from the Etsy shop 'Kiss the Future' (Gold Amethyst Ring).

I'm going to be a bit tougher with myself though as I've been buying too many treats at the moment, my friend told she'll be my spending sponsor if I'll be her sponsor (which I forgot about when I texted her a picture of my new watch yesterday! opps! I did need it for work!).

What I'm reading this month: 'What a carve up!'

My book a month challenge started with Game of Thrones, which I'm still reading, but I'm reading other books at the same time. Which I don't normally like to do, I like to finish one book and then move onto the next but Game of Thrones is huge and I want to read so many books. So a little bit every so often for GoT.

This month I've been reading 'What a carve up!' by Jonathan Coe. I actually didn't choose to read this myself, I needed to read this for a brief I was set at Uni, but I'm so glad that I did.

At first I found it a little difficult to get into, there are so many characters as well as jumping different perspectives and time eras but you get used to it soon enough. Once I got used to the characters, and started to remember everyone and what they were like, it was a really good read. I'd definitely recommend it, if you're into dark comedies/satirical/slightly political books with twists.

Now I just need to get my head around the project I have to do related to this book...

Twenty Fourteen

Its been said so many times and by so many people, but I still can't believe how quickly time is flying by. Feel like I can't keep up with and get everything done. Saying that I'm so excited about 2014, brand new year and a new start. Time to make some more new years resolutions (or really renew some old ones, one day I'll get them all).

For a while I used to have a new years tradition where I would write myself a letter of everything I wanted to do in that year, seal it and then open it in a years time to see what I'd achieved. It's actually a really nice way of doing it, and really nice reading it a year later.

Last year I broke from this tradition and didn't write one, which has made me miss it a little now. So I think I'll start it up again. One thing I wanted to do in 2013 was read more, at least one book a month. Doesn't sound that demanding, but I found it hard to do to make time to read. Last year I counted that I had 60 brand new books that I had never even read yet, but I have a feeling that I have a bit more than that now (I have a bad habit of buying books but then not getting around to reading them).

I definitely achieved that in 2013, sometimes I read a few a month (traveling on trains comes in handy!). So pleased that I managed that, now this years book related resolution is to make my way through the books I've got. Think I might do a post each month on the book I'm currently reading from my collection, sort of a book club but for a party of one but you're welcome to read the same book with me if you like! :)

P.s. I love my new diary, such a pretty colour!

New pens + my MA

 In september I'll be going into the second year of working towards my MA in Illustration. I'm so excited, nervous, scared and for some reason in a constant state of hunger. I can't wait but at the same time I know it's going to be hard, the last year was so much work and difficult. This year will be worse and so much harder...but I know it will be so worth it. I've mapped out in my head all the things I want to do whilst studying, like all the new illustrations I want to make and add to my shop (actually have a few of these in works at the moment). How I'm going to plan and organise how I'll fit working around full time study. I don't want to write this down because I'll just forget it all as soon as it's down on paper, and also I'm too afraid to see it written down.

So I've been drawing a lot to calm myself down a little, I've been making myself draw people (one thing I don't like drawing) and then treating myself to drawing buildings (my favourite thing to draw). Also treated myself to new pens too but that's nothing new...they're very good though!

Trying to draw people while they're out and about, moving past places and just doing things is really hard. I've been practicing and trying to get better at it. The more I go out and sit somewhere, then draw people going past something the easier it gets. It can be awkward though at the same time, when someone notices you drawing them. Most of the time I see them suddenly try to run away, hunch over or turn away. I feel silly then but my drawings will never look like them, it's just an outline and an action. They could look at what I'd drawn of them and they wouldn't even know it's them.

One thing I'm really excited about at the moment is that I'm creating greetings cards. I've got a couple of drawings that I've done, now just need to tidy up and finish on my computer. Can't wait to see how they'll look printed out.

Google reader disappears today

I know that I'm not the best blogger, in fact I'm very bad at making time to blog.
This isn't something that I'm happy about, it's something I'm trying to work on. So I did panic a little when I realised that google reader is disappearing today, I do love blogging and I want to blog a lot more (a lot more). So this is something I will work on, and plan posts.

So if you would like to stick with me and my blog then please move over from google reader to Bloglovin' or subscribe the RSS feed through email.

There's a Bloglovin' link by picture in the side bar, and importing the blogs you follow from google reader to Bloglovin' is really easy. When you sign in or register there is a drop down from a little heart and in there it has an 'import from google reader' option. That's it, it does the rest.

Bank holiday sewing

Last week the buckle strap on my beloved satchel bag broke, it's not that surprising as I've been using it every single day for the last three months and it has gone through a beating carrying so much stuff (my shoulder has been through the same sort of beating...).

Over the bank holiday weekend I was trying to work on my final uni project of the year, but I took a little break to fix my bag. I was in the mood to do it and I knew that I had to get on with it or I'd leave it for months. So I spent a couple of hours sewing together a new canvas and floral strap. It took ages, I broke a seam ripper and hurt my fingers, but it was so worth it.
I really love how it turned out and I think it looks even better than before with the normal leather straps.

Aztec pencil cases

There's a new selection of colours for my aztec print pencil cases, which has only been in a black print until now. I've been wanting to print these in lots of colours for a long time, and have finally managed to make a few.

It's sort of a test to see how they go, there is only a few at the moment but if it goes well then there will be a lot more in these, and possibly more, colours. I really like the new colours, I think the orange one is my favourite.

Work damn it

Recently I've been so busy with uni that I haven't had much time for Charlie & the Fox, but the aim is this weekend to really concentrate and make lots of new things for the shop (I have fabric now and have printed them). Just need to focus and not get distracted by other stuff...like making an awesome necklace from an old and broken keyring. Love my new necklace though!

New...old...typewriter

A little while ago I got an amazing charity shop buy, I got this typewriter for £10! So happy with it. Years ago I'd seen another typewriter for sale, in the same charity shop, but I didn't get and I regretted it because when I went back to getit of course it had gone. I searched all through ebay afterwards, and there are some crazy prices going on for some typewriters on there. It was a little too much for me.

I'm so happy that it's a lovely blue colour too, I've already put it to work (testing out making product labels with it). The ribbon is still ok, a little dry so I'm having to hammer down the keys a little. Such an amazing sound though.

The book: 'This is not my hat'

I've been very quiet recently...or maybe for a while. This year I went back to uni and am now working towards doing my masters. Which is so exciting, and I love that I'm finally doing it. It's all really intensive, as it should be, but I'm finding it difficult to manage my time. I'm a full time student again, so I need to find a way to be able to do both uni and Charlie & the Fox. Make a plan, that's what I'll do...oh and find my diary.

Anyway this week we had to present a presentation on Storytelling and the subject area was picturebooks. I really love this book, 'This is not my hat', it's from the point of view of the little fish (aka the thief) but the illustrations contradict the storyline. I asked my lovely friend if it was ok to get her 4 year old son and her 7 year old nephew's reactions to this book, they were so cute. They gasped when the fish said he stole the hat and at the crab (I won't say what he did wrong!). I'll admit that as soon as I saw it I wanted it, and I did buy it for myself. I've noticed that Jon Klassen has written another book involving a bear and a hat!

Spiced tea + plans

Today I've been drinking lots of spiced tea on a lovely rainy summers day (british weather, weirdly we're still classed as in a drought when it's been raining for weeks now), I do actually like rain though. It was just a bit cold, I had to have the little heater in my room on for a while. The spiced tea smells lovely, it smells and tastes just like christmas. Drinking it in one of my favourite mugs, which actually older than me, I think made it taste even nicer. Love it.

I've also been planning new things, doing test prints of my new illustration, sketching ideas out and packing up orders. I've hopefully organised myself enough today to get this new illustration in the shop soon.

Still practicing taking photos but I didn't get the settings right when I was taking the pictures. I made the mistake of thinking 'oh it looks good on the display screen...it looks good'. Then on my computer the white balance wasn't right and the images weren't exposed enough. Oh well, one day I'll get it right.

Recently

Recently my sister gave me a voucher for a photography lesson, it was a birthday present, and I used it up a couple of weeks ago. I did have a couple of lessons on photography at uni but it was more 'here's a camera...find out how it works' and I didn't really. Just the basics. So it was really nice to actually find out how to use shutter speeds, f stops, etc. It really clicked and made sense, now I just need to practice to make sure I'll remember it all and so I'll get better at taking photos. The last two photos are from the studio where I had the lesson and the third photo is just me practicing what I learnt. Hopefully I will never go back to auto again, if I can avoid it.

The top image is a box of shortbread I got from Marks and Spencers. I only got it because I loved the packaging, such a great illustration and I can reuse the box afterwards. It's going to be a while though as I need to get through the shortbread, I'm not a big fan of shortbread really.

One thing that I want to do more of is make myself clothes. I haven't really done that much but that's going to change soon. I bookmark so many patterns I want to use from Burdastyle but just haven't made the time to do it yet. I have started work on drawing up my own pattern from scratch, that's the second image, drew the basic bodice out by hand first and all. When it's finished I'm going to make a very pretty dress for myself.

This coming week I'm going to start screen printing my new illustration, I'm very excited about it, and start making them into cushions for my shop. Can't wait to make them up and take photos of them.

(P.s. As I was writing this blog post I was listening to the sound of the rain hitting the window, love that sound. Always makes me feel cosy when I'm all snug in a warm house.)

Unilever Cushions

So far this year I have made so many cushions, more than I ever have before and all in the space of a few months. A few months ago I made these cushions, 20 of them, with piping and customs prints. My favourite print was the marmite one, I think it was the nicest cushion (even though I don't like marmite itself). I was so happy once I'd finished them all and had them piled up on my table. I felt like cuddling them all but they didn't stay on my table for long. I packed them up and shipped them off almost straight away to their new home.

I have a few more cushion based posts and info but I'll space them out a bit with other blog posts. That might be a bit too much cushion at once.

Afternoon tea

In February I went out to afternoon tea with my family, it's the first time I've out for a proper 'fancy' afternoon tea, I don't think drinking a cup of tea and eating cake coincidently in the afternoon really counted, and it was a (surprise) treat to my mum for her birthday.

We went to this place called Bea's of Bloomsbury, they've got a few shops across London but we went to the one in St Pauls in the new shopping centre. I liked that in the shopping centre you can go up to the roof and see for miles across London, I managed to spot the Crystal Palace mast (which reminds me a little bit of the Eiffel Tower only smaller and rubbish).

Anyway it was a lovely treat and my mum loved it, the cakes and brownies were amazing too!

Magazines + stuff

I recently took out a lot of magazine subscriptions, they're mostly all online and I possibly got carried away. Trying to get through each issue before the next one comes out has started to feel like countdown, and I'm not winning. 

It all started with 'Frankie Magazine'. I have never read it until this year, although I had heard of it, finally I decided to get a subscription and I would have preferred a physical copy but ironically I didn't want to wait for each issue to arrive in the post from Australia. To say I was not disappointed would be an understatement. I love the way it's written and found it really inspiring, it made me feel at home immediately. I wanted to write.

One of my favourite articles, from the January issue, was about switching off from social media for 30 days, written by Sam Burnett and called...well '30 days'. It's a fitting name and it drew me in, although I was reading cover to cover anyway.

My favourite parts were day 10 and 11: "Day 10: Argument with girlfriend. I'm not allowed to complain about it online, so I start talking to the bedroom cabinets about how unreasonable she can be. They are unreceptive to the situation. Bedroom furniture always take the girl's side.", "Day 11: Girlfriend is speaking to me, but only in short, extremely brief sentences. I like that she's maintaining a strict character limit when talking to me. It's like being back on twitter again!". Brilliant!

For me the thought of going offline for 30 days immediately fills me with horror. 

Four years ago I went on holiday to my aunt's in America, at that time she had no internet or a computer really. I spent two weeks without any form of internet and it was hard, now I'm sure I'd find it horrible. No email checking or tweeting, how would I survive?! Now there's no chance of my aunt being without her computer or the internet, unfortunately she has me to thank for that as does my other aunt. I lured them into the wonderful internet with skype and now they're hooked. 

Pinterest inspiration

Source: tumblr.thinkdoer.com via David on Pinterest

Source: laughingsquid.com via Lieke on Pinterest

Source: uppercasegallery.ca via Vanessa on Pinterest

Source: notebook.printeresting.org via Vanessa on Pinterest

Source: gmillustration.tumblr.com via Roxy on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Roxy on Pinterest

This always happens, I go to do some work on my computer and somehow later find that I've spent ages on Pinterest and Tumblr. They're really dangerous, I could easily just spend hours on there looking at beautiful images. Either that or end up watching cat videos on YouTube, again easily done.

To the mountains

This post has really been a long time coming, I've been meaning to write this post for a while but I honestly just kept putting it off. This was for many reasons; the main one was that I was spending most of my time on Charlie & the Fox, then I hadn't edited my photos from America and I had also grown tired of my blog design. Now this year will be a big fresh start for my blog, I've new ideas for posts that I will start to organise in a folder and I also have a new blog design coming along nicely that I'm very excited about.

Now back in November I spent two weeks over in America visiting my family in Colorado. It was such a lovely holiday, it was great spending time with my family and I had my first ever Thanksgiving. Which I don't know why some people were surprised, including my family, that we don't celebrate that holiday here in England. I ate pecan pie for the first time, lovely, as well as pumpkin pie, which I didn't like so much as, surprise surprise, it tasted very pumpkin like.
I really loved being so near mountains, I am obsessed with mountains, and I got a little snowboarding in my holiday too.

Something I love about being English in America is that Americans LOVE the accent. I kept getting comments like; 'Oh my god! You're British!'. Makes me smile. My little cousins were trying out their english accent impressions on me too, which they learnt from watching Harry Potter, and I tried out an American accent, it was really bad. To which my youngest cousin said, 'Which one is your real accent?'. So cute!

Anyway, we're now in 2012. Very excited about this year, I have a lot ideas and plans. I've already made a good start this year and am also making a good effort to stay organised, Evernote is saving me there as it is amazing and I've already gone over my monthly quota. I've also recently started a Tumblr blog, I really like Tumblr now. So I am hoping to do a lot with Charlie & the Fox this year and also visit more mountains.