Be back soon, just busy working...

I'm a bit like the little guy on the bottom left - hard at work but feeling lucky that I can enjoy having a creative job.

pen and ink drawing from the dusty vaults

Seven Things

I was tagged by Gerry and Mike R Baker . I tell you seven things about myself, then tag seven other people. Here goes:

I am 5ft tall. A while ago, a little girl who looked about four came up to me to ask where my mummy and daddy were. She looked quite confused when I said that I was with my husband!

I can't drive. Our family never owned a car when I was growing up. I kept thinking I would learn one day, but never got around to taking lessons.

I love collecting old things that are a little worn and shabby. They carry history and mystery and I'm charmed by that.

I can't stand the taste of celery. People always insist that it doesn't have much flavour but if I detect the tiniest amount in a salad, I won't be able to eat it.

I used to read a lot of horror books when I was younger (I did have to turn the covers of the books face down when I was trying to sleep). Now for some reason I can't read them or watch horror movies. And the worst ones for me are zombie movies - they make my skin crawl just thinking about them.

I have one pixie ear and one normal ear.

Before moving to Montreal and even thinking of making a living as an illustrator, I visited a palm reader called Acora in England. He told me that I was moving across the water really soon, and that I would illustrate children's books. He also said I would have an only son. Now that guy was good! :)

I am tagging
Sandy
Irisz
Anette
Daphne
Gretel
Matt
Dawbis

If you haven't read the trilogy His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman - you must! They are marvelous books. The kind that make you want to cry when you are finished because you don't want them to end.

The first movie The Golden Compass is coming out December 2007 and in our household we are counting down the days.

You can find out about daemons and make one of your own by clicking on the image. Reading other blogs, it seems like a lot of people who work in children's literature are ocelots. Both me and my husband turned out to be ocelots too.

Update on Madame Tutli-Putli

A little while ago, I blogged about a fantastic stop-motion animation called Madame Tutli-Putli that is coming out soon. Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski are the sculptors and animators who created this magical world and Jason Walker did the wonderful work of bringing so much soul to the puppets. Jason sent me a link to his site where you can learn more about this amazing process: Jason Walker and here is a link to the trailer if you have not already seen it: Madame Tutli-Putli

Laurie Maher is the actress behind Madame Tutli-Putli. She has a website but I think it is pretty new and not quite up and running yet: Laurie Maher

Illustration Friday: Citrus

Introducing Citron the clown and his wonderful balancing act...

Home made luggage tag, collage, acrylic and pencil

Surprise Package

It's so fun when something arrives in the mail that you are not expecting. I just received this wonderful package from Art Tea Life


And it was full of these beautiful gems - stunning pieces of vintage wallpaper and ephemera that are so wonderful and unique that I can't imagine cutting them up. Then my husband said: "What would Sandy want you to do with them?" I think you would want me to use them, wouldn't you Sandy? So these will become a part of some very special collages. Thank you so much, it was very sweet and thoughtful of you to send me these. I will treasure them and do my best not to hoard them!

Hee!

A puzzle and poster pack has been made from the Claire and the Unicorn book that I illustrated.

Amazon.com

Madame Tutli-Putli

I can't wait to see this. It is absolutely captivating and I can't stop watching the trailer.



Madame Tutli-Putli

Like two peas in a pod ......

When I saw this book on Amazon, I had to order it. It is full of wonderful stories and photographs of well-loved toys and blankies that are so precious to children. But it was the cover that really got me:

Amazon.com

Our son has had a special companion since he was six months old. His name is Boo and he has been through a lot of loving.

The dog on the cover is called Rover. Rover and Boo, separated at birth...