wonkybutton

"Goldilocks and just the one Bear" advance copies!

2012-01-26T06:32:00.000-08:00

yee-ha - so what a lovely thing to arrive in the post this morning!

...my advance copies for my first (of many i hope) books with the superduper Nosy crows.

also squeezed into the envelope were a couple of the greek edition.and may i say what a splendid job they did on the hand lettering.

Thank you Ikaros books!

I dedicated this book to my brand new shiny nephew elliot. he is a real beauty,
I do hope he likes this little bear booky surprise!

just as an after note-this was a tricky book for me as i had a big trauma half way through it.my stupid rubbish hard drive malfunctioned with ALL my artwork on (oh, and a year of my little girls baby photos...don't ask, that is a whole different kettle of fish).

so i had to start all over again. this was really really hard, but worth it as i am really pleased with this book.actually, i am doubly as proud of myself as i have worked twice as hard.so my plea to you all out there is BACK UP YOUR WORK/PHOTOS/ANYTHING PRECIOUS- as sometimes clever technology is utterly stupid and unreasonable.

anyway- the book is out in march.... i really hope you will like it too

ps, thank you nice big green sofa so looking so nice in the backgrounds of the photos.

don't dip chips book

2012-01-24T08:36:00.000-08:00

ooh lovely, have a look at cupcakesforclara lauras blog post about her top 10 childrens books. she was guest blogging for spooky sisters.caryl hart and i are lucky to be featured amongst very wonderful company with our chips book.thank you laura!

more little babies are here!

2012-01-24T08:33:00.000-08:00

cards for two new shiny little baby girls....

how to make my russian dillydolly cushion.

2012-01-19T11:47:00.000-08:00

cut out all the pieces

match the pocket pieces up (inside out)and pin.

sew around the edge keeping to the printed line as best you can (you can see this through the fabric).

make sure you don't sew the flat edge at the top (as you will need this open to be able to turn it inside out).

carefully snip around the curve (this makes a neater finish when you turn inside out and prevents bunching and crinkles around the seam)

turn inside out so that the 3 pockets are the right way around.

fold the unprinted seam in on itself and neatly sew. (It might be easier to hand sew the 2 smaller pockets as is quite fiddly)

sew each of the 3 finished pockets on the correct size dillydolly.
(again, the smaller pocket may work best if hand sewn)

pin both pieces of each of the 3 dillydolly together inside out.

sew each of the 3 dillydolls, making sure to leave the flat edge of the bottom open (again, this will be used to turn them inside out).

carefully snip around the curved edges into the seam (making sure not to cut into it). again, this will give a better finish and prevent bunching.

turn all 3 dillydolllies the right way around.

stuff each one then turn in the seam and neatly sew up by hand.

it works best if you do each one in turn, starting with the smallest.

make sure not to overstuff the smaller ones as remember they have to fit snugly in the pockets!

and here they are awake!

sorry about the not so great photos. light was not good.
also, may i recomment that you use good scissors not rubbish blunto ones that i used.
(where have my good scissors gone?!)

hope you like, this is just the prototype.
have a few tiny tweaks to make before i send off for the real ones!
exciting!

wonkybutton prints

2012-01-17T08:04:00.001-08:00

also a lovely selections of prints
am so pleased with the quality and the paper.

more wonkybutton samples have arrived!

2012-01-17T07:56:00.000-08:00

whoop whoop!
just need to snippysnip them and sew them together to make sure they work.
how exciting

it is that time of year again (ie yucky tax)

2012-01-17T07:55:00.000-08:00

this is me trying to be really organised

little angels on the tree

2011-12-23T12:22:00.000-08:00

ps they are not always little angels by the way

more babies

2011-12-23T12:11:00.001-08:00

more lovely babies are here!

little christmas angels

2011-12-21T11:25:00.000-08:00

i made one of eebee last christmas. have been so busy this year i nearly didnt bother... but then mum made me, so i did. i am glad she did. will be nice for the angel brigade to accumulate every year. there is also an elliot angel for the new little boy in town.
now, just got to print them out and assemble them as at the moment they just look like weird cd covers!

what a lovely pair of cheekychops these two are.... ahhhh

happy christmas everyone x

dolleebee before snipping

2011-11-11T08:01:00.000-08:00

oops, forgot to put this up yesterday.

was hard to take a good shot as weather grotty and grey and flappy.

thanks for all nice comments...much appreciated all

dolleebee prototype

2011-11-10T07:27:00.000-08:00

this is my prototype dolleebee (part time superhero, part time groovy ragdoll)

i have made a few tweaks to this sample version (as spindly legs and arms a bit tricky and head a bit topheavy).

but all in all i love her and she makes me smile.

she will be a wonkybutton snippysew available in my soon to be etsy shop (will keep you posted).

found you

2011-11-02T09:15:00.000-07:00

sorry have been a most shusshyblogger trying to get my online shop products ready. not on the high street didnt want me (boo hoo) so am doing an etsy.... exciting! Ths is a little sneakity look at a design print detail.
my shop will be called WONKYBUTTON (of course!)

will let you know when up and running.... just waiting for samples to arrive!

the BIG DRAW at Londons National Portrait Gallery

2011-10-13T08:43:00.000-07:00

on Sat 8th October at the National Portrait Gallery as part of the Big Draw campaign, children were inspired by the amazing wigs/shoes/costumes in the Regency Painting and crazy party going characters were created.

But the question on everybodies lips was HOW were they going to get to the party?

Well watch the film and find out!

well done all.
Thanks to the National Portrait Gallery team and also a HUGE thanks to the very talented Tanera Dawkins for her most enchanting music.

bunnyrellas

2011-10-12T03:48:00.000-07:00

so i am trying to get myself organised and get a wonkybutton shop off the ground.
the plan is to have prints, artwork, cards and bags for sale (very exciting!)
these are the beginnings of my bunnyrella range.

i always like them at this stage before colour and collage are added.
they are like strange unstained glass windows (for a wierd bunny cult church or something i expect).

the shop will hopefully be up in november (don't hold me to that though)

the big draw at the national portrait gallery

2011-10-07T10:19:00.000-07:00

come and join in the fun with me at The BIG DRAW at the national portrait gallery.
it saturday 7th october from 1-4pm.

there will be drawing, looking at moustaches and funny wigs, creating a pick and mix party outfit for you character and animating them rushing lickity split to a party.

what more could you ask for?!

my desk and bookshelf

2011-10-06T13:06:00.000-07:00

so i now don't live in a cupboard anymore (hoorah!)
this is my bookcase

and this is my desk

fairy boys

2011-09-28T09:04:00.000-07:00

yippitee snickets on toast... this fairy book nearly finished... then i will be onto MONSTERS next to re-address the balance!

eebee does

2011-09-28T05:23:00.001-07:00

check out my new other bloggy eebee does.
it is to stop this one being eebee highjacked and to try to be more... ahem... proffessional.
(i did say try!)

crows nest

2011-09-27T08:01:00.000-07:00

well looky what i found on my hols in eastbourne.... why it only be the crows nest!

biskwits and sandcastles

2011-09-23T04:49:00.000-07:00

nice fun things about being a mummy!
(biccies a bit burnty... oops)

roald dahl funny prize shortlist

2011-09-13T05:11:00.000-07:00

read article in the guardian about the roald dahl funny prize shortlisters here!
(or not it is entirely up to you).

LAZZA a GO GO!

2011-09-12T09:12:00.000-07:00

shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
dont tell ANYONE but I have been shortlisted for the 2011 Roald Dahl funny prize for "The Funniest Book for Children Aged Six and Under"
yip yip!
... ok ok you can tell ANYONE... (seeing as I AM a big fat SHOW OFF, i suppose it is allowed).

against some stiff competition though(crumbs!)
but AHHH lovely to be nominated. A good excuse to shake my tail feathers.

fairy hats

2011-08-31T08:21:00.000-07:00

it is national "draw hat on a fairy" day.
didn't you know?
didn't you get the memo?
it is not too late if you get started now.
go go go!

princess and witch

2011-07-27T02:02:00.000-07:00

so here is a princess and a witch.
they aren't the ACTUAL princess and the ACTUAL witch that will be in the book i am making for nosy crow.
But the toad is the ACTUAL toad. I think his name is boris.

Rotherham Childrens Book awards 2011

2011-07-14T05:05:00.000-07:00

So, caryl hart and i were up in sunny rotherham last week for their childrens book awards.
it was a busy jam packed day of children, felt cupcakes, children, snakes, pies, children, authors, illustrators, craft activities, children , balloon modelling, children and awards!

we got to hang out with the lovely C B Lindsay (author of "Who Ate All the Pies") and Ally Kennon (author of "Sparks") and winner of the key stage 1/2 catagory Pete Johnson (author of " Spook School: Horror From the Deep

we were up for best picture book with "Don't Dip Your Chips In Your Drink Kate" against stiff competition (Julia Donaldsons "What the Ladybird Heard" illustrated by the marvellous Lydia Monks and Judith Kerrs "One Night At the Zoo") so were not expecting anything. But you 'll NEVER guess what... we won!

here is the nice shiny trophy i did get.

thanks children of rotherham... and thanks to all at the book awards!

Don't put your pants on your head fred!

2011-07-13T06:45:00.001-07:00

so.... "Don't put your Pants on your Head Fred" is out out out!

it is the second collaboration with the loverly Caryl Hart and is the follow up to
"Don't put your Chips in your Drink Kate!"
it is about getting dressed, soldiers and most importantly.... PANTS!

eebee house

2011-07-12T04:01:00.000-07:00

i know this isn't strictly booky stuff... but it is creative.
a little house for a little girl.

material to be used for the house (i am a sucker for all things spotty and gingham)

peices cut out of plyboard and assembled in garden

matieral cut and hand sewn onto the wooden panels

the back panel is a black board.
so it was painted then road tested by a little girl

the finished article complete with curtains and roof!

5 years of diaries

2011-06-01T05:57:00.000-07:00

so i write in my diary every day,

after a while there was a gaggle of them

so i put them up on a shelf.

they all looked so lovely lined up in a row.

all neat and tidy,

making me believe that all my thoughts were neat and tidy.

which i know,

they are not.

But that is how they seemed,

which was good enough.

we are moving soon- so i have packed them all into a big brown box.

When i got them all down I noticed they were dusty and faded.

The dust made me sneeze and gave me a headache.

South Bucks Childrens Book group get animated!

2011-05-21T13:05:00.000-07:00

So here is the result of my wonderful 2 hour art and animation workshop in high wycombe last weekend.

Everybody created their own cut-out character and did a spot of under-the-camera animation.

Didn't they do well!

Apart from this, there was lots of sticky collage making ,zoetrope whizzing, crafty paper cats and reading books.

Huge thanks to everyone in the South Bucks Children's Book group for being so welcoming and lovely.

We got yummy cake and everything!

Workshop events

2011-05-13T11:35:00.000-07:00

I am going to be in high wycombe tomorrow to do a couple of workshops for the South Bucks Childrens Book group.
Hope it will go nice and good and i don't go all waffly and red beetrootish.

one bear

2011-04-27T01:25:00.000-07:00

Hello there.
I am the bear in the book leigh is working on.
It is to be called "Goldilocks and the One Bear".
I am the One Bear.
I used to be little.
But now I am big.
That is life I suppose.
In the book I get lost and then I get dizzy and then I get hungry and then I get sleepy and then I get wide awake and then I meet up with an old friend and then I eat some yummy porridge and then I go home.
That is also life I suppose.

ps. the spoon I am holding is my special porridge spoon. every bear has a special porridge spoon don't you know.

piano

2011-04-22T01:51:00.000-07:00

it is true.
i will buy him a piano.
whether he want one or not.
in a few weeks there will be a prime spot for it that i have my little beadys on...

ps i hope you like the colouring in.
my baby did it.
she didn't even cry when i cut it up to collage galore.
good baby,

bunny tea party

2011-04-19T02:29:00.000-07:00

dug out this old picture of a bunny tea party.
i wish i got invited to such things.
i can't think of the last time i attended a bunny tea party.
i bet the cake is very light and fluffy.
i wonder if these bunnies have much in common and if they will have another tea party soon...

little boy person

2011-04-15T04:34:00.000-07:00

this is little boy person
he has no toast left
he did have toast
but now he does not
life is like that sometimes i suppose
he will have toast tomorrow though i expect

little boy person is in my new book i am busy working on.
along with a mummy person,
a daddy person,
and a grown up little bear.

kittycat

2011-04-06T03:26:00.000-07:00

i want one please.
this one will be asleep on a teetering pile of cushion in the book i am making at the moment.
i always draw siamese cats as when they are in books they are always mean and snooty and that just isn't fair. Siamese cats are very lovely thank you very much.

bear

2011-03-29T02:28:00.000-07:00

layers of bear
(and these are just the main ones.... there are lots lots more of little fiddly twiddly layers)
this sleeping bear is going to be asleep on one of the pages of my new book i am working on
shhhhh!......

robots and lego

2011-03-26T06:28:00.000-07:00

what a magic combination...

starey owl

2011-03-09T03:49:00.001-08:00

i will never ever have enough time to sleep again so from now on i will be an owl.
i don't even have time to blink actually

furniture

2011-03-03T02:59:00.000-08:00

here is some furniture for a certain bears gingerbready cabin in the wood.
(for the new book i am working on)

With this lovely furniture, it won't be a bare room bear room.
Please don't look in the cupboards.
It is probably very messy and everything will fall out.

the origional sunny

2011-03-01T05:58:00.000-08:00

and this was the origional sulky sunny mccloud from SMILE!
(who became less sulky and more sunny)

the origional design of chip dipping KATE!

2011-03-01T01:27:00.001-08:00

when i was rummaging through my tardis hard drive i found this old design of kate.
cant imagine this being kate anymore.
i quite like her though... whoever she is

book sniffer pug action!

2011-02-23T06:48:00.000-08:00

So there is a lovely review of dear old Limelight Larry on the amazing new BOOKSNIFFER blog.

And of COURSE big fat show off Larry couldn't bear not to add his own important thoughts on his favourite subject (i.e. HIM)

have a looky if you have a mo

trees and buildings

2011-02-17T03:39:00.000-08:00

making a made up map for the end papers in my new book

everybody loves a bit of good old fashioned mappage in a book don't they? (well i know i do).

these are some bits and bobs that will go in the map

...mmmn... i wonder who would live in a house like this....?

nosy crow

2011-02-08T08:32:00.000-08:00

oops... it seems to have inadvertantly gone all birdy of late
here is a nice crow for lovely shiny new publishing company nosy crow.

Crumbs!

2011-02-03T02:19:00.000-08:00

here is a crumb of a crumb of an illustration of the new book i am working on
( i love drawing spindelly bird legs!)

picture for leopold

2011-01-18T02:15:00.000-08:00

happy birthday LEOPOLD!
(i like sticking googly eyes on pictures)

bunny softie

2011-01-12T03:12:00.001-08:00

so my clever mum made me this HUGE bunny for christmas.
i just LOVE her (the bunny and my mummy!)

limelight larry quilting fan!

2011-01-05T02:42:00.000-08:00

let your peepers soak up these peacocky quilty treats that a crafty someone called SARAH has made. good work Sarah!
Larry WILL be pleased that he had made it into the wonderful world of the quilts and quillows ( who wouldn't?!)

ACUTE ANGEL

2010-12-16T12:45:00.000-08:00

ho ho ho happy christmas everybody!

what every christmas tree needs is a little angel
lucky for you there is an easy peesy one here to make
just cut out and assembly. no glue needed. (sticky finger free crafts are the way forward)

hope all your chrsitmas dreams come true (except the one about the scarey santa)

Sheffield childrens book awards 2010

2010-12-13T07:07:00.000-08:00

Whoop whoop!
Don't Dip your Chips in your Drink Kate got Highly commended for the Picture Book catagory and the Community Library award!

here is a shakey movie of what the kids had to say about it....
(I wish i wasn't a sensitive little artist about the fact that the favourite page was one with hardly any illustration!)

piccy of Caryl Hart and me with important people (the one with the nice bit of bling is the Mayor of Sheffield i think!)

and of all the shortlisty people!
inc "Morris the Mankiest monster" illustrator Sarah McIntyre ,"The Great Dog Bottom Swap" by Peter Bently and Mei Matsuoka and "Dear Miss" author and illustrator Amy Husband.
Well done to all... was so amazing to be amongst such a talented gaggle of authors and illustrators.

Caryl and I scoffing paper cakes after a busy crafty work shop in the Winter Gardens (brrrr)

mmmn.. a nice cup of tea to boo

Limelight Larry Crafts

2010-12-13T06:36:00.000-08:00

larry (the show off)

bunnies (side kicks)

trees (props)

ooh what a lame blogger i am.
i blame it on the babay... sigh... yawn... here are photos of some Limelight Larry crafts.
am pleased with the bunnies, but think larry is a bit fiddly and not so graphic and simple (that's peacocks for you i suppose).

Publish Post

will upload the cutout craftables for anybody and everybody to make in a day or two...

how to draw a PUFFIN

2010-10-12T03:08:00.000-07:00

(well the way i do it anyhow)
I was asked by the PUFFIN POST people to do a little "how to draw a puffin" step by step thingy.
Not sure when it will be in the magasine- but there is a sneaky looky right here (shhh!)...

LIMEILGHT LARRY spotify playlist!

2010-09-22T04:18:00.000-07:00

wonderful superlady at orchard (aka Emma O'Donovan) has created this

LIMELIGHT LARRY spotify playlist.

It takes you through the story of Limelight Larry via the medium of song. How good is that!

Bookbag interview

2010-09-14T11:29:00.000-07:00

Hot on the heels of the very amazingly nice review for LIMELIGHT LARRY from Bookbag...

there is an interview from me on their site HERE.

I do hope my answers aren't tooo silly (was a trifle sleepity when I answered them).

Edinburgh book festival 2010

2010-09-11T06:39:00.001-07:00

I was lucky enough to be invited to the Edinburgh book festival again this year.

It is the most amazing place at the best of times, but with the Book festival on, it is EVEN more magical... sigh..

anyway, I did a workshop about Sunny McClouds "SMILE!" story.

Here are a few snippysnaps and little facts of the day...

We read stories

We played games (stick the smile on the Sunny)

We made spare smiles incase our own smiles ever get lost (it does happen)

We made paper Sunnys

... all in an hour! (nice and jam packed).

Then I got excited about seeing a gaggle of my books perched on shelves.

(Especially the shiny new ones "SCRUMMY!" and "LIMELIGHT LARRY")

Then I signed some books (without making any smudgey mistakes thank goodness).

I hope everyone enjoyed it.

I did!

smile!

2010-09-11T04:21:00.000-07:00

here is a teeny movie of the lovey little SMILE! flipbooks that we gave to the children in the workshop.

they have to animate the smile turning up on Sunny McCloud

:-)

LOVELY Limelight Larry review from Bookbag

2010-09-09T11:39:00.000-07:00

Shhhhh,,,,,!

Keep it under your hat as if Larry catches wind of this super review from Bookbag his head will get even bigger

(and we can't be having that can we!)

Larry is book of the week at Peters!

2010-09-08T04:52:00.000-07:00

to have a look at it in the flesh, click here!

what lovely news for a dreary wednesday.

GO LARRY!

SCRUMMY! now in the shops!

2010-09-06T02:40:00.000-07:00

Scrummy! is the new Sunny McCloud story.

It is all about families and sandwiches (two of my favourite things by the way).

mnnnn..... making this book made me PECKISH!

LIMELIGHT LARRY IS OUT!

2010-09-06T02:22:00.000-07:00

wooohooo!

so limelight larry is out out OUT!

if you want to see a REAL show off, then this book is for YOU!

an additional treat is the little animation trailer i made for limlight larry...

(well i did say he was a show off!)

Limelight Larry from Beakus on Vimeo.

doggie for mya jean

2010-09-04T03:44:00.000-07:00

another speical little baby in the world... welcome mya jean
hope you like this doggie friend for you
x

Larry is comming SOOOOON!

2010-08-26T14:07:00.000-07:00

Limelight Larry (my book about a show-off peacock) is nearly nearly really out.... exciting stuff!
have a peep at the

Limelight Larry advert on Angels & Urchines weekly!

PANTS!

2010-08-14T05:45:00.000-07:00

a plethora of pant...

SCRUMMY!

2010-08-08T03:42:00.000-07:00

So, my new Sunny McCLoud book "SCRUMMY!" is out in september 2010
to celebrate this fact, Orchard have cooked up some scrummy sandwhichy fun.
mmmn... making me a little peckish....

froggy picture for samuel

2010-07-17T02:46:00.000-07:00

a lovely shiny new baby is in the world!...
hurrah for samuel!
here is a little present for him... i hope he like it.
i chose to do a froggy as his mummy and daddy like swimming and diving.
(splishy splashy)

Annecy 50!

2010-06-22T03:43:00.000-07:00

To help celebrate Annecy Animation Festivals 50th Anniversary I was asked to do an illustration.
Naturally I couldn't resist the BUNNIES!
A special book was made with all the illustrations that selected animation directors had done.... ooh lovely!

I couldn't make it over to the festival this year... but I bet it was even more fabulously fun and inspiring than usual for this special year.

BORIS

2010-06-12T05:29:00.000-07:00

If you have a cup of tea to slurp and need something to read,
do have a look at article on the wonderful
Teach Often, Teach Well blog.
The artical is about BORIS (aka Colin in America) and guest author (aka me).

Stockport Schools Book Awards 2010

2010-06-06T01:57:00.000-07:00

Yey!
My picture book SMILE has been nominated for the
Stockport Schools Book Award 2010

It is in the key stage 1 catagory... again, competing against some lovely books. (My favourite one is "The Troll"... i love david roberts illustrations)
so i will keep my ink stained fingers crossed!

Sheffield Chlidren's Book Awards 2010

2010-05-30T09:03:00.000-07:00

Great news for book "Don't Dip your chips in Drink Kate!"
(Written by Caryl Hart and illustrated by me)
It has been shortlisted for the Sheffield Chlidren's book awards 2010!

It has some stiff competition... "The Great Dog Bottom Swap" being a particular favourite of mine!

Shame though that they didn't spell my name right, or get the title of the book right on the website!

card for special scrummy mummy to be

2010-05-30T05:37:00.000-07:00

this particular baby doesn't know it yet but is very lucky to have such a lovely mummy!

mystery bunnies

2010-04-10T10:50:00.000-07:00

Now i know easter has been and gone but this gaggle of bunnies (what is the collective noun for bunnies i wonder?) are for something rather special.
this isn't the finished artwork... and is just a little taster. the real mcoy will be unveiled in june-ish.

don't dip your chips out in paperback!

2010-03-26T11:08:00.000-07:00

yippee! and look at the lovely fun activity printables that my publisher Orchard have magically conjured up.

HURRAH for nice shiny new animation company BEAKUS!

2010-03-10T06:32:00.000-08:00

lots of great stuff in BEAKUS
and i am lucky enough to be able to be represented by them.
have a look at the BEAKUS website for lots of eyeball treats!

baby cards

2010-03-02T07:56:00.000-08:00

sorry i have been all shush shush quiet of late.
i have met lots of new babies who have appeared into the world.
i made them all a simple card.
i hope they liked them.

Scrummy end papers

2010-01-21T07:53:00.000-08:00

here are the end papers of the new Sunny McCloud book "SCRUMMY" thati have just finished.
(All about food, sandwiches and families)
A bit of a shame as these end papers i LOVE - but we aren't going to use them.
Will have to come up with some new ones.
ah well...

exeter animation festival

2010-01-05T09:27:00.000-08:00

Some of my designs which have been used fo the super flyer for
Exeter Animation Festival
It looks like there is some great stuff on there.
I went last year and it was very inspiring.

Here are the swimming in inspiration bunnies
They might look familiar as I gave a sneaky peek of one of them earlier last summer when i was working on it!

the finished article... Beakys baby quilt

2009-12-31T10:08:00.000-08:00

so here is the finished baby quilt that my superhero mum made from one of my designs...
now that is real love and craftmans-ship and patience all rolled into one.

picture for tess

2009-11-27T10:40:00.000-08:00

suprise.... another cloud bunny!

orchard ad in japanese magasine

2009-11-23T03:46:00.000-08:00

It is a full page ad in Japanese magazine called Kinokuniya
and was produced on behalf of Orchards special sales team.
Thanks special sales team for using my cover illustration from picture book "Don't Dip your chips in your Drink Kate!"

LIMELIGHT LARRY poster!

2009-11-20T02:44:00.001-08:00

oooh it has shiny foil on it too
in real life it glimmers and everything!

picture for eve

2009-11-17T01:37:00.000-08:00

so what.... i like bunnies!

last day at my studio

2009-11-13T09:36:00.000-08:00

all of this pegged up chaos and scruffy smudgey artwork has now been dismantled as i have left my lovely studio
(sniff sniff)
but now i get to work in my garden shed studio again
(yey!)
there are cats and squirrels and everything pottering about in the garden which is good
(and slugs too sometimes unfortunately)

"don't dip your chips in your drink kate!" launch in sheffield

2009-11-09T07:57:00.000-08:00

Everyone who went to the launch got to gobble up one of these yummy looking cakes.
mmnn.... why didn't I go again? what a fool.
one of those cakes had my name on it I am sure.

here is Caryl Har t (the author of the book) reading the book.

this HUGE poster with fabulous colour in cakes that the children at the launch made is now on display in the Sheffield Library.

You can see more photos of the party and other fun bits and bobs on Caryls blog

Limelight Larry goes to Frankfurt!

2009-10-28T04:30:00.000-07:00

Show off Limelight Larry is the star of my new picture book which will be out next year ....
He forced Orchard books to put him on the front of their Frankfurt Bookfair booklet.
(He doesn't realise how lucky he is).

I hope he didn't make a nuisance of himself at the bookfair and that he made lots of friends. (fingers crossed!)

what we did at the Smile! event (polka dot theatre)

2009-10-19T03:11:00.000-07:00

here is just some of the fun bits and bobs we did that day...

we all coloured and snip snipped

we read the book and talked about what makes us smile (gazing at clouds, chocolate cake, funny jokes and watching dogs run about)

then i was starstruck and met the lovely Roger McGough (that made me smile by the way)
he signed his new book for me, and I signed my book for him (crumbs... fancy that!)

... ah, what a nice day (and what a pink cardigan)
i do hope that everyone else had a nice time, thanks for comming!

what a BRILLIANT place the Polka Dot Theatre is.
So much fun and creativity in one place.
I must go there again soon.

ooh what a pleasing window display at the Owl Bookshop Kentish Town

2009-10-05T09:01:00.000-07:00

crumbs.... what good company I am with-
I had better behave myself

10 rabbits (20 ears)

2009-10-02T08:23:00.000-07:00

new book out!

2009-10-01T06:38:00.000-07:00

some paper cutouts having a look round the book

2009-09-25T03:36:00.000-07:00

i have made some crafty cutouts in preperation for my SMILE! event at the Polka Dot theatre in a few weeks.

leighs polka dot theatre event

lovely mention of colins american alter-ego BORIS on Izze's book blog

2009-09-22T03:07:00.000-07:00

Rating: 4 kitty purrs.

I find a bird on every page! (This is only partially true, there are a lot of birds).
Boris is a cat, he "leepy" (sleepy)
He in a box.
"We not want this cat!"
NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!!!
Boris be sad.
Mr. Marshmallow eat only fish!
We ever not have a cat, he would eat "Oviler" (Oliver is Izze's fish).
Then he find a lady!
She sooo happy!

Izze loves the art, the collage style.

Vegan note: Mr. Marshmallow eats fish from The South Pole. Boris wishes he had fish, because he was hungry.

I think Izzes description of the story is the bees knees.

SO pleased you like my book Izze...
Boris is very happy that he has found a friend like you!

http://izzelovestoread.blogspot.com

presenting the shrunkled shrinkydinks!

2009-09-10T06:56:00.000-07:00

my, haven't they shrunked?
they were smaller than i thought, so i had to add buttons and beads (always a wise decision)

shrinkydink broaches

2009-09-09T05:36:00.000-07:00

here are some shrinkydink broaches i am making.
mmmn..... shrinkydinks
this is before the melty shrinky ovenbake....

design for beaky baby quilt

2009-09-07T11:50:00.001-07:00

my clever mum is going to make this design as a real live patch work blanket!
i will show the the finished article when it is made!

"smile" and"colin and the wrong shadow" out in paperback in the shoppy shops NOW!

2009-09-04T05:49:00.000-07:00

hand lettering from my new book limelight larry

2009-09-01T07:44:00.000-07:00

it won't be out till next year though.... boo hoo.

what's on your washing line?

2009-08-20T04:55:00.000-07:00

oh look, on mine there seems to be losts of nice tissue paper textures i have made which i will use in my new Sunny McCloud book.
but who's that lurking in the corner?...

only me.... more about me later... shhhhh!

booktrust interview

2009-07-10T04:14:00.000-07:00

to read the booktrust interview do clicky here

sigh.... always charlie and lola, well it is a great show.

smiley SMILE review!

2009-07-07T06:30:00.000-07:00

clicky here to read a lovely review for SMILE!
on the writeaway website

Colin on YouTube

2009-07-02T06:27:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XauKJXa9Mdo
Colin is now on YouTube!