Go to Buxton. They have nice water.

If you happen to be passing Buxton between now and 14th August, I highly recommend that you stop off and have a nosey in the Art Gallery/Museum.  One of my favourite artists is exhibiting there and it's a feast for the eyes.

It was my first time seeing this piece (the trainers below), as its size has meant that it hasn't been shared on the blog (I mean, who has a scanner that big?!).

See? Huge!

'Ten Examples of Unnecessarily Handsome Shoes'. No photo of this, unfortunately. I love all of the different perspectives and annotations.

'Wish I Knew You Well'. This full colour drawing blew us away (Mr Pippa was with me). I seem to remember it being larger than the others (I didn't think to make notes).

As well as the works on the walls, there were the cabinets. The first was the woodland one. The pieces looked so at home with the leaves and twigs in there. And the dead bee.

I'm not sure I'd realised when first spotting this drawing (above) online that this piece is not, in fact, drawn onto lined paper which happened to have tea/coffee mug rings on it, but those details have been drawn too. Andrea Joseph often catches me off guard like that. I love it.

I spent most of my time looking through these cabinets:

I also adored being able to get so close to the glass cabinets that my nose occasionally bumped the glass as I studied the sketchbooks and spotted the items which appear in the drawings. I would have loved to flick through one of the sketchbooks.

When chatting to Andrea later, she mentioned that this drawing (in the sketchbook above) was drawn in a coffee shop in Buxton - a coffee shop I have now been to. It's funny how just a little thing like knowing where/how a piece came together gives me a whole new appreciation of it.

What a treat!

Go on, get your skates on. You've got until 14th August.

P.S. Thank you, Mr Pippa for being photograpaher for the day :)

that's love

{Print for sale here}

By the way, what do you think of the Valentine blog makeover? I like it. I'm going to keep it for the rest of February, by which time it'll be time for a spring banner. Spring: I'm so ready for you.

I know. That whole anthropomorphisation-of-days/months/years thing that's fashionable at the moment annoys me too. I felt it was necessary. I promise not to overdo it.

Would you like to see the view from one of the places we stayed in last week? I'll show you no matter what your response. It'll melt your face with its British beachy beauty. This was taken from our window.

Mmm nice.

consumable gifts {part 3: handmade and edible - the savoury ones}

Hello and welcome to the 3rd part of this Consumable Gifts series.

Let's get straight into the list: homemade food gifts {the savoury ones} or savory if you'd like a translation into American English. Although, I think you're bright enough to do the translating yourself.

1. Chutney
Make sure the recipient actually likes chutney before making them four jars of the stuff. Recipes: Christmas Chutney, Fragrant Mango & Apple Chutney, Apple & Cranberry, Spiced Courgette, Rhubard & Date, Tangy Onion, Classic Apple, Mango. I don't even like chutney and I think they look quite tempting.

(image from here)

2. Homemade Bread
Only give this one if you know they'll have a chance to consume it soon. You could make it a bit fancy - some sun-dried tomatoes in there, perhaps?


3. Salad Dressing
Here's one recipe. Put it in a fancy bottle and tie a ribbon around it, if you like.


4. Bag of Homemade Dried Pasta
Looks great here (and there are even ideas on how to package it).

5. Pesto
This writer here thinks it would look great in an old-fashioned French storage or Kilner jar. Yes, it probably would. Here's another recipe (free printables with this second one).

(image from here)

6. Bread Mix in a Jar
As with the cake/cookie/brownie mix in a jar idea from part 2 of the Consumable Gifts series, layer the ingredients in a large jar. This mix needs no kneading and they show you how to make the kit at that link too. Brilliant!

7. Flavoured Oil
Here's a recipe for Chilli Oil, but I'm sure there are plenty more. Nice glass bottle and some ribbon and you're sorted.

8. A Spice Mix
Here's a recipe for a Chilli Spice Mix and tips on how to package it. Or, give a spice mix with recipe ideas, like here. Good old Martha Stewart with an All-Purpose Spice Rub here. Or, not spices but I think it fits into the same category: Garlic Bread Seasoning. You could give some nice bread with it too.

9. Jam/Marmalade/Curd
Sweet or savoury? Well, I put these in the savoury category because you have them with savoury things. Sweet Cherry Jam, Lemon and Lime Marmalade, Three Fruit Marmalade, Lemon Curd. Or, if they like lemon curd, perhaps they'd like vanilla curd or banoffee curd (we're currently finishing a jar of banoffee curd and it's delish on hot toast).

(image from here)

10. Spiced Nuts
Spiced Pecans here; Spiced Nuts here.

Coming up next: homemade food gifts {the drinks}

consumable gifts {part 2: handmade and edible - the sweet ones}

Hello and welcome to the 2nd part of this Consumable Gifts series.

In this post, I've compiled a list of consumable gifts ideas, focusing on (you probably guessed from the title) gifts that are both handmade and edible. I haven't included cookie and cake recipes because you can find those for yourselves. Also, think about when you're giving the gift: will the recipient have time to consume it before it's past its best? Maybe they already have a cupboard full of cake and one more would just be a burden. Unless it's freezable, maybe? This is why I've chosen things in these posts which will keep a bit longer.

We begin with homemade food gifts {the sweet ones}. I got quite hungry creating this post.

1. Fudge
Make batches of different flavours: peanut butter fudge, chocolate fudge, vanilla fudge, chocolate mint fudge, irish cream fudge, holiday fudge, or just plain and simple fudge (more ideas and recipes here). Slice it, wrap up in greaseproof paper, put it in a box and tie with ribbon or bakers' twine - more ideas for packaging here.

2. Mix in a Jar
Layer a simple mix for cookies/biscuits/brownies into a nice jar (the jar can be part of the gift too). All they then have to do is add the wet ingredients. Attach the recipe to a card and tie with ribbon.

(image from Fried Chillies)

[For ideas on how to decorate something in a jar, check back here later for a post on packaging ideas]

3. Cookie Dough
Wrap up a log of dough for them to keep in their freezer and bake with when ready. It doesn't go stale and is something a bit different. See here.

4. Brittle
Good old fashioned peanut brittle is my favourite. See here for more ideas and recipes. You could wrap it unbroken, with a mini hammer and ribbon, like this one.

5. Candied Citrus Peels
See here.

6. Gingerbread Caramels
I love the packaging for this.

7. Fleur de Sel Toffee
See here.

8. Cake in a Jar
It keeps! It can be stored for 6 months, possibly longer. No cooking required for the recipient: just open and eat. Find it here.

(image from The Kitchn)

9. Chocolate Drizzled Mints
Looks fun to make, too.

(image from Gimme Some Oven)

10. Truffles
Autumn Spice Truffles, Chocolate Truffles, Amaretto Truffles, Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles, Low-Fat Mint Truffles. Dip them in chocolate and sprinkle white chocolate shavings or nuts before the chocolate sets, top them with bubble wrap chocolate decorations, or just leave them as they are.

11. Peppermint Creams
From Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, no less.

12. Homemade Marshmallows
Candy-Cane Marshmallows and Marshmallow Snowflakes look great in hot chocolate.

13. Edible Glitter (aka Sanding Sugar)
You chefs may be wincing when I call this edible glitter but, to a novice, that's kind of what it looks like, don't you think? It's actually Sanding Sugar, though.

(image from Bake at 350)

14. Neapolitan Coconut Strips
They even have packaging tips here.

15. Caramel Bourbon Vanilla Sauce
Pour into a little jar and attach a spoon with garden twine. Beautiful.

16. Candy Bracelet/Necklace
A great gift for children who don't have a problem with E-numbers. Or just big kids who don't care about E-numbers.

(image from Paper&Cake)

17. Hot Fudge Sauce
This looks great. On profiteroles, perhaps?

18. Cinder Toffee/Honeycomb/Sponge Candy
As it is, or dipped in chocolate.

19. Buttermilk Syrup
Put it in a bottle and stick a label on. Maybe you could give waffles with it? I'd like that.

20. Hazelnut Chocolate Spread
Homemade tastes so much better than Nutella.

21. Gumdrop Pops
Not quite homemade, but they are home-assembled. It certainly makes sweets look even more exciting.

22. Pecan Clusters
These look great in their handmade packaging.

23. Vanilla Syrup
Great gift for a coffee lover. I prefer it in hot chocolate. This recipe is really simple.

(image from Craftzine)

24. Praline Ice-Cream Sauce
This one's made in the microwave - great!

25. Brandy Butter
This one looks especially pleasing with a spoon attached with bakers' twine.


Coming up next: homemade food gifts {the savoury ones}

Everywhere you go, always take a brolly with you

OK, so I didn't quite manage to make it back here within a month, but the gap between posts is slowly closing.

Inspired by the wonderful Andrea Joseph and this post, I felt justified in using tracing paper in my drawings. I've always felt as though I'm cheating if I use tracing paper (even though it's my own work I'm tracing), but thanks to Andrea, I'm back on the drawing horse. And by that, I mean that I'm drawing again and enjoying myself. I'm not actually on a horse that can draw. I've never seen a drawing horse.

So, here's a new one:

I'm halfway through another drawing, so I will be back soon. Sooner then a month, anyway.

Random question: is the term 'brolly' purely British or do you folk across the sea use it too?

Edmund goes to tea

It still makes me smile to see what Edmund gets up to. I saw this the other day. Cute! Thanks for the mention, Kimberly :)

Maybe it's because I don't make that many things (or it's because I only sell a fraction of them), but it makes me all giddy seeing things I've made with their new owners. Do you feel like that? Not about seeing my things - why would you find that exciting? But do you feel like that about things that you have made? That's what I meant. But you may have known that and now I've just unnecessarily explained my structural ambiguity. I must stop. 

It made me think, 'I wonder how many people who read my blog have things I've made...' (a bit of a clumsy sentence there, but it's late and I can't be bothered to reword it). Like the person in Norway who bought some badges (I think that was my first Folksy sale).

Apologies for the weird look to the blog at the moment, I'm in the middle of changing things around. Hopefully, it should look loads better once it's finished.

Anyway, I may have some exciting news to share with you in the next couple of days, so stay tuned. And if you're fed up of never knowing when I'm going to blog next, you could subscribe to my RSS feed (click the 'subscribe in reader' link on the right) and my blog posts will be delivered directly to you! Well, you'll still have to look on your computer. They don't get delivered to your door. That wouldn't work. Unless someone printed my blog posts and posted them to you... No, you're just being silly now.

Clients from Hell

Clients from Hell is  collection of anonymously contributed client horror stories from designers. It's marvellous and I've wasted quite a bit of time reading through their past stories. Here's one of my favourites (find it here):

And some of my other favourites here, here, here and here. Enjoy!

I don't have time to be doing this

I have many, many things to do. 

But Andrea Joseph's first ever zine arrived in the post today and I am so excited about it! 

As I don't have time to take pictures and upload them, here are a few from the old photobooth.

1. This is my excitement on seeing the envelope. This was after I watched out of the window for a bit, willing the postman to come (which worked) and then opened the door and practically snatched the post from him. He thought I was insane, I'm sure.

I don't know why my lips look so red. Must be the sepia. I only wear make-up to weddings and parties. So, that's twice a year then.

2. The envelope within the envelope. There were tears of excitement by this point.

3. THE ZINE! 

And that's all your getting for now. There are more pictures on Andrea's blog. (Much, much better photos.)


I've had the teeniest flick through, but I'm going to save this beauty for after the Christmas Market when I can study every beautiful page. 


Right! Back to work!

these are not my drawings

I thought I'd better say that right away in case you think my drawing skills have improved dramatically overnight.

These are drawings by the amazingly talented Andrea Joseph. A few weeks ago, she shared these pictures with her readers and gave us permission to colour them in. HOW EXCITING! Well, I thought so anyway. I printed them off immediately. But because there was the wedding and then camping, I didn't actually have time to do any colouring. Then I was back from Camp and needed a nice creative distraction from unpacking and tidying up. Although, I've stopped myself from starting any new projects until I've tidied up from all of the other projects. Perfect time to get out the colouring pencils...

So, if she's been told to tidy up, she's probably still living with her parents. Her parents would probably have a sofa in a neutral colour (so that it would go with everything), with accessories in woodland green. But then, I don't think her parents would have that bin: it's far too stylish. And that matching cushion at the top doesn't seem very 'them' either. It must be one of her cushions that she's brought from her room. Maybe that's why it's on the back of the sofa: to remind her to take it back to her room. But it is very messy, where have her parents been? On holiday! Or maybe she's been off school sick (hence the hot water bottle) and so they've let her slob out on the sofa for a week ("But try to have a look through your school books if you can" - that's why there are so many large books around) but it's Sunday tomorrow and if she's well enough to go back to school then she's well enough to tidy up first.

But the bin just didn't fit in my mind. Her parents wouldn't have that bin. And then... I've got it! She's got her own 'lounge' in the garage. So she's got an old tatty sofa (which she loves, because it's hers) which Auntie Annie's neighbour was throwing out. It's got a replacement cover because the other one was too stained. But she brightens it up with her purple throw and pretty cushions. The cat likes it in 'her lounge' because he's allowed to sit on the sofa. She was only allowed friends over tonight if she tidied up. "Oh, and put some leggings on under that dress - it's far too short". Done and done.

I thought about this way too much, didn't I? Please tell me I'm not the only one who over-thinks these sort of things...

Yes, I did see the irony: I was colouring a picture of a girl avoiding tidying properly so that I could avoid tidying.

I love your blog

What an award to get! Thank you, Sian for awarding it to me with such lovely words. Thank you.

The rules for those receiving an award are:

1. The winner can put the logo on their blog

2. Link the person you received the award from

3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs

4. Put links of those blogs on yours

5. Leave a message on the blogs nominated.

(I know that most of the people I've nominated don't really do 'tagging' and the like, so don't feel obliged to pass it on.)

My nominations are, in alphabetical order:

• andrea joseph - absolutely amazing. She leaves me speechless.

• an open [sketch]book - cool sketches and funky artwork

• biscuit monster - cool things, funky textile talent and quirkiness which always makes me smile (the banner alone does that)
  
  

• lovely paper - beautiful and inventive collage

• pikaland - inspiration and eye candy

• this chicken -  funky illustration and design

• velo-gubbed legs - author of The State of Me which I blogged about: I feel as though this woman completely understands me even though she has never met me.

• wagonised - she, like Andrea, takes my breath away with her drawings
  

I'm also discovering new blogs, so look out for added links down the side. 

The unpacking is going well and I'm hoping  to show you pictures of our living room/studio very soon. However, I've been slower than usual because I'm still recovering from the move and catching up on boring house-moving things (like chasing up the thieving estate agent for our deposit). Boring, but tiring. I'll be back to my creative self soon.

I love to get post.

Hello there! I went to London this weekend to see my family and had a lovely time. Even went to see a dress rehearsal at the Royal Opera House! The weather here in England is amazing; it's all anyone is talking about. It has gone from winter to summer overnight. Amazing. For the first time this year, I've been wearing my flip-flops.

I do have some backdated daily art cards to show you, which aren't very exciting, as I did them 'on the move', but they will have to wait because, this morning, something very exciting happened...

As he does every morning, the postie came and delivered our post. Along with the boring bills and other bits of junk was a large brown envelope addressed to me...

I recognised the gorgeous writing but just couldn't figure out who it could be. When I turned it over to open it, I found out...

That's right! Andrea Joseph! She is one of my favourite illustrators and I am always going over to her blog to see her most recent drawings. A while ago she did a drawing based on a song and asked us, her fellow admirers, to guess the song. I guessed it (which was a prize in itself) and Andrea said that she would post me some of her moo cards. I completely forgot about this, so I was VERY excited when opening the envelope. Inside the large envelope was a smaller envelope and an Andrea Joseph ORIGINAL! That's right folks: I have one of her drawings!

Inside the smaller envelope was a card with a message from her, two greeting cards with envelopes, two postcards and six moo cards! It felt like my birthday! What a treat!

Thank you, Andrea! :o)

Dan Price: what a cool guy!

Check this out. It's a video interview with a favourite artist of mine called Dan Price. His drawings are so child-like: a quality I've been aiming at recently. I used to love making little dens as a child. Sometimes the dens would be indoors under a sheet which was draped over some chairs. Another time, my dad let me dig a hole in the garden and I stuck a big stick in the ground and draped a sheet over that. It was like a very earthy tent. Dan Price's den is much much cooler though. Worth watching the vid just for that! Go on, have a look.