down at the harbour

We've been spending a fair bit of time down at the harbour in St Peter Port recently. It's a great place to clear your mind and get lost in thought as the brightly coloured fishing boats go about their business.

 

Last week the younger boy child went on a sailing course which allowed me and the older boy child to mooch around the harbour with our sketch books and a flask of tea for a few days.

We also ventured down to the Harbour Carnival to watch the various wacky races including the plastic duck race - not something you see everyday!

The finish line!!

folksy front page

Two of my designs have made it to the Folksy front page in the last couple of weeks. It might be raining but we can't help loving the British seaside!

Cow on the mooove

Well she was getting in the way a bit, but not all that much really and now that she's gone I kind of miss her and feel a teensy bit sad. Yep, Parsley the cow has left the building (mine at least). We'll be briefly reunited on Sunday when all 52 of the painted cows will be on display to the public before being whisked off to their temporary homes where they will spend the summer being photographed and sat on. After that they'll be auctioned off and moove to their final homes.

I least now I can get on with some illustration ideas I have for new prints. Watch this space...

blog features

At a time when we should be basking in all that is Summer and when sales of my Seagulls and Beach Huts designs are popular, my Wellies card has been featured on 2 different blog posts today! Summers just aren't the same any more not like the good ole days...

See the blog posts here http://www.wearebreadandjam.co.uk/blog.html and here http://lovefromflorence.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/folksy-friday-rain.html

Tracey English Giveaway

If you pop on over to Tracey English's blog you could be in with a chance of winning one of her prints or a selection of cards. Don't mind if I do - love the London prints, they remind me of home.

Ready for her top coat...

A few snippets of the cow. Only one or two more flowers here and there to do and then she's ready for varnishing. Had some interesting looks from passers by when we took her out for a graze (and a few photos) in the field! Although I had one conversation with a lady who didn't even bat an eyelid or ask why we were carrying an enormous blue cow! She is inspired by all the beautiful hedgerows in the lanes where I live (which have sadly just been cut back for Summer). Will post a full pic later in the week when she has had her final top coat and finishing touches....

Belated Jubilee

I'm a little behind with my Jubilee post of the delicious cake we enjoyed whilst watching the celebrations. Very proud to say that the strawberries were from the garden and that I managed to pick them this year before the birds got stuck in!

I was a little disappointed to see people taking down their bunting yesterday, mine will be up all summer. Hip, hip, hooray!

Lovely stockist - Evie & Me

I took a selection of prints down to a lovely stockist in St Peter Port, Guernsey. It's the most amazing shop called Evie & Me. Every time I go in I just about want to buy every last thing in there! It sells everything from furniture to mugs and of course cards and prints by Little Paper Gallery. The lovely ladies at Evie & Me have the prints framed in simple white frames which look great. So if you are a Guernsey visitor or local, get yourself down there and have look-see!

Badly want that sofa...

Spotted these lovely lavender bags by Heart Zeena and tea towels by Charlotte Macey Textiles...

progress

Finally the sun shone at the weekend and I took the cow out for a spot of sunbathing in the garden. Then before she knew what was happening she had a roller around her sensitive parts and the painting (and fun) began. Can't give too much away but obviously she has areas of blue!

new member of family

Something rather larger has arrived chez moi. It was all very exciting and after a rather frenzied unwrapping ceremony she was revealed in all her glory. Ain't she a beaut?!

I've volunteered to decorate her as part of this summer's Guernsey Cow Parade which involves 52 decorated cows being displayed around the island. There's going to be a map of where they all are so you can follow the trail and at the end of the summer they will be auctioned off to raise money for The Guernsey Adult Literacy Project.

more origami

Well the Easter hols are nearly over and much time has been spent folding paper - by the biggest boy of the household, not me. I have spent much time picking up paper snails, grasshoppers, bowls, baskets, chickens, you name it really! This morning I asked if he could make me some little birds to sit on a a twig of blackthorn(?) - not sure what it is really. No sooner said than done, I was still having my mug of tea in bed when this little lot appeared... gorgeous!

Here's another of his creations - an eagle.

good friday walk

Went for the most breathtaking walk today after eating  far too many hot cross buns. The tide was so low we could walk across two bays with only a small amount of rock climbing. We then ascended the cliff by a so called 'fisherman's path' which was practically vertical in places. Rewarded by this stunning view, then home for just one more slither of hot cross bun!

Happy Easter!

guernsey hedgerows

The hedgerows are coming alive here in Guernsey so I've been out and about walking the lanes and cliffs paths gathering some inspiration and new reference for an up and coming project. Spent a lovely sunny afternoon yesterday with the watercolours out sketching up campion and cow parsley - lovely!

origami

My son loves origami and is forever trying out various creations from insects to birds. We have a long overdue book from the library that just never seems to get taken back!

Here's a picture of his parrot, it's the one that sits on my desk making sure I get my work done!

Then today I just came across this origami master, Dinh Truong Giang whilst perusing the interweb. Check out his awesomeness! Something for every little boy (or girl) to work towards... Absolutely adorable.