As promised – another random post for the day. I dug out some old instax photos from my uni days. This one was taken on one of my many hunts for inspiration around the city centre. This place is right by the train station so some locals may recognise it. Every time I passed this building, with it’s crooked lettering and grimy windows, I always pictured it as the perfect location you’d check yourself into to write a murder mystery. I could imagine someone sat by the window, chain smoking and then frantically tapping away at their typewriter. Lounging around the room reciting snippets of dialogue, working late into the night. I thought it would be fun to share that memory with you. I’ll see if I can dig out any more instax photos – better yet, I’ll see if I can dig out the camera and some film.

Talking of murder mysteries, I just finished another book: Sleeping Murder (another Agatha Christie). Highly recommend it!

Another doodle from my London/Essex adventure the other week. I’m Full of cold at the minute and since I have a day off (typical). I’m probably going to turn today into a bit of a random post day. So make way for me talking jibberish – and when I’m not jibbering I’ll either be knitting or snoozing.

Also the September Sale is on – 3 for 2 on prints for the whooole of September. Here’s a link.

Starting this Wednesday on my etsy shop there is going to be one MASSIVE sale. 3 prints for the price of 2 – The cheapest free… for the whole of September! Gasp!

How to enjoy this lovely offer: Pick 3 prints you want to love and cherish – buy 2 of them, and in the ‘NOTE TO SELLER’ part of the transaction list the title of the 3RD print you wish to receive for freeeeee. Please make sure that the print you chose for your freebie is the cheapest of the 3.

Please read the small print: This offer EXCLUDES any limited edition prints, original drawings/paintings/illustrations/cards and accessories (totes/badges etc.).

A new print, which is now available in both shops. This is a digital print of one of my recent paintings. She was the first one I finished and probably my favourite so far. I’m slowly building up a small collection of paintings so I can imagine soon she won’t be the only one available in print form. She has a very faint pout (you might not be able to see it on some screens but it’s visible on the finished print), which I’ve been trying to mimic on my other portraits – of course it’s proving nearly impossible. I would love to hear what you think of her and her sisters. The original is made up of a mixture of watercolour and acrylic paints with a hint of the pencil sketching coming through. The print measures 8 x 10 inches and the image sits comfortably in the middle with room around the edge for framing.

Remember a while back I said I’d purchased some paint brushes? Remember also how I said I’d probably never use them? Well, I proved myself wrong! I’ve spent the day painting (6 and a bit hours to be exact – 2 and a half audio books), and I’m exhausted (what’s that about?). The paint supplies have been living in a box I mentally labeled “Wishful thinking”. I have a habit of collecting and investing money on plenty of art and craft supplies, hoping I’ll find a project for them – that very rarely happens.

Anyway, after dusting off the paint bottles and digging out the new brushes I managed to come up with these 4 ladies and I’m so pleased with them. I never thought I’d have the patience for the process (admittedly today could be just a one off) but there was something therapeutic about the repetitive patterns and details. I found myself fully engrossed. Similar to the Cotton Doodles, there is a kind of amateur roughness to them that I’m very fond of. I’d love to hear what you think of them. Now it’s time for me to clean up the mess I’ve made :)

Horray! They finally arrived – I had almost forgotten about them. A new badge set in the making. I will let you know when they are ready for adoption. It’s a lovely sunny day and before it’s time to sit in a dark dark room in a dark dark building on a not very dark street I may indulge myself with tea, biscuits and fiction in the garden.

Just a quick note to say hello and show you some of the Polaroid pictures I’ve been working on this last few weeks. Some are examples of me playing around with colours. Very sorry about the loud wall paper – hope it’s not too distracting :) I would love to hear what you think as I’m really REALLY enjoying making them. Speak soon!

I really wanted to share some of the new pictures I’m working on. I love the lampshade one at the top. That colour orange is currently one of my favourites, the lime green too. Would love to hear what you think of them :)

For this weekend only! Buy 2 prints and get a 3rd print for free! (The cheapest comes free. Please name the free print you wish to receive in the ‘notes to seller’ part of purchase. This offer excludes limited edition prints, A3+ prints and accessories – totes and badges etc.) Sale ends midday Monday (31st) GMT. The sale is only taking place on my etsy shop.

An eagerly awaited summer has arrived. I’ve cracked open the corner of the cupboard bearing dusty sandals and shorts and shamefully revealed my whiter than white toes to the world. While doing so I decided what a perfect time it was for an early summer sale! 3 for 2 on prints for this weekend only – Sale ends on Monday 31st so lets say a proper goodbye to winter and welcome the sunniest season with a bit of colour. Spread the word!

I got interviewed for the GingiberSnap blog. Fancy giving it a read? Here’s the link!