Pete Draws For Buttons

I uploaded the sketch above, from my Summer 2007 journal, into my Flickr account a few weeks ago and had this comment left by Pete Scully:

' grrr...i was just thinking about cadbury's buttons yesterday and bemoaning the fact i can't get them here...now i really really want some! Tasty looking drawing.'

Being an admirer of Pete's wonderful sketches and wicked sense of humour I decided to mail him and asked if he'd like to swap - A sketch for a parcel of chocolate buttons?

He agreed!

I received this fantastic postcard a while later:


©Pete Scully

Too funny...I love it!
Pete has since received his Cadburys parcel.

Thanks Pete...Enjoy!

Coltishall Retreat

Pen & Wash - 2007 Summer Journal - Joan's Lounge

I arrived in Coltishall to visit my good friend Joan, last night at around 7pm, where I am being made to feel so welcome by both her and her wonderful Husband Clive.
I have my journal with me and hope to have lots of new sketches to share with you by my next post but for now, I must dash and eat the delicious Chinese meal that awaits me.

Priceless

Monday 3rd September was the last entry in my Summer 2007 Journal, Jake started college and I took Harry to a Harvester restaurant as a treat on his last day of the Summer school holiday.
Our first week of term is over, Jake loves college and Harry enjoyed his new class.

....Me?....I felt lonely, lost and tired from the early starts (As an insomniac, mornings are not my forte!) I love having my children around me and think it most unfair they should have to (by law) spend the best part of every weekday away from me.

However, I am already finding my journal to be invaluable. I spent time Tuesday flicking through it's pages looking at all the fun places we visited knowing that in the future my children and their children after them, will be able to flick through those journal pages with the same warm feeling in their heart and a smile in their eyes.

Priceless!

Diamond

Beretta 687 Diamond Pigeon shotgun - watercolour & ink - Summer 2007 journal

...because Diamonds are a man's best friend!

Just Because...

My Mum came over with a beautiful bunch of roses for me last week for no particular reason. They are two toned, cream with a tinted edge of deep pink.
Isn't it wonderful to receive gifts, such as these...Just because...

Summer Consumables

During the holidays my summer journal has had the pleasure of sharing in some of our consumables through my sketches.
The plums above were a purchase from Tesco this week and tasted as delicious as they looked, earning themselves a valid spot in my A5 Venezia sketchbook.

As a treat, my Mum and the boys visited one of our favourite restaurants at lunchtime this holiday and indulged in the 'Eat all you can' set price meal. While we digested our courses I sketched one of the colourful, ceiling mounted decorations and took the lettering from their take-away menu later on my return home. A delicious meal from a restaurant that never fails to satisfy, such a friendly atmosphere with a warm welcome for children of all ages. Oriental Gardens can be found on the March road at Guyhuirn in Cambridgeshire.

My eldest Son, Jake, was very poorly with a virus for a few days last week. As a result, his usually active appetite was effected and out came the lucozade! We discovered a new flavour in the still variety 'Raspberry' one of my most favourite fruits.

My last culinary delight is my favourite order from Frankie and Benny's restaurant in Huntingdon, their 'Crayfish Cocktail'. Served as a starter it is very hard to resist, so I didn't even try!

*All images taken from my Summer 2007 Journal

Lead Free Profile

Summer 2007 journal

Another quick, lead-free study. My youngest Son, Harry.

Rainy Days, Blue Skies

It has rained ALOT this summer holiday which has restricted the activities with the children considerably. Trying to find fun things for my youngest to fill the cloudy days has been a mission I have tackled whole heartedly this year, determined not to spend hour after hour in front of a television watching numerous DVD's. One of these activities was to make a paper mache mask using a balloon and a homemade mixture for the glue, which proved fun in itself.
The mask has been drying for a couple of days now and Harry and I intend to spend an afternoon painting it in the studio shortly.
I will, of course, let you know how it turns out!


We managed to steal a half hour one morning last week before the rain set in for the day and we spent it roaming around our local graveyard, something Harry and I enjoy doing often after school during the warmer months. There is an abundance of nature in the graveyard but the squirrels have to be our favourites and we are usually lucky enough to catch sight of at least one on our strolls. The horse chestnut tree had shed a few conkers, scattered on the ground below and not quite ripe enough to tie to string and commence battle, we made sketches of them instead.


The lilies Diane bought me last week began to open and I managed to catch the very first bloom burst to life in my journal while Harry played with Lego and Jake watched cricket. They are a delicious, deep pink and look stunning stood on the hearth of my black iron fireplace in the lounge.




A recent shopping trip at the Grafton centre, Cambridge to purchase some clothes for my eldest gave me the perfect excuse to visit my favourite bath time pamper shop 'Lush' where I purchased my very own 'Blue Skies' in the form of a bubble bar. It may well be grey and gloomy outside but in my bathroom it's aromatic blue skies guaranteed!

All sketches are from my Summer 2007 Journal

V'ellie' Bootiful

Summer 2007 journal - 15 min sketch in Inktense pencil

Baby Ellie, so precious, so perfect!

Lilies From Diane

Summer 2007 journal

Lilies from my good friend Diane.

Movie Magic

This afternoon I watched 'Ghandi' on the television, I had wanted to see it when it was on at the big screen but did not get around to it, I am so pleased I found the time today.

The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong. -Mahatma Ghandi - Indian political and spiritual leader (1869 - 1948)

I have also taken the boys to the cinema twice so far this holiday. We watched Shrek The Third and The Simpson's, both were thoroughly enjoyable.

Blue flower, red thorns, blue flower, red thorns - this would be so much easier if I wasn't colour blind! - Donkey

Kids, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try. - Homer Simpson

*All images are taken from my Summer 2007 Journal

Chocolate and Pastries

Summer 2007 journal

I've been baking daily this week, mostly in the evenings after dinner as the days have been busy. My eldest enjoys making those packet mixes where everything you need, except perhaps milk, water or an egg, is included in the box. He chose to make the Cadburys Chocolate Button mix the other evening and it looked absolutely stunning when he'd finished but boy was it sweet!!! Chocolate sponge, filled with chocolate butter cream, topped with melted chocolate and sprinkled with chocolate buttons. Much too sweet for my liking, my jaw almost locked on me as I took a bite...sheer sugar shock!

I managed to sketch one of the items I made in my summer journal too, something a little easier on the jaw...Pasties!



Summer 2007 journal

Remarkable Rubbish

Summer 2007 journal


On Tuesday 31st July my youngest Son, Harry, and I attended a workshop at Chatteris museum entitled 'Remarkable Rubbish' run by Fred White. The cost of the two hour session was just £3 and it was inspirational. Fred showed the children how to make 'creepy crawlies' out of cling film, computer wire and various beads and yarns - the results were fantastic!

Fred then went on to show Harry how to make masks from old cardboard boxes.




The children were asked to draw a picture of their creations before leaving, something for Fred's archive.
It was a great way to spend a morning and Harry wasn't the only one who enjoyed himself!

Details of the next workshop at Chatteris Museum, 'Nature's Handbag', can be found here.

A Little Sunshine

Summer 2007 journal - watercolour & ink

Painted from a beautiful bunch gifted to me by my dear friend Diane.

Headlines, Thistles and Raindrops

Summer 2007 journal

I spent much of Wednesday soaked to the skin in a pair of fur lined boots weeding the ever multiplying thistles in the back border of my garden and there are so many more that need removing still. So spiteful, some of the larger ones stand almost as tall as me and their needles are a couple of inches long. I wear rubberised roofing gloves to tackle them and they still get through!
Harry's arrival of toys from eBay kept his imagination busy while Jake tackled the stinging nettles with the strimmer.

This weather has to get better....right?

Jake made headlines in the Fenland Citizen for his amazing score at clay shooting last Sunday.

Ballpoint Summer

Ballpoint pen - 10 mins

I didn't manage to complete a hand sketch yesterday for the Wet Canvas Hand A Day Challenge so I made sure I got one in today. I decided to grab 10 minutes, on the sofa with a biro, while the cauliflower finished cooking.


Summer 2007 Journal

I also managed to complete another double spread entry into my new Summer Journal.

Jake scored and amazing 48 at our local clay shoot and he rarely shoots at all these days with cricket matches taking over his weekends, so this really was a remarkable score. It's not unusual for Jake to score well, he's what you might call a 'natural'.

You can discover where I spent the afternoon with Harry by visiting my location blog.

School Is Out

Summer 2007 Journal - Header Page

Saturday was officially day one of the school summer holidays, my most favourite time of the year when I get to have my children all to myself, all day, every day!

Of course, my eldest Son finished his exams a few weeks back and, apart from attending a couple of 'taster days' at his intended college, has been home with me anyway.

To celebrate I began a new Summer journal with a 6x9" Venezia sketchbook where I will log each day throughout the six week holiday. With the dismal weather we have been experiencing in the UK this year, I am hoping my Summer journal will encourage and remind me to find something fun to do each day throughout the break as opposed to ending up stuck in the house, out of the rain watching DVD after DVD on the sofa. It's all too easy to slip into a dreary routine when the sun fails to shine.

You can view my first entry into my Summer 2007 Journal HERE