So I decided to peruse the bookshelf and all the recipe books in the house, and what did I come across? A 'hand-knitted' recipe book I produced some illustrations for a couple of years ago.  Since I'd like to update this here blog a little more often, I thought the illustrations were worth a post.

Time for a story....

A long time ago, a group of school friends set off on a Duke of Edinburgh expedition to the Isle of Rum. Although the girls all completed the trek, they had one little project to complete before it was all over and they could finally meet Prince Philip himself.  Unfortunately, this was a time of transition in the girls lives. The month was April, and not long from then, the girls would soon be on their own adventures to universities all across the land. Before the expedition, each girl was assigned one little piece of a project to be joined together at the end.  One month passed, then another, but still the pieces of the project were not united. As the days, months and years went by, it looked ever more likely that the project would never come to completion.

Many years passed (7 in fact!) until one girl, Gemma, decided 'Enough is enough!! If I want to meet Prince Philip before he has another bladder infection, I'll complete this darn project on my own!!'.  So Gemma set to work. She scribbled and sketched, coloured and contemplated, until she produced a beautiful folio of pictures based on the Isle of Rum. Gemma wasn't happy with just a few sketches.  She decided to transform these pictures into beautiful postcards and bookmarks, which visitors of the island could send home to remark on this scenic land on the west coast of Scotland.

In the end, Gemma finished her project all on her own.  She finally completed her Gold Duke of Edinburgh award, and is now infamous for having one of the longest running project times of all the participants.  Despite this, Gemma is very proud and pleased to have completed the award progamme and is very much looking forward to meeting the Duke himself ...bladder infection permitting.

 

So I've not blogged for many many months... Sorry!!

I've been a very busy bee this past year, not only have I returned to university to train in occupational therapy, I've also spent a large chunk of my summer working as an au pair in Italy.  On  my return, I got a fabulous job as part of the Edinburgh International Book Festival!!

Here, I worked as a children's activity corner leader...coolest summer job ever!!! It was great to be part of such a unique festival event, where I could soak up the festival atmosphere from behind the scenes!  Each day, my colleague and I would brainstorm and produce arts and craft ideas for visiting children attending the Story Box tent.  I would often produce colouring sheets alongside other art projects for children to cut out and make. Here are a few examples, which I hope are appealing to the eye, especially if you know any children who enjoy the themes we tried to emulate!! 

Happy New Year everyone!

Here's a piece inspired by my time in Thailand. I took a fond liking to travelling by Tuk-Tuk where possible.  Since returning, I always had the inclination at the back of my mind to produce some Tuk-Tuk inspired art.

The RSW travel award competition was my excuse to get cracking on this piece. As I'm not too fond of using an old paintbrush, watercolour pencils were the next best thing. Anyway, I didn't feel this this piece was quite up to the standards of The Royal Scottish Watercolour society, perhaps because I come from an illustration background and well, frankly, it isn't one of my favourite pieces. I wanted to finish it anyway. So here's the result! I hope to crack on with more drawing over the next few weeks- ideally Valentine's cards, some commissions that have been on the back burner for a while around uni work, and to finally complete my Duke of Edinburgh project from many moons ago. Watch this space!!