My best sellers...royal baby factor ?

So I'm carrying on with my Shutterstock conquest to create a residual income from my images so I can run off and create magical illustrations later on in my journey.

With the birth of the royal baby these are trending very well this week...well done Kate and Wills

Laundrette with soul...

For many years now I walk past a laundrette on the way to my kids school. However its only been in the last few months that I've realised the owner has been printing out A4 posters with meaningful words or quotes...

I've taken a few pics of what he's blu taked up in the big glass front of his laundrette. When  was taking one pic the lay working inside said "..oh he puts a new one up each week...can't think why?"

Well I certainly look forward to a new uplifting quote every week, especially if I'm a little frazzled getting the kids out the door that morning. Its such a low tech but effective way of reaching out the local community. I truly hope that I'm not the only one who mulls over these quotes throughout the day...

Two weeks ago it was from Tolkein...

All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost

My more loveletters...

I read about MoreLoveLetters.com in the most recent Positive News. I knew immediately I wanted to join in and connect with seemingly random people through the written word. This movement was started by Hannah Brencher several years ago in New York when she was feeling particularly lonely.

I have to say I attempted the first letters several times and just screwed them up. But then I was struck by inspiration and managed to write 5 in one sitting.

Since then I have left my loveletters in libraries, make up counters, at the Royal Academy of Art, and several book shops. We all need to hear & read words of encouragement, inspiration and know that we are not truly alone.

I'd really like to think that when someone picked my my letter & read it it bought a smile to their face and made them realise they were worthy.

Marks & Spencer's biscuits & crisps packaging...illustrated

As I dashed into the BP service station with the M&S food attached I saw these on the shelf. Really excited to see fabulous illustration on their packaging. I'm always so impressed and they feature highly on my list of dream clients

Food miles 'game' that I actually painted...

Its been a while - I realised i was trying to do tooo much. So I took some time out to slow things down...a little.

Last week I did do something rather creative & unexpected. My other half is in the steering group for Hertford (UK) Transition. They were taking part in Hertford Carnival and he wanted me to come up with a low tech interactive map for kids...using a grape & straws (paper of course as we like to be sustainable)

The aim was to blow the grape from distant corners of the globe eg New Zealand apples all the way to England.

 

This was the first time I'd painted for 'pleasure' for an age - it felt good. I got messy, my jeans were ruined so was our patio table but by heck it really did feel good.