Illustration Friday - Renewal

A brief interlude in the 12 Days of Christmas. Illustration Friday this week is Renewal. To me one of life's most perfect things is an egg, particularly a hen's egg. All that promise in cookery terms from the simple boiled, fried, poached or scrambled through glorious pavlovas, cakes, soufflés etc. There is also the potential for new life. The downside for me at this time of year is that the short days mean that my own hens stop laying for a few weeks. They also go through a moult, losing some of their feathers before they are renewed once more with shiny plumage and their combs standing up red and proud again. During this time I have to buy in eggs that come with a date stamp on the side. I also work in the library where books are stamped with their dates for renewal. This and Jack in the Beanstalk, well it is the pantomime season……….. Well you can see where the thoughts came from. I really must invest in some watercolour paper, this has come up all crinkly.

The Third Day of Christmas – Postman’s Knock and a Pioneer

On the third day of Christmas, we have three French hens. So birds, French; somehow my mind went back 'several' years. Who can remember the game that was known as Postman's Knock, the anticipation mixed with dread, would you be chosen, did you even want to be; and as for the kissing…….French or otherwise? I don't think I would like to relive all of that angst (no disrespect to any of the individuals involved!). At this stage of the party I think we should start playing some games; how about Postman's knock? Just take a look at some of the pages in the blog. Pick a link to a topic, another blog or a tweeter and just go and pay them a virtual visit, leave a comment on their site or a reply in twitter, someone you haven't 'spoken' to before and if you are very brave sign the comment with a p.s. xx #12DCP. Come back here and leave a link in the comments so we can all see what you've been up to.

The Spotify Playlist for this blog post can be found here.

Today 12 more legs have been delivered. Some people have been working very hard on the legs question and one person has the answer right – well done to @easternsparkle – I am saving your comment to publish later to allow some others time to get to the right answer too.

The reference to Pioneer is the topic for Illustration Friday which this week is 'Pioneer' (if you have come here from Illustration Friday, you might like yesterday's post, create a Miximal). Here is a little story from me….

Illustration Friday - Undone

A quick drawing for Illustration Friday with the theme of 'Undone' – not sure if I was thinking 'Undone', as in the crab's situation, the pot lid or not cooked; probably covers all three. As a child we used to go to a village called Beer in Devon, where crabs were regularly caught in pots and brought back to be cooked by the fishermen's wives; with many tales of them escaping from the pan. How many of the tales were true and how many to alarm small children I don't know.

The Spotify playlist is one I created earlier in the year when we had been crabbing at Walberswick.

Illustration Friday – Hatched – #12DCP invite to the dfaolbilts

You ARE beautiful in my eyes Marmite

The topic for illustration Friday this week is 'hatched'. You will see from some of my other posts that I am also touting for votes so that I can win one of a limited number of special edition jars of marmite, if you are willing please vote for me here; I have not entered this picture separately so the item in the marmite gallery is my adapted avatar.

I am also adding to my list of invitees to my virtual #12DCP; 12 days of Christmas party; the latest addition is my twitter list called dfaolbilts – it stands for 'don't fit any other lists but I like their style'. By definition these are bound to be some peoples marmites, love 'em or hate 'em; a mix of comedians, potty mouths, 'Indians' (some of who do live in India) people who send fab links or quotes, some bots like the Big Ben clock; basically all sorts of everything. The only thing they have in common is that I rate them highly.

So dear dfaolbilts, if by chance you come here visiting, what will you bring to the party and what song should I add to the playlist to get you up and dancing?

The playlist for this post is here and for those without Spotify the complete listing as it is so far will be in the first comment.

To any illustrators, designers, artists etc I would still love some designs for perfect party rooms.

Illustration Friday – Crunchy – Plus an invite if you would like to come to the #12DCP Party

Over on Illustration Friday the topic this week is 'crunchy'. I have been travelling so a hastily drawn cartoon contains my idea.

I am planning a 'virtual' party and need your help, if you are an illustrator, designer or otherwise creative see below:

Yesterday I launched the idea for my Twelve Days of Christmas Party and started by inviting my foodie list on twitter to come up with ideas ie what dish they would bring, who their +1 is and suggest some tracks. As well of those that posted comments below some ideas came via twitter; including:

• @goodshoeday a selection of homemade flavoured voddy's and gins and some sourdough bread
  
• @Adnams Alcoholic custard http://bit.ly/5nl64f& Broadside http://bit.ly/8QiUsX our +1 @sarahEgroves play http://bit.ly/Rzlgi
  
• @welovelocalfood a selection of @purelypesto hummus dips and beer from @grainbrewery & Spectrum Brewery
  
• @essexgourmet the V best of 'virtual' well Hung Game, a case of Margaux & a Karaoke machine
  
• @ brockhallfarm  I'm bringing lots of dinky Brockette goats cheeses to your party; semi-hard, mold ripened and not too goaty. And a larger truckle too .  Also bringing some champers, to get the party off on the right, sparkling note.
  

So we have some food, but there is always space for more. We'll leave the foodies for now, sourcing ingredients, exploring recipes and comparing notes and trust them to come up with still more ideas. To help I have been in the West Country testing cider and although I tried Stowford, Bristol Port and Ashton, all good West Country Ciders – I think I like good old Aspall best.

The idea is that for the 12 days of Christmas ie Christmas day to the January 5^th there will be a virtual party running here under the guise of #12DCP ie 12 Days of Christmas Party. A mid-winter excuse for fun, games, confessions and wotnot.

Now the invite to all artists, designers, illustrators and other creatives: This virtual party is taking place in a very large house with lots of rooms, but at the moment they are but blank canvases, could you please come up with some ideas for room designs, great party spaces to create atmosphere. Please leave a comment with a link to your design, also let me know who your +1 will be and any music you would like added to the play list.

The Spotify playlist for the party is growing and can be found here Party

p.s. I was asked about the dress code – please don't come as you are, but come as you would be; illustrations, links to costumes and outfits always welcome.

Illustration Friday - Entangled

Only time for a very quick post; this N is wrapped in a Taranaki gate of wool. In an old comedy farming book from NZ there was a whole chapter on Taranaki gates and their propensity to wrap themselves around you when taking them down or putting them up. I wish I still had that book.

Music – Illustration Friday

The topic for this week's Illustration Friday is music; currently my head is a jumble of music. I have been trying to learn the cornet, you should be very grateful at this point that I live in a field a long way from anyone. I have not played any instrument since recorders at primary school, so although I can read the basic notes that is my limit. Also I rediscovered the karaoke machine and we only have a couple of discs to go in it; not sure that Atomic Kitten or the cast of Les Misérables and Chicago would be flattered by my attempts; perhaps this would be more appropriate. I have also become a huge fan of Spotify I love running word searches based on a theme and seeing what tracks come together. Here is a link based on children and need for Children in Need, be aware though, not all tracks are radio edits and there may be some strong language.

Unbalanced – Illustration Friday

The topic for this week's Illustration Friday is unbalanced, so here we have an ewe 'U' and a hen 'N' perfectly balanced (but they wouldn't be).

Remembrance – Illustration Friday - Blur

The subject for this week's Illustration Friday is 'Blur' and here in the UK today is Remembrance Sunday, you can find out more about this at the Royal British Legion website. This small illustration is me taking a few minutes to remember all of those impacted by war, whether in the act of conflict or in the preparation and training or in the aftermath, the people themselves and their families and friends.  Created in Brushes on iphone

All Shapes and Sizes - Skinny – Illustration Friday

The topic for Illustration Friday this week is skinny and has the rider "never trust a skinny chef". I've never claimed I can draw so all I can do is put down the image in my head. The skinny chef, probably starting out  at the local chef course; just like when children have their first school uniform fitted. To all my food blogging friends, I think we know the little chef will grow into the hat if he loves food as much as we do. Created using brushes and powerpoint.

Fast – Illustration Friday

The topic for Illustration Friday was 'fast'. I've been away and so I am cheating, using wordle and playing with words to illustrate the fact that fast has so many meanings and synonyms, is this just a product of our ever accelerating lives I wonder? The speed with which we progress through life, telling ourselves we must tarry not, use less haste and more speed, whilst hastily flying around trying to complete nineteen tasks to the dozen. We gabble our words and gobble our food trying to fit one more act into time that goes by in a flash. If we are not quick we miss out on opportunities; but moving swiftly on, I feel my pulse becoming more rapid as tachycardia takes effect. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog and I try to express the hurried, spur-of-the-moment action required to rush to the rescue. As we thrash like speeding bullets, turbo torpedoes, down the motorway or information super highway, we expect everything to rocket along even dating is expected to be carried out at speed; a clear run, supersonic, rapido. Continuing to gallop along at such a pace may make us fast, but also furious.

Of course if we slow things down, it is possible to remember that fast also means the complete opposite. A dye which is fast does not run. Something which is fast can be stuck, held firmly like a limpet, never a speedy creature at the best of times. 'To fast' can also be the opposite of gobbling our food, resisting food altogether; strange thing the English language.

So the illustration at the top is all the fast words and the second one is what happens when you focus on the slow words. Which do you prefer?

Frozen – Illustration Friday

I've been on the move most of the weekend so I have to admit this week's Illustration Friday was created whilst driving. It wasn't me doing the driving you understand but I was busy with brushes on the iphone whilst in transit. I also wanted to play with the layers in brushes so this is a four layered piece of the poor little snow man in the distance whilst some of the snowflakes have a bokeh like effect.

Flying – Illustration Friday

The image above was created using Brushes on the iphone. Brushes is a bit like finger painting without the fun of the mess.  In my head there is a little cartoon that goes with this of the pilot's face as he creates the loop the loops as quickly as possible before the skywriting smoke dissipates. Then as he cuts the smoke to make the gallant climb to form the dot, cuts the smoke again and gives a little smile of triumph. Only to swear when he realises he has switched the smoke back on again.

When I master brushes properly I might re do this and try to capture the sky blue pink shot with a carrot contrails of a polluted summer sunset.  Contrails are a topic of concern for cloud spotters; for more information look at the Cloud Appreciation Society.

This week has been one of discussions on handwriting and learning the skills of 'joined-up' and spelling, especially 'ing words so the topic seems even more apt.  Who remembers copperplate or the initial teaching alphabet, spelling tests that taught you to spell but not necessarily how to spell and there is a difference?

Germs, gems, and chicken salad

This Friday as part of the Aldeburgh Food Festival Fringe I went to Maple Farm Organic Farm in Kelsale to take part in their farm walk. I have written previously about the industrial scale of farming immediately around our house, the farm at Kelsale is quite a different story. We went around the poly tunnels where salads are grown for sale in local shops and farmers markets, met Kylie and co the very tame and contented pigs, the outdoor, free range, organic chickens, the Limosin cattle and the flour mill, which is pictured above. Having been raised on a farm and living in Bow and Arrow country I am always intrigued by the different ways that people choose to farm. Maple Farm are clear, they are an arable farm that need to add value by, for example, turning their grain into eggs or flour to sell to bakers to make the sums work. The result is a delight, small fields, friendly animals and increased wildlife. The Kendal family and farm manager Simon were interesting and informative and even sent us home with a goody bag of eggs. Part of the party trundled off to the Bell at Saxmundham for an excellent meal afterwards.

One of the concerns for the owners in running a tour was the recent publicity about E Coli infections following visits to farms by children. They had hand sprays available for the children who seemed quite content to play with the chickens and then go off and eat their sandwiches. It amused me because I am a firm believer in the 'peck of dirt' approach to children and dirt; it reminded me that my own children thought chicken salad was a mix of worms and grass that they collected to feed to our hens when they were younger. Also this weeks Illustration Friday topic is germs, so another brushes on iphone concoction.

The gem, was the latest must have kitchen essential; a table top milling machine, so tempted to get one, I could extend my gleaning to wheat field edges…….

Illustration Friday - on not drawing

I really wish I could draw.  I admire the work of so many artists and now I am working in a school I love the idea of learning techniques as they are taught in schools these days; fantastic.  One of the nicest things about twitter and the web is that people who create work can quickly send links to all sorts of art.  I appreciate this is not the same as seeing things in the flesh. Looking closely at art from different perspectives and handling pieces can make such a difference; as can talking to the artists, so Open Studios can be greatly illuminating.  The web though offers one little gem - Illustration Friday, a theme is posted each week and artists submit their work. This week's theme is 'Pattern', so I thought I would add this petite creation, generated using brushes on the i-phone.