Six new cards for Christmas

Hi Everyone, it's been a busy week, as I was getting some work ready for the Spring Fair at the National Exhibition Centre - then I got an email from the Art Director, requesting some different imagery, so it was all-hands-on-deck (well, my two!) to get six Christmas card designs done in a couple of days! I have been 'helped' by my pussycats, Magic and Bacon, who have taken to launching themselves on to my tray of pencils, scattering them everywhere! They have also both developed a liking for eating the pencils, well, chewing them up! With my current pencil crisis, and new ones being over a pound, this is not a good thing and I have developed a technique for drawing with one hand, and keeping kittens off the drawing with the other!

Simple Simon and better scans of The owl and the Pussycat

Here is my latest offering from Fluffville, Simple Simon! In this case, Simon is a tiger, who bears more than a fleeting resemblance to Tiddles! (This, of course, is because I can draw only one type of tiger!) I have also taken The Owl and the Pussycat out of the sketch book, and scanned them again, hoping for a bit better quality - let's see. Other news today is that I've signed a contract with an agent, more news of that soon, and a link to my portfolio with them! I hope they get me some work, as we just had to do a mercy dash to my bank with 30 quid! Goodness, this is like being 18 years old again! I have also had a letter from the Education Department, and I will be having an interview for Supply Teaching soon. Better start practicing my 'stern' persona again! Just kidding, I am the least stern person in the world, as all my cats and anyone who knows me will tell you!

Pencil Crisis and a Naughty Cat!

There is a pencil crisis in Fluffville, and we are close to having to announce a State of Emergency! As you can see, the Karisma's and the 2b's are becoming very, very tiny indeed! I will soon have to morph into a little mouse, with teeny, weeny mouse-like paws to colour my pictures! Meanwhile, a Fierce, Bad Kitten likes to get on the desk and knock the teeny, tiny pencils on to the floor - but to look at this picture of him, butter wouldn't melt!

The Backs of the Lovely Cards, and some Peter Rabbit ones

I thought I'd show you the backs of the Woodland Creatures cards, and also, have a look at these Peter Rabbit Happy Families, aren't they lovely? I think the backs of the cards are just as beautiful as the fronts, such intricate designs. The sun has just come out here, and the fields outside are bathed in a gentle light - spring must be on its way! Oh well, back to my 'Jiu Jitsu' logo!

Lovely old playing cards and some reflection

Aren't these lovely? I forget where I got them from - probably some junk shop or other.... I love the illustrations, they are so sweet and rather old-fashioned. Well, nothing very positive has happened over the last couple of weeks - some rejection letters from publishers, and that's about it! Eek! Things are getting quite desperate really. I have some interest from two agencies, so I still have to wait, wait, wait..... None of the schools replied to my letters (rude) and nor did the local paper re. the comic strip (ruder still). Having that monthly salary paid into my bank account seems light years ago, and we're getting very good at eating on the cheap - it's the bills which are the big worry, as good food can still be had for very little, but not so electricity, oil and diesel. I have applied for the Historic Scotland job, and also to be a Supply Teacher, hmmm..... Secondary Schools can be very full-on places, but beggars can't be choosers, hey? It can be so hard doing this, as it's very subjective; when Important People say 'No, thanks', and you get rejection letters, it's hard not to take it personally. Then you get that awful self-doubt niggling away, 'I'm not good enough to do this; who am I trying to kid! ' I try and chase these feelings away, but it can be hard, can't it? I'm working on another Nursery Rhyme, so I'll get that up before too long. In the meantime, hope you're all happy, and life is treating you well.

Tootles' Toyshop is Open!

At last! After all that waiting, here is Tootles proudly showing off the newest shop on Fluffville High Street. It took flippin' ages to draw this yesterday, as I ran out of the blue background crayon, and had to finish it with rescued stumps! The lead kept fracturing, and a nice long pencil quickly turned into three little stumps! Arrrgggghhhh! Anyway, got it done in the end, and I really enjoyed myself with all the funny little toys. They are all real, and live here with us in Chateau Kitten. Poor Tootles can't quite get the hang of his bow-tie, (They are extremely fiddly, aren't they?) but he still looks very dapper! Please help yourself from the buffet table, and take something home, otherwise I'll be eating left-overs all week! (I'm beginning to take this all a little too seriously!) I hope you all enjoy the Toyshop; watch this space for more Fluffville adventures!

We're all invited to a Party!

You know I said it had been very busy in Fluffville? Well, breaking news is that Tootles, (Tiddles' nephew) is launching his brand new toyshop on Sunday evening, and we're all invited to the 'Grand Opening'! Great, I can't wait - there will be fizzy pop, jam sandwiches, chocolate cake and custard! Here are your invitations, just back from the printers. Please RSVP, and dress to impress!

Tiddles and the Tiglets in the Garden

Here's the second part of 'In the Garden', featuring Tiddles and his Grand-Tigers! It's a much nicer day here today, I can see a bit of blue sky for a change! I hope you all have a great day!

A Funny Picture of Bob

Here is a sweet photograph of Bob and Magic on my un-made bed - the shame of it! Actually, I couldn't make it this morning, as Mags was asleep in it, and you shouldn't disturb a pussycats sleep, should you? (That's my excuse for such lazy domestic behaviour!)

Superboy!

These characters have been sent to an agent, so let's see if if they will propel me into the realms of the solvent and successful! I really could do with a Super Hero, or two right now! Mind you, I have my very own Superkitten, Bacon the Greedy!

Babybunny Milkteeth goes sailing, and I wait

Silly me, I forgot to post these up last night - over excited about getting back on-line! Isn't it strange how in this line of work, if you're not really established, it's all about waiting, waiting, waiting.....You do loads of work, spend a small fortune printing out samples, packaging it all up and posting it - then you wait with baited breath for the Important Person to get back to you. Of course, half (more than half) of the time, they don't even acknowledge you exist, but still you wait and wait for a break. In the meantime, I am applying for a part-time job as the Steward of Maclellan's Castle, which is an Historic Scotland monument in town. It's Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and you just have to take the money, be nice to tourists and clean up etc. Sounds ideal! I bet 100's of people will apply, but it's certainly worth a try, as it would pay the bills but leave plenty of time for this.

In which it is Very Busy in Fluffville, and we are introduced to a New Character

Howdy Doody Folks! Well, what a carry on we've had at Chateau Buskitten; our one and only laptop (Mac stil not working) had a serious malfunction, and had to go to the Computer Doctor to be fixed. All this took forever, and it's been very frustrating - I had sent out a load of stuff, and was waiting for emails. Mind you, without the web to distract me with addictive, but useless eBay surfing and the like, it's been jolly busy in Fluffville! Tiddles' friend, Babybunny Milkteeth has opened his sweet shop - he has also been fiddling around with cakes (I think) and Tiddles has been back in the kitchen making custard. Babybunny was going to do some gardening, but it was a bit cold for that, so he got his sailing boat out (but it was too choppy).I hope you're all OK, fellow Bloggers, I'll go and see what you've all been up to whilst I've been languishing in the world of Sans Technology!

Oh no! I've just noticed I have spelt 'Bunny' wrong on Babybunny's Sweet Shop - gnashing of teeth!

Tiddles' Traditional Kitchen!

Ooh, look! Tiddles is back! He seems to be making something very strange - the ingredients are custard powder, tomato soup, Oxo cubes, Atora suet, honey, cherries and plain flour..... what on earth can you make with that? It must be something that only kindly tigers like!

Thank you for all the lovely comments you left me yesterday - excellent advice; it's so encouraging and brilliant to be able to share stuff. I have taken on board Ronnie's suggestion, and have written to our local newspaper with some Tiddles examples!

Networking, Speculating and Worrying....

I have been getting more and more worried about my financial situation, and how to find a way to make my creative work 'pay' - if there can be such a thing for me..... Today, after a weekend of preoccupation, bitten finger nails and NO drawing whatsoever, I wrote to every primary and secondary school in our area to see if they would consider employing me for after-school art sessions - that's thirteen letters in the post! I have also sent some work to a publisher, and whilst I'm not exactly brimming with positivity, at least I've done something. I feel so fearful that this won't work out, and I'll have to go back to the world of Social Work - but I really wasn't enjoying it for the last few years, and I find it so incredibly draining. But on the positive side, I am a qualified Art and Design Teacher, so maybe one or two of our little primary schools will consider having me. Being worried like this is so tiring - I feel as if I have a hang-over and I don't even drink, ha ha! I also start having regrets about not being more committed and focused when I was younger, but of course, that's so silly, as we can't turn back time - and I am here now, fit, healthy and willing! Anyway, I logged on here, and I've had an email from an agency regarding representation! That's kind of great news, I think! So, onwards and upwards!

As I haven't done any drawing for a few days, here's a pic of me with my old Landy!

Hot Dogs R Us!

Well, with my bank account fast approaching zilchity-zilch-zilch, it's time to remove the spiders and mice (not really mice!) from the Hot Dog Van! Yes, folks, the rash and impulsive eBay purchase will save Fluffville from ruin! We have to check it won't blow up when you turn it on, but a nice man is coming to sort that bit out ( a minor detail!) Maybe this will be the start of something really big, and we will have a chain of sweet little vans towed by old campers - how cool would that be? In the meantime, however, I better stop dreaming and go and do the washing up! Laters Alligators!

So you can see it all together......

Here's a 'Tiddles the Tiger' attempt at hotch-potching the strip together in a word document so you can view it as a whole strip! Back in a bit with some funny pics of me in the Hot Dog Van!

I've finally finished The Owl and the Pussycat!

Phew! That took ages! Hope you like the pics - at least it's a happy ending!