Seasons Greetings from

Brighton & Ho! Ho! Hove!

Headed home along the prom today after some last minute Christmas shopping. Loving The Lollipop Shoppe and Castor & Pollux.

New Faces

Brighton Faces

Breakfast Faces

Busy with lots of fun projects that I'd love to share but they all have to stay under my wooly hat for the moment!

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Autumn Leaves

                                        

Experimental ideas inspired by leaves collected on a walk around Sheffield Park Gardens at the weekend. Platter by Stig Lindberg.

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Flower Power

Dress by Boden, shoes model's own.

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The Goodnight Star

How it began

I always find it interesting when I have finished a book to look back at my very first thoughts. Some spreads end up almost identical to my first thumbs where others go through many changes. It took me a while with Goodnight Star to get Megan right. I had a lightbulb moment when I decided to put her in pyjamas rather than a floaty nightdress. Suddenly I felt she had the right attitude.

Click on all images to enlarge.

'The Goodnight Star'  author Amy Sparkes will be having a book launch on Saturday 12th September from 10.30-11.30 at Tiverton Library.

Find out more about Amy here.

Amsterdam Faces

I just had a really good break in Amsterdam.

I couldn't go to the Netherlands-home of Dick Bruna and not treat myself to a few Miffy souvenirs! Above are some that I 

couldn't bring home!

1. De Winkel Van Nijntje, Amsterdam, Maastricht  - A shop 

dedicated to Miffy - Heaven!!! 

2. Schiphol Airport 

3. Delft Store, Amsterdam 

4. Nijntje (Miffy) Art Parade, Museumplein Square. To celebrate 60 Years of Miffy, 60 artists were asked to decorate a 1.80 metre high statue of Miffy. The Miffy Art Parade statues will be on display in various places in the Netherlands and Japan. The statues will be auctioned in October, with the proceeds going to UNICEF.

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The Goodnight Star

by Amy sparkes

I'm really pleased to be able to share with you my latest book 'The Goodnight Star' beautifully written by Amy Sparkes and published by Random House Children's Books. 'The Goodnight Star' will be available to buy from 27th August.

 'Megan is afraid of the dark.'

 'Holding the star carefully, she climbed up to her treehouse...

 This image was my favourite so I was really pleased that it was chosen for the cover.

'The Goodnight Star' is my 8th book with Random House Children's Books. I'd like to thank the team at Random for all their help. Special thanks to Kerrie and Joe.

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We're Having a Super Baby

by Abie Longstaff

I have 2 new books coming very soon. We're having a Super baby written by Abie Longstaff and published by Scholastic will be available from 3rd September. Abie has written lots of great books including The Mummy Shop and The Fairy Tale Hairdresser.

'This warm and funny celebration of the bond between siblings is perfect to share with your first-born.'

Daddy Is My Hero

Happy Father's Day to all you Dads!

'Daddy Is My Hero' Written by Dawn Richards - Published by Random House 2013.

Lucy and Henry Are Twins

By Elizabeth Winthrop

It's like buses no blog posts for 2 months... and then 4 come at once!!! I am busy busy painting...excuses excuses!

Lucy and Henry Are Twins is published by Two Lions (Amazon Publishing) and written by the widely published author Elizabeth Winthrop.

'Lucy and Henry are brother and sister. They may be twins, but that doesn't mean they do everything the same way.' 'Delightful illustrations and simple rhythmic text combine to make a wonderful first book for twins...'

Illustration

NEW Percy Pig Illustrations

I illustrated two Percy products a while ago which have just been released to coincide with the Royal Birth. Percy, Penny and their 4 little ones are now together in one bag!

 Development sketch and final artworks for Royal Percy Pig cake.

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M&S Taste Buds

A couple of new additions to the Taste Buds range. See more here.

I Love You, Blankie

By Sheryl Haft

The author Sheryl Haft has done an amazing job publicising I Love You, Blankie. Sheryl recently held an event in her hometown New York and these are just a few of the photos from what looked like a really fun book party.

 I absolutely love the Blankie Baby puppet! It is so exciting to see my illustrations literally brought to life. Thanks Sheryl and thanks to the puppeteers and performers.

More Blankie updates on Sheryl Haft's website.

Book News

New Swedish & Finnish Co-Editions for I Love Rabbits

Published by Caterpillar Books.

One Little baby written by Richard Dungworth and published by Puffin Books has been selected for the 2015 edition of the Imagination Library Programme in the UK.

I was thrilled to receive a letter from Dolly Parton telling me the great news! Dolly started the Imagination Library in Sevier County, TN in 1995. The Imagination Library promotes early childhood literacy by providing free age appropriate books from birth to age 5. To date 63,000,000 books have been mailed to kids in the USA, Canada, UK and Australia.

I Love You, Blankie.

By Sheryl Haft

 Click on images to enlarge.

I Love You, Blankie, beautifully written by Sheryl Haft and published by Little, Brown and Company goes on sale in the USA today! It will be available in the UK shortly.

I Love You, Blankie is a great bedtime story for little ones. 'A flowing sail, a hot air balloon, a fluffy cloud, a glowing moon. With a little imagination a blankie can be anything!'

I'd like to thank Sheryl for all her input on the visuals for the book. It was very much a joint project. I'd also like to thank the team at Little Brown for all their support.

One that got away!

A favourite sketch.