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I'm going to have to blame my lack of inspiration, imagination, and drawing skill to the fact that I've had a cold for the last week so my brain is a fuzzy mess. I'm not happy with this one, but it did at least provide much needed therapy.

I now have to figure out what to draw next. Still uninspired ... NOT a good beginning to the new year, but hopefully (and I'm always hopeful) I'll catch up soon enough and will find new delights to capture my attention. Life has been full of distracting puzzles that I can't seem to figure out recently. Perhaps it's just time to let them go and look for new ones to work on. I could always conquer my fears and procrastination and try messing around with paints finally ... :) Cheers!

Red Rose cards & matching gifts at Floating Lemons at Zazzle

Last week we bought a small basketful of Clementines from the weekly village market. They look and smell so bright and cheerful and summery, lift the spirits even on cold winter days, and are absolutely irresistible. I've since discovered that they are also called Christmas Oranges as they're available from mid-November till January. Sweet and seedless they're teeny pop-in-the-mouth treats. Had to draw them of course.

This was done in coloured pencil on a large-scale moleskine sketchbook that I'm now quite in love with. I haven't really finished the drawing and I hate not completing something to my satisfaction once I've started it, but this will just have to stay as is, as I am away for a couple of weeks as of tomorrow and needed to post this in order to wish everyone a lovely Christmas and New Year!

I'll also add my latest customer/friend requested text designs, Natascha and Goddess. Enjoy the holidays! Cheers.

Natascha products at Floating Lemons Typography at Zazzle

Goddess products at Floating Lemons Typography at Zazzle

There truly is not enough time in the day to do everything I want or need to do! I look up -- and days have passed ... and there's always more that I would like to do but simply can't fit in yet. Yet.

I've been completing text design requests and have to finish most of them before Christmas, which has kept me occupied for a while now (with a trip to London as a break in between of course LOL), but I managed to finally drag out a wonderful extra-large moleskine that I'd purchased some months ago. Started playing within it's pages and found myself doodling gift boxes ...

I love gift boxes and wrapping papers and it being the season for it, am not too surprised that it's what came to mind. Still, I'm only part-way through colouring them in but thought I'd put them up here a proof (to myself really!) that I AM doing some much-needed drawing in between sketching out text designs. Simple stuff but just as therapeutic and as much a pleasure to do.

I've also completed a couple of typographical designs for the festive season and here they are:

Merry X'mas cards, stamps, gift tags & matching products at Zazzle.

Happy New Year 2010 cards & matching products at Zazzle

Christmas Tree Cupcake products at Zazzle

Just a doodle -- that ended up taking days to finish as I've been inundated with guests recently. Very happily so I might add. I ended up declaring a holiday/vacation "go slow" for myself as a result, and am only now finally getting my act together again.

Perhaps being ill made me realize that although work is definitely a priority it certainly should not be my top priority, and that Quality of Life (which includes family, friends, and enjoying the glorious summer days in Provence) and Health should be moved above Work on my little list.

At any rate, I'm finally winding down as far as visitors are concerned and in a few days will be back on my own and back at work. Good timing too as I'm now itching to get back to some drawing, though I'm also looking for a different approach to my art. Something needs to be changed, I need a dose of New Perspectives. Am not quite sure of what that might be as yet, but it's there just at the edge of my vision (isn't that frustrating? Like having that word just there, on the tip of your tongue ...) and I'm hoping it turns up soon to inspire me ...

Meanwhile, these are what I've managed to squeeze in thus far. The above drawing popped into my mind when customers began purchasing my Christmas products! And below are some of the text designs requested by wonderful friends and customers. I've enjoyed doing them and still have a list of more to go through, so will be putting them up as I go along. Cheers to all!

Tini purple Products at Zazzle

Sprog lime green Products at Zazzle

I tend to find myself irresistibly attracted to charming things -- which has led me into trouble far more often than not -- but these delightful French chickens were crying out for attention and how could I say no? I am far too easily persuaded :) They belonged to the friend of a friend and sat on her table, all round and smooth and quite a pleasure to behold. I've changed the colours but hopefully retained the simplicity of form and it turned out to be a simple yet extremely therapeutic and enjoyable drawing.

I also have a wonderful queue of requests for my type designs which is a great but pleasant surprise. I'm going through them all in between drawings, but here's the last one I managed to do, for my niece:

I'm pleased to say that the sticker for it won me a TBA Award at zazzle on the 28 August :) Thanks Marisa!

French Hen products at Floating Lemons at Zazzle

Marisa cherry pink products at Floating Lemons Type at Zazzle

When I get tired of uploading or creating products on my numerous online stores, I play scrabble with friends online, on facebook (if any of you would like a game just click on my FB link in the right frame and let's play, though I think it's for the whole world BUT the U.S. and Canada). This gives me ample time and opportunity to do quick sketches and just fool around with inspirational ideas. Today I pulled out an old photo of one of my dogs, Bertha (they never lie still long enough to draw live) which I liked because of its warped perspective, and decided to spin a fast sketch from it to make up for the tedious (but necessary) uploading process. Here you have it, warts and all from my moleskine sketchbook.

Do all dogs have that pathetic, sad "please love me and give me a treat" look on their faces? Mine certainly do. ALL the time. Bertha and her sister Bella have followed me all the way from Malaysia to Australia and now to France. I am stopped constantly by passers-by on our walks who wish to know what pedigree they are. I tell them with complete confidence and pride that my dogs have at least 10 different pedigrees in their blood. Pure Malaysian Street Dogs :)

I wouldn't be here in France on my own without their companionship and protection. 

I bought a bunch of sunflowers from the markets the other day, they are so wonderfully cheerful. It's also the first time in my life that I've seen fields absolutely full of sunflowers, a sea of bobbing yellows and oranges capturing the joys of the day, I love it.

Am not so crazy about the drawing though, I'm not quite sure why but it seems pale in comparison to the real thing. I haven't captured the vibrancy and am a bit disappointed -- maybe next time ...

Floating Sunflower cards and matching gifts at Floating Lemons at zazzle

Decided to start drawing in a new moleskine ... I'd forgotten how much I like the surface of the paper for my colored pencils, it's so lovely and smooth.

I'd been to the markets in Aix-en-Provence and discovered a stall that sold hundreds of glorious beads in all shapes and colours. HAD to buy some ... and then of course I HAD to draw them, so here's a selection. They're like glittering glowing pieces of candy in real life, quite delicious --

Once I'd finished the sketch I scanned them in, cleaned them up, added a bit of a shadow in photoshop and here's the cleaner, finished product ready to be placed on cards online:

Beads card and products at Floating Lemons at Zazzle

And finally, here's another play on my previous text design, done especially for Clara!

Clara cards and products at Floating Lemons Typography

Things are a bit slow around here ... I'm still recuperating. The good news is that I am free of infection and therefore finally free of antibiotics. But my neck is still a bit sore from the operation and my foot still somewhat swollen -- apparently it has been so traumatized that it will take another month or so to fully recover! I hobble along quite well though, so am at least no longer sofa-bound :)

Still, the pace of life is no longer frantic as limping around takes time and I still get exhausted at the end of the hot summer days. Am appreciating life and drawing what lies before me, in this case my coffee cup, saucer and spoon. The coffee stain is a photograph of an actual one so I guess I should apply the term Collage to the above. Lots of fun doing it.

I also had another special request for the above. I hope she likes it. Cheers!

Coffee Break products at Floating Lemons at Zazzle

Yasmin purple products at Floating Lemons Typography at Zazzle

Yasmin products at cafepress

Two oddly shaped nectarines from the lady who has a wonderful organic fruit & vegetable stall every Wednesday and Saturday morning in the nearby village of Lauris. I love imperfectly shaped fruit, so when my mother (who has been an angel looking after me) brought these back I knew I just had to draw them.

It took me three days to draw them! Though that's probably due to the fact that I still tire easily ... and perhaps because, in some places, there are over twenty layers of colour in this drawing. I'm still not completely happy with it but knew that if I didn't finish it off I'd end up destroying it, so I finally stopped.

A special request, for the name Alexander. I'm quite enjoying doing these names. I have another one waiting so I'd better get onto it.

I'll have to blame my illness and recuperation for the fact that I'd forgotten to mention that this book that I'd ordered before getting so sick was waiting for me when I returned from hospital. I have been going through it with pleasure and pangs of hunger when I come across the too-yummy food drawings. Altaglich Folio: No Five contains beautifully delicate and detailed drawings by the extremely gifted Megan E. Bluhm Foldenauer whose artwork can be found here www.megalo-media.com or at her Flickr site. I've been a fan of hers since I discovered her drawings and am now determined to acquire books No 1 - 4 too! Cheers.

Flat Nectarines products at Floating Lemons at Zazzle
Alexander lime products at Floating Lemons Type at Zazzle

Three Cherries products at zazzle

Well, I obviously tried to tackle far too much last month ... what with so much extra work and the arrival of my shipping, etc, I ended up sacrificing my daily walk with the dogs, stopped eating healthily, stressed out completely -- and as a result my defences went down and I ended up being taken by ambulance for an emergency operation as I was attacked pretty viciously by an extremely happy internal bacterial infection.

Won't mention the gory details but I essentially suffered from quite massive blood poisoning and am now still recovering though I'm finally home from hospital and what a relief that is. Still have to keep my feet up for another couple of weeks but at least I finally found the energy to start drawing again!

So here is my interpretation of Life is A Bowl of Cherries. Not a bowlful perhaps but I am truly appreciating every little bit life has to offer, so a trio seems apt enough :)

I was able to work slowly on a few text designs as well ... primarily requests for names, and here are the ones I've completed so far:

Shireen pink products at zazzle

Juarez blue products at zazzle

Angela hot pink products at zazzle

I'd like to thank very much everyone who sent me prayers, good wishes and positive thought. I've been too tired to write emails or respond to messages personally (general anesthesia truly leaves one exhausted) but I shall now slowly go through them all so that I can personally thank you.

Meanwhile, I have a close friend who has also landed up in hospital after an accident so if any of you reading this know Ida Nerina please please send her all those wonderful prayers for a speedy and FULL recovery.

Wishing you good health! Cheers.

It's not that I haven't been trying to make time to draw, but Life keeps getting in the way so I doodled a few type designs and then finally managed to draw this "Magicked Frog" to accompany a sweet story by a friend of mine. Had loads of fun doing them all but am still at my wit's end where time is concerned, reorganizing my home now that my shipping finally arrived from Australia ... here is what I've been playing with in between cleaning, clearing, unpacking and running errands:

Go Green Leaf cards and products at Floating Lemons Typography at Zazzle

Bertha blue cards and products at Floating Lemons Typography at Zazzle

Bella pink cards and products at Floating Lemons Typography at Zazzle

Hello purple cards and products at Floating Lemons Typography at Zazzle

I'm hoping to finish up household tasks and errands as soon as possible and get back to more drawing and blogging. WIsh me luck. Cheers.

These gorgeous flowers are springing up all over the place, so imagine my delight when I found bunches growing in my front garden! I have them in white as well but these purple irises are just so wonderfully vibrant that I had to draw one of course, so went out with my trusty little camera and took tons of pics. I haven't done it justice but here's the result.

Purple Iris cards and products at zazzle

These gorgeous flowers are springing up all over the place, so imagine my delight when I found bunches growing in my front garden! I have them in white as well but these purple irises are just so wonderfully vibrant that I had to draw one of course, so went out with my trusty little camera and took tons of pics. I haven't done it justice but here's the result.

Purple Iris cards and products at zazzle

The butler did it, didn't he? He has a tray of poison and a suspicious looking drink in one hand and a bloody dagger in the other ...  is he just cleaning up?

Another in the Murder Mystery series of characters. More will be appearing eventually ...

Check out The Butler card and range of products at zazzle.com

Have spent the last couple of days catching up on 'real life' stuff -- it tends to intrude every once in a while, unfortunately. Was exhausted yesterday afternoon and my mind was far too fuzzy to tackle any serious drawing (or the work that's piling up again!) but my fingers were feeling fidgety so they decided to doodle this while I blankly watched the small screen ... I didn't completely disapprove of it so thought I'd post it ... a sweet, simple doodle :)

Pink Rosebud products at Zazzle

3 Pink Rosebud products at Cafe Press

I really hadn't planned on turning her into such a flapper-type character but she insisted on it, and who am I to argue with a sweet innocent ingenue holding a bloody dagger in one hand? So here she is, the second in the Murder Mystery series. I'd watch your step if I were you ... :)

Murder Mystery: The Ingenue cards and matching products are here at zazzle.com!

I've needed to practice drawing characters and faces as they're a huge weakness where my overall drawing is concerned, so when I received a special request to draw some for a Mystery Murder project (more on that later!), I jumped at the chance. I'm a huge fan of detective, criminal investigation and murder mystery stories anyway, whether on paper or on the screen, so this was tons of fun to do!

So here's the first one, the Mob Boss. Once I'd scanned it in I felt it was a bit too light and perhaps had too delicate a touch for the subject matter, so I played with levels and contrast on photoshop and this was my final result:

Better, I think ... off to work on the next character now :)

Mob Boss cards and products at zazzle.com

I've needed to practice drawing characters and faces as they're a huge weakness where my overall drawing is concerned, so when I received a special request to draw some for a Mystery Murder project (more on that later!), I jumped at the chance. I'm a huge fan of detective, criminal investigation and murder mystery stories anyway, whether on paper or on the screen, so this was tons of fun to do!

So here's the first one, the Mob Boss. Once I'd scanned it in I felt it was a bit too light and perhaps had too delicate a touch for the subject matter, so I played with levels and contrast on photoshop and this was my final result:

Better, I think ... off to work on the next character now :)

Mob Boss cards and products at zazzle.com

Blank mind today. And for the past few days too, really. Am in the middle of a job but what little imagination I do have decided to flee and is probably having a great time somewhere without me.

So, with blank page before me I cruised through old photos and found one that I'd taken of some candy as I'd told my niece Lara I'd draw some for her. Decided to pick up my coloured pencils and just doodle ... this is the result.

Candy card at zazzle

First, I started out with this doodle of coffee mugs (this was while I was sipping one in the morning as one does) which I am not terribly fond of ... But it inspired me to do this:

And so the end result was this:

And then I ended up getting a Today's Best Award at zazzle for this:

Now, THAT put a smile on my face :D Cheers!

This was a special request by my niece Marisa for a good friend of hers, Sara, who is a huge fan of a certain Crime Scene programme on TV :) Blood red icing, a dagger plunged into it, a bullet in its side and a hangman's noose draped over the cupcake ... as well as the DO NOT CROSS police tape -- I hope I added enough murderous implements to satisfy her!

And here's the magnet that just won the Today's Best Award over at zazzle.com :)

When I returned home for a visit last year my nephew and one of my nieces were baking these glorious cupcakes and I took photos so that I could eventually draw them as they looked (and tasted!) so yummy. Well, I've finally managed to get one down onto paper though I really am not doing it justice. This one is for my nephew Kaelen!

Life has been hectic and I've been pretty blocked too. The final move into the new house has been a huge relief and I'm happy. Since then I've had visitors non-stop and am about to go overseas for two weeks again, after which life will I hope resume it's normal (?) peaceful routine and I can begin drawing on a more regular basis. Cheers!

Cupcake Hearts Card at Zazzle

Forget perspective. Forget realism. Just have fun :)

Drawing in coloured pencil. The green background was digitally added after I'd scanned the drawing in.

I've become horribly addicted to these chocolate dipped peanut brittle snacks. Delicious. Had to give the last lot of them away to a friend before I turned into one!

Happy 2009 to everyone!

Peanut Brittle Card at Zazzle