Last few days of Made by the Sea...

Just been over to Made by the Sea in Bexhill to restock with a few stocking fillers, including mini concertina & maze books & vintage button & book cloth Christmas cards. It's open today until 4pm, and next Friday & Saturday. Loads of nice goodies (& a few seasonal discounts- the beautiful recycled wooden trees are now just £25). Very breezy though along the seafront, so wrap up warm.

Eric in her very favourite box

Christmas pigeon:

Recent Book Commissions

I was commissioned to make two photo books for London-based photographer Hugo Rittson Thomas: Harvest features portraits of key UK chefs at Alex James's Harvest Festival, and What Are You Wearing 2011? twenty student portraits. Each book is in a limited edition of five, hand-bound as a concertina.

Made by the Sea

I've been taking part in this pop-up market every weekend until Christmas at the newly refurbished Colonnade, Bexhill (directly in front of the De La Warr Pavilion). I'm sharing a stand with Alice Underhill & Wendy Jung.

I've made new editions of old favourites (Behind the Cutter Inn & The Ornithologist) + a number of handbound journals and sketchbooks using fine Italian printed papers. Plus a number of cards/ prints & original drawings all for sale and copies of the Birdbook poetry anthology, which have been flying off the shelves- the publishers (Sidekick Press, London) have had a flurry of requests since the book was nominated as 'staff Christmas pick' at Foyles, Southbank. I'm currently working on three illustrations for the next book in the series- freshwater birds, which will be published in Spring.

There's a chance to pick up my new feral pigeon cards (perfect for every occasion- £1.95) which feature in the poetry book. Based on the pigeon, Burton, who hatched & fledged on my balcony in Hastings in 2009.

Back in Blogsville

Sorry, I've been off the blog loop for months (since May, according to my last post). Plenty of updates in the offing but until then, here's a glimpse of the best Christmas present I've bought so far...

Coastal Currents 2011 call out

New business cards

Jack-in-the-Green 2011

Bird Book

Received a copy of BIRD BOOK: Towns, Parks, Gardens & Woodland- New Poems & Illustrations Celebrating British Birds in the post yesterday- I provided the three illustrations above. It's published by Sidekick books (www.drfulminare.com) and it's really rather nice- my first drawings properly in print.

Day Trip to Eastbourne

An impromptu trip to Eastbourne on a sunny Spring day. I went to see the East Sussex Open at the Towner, ended up on a jaunt along the seafront and around town. It's been a while since I've visited properly- was delighted to see that the idiosyncratic Musgrave Collection on Seaside Road is still open (George Musgrave is now 95 years old), but the newsagents two doors down that sold individual tea bags is sadly boarded up.

Papered Parlour at the Museum of Childhood

I took part in the First Thursday Papered Parlour event at the Museum of Childhood, Bethnal Green, one of my old favourite haunts. The night was a series of talks/ happenings/ events/ debates/ workshops/ artists' books stalls with live music & general merriment.

I remember learning as a nipper, that the beautiful mosaic floors were made by Victorian prisoners.

Spring things

Creatures from the deep

Sea mists

So grey today that the cliff tops vanished, and the sea blended into the sky.

Hastings Rarities

Some of my dressed birds and bird dolls from the Hastings Rarities Affair exhibition at Hastings Museum & Art Gallery, which has just come down.