FABULOUS FRIDAY's Illustrative reads.

Every now and then I turn to my book shelf-which still doesn't have all my books on since we moved here 4 years ago...but a few much loved and resourceful ones.

These are treasures any journal illustrator would love.

"The Decorated Journal" by Gwen Diehn which I bought this past year...is a wonderful tool for the artist wanting to make their journal from scratch.

It talks in detail all about layering,different papers...the importance of non acidic paper etc... 

There's much discussion about materials used on the paper...inks,watercolours glues...scripts and texts...and even touches journaling with children.

Then we have "An Illustrated Life" by Danny Gregory...LOVE LOVE LOVE this book.

There are 50 illustrators featured in this amazing book...SUCH a great read...

I have just touched on a few of my faves.

I love seeing the progression of an artist/illustrators work...

Sketchbooks are such personal treasures...to be able to take a peak at these of all these illustrators makes me love this book even more!

It's an inspiration for sure...and pushes me to do more and improve on my skills.

From figurative artists...

to landscapes...

brilliance...pure brilliance...

Still on the theme of sketchbooks...is the book "Artists Journals and Sketchbooks" by Lynn Perella.

What I really enjoy about this book is that it touches ALL different types of Artists and illustrators,collage artists alike...it gives examples of different styles of journalling along with the Artist's name...there's a List at the back of the book with the Artists who contributed and their contact info.

HUGE fan of Theresa Moore!

So that's my reading...and now onto my girls and what I read to them...

We're ALMOST finished Charlotte's Web...

What a truly enchanting story...I'm sure all of you know the story...if you don't, it's a lovely read.

The past couple of evenings the girls have fallen asleep whilst listening to the book...

I kept on reading aloud without realizing...lol...

Last night I had to stop myself from finishing as I didn't want them to miss the end.

This is where I got to...the Rat Templeton has a english Cockny accent, Mr. and Mrs. Zuckerman are from Yorkshire...Charlotte is very well spoken(the girls LOVE when I put on my English Accent for them) it's fun...

AND last but not least...to help find our page where we left off...you will need one of these bookmarks which Norma from Cara Carmina Atelier makes.

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Isn't she special!!! You can visit her blog and see ALL the other fabulous things she makes and paints...I'm trying to pursuade her into a "Tell ALL Tuesdays" over here.

She has a GIVEAWAY on there until Tuesday the 7th.

Phew...it felt like a long post...my girls asked when I was done 3 times...back to playing.

Have a FABULOUS Friday...what's left of it...

and, OH,I forgot...does anyone have any suggestions for chapter books for 6/7 year olds?

HUGS

Char.x

a little embarrassed...

at showing flaws in my sketching which I did late last night(especially the frog...yuck-and I sketched in ballpoint pen... NOT at all erasable) and misspellings too...funny what the brain can't correct before the detailed info reaches your hand and starts scribbling...

This was an idea that came to me at 12 mid-night last night...you know...after I had had a cat-nap for 20 minutes on the sofa...and thought...hmm, why not make an alphabet poster with all the animals I draw???
SO...this is the beginning of a project which I will be starting in February...one animal a day...and I will make limited edition prints from the originals...but will ALSO be selling the originals DAILY on Etsy...they will be going REALLY cheap...so watch out for the SALE!
I'm excited...it'll be a fun project.
I'll create them individually daily, then make a poster to commemorate the project.

JUST finished a bowl of warm oatmeal with dates and half a banana...also JUST finished my first cup of Tea...which had been re-heated 3 X...probably NOT a very healthy decision...could have made another cup I suppose!
It's baffling...I usually drink Earl Grey Tea,(had forgotten my stash of EG Tea in the UK...but remembered the English Breakfast)...I swear, the EB cools down SO much quicker than the EG...anyone else found this?

So...back to my 2010 list...which has many 2009 items on it which I had to bring over to this year...
I will post it later...it REALLY won't fit in this post(honestly, trust me...it's LONG...perhaps even a little overwhelming).

I am feeling jaded...or could it be jet-lagged? How many days can it take to re-adjust back to normal?

ALL I know is that it's FREEZING here today....-18...ouch...chilli!

How is it in your neck of the woods?

Char,ON

I would like...

-to wish YOU a FABULOUS 2010... (I'm BACK)

-that Peace on EARTH BE NOW...

-to rest assured that both my parents will have a year of good health and travel...they deserve it...

-to get out of our sticky situation at home here...(more of this another time-some of you know what I'm talking about if you have followed our blog since last May)

-to conquer my goals of success within my ART sales...(Angels are you watching?)

-to thank my husband for all his support...(but now I really have to pull my weight)

-to THANK YOU ALL for commenting,suggesting,supporting...critiquing,uplifting,inspiring and sharing with us...every day!(this means SO much to us)

-AND finally...I would Like...one of these:

have you seen them?

They're the Moleskine Colour a month daily/dairy planner.
A Moleskine for every month and they're all SO pretty...I think I may have to treat myself...Mr.R gave me some money to treat myself...most of it has gone on groceries for this week...LOTS of veg and fruit(on a cleanse after coming back from UK)...so I think I may have enough for one. I think they retail at $40.

CHECK this video out on the Moleskine site...(I adore their website...but then I have a sketchbook problem-like others have shoe problems-but that's another post too)

I have a mountain of plans for this NEW year...and thought a monthly planner would be AWESOME...especially this one...

What would you like?

.X.
Char,On.
(we had SUCH a wonderful time in UK...but there's only so much holidays one can take!)