Breakfast of Champignons

whats in my.... project book

2012-02-01T12:31:00.001-08:00

blog, originally uploaded by Champignons.

actually it's brimming with print ideas. I hope to get printing them soon: forests, seas and... leaves. Well. More forests I suppose.

Other than that: I'm exhausted.

And I have a sale on here: http://www.champignons.co.uk/category/january-sale please relieve me of some of these moleskines because I don't know how much longer I will be printing them
Ta x

illo prepared

2012-01-13T13:17:00.000-08:00

I can't believe I missed whats-in-my? wednesday on only the second week. What can I say? I'm exhausted. I don't know why. But I am prepared for valentines! Look. Notebooks... and matching cards. All screenprinted by me :)

I'll try harder next week.

Illo...... Grounded

2012-01-06T12:54:00.001-08:00

Here's a work in progress shot of a little illustration I'm doing called 'the vulture girls'.... I saw a picture of a young vulture, and it was a rather amazing bird... With its ruff of feathers and spectacular facial colouring and elegant long neck I though it could be a model.

But that would be very mundane for the bird that flies the highest. It should be above all that right?

So maybe the aren't vulture girls at all.

Anyway, challenges the way vultures are perceived in our culture. We do these magnificent birds great injustice

Also- did you know the champignons sale is now on? http://www.champignons.co.uk/on-sale

What's in my.....

2012-01-04T13:12:00.001-08:00

In an effort to become more consistent in my blogging this year, and realising that my main reason for blogging is illustration Friday I've decided to do a personal what's in my... Wednesday (though if others were to join in I would love that. It just I can't imagine that anyone would read this, let alone join in). Anyway, in the spirit of casual nosiness I aim to display the content of a bag, or book (or maybe stretch it to on and show the contents of a shelf or something?) for no particular reason. Or maybe to illustrate what instigates my creative impulses so you become interested in my work and buy things.

Yes, definitely the second. It has longer words and sounds professional.

Now, should I list what is in my bag, or leave it for people to guess? Would guessing be more fun, or lead to embarrassment on my part when no one cares? Anyway, here is another picture:
It's my project book. It explains some exciting plans I have ... well, planned. Including a sale of sorts and some new products I'm considering. Perhaps I will show what in my project book next x

messenger

2011-12-23T12:54:00.000-08:00

When I think of messenger I think of ravens. Given the time of year I thought perhaps angels were the idea behind the theme. I have pictures of both. I've had them a long time. They are both very good pictures (for me, anyway). So why would I show you this??

Well, I guess I just wanted to show you this sketch from my journal because it's new, and because these nagas will be bring a message up from the depths when I finish this as a print. I know it's a not good picture of a not good picture, but finalising print ideas is always exciting, and I have three almost done now, so it should be a busy start to the year.

Those beetles are probably messengers too. And that wine bottle label... the bottle definitely carried a message.

Thankyou.

2011-12-20T03:24:00.000-08:00

Being self employed has many awesome perks; lie-ins, an awesome boss, super cool Christmas bonuses (by which I mean I bought myself a new doll), lovely customers... but there are downsides. You don't get promoted. You are considered by the general population (especially those harbourers of the hardest working members of our society- banks-) as 'not really working'. People pop in on you randomly at any hour because you are not 'doing anything better'.

I can count the number of times my in laws have asked how business is going with out the aid of any hands. Or mathematics or even a counting system because it has never happened. And I was recently described as a 'wifey' which is wrong on two counts-

Firstly, there is nothing wrong with being a stay at home mother; it's hard and important work and if a person (male or female) decides to devote themselves to the raising of thier childern well, they should be supported by society in this choice and not berated because 'they don't work'. They work very hard. If you chose not to do that- and not everyone is cut out for it- that's fine too, there's not need to feel bad or guilty, but don't denigrate others contributions to society just because they aren't financial.

Secondly, I do work, I do all that and run my business. I work very hard at this time of year so I was especially happy to get my thankyou letter, card and Christmas sampler from folksy again this year. Thanks folksy, you are a super site. And mostly, Thanks to you, my lovely customers. I hope you all have a super Christmas and New Year xxx

Mooooooooo!

2011-12-12T14:12:00.001-08:00

I decided I would try and write 3 blog posts a week. That way even if I massively fail and only write one a week, I would have increased my output greatly. So here's a photo of my moo cards. It was meant to be my illo friday submission but I haven't drawn It yet.

Instead join me in celebrating up upcoming etsy milestone- I'm currently at 998 sales. Anyone buying from etsy or Better yet my nice new shop at www.champignons.co.uk will get extra goodies in the parcel. And one of these super cute moo cards. If I remember to put it in.

illo silent.

2011-11-11T04:57:00.000-08:00

Hello there. A little quiet on the blogging front, I've been very busy printing cards. But stay tuned, there will be a competition soon, and a grand(ish) unveiling of my new card range. Anyway, since I've been doing cards my brain interpreted todays theme as 'silent night' quite against my will, by singing it in german over and over. Thanks for that, brain. Thusly, here is a hare quietly contemplating the moon. In a snowglobe. Will be in my store shortly.

Silentness is linked to christmas cards also because when it snows it muffles all sound. It doesnt snow here very often, but it did last year, and I hope it does again becuase I bought a sled. That means it will never snow again, ever, but if it does, I am prepared. Though I would rather it snowed after the christmas rush since the royal mail will refuse to work a whole week if a snowflake should touch the ground anywhere in the county. Could someone schedule snowfall for Dec 24th please??

Because iCan

2011-10-27T10:37:00.001-07:00

Guess what I got on Tuesday?
My iPhone! How cool is that? My previous could really only double as a flashlight so it's a bit of a quantum leap.I'm blogging from my phone even though I am sitting quite near to my computer which it logged into blogger. It's just more fun this way.

Anyway here's an hipstamatic pic of a rubber stamp I'm carving for my new website www.champignons.co.uk x

things to do.

2011-10-21T08:31:00.001-07:00

diary, originally uploaded by Champignons.

I had a day off from redesigning everything yesterday but today I was back at it. Today I fashioned a newsletter group thing, can you see the sign up thing in the sidebar?

I'm not sure it will work but you can try it and I'd be happy. I'm sure I'll only get round to emailing everyone once in a blue moon and it's a googlegroup so you can leave any time you want. You'll get discounts and presents for your efforts in the future*. Also I have a business facebook page thing. You may like it if you are so inclined. Apparently it is vital that one's business has a facebook page, though I am not sure why. I shall be polishing it and adding things to encourage favouritism and loyalty to me on my sidebar forthwith.

I did some other stuff today, and though the to do list seems to be growing as fast as the items get ticked off, I'm hopeful my shops and wholesale site will be stocked up and full of shiny new pictures and words and goodies very soon thanks to my main fuel (illustrated above, in my diary, which I bought in wilkos for 99p)

That damn coffee genie never materialised though.

*if I can get it to work.

October is the orangest month

2011-10-18T14:08:00.000-07:00

That time of the year again! I don't know if its the pumpkins getting to me but you might have noticed it's a bit more orange around here. In fact, I liked my daisy fox so much that I redesigned all my banners and my business cards too.... I nearly killed me. Anyway, I can put that behind me for the next five years.. and show you a sneak peek of why I'm undergoing such an overhaul. Look here.

And also enjoy my pumpkin photos (and the chinese lanterns). Happy orange month x

Scattered brain. No. Birds. Scattered birds.

2011-10-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

I can't help feeling if I hadn't spent all Mr Nut's nursery session jazzing up my blog (it took longer than anticipated. I remembered once I had passed the point of no return why I vowed never to redo my blog template ever again. Still, it was worth the tears, right? Looks pretty??) I would be further along with my new drawing, The Maple Hare, which would have been ideal with its scattering of leaves.

Still, instead here is a scattering of birds and deer in my journal to remind me it's ok Hare only exists in my brain at the moment. It's also something I will be developing into a screenprint when I hit that magical mystical status of conquering the to-do list and achieveing free time.

Take care, my illustrious, illustrative friends xx

illo hibernate

2011-09-30T05:26:00.001-07:00

Drying rack, originally uploaded by Champignons.

It's my brand new print; my very favourite. Happy friday everyone!

Deer

2011-09-28T12:31:00.000-07:00

Here's a little side project I printed accidentally.You see, I was working on another print and I drew a little sketch of it and the sketch was so lovely I printed it on some cards. Deer cards are always useful, especially at this time of year!

I quite liked the inverse image too, but I couldn't use photoemulsion for that because my printer doesn't print negatives well.. So when I'd done these I used a bit of screen filler one the deer before removing the photoemulsion* and then printed up these guys:

Are they not delicious? They are a super non fattening chocolate deer that just keeps on giving and giving. I made the snow texture by dustingsome powder on the paper to stop the ink printing on that area, so each print is unique (no flour residue is left on the print, by the way)

There are only 21 so do give one a home.

buy it here

*I really must take pictures of the process. Writing it makes no sense.

illo... disguise

2011-08-26T11:36:00.001-07:00

hatter, originally uploaded by Champignons.

sssssh! this photo is disguised as an illustration! don't let them on or they will throw me out. You know how it is. Yoy are wondering along with your favorite camera with a whole roll of 120 trying to find a good picture and the mad hatter cycles past on a piano bike singing a song. Brilliant! you think. Just the ticket

Then yo take the film to the developers and run home with all fingers crossed hoping they have come out... and find you've captured the white rabbit duetting! What could be better than that??

I have been having a fabulous holiday with not much time for drawing but lots of interesting things for my lovely plastic friends Diana and .. Diana to meet. And by that I mean Lomo cameras, not inflatables. Don't be so Rude.

Illo perennial

2011-07-22T07:20:00.001-07:00

daisyfox, originally uploaded by Champignons.

I haven't blogged in ages and I mean to because I have done lots of interesting (so I think) work and have some stuff to say.. but I never seem to have the time. And what I mean tby that is when I have some free time I seem to spend it all at happyplace.com looking at ridiculous signs and rude speling mistakes children have inadvertently made. That sort of thing.

Anyway, this is a print I did to experiment with halftone. It's got some pretty crazy moire effects in it which I quite like. I didn't print many of them but now I quite like it. The very original drawing was different, and was misinterpreted a lot, so I didn't want to go down that route which left me unsure who I wanted underground dreaming the daisies.

My original spirit of the daisies was a little seedperson, but I didn't print him in end. I ended up having a crazy week seeing foxes everywhere- real ones, in the city, in the daylight.. so I made up a rubber stamp of a fox to complete my print.

It's actually quite hard to make a workable image of a sleeping fox in one colour, I hope you appreciate that ;)

midsummer mushroom

2011-06-24T12:37:00.001-07:00

mushroom dawn, originally uploaded by Champignons.

Midsummer Mushroom madness from me
I can't help going toadstool crazy in these long daylight hours!

illo... launch

2011-06-17T05:37:00.001-07:00

red ballon, originally uploaded by Champignons.

Sigh- another Friday already?
I'm not doing well on the ole updating the blog front, but I am missing it. I think I need to show you my new love- my diana camera! It's great.

But here is my son. and his red balloon. He likes this print a lot, because it has
1) a red balloon
2) him in it
3) a winnie the pooh quote.

What could be better?

red fox

2011-05-06T13:06:00.001-07:00

red fox, originally uploaded by Champignons.

My new print is about beginning. Fox was there at beginning, after all. And the moon is a beginner too, starting over and over again, every month.

With my small hare print, I returned to my first lino cuts, which I did before I ever thought about selling prints. They were therefore unsullied by the need to make money. That's where I'm going with this new series too, but it should be informed by what I have learnt in the interim (Lots, I should hope)

I've returned to a series of prints of the totem animals, but with more of a use of pattern. My earliest works did not capture any kind of deep meditational experience (they were prints of animals) and the stage after that I struggled to bring that experience into my work. I think that the main problem is the attempt to capture very definitely something very indefinite. I think, though, pattern might be a pleasing way to bring some hidden meanings to light; I certainly think aboriginal shamanic works do.

So, anyway, I've scrapped some of the ideas I've been thinking of working on to work with patterns and animals.

for japan

2011-04-01T02:22:00.001-07:00

for japan, originally uploaded by Champignons.

I did these print a while back, just for funs- I had a new set up (thanks to the awesome Mr Dr C, who built it) and I was trying something simple and fun to try it out

I wasn't intending to sell these, because I usually do mypirnts to standard sizes and these came out wonky so I trimmed them straight which means they are not standard.

But as a dolly enthusiast I feel close connections to Japan and was moved by the response of that community. Therefore, I have decided to sell these and give the proceeds to redcross japan. There are 10, and I will ask for 10 pounds each, so thats 100 pounds for charity.

I'll do the listing in my folsky and my etsy. I do hope she sells!

Love, Valentina*

*the 50's starlet blythe

Illo reverse

2011-02-04T08:58:00.001-08:00

Illo reverse, originally uploaded by Champignons.

One image is the reverse of the other.. one I laid the paper cut on diazo and used it as a negative ... the other I used the paper cut directly to make the imprint. This is the one I like the best. They are old images I know, from last years series of advices.

I've spent sometime this week overhauling my tumblr so please check it out. I said a while ago I wanted a new way to blog, something prettier and more inspiration with stuff from other people.. theoretically I wanted to do it at this blog, but it just wasn't happening. tumblr makes it so easy it is happening, so if you think it's too quiet here, thats where to go. But if you think it's going at the right place.. stay here. These posts will show up on tumblr anyway.

Unusual suspects

2011-02-03T02:02:00.001-08:00

Unusual suspects, originally uploaded by Champignons.

I bought these funny little dolls on a whim, for 8 pounds. Aren't the jolly??
THough I think they might be valuable, someone on blip said they were 'Max und Moritz' and when I searched I found that Kestner made these. I thought maybe they were replicas because they have no marks on them but then Souterby's sold some and the description says there were not markings....

So I don't know what to do about getting them valued. I have never had expensive things before. And it is a good thing? I would sure have to sell them. And then no more jolly fellows for me..

hum.

Illo dusty

2011-01-21T05:52:00.001-08:00

Illo dust , originally uploaded by Champignons.

Nous sommes de la poussière d'étoiles..... we are made of star dust.
A quote I love and a print I just finished this very day! How serendipitous!

The rumours that I am a print artist are true..I am back, and I am at work after an extended christmas break.

I think one of the reasons I have been so immensely crap at keeping my blog updated is dolls. I had one for my christmas present and painting her, dressing her, finding the right eyes and wigs for her.. well it takes time. And I don't have much spare time so the blog fell by the wayside. So it makes sense that my first post and print back should be one of the dolls- this is sleepy Alice, I got her in the summer and she's wonderfully petulant.

I also wanted a new look and feel for my blog; I have my blip http://www.blipfoto.com/champignons for personal stuff and my Deviant Art http://deborahchampion.deviantart.com/ for Doll stuff (it just seems to be the most doll friendly place.. some people don't like them and they can be really rude) so I really just wanted this blog to be more for inspirational beautiful things and my art.

It just I haven't quite put the time into organising that. Or much else. Appart from the doll. Who only needs shoes.. .. she even has a name.

Illo sneaky

2010-11-19T09:02:00.001-08:00

Large moleskines for bigger plans, originally uploaded by Champignons.

I printed these today.. I know that you've seen the extra large and pocket versions, but these are a new size- large.. for the intermediate plotter. Obviously there is something slightly sneaky about plotting global domination.. take the below example:
Boss: Hello! What are you doing?
You: 'Oh.. nothing..' sneakily shutting your journal to obscure the words
'Overthrow boss' written in your journal.
See? Sneaky.
Oh, and great Christmas presents, obviously.

What a difference a year makes.....

2010-10-17T10:41:00.001-07:00

As far as the eye can see, originally uploaded by Champignons.

It was this time last year that I decided I needed a new camera. It was then I decided I wanted to go to places my camera just didn't. I remember taking this photo last year and being so disappointed- by the light, mostly, by the colours.

but also the way the pumpkins curve off to the right in the new version.. so much more visually interesting. The plastic no longer looks ugly- it is a reflective surface that adds interest... and the depth of field...the greenery.. especailly the leaves in the middle.. I just did a much better job framing the shot. I love my canon. And I love this picture.

See more of my pumpkin shots here

I have been away for the summer, mostly concentrating on my photography-which I think has paid off- and painting a few Dolls, though I am back in full force designing my new season of screenprints- everything in the business is going very well, thank-you. More soon x

Illo fearless

2010-05-07T06:24:00.000-07:00

I have been having a stock take this week, and that means clearing out some old prints are arn't really my style any more, since I'm trying to be a bit more cohesive now my prints are generally doing better.

I guess this should be one of them... but I'm not sure I can bare to toss them . It represents a time in my life when things were changing fast and I had to leave my comfy cage I'd created(sticking with the bird metaphor; we all make cages for ourselves, boundaries, it's what minds do) and forge a new path. Which brought both anxiety and freedom. Fearless? not really I suppose but there's a feeling of pushing through the fear here.

Life is very different now and on the whole more wonderful than ever and there are very few bird explosions though I do occasionally have a big clear out to make sure I havn't made myself too comfortable in some other cage. I had a funny anxious day yesterday (I'll blame that on election fever) which felt very odd as I am hardly ever anxious now, so it feels particularly relveaant to be pondering what to do with bird explosions.

I'm working against the clock here as the boy is taking a mysteriously long nap; so this is a bad photo and I will change it later. It's not as bad as the photo in my shop listing, which is horrendous... and could explain poor sales, I suppose.

What should I do? Reduce the price? burn them? give them away to the first 20 replies (ha! Like there would be 20 replies!). I don't know!

2010-05-05T12:44:00.000-07:00

I wasn't sure what picture to post to illustrate someone who has been really, really neglectful. So here are some random magpies... I've devoted quite a lot of energy to printing magpies, but it's paid off as people have bought some, particularly delightfully, my largest ever poster.

I've been working (incredibly slowly) on setting up my photobox shop of photos- the pricing is all in order now, but it still needs prettifying. Let me know if theres any photos you are desperate to buy that should be in there!

I'll try and post a little more ofter henceforth!
oxoxox

brave baby bear

2010-03-05T10:58:00.001-08:00

brave baby bear, originally uploaded by Champignons.

It's easier to be brave when you have a mama bear to look after you!
I drew this for Mr Nut when he was feeling under the weather. He likes bears so I thought it might cheer him up. He's very happy now so I guess it worked.

hearts n minds

2010-02-14T09:00:00.001-08:00

hearts n minds, originally uploaded by Champignons.

Dear Blog readers
Have a Happy Valentines day. Or anti Valentines day, which ever suits you better.
I know I have been quite slack on the blogging front, but I have started makng some new prints.. the books are in my shops now.. prepare yourself for magpie and hares. This season is all about Magpies and Hares in the top design studios.

By which I mean.

Ps I need more X rays. If anyone knows where I can buy some from, let me know x

My old new desk

2010-02-10T05:25:00.001-08:00

My old new desk, originally uploaded by Champignons.

This is just a quick post to see if I can get my blog posts on tumblr via the RSS feed. I've done my flickr that way that makes me feel very clever but I've just accidentally done something bad to my browser which cancels that out. That and the black paint on the white curtains. Anyhoo, I have already blogged my new desk on blip so I won't say more, apart from I have decided this is defiantly not a work desk, it's a super private journalling desk. How extravagant!

My tumblr is here I don't actually post new stuff on it but it is getting feeds from most of my sites in on convenient location so I thought some might prefer that.

Happy Wednesday!

illo mud

2010-02-05T14:17:00.000-08:00

hello!
As you might have notice, I took a pretty light January, work wise. But I have been looking into finding a place to sell photos, just getting the shop set up now. Hopefully this shop will require minimum handling from me. Which is the direction I'mgoing in now, more wholesaling.. much as I love my job, the packing and handling can get too much.

Anyhoo, thought I would getback into the swing of things by spending the evening rubbing a little mud in my journal as I illustrate a muddy rabbit skull I found. Hope thats good enough!

Illo confined

2010-01-08T07:49:00.001-08:00

valenmolie, originally uploaded by Champignons.

Hello! And a belated Happy New Year.
I hope you all had a good festive season, as we did; I did well selling and bought myself a massive new camera. Thus it has to be said that most of my limited free time has been spent in the company of my new toy, which I have taken several shots I like with, and am growing to love.

I've also joined a site called blipfoto where I am endeavouring to put one photo up for every day. It was largey the reason for the new camera.

its funny that the subject was 'confined' as one of my favourite photos would have ticked the bill (that is, ticked the box AND fitted the bill) very nicely but it's a photo and not an illustration and besides it was in the spotlight on blip and flickr explored so just how well exposed should a photograph be?

So I printed up my stock of valenmolies as they also fit the box, and I should have printed them ages ago, but I've been so lazy. And I have set no resolutions to remedy that laziness either!

Hatching love

2009-12-11T07:33:00.001-08:00

127/365 The secret language of eggs- Love, originally uploaded by Champignons.

Where have I been? I have been featured seller on folksy- thanks folksy! - and thus I have been very busy. It's been a funny old year.. I thought it was going to be a lean Christmas, but it turns out most of my customers this year are in the UK rather than the US, so the peak buying frenzy was later than usual. I've bought us a rather good camera with some of the proceeds, happily.

There are two versions of this print.. the hate version I feel is rather funnier (bustard.. twite.. tit.. booby- such comedy in bird names!) but I feel alone and unloved so I will show you these and hope thehatch into something splendid.

levitation

2009-12-03T14:03:00.001-08:00

levitation, originally uploaded by Champignons.

Last on my list of things to do today: write blog.
So here itgoes... I've been super busy and I am absolutely shattered so I might not make any sense. This is a print I made, I really liked it because I used so new techniques to get the texture on the dress and I think it worked well. It also pleases me because I have sold quite a few copies already, and you know how excited i get when I sell a screen print so several in a week is heady stuff.

The irony is that I have had the negative for this kicking around for ages, it was one of the first prints I tried to do. It came out disappointing (inexperience on my part and lack of a good set up) which sort of highlights how much I have come on with my printing.

I think another reason I ignored it so long was that I wasn't sure if the quote (from 'The Picture of Dorian Grey) was truthful, I mean, perhaps the best way to experience reality is the sit really sit; or anyway, most of my dealings with reality come in deep meditation. But then, sometimes in life threatening situations you get that same concentration, and you walk the knife edge. I guess that it what it means.

Anyway,I think I'll be working on some other dress colours and patterns in the future.

more music

2009-11-24T12:22:00.001-08:00

more music, originally uploaded by Champignons.

I don't know if it is illegal or not, but I wanted to do illustration Fridays topic again.. because I have just finished formatting Threads II which I realise is coming a bit late,and by abit I mean..nearly a year, but I have finished it YAY. Lets hope threads 3 doesn't take so long. Also just finished printing my new raven posters.. no pics yet but I'm thinking they look so spiffy I'm stealing one for my wall. Even if in means braving seasonal Ikea to get a frame for it.

Illustration friday, Music

2009-11-20T08:38:00.001-08:00

kindness in lilac, originally uploaded by Champignons.

Here's a little bird singing. It's obvious I would choose bird song for music, since I draw birds, particularly singing ones, a fair bit. This is a screenprint of the papercut below. I printed five of each in lilac, pink, blue and red before the stencil died (which was sort of sad because I was enjoying myself). I think I will make these prints affordable, just because the sweetest music is the truth, and these birds are singing it, and they should be heard!

papercuts don't have to hurt

2009-11-19T13:35:00.001-08:00

papercut, originally uploaded by Champignons.

This is for Cate, just because I was mean about her programme last week, and instead of reacting badly and calling me a poo head she left a very reasonable comment. Clearly Dirtgirlworld has much to redeem it, if not just it's creators are very enthusiastic. And the BBC are promoting it very heavily, so it seems to be doing well, and I am considerably over the age of 2, so I'm sure my opinions are not valid.

Anyway, I'm a rotter, and rotters are their own punishment, they expand energy thinking mean thoughts and scowling which only brings meanness and scowls their way. I'm trying to consciously replace mean thoughts with better ones, lest the birds of truth come to peck at me.

illo unbalanced

2009-11-13T08:51:00.001-08:00

For illo friday, originally uploaded by Champignons.

So people say I'm unbalanced.
But I like a good mushroom explosion, goodf or keeping the mind open.

Andbefore you leave comments about my work being disturbing (which won't earn you any favours, by the way) If you want to see the work of truly unbalanced people, you need only look at children's TV, in particular those aimed at preschoolers. As my baby generates teeth at an alarming rate, he likes nothing better than to snuggle with me and watch 'In the Night Garden*', which I used to think was disturbing, before I saw waybaloo. I also disagree with the though of someone with only 5 neurons teaching my child science (AND her name isn't really Nina!) and there is nothing, nothing to redeem 'dirtgirlworld' which, as far and I can discern, features a freakish being that has a pornstar name and spends a good deal of time talking to an earth worm. And we all know what those look like.

*he has now found both Igglepiggle toys put aside for Christmas. He loves Igglepiggle above all others, emitting a cooing noise when he comes on screen. Note how I have watched enough 'in the night Garden' to know the characters names instead of referring to them as 'blue mutant thing' and 'Mr turd head'

Illustration blur

2009-11-07T02:50:00.001-08:00

101 bird dancing, originally uploaded by Champignons.

Dance, dance fast,become a blur. Or a bird, ascending (if you are lucky)
I painted this a while ago. Its funny, because I was thinking I have finsihed this series now, as I said on my post below, I was thinking of making it into a book, if not just to draw a line under it all.

I was also thinking about style.. people say they like my style, though I am not sure what it is. I seem to work in a vein for a bit, and then change. Growing up, I liked to do detailed, realistic work, and then Ifelt constricted by it; I spent time avoiding detail by cutting lino, and then drawing things that didn't exist..lately I have been experimenting with simple graphic screen prints.. I am not sure I will ever settle down. I worry about it sometimes...It seems commercially you do best if you are consistent... but then if I drew things of a similar vein over and over again I suppose I would worry about that too. Lets face it, I am a flibbertly gibbet.

Illo skinny

2009-10-30T10:05:00.001-07:00

Deers, originally uploaded by Champignons.

Here are some skinny deer I drew today- you can't see thierlegs but I wonder how they support themselves sometimes. Deer are skinny, and so is my wee son who lent me his adorable profile.. I'm not sure if this is the last picture in the series or if I will do more; I'm thinking of making a book for my animal folk pictures. Or maybe a zine. Who knows.

2009-10-21T05:47:00.000-07:00

one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten

I made a treasury on etsy a couple of weeks back, this isn't it. This is just a tribute... although I did take a screengrab, I can't for the life of me remember where I saved it to.. so it is gone, such is the emphemeral nature of these things. Now, when I happened to get a treasury (it doesn't happen often, sowas quite exciting) I wanted to make this; this is a remake of my treasures journal page (below) with some of the mighty cool stuff I see on etsy. However, I realised that if I were to leave 2 spots blank (as they are, either side of the bird skull) I would be beaten. The etsy police would seek me out and beat me. So I made another treasury. But this is my blog and I can do what I like. It will never make front page but my treasuries never do.

Anyway, I spent yesterday- I say yesterday but it was an hour or so while the boy napped- fiddling with my ehive shop, which has prices in pounds for britishers... I was thinking Ihad done really well, but Ihaveonly listed a small fraction of my prints. Very pleasing to the eye, mind. If you care to check it out, it's champignons.myehive.com

illo flying

2009-10-09T13:08:00.001-07:00

For illo flying, originally uploaded by Champignons.

First off let me apologise for last weeks illustration that offended some with its creative interpretation of the theme. I really am very sorry*. This time I chose to take NO RISKS and draw some thing with the theme in its actual name. So it's also revelation to illustration themes concerning butter.Hurrah! I was going to draw a fly but no matter how amazing the feat of tasting poo (or cake, or anything) through your feet is, I don't like the way they look.

*I'm not really that sorry. Mwahhahahahahaha!

Medicine bottles

2009-10-02T07:03:00.001-07:00

bottles, originally uploaded by Champignons.

(For Illo Friday. Being that when we have germs, we take medicine. I state that here, at the beginning, for those folk who criticise before they read, nay instead of reading)

I used to hate watercolour. I'm think it's probably because I'm not very good at it, so I am going to pretend that green bottle is one of those wibble-wobbly handblown ones (it's not) and the paper is adding to the wibbliness (it shouldnt, but probably is) and come to think hard about it, I'm not even sure that medicine is on topic since it's probably disinfectant that is waging a war against germs...but I am sure of this
1) it is the first painting I have done in quite sometime, and I did it today so that must have some merit and
2) these bottles are all pretty dirty and thus must have some germs inherent in them.

The big one looks like it's been dug out of the ground and comes courtesy of my brother- he doesn't know that yet, and he also doesnt know it fits the glass stopper I found on the beach which pleases me tremendously so he's unlikely to get it back.

Here are other unanswered questions I have today today;
Why do baby trousers have pretend flys sewn in (i mean, zippers, not insects)
and if the fly is at the back but I am too lazy to turn them round, am I negligent?
And why is there a spoon in the washing machine?

All most unusual.

Illo pattern

2009-09-26T02:37:00.001-07:00

forgetting beetles , originally uploaded by Champignons.

I had a lot of good ideas for this, but I'm really into beetles at the moment, so I chose this.I also believe it's on of the best things I have done recently, in terms of interest. I'll explain the beetle pattern though, if that's ok.

In the autumn in the forest you see all these beetles -not stag beetles but big ones- crawling about, you even see fox poop that is black and shiney it's so full of beetle wings. So I think of beetles when I think of autumn, and I like autumn and beetles too. And then, wheeling the boy home from our walk on the common, I saw a stag beetle.

So I draw the beetle, quickly because my drawing are often over detailed and thats useful for spotters guide books but sometimes it sucks the life from a drawing. But it was still quite detailed, so I then redrew it from memory again and again over a day or two. So you can see a pattern emerging, eventually some quite important bits drop off thebeetle, like his antennae and his thorax, but he keeps his curly leg... I know the last beetle is no way accurate, but I love him the most. He is not a beetle, but he is what my brain perceives as essence of beetle..

Autumn

2009-09-20T05:53:00.001-07:00

I haven't really got an excuse for my neglect- the summer holidays and their busyness jam packed with relatives and visits have been over a couple of weeks now, which means the summer is faded and glorious. The arrival of summer is a beautiful thing, to warm our chilled bones, but having had summer now, autumn is always good, especially these clear sunny autumn days when you get all the benefits of sun and none of the stickyness of sun cream.

Anyway, to my neglected sketchbook, and the autumn treasures therein. They are things I have drawn in the past, that I have found in my brain and drawn from memory. Brain treasures, if you will. I tend to draw in a detailed way, but sometimes that can squash the life out of a picture. Drawing from memory keeps it to is essentials:

What I am basically trying to say, is I am happy to live in a temperate region, happy when each season arrives. Day to daylife demands so much of us it is easy to get disconnected from nature, unrooted from the earth, to loose sight of little things like these.

illo impatience

2009-08-07T11:29:00.000-07:00

I was thinking I should have done illustration Friday on the week they did 'lazy', because I could just stick a self portrait up- you can tell I have been lazy recently, and it's not like I blogged all the time before! Sadly I was in Middlesbrough that week. Apparently it is legitimate to spell the towns name as 'Middlesboro' though I believe it has earnt its UGH. and that's all I shall say on the matter.

I had a number of Ideas for impatience. But the kids had to win, not justbecause they have no intention of sitting patiently and waiting for dinner, or at any point on a 6 hours journey to a town ending in URG. Or theway back. But also the hurry they are in to grow up. Why? Being grown up is crap, I don't know if its because I'm old or because I have a baby, but my presents all seem to be kitchen equipment these days*- I have to resort to buying my own Mr potatoheads on vague grounds that they are for my son. Who is far to young for them but will probably come of potato age in a couple of months, the way he's growing. He's already taken control of the LaMaze octotunes I bought myself, and that's bitterly unfair.

Anyway, doodle of a little girl. Will try n take a better pic tomorrow, the scanner has turned evil again.

Illo drift

2009-06-19T12:24:00.000-07:00

I have been very much neglectful of my blog recently, I think I have a good enough excuse now. I think my excuse might be teething; at least, his gum is a good deal whiter and pointier than every before. Anyway, to cut to the chase I haven't had much time for Illo Friday-ing, despite having some good ideas for some of the challenges. It's a bit sad, so I went into my archives and dug out a few drift like pictures. I came up with this sketch book page:

The photo (of my niece, dressing herself in seaweed like a swap thing) opens out, so I'm rather afraid you can't see the full paragraph detailing why Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen is an idiot for saying 'there are no straight lines in nature' but let it be know there are, and he is an idiot.

The main sketch is comparing the the natural formation of the Needles with Hurst Castle opposite it. It because the basis for this painting. It's always good to return to ones old sketchbooks in times of drought, I find, one of the reasons I consider maintaining a journal is important to me. Lounging by the sea is also important to me- and swimming in it. Luckily certain toothy monsters agree with me on this point. Anyway, that's the sea, if you get my drift.

Illo parade

2009-05-08T08:53:00.001-07:00

Crafting 365: Maggies pies n shakespeare, originally uploaded by Champignons.

Here we are then, seven magpies. I'm thinking that's almost enough to make a parade, perhaps. I don't know. I was saving this up, thinking, sooner or later this would be and ideal illo for a friday; people would flock to congratulate me on my prompt interpretation and I would feel very smug indeed. However, here is a list of things that have NOT been an illustration friday topic in the last 4 months or so:

sorrow,joy,girl,boy,silver,gold,secrets never to be told.

If any of these come up in the future, I shall be very upset indeed.

But anyway, I like this print- there are two versions of it, and a book- and I have even managed to list it (on etsy, and soon on ehive, which I have recently opened). I'm desperately trying to think of interesting things to say, but I seem to be suffering some kind of severe caffeine withdrawal so you'll just have to imagine something witty is written here

_______________insert funny stuff here______________________

Woooo thankyou

2009-04-24T03:42:00.001-07:00

Vote, originally uploaded by Champignons.

A belated thankyou for anyone that voted for me in the etsy vote- I wasn't expecting any votes so I didn't bother to campaign but look- I appear to have come second! Woo hoo! thank you :D

And I have been lucky enough to be featured in these beautiful blog posts recently too:

stimulatedmind
herlibraryadventures.blogspot.com

check em out, if you haven't

Plus oooooh- it's my 100th blog post!

On more distressing notes, I have not been able to get so much done* (on the computer, anyway) as my monitor seems to have decided that red is a bad colour that it wants noting to do with. If you look in my store you might note that red is a colour of which I am particularly fond, and so not being able to see it impacts my ability to work on the computer somewhat. The screen also has an amazing cyan hue, that has lent an underwater feel to my screen, and given me a strange tic under my left eye. yay

*this is a shame as I really need to make money to pay for the new monitor..

impossible?

2009-04-17T09:58:00.001-07:00

impossible?, originally uploaded by Champignons.

Is it an impossibility? I hope not, though sometimes my faith is shaken. Still, I solider on.
What seems to be impossible to me is that it is Friday already! I feel like I just uploaded my last illo. Perhaps its because of the many distractions I face right now, what with it being Easter holidays and being unable to find a sticker in my development book that say 'first learnt to vomit through the bars of the crib so he doesn't have to lie in the wet patch'. I've had to make do with 'first rolled over*'. ho hum.

You can see the other side of the page here: - and no, I still haven't released threads issue 2, another impossibility...

*in order to chunder on the floor.

illo fleeting

2009-04-10T09:51:00.001-07:00

illo fleeting, originally uploaded by Champignons.

This is mostly a testament to the crows on Southampton common, that flee as soon as you turn a camera on them, no matter how close they come in search of scraps of food. The buggers. This fellow is not a crow; he is a rook that I met at Stonehenge, who had the great advantage of staying still for a few minutes (whilst singing me a song of sorts; while technically lacking, no one has taken the trouble to sing to me before, so I appreciated his squawks none the less).

Anyway, you will notice this picture is unfinished- this is because at the moment, my spare time is fleeting. My little munchkin is keeping me busy, indeed. Happy Friday.

Illo celebrate

2009-02-13T07:57:00.001-08:00

Boys and girls, originally uploaded by Champignons.

One for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl, four for a boy...

Illo friday is celebrate, because someone had a baby. That's something nice to celebrate, I hope to do it myself in the next couple of weeks.. in the meantime, I will be shutting up shops and taking some chill time- another super thing to celebrate, if you ask me.

So these are birth announcement cards. I did them for both sexes in both brown and white (so 4 sets of cards in total). If you haven't guessed, the whole pink/blue thing doesn't wash with me. My sister offered me some grobags if it was a girl (strangely these are not full of cheap compost and you are no allowed to plant your baby and wander off and leave it) and I have to say, they are only going to be worn in bed, they don't have a specific, I don't know, vagina hatch or anything, and boy willies don't drop off if they wear pink (not that I would dress a boy in pink on purpose. Its all about being cheap). Likewise girls don't grow willies if you dress them in blue.

In fact, I'm pretty much sure (or hoping, anyway) babies, when adult, do not remember all the terrible things we accidentally or purposefully do to them blundering our way through their early infancy, and won't even remember the I candy apple designer buggy that cost you 800 quid, though they might wonder why they have no college fund. Ho de hum. Good luck, new parents everywhere.

illo.. climb

2009-01-27T09:09:00.001-08:00

moon-hare thaumotrope, originally uploaded by Champignons.

I was thinking of a song for this topic, It's by the eels and called 'climbing to the moon'. I'm on a bit of a bender at the moment, a thaumatrope bender, in fact, i have pretty much decided to become a thaumatrope artist, and make my millions becoming a leader in a very, very limited field**

Sadly I have been thwarted by a complete lack of interest in thaumatrope-related artwork in the rest of the world; still anything I draw must be twissleable (which is a special word I have made up pertaining to thaumatrope).

So climbing to to moon took me to hares because hares are luntics and we all know that they live in the moon so it was an obvious choice. So I made this little thaumatrope. I hope you like it.

*A thaumatrope is a Victorian toy that had an image painted on each side which combines to produce one image when twissled due to an optical illusion called the persistence of vision. And if that isn't cool enough, Johnny Depp had one in 'Sleepy hollow' and I love him.

**This worked well in my Dphil, where I rapidly because a world expert in measuring radium on ICP-MS, if not only because no one else wanted to do that.

illo pale.

2009-01-16T08:15:00.001-08:00

owlfolk , originally uploaded by Champignons.

Floating through the night.. like a ghost..
though I think that is probably barn owls, not great owls. Then again, his face is pretty pale, which might mean I am ok and not due a illo friday lynching. This is the (hand drawn!) final version of the sketch from 2 weeks ago (here; which goes to show how long it's taking me to get things done these days) opps

Anyway, I hope you like it, and it is sufficinently pale.

Illo contained

2009-01-09T06:42:00.001-08:00

New for valentines- set love free, originally uploaded by Champignons.

I'm so happy I got this done in time for illo friday, it nearly killed me. I know it's printed onto a notebook so some of you won't think it is an illo, but I do, and I hand cut the stencils because I can't use diazo at the moment (the birdcage is an existing photostencil) the quote, from Hamlet, is a rubber stamp I love. Don't keep yourself contained; set love free.

Available in my etsy store for Valentines, also available in black.

I think this week has been a record for blogging. So I've run out of things to say. No, actually I would like to say I have occasion to go into Boots pharmacy and every time they have been appallingly rude, unhelpful and incompetent. Not one person, the whole staff. I urge you to support your local pharmacy, or Lloyds, who were very nice to me.

2009-01-07T10:56:00.000-08:00

So, celebrating the return to normality yet sort of sad at taking down my favourite decorations - including the most awesome card ever from my friend julia and little bells that jingled delightfully thus making tripping over the tree fun. They also have the advantage of being made of metal, which is good if you happen to send the beloved up into the attic to find your baubles and half an hour later, popping upstairs to find youself uttering 'um, you can stop looking now, they are actually in this box you hurled down earlier. Which now rattles. like shattered glass'

It remains to be said that my neighbour, who spent the duration of advent stapling every plastic monstrously ugly decoration to the outside of their house, does not share the belief that the time for christmas decorations is over. It's like living next to a neon insideout poundland, though by midjuly it has usually eroded to just onestring of lights.

Expect more screen printing from me shortly.

illo resolve

2009-01-06T10:26:00.001-08:00

owlfolk , originally uploaded by Champignons.

I normally start the year filled with resolve, but that is mostly because Resolve is a pretty good hangover cure, and, not being able to drink this year, it wasn't really necessary.

The closest I have to a resolution is my determination to learn how to use both photoshop elements (or, elephants, as I prefer) and my new wacom tablet I bought as my christmas treat. I have got a book out of the library. I have suffered through 7 very boring lessons as I attempt to work through it chronologically, and have learnt nothing I really want to because all the good lessons are at the back. Still, I persevere.

This is the best I can do so far- just a sketch for a drawing I intend to do, saves on paper anyhow. I'm sure that the owl is a bird full of resolve, in fact, I saw a barn owl floating about ghost-like in the twilight on the day after I drew this.

illo voices

2008-12-22T07:27:00.001-08:00

365 Poor leonard cohen, originally uploaded by Champignons.

well, this is later than usual, and I don't know why because i could have had it up on friday. A combination of laziness, busyness and living in a country that appears to be in perpetual darkness (as you can probably tell from the photo).

I chose this picture because birds have voices, being singers, and so does Leonard Cohen, who wrote the song 'Bird on a Wire' and also, incidentally, Hallelujah, which has apparently been butchered by an X-factor contestant. I couldn't possibly comment on this, as, though I was at a friends house while the X factor final was on, we did force her to turn the sound off as a condition of us staying in the house. I still haven't heard it, though there were some tricky moments shopping today but luckily just the delightful Buckley version.

Illo rambunctious

2008-12-12T08:16:00.001-08:00

Songbird molies, originally uploaded by Champignons.

Boisterous and disorderly. That's what it means. Much like little starlings and such gathering a dusk* I would imagine, though these little birdies are probably too orderly (busy forming Mozart's requiem) to be truly rambunctious but they are what I made today.

On the theme of rambunciousness, i went into Woolworth today (that's a shop that's gone bankrupt and is selling everything off at 20% off even though the signs say up to 50% off) and it looked like it had been stripped back by a pack of marauding, giant ants. Luckily I got my discounted playdough 'operation' some weeks before at a considerably greater discount than 20%, and that's all I could ask for. RIP woolies.

PS, thank you so very much those who left wreath comments and especially those that have made their own wreath. Well done you. Gratitude also goes to Apryl for acknowledging my quotation genius-ness- I don't know why I am passed over by everyone when I am so clearly brilliant and witty either.

PPS in the bottom right hand corner of the music in the background of this photo reads 'My brain is surely going'. This is very pertinent to my mental condition, certainly.

*not that I'm sure we have dusk today; I'm not sure the sun has risen at all, to be honest.

It's a wrap!

2008-12-11T08:48:00.001-08:00

notebooks, originally uploaded by Champignons.

Well, here I am, celebrating the end of international orders... not to be ungrateful (I'm not, honest. I am constantly delighted by the thought of so many notebooks, gift wrapped and under trees, waiting for their new owner to fill them full of evil plans) but as I have previously explained, all this work has been impinging on my previously lazy life style, so I need a little rest.

Never the less, since I sold out of moleskines and my suppliers have all been infected by a terrible virus that causes them to send random artefacts (if anything) by the worse couriers available, I have taken matter into my own hands for those who desperately need a Global Domination notebook for Christmas (and live in the UK). They are in my etsy shop.

Those wishing to live dangerously- I may well have the mole-stock by Monday. Or perhaps some kippers delivered by a madman. Who knows?

On the plus side, my courier strife caused me to say something I thought quite funny, but was sadly bypast by the world, so I shall chronicle it here for the disposal of the future editors of those books of quotations:

'Yes, all couriers are pants, but the home delivery network has skidmarks'

Fa lalalalala! la la la LA.

2008-12-07T08:01:00.000-08:00

Now that it is the season to deck the halls with prickly things, I decided to take a break from being unusually busy and take some time out to make stuff I won't sell. Possibly because there is not a living mortal that would pay cash for it, but I do not care; the important thing is a have a wreath, and my wreath cost me nothing.

I was largely inspired by the door on my new house. Firstly, my Door is red. Secondly, there is a nail, crying out for a wreath. Thirdly, those who know me understand that I have a slight tendancy towards making ivy wreaths to adorn my head during certain festivals of pyromania. Those that don't realsie that, might want to look here:

Anyway, since I'm not going to wear this wreath on my head, it has to be a good deal sturdier. I took the liberty of making a little photo tutorial, to pretend there might be someone out there that cares how I make wreaths. And here it is:

As you can see, it's quite a scant tutorial. That's because I expected a disaster. But, as my very first tutorial, it will suffice. The implements you need are: Secateurs (or sturdy scissors), some woodland to thieve from, and a small piece of string.

Step 1) These are raw materials I collected on walks in the New Forest and Winchester
Ivy
Holly boughs
birch twigs

Step 2)I got two large birch twigs and twined them together to make a hoop.Then Twissled a few more in to strengthen it. You might have to soak the birch twigs to get them bendy enough if it's not damp out.

Step 3)I Got some long lengths of ivy and twisted them around too for extra measure. It was quite study at this point. Normally I just make wreaths using ivy but this creation is gonna be bomb proof- hence the birch. I've dropped it a couple of times already so it has to be. The result is a scanty hoop thing.

Step 4)Got some holly sprigs and stabbed them into the hoopy bit. Mostly stabbed them into my hand, mind (note to self: wear gloves next time).

Stabbed in some pretty ivy leaves, ivy flowers and rose hips. Should look quite full now.

Added a dangling hoop using natural twine (the only shop bought thing involved)

Step 5) Hung it on the door for the amusement of my postman. Because it is very prickly, and totally eclipses the door knocker.

The important thing to remember it was totally, completely FREE.

Illo similar

2008-12-05T08:06:00.001-08:00

73/365 Finished hares, originally uploaded by Champignons.

..But not the same!
I have this as a print. it's sold so I should be printing it out now, ready to relist. I'm not, because I'm lazy. I should also be making hare brooches that I sell using the design, which are also sold out. Clearly I am not doing this- but is it my fault if friends lure me away with cake or pizza and bill murray films?

Clearly it is not.

And, I have been working rather a lot harder than is just and right for a very lazy person; as I mention in the post below, this delights me, and the car fund is looking bounteous indeed; the person that I am working so hard for is kicking me in the ribs, though- the ingrate.

Decemberisms

2008-12-03T08:53:00.001-08:00

365 Ball printing., originally uploaded by Champignons.

Here is a picture of some screenprinting, in action. If you click on it, it will take you to my flickr account, where there are some important notes on the equipment required for printing balls on fabric. It is a ruse to trick you into thinking this is a fun, informative and important blog post. Not gibberish.

I have been neglecting my 14 (alleged) readers terribly in the run up to Christmas. The reason, which is very confusing, is people keep buying things from my shop, and that means that I am very busy. Though I thought I would take the time to stop by and say (in case anyone is reading) that I am very happy and love to read all the lovely comments you leave on my flickr, blog and etsy sales messages even if I don't have time to reply to them. And you are helping us to buy a new(er)car, which is awesome.

The other important thing I had to say is this:
I decided to take time out yesterday to print up a new design for a project bag I had for holding my ball of wools whilst knitting. As the perceptive might see from the photo, I liked to call these bags
'Ball Bags'
and to my everlasting delight, immediately after completing this task, I sold something to a person that lived in a place called COXSACKIE. How wonderful is that? I hope people that live in the aforementioned place don't think badly of me for mentioning this, it's just the level my mind works at. Otherwise I wouldn't have been making ballbags in the first place now, would I?

opinions

2008-11-22T02:57:00.001-08:00

flights, originally uploaded by Champignons.

this is interesting, because just the other night, whilst eating pizza and watching Bill Murray films,, my friend and I were discussing opinions. They are all well and good, but if you hold onto one a bit too firmly, you can end up a bit close minded.

Obviously taken to the extreme you could end an extremist bigot. Therefore it's probably a good thing to regularly review our thoughts on matters, to free our mental prisons on unnecessary ideas. well, thats my opinion, anyway.

Hope you like the screenprint. It's available in all my internet shops (folksy,ehive, etsy- I'm champignons in all), and also printed on notebooks and sketchbooks too.

Illo pretend

2008-11-14T14:40:00.001-08:00

Illo pretend, originally uploaded by Champignons.

pretend.
it's all better.
You are ok.

Super busy this week- didn't even get last weeks done, and I had a good Idea too. Just finished this. Being busy isa bit of a pain as I have a super new project i'm working on ... want a sneaky preview? Look here. It's a bit empty tho'
http://champignons.myehive.com
byee :D

Autumnal mosaic

2008-11-06T09:02:00.001-08:00

Autumnal mosaic, originally uploaded by Champignons.

What have I been up to? Saying it in pictures:
buying cheap paint I don't need
Drinking soup from the lustral mug
Finding small frosty buddhas in wales
Watching my ginko progress from green to leafless (by way of yellow)
More welsh frost (my, they had lots of it)
Taking the munkies out to exbury gardens
Eating cape gooseberries
Kicking up leaves (or, turds, as my mother would warn me)
knitting a pointy hat.

All important autumnal activities, I think you will agree...

illo late

2008-10-17T11:53:00.001-07:00

illolate, originally uploaded by Champignons.

This is the bug that made Illustration friday late. They were right about the hairy legs; check em out.

This weeks interesting fact is that it is impossible to draw a manic spider without assuming a manic grin and muttering 'whehehhheeeeeeeeeeeeee' or maybe shouting it.

This drawing will be in threads issue two.. but that's not out until I complete another 6 drawings. Thanks for all the support shown for threads one though.

illo strings

2008-10-10T04:47:00.001-07:00

I can't help but think that this weeks topic is fortuitous, as this week I released a little zine called 'Threads' which is basically illustrations devoted to string. So I had lots of choices to make. I don't want to show you all of them though, because I really would like the very small sum of one pound (or 2 dollars) plus postage. It's available in my store..

illo sweet

2008-10-03T06:27:00.001-07:00

illo sweet, originally uploaded by Champignons.

last month it was all about battenburg- mostly the sweet sweet marzipan. This month it's all aboutchoclit puddin' tho, battenburg makes me feel sick now.

My better half informs me that this cake has regional signficant since lord Mountbatten lives in Romsey, and he changed his name from Battenburg, and it related to the original cake making battenburgs.

As another interesting fact, since I know you are desperate to know, the mini battenburgs do not have the same marzipan (it's not as nice) and they white not YELLOW cake. I asked a friend why and she claimed it must be to do with the 'no artificial flavourings' but then how come it still has the pink, Mr kipling?? hum??

Last fact, my spell checker recognises Mountbatten as a name, but not Battenburg. Maybe it doesn't like Germans?

illo packed

2008-09-26T07:50:00.001-07:00

illo conkers, originally uploaded by Champignons.

Ok I have finished this picture (well, it's a journal page, and I haven't written in it, but that's probably a good thing and no one should see the innermost workings of my mind) but here are some conkers, to remind you of childhoods unpacking them from their spiky casing to find the biggest shiniest conker for playground domination (after coating it in epoxy resin, or vinegar, if you do not have a chemist fro a father)

illo crow

2008-09-19T07:57:00.001-07:00

crow, originally uploaded by Champignons.

clique is a word with not much scope; it have one meaning and that is largely to do with teenage girls.It's a word that come from the french for 'to make a noise' the connection to me seems largely foggy but on contemplating it further i have decided it must somehow relate to those flocks of birds that congregate, squabbling and squarking, and fighting with neighbouring flocks of birds, on playgrounds and parks around the city.

It makes sense, no?

Anyway, happy friday.

Things about me

2008-09-16T13:18:00.001-07:00

365 conkers, originally uploaded by Champignons.

I think I got tagged somewhere along the line. Actually, I know, factually, I have been tagged, and tagged about 60 thousand times, tagged to display some interesting facts about me. Here are some facts.

1) I am not very good at doing posts responding to tagging

2) I was possessed of the sudden urge to paint conkers this week.

3) I have to admit that the main reason I am interested in conkers is my current love of marzipan.

4) In case you are not quite grasping the conker/marzipan relationship, when I was in Switzerland at the end of the summer, there was this amazing chocolate shop, and one of the things they sold was a chocolate conker surrounded by a spiky green marzipan conkercase. It was very realistic, but much more delicious.

Every time I see one of these I'm thinking about marzipan.

5) That was the same conference that i achieved the academic highs of persuading one of the worlds leading oceanographers to cheat at a game I liked to call 'cheese hurling' so I won. We also made some other noted academics sing the song 'take a chance on me' by ABBA.

6) I end my facts of intrestingness with some words of advice I have discovered for myself this very day: Ask paypal a simple question and they will give you a simple answer. Sadly this answer will have absolutely no relevance to the actual question you asked,so you might as well not bother.

There you go. I consider my tagging duty complete and anyone that wishes to be tagged can consider themselves tagged.

illo memory

2008-08-29T09:24:00.001-07:00

32shadesofwhite, originally uploaded by Champignons.

hello!
I have returned from my extensive session of holidaying and avoiding work, I know no one missed me but here is my latest. I think she has memories of being able to fly.

illo friday

2008-07-18T08:18:00.001-07:00

illo friday, originally uploaded by Champignons.

too ill today to complete the illo. I've had enough!

illo foggy

2008-07-11T08:59:00.001-07:00

watercolour trees, originally uploaded by Champignons.

misty trees- a little watercolour for you. Are you pleased to see me back, Illo fridayers?

Plenty of mist and fog about this week what with all the rain we are having!

Today I celebrated the milestone of 100 sales in my new shop- though it was 106 actually as I had a bit of a good night. HOORAY.

Sew awesome

2008-07-08T07:06:00.001-07:00

My creation, originally uploaded by Champignons.

So, here I am back of FULL power with my internet all that working at warp factor. Now, I suspect that you want to what I have been up to while I been unable to unload pictures. Well, here is a post for you.

Since I got my lovely sewing machine, I decided to learn to sew, in particular nice square (ish) pouches. I did one with m'noggin, and then another birdcage one, which has birds on the back so in theory you can spin it. Like a thaumatrope. After making about 10 million or so of these, I tired of these merely one dimensional pockets and so branched into a whole new dimension and sewed a CUBE. This has a different bird theme on each side and I only made one but witness the glory!

It's quite roomy too so you can stash you underwear in there or other secret thing- perhaps, if you are a munkie, a secret supply of siansburys felt bananas.... yes, while I was on the subject of awesome sewing, I spied the perfect opportunity to harp on about these lovely goodies from sian, because she is obviously much better at it than me. You only have to check out the amazing realistic detail on the felt crisps to recognise that. And they do my munkie happy, yes they do.

bunny fluff stuff

2008-06-20T02:20:00.001-07:00

bunny fluff stuff, originally uploaded by Champignons.

My patience with BT is wearing thin. well, actually It wore thin 2 weeks ago but let us note that the 19th (the alotted connection date) has passed and I still have no internet connection. My poor little shop is suffering and I want to apologise sincerely to any customers this has affected.

This little ... huge.. package from bunny of bunny.etsy.com has cheered me up a lot, so many awesome birthday/housewarming presents! and I forgot the supercute champignons notepaper in the picture because I moved it to a special location.

BT. It's like they don't want your custom.

Library notes.

2008-06-16T02:07:00.001-07:00

present from askey., originally uploaded by Champignons.

I can't remember how long I have been without internet now, but it's a jolly long time. I'm thinking I should have marked the days off on a stick in a manner like Robinson Cruesoe, which would probably reveal it is actually only just over a week.

This charming little fellow was a gift from the lovely Askey (http://askey.etsy.com) though I believe he was originally created by kitlane.etsy.com. He's a little felted buttgnome pod fella, who's looking particuarly fetching amongst the lithops on my new windowledge. I've not owned anything needle felted before so I was sort of infatuated at his squishyness. Luckily needle felting holds its shape far better than I even imagined....

I can't upload, so no Illo friday this week.
Also, I used to remeber libraries as being really quiet places, and librarians as unable to issue any sounds other than ferocious hisses like some kind of bookish adder.

Libraries are really noisy now. It's not just people talking and ipods set at rock concert level- infact It mostly the librarian herself that seems to talk to everyone (at length) like Dom Joly shouting down a massive telephone.

Other pertinent facts are that there are only 6 computers, and each session is an hour long. I got here 15 miniutes before the library opened to get on a computer because otherwise you have to sit around in an informal queue while your will to use the computers is eroded by the sheer amount of nose picking that's going on.

Strangly, the two day migraine that I had (after awaking from a nightmare about 70's food) has waned (perhaps caused by a pressure build up due to inability to broadcast my thoughts to an imagined internet audience?). I also know the location of the librarians grandmother.

illo forgotton

2008-06-07T05:22:00.001-07:00

So here is a reminder, in case you have forgotten:
The good news is, I have moved house, and my new house is really ace. I'm assuming that most houses are really ace compared to the flat I used to live in, but it's great. The bad news is the plonker that lived there before didn't tell thier service provider they were leaving, so we can't get broadband till the 19th. NINETEENTH. NO. INTERNET.

I knew before I was a terrible internet junkie, but i was hoping never to have to face that addiction. Now I am living a life of stealing precious moments with computers in libraries and friends houses.

I hope I can still maintain some kind of service to my etsy shop till I can again spend hours ruining my eye sight. Till then I shall use all the many spare hours of the day gloating about my new house.

illo babies

2008-05-30T06:15:00.001-07:00

crafting, 365, journal, originally uploaded by Champignons.

Rabbits. They have a lot of babies. Good at multiplying, though weak in other mathematical areas. I think we have managed to sort out the house now, we are busy cramming things in boxes in hopeful anticipation of signing something on monday.

flickr explore

2008-05-25T06:47:00.001-07:00

spt , originally uploaded by Champignons.

So, this is the photo I said got into Flickr explore. The best I saw it at was number 4, which meant it was surrounded by some pretty awesome photos, and also I have a large volume of flickr mail and some of the best comments ever (my member is my hearts, for one. What does it mean.. who knows?). Anyway, I'm thinking of popping a print in my etsy store. I'm not sure, because I have never sold photography before.

So, thanks for the comments and faves. I've also got some pretty awesome photomanips from miss-bunny, so I will update this post after I've checked it's ok to include them

You will be relieved to hear that I have *did* receive some birthday mail yesterday (my birthday is on Monday, a postless bank holiday) - I thought there was a pretty poor show, but it transpires that there was a sufficient amount of packages to warrant at separate parcel delivery. Hurrah!

illo worry

2008-05-23T06:09:00.001-07:00

163/365 mind divided, originally uploaded by Champignons.

This is a journal page- the top phrenology head is the one I drew, and I recommend that you don't draw a self portrait of yourself without the top of you head as that is in fact a source of worry. Anyway, I printed it up as a screen print today, it looks good (i think)

So, I've had a bit of worry this week, trying to sort out a new house to move into (it had been available for a month, you would have thoughtt the letting agents would be a bit more eager to return calls and take the deposit) and also 'I have no income' presumably because I am self employed and work for moonbeams and stardust instead of real hard cash. I'm thinking that the fact my beloved earns a good deal should be enough to satisfy thier worries- we never had a problem when we said I was a housewife, so I think its the fact that I dare to call my self employed while swanning are drawing and sunning myself that makes me morally reprehensible and untrustworthy.

On the whole, I feel similarly towards letting agents.

I've also had a couple of bits of good news this week- a feature on etsy finds AND a photo at number 5 flickr explore. WooHoo. I'll do a separate post about those later.

illo wide

2008-05-16T07:14:00.000-07:00

A wide open mind- do you have days when you feel like that? A new perspective. A bird explosion has broadened your horizons... a breath of fresh air in a stuffy head.

Well, I am not doing very well on the blogging more than once a week front (maybe because people only seem to read the Friday posts?) but the new fangled ability for blogger to post INTO THE FUTURE leaves me feeling this might happen soon. Though sadly I still have to write the blog posts. Blogger technology does not allow me to download what I want to say instantly from my brain yet, which is slightly disappointing.

The sewing machine eventually arrived on Saturday morning, in case you are wondering (I doubt you are) and was delivered by a very strange man demanding drugs. It transpired he thought I was a medical doctor because of the address label, but not even medical doctors are allowed to give speed to random delivery guys (and judging by the rate of his speech, he really didn't need it either)

ho hum!

Illo electricity

2008-05-09T05:58:00.001-07:00

122/365 celebrated musicians, originally uploaded by Champignons.

I used to know why birds on wires didn't get elecrocuted.. I still would, but I don't really care; pondering about such things is more important than actually knowing the answers.

It's sunny today but I am waiting for my sewing machine to be delivered. I'm not sure if it will, or if I'm meant to collect it (due to ambiguous delivery notes)

And I haven't had a nice shower all week- and I really want to so I am perpetually covered in gallons of suncream I would like to wash off . Ourboiler is broken, so I went swimming- their boiler was broken too. and today the boiler at the swimming pool was fixed, but they had no water pressure, so the showers are a piffling piddle and I declare this week stinky-or-cold-piddling-shower-week.

illo friday

2008-05-02T08:00:00.001-07:00

paper eggs, originally uploaded by Champignons.

Eggs
they are like seeds that grow birds.

I planted some more seeds today- luffa, patty pan squash, lettuce and rocket. Yum (appart from the luffa)

Anyway, small things, that grow bigger things.

May day! May day! Bird explosions!

2008-05-01T12:15:00.001-07:00

365 30 bird explosions, originally uploaded by Champignons.

Happy May!
I like May. Lots of holidays (not that effects my working schedule any more) my birthday, longer days, Wickerman burning, general springtime shenanigans...

I printed 30 of these today- there's 3 colours (plus a red stamp) so that's 90 pulls- but worth it I think. I have trimmed them square now, they are spiffy.

I also planted some seeds- tomatillo and huckleberry.

the archeology of flight

2008-04-19T03:05:00.001-07:00

the archeology of flight, originally uploaded by Champignons.

I didn't get an my email for illo friday yesterday, and I forgot it was friday. Which is a shame, because i have finished this and I think it fits the theme nicely. oh well. It's nearly the end of the holidays and I will soon be able to get back to working on some new prints and such., especially since I have my new hinge clamps so I can (hopefully) do multicolour printing and such... Hurrah!

Some news

2008-04-12T10:30:00.001-07:00

New buisness cards, originally uploaded by Champignons.

Illustration Friday was 'fail' this week. I couldn't do it, so I guess I failed. I was just too happy and jolly. Anyway, I got married (in secret, yes) so note the name change people. Woo. You can look at my business cards while you bear witness to me failing.

Here's a screenprint that went wrong yesterday. It's on yellow because I used scrap paper cos I had a feeling that was gonna happen..the others are on a nice blue paper. I don't know why this one failed!it also failed to upload first time!

Illo save

2008-04-04T06:57:00.001-07:00

100 blue girl, originally uploaded by Champignons.

This one was the next in the series of the bird explosion I posted a while back. I meant to post them all together but I never got round to it. she looks like she wants saving, but I reckon she'' have to do it herself. Though maybe one of those birds is actually superman??

Inside my head...

2008-04-02T12:51:00.000-07:00

You know I have opened a new sensible shop with a sensible name to prove how very sensible and sober and business like I am- but all I have proven is I am really not a sensible person. Quite silly, in fact.

First I have the slightly sweary birds eggs, now I have the slightly zombified brain. Mmmmmmmmm it does look delicious though, no?

So this is me yesterday proofing my brains (and some Shakespeare words). I'm thinking that brains look pretty nice in sepia so there will be some super sensible brown brains too. I haven't yet decided what the nature of these brain or what they will be doing/saying yet, so there's plenty of room for it degenerating into sillyness. You know me.

This is the final sneaky peek of the night- some half finished extra large moleskines. These are HUoooooooooGE and they have a brain on the front. What's not to love?

Illo homage

2008-03-28T06:56:00.001-07:00

mozart bird, originally uploaded by Champignons.

Is the bird singing a homage to Mozart?
Or did Mozart make homage to those original choristers, the birds?

This little guy is a chiffchaff. The page I drew him on was a biography of Mozart- sensible biographies state Mozart died of Rheumatic fever, though this one is rather romantic and states that he died because he thought the Requiem he was writing was his own.

I was so taken with this guy I scanned him in and made a screenprint of him!Look!

The secret language of eggs

2008-03-21T09:30:00.000-07:00

Illustration friday is pet peeves today. I don't think I like it! how peevish of me.

I think it offends me because it has two words, or expects me to illustrate things that annoy me, which I would rather not dwell on. Lest I become irritated, and send this lovely screenprint to the person that it irritating me!

But, lest you think I am a horrible person for discretly swearing at you in egg form, allow me to express my love also to end on a more positive note:

Illo heavy

2008-03-14T07:08:00.001-07:00

111/365 why don't you love me?, originally uploaded by Champignons.

You think of heavy as a big weight; in this case, the big weight is depression. Life itself is heavy sometimes.

Illo garden

2008-03-07T07:39:00.001-08:00

61/365 turdus, originally uploaded by Champignons.

I don't have a garden, it's really more a patch of concrete, which to be honest is a patch of concrete more that I was expecting so it does make me happy. Still, not having a garden to inspire me, I thought I might appease you with this fellow, a most ubiquitous garden bird.

Singing his heart out, he is

I have been adding new items to my new shop; perhaps you could pootle along to http://champignons.etsy.com and give me a heart? I do need them!

happy friday!

illo leap

2008-02-29T05:29:00.001-08:00

115/365 walkingtheline, originally uploaded by Champignons.

Happy leap year/proposing for the ladies!
I am going away for the weekend but my illoannouce arrived just it time- I didn't draw this today though, but very recently and you ought to carry a small umbrella while leaping about. Because you can drift down to safety with an umbrella, I saw it on 'Mary Poppins' so It must be true!

Things are beginning to change round here once more. I feel the need for a change- the blog renovations continue, and other than that I shall remain a lady of mystery!

illo multiple

2008-02-22T07:33:00.001-08:00

77/365 yewberry matryoshka, originally uploaded by TheDevilsWallpaper.

I was just making this into a bookmark when I go my illomail so it's on my brain. I'm thinking profound thought about everettian many worlds theories too. Or maybe they aren't profound, you won't know because I not going to tell you the details, only the feeling that there are multiple worlds, and perhaps some of them are inside me in the manner of a russian doll.

I never promised you sanity.

Dolls, brooches, prints and later bookmarks with this on are in my etsy shop. All proceeds to go towards my dentist bill, which has left me with mouthache and a generally stinky mood.

illo theory

2008-02-15T06:43:00.001-08:00

badger-skull-dancer (3/365), originally uploaded by TheDevilsWallpaper.

I was never a theoretician- I was an experimental scientist, but even with experiments, you are usualy trying to prove or disprove some theory, and you need to take good notes. Before starting work on a project, It often starts out in my journal, with notes. You might call it the theory behind the painting. This is one of the pages of the thoughts behind my skull dancer series.

Illo choose

2008-02-08T07:08:00.001-08:00

bird explosion, originally uploaded by TheDevilsWallpaper.

She is anxious about the bird explosion
She is happy about the bird explosion

You choose.

I just finished this and I like it!

Things to make you feel good

2008-02-07T12:27:00.001-08:00

art notebooks , originally uploaded by TheDevilsWallpaper.

The astute will have noticed that my web page is currently directed towards this, my blog- this is because the host I was using were not being very helpful (urgent help came within about 2 weeks,and wasn't technically help, as it wasn't helpful at all).

I quite like it this way, because lots of people stop by my blog, which makes posting here see somewhat less futile. Even if this is because they mostly seem to be falsely lured here by google on a quest for desktop wallpapers of some sort (mostly devils wallpaper, which I think is probably some kind of sporting team, anyway, they are very popular and ought to provide their fans with more wallpaper )

Anyway, dear devils fans, this is what I have been doing: recycling my duff art prints (the one that I decided were to faded, or came out too big, or cropped wrong) into little notebooks. Arn't they precious? Each is one of a kind, portable, useful art. Sure to inspire you on the bus or while you are about your tedious everyday chores.

Particularly as I found the phase 'the virgin mary in a slice of bread' whist clearing up after paper cutting...

Illo blanket

2008-02-01T07:47:00.001-08:00

72/365 doe, A deer, originally uploaded by TheDevilsWallpaper.

A blanket of snow...it was supposed to be snowing here, but it didn't so they changed the weather forcast to sunshine. Then I went to the post office.. to give you a clue about the lenght of the queue, by the time I got out, it was attempting to snow, but realy only managed a sort of heavy rain..print available here. Badgers and miniprints will also be available but they are sold out right now.

Renovations on the blog continue- mostly thanks to kala and coldcell from etsy for their magnificent coding help :D