One project finished!

I know it's 11 months too early but I finally finished the Christmas book I've been doing over the last month. I couldn't resist posting one spread from the book (not sure if I'm allowed too- oops!) Now I'm straight into my next commission which is a book for children who are being adopted or fostered for the British Association for Adopting and Fostering. It's a book with a strong message and it's nice to work on something a bit more serious. Not that I mind what type of children's book I'm illustrating- as long as I have work I'm happy.

Unazukin

Meet my new friend! She is an unazukin, the latest japanese craze. If you've never heard of unazukins before, let me tell you about them. A cute, colourful, yes/no doll. Ask her a question and she nods her head once for "yes", twice for "definitely yes" or shakes her head once for "no" and twice for "definitely no." On the packaging it says unazukin is your special friend who loves to listen to your stories and questions!
Anyway, I love her and, if you've read my '6 weird things' below, you will already know I'm mad about japanese stuff. Seeing as I've been working so hard I thought I deserved a treat.

6 weird things about me

I've been tagged by Joanna and am going to share 6 weird things about me. Not sure how weird they are really. If I've tagged you then I hope you don't mind. Just write 6 weird things about you on your blog and then tag 6 new people, letting them know on their blog that you've tagged them and direct them to your blog for instructions.

These are a selection of my weird things (I'm sure there are many more!)

1. I love all animals but especially dogs. I haven't actually got one myself and would love one but I live in a rented flat and it wouldn't be fair on the dog or my landlord. I'm amazed by how intelligent dogs are and am fascinated by guide dogs! Yes, I am odd.

2. I'm crazy about Japan and all things Japanese. This started when I read Memoirs of a Geisha about 5 years ago (before it was made into a film). I love it and it is still my favourite book. There is a shop in York called the Japanese Shop and I love going there. I have origami paper, a japanese bookmark with a lovely girl in a kimono on it, Japanese badges, a lucky cat, books, a momiji doll and a wooden Kokeshi doll. I would love to go to Tokyo and would spend an absolute fortune there.

3. I press the snooze alarm on my alarm clock too much. It goes off every 10 minutes and my record is 2 hours of 'snoozing' on a Saturday morning. Often I'm so tired I don't know I'm doing it. My boyfriend really appreciates it (ahem.)

4. My septum is wonky and as a result I can only breathe properly out of my left nostril. I need to have an operation for this but am scared.

5. I laugh at my own jokes. Often nobody else is laughing.

6. I don't like bananas when they turn too yellow- they make me feel sick. I much prefer the green ones.

I have tagged Ladysnail, Crafty Old thing, Emm@, Natural Attrill, Lucy in Stitches and Moopy and Me.

A little break

Happy New Year and hope everyone had a nice Christmas. A bit late, I know, but I've been working so much. I'm going to be working very hard until the end of February- I'm not complaining as I know it could all stop as quickly as it started- but 7 day weeks do take their toll. SO I've just booked a little weekend break in the Yorkshire Dales for me and my boyfriend in March as a nice treat to look forward to after all this hard slog! Can't wait!

*Merry Christmas*

I've not posted for quite a while as I've just been so busy with work! Also, can't really show you any work as it's not been published yet. I'm going to have Christmas Day off and if I work extra hard I may have a few other days spare. Just to wish you all a Merry Christmas- hope the elves get you what you've asked for!

Zzzz

I am SO tired! I haven't posted for a while as I've been working 7 days a week. I'm working on two different projects at the moment and there's so much to do I can't give myself a day off. I'm very glad to have illustration work and am enjoying the commissions I'm working on but I do feel tired. I'm not really sure of when I last had a weekend off and I may not have one until the end of January. I've decided at 8pm on a Saturday night I am going to stop for the day. I really should go on until 9 or 10pm but I work badly when I'm tired and hopefully I'll be more productive tomorrow if I have an early night. Goodnight.

Follow your dreams

After four and a half years of trying to make it as an illustrator I finally feel that I'm getting there. To anyone else who is struggling to get work- keep going, you will get there!
Over the years I've had many part time jobs including a horrible one at a call centre. I found it hard to fully concentrate on my goal to illustrate full time. I had a few commissions here and there but not very often. I got down because I didn't like the part time job and thought I wouldn't ever get any work. Family and friends suggested I look for a job that was art-related (their way of gently saying maybe I should give up!) I felt angry that they couldn't understand that the ONLY thing I wanted to do was be a children's illustrator. No other job would satisfy me or make me happy.
At the end of March this year I was lucky to be able to give up my call centre job and try to get work full time. My good friend Mike sorted my website out for me and I set about promoting myself like crazy. I got a few jobs but it hasn't been until this month that I've had several commissions through and am starting to feel more secure and positive about the future.
In the past I've wanted to give up so many times and thought it was all so pointless. It's been a struggle. I've developed several styles, taken a lot of criticism and had so many commissions lined up that fell through at the last minute. So often it would've been easier to give up. I'm so glad I didn't.
To anybody in this position- KEEP GOING! I know it's easy for other people to say but if you stick at it and do everything you possibly can then you will succeed. Good luck!