Button Tree Christening Present

Okay so I just spent ages typing out a post about this on my phone and it hasn't saved! So, suffice to say, it's a button Tree, I made it for Alexander for his christening!

Baby Update

Thought it was about time I posted an update on Alexander aka my inspiration. So here he is. Snug in his new hat ready for winter...

Amanda & Son - Making thank you cards

Alexander and I have been making thank you cards to give to people who bought him christening presents but who don't have Facebook/email. I guess I should do a card for everyone but this card making process is a bit slow going so that's just not going to happen!

I put a silver marker in Alexander's hand and let him wave it about until we had made some marks on some Bristol board. Then I do the writing and stick on a few buttons. And voila! Amanda & Son Design is born!

Drawing with a wriggly baby on me

I need to get something to wear for Alexander's christening the weekend after next and I had some crazy idea that we would be able to nip into town in the morning, buy a dress and be home by 2pm at the latest as Alexander likes a bit of singing in the afternoon. So here we were in the Caffe Nero in House of Fraser at around midday having bought nothing, me flashing at the people at the next table while Alexander who had assured me he was hungry and needed a pit stop lay on me trying to decide whether 'boobies' or the canvas prints of coffee on the walls were what he wanted to turn his attention to. I thought I'd immortalise my overpriced can of drink while I waited for him. So here is my stuff on the table drawn with my Moleskine on my knee and a very flappy Alexander across me. I have to thank him for his input to the design. I think the wobbly lines look nice.

Little Creatures Collection

The mummy and baby birds I drew for the 'Together' illustration were a bit of a follow on from some little creatures I scribbled in the Moleskine a couple of weeks ago.  Here is the whole collection... note that the thing that looks like a spider was actually going to be an octopus but I couldn't really recall what an octopus looked like. I later realised that he needed curly legs and also all the legs should've been coming from the bottom of him with a bulbous head. Oh well I will know for next time...

Equipment: Cheapo pencil and Promarker

IF Together

Some Illustration Friday themes are easier to come up with an idea for than others. Last week's 'Totem' I couldn't deal with.  But this one was easy. Alexander has been going through this '4 month sleep regression' thing, basically carrying on like a newborn waking constantly through the night and feeding every 60-90 minutes throughout the day also. This weekend he finally seemed to be coming through the other side of it and what with the oncoming autumnal weather we just snuggled up together in bed and got loads and loads of sleep and only left home really late in the day for our stroll around the park. He also has got his first cold so the poor little thing has been super snuffly and having trouble breathing because he is so congested. So more snuggling up has been required.

While he was snoozing in his pram taking in some fresh park air I remembered this week's IF theme 'Together' and it made me think of a little baby bird reliant on its mummy bird keeping it safe and protected against the world in their little nest just like my little baby boy and I.

I have to tell you also that staring at the word 'birds' while I've been scanning and saving and selecting this pair has resulted in me listening repeatedly to 'Plateau' by Nirvana... 'nothing on the top but a bucket and a mop and an illustrated book about biiiiirrrrrrrds...'

Looks like Autumn is here!

Man, I was at the end of my tether today. Alexander hasn't been sleeping well for about 10 days now and also not managing to sleep in his pushchair which is usually how I can reliably get a little bit of a break getting him to sleep so I can sit in the park for a couple of hours. We both have an accumulation of tiredness, overtiredness! Today I was pushing him along in that pushchair and he was crying and I was using up every little bit of my energy reserves. In the end I sat on a bench and cried. And then I pushed him some more and finally, finally he conked out.

By this time I'd made it around to a part of the park I really love, in fact it is the best part, a great long avenue of trees. But I've never sat down there. Today I collapsed there on the nearest bench. I attempted to read my book but had a headache, then I noticed that all around me were fallen leaves and I noticed how lovely the browny-orange colour of them looked against the path which is black. I've been teaching Alex lately about Autumn and what will be happening to the trees (obviously not today!) and so I've been wanting to do an autumnal drawing. But over on the other side of the park it is still more summery, which sounds strange now I say it, a bit Narnia-esque. These leaves just looked so nice against their black background so, of course, I drew them. How fortuitous that Alexander howled on the sunny side of the park, and how thankful am I that I had the trusty Moleskine with me! A friend of mine who is pretty fed up at the moment was saying to me this morning that she thinks she needs to get a hobby. I am so grateful that I draw. I am sure it has saved my sanity on many an occasion!

Equipment: Pencil and Watercolour (Sennelier Artist Grade Yellow Ochre, Burnt Sienna and a yellow - can't remember which and W&N Student Grade Lamp Black) on Moleskine Sketchbook. I applied the paint pretty dry as it didn't seem quite right to paint something as dry as a dead leaf in a watery way. Also, I like the way the waxy Moleskine takes the watercolours when they are quite dry.