Princess Books

Hello everybody! Hope you're having a good start to this Christmas month. I thought I would explain a bit more what I have been busy with lately.  I have been working on the illustrations (3d sets) for a princess picture book and various activity books with the publisher Parragon Books. Earlier this week I travelled down to Bath where Parragon are based to help direct the photography for the sets as there is a professional photographer taking the photos for these books rather than myself. 

Here are just a few of my own little snapshots I took during my time in Bath- kind of behind the scenes photographs...

It was very interesting for me to see how the photographer worked and how he used all his equipment. There was a lot of equipment! The aim was to get very clean bright images and it was very exciting to see it all come to life like that.  I was hoping I would learn a few things about photography but to be honest I didn't at all- I am one of those people who doesn't really learn from just watching. I have to do the thing.

Also as (I hope!) you can see everything is very sparkly. I have SO loved being able to just chuck as much glitter and as many gems as possible onto the sets. I love love it! It was like the perfect project for me.

I was in Bath for three days (two nights) working solidly during the day so I didn't get to see a huge amount of the city. From what I did see though looks so nice! I want to go back there and visit again some time so I can look around more. There was a Christmas market and a carousel (!!! my fave! though there wasn't time to go on it. Also it looked like it went really fast- extra points for it!) and all the buildings were sort of beige coloured and very picturesque.

It was a very interesting few days and the people at Parragon were all so nice and friendly.  I am now really excited to see the book when it comes out some time next year. Before that though I still have some more sets and characters to make for the activity books. So I had better get back to that...

X

November

November November November. You have been a busy month. Mainly busy work wise but a few other things also happened. 

November began with fireworks. We went up to St Albans and saw them with our friend Dave at the cathedral. We drank chicken soup and then afterwards got some Turkish food take away and ate it back at his house. It was a really nice evening. Of course Celestine came too and I snapped a few photos of her. I tried a different tactic this year with her photos, using the flash and making the background blurry. To be honest it was the only way to take them this year. We went to a different fireworks show than normal and the conditions were not as good for taking photos. I quite like the result though. See Celestine's last year fireworks here.

There's a bad blurry picture of me (wearing Henry's Pokemon hat to keep my hair out of my face whilst taking pics!) ^^ but I put it in because I realised it is the only picture of Celestine and I together!!

So that was fun. I love fireworks night.

What else? Oh yes my friend Lizzie sent Celestine some little costume masks. They are so cute and perfect size for her. There were four altogether. One silver, once gold, one black and one white. 

Celestine was so pleased with them that she made and wrote Lizzie an early Christmas/thankyou card.

That (above the card picture) is Celestine standing in her room in the castle by the way. That's the starry wardrobe in her bedroom. There's still a long way to go with the castle. I wanted to get it finished by Christmas but there's no way that's going to happen now! I've resigned myself to the fact that it's going to take a long time still to complete.  Still I am proud of how much I managed to do of it this year.  At the beginning of the year it was still just a wooden shell.

This is the current state of Celestine's bedroom in the castle. As you can see I started to a make a little patchwork quilt for her (trying to make it in jewel colours) but haven't had any time to do any more of it lately. All her furniture is gold. She loves gold, it is her favourite colour. I want to put up shelves and gold frames with nice illustrations in. It all looks a bit bare at the moment. I'd also like to get one of those multicoloured Tiffany lamps too for by the bed. There's also a stool that's supposed to go in front of the dressing table but haven't painted it gold yet.

And here's some cakes I made for a book I am working on. Not sure if I can put them on my blog or not but I guess I'll just take them down if so.

Celestine got very excited about all the cakes. She was very disappointed to find out they weren't real when she tried to eat one. 

The cakes are for the book I have been working very busily on this month by the way.  And that's what I've been mainly busy with. Other than work not a lot else has happened. We did go to visit Henry's family in Nottingham and saw his Dad and Gran's new bungalow. We went to an amazing garden centre in Nottingham which was like santa's grotto where there was a miniature light up village. I wished Celestine had come with me to see it but unfortunately she did not come on that trip.

Also this November: We drove two hours to South London and then two hours back again for a friends housewarming which was really fun- the housewarming not the driving so much although I do enjoy to drive though London and see all the sights // I have been trying to listen to more audiobooks while I work rather than watch trashy tv // Henry got a teaching job! So we are one little step closer to being able to buy a house! // we ate stuffed squashes // and we celebrated 4 years of being together by going out for a Lebanese meal at the same restaurant we went to when we got engaged. There's probably some more stuff but I can't remember it right now and it won't be very interesting anyway! I just like to keep a record of the tings I've done. 

Let's finish with this picture of Celestine. I discovered this picture on my computer the other day. It's one of the first pictures I ever took of her and that is the first outfit I ever made her. I don't know why I never uploaded this pic as I like it a lot.

X

Spooks and Sparkles

So... here's my Halloween pumpkin from yesterday. Tinkerbell! My fave :) 

And what did Celestine do on Halloween? She had a cup of tea from her pumpkin teacup.

She's gathering quite a collection of pumpkin teapots now. Well, three to be exact. The one in the front is the latest one. Bought a few weeks ago at a miniatures fair.

Hope you had a spooky and sparkly evening!

Happy Halloween love, Celestine

Celestine feels swish in her black and green witch hat. All ready for Halloween.

This past weekend Henry and I went up to Derby to visit his mother. It was a fun weekend. We visited Bakewell and looked at Bakewell puddings and Bakewell tarts but ate neither. We parked in a muddy field, looked round a craft fair and farmers market, bought some whiskey based gifts, ate pasties for lunch and had tea and cake. (or rum truffle in my (and Celestine's) case)

(^^some of those photos are from a walk we went on last week, some are from Bakewell)

I have decided that I really like the Derbyshire countryside, all those rolling hills and windy roads and stone walls. Different front the countryside near where I live.

Also in Bakewell I discovered HAIR TINSEL!!! The sparkliest of sparkly hair extensions. I really want some now! I am going to have to investigate further... they were so dazzly.

On the Sunday Henry and I popped into Derby. We stopped at a stand in the mall called Chai Fusions because Henry loves tea and is interested in all different sorts of tea. The man there was so nice and explained how he made everything fresh and authentically to how they would in India. All the herbs and spices were laid out and he had a pan boiling to make the tea. We decided to sit down and have some. I am not really a tea person at all- I never drink it but I had some tulsi chai and it was delicious. It was SO aromatic and herby and well I can't really think of how to describe it. But it was extremely delicious. And also apparently a mood booster. And I did feel mood boosted after it! ALSO the man came and gave us a free samosa with some chickpea stuff and chutney etc to share as it wasn't very busy which was also nice. We bought some to take away for lunch. I recommend going to Chai Fusions if you happen to be in the Derby shopping centre! (Also we got a taste of some Masala Chai ice cream which was interesting- in a good way. Tea ice cream!)

^^ Celestine in the tea shop. She very much enjoyed herself in Bakewell.

What else? Other than going to Derby I have mainly been working (as usual- I know, boring update.) I have also been gemming a lot of things up of late. Mostly for work related things but also a couple of other things for my castle like the silver chair and the jewellery box. The jewellery box is going to be Celestine's Christmas present (shh!). She does love jewels! If you didn't already know Celestine is in fact a jewellery designer. A designer of miniature jewellery of course!

So that is that.

Also Lately: Talking about jewellery I finally got around to getting a gold chain for my locket and so now I can finally wear it! Which is very pleasing for me // I looked at a lot of swarovski jewellery in Derby- oh the sparkles! // bought some Christmas presents (for myself! haha) // watched two horror films in Derby- The Ring and Mirrors // Henry got a new phone // Went to London and had a great evening with friends in Pizza Express // new jumpers // went on a very rainy walk in the bluebell wood...

That is all I can think to say of the fascinating things I have been up to lately...

Here's a picture of Celestine enjoying an Autumn walk. She was collecting berries. Of course she could only fit one berry in her little basket! But one berry is enough for Celestine. She boiled it up with some sugar and ate it for pudding. 

Happy Halloween! (for tomorrow)

X

Tinkerbell: Winter Chic (and other things)

This Tink inspired fairy has been lying around my room for months now. I spotted her the other day and decided it was high time she got a photograph done! So whilst I already had my camera and tripod set up for taking photos of my work I thought I would just take a picture of Tinkerbell too.  And wasn't she pleased to have one. It's actually a table decoration I made for the wedding next year. I had this idea that I would put fairies on all the tables. So far I have made... two.  Yeah need to get going on that! 

What else?

I've been working a lot- perpetually covered in glitter- luckily I don't mind! I have noticed that Henry always has bits of glitter on his face lately too (sorry!). It just gets everywhere! Good job I love it so much.

Here are a few little snippets from lately. It's been a while...

Left to right: work // work // nice fabrics I bought (I really wanted to make Celestine a little tweedy cape-y thing) // work // doodles of my dino kids I did in a cafe one lunchtime when Henry and I actually ate out // starry chest I painted for the castle.

Other things: harvest supper, torch light walks, Pizza Hut in London with uni friends, painting gold and silver furniture, swarovski crystals (I wish they weren't so expensive!) more fabric buying, trying to find pieces for a 'jewel' patchwork quilt, stuffed squashes and a wii night with friends, orange and strawberry juice (my new fave) lots of rain, new cat mittens from Henry (and actually having to wear them in the cold!) getting some sample Witch's Cat 'books' in the post (!! exciting!) eating indian and watching anime, Henry working a lot (he's training to be a teacher and has lots of homework!) watching quite a few horror films, coveting tiny moomins on ebay, discovering an amazing new picture book (which I can't afford boo! Christmas present maybe?) reading Comet in Moominland again (Something about this time of year makes me want to read the moomin books) and Celestine has been playing on her Carousel:

xXx

She's whiskey in a teacup

So Celestine's birthday went by much more celebrated than I had anticipated! My friend Henrietta suggested that we do a miniature teaparty on Sunday afternoon and I was like YES! It was just like old times when we used to make tiny weeny sandwiches and pizza and cake for our mascots when we were little. Except this time, being older and all, we were able to make the food look much more professional. Also this time we had a camera to photograph it all! Henrietta brought along Matilda the mouse and together Matilda and Celestine had a birthday teaparty. It started out rather sedate and they stuck their little fingers out as they drank from their tumblers (do mice have fingers?) but it all began to go downhill when Matilda opened the whiskey... (it really was real whiskey!) Being so small Celestine and Matilda are complete lightweights! (Celestine had to spend the following day nursing a hangover in bed)

Here's what we made ^^ A chocolate cake with mini smarties on the top, chocolate cupcakes/mini cakes with white chocolate stars on the top, mini pizza (we happened to have some leftover dough in the fridge and tomato puree and mozzarella) mini marmalade sandwiches- like Paddington Bear! And mini marshmallows dipped in chocolate. 

Here comes the whiskey! ^^ (also note the tiny birthday card Celestine received from my friend Sian)

As you can see things ended in quite a mess ^^ Matilda found her nose in the chocolate cakes.   They both enjoyed themselves immensely though. Which is the important thing!

Celestine Forest Princess (and Miniatura)

Well it's been a funny week.  I have been feeling a bit stressed- partly because I didn't feel well over the weekend (overtired) partly work and partly just a few other things. But it's ok now- I am bouncing back! On the day I really didn't feel well Henry thought it would perk me up to go for a walk. So we drove to this place where he wanted to try out walking. It was very foresty and hilly. Henry has taken to carrying an I-spy book with him on walks lately so we spied lots of mushrooms in the foresty undergrowth.  So that was quite nice- although I was still feeling ill- and Barney was having a whale of a time bouncing about and chewing his stick but then... then we got lost! We couldn't find our way back to the car park. We ended up walking around for way longer than either of us wanted to.  Plus it was just before lunch and we were both really hungry. And did I mention I was feeling ill? It wasn't great at that point. Luckily we came across another car park and a business man on his lunch break gave us a lift in the end. Which was nice of him.  Poor little Barney though- he's only got little legs- ended up having such a long and exciting walk that he was completely wiped out for the rest of the day and the following day. He couldn't even manage to climb up the stairs! He's recovered now though.

On Saturday I drove to Miniatura in Birmingham. Henry came but sat outside and did work.  I didn't end up buying anything that exciting but I did get a table and chairs for the dining room in my castle and some shelves- though I discovered when I got them home that my miniature books are too big for them- ironic! I also got a few other little things but nothing that exciting or expensive. It is nice to just walk around and marvel at everything though. The detail and craftsmanship that goes into some of the tiny pieces is incredible! I managed to take some photos but not very many...

The two bottom pictures are Sally Meekins Ceramics.

So that was a fun trip for me- not so much Henry!  But then we went into Birmingham afterwards and went to Forbidden Planet and Cex and the like. And looks around- none of us had been to Birmingham before. It took us ages to drive into it and find parking and we almost gave up but we were glad we didn't. Once we found something to eat there we had fun looking around.

Other things lately:

- Though I say it myself I baked a really good chocolate cake- it was the one thing I managed to achieve on my not feeling well day.

- Celestine had a birthday and now won't take her birthday crown off.

Hmm... that's all I can think of! Hope you had a lovely weekend!  

Happy Birthday Celestine!

Today is Celestine's birthday.  She had a big (for her) chocolate cake with white chocolate stars on it. 

sidenote: This cake had the best icing on it! I discovered a new way of making icing (thankyou pinterest) simply salted butter and melted dark chocolate mixed together. It's amazing! very rich but also not as sweet as your regular buttercream icing. It's my new favourite way of making icing for sure!

Celestine's had a lot of adventures since her last birthday...

She's been to exhibitions in London, been on lots of autumn walks, sledged in the snow, travelled on a boat in Oman, received a Valentines letter, seen the Christmas lights...

She's made a snowman, baked miniature gingerbread men, read lots of books, drawn pictures in her sketchbook, decorated a Christmas tree, been on shopping trips to the supermarket, had her own carved pumpkin house made for her...

She's worn a lot of yellow, climbed trees, visited her secret miniature friends, travelled to Dubai, been to the beach, collected flowers...

She's been on holiday to Cornwall, sailed in various boats, been to the bluebell wood, taken tea from her pumpkin tea set, explored rockpools...

She's enjoyed the blossom, worn many different outfits, watched the fireworks, ridden her new bike, visited an aquarium, had rides on a miniature carousel, visited Bekonscot model Village...

And much more... I can't remember everything!

Happy Birthday Celestine! xXx

spotty bags and chandeliers

Last weekend Henry and I took a trip to St Albans. I had mentioned that I thought it would be nice to do a proper outing and was getting a bit cooped up with my work and so Henry suggested we went to St Albans on the Saturday.  It was a nice thing to do actually even though it was so grey and drizzly. (I swear it's been non stop rain ever since we came back from holiday!) We started by having Cornish pasties at the West Cornwall Pasty Co. (reliving the Cornish memories!- I so wish I was still there...) and then had a look round the shops. We ended up buying matching pairs of proper walking boots as Henry was in need of new walking boots and I didn't have any to start with. We got the real proper ones- as an investment! We do like walking. I also got a new bright pink raincoat because my old one was so old and ugly. What exciting purchases! haha.

We also went up the clock tower which had some VERY thin and spirally steps. That's where these pictures were taken (look at that grey sky!) Of course Celestine came too and wore her yellow rain coat and rain boots.

^^That's the (what has become known as the toadstool) bag I bought in Cornwall. Talking of red spotty bags I never posted about this hold all bag I made for Celestine before we went on holiday.  It was sort of an experiment but turned out really well! 

I was inspired by this stylish tartan barbie bag I saw in etsy. Celestine was rather taken with it and wanted to buy it but the measurements of it would have been too big for her. So I made one instead. It's not quite as nice as the tartan one but at least it matches her dress! And fits a lot of her clothes in too. It's more spacious than it looks. I think ideally it would have a smaller zip but as I was only experimenting I didn't want to spend money on hunting down the perfect zip.  By the way, the backgrounds of those pictures are rooms in my castle- still very much a work in progress! 

Oh and here's another little project I did recently. This one is for work though. I needed a sparkly silver chandelier for a set I was making so bought a cheapish plain one and jazzed it up with glitter and gems.  it's only stuck together with the gluegun and PVA so it's not durable enough to go in an actual dollshouse or anything but works perfectly for my illustration work. 

So yes quite chuffed with that.

I really haven't done much else apart from work since I got back from Cornwall.  I've been trying to continue with bike rides for exercise but it's very difficult when the weather is so rainy. I think I'm going to have to switch to swimming instead soon.  How I wish I had a swimming pool in my house.

side-note: My ideal house: Would be castle shaped. I would have a studio in the turret with windows going all the way round to let in lots of light. I would have a moat shaped swimming pool to do lengths in round the castle. I would have stairs with a slide next to them so you could slide down and walk up. I would have a jacuzzi/hot tub in the top of one of the turrets with a glass ceiling so you could see the stars though it. I would have a black and white chequered floor in the entrance hall and stained glass windows with pictures in them. I would have multicoloured chandeliers and star patterned wallapaper. THAT would be my perfect house!

And this weekend I am going to Miniatura in Birmingham! So very much looking forward to that. Especially after an intense week of work. It will be nice to have a break for a few hours. I find it's very important to go on trips/do exercise when working from home plus working weekends. Otherwise I go crazy. And I think it helps the work too. 

Anyone else going to Miniatura this weekend? I will report back anyhow!

Now I must go to bed. Goodnight! X

Celestine at the Seaside

This was something I painted before we went to Cornwall but didn't get round to posting it. It's the first time I've painted a whole flat scene (as opposed to making it in 3d) for a while. The rocks need work and probably some other things but over all I was pretty pleased with it.  It is of course of Celestine, dipping her toes in a rock pool. You can tell I was REALLY looking forward to going on holiday!

Someone mentioned to me that it doesn't look like Celestine is a miniature person in this picture and I suppose it doesn't really.  But just so you know- she is supposed to be tiny! Need to find a way of making it look like a very very small rockpool next time. Maybe some big shells and limpets and mussels would help the situation...

One of Celestine's favourite things about the seaside is being able to swim and boat in all the small rockpools. It must be so much fun to be a tiny person!

edit: (I realised Celestines nose looked a tiny bit too large and blobby so I have given her a digital nosejob!) 

 edit 2: (eyes. hmm)