first words book proposal

When my kids were little, and we dragged little books about with us wherever we went to keep them entertained (quiet), I wish they'd looked like this. They were always bloody awful primary bright colours and boring pictures.

Of course I'm guilty of contributing to the world-supply of UglyBrightBooks myself. When I've been commissioned to illustrate them. A lot of publishers "think" that cheapo primary colours and cutesie pictures sell best. It's the safe option. And I need to earn a living.

But if there are any 'more discerning' publishers about who fancy working with me on this kind of First Words book....then please, beat a path to my door promptly! The CoolMoms will thank you.

christmas eve

Both kids are at home now, yayyyyyyy!

Christmas can begin!

winter solstice

We made it!!!

Past the deepest darkest winter day!

Shortest day yesterday....daylight, sunshine and summer here we come!

Woohoo!!!

ready for Christmas?

Who's ready for Christmas?

Not me.

I spend so long getting irritated about Christmas in September, determined not to be one of "those people" ... then all of a sudden it's Christmas week, the shops are rammed, everything is sold out, the post has gone tits up and I really cba with it any more!

Summer holiday anyone???

christmas shopping

My shopping this Christmas has been sporadic.

I really can't face doing it all at once (or at all, if I'm honest 🙈)

So I've bought stuff.

But not all the stuff.

And not enough stuff, with a week and a bit to go.

But I did go shopping for a birthday present today for one of those people who doesn't need anything. I bought him a rather splendid plant in a pot that's wearing a pair of glasses. 

So all is well.

foxy

There was a fox in our garden this morning! It was taking a casual stroll across the grass. Then the dog spotted it and went beserk. So it scarpered. 

Anyway I've looked up the spiritual meaning of spotting a fox in your garden and basically I'm gonna be a millionaire by next year.

So that's nice.

postal strikes

The Royal Mail is on strike today.

Santa's Mail is not.

So don't panic. The big man will still see your demands in time for Christmas.... if you've been good... 👍🏼🎅🏼

tree shopping

My usual Christmas tree helper, Alf, is still living his best life away at uni. So this year I roped in my favourite nephew to come choose one with me.

As luck would have it he passed his driving test a couple of weeks ago, so he actually came and picked me up!

I had a chauffeur driven tree experience this year.

And all the pine needles are in the back of his car, not mine.

Winning!

christmas catchup

I forgot I had a blog! 

Well I've only had it 12.5 years so it's no surprise.

Anyway I held off on Christmas till December.

I'll do a little catchup.

November is long gone, cba catching up with that!

folktale week 2022

I love Folktale Week on insta. I love looking at all the fab illustrations that people post from the prompts. I love how people interpret them so differently. I even did the full lot myself once. In the olden days.... 2018....when the prompts were nice and easy.

I soooo wanted to do it this year. I love illustrating kids books so really it's something you'd think I should be doing. And something I should enjoy. But honestly, I read the prompts and did not feel an ounce of inspiration. Not one. I felt like this instead 🤷🏼‍♀️

I do realise that my job as an illustrator is to come up with something fabulous no matter what the subject. But I felt zero inspiration from most of the words and I was just stressing myself out trying to think of something. Cos any old something wouldn't do. It had be be the best something. And my mind drew a complete blank.

So I stopped shoulding and decided just to do the first two. Cos they seemed easy enough. So here I am. Finished!

And now I feel intense relief that I don't have to think of something for the others. Because REBEL 🤷🏼‍♀️ and COSTUME 🤷🏼‍♀️ are not for me 😬

Here's FOOL and TREE....

The End x

art licensing portfolio

I'm in the process of adding new work to the licensing portfolio on my website.

If you're an art director on the lookout for new patterns and illustrations email me at dawn@dawnmachell.co.uk and I'll send you the password.

 

more dinosaurs

More dinosaurs. More moaning about the dark.

Do I do this every year? Moan about the dark?

As if it's something new?

Don't answer. I know I do.

weekend weather

Along with the sunshine, there's gotta be a little rain sometime.

But not on a weekend thanks.

Sunshine only on a weekend!

dinosaur

Bored of drawing all the autumn shizz?

Completely over the Halloween?

Not ready to start spamming everyone with Christmas yet?

Has to be dinosaurs then....

november colours