Hello hello,
How are you?
I hope you’re well and had a lovely Christmas. I can’t believe we’re almost in a new YEAR already! Time surely does fly…
Thank you thank you and welcome to all new subscribers. There was a flurry of sign-ups over the holidays and I can’t wait to draw with you soooooooon!
We’ve been having a lovely relaxing time after the whirlwind couple of months pre Christmas. I literally had to get horizontal in a dark room with some stilton and digestives, I don’t know about you?
We ventured out (away from the cheese board and piles of Christmas chocs) a couple of days ago and enjoyed a lovely family outing into London Town, pretending to be tourists, to explore Tower Bridge.
It was SO MUCH FUN I even sketched it.
We climbed the many steps of the north tower, soaked up the view across the Thames, made a few souvenir pennies in the swirly penny machines, the kids did the ‘cat’ trail and got a certificate, we learned about all the ins-and-outs of the construction of the bridge and even headed to the engine room. If you get the chance I highly recommend.
I got so excited I made you a spot the difference from one of the pics I took too!
Eyes peeled! Let me know how you do. First three with the right answers win a year’s subscription to Creative dOOdling worth £64!
It’s always been a bit of a tradition to do a ‘top 9 posts’ round up on Instagram (although with the dodgy algorithms of late WHO knows what’s what and if anyone ACTUALLY sees anything anymore) so I had a peek at the back end on the old grid and this was pretty much what came up.
Lots of ‘BOAT’* shots, which always cracks me up, but quite fun to see the rest. If nothing else the INSTA is a pretty good visual diary and it’s always interesting to look back and reflect a bit (something I rarely do as often leaping to the next thing like a bull at a gate) SO this year I thought I’d use these insights wisely to steer me into the New Year!
Here’s the plan:
paint more swimmers (yes please).
paint more pooches on plates (gladly).
cross fingers that one of my new books-in-progress is picked up by a publisher (this one, top right, came up twice so I think it’s a sign… I might have to print some myself, I really like it and would love to get a few made).
do more dOOdling collaborations! YES please! There are many in the diary (Kangan Arora, Dulwich Picture Gallery, Cotswold Knits…) already so stay tuned & pencils at the ready!
draw more - woohoo! New Year’s resolution, to finish the 4 new dOOdling bOOks I have started and GET THEM FINISHED.
listen to the kids and write it all down (they’re FULL of wisdom and packed with great ideas, I just wish my jelly brain could recall it all).
spend more time with the hubby (looking forward to it, midday cinema here we come).
dOOdle more (see above).
and finally visit more schools, draw with the littles and read to them (HOORAY!) If you’d like me to visit yours then please shout.
Also keen to breath in the sea air, get back to the lido, do press ups etc etc and eat (slightly less) chocolate although that’s not a promise 🫣
How about you?
I will be back on screen in January for two Creative dOOdling workshops (one mini and one full session)
I’m heading back into the studio on the 2nd Jan for a quiet tidy up and New Year sort getting back to it slowly, and promise any TWIXmas orders will be whizzed out then. Thank you very much for the orders and for your patience.
In the mean time HAPPY New Year! Here’s to a happy, healthy, calm & kind one all round.
See you soon,
*Cockney slang ‘boat race’ - face
What a lovely post. I think I'm going to enjoy it! x