tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27423992362518897512024-03-12T20:31:53.341-07:00It began to snow at midnighta collection of favourite thingsDeborah McChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025516301933913356noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2742399236251889751.post-16672288306641015842010-07-29T19:36:00.000-07:002010-07-29T19:42:27.790-07:00Fly me to the moon 2Dan liked my superman/disappearing moon story so much, he drew it properly. Pencils below. A slight improvement on mine, I think you'll agree.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFI7fU0CbPI/AAAAAAAAAKs/XUqCF040WV0/s1600/superman+for+blog.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFI7fU0CbPI/AAAAAAAAAKs/XUqCF040WV0/s320/superman+for+blog.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499523504321752306" /></a>Deborah McChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025516301933913356noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2742399236251889751.post-17784794782256606862010-07-29T19:16:00.000-07:002010-07-29T19:27:11.206-07:00Okay, now for MUCH better drawingsDan's card on my birthday this year:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFI2e7gKKFI/AAAAAAAAAKU/To-EUQ9xT60/s1600/dan+and+cat.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFI2e7gKKFI/AAAAAAAAAKU/To-EUQ9xT60/s320/dan+and+cat.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499517999969347666" /></a><br /><br />And a card he drew for me for my birthday the year before:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFI3ZeDPhyI/AAAAAAAAAKc/xjLTbaFj8VA/s1600/dan+and+me.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFI3ZeDPhyI/AAAAAAAAAKc/xjLTbaFj8VA/s320/dan+and+me.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499519005675718434" /></a><br /><br />And the year before that. Timothy Dalton is giving me a cup of tea in a nice china teacup and Sean Bean has got me some French Fancies. Perfection? Why yes.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFI4Rmgz7sI/AAAAAAAAAKk/FqlA_yxJkmE/s1600/DALTON.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFI4Rmgz7sI/AAAAAAAAAKk/FqlA_yxJkmE/s320/DALTON.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499519970019897026" /></a>Deborah McChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025516301933913356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2742399236251889751.post-40660832516166324012010-07-29T19:11:00.001-07:002010-07-29T19:15:48.669-07:00Hallmark eat your heart out<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFI1gZoXUfI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/Mb-afQ4x7Vs/s1600/valentine.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFI1gZoXUfI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/Mb-afQ4x7Vs/s320/valentine.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499516925725069810" /></a><br />And, finally, here is the Valentine card I made for Dan. I am a one woman Moonpig.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFI1mQqzI4I/AAAAAAAAAKE/_i39FdgMAV4/s1600/valentine+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFI1mQqzI4I/AAAAAAAAAKE/_i39FdgMAV4/s320/valentine+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499517026398577538" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFI1vC704JI/AAAAAAAAAKM/Ewn6-JkhVYY/s1600/valentine+3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFI1vC704JI/AAAAAAAAAKM/Ewn6-JkhVYY/s320/valentine+3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499517177330720914" /></a>Deborah McChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025516301933913356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2742399236251889751.post-33980677599165558582010-07-29T18:38:00.000-07:002010-07-29T19:06:27.894-07:00Birthday Card 2008<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIv0Vqk-nI/AAAAAAAAAIc/tONCM5lYOUg/s1600/page+one.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIv0Vqk-nI/AAAAAAAAAIc/tONCM5lYOUg/s320/page+one.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499510671188228722" /></a><br />And, while I'm on the subject, here's the card - which was more of a fanzine - which I made for Dan's birthday the previous year. The drawings are <span style="font-style:italic;">deliberately </span>bad, of course...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIwE8i2bzI/AAAAAAAAAIk/IluEVZHgQOM/s1600/second+page.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIwE8i2bzI/AAAAAAAAAIk/IluEVZHgQOM/s320/second+page.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499510956502708018" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIwrO_xo5I/AAAAAAAAAIs/hILVPK2Srcg/s1600/page+three.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIwrO_xo5I/AAAAAAAAAIs/hILVPK2Srcg/s320/page+three.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499511614290895762" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIxOCn6hFI/AAAAAAAAAI0/wCuDOfBAl8U/s1600/page+4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIxOCn6hFI/AAAAAAAAAI0/wCuDOfBAl8U/s320/page+4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499512212265010258" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIxv31kT1I/AAAAAAAAAI8/2k1W0i05Ui4/s1600/page+5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIxv31kT1I/AAAAAAAAAI8/2k1W0i05Ui4/s320/page+5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499512793485037394" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIx-adks6I/AAAAAAAAAJE/6sSueZuquiA/s1600/page+6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIx-adks6I/AAAAAAAAAJE/6sSueZuquiA/s320/page+6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499513043297809314" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIyMNBG1zI/AAAAAAAAAJM/7eNelBtubVU/s1600/page+7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIyMNBG1zI/AAAAAAAAAJM/7eNelBtubVU/s320/page+7.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499513280206919474" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIyeIlZZtI/AAAAAAAAAJU/kAA7vraDA48/s1600/fourth+last.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIyeIlZZtI/AAAAAAAAAJU/kAA7vraDA48/s320/fourth+last.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499513588254598866" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIyrnvfAKI/AAAAAAAAAJc/a4z3LEybmv4/s1600/third+last+page.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIyrnvfAKI/AAAAAAAAAJc/a4z3LEybmv4/s320/third+last+page.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499513819956707490" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIy8OARUdI/AAAAAAAAAJk/ShymodvTmdk/s1600/second+last+page.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIy8OARUdI/AAAAAAAAAJk/ShymodvTmdk/s320/second+last+page.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499514105105568210" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIzLVEYUtI/AAAAAAAAAJs/BVIjvpu99kY/s1600/last+page.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIzLVEYUtI/AAAAAAAAAJs/BVIjvpu99kY/s320/last+page.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499514364699890386" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIzeeyudrI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/4Jn-LCJ0kpc/s1600/letter+page.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIzeeyudrI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/4Jn-LCJ0kpc/s320/letter+page.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499514693727712946" /></a>Deborah McChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025516301933913356noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2742399236251889751.post-19608820120676265802010-07-29T18:02:00.001-07:002010-07-29T19:34:33.050-07:00Birthday Card 2009Dan's birthday is in October so this post is very belated. I was sorting through a pile of Dan's artwork when I came across the card I made for him last year. I destroyed what was probably a sacred comic story in my endeavour - but I should add it was a <span style="font-style:italic;">reprint </span> of the book. I also used an entire bottle of Tip-Ex - one of the comic book vandal's tools.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIorVhefiI/AAAAAAAAAIM/gENYNQO4xPk/s1600/Dan+car+front.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIorVhefiI/AAAAAAAAAIM/gENYNQO4xPk/s320/Dan+car+front.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499502819949837858" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIo2EsVJbI/AAAAAAAAAIU/t_HSwPUBcig/s1600/DAN+BDAY+BACK.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIo2EsVJbI/AAAAAAAAAIU/t_HSwPUBcig/s320/DAN+BDAY+BACK.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499503004410521010" /></a>Deborah McChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025516301933913356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2742399236251889751.post-69938047428214346472010-07-29T17:02:00.000-07:002010-07-29T17:35:31.197-07:00Mini Comic-Con<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIc3HFgDvI/AAAAAAAAAHs/WdwOaKCJ5Ro/s1600/alan+davis.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIc3HFgDvI/AAAAAAAAAHs/WdwOaKCJ5Ro/s320/alan+davis.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499489828093300466" /></a><br /><br />We didn't go to San Diego, thanks to Dan's heavy workload and our light bank balance, but we did go to a local shindig, part of our local literary festival.<br /><br />It was a small affair, with only a handful of speakers, but it did mean we had easy access to them: Pat Mills, Alan Davis, Dez Skinn and Rian Hughes.<br /><br />Pat Mills talked at length about <span style="font-style:italic;">Requiem</span> - a vampire epic - and he had an intriguing take on the comics industry. He has taken his wares to France, where comic books, he explained, are treated with a bit more reverence. <span style="font-style:italic;">Requiem </span>has proved a major hit over there, even inspiring a clothing range, based on the costume designs in the book.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIdB0UgIPI/AAAAAAAAAH0/xLJWpp1GNeY/s1600/pat+mills+in+lecture.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIdB0UgIPI/AAAAAAAAAH0/xLJWpp1GNeY/s320/pat+mills+in+lecture.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499490012034506994" /></a><br /><br />Alan Davis talked about his work and his methods at length. He talked about how he doesn't see comic panels and pages, as some do, like film scenes or film sequences. He used a page with huge motion lines and sound effects to illustrate his thinking. Comics can do things which film can't.<br /><br />Dan chatted to Pat Mills about how to get kids reading comics, he talked to Alan Davis about drawing and Dez Skinn and he talked <span style="font-style:italic;">Doctor Who</span>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIdsS63CQI/AAAAAAAAAIE/62tMJKm1sgM/s1600/dan+and+pat.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIdsS63CQI/AAAAAAAAAIE/62tMJKm1sgM/s320/dan+and+pat.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499490741802961154" /></a><br /><br />It was a small event, it rained mostly, and it meant getting up early on a Sunday - unheard of. Well done, our usually crap little city for organising it, though. They even have a Marvel Studies night class running at the university in September. About time, considering Dundee's history with folk like Dudley Watkins.Deborah McChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025516301933913356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2742399236251889751.post-44700262638799239292010-07-29T16:27:00.000-07:002010-07-29T16:55:36.562-07:00Chat Noir<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFITFfrt75I/AAAAAAAAAHM/tQnoms609mo/s1600/Cosmo.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFITFfrt75I/AAAAAAAAAHM/tQnoms609mo/s320/Cosmo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499479080097935250" /></a><br />This picture has nothing to do with this blog post. It's Cosmo, soaking up some sun beams this afternoon on the back of the sofa. He disappeared into the garden around 10pm, came back half an hour later, making a lot of noise. We got up to see what the commotion was about - a very large and very dead mouse. He's been doing this a lot lately. He's so proud afterwards but we're torn between praising/thanking him and feeling very sorry for the little mice (exactly like Mouse Guard!) and birds.<br /><br />We've had a noir week, while I've been on holiday and Dan sits at his desk. So far we've watched, <span style="font-style:italic;">Double Indemnity</span>, <span style="font-style:italic;">The Killers</span>, <span style="font-style:italic;">In a Lonely Place</span>, <span style="font-style:italic;">Gilda</span>, <span style="font-style:italic;">The Lady from Shanghai</span>...I think that's all.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIUzyNEpaI/AAAAAAAAAHk/eFchFruMm-A/s1600/inaloneyplace77.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 215px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIUzyNEpaI/AAAAAAAAAHk/eFchFruMm-A/s320/inaloneyplace77.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499480974855284130" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">In a Lonely Place</span> has to be the best so far. Bogart is troubled, Gloria Grahame smoulders and the story isn't just the usual man loses his soul thanks to some dame. The sense of alienation is palpable in this film. Bogart's character keeps weird hours - setting him apart from normal society; his apartment has barred gates; light filters through venetian blinds creating a cage-like effect. The film really has something to say about man's dark places and the psychological prison we can all find ourselves in.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIUcZWUKUI/AAAAAAAAAHc/aM0ukqGdvss/s1600/bogart.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 158px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/TFIUcZWUKUI/AAAAAAAAAHc/aM0ukqGdvss/s200/bogart.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499480573046171970" /></a><br /><br />Bogart is playing a freelance in this... I just hope Dan doesn't try to strangle <span style="font-style:italic;">me</span> some day...Deborah McChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025516301933913356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2742399236251889751.post-25448933502714302452010-04-17T13:10:00.000-07:002010-04-17T14:29:38.764-07:00Colouring InNot only have I been reading comics, I'm also being 'trained' to color inked pages. Dan bought me a nifty Bamboo tablet and I have been learning how to use Adobe Photoshop to colour. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8oXAwXVRUI/AAAAAAAAAFs/__boGKgFOfw/s1600/Wacom-Bamboo-3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8oXAwXVRUI/AAAAAAAAAFs/__boGKgFOfw/s320/Wacom-Bamboo-3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461202799890351426" /></a><br /><br />I can only do flat colour at the moment. It will take ages for me to learn how to understand shading and light sources etc. I draw a bit (badly! If I can find them I'll publish the various pictures I've drawn over the last couple of years. They are hilarious) but like to dabble and, hopefully, will eventually understand more of the fundamentals. So, here is my first attempt. It's rubbish! The colours are garish and I have coloured it very lazily: there are lots of white spots, I've basically ruined Dan's sketch:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8ohPwXgu-I/AAAAAAAAAGE/qeAt8cK00mg/s1600/zorro-ole.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8ohPwXgu-I/AAAAAAAAAGE/qeAt8cK00mg/s320/zorro-ole.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461214052705418210" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8ogZ3-0HLI/AAAAAAAAAF8/5doEERwpdOw/s1600/zorro-coloured.psd.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8ogZ3-0HLI/AAAAAAAAAF8/5doEERwpdOw/s320/zorro-coloured.psd.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461213127036378290" /></a><br /><br />A few more goes later and I finally did something I was pleased with. It still just flats but it has a nice mood to it:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8oiCsTG8QI/AAAAAAAAAGM/yv2CVbRZGfQ/s1600/rocketeer+head.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8oiCsTG8QI/AAAAAAAAAGM/yv2CVbRZGfQ/s320/rocketeer+head.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461214927786537218" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8okF1eeciI/AAAAAAAAAGU/doKkS8Jki0s/s1600/rocketeer+head+debs+lo-res.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8okF1eeciI/AAAAAAAAAGU/doKkS8Jki0s/s320/rocketeer+head+debs+lo-res.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461217180812997154" /></a><br /><br />You can see that Dan does all the hard work really. It's really a case of choosing the right colour palette to compliment the style. This worked well for me when I coloured the next piece. A scene from an idea Dan had about a boxer called The Red Bolt. He's got loads of ideas for very cool comic strips, but too busy to develop anything properly right now. Bah!<br /><br />Anyway, here is the coloured panel:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8omSL6dIiI/AAAAAAAAAGk/S79cZBBcWG4/s1600/In+the+Ring+small.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 233px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8omSL6dIiI/AAAAAAAAAGk/S79cZBBcWG4/s320/In+the+Ring+small.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461219592017617442" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8okGBaPMXI/AAAAAAAAAGc/oOxpmZSM01U/s1600/red+bolt.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 233px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8okGBaPMXI/AAAAAAAAAGc/oOxpmZSM01U/s320/red+bolt.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461217184016445810" /></a><br /><br />Again, you can see that Dan's inking does most of the work.Deborah McChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025516301933913356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2742399236251889751.post-81567125005609651632010-04-17T11:40:00.000-07:002010-04-17T12:56:26.624-07:00Mouse House<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8oLMv4eCiI/AAAAAAAAAFU/2Exf1bL_SHc/s1600/cover.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 289px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8oLMv4eCiI/AAAAAAAAAFU/2Exf1bL_SHc/s320/cover.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461189811779799586" /></a><br /><br />by David Petersen<br /><br />Published by Archaia Studios Press<br /><br />Before Dan I knew a little about comics and graphic novels. Since Dan, I can hold my own at a comic convention with any comic book guy or gal. My usual reading is 19th century fiction, and a bit of 20th century modernism. This diet is bolstered with a bit of teen and children's fiction and by the occasional dip into modern adult fiction. Iris Murdoch and Margaret Atwood are probably my favourites in this category.<br /><br />And now I also read comic and graphic novels. I like Dan's <span style="font-style:italic;">Doctor Who</span> stories, for example. <span style="font-style:italic;">Mortal Beloved</span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">The Deep Hereafter</span> are particular stand-outs. I can even boast I've contributed an idea or two during Dan's 18 month tenure writing the 10th Doctor's adventures.<div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8oQOfF_VGI/AAAAAAAAAFc/WIfjAyZSZ5s/s1600/Deep+Hereafter+02crop.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 228px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8oQOfF_VGI/AAAAAAAAAFc/WIfjAyZSZ5s/s320/Deep+Hereafter+02crop.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461195339190981730" /></a><br /></div><div>I also love <span style="font-style:italic;">Jersey Gods</span>. Glen Brunswick is a jolly good writer and a lovely guy too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8oQ4dv47wI/AAAAAAAAAFk/PyUGl6Qx7jA/s1600/large_comicsjerseygods.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 233px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8oQ4dv47wI/AAAAAAAAAFk/PyUGl6Qx7jA/s320/large_comicsjerseygods.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461196060384358146" /></a><br /><br />One comic series I've really liked over the last couple of years is David Peterson's <span style="font-style:italic;">Mouse Guard</span>. I'm hardly alone in this: it's been a big hit for Peterson. He was at the New York Comicon last year in artist's alley and I'd taken my book all the way from Dundee to get it signed. I'm such an idiot though I didn't go over. I can be weirdly shy sometimes.<div><br />The gorgeous artwork is just one of the reasons to get seriously into the series. Dan introduced me to the book when it first came out. We were living in London and were pottering around Forbidden Planet in Shaftesbury Avenue. We saw Kim Newman there! He was browsing the shelves, looking very dapper as always in a waistcoat, pocket-watch ensemble. He's quite short.<br /><br /><i>Mouse Guar</i>d is published in lovely little paper-back editions, eight inch square, full colour, and feature the adventures of a brave, intelligent colony of mice. The stories focus mainly on three characters: Leiam, Saxon and Kenzie, who are mighty warriors facing deceit in the first issue, then winter famine and attack in the second.<br /><br />There is a collected edition of the first story and it looks beautiful - autumnal gold being the main theme of the cover. The second issue has a winter theme and the little mice, their mediaeval houses and their forest habitat looks timeless and iconic against the white falling snow.<br /><br />Dan also got me the little PVC figurines of the little guys and they are actually very well done. So well done, in fact, that I was inspired to...well, build one of the little houses from the one of the stories. It's still a work in progress as it's a pretty big project. A wiring and lighting job is next. Is this sad?<br /><br />This is the house I built<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8oH3rWJHGI/AAAAAAAAAE0/_Vb1LBExEoc/s1600/mouse1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8oH3rWJHGI/AAAAAAAAAE0/_Vb1LBExEoc/s320/mouse1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461186151249943650" /></a><br /><br />which is meant to look a bit like this:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8oIQgWmJ6I/AAAAAAAAAE8/YPfUW3RmsME/s1600/mouse3+(2).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8oIQgWmJ6I/AAAAAAAAAE8/YPfUW3RmsME/s320/mouse3+(2).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461186577795786658" /></a><br /><br />The inside is far from finished:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8oIwwmLILI/AAAAAAAAAFE/TFozVyUosEw/s1600/mouse+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8oIwwmLILI/AAAAAAAAAFE/TFozVyUosEw/s320/mouse+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461187131911905458" /></a><br />and is modelled on the map-maker's room from the first series:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8oJk4Hg5CI/AAAAAAAAAFM/-czewmnhj3E/s1600/mouse4+(2).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8oJk4Hg5CI/AAAAAAAAAFM/-czewmnhj3E/s320/mouse4+(2).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461188027283989538" /></a><br /></div></div>Deborah McChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025516301933913356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2742399236251889751.post-20266007565822952472010-04-15T19:17:00.000-07:002010-04-16T06:20:31.889-07:00Artist's Corner<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8hkFCYv1GI/AAAAAAAAAEs/7gbt1fHEJ_k/s1600/for+blog+small+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8hkFCYv1GI/AAAAAAAAAEs/7gbt1fHEJ_k/s320/for+blog+small+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460724585889518690" /></a><br /><br /><br />Dan's art table and other drawing and writing necessities are a major part of our little flat. His corner of the room is a Dickensian muddle of all sorts of interesting things: sketches, brushes, India inks, French curves, pencils, books, toys...<br />I sit on a sofa just out of shot, when I'm home, and generally blether about my day at school. We thought about moving to a bigger place so that Dan could have a studio, but how could he get by without my excellent stories?Deborah McChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025516301933913356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2742399236251889751.post-27178235301820057862010-04-14T18:31:00.000-07:002010-04-14T18:47:12.449-07:00VictorianaI think I may be a walking cliche. I'm an English teacher with a cat who loves Victorian literature, fabrics and paintings. Ah well. I stumbled upon a picture of a lovely vintage quilt when browsing the internet for reference pictures for a children's story I'm trying to write (another cliche) set during the period. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8ZuVO84k3I/AAAAAAAAADk/Gx6f_C3MnZw/s1600/quilt+vintage+(2).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8ZuVO84k3I/AAAAAAAAADk/Gx6f_C3MnZw/s320/quilt+vintage+(2).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460172909303075698" /></a><br /><br />My effort uses similar colours, but is much less interesting. I wanted to keep it very simple, so that I would actually finish it and have something that can actually be used. It makes a very lovely throw on the back of our sofa by the window.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8ZvHbaAg1I/AAAAAAAAADs/h3aJWLBpfME/s1600/green+quilt.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8ZvHbaAg1I/AAAAAAAAADs/h3aJWLBpfME/s320/green+quilt.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460173771639915346" /></a><br /><br />It's all hand sown (I don't own a sewing machine). The middle block is made from pieces of cotton squares which I bought as a job lot from Ebay. The border is a lovely fake silk which I bought from my local fabric shop. It's an olive colour and feels and looks exactly like raw silk. The backing is, again, a fake silk, this time in a deep red.<br /><br />It didn't take long to do and has inspired me to be a bit more ambitious with the next project - a Mucha inspired quilt.Deborah McChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025516301933913356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2742399236251889751.post-43905727346947957582010-04-14T17:11:00.000-07:002010-04-15T15:36:45.115-07:00Patchy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8eSlnBGP5I/AAAAAAAAAD8/ijoR3MOc2pc/s1600/cat+quilt+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8eSlnBGP5I/AAAAAAAAAD8/ijoR3MOc2pc/s320/cat+quilt+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460494248036417426" /></a><br /><br />As well as kntting, I've also become a patchwork fiend. I put together a very untidy (and still unfinished) quilt three years ago, when we were selling our flat in Scotland to move to London for a bit.<br /><br />It kept my mind busy when the roof suddenly started to leak and the rain never seemed to stop. Selling then moving all that way on a budget, to a flat we'd only heard about on the phone ...from my dad, of all people. Dad, who I love, is not the best person to ask about home comforts. A carpenter since he was a boy apprentice, he never quite mastered the art of home comforts in our house when I was growing up. Everything was half finished. I suppose that's why mum became the jack-of-all-trades. But, then again, this quilt is also half-finished and has been for three years, so who do I <i>really </i>take after...?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8ZhsQMWNsI/AAAAAAAAAC0/za0tTHtGATU/s1600/quilt+7.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8ZhsQMWNsI/AAAAAAAAAC0/za0tTHtGATU/s320/quilt+7.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460159011122198210" /></a><br /><br />Dad's description of the flat in Kentish Town sounded okay. We arrived by train, excited and nervous, having finally sold the flat to a lovely young chap (roof repaired), while our few bits of furniture arrived via Shore Porters. We walked around the flat in the half light of a September evening. It seemed fine...until we realised there was no bedroom.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8Zi2IvoMLI/AAAAAAAAAC8/aAaX6hZzOXU/s1600/quilt+8.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8Zi2IvoMLI/AAAAAAAAAC8/aAaX6hZzOXU/s320/quilt+8.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460160280433012914" /></a><br /><br />The tiny living room would double as our sleeping place. The flat we'd just sold had been enormous...Victorian and lofty...with seemingly hundreds of huge bay windows. I sat down in our tiny new flat and wept. Of course it all looked fine in the morning and we set about our London adventure.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8eSIB8vGKI/AAAAAAAAAD0/AibHbq5GcOI/s1600/cat+quilt+3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8eSIB8vGKI/AAAAAAAAAD0/AibHbq5GcOI/s320/cat+quilt+3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460493739869804706" /></a><br /><br />The quilt is made up of patches of embroidered cotton. I chose quotations from Shakespeare (typical English teacher) which I could illustrate with simple embroidered pictures. Dan helped me with the illustrations. I really like it. I have no idea why I haven't finished it. Perhaps I am worried the finished piece won't look as good as it does in my head - nothing ever does!<div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8eUjZBN84I/AAAAAAAAAEM/eIOfLj80ED4/s1600/quilt+5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8eUjZBN84I/AAAAAAAAAEM/eIOfLj80ED4/s320/quilt+5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460496408942343042" /></a><br /><br />The flowery bits are cut up old shirts which I'd worn to death but couldn't bear to throw away. It's backed with a piece of French red toile fabric which I'd originally bought to make curtains with, then couldn't be bothered.The quilt is edged with a lovely silky cranberry red ribbon.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8ZrUnkUhCI/AAAAAAAAADc/v9rQ_ydkG0c/s1600/quilt+6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8ZrUnkUhCI/AAAAAAAAADc/v9rQ_ydkG0c/s320/quilt+6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460169600196183074" /></a><br /><br />The quilt is being modeled by our cat, Cosmo, who loves to sleep on my quilts. Sweet prince!</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8eUi2ddUiI/AAAAAAAAAEE/0pinhT7oFbQ/s1600/quilt+9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8eUi2ddUiI/AAAAAAAAAEE/0pinhT7oFbQ/s320/quilt+9.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460496399665549858" /></a>Deborah McChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025516301933913356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2742399236251889751.post-44867736339835683192010-04-14T16:29:00.000-07:002010-04-14T16:34:38.995-07:00A red red rose<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8ZRBhfI5GI/AAAAAAAAACM/i_5xmRE7JaE/s1600/rose.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8ZRBhfI5GI/AAAAAAAAACM/i_5xmRE7JaE/s320/rose.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460140684844000354" /></a><br />Next project: a lovely corsage to put on to my new spring jacket - a purple cord mac. This was finished in no time at all and I got the excellent pattern from <a href="http://crazydaisy60.blogspot.com/2009/09/copyright-alison-hogg-2009.html#">http://crazydaisy60.blogspot.com/2009/09/copyright-alison-hogg-2009.html#</a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Deborah McChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025516301933913356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2742399236251889751.post-60697981176351857092010-04-14T16:18:00.000-07:002010-04-14T16:52:38.506-07:00Easter Bunny<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8ZVPNEjcBI/AAAAAAAAACc/dy0ap0zCF_0/s1600/bunny.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 237px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8ZVPNEjcBI/AAAAAAAAACc/dy0ap0zCF_0/s320/bunny.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460145317928464402" /></a><br />My first project - finished in a matter of less than a week. Yes, I am gloating. It doesn't look as good as it did in the picture in the magazine (Debbie Bliss, Spring/Summer 2009), or as good as it did in my head, but it's not too bad.<div><br /></div><div>The back of the jumper is a bit wrong, but it's not noticeable, thanks to the slubby tweed wool used.<br />He's called Colin.</div>Deborah McChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025516301933913356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2742399236251889751.post-13957858233926259842010-04-14T15:42:00.000-07:002010-04-14T16:41:45.875-07:00Knitting! A New Obsession<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8ZScIwGE_I/AAAAAAAAACU/hrBd_hjkNAc/s1600/Sindy+Wonder+Woman+1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8ZScIwGE_I/AAAAAAAAACU/hrBd_hjkNAc/s320/Sindy+Wonder+Woman+1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460142241572328434" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S8ZJhSn7aZI/AAAAAAAAAB0/c2h3QiyuqHo/s320/knitting-patterns4.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460132434517125522" /></a><br />My mum patiently taught me to knit when I was little. She's a jack-of-all-trades, my mum: she can turn her hands to just about anything. She used to make little outfits for my Sindy doll. It's long gone now of course (and I couldn't find the exact one on the Internet) but I particularly remember an outfit she knitted for Sindy which was a lemon pleated skirt, matching jacket and a handbag. I loved the lemon colour and the perfect lines of the finely stitched little pleats. Sindy looked really good in that outfit!<div><br /></div><div>I haven't knitted in years, however. I've always preferred embroidery. I started in February again, I think as a way of relaxing during what is always a stressful school period (I'm a teacher). I bought some nice colourful needles, found a pattern and got started. Only two months later and I have a dedicated knitting box and a long list of lovely projects...</div>Deborah McChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025516301933913356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2742399236251889751.post-42663869866907015042010-01-05T09:52:00.000-08:002010-01-05T10:39:14.396-08:00Winter<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S0OEsCPvdSI/AAAAAAAAABk/TgE1cTYOReM/s1600-h/cosmo+at+christmas.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S0OEsCPvdSI/AAAAAAAAABk/TgE1cTYOReM/s320/cosmo+at+christmas.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423324268336215330" /></a><br />Even though this is Scotland, our particular bit doesn't usually get snow until February and March. It's the first week in January and the temperature hasn't reached more than 0 degrees since Christmas. Salt cannot be found in any shop so our vegetables are healthy and taste as they should. Dan has just come in from saving our neighbours from nasty slips. As a substitute, he quite cleverly decided to pour cat litter over the pavements around our building. He surely is a local hero especially since we'd just come back from the doctor's as Dan has a sneezy cold and a throat infection. He can't speak so we are communicating through Yahoo Messenger. The little house across the road - a white building which in its shape and simplicity looks like a child's drawing -now resembles an iced Christmas gingerbread cake. The cat leaps out the kitchen window, sits on the outer sill considering his next step, then disappears into the frozen garden. He reappears with a yowl only an hour later then retreats back to the sofa, his coat wet and cold. The rear windscreen wiper of the car hangs limply as snow, deceptively frozen, proved too hard, and someone has scrawled in big chunky letters, visible to passing aircraft, LOL on the two inches of snow on the car's rooftop. A lottery ticket scratchcard is embedded in several days' layers of ice outside our living room window while the radiators chug constantly, a reminder of the scary heating bill we'll get in February.Deborah McChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025516301933913356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2742399236251889751.post-37844751432302258292010-01-04T15:09:00.000-08:002010-01-04T15:32:07.751-08:00A Day in the Life<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S0J27NWnWiI/AAAAAAAAABc/whTTEa7L-D0/s1600-h/ThreeFacesEve.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 275px; height: 315px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S0J27NWnWiI/AAAAAAAAABc/whTTEa7L-D0/s320/ThreeFacesEve.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423027660876372514" /></a><br />Saw a snippet of Richard E. Grant's documentary about diaries and diarists and will watch on iplayer as it seemed pretty interesting - Tolstoy complaining about bowel problems and sex, and Joe Orton's detailing of sexual encounters in public lavatories. This started me researching <a href="http://www.joeorton.org/">Joe Orton</a> who was the quintessential 60's Brit: swinging Islington, sex, a rising working-class intelligentsia, theatre, The Beatles... His defacement of public library books is hilarious. Check this link <a href="http://www.joeorton.org/Pages/Joe_Orton_Gallery13.htm">here </a>for a few of the book covers. The six month punishment issued by the court isn't so funny.Deborah McChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025516301933913356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2742399236251889751.post-1864484895271633802010-01-04T07:42:00.000-08:002010-01-04T09:37:07.448-08:00Underrated and Under Read - a biased report<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S0Ihwj2g8KI/AAAAAAAAABU/_CMtaWEZhS4/s1600-h/jerseygods07_p1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 208px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S0Ihwj2g8KI/AAAAAAAAABU/_CMtaWEZhS4/s320/jerseygods07_p1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422934019448828066" /></a><br />The excellent, fun comic <i>Jersey Gods</i> debuted last February at the New York Comic Con. It's a monthly bundle of fun, thanks to writer Glen Brunswick and the dynamic art of Dan McDaid. At first, sales were very good and the comic had a strong following. Then, gradually, interest seemed to dwindle. Maybe the time just wasn't right for the tone or style of the book. The new series <i>Chew </i>has done incredibly well - probably because the time is just right. Look at the names of very popular TV shows and their conceits - <i>The Mentalist, Monk, House, Chuck</i>... One-name-investigator-with-a-quirk is the soup de jour. A few people are now saying the book will have its day, maybe in a year or so. It will end up on lists called 'forgotten classics' or 'how did we miss?'.Deborah McChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025516301933913356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2742399236251889751.post-11313489946398752802010-01-03T19:15:00.000-08:002010-01-04T07:00:37.327-08:00New Writers - well, new to me<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S0FgtZV8POI/AAAAAAAAABM/hw6qf5NTqSw/s1600-h/lorna+sage.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 198px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/S0FgtZV8POI/AAAAAAAAABM/hw6qf5NTqSw/s320/lorna+sage.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422721759344082146" /></a><br />As the last few frozen days of the Christmas holidays pass by, I've been dipping into the Guardian's article on writers who died in the last decade. Lots of lovely new names and titles here to research and read, including Lorna Sage (picture reminds me of literary-minded pal of mine, Linda), Grace Paley (interesting New Yorker of Russian stock), Sybille Bedford (globe-trotter who kept falling in love well into her 90s). There are many more, but those are the three I'm getting to know a bit better just now.<div><br /></div><div>Also, excellent feature on books which are due to be published in 2010. All manner of subjects covered. Reading the list got me a bit excited particularly about non-fiction, a genre I tend to neglect. John Lanchester - who wrote the rather-good <i>Mr Phillip</i>s - has written a book on the current health of the economy, <i>Whoops! Why Everyone Owes Everyone and No One Can Pay, </i>which will be published in February.<i> </i>That one might just go on my birthday present wish list.</div><div><br /></div><div>Click <a href="http://www.salon.com/books/int/1998/10/26int.html">here </a>for interesting interview with Grace Paley.</div>Deborah McChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025516301933913356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2742399236251889751.post-60611364435810016022009-08-23T13:40:00.000-07:002010-01-04T09:29:37.636-08:00Sparkle<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/SpGqwGq-7PI/AAAAAAAAABE/vB7ZjK_oLM8/s1600-h/DSCF0658.JPG"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373263573831052530" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 292px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 209px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sgn5C8MT6Kk/SpGqwGq-7PI/AAAAAAAAABE/vB7ZjK_oLM8/s320/DSCF0658.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">This is a photo of my family - lovely Dan in the background drawing at his desk and Cosmo the cat attacking some red wool. The beast - Cosmo - was rescued from a shelter; no-one wanted him and he'd been there for months. He was a bit grumpy and didn't relish attention but, as we were leaving, we took one last look at him, he reached his paw through the bar and touched Dan's shoe.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">His name was Sparkle. Ridiculous. We settled on Edward. We brought him home and decided he was not an Edward. Edward is the name of an intelligent, bookish sort of cat: the kind owned by TS Eliot. Cosmo is, to put it bluntly, a bit thick. Grumpy and thick, but he's cute so he gets away with it. Like Jude Law.</span></div>Deborah McChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025516301933913356noreply@blogger.com0