The other night Elliott refused to stay in bed at bedtime, and I had no energy left in me to be the consistent parent, so he curled up on the couch under a blanket and happily drifted off to sleep. There are worse things I could do.
I’m working on a logo and website for an organic dairy farm in Palmerston North and have cows on the brain.
This guy looks like such a bandit in my bird book, with his masked eyes. I think he’d take off with the family silver, given half a chance.
We arrived in Golden Bay four weeks ago and followed the road right up to Collingwood. Sleepy and laid back, it is situated on a tiny tip of land separating the mouth of the Aorere River, in the Ruataniwha (“Taniwha’s den”, or, even scarier, “Two Taniwhas”?) inlet, and the calm waters of Golden Bay. There … Continue reading Colling Woods and Golden Bays
The children were mucking about the campsite and Elliott and another almost 2 year old were spotted with some pretty fierce looking berries. There was a moment of panic, but after confirming that none had been eaten we were led to the source – an elderberry tree laden with perfectly ripe specimens. Not to be … Continue reading Day 32: Oxymel
I’m in love with birthing. I really am. Both my babies were born at home and I loved being able to be in that flow space the whole time, listening to my body and following where it led me.
Summer is the perfect time for insect examination. We have our big magnifying glass always at the ready, and the boys are mastering the art of the patient finger, enjoying the tickle of tiny legs on tiny hands.
I’ll honestly find an egg in this guy’s hair one day.
There are these amazing German books published by a company called the Island Library, or Insel Bücherei which, if you’re lucky, you can find by rummaging through bookstalls at fleamarkets. They generally have beautifully illustrated covers, and among them are pocket guides to things like trees, birds and butterflies. I’m loving them to supplement all … Continue reading Day 25: Citronenfalter (Gonopteryx rhamni L.)
“This beach is ok, but the tide comes in too fast and covers our cricket pitch.” True story.
A quick sketch and an even quicker digital rendition of it.
I’m back online! We’ve just had a wonderful few days with my sister and her tribe here, so family catching up, swimming and fishing excursions have taken priority over sitting in front of a computer on a sweltering day. I’ll be posting a couple from the last few days today, and then will be offline … Continue reading Day 22: Shell seekers
I haven’t posted drawings for the last couple of days – sorry! I have two good excuses for this: 1. We are currently camping in paradise, and I’ve been distracted by the view. 2. I have been finishing off my own logo, perhaps the hardest job in the world. It’s a self-portrait icon, echoing elements … Continue reading The hold up
The sea spreads itself crepe-thin over the hot iron sand as, from the clifftops, my hungry boys sprinkle the beach, grain by grain, with sugar-rocks.
We went to see The Johnnys play last night at The Naked Possum – a cafe pretty much in the middle of nowhere, down a gravel road somewhere near Collingwood in Golden Bay. They were heaps of fun – billed as the world’s only all girl, all Johnny Cash band, they played to a modest … Continue reading 100 Days # 21: The Johnnys
I’ve been practicing hand-lettering. It’s amazing how thinking “heavy downstrokes, light upstrokes” makes ALL the difference. And a few flourishes thrown in for good measure.