new illustration blog

i've started a new illustration blog and finished with 10x15 - i know it didn't last very long but i don't have a scanner so was forced to take photos of the drawings. this new blog will be called DRAWN BY MOUSE and as the title says, it is made up of illustrations i've drawn with a mouse. i really like this method; it frustrates me no end but i like its unpredictability and flow of line.

you can also find the link on the right hand side bar.

i've heard rumours

i have heard rumours that i will have to cover reception at lunch times. i hate reception work, i don't know why but i do - this could be the final nail in the coffin as far as working at this temp job.

oh by the way i saw jason schwartzman yesterday. he was browsing the books at metropolis yesterday afternoon and made some enquiries about a book of drawings.

if you don't know who he is, he has been in such films as I HEART HUCKABEES,THE DARJEELING LIMITED, RUSHMORE, MARIE ANTOINETTE and a lot of other american indie films.

he is a little man - probably the size of tom cruise (not that i have seen him up close) i was very surprised at his stature, or lack there of.

windy and hot

it is windy...

and hot in the city today.

it has been a while since i have managed to put anything on my blog, i have been busy temping and when i get home i am exhausted.
i will try harder

look at what i have to contend with everyday!

around our new neighbourhood

walking around our neighbourhood is so relaxing, once you get off the main 6 lane freeway on which we are situated. i went for a wonder up to our local post office the other day and took my camera with me to show you some of the sites.
these little workers cottages look small from the front but they actually go a long way back often with 3 bedrooms including living room, bathroom, kitchen and back garden. no chance in being able to afford one of these little gems, they are going for no less than $700,000 (appox £300,000)...

...so no chance in obtaining this 2 storey house.

our little post office on the corner past the tall building.

and the street i walk down; i didn't realise how much i missed the australian flora. these stringy barks are just amazing with their distinctive bark and cascading leaves. eventhough the gardens have mostly english roses and plants a few do plant native flowers and trees...i am on the look out.

melbourne and the big wedding day

ed has been posting a lot about dubai so i'll let you look at his blog: ed's blog.

so we arrived in melbourne and hit the lanes, these lanes are full of grafitti some amazing, some just bad tags but on the whole they are worth checking out. on most saturdays you will see at least one wedding party having there wedding photos taken here.

aaaahhhh federation square; full of bars, restaurants and galleries. unfortunately we just missed the pixar exhibition at ACMI

the food is great as well. this fish was served up to us at a restaurant called claypots in st. kilda

THE WEDDING!
and so the last 3 weeks have been leading up to drue and sarah's wedding on saturday 3rd november. it was a brilliant day and thankfully the sun was out and the electrical storm held off until late in the night.

peter, drue and andrew: the main men of the day

dad pulled it out of the bag again and made a great speech.

the first dance went down a treat and was worth the lessons - smoooooooooooth.

carlton baths

would you believe it.....there is a public pool 2 minutes walk from our flat!!

i have been twice now at 7:30am; at this time the sun isn't too strong for my pale, freckly skin to feel it's wrath.

this morning i was swimming to the tunes of 'the libertines', the life guard had it playing on her stereo.

this town keeps getting better!

our last week in london

our last week in london was full of farewells and visiting lots of places for the last time - well until we return for a holiday of course.

for ed's birthday it was more karaoke, yes more karaoke! and just when the staff at karaoke box knew me by name, it was time to say goodbye - how embarrassing.

on our last full day in london we went to the 'dutchess of kent' and met up with a bunch of friends, we will miss them so much but know we will keep in touch, after all we managed to do so last time ;)

the only way to embarrass a gal

this is a slow catch up on what we have been up to since leaving our jobs, our friends and london for the fair shores of melbourne, australia.

well what can i say, my friends at my old work were a brilliant bunch of people and i will so miss them. on my last day we went to karaoke and boy did i convert a lot of people to the ways of karaoke and boy did they embarrass me with t-shirts with my face plastered all over them.

farewell my friends, i know i will see you again.

been busy

i have been so busy these past couple of weeks, not long left in the country...only 2 weeks.

will post more soon.

goodbye london, i'll miss you ... it has been a good 9 years.

kew gardens

kew gardens on a hot summer day; the glass houses were amazing, a mixture of tropical and sub-tropical environments. you can walk above the trees and palms as well...it was so humid i started to feel a little light-headed. a brilliant day and some amazing patterned leaves....

new blog link

my life in illustrations

this is a link to another blog i am starting called 10X15, i am hoping this will spur me on to do some more drawings (working 9-5 5 days a week is sapping my creative impulses), a kind of illustrated diary. i hope you enjoy it and let me know what you think.

claire

xx

lemon shoes and cake

i made this delicious lemon drizzle cake the other weekend

and found the perfect pair of shoes to go with my dress for my brothers wedding in november. now all i have to do is find a bag.......

"A you-neeeee-cooooorn!!!!"

this weekend we watched 'a kid for two farthings' a brilliant film from 1955 about a young boy who lives on 'fashion street' (petticoat lane), he is told a tale about the unicorn; if you own a unicorn all of your wishes will come true. in his desperate wish for his father to return home from africa and to grant wishes to those around him (including sonia played by diana dors), joe goes in search for a unicorn amongst the bustling market place rich with imigrants from around the world.

joe does find his unicorn; be it a goat with only one horn and uses his powers to better those around him.

this film made me smile so much and the acting by little joe is flawless.

'its a unicooooorrrrrnnnnnn!'

summer days

apples in our garden
lea river canal
bumble bee
mansion houses
blue sky, green trees
our garden, our station
church path
mind the gap!

the lovebox festival

helter skelter

this weekend was the lovebox festival in victoria park, hackney. i was lucky enough to get a ticket as a birthday present from shaun for saturdays line-up.

ed and me sheltering from the sun

this day i think had the best line-up and who was playing......

THE B52'S! yes! THE B52'S!

damn fred, that shirt is smok'n

kate you're a super sixties vixen
we saw a few bands: 'adem', 'hot chip', 'the rapture' and as the day came to its close we were waiting with baited breath for fred, kate and cindy to storm that stage and give us those classic tunes we all love so much. and they delivered, they did play 4 songs from their 'new' album, i forgave them, and as they played 'planet claire' i enjoyed bopping down the front with as much wild abandon as i am able to muster. they also gave us 'rock lobster', 'love shack', 'private idaho', 'strobelight' and 'give me back my man' - they were amazing.

thank you shaun for a great day and to top it off the weather was amazing (especially after all the rain we have had).

note: i saw the B52'S in 1990 in good'ol festival hall in brisbane, australia and i can say with all honestly they haven't lost any of their enthusiasm, voice or charisma. they will stay up their in my top 5 bands of all time.

oh and i had to add this moment of fashion hell....NO! NO! woman, just 'cause you are at a festival doesn't mean you can wear......well THAT!!!ANYWHERE!!!

coco electrik

anne played one of her last gigs with 'coco electrik' last weekend at the proud gallery in camden before she has a little baby booty.

they keep getting better and it was great to see her after so long.