Accidental Vix

I was so excited to go to the Canada Water Library in London, despite the underground problems, to be re-united with my sketchbook project 2012, as well as meeting my fab friend Jess from Jessie G for the day and getting engrossed in lots of great sketchbooks. The problem wasn’t where to start but when to finish! I was lucky enough to have the help of Rob Jelinski’s top 25 read list (I advise you take it if you’re visiting this week – only the European and Australian books are in London but I’m determined to get to Brooklyn to see the rest!!) and the ones I saw were all amazing:

• The first book that I managed to get out was that of Marian Wood, and one of the first artists I noticed through Rob’s blog. I’m gutted that in the initial chaos when the system wasn’t set up that I forgot to take more photos of the delicate colour, line weight and traditional feel of Marian‘s sketches as it was beautiful
• Charlotte Valance is somebody I’ve got to know through twitter, and the sketchbookproject, but who I also got to meet on my Gocco course earlier in the summer so I was very excited to see her book in person. Well worth seeing for the gorgeous ink sketches of buildings, and a style I instantly recognise now as Charlotte‘s
• I knew there was a chance that I would see Matt Robinson there, and thanks to sketchbook name badges I did. Matt‘s detailed sketches with dots/stippled effect captured my attention from the first page I saw, and the book is even better in person – no photo can give it justice. Can’t wait for Matt’s 2013 entry, and hoping it comes back to London
• I have to admit that Mat Roff‘s Legend of Mat Marvel has gone straight in at no.1 in my opinion – you MUST see this in person. Not only is it a gripping story, which I consider to be a cross between James Bond and TinTin but the illustrations are so detailed and beautiful, and the cover grabbed mine and everybody else’s attention. If I could buy this I would… Please tell me you’re doing Sketchbook Project 2013 Mat!!
• The delicately detailed illustrations of Naomi Adams have been on my must see list from early on, and are even better in person. The red string tells a story of it’s own and is like a wordless fairytale that any child can narrate themselves. I was lucky enough to bump into Naomi and her gorgeous children who must have loved watching the story unfold.
• I am addicted to twitter and the sense of community so was pleased to meet Zoe Ford, who I have tweeted with plenty but never met in person before, and of course view her sketchbook which was a very different take on a path through the trees.
• Last but not least, a big mention to my friend Jessie G who I feel I bullied into the sketchbook project (in a nice way) and did all of her clean, bright and bold sketches in just 10 minutes!

As well as the books specifically chosen to view you also get a ‘random’ book given with it so you get to view books that you might not otherwise have seen. Or, you could choose to search by a theme, colour or random selection which means it’s perfect for people just wanting to visit but not knowing how to choose a book and my fave random book has to be from wellywearer and again the gorgeous detailed linework. For me, the only disappointing things were the long queue (but I guess that means it’s popular which has to be a good thing) and the fact that I wanted to go over and pick the books off the shelf that took my fancy; this also got me thinking how likely my book is to be chosen as a random selection by visitors.

All in all it was a great experience and has spurred me on to do some more pages of my sketchbook project 2013, to be shared later in the week.

Have a great week,

Xx

Yay, I will finally be re-united with my sketchbookproject 2012 in London this weekend. This is my second book to go on tour, the first is now housed in the Brooklyn Art Library, and my third is in progress. For those of you who have not heard about it here’s a quick summary from my own point of view:

• Sign up to the Sketchbook Project, and choose your theme (I chose this is a sketchbook for my 2012 project)
• Then pay through the website and wait for the exciting post to arrive looking all new and ready to be personalised
• Get creative! For my 2012 sketchbook I chose to base it on my life as a bride and use it as a storybook because there are 32 pages (standard picture book)
• Then the hardest bit is saying goodbye and posting it back to New York before the deadline
• That’s it… let it fly off around the globe and hopefully be kept company along the way as people pick it off the shelves

I cannot recommend it enough, what are you waiting for? Sign up now if you haven’t already, and if you did the 2012 project then please post your name and sketchbook details below so I can add it to my list for Saturday. Thanks to a fab artist I met through twitter, Rob Jelinski, here is a Top 25 read list (only the European entries are coming to London) if you get chance to visit Canada Waters Library over the next week to see the fab creative books on display, and of course it would be great if mine got a few views before it heads back to live in New York – there could be an excuse for a holiday to the USA in there!

Thanks to Art House Co-op who make all of this possible…

Xx

As you will probably know I was recently asked to collaborate with Rob Jelinski, as part of A book called forever digital after party. Not only was it great having the opportunity to work with Rob across the Atlantic but I also feel like I have made a new friend. Apart from thanking Rob for letting me be part of the digital party, and allowing me to push my limits further with a live broadcast from my sewing machine at 3.30am, I would also like to say thank you for including me in his top 25 sketchbook project read list and finally for these exciting goodies which arrived through the post before we went away! Thanks Rob…

Xx

Yay, I did it… I managed to stay awake until 3.30am and beyond to broadcast LIVE on ustream last night! A massive THANK YOU to Rob Jelinski for letting me be a part of A book called Forever Digital After Party and be part of such a talented team:

Blake Stratton – What can I say, a tough act to follow but currently have his album on repeat… He has somehow managed to turn one of my most hated songs (500 miles by the proclaimers) into one of my most loved – you have to listen to it!

Shayla – A great end to the digital after party, and for me to stay up to listen to the end at 4.30am it must have been good so please check her music out

Efrain Mercado – Rob’s wingman, and need I say more – where would we be without our trusted friends?

Margot Miller - unfortunately we had some technical difficulties so this didn’t get aired but I urge you to see it!

Downtown Doodler - one of my latest fave shops on etsy, Bernadette manages to bring handmade life to a well known brand (Strabucks) of coffee cups amongst her other detailed sketches

To say I wasn’t nervous before hitting broadcast live last night would be a lie, and anyone that knows me will tell you that I am definitely not an extrovert, so to do a live broadcast had to be for a very talented person – Rob, I would’t have done it for just anyone. Sewing seems to be second nature to me now, but sewing live whilst trying to concentrate on talking and presenting takes it to a whole new level, especially in the early hours when my brain was not at it’s best, but I got through it and didn’t make too many mistakes so I’m glad I took the leap and challenged myself. I’m very tempted to make myself a t-shirt saying ‘I survived… 11 minutes of fame’ but in the meantime I will be listing my collaborative mobile with Rob in my etsy shop as formal tour merchandise soon, so watch this space, and don’t forget to check out the Art House Sketchbook Project 2012 tour!

Time now to have a relaxing evening, enjoy what’s left of the weekend and well done to everyone involved in A Book Called Forever last night, in particular Rob!!

Xx

I have to admit that I often challenge myself to my limits but I think I have even surpassed my own expectations this time! That being said, how could I say no to collaborating with the fab Rob Jelinski? The excitement is building as Saturday approaches but so are the nerves as I plan to do a live broadcast at 3.30am UK time to share a collaborative project with Rob and his digital after party for A Book Called Forever. I can’t reveal too much, but to quote Rob… ‘This global broadcast will stream LIVE from Nashville, London, and Montana featuring the musical talent of Blake Stratton and Shayla coupled with the creative whimsy of Vicky Morse. The venue will be hosted by two of Jersey’s finest- Rob Jelinski and Efrain Mercado.’ You’ll have to wait until Saturday 31 March 2012 to find out more but I am honoured to be associated with some very talented artists – Blake Stratton, Shayla and especially Rob, who I ‘met’ through the sketchbook project.

Xx

I’m so happy to have finished this year’s sketchbook project in plenty of time but part of me feels like I’ve just said goodbye to a child fleeing the nest as I packaged it up and passed it to my husband to take to the post office. So, please if you get chance to go to any of the tour dates say hello to my sketchbook across the atlantic as I won’t get to see it on any of the tour dates in the US and I wouldn’t want it to get lonely after flying all that way!

Xx

Short and sweet from me today, I’m going to let pictures speak louder than words. Here is your chance to see my whole sketchbook in sequence so you can follow the story for yourself… no prizes for guessing where my inspiration came from! Any feedback is welcome as always, especially as I’m considering the Limited Edition Sketchbook Project.

Xx

Yay, I am so happy and relieved to have finally finished my sketchbookproject 2012! I must admit it didn’t take me long after sending off last years to forget how stressful and hard it is to work to a deadline for something that will be viewed by others and tour 3 continents this time. This is the first 32 page ‘picture book’ I have done as a continuous story,  but generally I’m pleased with what I’ve achieved, especially given the trauma of the past couple of months. There are a few pages which I rushed for the sake of finishing and I’m not too happy with but as I keep telling my husband perfection doesn’t exist. Here are a few more pages to keep you going until the grand reveal of the finished story…

Xx

I had good intentions this year, but life got in the way! I’ve had my sketchbook for the Sketchbook Project 2012 since July and until yesterday had only done the cover and 6 sides, so I thought I’d make the most of being stuck on the sofa and did a few more pages. I was quite pleased that by the end of the day I had managed another 5 sides, until I realised there are still 21 to go. This year’s book in contrast to last year is going to be a complete 32 page picture story – this is something new to me and I thought I’d probably have to do a storyboard but in actual fact I’m finding it better to make it up as I go along. Above are a few sneaky peeks of some of my pages, I will add more once it is finished and I can actually walk to get to better light.

Time now for some more sketching, have a good afternoon.

Xx

Well, our start to married life is stressful at the moment to say the least but without the pressure of having to make and create every spare moment my creativeness has actually increased. The problem now being that I have so many ideas in my head that I don’t have time to attempt them all, but I guess that is what my sketchbook is for. On top of my regular sketchbook I have also signed up to the sketchbook project 2012, allowing myself more time to complete it this time. Our wedding and honeymoon now seeming like a distant memory I have made a start on filling the pages. Unlike my previous (and first) sketchbook project which was rushed to say the least I have decided to make the most of this year’s being shorter at 32 pages, a standard picture book size. Continuing with my illustration dream the first page starts my story and view of 2011 as it has been an important year in our lives!

Anyone following my blog will know of my love of textiles, sketching and my overworked sewing machine so why not combine them all. I will let the pictures tell the story so far, but watch this space as the journey unfolds. Any comments or feedback would be great as I still have 29 pages to go.

Xx