New Year, new ideas!

Happy New Year! 2013 sees the start of many things for me (I hope!). For Christmas I got an awesome telescope from my boyfriend (The Legend) as a present for us both as we both have a keen interest in Astronomy, especially since we have become avid campers with a mutual high respect for things outdoorsy and natural.

Last Easter, we camped in the Lake District and saw the clearest skies we'd eve experienced. I had just downloaded a Night Sky app on my iPhone, so we were able to explore the constellations and even pinpoint exactly which bit of space junk we were looking at! Even on holiday in Kefalonia, in July, we sat on the beach and explored the sky.

We also hope to finally buy our own home, go on a road trip in the USA, and get fit, but all good things come to those who wait, I guess!

Workwise, I will soon move from my second home at the BBC Television Centre to New Broadcasting House. This mixes up lots of different feelings, and I will miss the old creaky corridors of TVC and the surprises they bring in the form of various celebrities that I have encountered over the years! But old with the old and in with the New! Being part of the new International Newsroom should be pretty interesting!

I also fancied kick starting my blog again, even if just to document what's happening in my life and the things that interest me....and see where it takes me

Anyway, enough about me. I hope you had a great new year and I hope you will enjoy following this blog....

 

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I Would Be collaboration project

I've just completed my submission for the "I Would Be" collaboration project.
Each artist had to finish the sentence "If I wasn't a designer or illustrator, I would be..." with an illustrative interpretation.

I decided to do a Ghostbuster! I was obsessed with the film ever since I first saw it in the 80s when it came out on VHS. I remember watching it with the kids next door, sucking on a swizzle lolly, and covering my eyes and watching through my fingers when they stumbled across The Grey Lady in the library..and then making them rewind the tape when the film finished so I could see that part again!

Ever since, I've always been interested in the paranormal, and love hearing other people's ghost stories and hasten to add that I've now had a few spooky experiences of my own!

f you would like to take part in the project check out
I Would Be

Vladmir the vegetarian Vampire bat

Vladmir the vegetarian Vampire bat
Originally uploaded by Punkypickle

Here is my contribution to Uberkraaft and Lesley Barne's Colonel Windpipe's band. Artists and illustrators are invited to take part and draw their own band member.

It's a great project to be a part of, and I can't wait to see new members as they join

Toefluff entry

Toefluff entry
Originally uploaded by Punkypickle

Here's my submission for the fantastic Steve Rack's upcoming Toefluff exhibition! And YOU can be a part of it too! Just go to Toefluff.co.uk and you can download the template and make your very own! There is a slideshow of all the submissions so far, and they look amazing! So go on and take part!

Tado and Gola collaboration launch event!

Tado/Gola shoes!
Originally uploaded by Punkypickle

I recently attended the Tado and Gola collaboration launch event at the Gola store on Carnaby Street, London.
I was nervously expecting a 2 hour queue like when I tried to go to the Kidrobot opening party, but due to the timing, the downpour of rain and the lack of publicity, it was a nice calm affair.

It was great to see the colourful, cheerful characters designed by Tado, cheekily adorning the windows of the Gola shop on an otherwise grey and miserable Carnaby Street! They even had a red carpet! Once inside I was invited to have my poke my head through one of those sea-side style boards, and become a Tado character for a photograph..how could I resist!

The shoes and clothing ranges of course echo Tado's colourful kawaii style. Bright, vibrant colours, can't help but make you smile!

I had a chance to catch up with the Tado duo, Mike and Katie for the first time. I couldn't believe that they managed to keep the collaboration so quiet, despite working on it for over a year! Tado were just as I expected them to be, warm, friendly and welcoming.

I left with a couple of cool badges with the new characters on, some postcards, and a pot of candyfloss to boot, venturing back out from this colourful haven, into the grey drizzle....

Click on the picture above to check out more photos of the event on Flickr.com

Bento!

Star egg bento
Originally uploaded by Punkypickle

Recently, I've really been getting into Japanese bento boxes!
I love Japanese food, and was getting so uninspired taking boring healthy food to work, that when I first came across bento boxes, and how colourful and interesting they look, I got hooked!

It's getting quite a following in the USA, and I've noticed that a few shops in London are starting to catch on too..my last bento box was bought in Paperchase of all places, although everything else, I've bought at the Japan Centre near Piccadilly Circus, London.

I've started a new set on Flickr to show my journey in Bento making, so check it out!

Nobrow competition entries

Nobrow Submission-Conversations I've Never Had
Originally uploaded by Punkypickle

Last weekend I entered the Nobrow competition "People I've Never Met & Conversations I've Never Had" on Flickr.
I upcycled my Eggbot (as he's not made it to print yet) and also designed a new character from scratch, which I guess must have been influenced by Valentine's Day, in a creepy cute kinda way! Anyway, check out the links to my Flickr page and let me know what you think!