'Tis the season...

...for Christmas parties!

I went to the Victorian chapter of SCBWI's Xmas dinner last weekend and last night was Illustrators Australia's. Two very different parties and each rewarding in their own way.

The SCBWI dinner was a casual sit down and chat with some (mostly) older ladies who had been in the business quite a while. I felt like a little fledgling learning from the masters. "Yes, grasshopper, you have far to go, so much to learn, but you will arrive at your destination and the journey will be worth it". or something like that.

Then last night was IA's party. As some of you know I am "vice-prez" of IA this year so it was fun to help organise - lots of food, heaps of alcohol! a bit of dancing, lots of Xmas lights, a rooftop with a view, and good conversations. I nominated to be on the committee again next year, in what capacity I'm not sure yet, and a few new faces nominated as well so that was great. ALSO, I made this cake, in the shape of our logo:

now, I have NEVER decorated a cake before - not even your garden variety rectangular, chocolate icing and nothing else cake, so this was quite a challenge - but lots of fun! everyone loved him. Maybe I should start a new business...? haha, I don't think so!

the generosity of flossy

I should have posted this much, much earlier.... but my good bloggy friend flossy-p is having the most amazing giveaway for thanksgiving - and she's not even American/Canadian!

The lucky winner gets to commission her to do a painting for free - go check out this post to find out more, it's quite unbelievable really. Quick! Go now!

Bringing Spain to Sunshine

We finally finished painting our lounge room - and my mural! Here are some pics:

(you can't really tell but the birds are a dark blue)

The design is inspired by our trip to Spain, especially Seville and its oranges. The two bird sculptures on the mantlepiece were my 'payment' for selling this fish painting in my friend's store (I need to do two more paintings for her ASAP, just in time for Christmas!)

So, now that the lounge is finished, we are painting our entranceway! And I had so much fun doing the mural, I think I might have to do another one - perhaps japanese-inspired this time...

We have a winner!

Thank you sooo much to everyone who entered my first ever giveaway!! It was so exciting to get so many entrants, and also to hear everybody's lovely surprises - from wedding proposals to overseas travel to chance meetings - thank you for sharing and inspiring more surprises!

A winner was chosen by random.org - And I'm very very happy to say it was Isabelle who followed the making of Surprise from the beginning, and loyally left many comments and questions (and also a fellow Montrealer so that's nice too :) -  I think she was perhaps a bit frustrated with not being able to find out exactly what the "surprise" was in the book, but now SHE WILL! Congratulations Isabelle, and thank you so much for your faithfulness to my process - serendipity has rewarded you! I hope you and any children in your life enjoy it.

I-F: Wise

I suppose owls are the traditional 'wise' animal, but I would imagine whales to be pretty wise themselves.

There is a funny story behind this illo. A long time employee of Illustrators Australia is leaving, and the committee was asked to each do an illustration of him. The funny thing is, very few of us have actually met him, as he lives about 2 hours outside of Melbourne, so all we know of him is a booming voice on the telephone. So this is my impression of Bernard Wale. (He lives on Phillip island, where penguins also live, just in case you were wondering why the penguin!) The illo is only 50mm x 70mm.

By the way, I have extended the deadline for my children's book giveaway until next weekend! Visit this post to see what to do to enter.

Back to the giveaway

Sunday is almost over, and I am a bit full of too much champagne at the moment, so I think I will extend the giveaway deadline until next weekend, if that is okay by you. :)

Check this post to see what to do.