WOSAT is just 3 days away. I finished *most* of my making last week, but there has still (somehow) been glazing, firing, decals, firing, packing and more glazing to do! Open studio events tend to be exhausting in themselves (it's hard work being so nice to people...!), but with all the extra work, promotion and cleaning, artists tend to be knackered before the event even begins. 

Yesterday I had the pleasure of being a guest on Manx Radio's Women Today show! I've never done live radio before, but it was great fun!

And Phil came back to get a few more shots...

There is a delightful little vintage caravan on our wee island that has been renovated and repurposed into a food van - specifically for amazing home made PIES! She's called Betty. I met Betty's owner, Vicky, on a marketing course last year and I've stalked her at several events in the last few months. Vicky asked me to make her a 'manx milk jug' and how could I refuse?! 

I've been experimenting with digital decals (transfers) on and off for a few years, but I've finally found a company that prints great ones! I'm stoked! They will enable me to speed up production, whilst still using my own original illustrations.

These puffin and manx shearwater designs will soon be available at the Manx Wildlife Trust shop in Peel!

Yesterday was my first market of the year, and a lovely one it was too! Good stall neighbours, lovely customers AND I sold some new designs - WOOT!

This robin design has been bugging me since January. The first version was pleasing, but it didn't actually look like a robin. It was more like a blackbird masquerading as a robin. Now this little guy, he looks more suitable chubby and perky. 

Another niggling I-must-get-that-finished job has been these puffin illustrations. I've faffed about for 4 weeks with these boys and I'm mighty glad to have them finished. Fingers crossed they'll make good digital decals. I sent off a file of designs to a decal/transfer producer today and I so hope they turn out well! I've struggled before, and I believe that a combination of hand-painting and transfers would be great visually AND beneficial to my production process!

'Puffin' in Manx Gaelic is 'pibbin'! Learning this made me very, very happy indeed.

This week: new stickers, finishing a laxey wheel design, visiting Bry Rad, reading High Fidelity by Nick Hornby and listening to What Kind of Man by Florence and the Machine.