Super news + beating the Long Winter Coma

Winter has suddenly hit us, and Melbourne is in a state of shock. 
I'm in serious denial that it really, truly is coat + gloves + scarf + beanie weather (might be a good time of year to learn how to knit!).

Despite the sudden frosty temperature, and the sudden desire to eat large bowls of hip-widening comfort food, while strewn on the couch with the heater turned on full blast, I have been doing my best not to give in to the Long Winter Coma.
You know the one, right? The one you wake up from in Spring, bleary eyed in the sunlight, wondering where the last few months of your life have gone, and who ate all the chocolate.

Beating the coma means making some Winter resolutions...  like:  work on fun creative projects! See your friends and reduce the Winter hermit syndrome! Cook some good food! Go out to see some bands!

Any other ideas? What do you do in Winter to stop yourself from crawling under the doona for 3 months straight?

I also have some very exciting news from Milk and Cookies HQ - you can now find my prints stocked at Meet Me at Mikes! The cutest little shop on Brunswick St, run by the lovely Pip Lincolne, who has penned some very popular crafty DIY books!
These might be just the books to keep you occupied with some crafty projects this Winter. Head over to her blog for some more tutorials and all around crafty goodness.
I'm pretty excited about my first stockist. It's rather nice seeing my prints in a real, non-online shop, let alone a cute shop like Mikes. yay!

The original Muppet Show TV pitch

Thank you, Jim Henson, for making life awesome!

Bottled

I haven't participated in Illustration Friday for so long! Here's my entry for this week's theme, bottled.
Bottled man has oaky overtones and goes well with lamb.

Octogirl Print

I've just put a new print up in the shop, my dear Octogirl!
Hmm, I may have to consider her for some animation further down the line, although drawing those eight arms a million times, yikes!
Hope you're all having a good week!

Illustrators Australia Auction for Japan

Illustrators Australia is holding an online auction of member's artworks, with 100% of profits going to Red Cross Australia's Japan and Pacific Disaster Appeal.
So if you've had your eye on some tasty artwork for your walls, here's your chance to buy it and do some good as well.

I've donated 'The Chaperone' print, which you can bid on right here, or head to the auction page to check out more lovely works by talented aussies.

These are the bears of our lives

Last week at the Craft Hatch market, I had the pleasure of sitting next to Jess of Teddy Bear's Wednesday.


Jess makes the most gorgeous bears and softies, as I'm sure you'd all agree, and I'm very happy to have taken home this lovely bunny, Pearl.


I think Jess has a great philosophy about her bears and toys. She writes:
"A more worn and loved bear is apparently 'less valuable' but I believe that he is more valuable in a way that can't be measured because he has the marks of love and the scars of life on him."

It instantly made me think of my own childhood bear, who I will share with you today on my blog. Here he is, My oldest friend, who has been with me since I was born.


When I was a kid, I tore out his eye and threw it over the balcony, because I was really interested in watching things fall. A few years later, I had pangs of guilt over my teddy's eye, and went digging in the garden down below our apartment, looking for it, but it was too late.

So my bear has the marks and scars of a tough life in my company, but he is still with me, and like a true friend, I could never throw him out with the garbage.

Book Love!

My etsy shop was mentioned in the recently released Hide & Seek Melbourne book!! Yay!!
This great little set of books (food, bars, shopping & street adventures) showcases the hidden little treasures of Melbourne, and I was included in the shopping edition, 'Treasure Trove'. So chuffed!
It just made me think how long it's been since I've actually gone shopping. My mini sized feet could do with some new shoes!

Though I might not get the chance to go shopping this weekend, I will be on the other side of the counter, selling my goodies at Fairy Floss Markets in Williamstown, this Sunday from 9-2. Drop by if you're in the area!

Fat Batman!

After a special request, Fat Batman is now a print!

Batman retired and ate too many burgers, but that doesn't mean he can't still wear his undies on top of his pants…

Yarraville & Paper Crave

Milk and Cookies was recently featured on Paper Crave! Such a beautiful blog, filled with delicious paper goods. Blush!

I had a lovely time at Yarraville Market last weekend, hanging out with ladies and chaps of much craftiness. It was quite funny sitting at my stall beneath two giant Australian flags, and the masonic symbol - anyone know what it means? it looks like a compass. Freemasons must be very good at drawing neat circles.

I'm slowly getting the idea of this market thing. Boy, it's hard for an illustrator used to being a little hermit to get out there and talk to real live people! But it's great too - I'm getting some immediate feedback, and seeing what people like.

My new Fat Batman prints (coming soon to the shop) made all the little boys that walked past erupt into cries of "mum! mum! it's batman!".
The grown men did pretty much the same thing, minus their mums. Some things must never change.

Illustrator Spotlight: Ina Hattenhauer

I've just discovered the super sweet work of Ina Hattenhauer, an illustrator from Weimar.

The image above is so endearing. It brought back memories of all the grandmas in the neighbourhood I grew up in, beating their carpets with a rug beater just like this.

Ina has a blog full of lovely illustrations, and a weekly comic published every Sunday featuring the fabulous Sun. Here's Sun, chilling out on a grey Sunday afternoon with good tunes, something sweet to eat, and a furry friend to cuddle. Sounds like a plan!

The Design Files + Giveaway time!!

A big thanks to Lucy Feagins of The Design Files, for featuring my work today! The Design Files is one of my favourite blogs, always full of tasty inspiration, and with a real Australian focus which I love.
It's certainly an honour to be featured, so before I burst into an embarrassing happy dance, you should head over there for your chance to win a little giveaway pack of Milk and Cookies goodies - 1 print + 1 mini calendar + 3 cards!

Two new prints!

Now up in le shoppe!
It's always exciting getting new prints fresh from the printer's for the first time. Seeing work on paper is so different to seeing it on screen. It takes on a new life.

Afternoon lull

2010 is all wrapped up

Check out this cute present I got from Matt for chanuxmas !
It came in this spectacular packaging.


Yes - I felt like I was 11 years old unwrapping this.
What could it be? a cd? a jumper (or sweater as some people in the northern hemisphere call it)?


A gorgeous print from 'Hidden Eloise'!

This bear and girl business has been an ongoing theme for me in 2010. I think in 2011 I need to go and meet some new wild animals.
Is there some kind of dangerous animal social club I could join? Perhaps a trip to Melbourne zoo will have to do.

Last time I visited the zoo I was still quite enamoured with the bears


oh forget it, I really can't get over my bear obsession - it's here to stay.
So deja-vu - I'm drawing them again! Here's a little bear sketch to celebrate the new year.
Happy new year everyone!!

Modish & Friends this weekend!

Well, if one market was not enough next weekend, I've just found out I'll be doing another!
The Friends Who Make Things Market is run out of a lovely lady's backyard in Brunswick.
It's on Sunday the 5th, 12-4pm at 21 Dunstan Avenue, Brunswick.
Yes! It really is in a backyard! I hope Melbourne will be nice to us and grace us with some sunshine.
Should be a nice afternoon, so come and visit if you are a Northsider!

I thought I'd check out the Modish Creators Market last weekend, just to get a feel for it before I do it on Saturday. Well, I came and looked, and walked out with these two little pinch pots from Golden Brown Fox. It was the first market she had done, and her ceramics were just too lovely to walk by twice!


I also walked out with some indian spice mixes, of all things. It was the last thing I planned to buy, but once you start sniffing all the yummy aromas of the spices, your wallet magically opens and you find yourself eating curry all week!

I must say thanks to the Indie Tot for featuring my work on their blog last week!

Market + new cards!

photo by Kim from Craft Victoria

I did my first market over the weekend - the lovely Craft Hatch at the City Library.
It was very exciting to launch my works in a market setting, and all the sellers and buyers were so friendly! Overall a great day.

I'll be doing one more market before the end of the year - Modish Creators Market in Malvern Town Hall, on December 4th. If you'll be there, sneaking in some xmas shopping, drop by my stall and say hello!

I was busy busy leading up to the market, making calendars, and some new goodies - badges and greeting cards. Here are two brand new designs!



I really wanted to create some xmas cards that weren't TOO christmasy. What do you think?
These cards and a bunch more are now up in the shop.

Saari

I wish there were more episodes of this adorable animated show 'Saari' online, it's too cute!
It's great to see a kids show with such beautiful design, animation and lovely music. I'm probably not the target audience, but I would watch the whole series!
Check out this episode, 'Crepes'.



via cartoon brew

To market, to market!

The awesome craft hatch logo above was designed by Adam Cruickshank

I'll be doing the Craft Hatch emerging designers market at the Melbourne City Library this Saturday from 11-4!

This is my first market - so very exciting! And just a little bit scary...
I've been busy slicing up calendars, getting prints and frames ready to go, and making a few new goodies that will be launched at the market.

If you're around Melbourne CBD, do come and say hello!

I have to say a big thank you to Amy from Pikaland who featured my calendar in her illustrated calendars post this week. I'm really happy to be mentioned amongst other illustrators that I love.
And another thank you to Petite Carousel, for posting about Milk and Cookies on her pretty blog.

Friday afternoon

I sold my first 2 calendars this morning!
After doing a little happy dance, I put some thought into how to package them, and this is how they turned out.

A big thank you to Holly of Decor8, and Irene of Bloesem, who both mentioned my calendar on their lovely blogs. Thank you ladies!


I've recently started hand drawing little thank you cards to send off with my orders.
Just little sketches of appreciation.
You can't tell their size in the photo, but they are only tiny - about 3x3cm.
I can't help it, I really love drawing tiny tiny.

Have a great weekend!

Two new prints up in the shop!

It was a marvelous sunny weekend in Melbourne (a rare occurence!), so I managed to photograph and list two new prints in the shop, on Sunday afternoon.

Bird Radio

My Feathered Attorney