stained glass window

I have been going to stained glass classes. It was really hard to cut the glass at first. I want to make some smaller things next.

English country walk

I went for an evening walk in Alfriston. Walking through the fields. One of my favourite things. English summer is so beautiful.

New Haven Cormorant

At the weekend, I went to see an outdoor performance in New Haven with Generik Vapeur, Zap Art and the local community groups. There was music, bouncing cardboard boxes, and my favourite was when I thought the performance was finished and turned around to see the ferry appear from the edge of the cliff.

Rye harbour

Today I went for a walk around Rye Harbour Nature Reserve with Debbie. It was looking like a rainy day when we set off but as we got closer to Rye the sun started shinning. We saw some little tern and lots of flowers along the coast. My favourite was when Debbie read out the different points of the walk from the walking guide. After the walk, all the pubs weren't serving food until dinner time but we had a really good quiche with coleslaw and potato salad at The Cobbles Tea Room. I'd like to try their crab salad next time. Highly recommended.

Drawings from Brighton Museum

There are many interesting objects to draw at the Brighton Museum. I like the room with the ceramic pieces the best.

krueger cardigan

This is my new cardigan. I didn't like it at first. I made it too small and in skin colour which reminded me of Freddy Krueger skin. It's stretched now and a better fit. Very warm. The lovely buttons were made by a friend from Tokyo, Kiborio.

doodle

Fair isle mittens

I'm glad I finished them before it got too warm to wear mittens. I like finger puppets. They make me smile.

Inis Mor

Debbie and I went to Aran Islands and cycled around making stops to see the seal colony and explore the beach. It was such a calm and sunny day.

Holiday in Gozo.

Last month I went on holiday to Gozo with good friends. There was a lot of driving on bumpy roads and eating big pieces of cake. My favourite was twirling around on a sandy beach.

Bananaberry

The other day I learned that raspberries aren't berries but bananas are.

More and more knitting

I've finally got around to posting my first knitted cardigan. It's all in one piece so I didn't have to do much sewing. After I finish with all my Christmas knitting, I'd like to start on a second cardigan.

moss terrarium

this is a little moss terrarium i made for a friend's birthday and a crochet shawl for my mum. lots of evening knitting is being done lately. lots of gifts to be made.

A picture I submitted for a fairy tale project. Also now I have some work at Open Houses with delicious cake.

walled garden flowers

Preston Manor

Yesterday I visited Preston Manor. It is really really beautiful. The people working there have so much knowledge of the place that it made the visit so much more interesting. I was most intrigued by the basement area where there were the kitchens, washing area and butler's room with all the tools and equipment. In one of the kitchens there is also a beautiful embroidery by an eight year old. I also liked the paintings of the pet dogs. Outside in the garden area we found a long row of dog graves. I must revisit with my sketchbook but I was also told that it is a haunted house...

Si o No

Sometimes it's hard making decisions. But not anymore! SiNo Project

...

I have been making lots of crochet flowers and sitting on grass and going to the beach. As my co-worker Ben puts it, 'it's like fairyland at the moment'.

new project

I have found a new project. To learn to make crochet flowers. I have made a couple at the weekend for the great friends who cycled on London to Brighton Bike Ride. Well done to Debbie, Rosie and the team!

Also now my windowsill plants are doing well. One of the cactus has some flowers. I think it it is Kalanchoe tomentosa (Panda Plant).

Junkboy Koyo

At the weekend I followed the naked bikers to the seafront and joined a knitting picnic that Emily organized. I am only learning and doing rows. I am in need of a project or an adventure. I really do. Maybe I can keep knitting and knitting and it will be a warm scarf.

Here is the artwork for our friends and great musicians, Junkboy that Debbie and I worked on.

more summer weather please

last weekend i saw some people swimming in the sea. i just got my feet wet and had an ice cream in a cup.

'Fifty-two'

debbie and i have some work at this exhibition opening next week organized by claire platt and camilla stacey.

Calm Air All Ice Presents: 'Fifty-two'
31 March-3 April

Opening times: Wed-Fri 12-4pm / Sat 12-5.30pm

Opening Night: March 31st 6-8pm

Room 212 Glouceter Road, Bristol

exhibiting artists:

aaron sewards • alika cooper • alys paterson • amanda kindregan • amy greenan • ben o'leary • bess harding • bjorn lie • camilla stacey • cathy cullis • claire platt • courtney chelo • dave bain • debbie hill • deth p sun • edith abeytan• ekta kaul • elin thomas • fiona cassidy • gail mason • genevieve dionne• gunilla jähnichen • helen entwisle • jill bliss • kate parsons • kirsty hall • laura donald • leah duncan • lisa aaron • lisa solomon • lizzie stewart • lucie sheridan • marci washington • michal c william • mithila shafiq • nicole licht • nura porat • patrick gildersleeves • peskimo • roz inett • shannon rankin • simon daly • susan schwake • tinee häcker • yumi okuda

spring begins

it's so nice to be so close to the sea.

airports and airplanes

at shoreham airport you can sit and have a cup of tea and biscuits while admiring the planes taking off and landing.

indoor plants in colour, age nicolaisen

i got this beautifully illustrated book from oxfam bookshop. i like how there are decorations drawn with the plants.

miniature dinky toys

last week debbie and i visited brighton toy and model museum. there are many model trains there.

Book House Project

Today Natacha, Debbie, Vicky and I went and displayed the rooms we created inspired by stories at the Books for Amnesty in Brighton.

よしみつさんへ

いつも応援ありがとうございます。これからもどこからか笑いながらみていてください。

a snowy day drawing

i like it when the trees turn white with snow.

omisoka

i've become more adventurous with cooking and did a lot more baking this year. i'd like to go on more outings next year. train journeys, bus trips, bike rides, visiting places.

in japan, we are meant to have a big clean up on new year's eve.
i just cleaned my bedroom, kitchen next.

drawing game, scrabble and trivial pursuit

things i experienced for the first time this christmas:
• played scrabble; fun but i can only make 3 or 4 letter words...
• ate pigs in a blanket; tasty!
• got a stocking; what a wonderful surprise to wake up to find a stocking!

christmas make

this week i did a lot of making for christmas gifts and cards. evenings with tea and biscuits with good friends. yesterday i went round debbie and rosie's house and we made christmas crackers. but i was not so good at wrapping them so i did some decorating while debbie skillfully did the rolling and wrapping. we had mince pie and nice smelling herbal teas.

big value jotter

this morning i woke up with a fever and lot of noise everyone trying to get to places in time. i heard my phone get a message, but when i checked there were no new messages. i lay in bed confused. later i watched garden programs day dreaming.

Blue Bird

My sister reads lots and she used to read me stories when I was little. This is a drawing I did inspired one of those stories. I found out that it was by a Belgian playwright called Maurice Maeterlinck.
Also now my Biking is the Best print is on sale at Little Paper Planes for any bike lovers!

greeting card illustration

Here are a couple of illustrations for a book of new year cards now on sale in Japan.

年賀状のイラスト描かせていただきました、インフォレスト社プリントするだけ　おしゃれ年賀状2010発売中です。

how to trim basil

last night a group of us from the studio gathered for blac night. a night of sharing skills, performance, story telling and a meal. we made a mini animation and catherine presented her shadow puppet. we learned how to maintain your bike, how to make a flower and a box from paper, and how to trim basil so it will keep growing.

After the Rain

After the Rain

After the all day rain,
The path now blooms
With blossoms pink and white.


Rey Ventura

cat drawing

new images!!

i've updated my website with new images and new links.

our first studio newsletter

catherine and i have produced our first studio newsletter, 'trolls live under bridges' with suggestions, jokes, biscuit ratings and more. email me with your address if you would like to receive a copy.

MA09 Exhibition

the MA Illustration Exhibition is coming soon at University of Brighton. Many friends are exhibition in the show and i got a chance to see some work in progress and they are looking great! I am really looking forward to seeing all the work together.
http://www.ma09.co.uk

british fete

on saturday catherine and i were at tea & make(a great british fete). it was a lot of fun and we had chocolate brownie, lemon cake and chocolate marble cake. met lovely people and had fun making an explorer beard by the the talented artic. the images are cornelia o'donovans' beautiful toys, pheasant's teapot and our stall.

john o' groats to land's end

a friend from the studio, david and his friend have gone cycling in scotland. they are cycling all the way down to land's end! you can follow their great adventures here.

Tea and Make

Catherine and I will be at Tea and Make craft market in london next weekend, Saturday 22nd August at St Saviour'S Brockley Rise, Forest Hill, London SE23 1JN.
There will sure be lots of cake too!

confirmed stall holders:
Abigail Thomas
Capital Bee
Cassie English
Catherine Grimaldi
Choc Star
Cornelia O'Donovan
Cup of Sea
Eva Nueno
Garudio Studiage
Hannah Waldron
interim
Kamala Katbamna
Laura Laura
Mr Scruff's Make Us a Brew
Pete Fowler (Monsterism)
Pheasant
pingo [art vending machine]
Polly George
Sara Tierney
Selvedge
The Artic
Yumi Okuda