Hello everyone! Now I know you all have good taste and that you know what you like when you see it – so I need you to lend me your talents. I have been asked for more ‘boy prints’ more often than you could believe. So… here we go. Below are two drawings that I think could fit the bill only I really can’t decide which one to go with. Please help! The one with the most votes will become a new print, coming out in time for the festive season.
The Wild Boys
The Climber
What do you think?
x elise
The kids sleep well in the pram on cold wet days like this next to a noisy road. Dont worry – they’re warm as toast in there. And it’s pretty! But freezing too and I can’t draw because of the spray. Need me an echersketch!
Writing for children with Elise Hurst
11 October 2011
Whether you have a story you have already written or if you are just considering writing for children, this session will be full of practical advice.
Elise will talk about the process of crafting your work right through to presenting it to a publisher.
7.00pm – 8.00pm
Contact Person: Yarra Libraries
Contact Phone: 1300 695 427
Contact Email: yarralibraries@yarracity.vic.gov.au
Location: Carlton Library, 667 Rathdowne Street, North Carlton Vic 3054
I imagine you’ll need to book so they know numbers. It is only an hour but we’ll get through a lot. We won’t have time to workshop, most likely, but you may want to bring work so you can spend a little time rereading it yourself afterwards. These sessions are great to get you thinking!
I hope to see you there 
While I sit in the park jiggling the pusher while the boys sleep I’ve been looking at some old drafts of stories.
For a start I love Dropbox. It lets me access my documents from any computer and work on the latest version. Including on the phone. Brilliant!
Secondly I’m really happy with the latest story I’m writing.
And thirdly, some of my old drafts of stories (going back through the years) are complete rubbish! Which is interesting because at the time I thought they were really good. Which is why I’m really happy I sat on them and didn’t send them off in a fit of enthusiasm. As I always want to.
So here are three good reasons to wait:
1. Drafts are full of baggage. When we write our heads are brimming with intent and possibility. Rarely is it all in the text.
2. Read with fresh eyes. After a break (at least a few days but a few months is best) you get to read the text as it actually is. Then you can make it right.
3. Wasted submissions are a big bummer. Send it in too early and, unless you have a very very supportive editor, you’ve blown your chance to impress them. Usually, you don’t get a second chance.
Which is why I’m going to assume I can do better with my current story… I’ll know in a few days!
I’m afraid I’m not really into the footy… Nor do I like vegemite… It’s really only my enjoyment of a vb on a hot day that has kept me from being kicked out if Oz. It’s a close one!
So the idea of having the Sisters Market this Saturday seems stellar to me! Anyway – there’s plenty if time to swing by before kick-off so everyone’s happy
There will be loads of beautiful things as you regulars know and if you’ve never been before – well, you’re in for a nice surprise. I’ll be there with brand new cards and a new painting on the go. And many other goodies, if course.
And blokes, let’s be honest, it’s not a very blokey market (excluding my lion prints of course). However, it is the perfect time to watch what your partner falls in love with and sneak back to get it for Christmas. Done and dusted and ahead of the madness.
See you there!
Yesterday was such a thrill! I had never been inside the Melbourne Recital Centre before. We arrived early with the boys and went to a backstage rehearsal room to feed them. It was fun to be back of house again – I’ve seen a few different spaces over the years through work and I love the rabbit warren feel and glimpses of lighting, instruments… The inner workings of it all. Then Pete took them into the foyer to sleep and watch the screens and I got to go inside (feeling guilty).
It is a beautiful space. It is lined with wood panelling in fantastic shapes – a little like those wooden dinosaur kits! It’s wonderful! There was a big audience of parents and kids and the orchestra up the front beneath the giant screen.
I sat at the back – the lights fell, the narrator came on – a wonderful theatrically-voiced man and the production began. I hope this is performed over and over again because it was fantastic. The choices of music were perfect. As the animation worked its magic, first with Sally and David’s Rainbirds, the music swelled and enveloped us. There was lightening and thunder, drama and suspense. Parts of my Night Garden were quite scary! It was just brilliant.
Afterwards I met some of the kids, saw their great colouring-in work and sold some books.
I have to thank everyone involved for such a brilliant performance of what was a real labour of love. Especially animator extraordinary Diana Ward, Jo Beaumont the musical director and MaryRose Harrison.
Tomorrow is the big day for the performance of “The Night Garden” and “The Rainbirds” at the Melbourne Recital Centre! I can’t wait! It’s the beginning of the school holidays so if you’re looking for something to do we’d love to see you.
There will be beautiful orchestral music, animation and Sally Rippin, illustrator of “The Rainbirds” and I will both be there.
For tickets and info click here
How lovely lovely lovely is this? Koko Black now have made these characters of mine into the most gorgeous moulded chocolates. I LOVE them. And to show just how much I love them… I accidentally went through a couple of these when I was taking the photo. Snap, then before I knew it – another one gone. I honestly don’t know how it happened… Yes, I do – it’s utterly divine smooth lovely chocolate.
They also have the video of the making of the Salon rabbit painting on their website. It looks lovely
And here it is on my YouTube channel.
I’m sitting and rocking the twin pusher with my feet right now and I’m thinking.
For starters, I’m wondering how the term ‘untoward’ came about (‘from’ seems about as meaningful – toward what? And un-toward? I’ll be off the OED methinks for that one).
I’m also thinking about a draft I just did of a new story, and a more developed draft I just just did of an older story and how it is so much easier to work on something other than the task at hand. It is So Much easier that I’m just going to go for it. Embrace the misdirection. I can spare a bit of time and misdirected work is still fruitful and well, work!
Anyone else have that problem?
Mondoodle drawn while listening to my boys laughing with their grandparents on Monday 29th August 2011.
