It's a dogs life...

This week has seen me starting a new project, thought I'd give you a sneak preview. I'm digitally drawing these cuties. I can imagine them chasing my two dogs on the greenbelt! In fact I have always dreamed of owning a white labrador. We have, though, got a black rescue dog, the people at the kennels told me she was a labrador, she is nothing like a lab, she is neurotic, not ever still. She has only one saving grace, her shining personality. No matter what she does, you have to forgive that face, those adoring eyes looking at you saying "Oh no, have I done it AGAIN???"

I'm Back...

Hullo there, I am back at last, my blog has been quiet 'cause I have been struggling this month. I have been overtaken by inertia, a symptom of the state I find my mind in.

The cause, no more just being able to design what I like, the jobs I think I will enjoy - oh no, this is not for me anymore... I have to push my design business to new areas.

New challenges.

I don't really do new!!!

I can design until the cows come home, but, sell myself.... this is the aaaarghhhhh that has been challenging me.

So Jacci, happy smile, no more procrastinating, get on that phone and be out there.

Oh, the drawing above is me, lipstick on, smile in place and ready to go.

Wish me luck!

Winter, Rain and Painting

Cape Town has had it's fair share of summery winter days lately, well, that is well and truly past! It's winter, soaking rain - 60mls overnight - cold and grey. We've had friends for lunch, a fire, champagne and home made Roti's. Life couldn't be better. I thougfht I'd share a painting, I think I did it 2 years ago and it still pleases me each time I go to the kitchen. I love the colours and the fluidity of the leaves, you might have noticed I like to draw proteas.

Next week I'll be having a give away, so please come back and take part. Details to follow!

Kommetjie, Shwe Shwe loving and summery winters.

My favourite place in all the world, Kommetjie, Cape Town, never better than on a summery winters day! I love the round boulders, stacked by some nameless person into walking giants. The snaking path, wood over vegetation!

My new stationary has been uploaded on Etsy. It is so inspired by Africa, some of it Makoti Wax prints, Chaka prints all of it inspired by my love of the original Shwe Shwe prints. I chose one of my protea illustrations to go with it and hope you love them as much as I do!

Project 90 x 2030

Did some illustration work this week for Project 90x2030 whose vision is to see South Africans from all walks of life reduce the impact that they have on the environment by 90% by year 2030. Take a look at the website through the link above.

I totally support this inniative and was glad to be able to illustrate these little cliparts for them!

I haven't been this excited since...

I picked up a prize for designing the Pick 'n Pay Design a Bag Competition! .... since I had my kids! ....

Ok well that was a bit of an exaggeration,

but, anyhow I collected my Shwe Shwe inspired stationary from the printer today, and I am besides myself with delight. I wrote about them earlier here. It will be listed on Etsy by this weekend, and I want to do a giveaway on my blog as well, I thought a gift pack containing cards and a jotter.

So keep in touch and enter, I assure you you wont be disappointed. Details to follow.

Oils forever!

Prints of these little paintings are going to be for sale on Etsy this week, hop on over to my shop and have a look.

The originals were small - 30cm x 11.5cm painted in oil on masonite. The prints will be printed on A4 size paper. I love the warm spicy colours.

Drawing inspiration.

Working, as I do, alone in a studio can be quite lonely, without the inspiration of others. This week I have happened on some truly amazing work on the internet. Work that has inspired and challenged me.


Have a look here, at Jezze. Her brooches made from fragments of ceramics inspired these artworks that I painted on shale fragments which came from a friends garden when they replaced their patio! Small, simple and recycled to boot!

Winter Warmers and Cute Kids Cards!

Today is cold and rainy and grey, just the kind of day for a fire in the fireplace. I can feel it warming my back as I work... wonderful. Nigel and I have become real scavengers, no fallen tree is to big to be cut up and carted home. There is a real feeling of achievement in collecting all of those fireplace necessities that make winter so welcome, warm and toasty!

Have just been photographing my kids cards, prints and jotters for their catalogue page. I think they just look so cute and will be for sale on Etsy as soon as I have all the background details sorted.

A sneak preview of my kids page in my catalogue!

I love my garden

Just had to go out there and draw... these lazy sunny days of Autumn are just to good to spend inside my studio!