I've Moved

I have moved my blog to http://www.jessesmess.com - hope to see you there!

Bubba life

It's been busy, tiring and incredibly amazing in bubba land. I've managed to scrape together half hours to do a little threadless design or two, as I haven't found many baby clothes I like! I gotta quickly post this before she wakes, but would love you to vote for my designs. :)

What I've been up to...

Hanging with this little lady! Ivy was born on the 23rd of July... she turned 5 weeks old yesterday.

She arrived peacefully (yay for Calmbirth classes, yoga, acupuncture, tens machine and all the other tricks I had up my sleeve for the birth) and is a very chilled bambino, though we haven't quite mastered much sleep as yet (getting 1 x 3-4 hour block at night plus another 2 hour one somewhere in the early hours). She can nap away in her sling or being held, but this doesn't bode well for naps for her mama.

Medley of sleeping Ivy Instagram shots from her first few weeks here at Park Street.

It's been an amazing first few weeks - hazy (from lack of sleep), happy and healthy. She's just beautiful and M and I are loving our new life as parents. 

On the Shelf!

I had the pleasure of working with Tracey Brady on her self-published children's book, Mackie Neighbour. The very sweet story was illustrated by me, and is now available from the BookPod. I've received my copies and it is so great seeing the work in progress now finished and printed so professionally. I took a few Instagram snaps on this sunny Melbourne day :)

It was such a pleasure working on the book and we are both so happy with the finished result! 

Illustrators Australia A3 Show

As part of the excellent Illustrators Australia group, I'm part of the A3 show currently showing in Northcote, Victoria. There is some great art there at very good prices - if you are looking for an A3 artwork - originals or prints - for your wall, get on down! My entry, and show poster above.

I've Finally Caught Up with Time

It's been so busy the past year, past 6 months, past month especially. But now... I've finally found some time. It might be short lived, but I am SO EXCITED about catching up on art projects, coffees in cafes, gardening, perhaps bloggin, little nanna activities before the craziness begins again.

I now have some time to post some illustrations from a recent kids book I did, more to come but here is a little sampler!

Illustration Friday "Hitched"

The end of April

It has been a crazy, productive, life-changing year so far... and finally I've managed to take a few days off work, stop and smell the roses (and smokey wood fired air) in Daylesford. A few pictures from the trip with some lovely ladies... enjoying a break together with only 13 weeks til bambino arrives.

Meanwhile these last few days have been spent catching up on art, decaf coffees(!), visiting inspirational people, enjoy naps and bunkering down in this chilly weather. Sweet, sweet simplicity. 

2012

I've been rather slack on this blog of late. I've been busy... I swear. I have set up a new bloggy with a pal for words + pictures (she writes, I draw).
I have been building a new business with a friend doing custom invitations, and it has been doing very well, busy busy well. And I've been getting some great freelance drawing work, which I hope to post here later this year. And other things... big and exciting things that will remain personal for now, thank you cyberland.

Merrrrrrrrrrrry Christmas

Conor + Adrien

Wow. Just WOW. Via Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.

Early Harvest Launch

Check out Early Harvest - a magazine written and illustrated by young and old! Brought to you by the Pigeons Project and Harvest Magazine, I was lucky enough to illustrate a couple of great articles and I can't wait to see a finished copy - more details are available through the Pigeons Project Website, and it will be celebrated through a launch, November 12th in Yarraville.

Amy Tan on Creativity

Another great TED talk...

Illustration Friday - Scary

Ok it isn't the scariest monster in the world, but I've been meaning to post this little fella for awhile...

Illustration Friday - Fuel

Grolsch Grid 2011

Grolsch beer has put together 68 artists, musician, film types with some link to Fitzroy for the mighty GROLSCH GRID 2011. I'm co-creating 3 skateboards, teeshirts and posters with the clever Chris from Arbol. There is a festival of events, launching tonight!

I've Been Quiet

I've been quiet on here... a little like this quiet + beautiful track.

But busy, oh so busy.
Creating art every night, working 9 til 5 every day, and preparing for the Frankfurt Book Fair. Everything is coming to a pointy end by then - projects due (painted skateboards, magazine illustrations, preparing applications, designs for friends wedding invitations and businesses etc etc)... Not much time for friends + activity - but good to have it all going on all the same. I'll sleep well on the plane.

Illustration Friday - Mysterious

For the Bubs Out There...

I've been working on really colourful, simple illustrations for a bit of Illustrator practice.

A Slice of Advice on a Friday...

I like this, a lot.