Pembrokeshire

above Marloes Sands, high tide

Since we are soon to be gaining an addition to the family, the husband and I decided to take a short break as a kind of last hurrah; the last holiday that we will take just by ourselves for a long time. We chose an easygoing, self-catering trip to Pembrokeshire for lots of walking and eating. I am luckily not too whale-like yet to be unable to complete shortish walks, so we managed a few miles here and there of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, and also found the time to look around St Davids and one of my favourite seaside towns, Tenby. We used to holiday in Tenby when I was a small child. I don't remember a lot of it, but I still associate Castle Hill and the crashing waves at the base of the cliffs on South Beach with some of my happiest memories. The weather was perfect for our first full day there, but quite windy and overcast for the rest of the time. Nevertheless, we ate picnic lunches outdoors every day and enjoyed the feeling of utter remoteness that can be found along this stunning coastline. True, the inland landscape of Pembrokeshire is nothing particularly special but where it hits the sea, something magical happens. I was blown away by the geology, displayed in ragged splendour on every cliff-side, and the sea that remains blue even when the sky is gloomy with clouds.

near Solva

We dined out one evening at Y Polyn, near Carmarthen, which was absolutely wonderful. As I get older I am becoming more difficult to please, but this was the best meal out I've had in ages. The bread is freshly made in house every day - we were treated to perfect focaccia and a moreish onion bread - and the cooking is lovely and simple. We had a rich fish soup with rouille and gruyere croutons, which was the undoubted highlight of the meal, and a lovely, fresh goats cheese in a hazelnut crust with golden beetroot, followed by duck confit with lentils and pollack with a saffron, potato and leek broth. Dessert was a pair of tarts - mouth-puckering lemon, with ginger crumble and home made plum ripple ice cream; and a warm pear and frangipane tart with vanilla ice cream. I nearly burst, especially since the food was in competition with the small child in my belly space, but it was worth every waddle and groan on the way home. It has inspired us to make the most of the fruit we have in our garden - rhubarb right now, and later the delicious, perfumey plums and damsons that we didn't make the most of last year. I am dreaming of our own rippled ice creams, more damson gin, crumbles and Eton messes. I could go on...

In other news, we came home to an immediate, if self-inflicted, chaos. In short: the windows are being replaced. Update to follow later on this week.

Our house a year (and a hundred years) on

It's been almost a year since we completed on the purchase of our house, and it's been a crazy year. Last week we had yet more plastering done so we are still living in chaos and dust, but every step we take is another one forward. The nursery-to-be has been replastered, so that the old walls are no longer textured, and the partition wall no longer moves when you press it. The snug ceiling is no longer an ugly, orangey pine - it's now insulated, boarded and painted white which has made the room much brighter than before. We are considering painting three of the brick walls just to brighten it up even more. Some people would say that's a travesty, but others will agree that there's cosy, and then there's GLOOMY, which this room can be on many days in Wales. I'll update with pictures of these when I finally get some breathing space from work.

What I wanted to show you today was an old picture of our house that the previous owners have kindly scanned for us. It shows Ty Isaf in the 1900s, with the Lloyd Jones family standing outside. Isn't it marvellous? I love pictures like this. It's a shame that the central window has been bricked up, and you'll agree that the house is quite different-looking from what it is now.

This is our house on the day we finally purchased it last March. Nothing has changed much on the outside since then, but changes are afoot. See those windows? 1950s metal windows. In three words: yucky, draughty, wrong. We are replacing them with bespoke timber sash windows to try and restore some Georgian grandeur to the frontage. We will not be bricking up the central window, of course, but will enlarge it instead to match the two on either side. It's a risky and expensive move, but we are keeping our fingers crossed that it will look good. The shutters too have their days numbered: they may be very pretty and French-looking, but are not really in keeping with the house's age. I think it will look much more austere than it does now, but I like austere and bare. It suits my glum personality.

Moomin stuff

Loving these Moomin trays, on offer on Achica today. I like the colourful one best. Various designs are also available full price here, here and here. Now I must get on with some work...

stuff and nonsense

Hi peeps. How are you? I've been a bad girl, I know. But I thought I'd pop by with another update of what I've been up to.

1) Last weekend was spent at one of my dearest friends' hen do in Oxfordshire. I ate a whole, and rather large, sea bass all by myself at The Swan at Southrop. It was delicious and indulgent. We went to beautiful Burford, where we had lots of scones and pottered around the little shops. I came home with a set of vintage butter knives, I couldn't help myself. It was a wonderful, snowy, cosy weekend full of laughter and great company. It's so good for me to get out and see friends. It reminds me that I'm not just an illustrating/baby-making machine.

2) I've been considering making a necklace like this one, from old brooches and bits of jewellery. I want something kooky, blingy and totally over the top to wear to a wedding in March, because I'll probably be wearing a plain black jersey dress over my burgeoning belly that will need some serious pepping up. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm currently stalking several job lots of vintage brooches on eBay and hoping for a bargain. Image from Lovejune on Etsy.

3) I'm currently working with some nice people at Oxford University on an animation. I don't know how much I can disclose, but it's been a fun challenge so far. The hard bit starts next week, when I start animating to a tight schedule.

4) It's that time of year when I should be thinking about what I should be growing in the garden. I've been lacking energy recently, and the cold snap has made spring seem like it's ages away yet, but it will be March before I know it and little seeds will have to be started. It's so exciting. I just need the husband to do any heavy work for me this year. We may even get chickens, but I think this is a fantasy.

5) I started baby and nursery pinboards on Pinterest. But have I bought anything yet? Uh. No. I'm kind of more interested in growing vegetables. Just kidding.

Hope you are all well.
xx

Dolwyddelan

At the weekend, we took another walk, this time a five-mile easy circuit from Dolwyddelan, complete with large picnic. Another lovely day out in the cold, in the company of the husband and my aching uterus.

In other news, I'm getting excited about this printmaking course I'm doing. I shall post pics if I actually create anything I like, but it's been fun so far. It's just a bit of a shame that I shall finish the course, then shortly afterward become too large to pull a screen or anything, followed by being too preoccupied to turn up to the Print Centre at all. I have good intentions, though. Really I do.

The weekend – Amlwch

It was freezing on Saturday morning, but I had been going a bit stir crazy at home all week, so the husband and I ventured out to Anglesey for a gentle coastal walk near Amlwch. Needless to say, it was stunningly beautiful out there, helped along by some magnificent sunshine. Because of the unseasonally warm weather we've been having, the gorse was in full bloom, creating a spring­­­­-like cheeriness amid the frost. Snacks were gobbled down on a rocky headland overlooking Porth Eilian, and we stopped by the little church at Llaneilian, which had some gorgeous oak carvings and other details dating back to the 12th century. It's well worth a visit if you're ever in the area.

 

We lunched in Beaumaris and had a wander around the castle there, before heading off to the cinema to watch 'The Iron Lady', followed by a rather enormous dinner at The Austrian Restaurant in Dwgyfylchi. It was a lovely, memorable day with the husband, like a super-date or a glorious excursion on holiday.

On Monday I started a ten week course in printmaking at the Regional Print Centre in Wrexham as an introduction to its facilities so that I can go and use it during open access hours later on. I produced nothing of note. This first day was like a blast from my university past: monoprinting and messing it up. Now we have to think of a theme for the rest of the course and I'm stuck as usual. Some things never change.

Happy New Year! And some happy news...

Happy New Year, lovely people! I hope you had a wonderful holiday. I am beyond exhausted already, but for a good reason - we spent Christmas in Leeds and Birmingham, followed by a house party for friends at our house for New Year. It was all fantastic fun, especially our party - the food was mountainous and seemed to please our guests, and we even managed a walk in Rhewl despite some inclement weather. It was thoroughly enjoyable, but late nights and much kitchen activity have taken their toll on me!

No, not the food I cooked, sadly. This is our Boxing Day family feast, 

prepared by my super-super-talented Daddy. 

In other news, there had to be a reason for my inability to blog with any kind of regularity in the weeks coming up to Christmas. True, my workload was heavy and I was feeling completely uninspired about drawing, our house or anything at all... but... I was also under the influence of a lot of hormones. Yes, that's right. I'm pregnant. Up the duff. Bun in the oven. We are expecting a newcomer to disturb our peaceful life this June and I am, to be frank, shitting bricks. My mother, as you may have guessed, is ecstatic. Her first words upon hearing the news were 'I've been waiting so long!'. I suppose it was about time I relented and got myself into trouble. Needless to say, the husband is gleeful and delighted. I swing between happiness and horror.

There you go. Forgive me if I am a bit absent or absent-minded for the next six months. I shall endeavour to behave like my old self and will most certainly NOT turn this into a baby blog. Bleurgh! (although later on there may be some pregnancy-inspired drawings, should any ideas emerge).

Much love for the New Year.
Kxxx

A Christmas hiatus

I could make all sorts of excuses for the lack of activity on this blog but none of them are really good enough. Winter blues, work, crippling exhaustion from the busiest and craziest year of my life so far... yeah, all of those have contributed, but I'm still sorry. I am so grateful that anyone at all turns up to read or look at the stuff I put up here.

I'm going to take a little blog break and not beat myself up over it. I want to rest, to spend time with my darling husband, whose gruelling London placement ends this Christmas, to put up pretty decorations and devise the most spectacular two-day menu for our New Year party with friends. I want to see my family, eat my Dad's cooking, paint the bathroom, finish restoring a wardrobe... so many things! And I'm not going to feel guilty that some things will take second place.

Any people reading this - thank you for a wonderful year. I'll be back in January, hopefully refreshed and ready for an even better year!
xxx

Geological volcano maps

These geological maps of volcanoes really caught my eye this afternoon on wired.com. They are like beautiful paintings. I would kill to have one of these on my wall, like our Great Britain map, geek that I am. I have a soft spot for geology from my first degree where I studied geology for two years. Click on the link to see all eleven of them.

Seen via Design for Mankind.

EDIT: in fact, there seems to be a possibility of purchasing some of these maps from the Geological Survey of Japan, although the actual mechanism of buying is somewhat cryptic! I think an e-mail might be the best start...

Christmas cards - attempt no.1

It's that awful time of year again. I've got to come up with some ideas for Christmas cards. Here's what I've come up with so far - not quite suitable for the in-laws, I suspect...

 

I was kind of going for a  'Christmas brain' kind of theme, you know, good food and alcohol, the joy of family, the giving of gifts and general warm conviviality. Needless to say I couldn't summon the good will. I might have puked down my clothes.

Drawn - adulthood 21

As usual, I am not making this shit up.

vintage anatomical charts

I spotted these lovely vintage anatomical charts on eBay this morning. Starting bid of £140 each, or £150 for the lobster. From this seller. Which one would you have? I'd have the mole!

Hunterian museum

It's the usual story around here: when at a loss, go to the Hunterian and draw dead things.

Well, OK, that's not all I've done. I've also been eating a lot, seeing friends, working hard and generally feeling exhausted. This change from autumn into winter has been hitting me harder every year. I just want to hibernate!

Pirate's Life

Just a link today: stunning hand-drawn animation for a music video. I wish I had the skill and patience to make something as beautiful as this. Sadly, I get bored just doing a 30 second animation of cat and dog silhouettes. Sigh.


We Cut Corners "Pirate's Life" from Kijek / Adamski on Vimeo.


Have a good weekend, kids.