Floating Lemons: Bit by Bit Blog

A Whale & Silly Number 1 pink

The whale was requested by a friend as a fun drawing, so is not meant to be an accurate representation! I went through hundreds of photos on the internet of Humpback Whales (as whales are momentarily unavailable in my area to pose for pics), sketched a whole load of them for practice, and then put them aside and drew one of my own.

This was drawn between guests and summer socializing, which is why it has taken this long -- I'm refusing to pressure myself as far as work is concerned at the moment as there just isn't enough time in which to do everything. Am enjoying the final long days of warmth with good friends, and I know I'll eventually catch up on it all once the weather turns cold and I morph into a work-obsessed hermit once more :)

I did manage, however, to begin a series of Silly Numbers and Letters which I am posting slowly, as and when I get them done. Drew them out in marker pens, scanned them, cleaned them up, then fiddled around a bit on photoshop. Here's Silly Number One for you in pink (I have both the Numbers & Letters in red, blue, pink, orange, lavender, lime green, chocolate and white. Yes I tend to go overboard at times, what can I say?) and the Silly Number 1 chocolate Invitation Envelope for which I received a Today's Best Award on Zazzle :) Cheers ...

Whale cards, stationery & matching gifts at Floating Lemons at Zazzle

Silly Numbers 1 cards, stationery & matching gifts at Floating Lemons Typography at Zazzle

Black Cat

I confess to being a bit of a self-control freak ... which probably explains my need to focus on detail in most of my drawings. But every once in a while even I get tired of holding it all in, and I want to just let it all out and scribble away manically. Which is exactly what I ended up doing here. Found this photo that I had taken of a scrawny black cat posing on a wall just outside the village and it was perfect. The first few layers are just wild, pretty directionless lines of graphite (I used a very soft pencil which I don't normally do either) and, once I'd satisfied the urge to play loose, I finally refined the whole thing on the final two layers.

It's definitely not up there on my list of best drawings and sketches but as far as therapy goes, it turned out perfectly. Cheers.

Black Cat cards & matching gifts at Floating Lemons at Zazzle

Red & Pink Cake

Sometimes sneaking a peek through the pages of one's past does have it's advantages. I found this in one of my old idea sketchbooks. I'd drawn it in bright cheerful felt tip pens/magic markers (what does one call them nowadays?!) and it stood out and waved at me ... so I scanned it in, cleaned it up a wee bit and here it is in its full unevenly shaped awkwardness. It's simple and far from perfect, and yet I am, absurdly, more pleased with this than I am of some of my long-drawn out (literally) creations. Cheers!

Red & Pink Cake cards & matching gifts at Floating Lemons at Zazzle

Red Hot Chillies

The first bunch of wee red chillies from my garden. Slightly dried out by the time I got round to drawing them, so they're a bit warped and slightly twisted ... exactly the way I like them.

Red Hot Chillies cards & matching gifts at Floating Lemons at Zazzle

Red Gift Box

My sister sent me some lovely prezzies and a couple of them were tucked away in this lovely giftbox that I just had to draw. It was relatively quick and simple though I did use at least seven reds (and a purple) on it. Next I might draw a couple of the gifts that were hidden in this little treasure chest :)

Cheers.

Red Gift Box cards, stationery, envelopes and matching gifts at Floating Lemons at Zazzle

Lavender Sprig

This was drawn especially for a good friend of mine -- for her adorable baby daughter who is sweetly nicknamed Sprig. For some odd reason it has taken me ages to do, this being the second attempt.

I'll include my first attempt here too ... didn't like it as it turned out too dark. I don't usually give up on a drawing (and I haven't really given up on this one yet!) but I am setting it aside for the moment:

Life is full at the moment. Summer sun, guests, gardening, household chores and trying to keep up with work in between it all. Not much time leftover for empty spaces. Have to try squeezing in some simple drawings pretty soon though, as I do need the therapy. Cheers.

Lavender Sprig cards and matching products at Floating Lemons at Zazzle

Zazzle Artist Awards for Fabulous at 40rty Cards

Received news from Zazzle telling me that my "Fabulous At 40Rty Dark Card, has been hand-picked as an example of creativity at its finest", and that out of the billions of designs on Zazzle, this was chosen for being one of the best. It will appear at the top of the 40th Birthday Cards page in the "Featured Designs" section for approximately 2 weeks.

AND this Fabulous at 40rty Card has received the same Award but is to be featured for 2 weeks on the 40th Birthday Gifts page.

Just had to share :)

Antique Inkwell

I love any and all things associated with the art of writing ... pens, papers, notebooks, stationery, you get the idea. So when I saw this tiny, bent, warped, heavy antique inkwell, I of course immediately wanted it. I know we can't always have what we want, but well ... sometimes it works out, right? I now proudly own it, and here it is in its drawn glory for all to enjoy. The ink blots were digitally redone coffee droplets :)

This drawing was actually finished two weeks ago. But I then ran smack into the half-century-of-life mark (yes, 50 years old and loving it), and the ensuing two weeks were occupied with lovely celebrations, wonderful surprise guests and no work whatsoever. Am now struggling to catch up, and have finally managed to get back into the swing of things after completing all those errands and chores that were screaming for attention. Time to get back to drawing! Cheers.

Inkwell cards and matching gifts at Floating Lemons at Zazzle

Flower in Green

I'm a wee bit stuck at the moment ... for the first time ever I have three drawings on the go, and am not too happy about any of them. So I'm posting this one -- a quick sketch that I completed last week. Of the three that I'm working on right now, one will probably take me weeks to finish as it's far more complicated than I'd expected (which seems to be the case with far too many of my choices), another is just too simple a doodle and I may trash it, and the last one ... well, it's plain boring. You may or may not see them here if I ever do complete them, we shall see.

I've been enjoying the spring days, walks with the dogs and, today, a visit to the nursery to buy plants (including two hanging strawberries, yum). Soon I'll have my veggie garden started up as well. Am planning to sketch as everything flourishes (assuming that something will!) and share my gardening pleasures -- successes, failures, the works. Apart from my art there's just nothing as satisfying as getting one's hands dirty with, er, dirt. Cheers.

PS: The letterhead design for Flower in Green won a Today's Best Award at Zazzle AND Top Ten Letterhead views :)

Flower in Green cards & gifts at Floating Lemons at Zazzle

Rosana

This one is for my little sister. In black, burgundy and the above tiffany blue (thank you for that last colour suggestion Jasmine!). About time too, yes, I know :)

Rosana cards & matching products at Floating Lemons Typography at Zazzle