Wise Words: Merry & Bright

Happy Christmas Eve everyone!

I didn't think I'd be sharing any more "Wise Words" post until the New Year but I've managed to squeeze in one more to wish you all a Merry Christmas!

Hope everyone has a magical day tomorrow, and I'll be back in the New Year with more "Wise Words" and other work to share with you!

In my sketchbook: 19/12/14

As promised the other day, I have a few snippets of my recent sketchbook work to show you.

I'm still working on a new range of designs to have ready some time in January (as I mentioned in my last post, time seems to be getting away from me lately and I'm not as far into this project as I'd hoped, so I'll be working extra hard after Christmas!)

(The last image is the drawing I did for Jamie's Christmas card. I started a little tradition a while ago that I always draw me and him as animal characters on his cards. This time of course we had to be standing in front of a Christmas tree in the snow!)

Over & over: Gingerbead Men

Just a quick one today, and probably the last "Over & Over" post until the New Year.

Christmas is approaching faster than I'd realised and I'm quickly running out of time to do all the things I had planned! So I probably won't be doing any more of these or the "Wise Words" posts until the New Year.

You can still keep up with what I'm doing and see snippets of my sketchbooks (as well as Christmas baking and present wrapping!) on Instagram: @emmamargaretillustrtaion

(Speaking of sketchbooks I'll be sharing an "In my sketchbook" post later this week!)

For now those, here's my latest festive pattern, inspired by my recent baking fun!

"Gingerbread Men"

Wise Words: So Happy Christmas

I'm a big fan of Christmas songs, as soon as the tree goes up on the 1st of December I start listening to my favourites. But I always try and avoid hearing my favourite one until then, and this year I almost succeeded, until 2 days before I put the tree up it was playing in a shop when I was out buying presents with mum!

I've always enjoyed this Christmas song, and several years ago I actually took the time to look up the lyrics to make it slightly easier to sing along!

There's some great lines in it, some serious, some funny and some romantic, but this is my favourite bit:

Fairytale of New York

by The Pogues & Kirsty McColl 

(Full lyrics here)

Over & over: Deck the Halls

Continuing with the Christmas theme, this week's pattern features a collection of festive ornaments and candy canes!

"Deck the halls"

Next week, Gingerbread men!

Snap snap: 06/12/14

Its been well over a month since I wrote a "Snap snap" post!

I think its time to catch up...

-Drawing animals in party hats

-Pretty flowers on the dining table

-Packing up the new Christmas cards (available here)

-Sketching out new ideas...

-...And the final coloured illustration (this will be part of my new collection in January)

-Animals with balloons!

-Ideas for "Wise words" posts

-Lucky dip 10 screen-printed cards for £10 in the shop.

-Designing some new animal characters, including Hermoine the Horse (see the full set here)

-Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas! The tree is up and the festive candles are out!

-Speaking of which, this Freshly Baked Shortbread candle I picked up in Camden Market smells absolutely amazing!

-Mini succulent doodles for a new card idea

For more snaps of life lately, follow my Instagram account @emmamargaretillustration

Hopefully it won't be another 6 weeks before my next post!

Over & over: Frozen

Now that December has arrived, things will be getting more Christmassy around here! I'm a big fan of Christmas, and always have my tree and decorations up on the 1st of December!

So, the "Over & over" and "Wise words" posts over the next few weeks are all going to have a bit of a festive theme to them, starting with a snowflake pattern today! 

"Frozen"

Next week I'll be sharing a pattern featuring a variety of Christmas ornaments!