Sarah Dyer - Illustrator

LATELY

2012-01-27T09:39:00.001Z

Things have been pretty busy round here lately. Seems like all I've been doing is working and neglecting poor Stanley. My deadline is up though and yesterday I took a trip to the big smoke and handed in my artwork for my new children's book to Bloomsbury.
All went well and now I have just the cover to complete....

As I can't give away more details until later in the year, I have included snippets of my spreads as a teaser for you. It's due to be published in Spring 2013 yes it does really take this long!

Hopefully it'll do well at the Bologna Book Fair this March - it is always nice to see my work published in other languages.
Right. Back to being a mama for a while now. Drawing on hold and stacking bricks awaits!

Have good weekends. xxx

STANLEY STYLE

2012-01-26T21:18:00.000Z

his & HERS

2012-01-25T10:56:00.002Z

mama: grated apple, porridge oaks soaked overnight in apple juice. natural yogurt and honey to top.
stanley: same
on trying this for the first time stanley reached into his mouth and scraped the whole lot out and off his tongue. so not everything i try is a success - but hey i liked it! he looked at me with this expression of "what the hell was that?"

mama: eggy bread. topped with a sprinkle of sugar and cinnamon.
stanley: same but plain....no sugar or cinnamon.
he LOVES eggy bread.

ON TUESDAY WE READ...

2012-01-24T14:30:00.001Z

......"Envelopes" by Harriet Russell
I'm continuing my series with another one of MY books rather than Stanley's. He's a bit poorly and didn't want to participate this week. This book is a collection of decorated envelopes all of which have been sent through the UK royal mail system.
Harriet has a lovely take on communicating an address - mazes, join the dots, anagrams, illustrations, puns, puzzles, and literary word play.

Amazingly the majority of the envelopes arrived at their intended destinations, postmarks to prove it! I love the fact that the postal employees obviously rose to the challenge to work out and deliver these envelopes!

Fun little book. Her blog is pretty darn lovely too...

LATELY

2012-01-23T11:14:00.000Z

I haven't done a bits & pieces post for a while, but bleubird inspired me to get going again...so here is a round up of my week.

STANLEY STYLE

2012-01-19T10:37:00.001Z

i find boys clothes so much harder to buy than girls...there seems to be some great second hand and vintage girls dresses etc, but very little for boys either in charity shops or ebay. my mum seems to think that this is because boys wear out their clothes?! she swears she has nothing left of my brother's stuff but a few cherished bits of mine. i don't like to go mad buying things i know he'll grow out of in seconds, it's a waste of money so it would be nice to find things that are great but won't break the bank!

anyway these posts are going to show some of the things i like to put stanley in. as you'll see from up coming posts...hardly any blue! why oh why is there SO much blue stuff for boys? and baby blue at that....urh!

if you have any good places to buy more interesting boys stuff i'd love to hear from you.

his & HERS

2012-01-18T09:04:00.000Z

well hello. this will be a new (hopefully) regular post about what Stanley and i eat. i get in a bit of a rut with him sometimes...but now he is a year old and attempting to use his precious 4 and a half teeth he is getting braver about eating so i hope to have more joint meals together. i am sooooooo over pureeing everything!

i am constantly inspired by other mama blogs (particularly this one) and recipe websites for new ideas. we are a mainly veggie family (my husband is a vegetarian) and although neither stanley or myself are, we eat veggie more often than not. i think it gives more variety and makes me more adventouous. if we do eat meat is on a strictly local organic basis. so anyway stay tuned for our meal time posts. any tips on what you feed your little ones would be most welcome!

chicken and vegetable soup mashed a bit for stanley to handle the meat. olive oil and pepper to top mine off.

ON TUESDAY WE {WELL I} READ...

2012-01-17T09:49:00.001Z

...The Iron Man by Ted Hughes and illustrated by Laura Carlin.

i thought today i'd do a post on what i was reading. i don't get the chance to read very much a the minute. It seems it's all baby books or cook books. which is fine but it's quite nice to read something for myself....even though it is a children's book!
this book is beautifully illustrated. laura carlin is an illustrator i really admire - her work is truly stunning. you should look at more of her work here. and i'm hoping to buy something from her 2012 ceramic sale soon. her 2011 sale completely sold out...and you can see why! amazing stuff.

the story is a beautiful and poignant one. Faber & Faber first published it in 1968. ted hughes originally wrote the story to comfort his children after Sylvia Plath's suicide. It's a much loved children's classic, known as a story to be told in five nights, the prose lending itself to be read aloud. However it also provides a narrative that has continued to resonate with adults - a criticism of human conflict.
The villagers do not greet the unexpected arrival of the Iron Man warmly. Only the little boy Hogath helps the giant 'metal man' leading him to the scrap yard where he can feast on the mountains of old stoves, fridges trucks and railway engines. The rest of humanity do their best to destroy him. Then one day an even more frightening creature arrives - the fierce and terrible space-bat-angel-dragon, who can only be stopped by the Iron Man...

Laura Carlin has depicted the Iron Man with a shadow showing that he is a 'real' being. The pencil drawn villagers only receive a shadow at the end of the story. it's beautifully interpreted by her. she uses stunning details, foldouts and paper cuts to full effect. if you can get hold of the version i think it's really worth having.

footnote: stanley you can see if not yet allowed to look {eat/tear} at this book. and when he can sit still for longer than 5 seconds i will read it to him ;-)

INSTAGRAM

2012-01-12T11:27:00.002Z

i am obsessed with this! it didn't take long. i thought i'd just follow a few friends and a few people from blogs i follow - this one and this one mainly.
and before i know it i'm updating daily and beginning to follow more and more!
i like it though as a medium. it's like a twitter in photos. it's really nice to see instantly what is happening all over the world at that very moment.
anyway i'm sarahillustrator if you're on it stop and say hello there too.

and there are some really nice websites to turn your pictures into other things. posters and magnets being my favourite so far.

PS thanks so much for all your kind comments about the blog, and for voting. you are all so lovely :) you've moved my ranking up from 550 to 365!!!!!!

PLEASE & THANK YOU

2012-01-11T20:10:00.001Z

hello.
you may have noticed the 'new' button on the left hand side of my blog. well if you could be sure to press it daily that'd be uh-mazing. you see the thing is i've really enjoyed updating my blog recently - making more effort with what i post so it might be interesting to those that stop by, and i've also been so touched that some of you have, and more than that, that you leave me a comment too to say so. it really is lovely. so it would be nice for me to have even more visitors, especially as i'm about to attempt to put some things into an etsy shop, and you know, now that i'm a stay at home mama it'd be great to earn a wee bit of cash ;-) if that sounds like i'm asking for money, i'm really not. just good old fashioned support!
so i won't bombard you with emails begging you to vote all the time and put it at the bottom of every flipping post. just asking the once pretty please if you could remember to hit that button once in a blue moon i'd be very grateful. thanks for reading, saying hello, and the support.
thanks so much :)
love sarah & stanley xxx

see. look how happy it makes him having you all here!

ON TUESDAY WE READ...

2012-01-11T10:16:00.002Z

...The Big Book of Words and Pictures by Ole Konnecke published by Gecko Press. It is so wonderful! Stanley got it for Christmas (from me of course!) and it has been a lovely book to pour over. there is so much going on - every page has got loads to look at and discuss. the characters are quirky and fun. i think Stanley will get more and more out of this book as he gets older.

It covers various activities and work, as well as colours, the seasons, animals, the alphabet, numbers and emotions.

Gecko Press publish beautiful books - really unusual and quirky. makes a lovely change to some of the mainstream dross that's out there! check out their website when you get a minute...

A FIRST BIRTHDAY

2012-01-10T12:54:00.000Z

I'm sorry I'm so late to publish this post. It now seems like an age ago that Stanley was one (although really it's only a week) i can't believe i have a toddler in the house. i guess that is what he is now? well the toddler tantrums have begun so i don't think i can call him a baby anymore?!
what a year. what an amazing, stressful, emotional, scary and loving year i've had. Stanley was indeed planned, i know i have the ideal home to bring him up...husband, check. 3 bed semi (with garage?!) check. cat, check. family living nearby, check...but still. no one can warn you how hard it will be to bring up a child. no one. even with support all around me it sometimes is really hard. but i wouldn't have swapped this year for anything in the world. i love how Stanley is growing up, becoming a person, with a personality. i can start to see perhaps glimses of what he might be in the future, and i love that. i love him. and i love what he's made me.

here are some snaps of his birthday....{sorry there are quite a lot}

here's to another year :)

"Shoes? Where are all the toys?!"

Marc Boutavant pull along toy = amazing!

Cheers!

playing blocks with a bigger boy

footnote: we had two birthdays. the first on his actual day with family and my very best friend with her new baby. the second was for other friends and their kids. and no, i did not bake the second amazing cake. it was a chocolate and beetroot cake from treacle.

BITS & PIECES

2012-01-09T11:01:00.000Z

Bits & Pieces from over Christmas and New Year..........

One. christmas morning
Two. table ready
Three. grannies playing
Four. cheers!
Five. parsnip
Six. bathtime with a friend
Seven. new year games
Eight. games
Nine. questions
Ten. jools holland
Eleven. midnight
Twelve. pj playtime
Thirteen. Morning after

Hope you all had a great christmas and new year! Sxoxo

FOOTNOTE: if you did notice my new button on the left for top baby blogs it'd be great if you get a minute to click on it and vote for me. there is no nasty sign up thingys...all simple. thanks so much xxx

NAPPING

2012-01-06T14:38:00.000Z

So we don't really have a routine. is that bad? see, it's things like that that i don't know...even after a year of doing this mama thing!
so Stanley does sleep through the night now, well, pretty much, most of the time. do you have a routine? do you swear by it? i'd really like advice from other mums. the other day Stanley napped at 5pm for half an hour when he normally goes to bed at 7pm-ish. well, i didn't know whether to wake him or not? so instead i got nothing done - just stared at him debating whether to wake or not! silly mama!

SUGAR FREE

2012-01-05T14:28:00.000Z

i really wanted to make Stanley a cake he could enjoy on his first birthday...it's a bit mean if i can't let him indulge, when we all do! so i found this recipe for a sugar free cake using agave instead. such clever stuff...like honey (but little ones aren't really allowed that either) and much better than refined sugar. anyway the recipe went like this:

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup agave nectar (or honey)
2 eggs
2 cups finely grated carrots
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Juice of a large orange
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and grease a 13x9-inch baking pan.
Cream butter and agave in a large bowl until light and fluffy.
Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
In a second bowl, combine carrots, raisins, nuts, orange juice and vanilla. Set aside.
In a third bowl, whisk together flours, baking powder, baking soda, spices and salt.
Add flour mixture and carrot mixture alternately to butter mixture, mixing until just combined.
Transfer batter to prepared baking pan and bake for 40 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

I iced mine with a traditional cream cheese icing and drew a very silly cat's face on it....

Think it all went down ok though judging by the state of it this morning....Stanley of course was not interested and turned his nose up at the whole thing! Oh well, at least his mama tried!

Will post his birthday pictures soon.

LOVELY THINGS SENT BY A FRIEND...

2012-01-05T11:04:00.002Z

Got an outstanding little package from David Roberts this Christmas. Very sweet of him to send me lovely things. His illustrations are beautiful. If you haven't seen his work, you simply must check him out here.

{Christmas} Bits & Pieces

2011-12-23T17:07:00.000Z

Only 2 days to go! So excited about christmas....especially as it is Stanley's first. And although he doesn't really understand what's happening it does feel that extra bit special this year. So my bits & pieces this week are obviously xmas based. i hope you are all ready for xmas and don't have any last minute shopping to do?! We are having Christmas lunch here at ours which I'm excited about. My husband is a vegetarian, but I am not, so there will be everything to choose from on the table on Sunday! I will try and post pictures from our day.

Pic 1 - Christmas tree top
Pic 2 - Decorations up high due to baby and kitty
Pic 3 - Giant snowflake
Pic 4 - Beautiful cold blue skies and no snow...yet?!
Pic 5 - Wrapping begun
Pic 6 & 7 - Vintage Santa
Pic 8 - New teeth ready for his first Christmas lunch!

I wish you all and very Merry christmas and a Happy New Year. Thanks so much for reading my blog...I have picked up a lot more new readers since starting to blog more frequently and I really appreciate you visiting and especially when you leave me comments - it does really keep me going and makes me very happy to share my work, thoughts and life. So thank you.

Here's to 2012!
S xoxo

Getting there....

2011-12-22T12:47:00.000Z

....hope to be halfway by Christmas. So 6 double page spreads finished out of 12.

Deadline end of January to make the Bologna deadline....wish i could go again, really such an amazing experience.
Ah well, maybe in 2013!

On Tuesday we Read...

2011-12-20T09:21:00.001Z

...A LOT!

Wonderful find up in my parents loft. All these books brought back so many great memories of my childhood...but most of all they are fantastic finds! I'd be pleased if I managed to find some of these on ebay or in my local second hand book shop. So pleased my ma and pa thought to keep them!
I've tried to photograph a few of the best...but basically I was chuffed to bits to see David McKee, Richard Scarry and Eric Hill in there!

And so I think is Stanley!

Do you have a favourite book from your childhood?

tools of my trade...

2011-12-14T10:06:00.000Z

I thought I'd post a little about what I like to use to make my illustrations...and please if you have time I'd love to hear what you like to use. I also find it helpful to have recommendations to try out new products, and ways of working. So please feel free to leave a comment with any 'must have items' or tips....and maybe even a link to your website or blog so we can all check it out!

First up is my beloved CARAN d'ACHE NEOCOLOR wax pastels. Literally my life changed when I found these. They lay down a beautiful waxy colour like no other oil pastel I've ever found. The only very small negative I have is that they are hard to draw over the top of with other colour pencils to show detail etc. I find a 'clicky' pencil is really the only thing that will do.

Then my dwindling supply of Karismacolor pencils. Why they've stopped making these I don't know. I have found nothing similar to replace them. Even the PRISMACOLOR pencils which I ordered online from the US because they were supposed to be the best replacements aren't anywhere near as good! Anyone reccommend a really good waxy colour pencil??!!!

So instead (as it's easier for me to pick the right colours etc being in the uk) I've found the CARAN d'ACHE Pablo colour pencils pretty good, and I'm slowing explanding my collection of these.

All sorts of bits of paper to add to my drawings as collage.

Some other pens and pencils I can't live without...

So. That's my stuff in a nutshell. Quite nice being geeky about pencils! I never use the computer for my artwork - not because I don't like it (hey check out marc boutavant!) but because I just personally prefer to work this way.

Love to hear from you all on your tools of choice!
S xoxo

On Tuesday we Read...

2011-12-13T19:18:00.002Z

..."Rosie's Walk" by Pat Hutchins and "The Happy Lion" by Louise Fatio and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin.
I chose two books today because they are so similar in colour and they are published in similar eras. It just felt right!

Rosie's Walk is an amazing book. A full 32 page picture book story told in just 31 words. It has suspense, humour and drama captured in its stunning illustrations. a very good first read book I guess for children, but I love it for it's beautiful 60s illustrations.

The Happy Lion is illustrated by Roger Duvoisin who was born in 1904. He's illustrated 40 books - including those featuring Veronica, the conspicuous hippopotamus, and Petuna the silly goose. and more than 100 written by other authors!

When I say 'we read' what we actually wanted to do today was climb away....

Still at least for the first time in weeks I've managed to post this on a TUESDAY!!!! Hooray!

S xoxo

Bits & Pieces

2011-12-09T15:04:00.001Z

This week's bits & pieces are mainly work related. I'm beginning to manage my illustration work juggling things with Stanley. I found it very hard at first not being to work when the hell I liked, always doing things in a stop/start fashion. I got frustrated and cross that my precious 'me' time is no longer 'me' time...and that made me feel bad that somehow I was cross at Stanley for this change in my working life. However now I know I have pretty much two 'baby free' days (thanks to family) I'm learning to work well in those two days. In fact it seems to be working better - I am a lot more focused than I used to be - no faffing around the house doing unnecessary chores in order to put off what I was supposed to be doing. My illustration time is precious now and I use every last minute properly....it certainly focuses the mind knowing Stanley will be back soon and needing my full attention...and he deserves it too :)
Happy work mama = happy home mama.

Pic 1 - Xmas card result from the elf photoshoot...excuse the shocking photoshop! Was fun though!
Pic 2 - A finished book spread
Pic 3 - Roughs for the next...
Pic 4 & 5 - Plans chest my Dad gave me
Pic 6 - Sketchbooks lined up
Pic 7 - Working mess

**As always thanks to Bleubird for the idea and encouraging us to share....

On tuesday we read...

2011-12-06T09:11:00.001Z

... "Olivia" by Ian Falconer

Ok clearly it is now thursday. Such a busy week trying to fit in work, Stanley's first morning at nursery (eeek!) and last minute christmas shopping! Phew. Feel like I'm getting on top of a few things now, but I'm still a bit behind with work so this post will be mainly pictures....not too much chat! But needless to say I love these Olivia books - simple use of colour pleases me a lot...as does the incredible skill with that charcoal. LOVE LOVE LOVE!
Enjoy xxx

Bits & Pieces

2011-12-01T14:47:00.001Z

Pic 1. 1st of December!
Pic 2. Little finger managing to open teeny door
Pic 3. My grandmothers old Harrods scales
Pic 4. The beginning of a book spread
Pic 5. So much colour choice
Pic 6. Close up of a finished spread

Have lovely weekends xxx

**As always thanks to Bleubird for the idea and encouraging us to share....

{A day late} On Tuesday we Read...

2011-11-30T12:27:00.001Z

...Catch that Crocodile! by Anushka Ravishankar and Pulak Biswas. It is published by Tara Publishing, who are an independent publisher of children's books for adults and children based in South India. They are really great at finding more unusual and striking texts and illustrations. This is a lovely rhythmic tale with beautiful folk art illustrations.

The other book published by them that I have is 'The Night Life of Trees' which is stunning - produced by hand - every page hand screen printed on hand made paper. It's like owning a mini series of prints. The book is created by a commune of printers from local villages trained in this unique skill.

Beautiful stuff!

Bits & Pieces

2011-11-26T13:35:00.001Z

Just a brief bits & pieces showing you the out-takes from my attempt to make a xmas card with Stanley as the feature...they say never work with children and animals hey?!!

Get this ridiculous elf outfit off me!

On Tuesday we Read...

2011-11-21T15:11:00.000Z

...The Story of the Little Mole Who Knew it was None of his Business by Werner Holzwarth and illustrated by Wolf Erlbruch.

It is a book basically about poo. Hence the bit about 'his business'!
I think it is brilliant - not crude - in fact rather informative about differnt types and shapes of animal poo. The mole character is fantastic...he goes around trying to work out who has pooed on his head! Haha so funny - I cannot wait until Stanley really understands this one!

Wolf Erlbruch's illustrations are genius. Really beautiful characters and lovely colour use. He is a winner of the Hans Christian Anderson award and rightly so I think.
Another book by him is called Duck, Death and the Tulip. I almost cried when I read it in a bookstore - it is so moving, and the illustrations are beautiful - so simple and powerful.

Bits & Pieces

2011-11-18T15:17:00.000Z

Pic 1. Bright Autumn skies
Pic 2. Poppy seed heads
Pic 3. My favourite pencils to work with
Pic 4 & 5. A good find in my parents loft for Stanley
Pic 6. the best tissue box ever
Pic 7. Lazy kitty

Happy weekends xxx

**As always thanks to Bleubird for the idea and encouraging us to share....

Work has begun...

2011-11-17T15:15:00.000Z

At last!

i've been given the green light to GO! GO! GO! with the colour for the spreads for my newest book. the deadline is pretty tight which means working a fair bit over Christmas which i really didn't want to do as it is Stanley's first Christmas.... Still, i need the work, the money, and plus i want to get back into being 'proper' creative so these things have to be done!

i'm really excited about the book though...i'll try and share sneaky peaks with you as i go along, but obviously not the whole thing until it's finished....

S xoxo

On Tuesday we read...

2011-11-16T08:41:00.001Z

...'For Just One Day' by Laura Leck and illustrated Marc Boutavant.

Marc Boutavant is definitely up there in my top children's book illustrators. His work is amazing - so detailed and thoughtful. It is all done on the computer...but you really wouldn't know that which is why it's such charming work to look at. I have a few more books illustrated by him including Mouk. We have the french version as I bought it before it came out in english......I'm tempted to buy that version too! It has the most AMAZING set of stickers at the back to put on the pages....but being the control freak I am I can't bear to use them which is why I guess I need a second book as there is no way Stanley is not going to want to used them soon!!

Bits & Pieces

2011-11-11T09:17:00.000Z

These bits & pieces are from my trip to Antibes at the weekend. I went with two other girlfriends to visit a friend living and working out there. It was a great weekend - lovely to be selfish and spend time with amazing friends. Felt very odd leaving Stanley for three whole days but he seemed to take it in his stride - the reports all weekend from his daddy was that he was very happy so that was good!

All the pictures are taken with Instagram on my iphone....I'm completely obsessed with this app (as you can see from the amount taken!!) and introduced it to my friends which resulted in a little light competition as to who could take the best pics with it! Ha ha such fun :)

PS I don't know if you're interested to follow me there but i'm 'sarahillustrator' on it.
let me know if you're on there too!

Still sorting out the roughs...

2011-11-10T11:20:00.002Z

....hope to get going on the colour pretty soon!

On Tuesday We Read...

2011-11-08T19:56:00.001Z

...'Unfold/Enfold'
by Kveta Pacovska.

She is an amazing lady - born in Prague in 1928, she graduated from the Prague school of Applied Arts where she studied Czech modernism.

This book is very abstract - laid out as a long concertina fold it explores an abstract journey as if you are entering the book as part of the narrative. It is not really a children's book as such, but definitely can be enjoyed by children because it is fun, colourful and makes you use your imagination to create your own story.

I have two other books by her...photographed below, 'Midnight Play' and 'The Little Match Girl' It is very difficult to find out information about her on the web. So that is why my link is to images....the best place to start I think!

Sorry about the picture overload I couldn't help myself! Also sorry they are so dark - I totally forgot to take them this morning and then it gets dark so quickly here now in the afternoon...but I couldn't wait to do it tomorrow - Stanley's jumper matched too well!!

S xoxo

Bits & Pieces

2011-11-04T09:00:00.000Z

Posted a little early as I'm off to France today with some girlfriends to see a friend living over in Antibes. Very excited to have a total girls weekend, but sad too as I will be leaving Stanley for three whole days....the longest I've left him yet!
I'm sure he'll have fun with his daddy but I will miss him a huge amount.

As you can see this bits & pieces is food themed!

1. Cauliflower and chickpea curry
2. My overfilled bagel for lunch
3. Stanley's salmon dinner....
4. ....pulped into jars
5. Stuffed squash
6. Rainbow Chard stew

Hope you all have nice weekends in store. See you Monday.
S xoxo

**As always thanks to Bleubird for the idea and encouraging us to share....

On Tuesday we read...

2011-11-01T15:19:00.001Z

..."Bugs in a Blanket" by Beatrice Alemagna.
She is by far and away my favourite illustrator. I think her work is absolutely stunning. Please go check her website out it is beautiful stuff.

I have a few of her books, they are hard to come by in the UK and normally in French too! Stanley is not yet allowed to read these two...they are MY children's books!!

PS Thanks for your kind words about Stanley's face. As you can see here the scratches look better already...phew xxx

Interview

2011-10-31T16:07:00.001Z

A couple of months ago I was asked to to do an interview for a really interesting book review blog called Saffron Tree. It explores more multi cultural books from the US and India. It has a great mix and some more unusual picks. They did a feature on my book Five Little Fiends because it touches upon the environment and the elements in nature and has been translated into 10 languages.

You can read my answers here.

And the winner is....

2011-10-31T10:52:00.001Z

Stanley picked out a name....and I got to it just before he ate it!

Thanks so much to all those who entered. Congratulations to Leila! Please contact me with you postal address, i will send out your Topiary Bear this week and I hope you are really happy with it.

leila rudge said...

Dear Ms Sarah Dyer,
What a wonderful thing to share,
How nice it would be,
To have the letter 'T'
Pruned by a gardening bear!

25 October 2011 09:24

Thanks all for reading and stopping to say hello, it was so lovely to hear your comments, means a lot. And hopefully I'll get that etsy shop up and running soon...

S xoxo

PS Excuse the state of Stanley's face...the bad old kitty final got fed up of being chased about and fought back. She is very much in the dog (cat) house now. He is fine. I'm shocked now I see these photos, but hopefully all will be well again soon. Hope you don't all think I'm a terrible mother.... I know these things will happen but it doesn't make me feel any better about it :(

Remember......

2011-10-28T19:55:00.002+01:00

....you have until Sunday evening to enter my first ever giveaway!

**Details are below in an older post.

Bits & Pieces

2011-10-28T18:00:00.000+01:00

Bits & Pieces from my week.

1. Marc Boutavant wall stickers & my Favourite coffee shop
2. Snoozing Stanley & Autumn Sky
3. Lunch & Growing Calvo nero
4. Smiles & a Peeking kitty
5. New plant & One more to find....
6. Ladybird & Oshkosh Dungaree finds for Stanley

**As always thanks to Bleubird for the idea and encouraging us to share....

Saatchi Gallery Magazine

2011-10-27T13:52:00.001+01:00

I received copies of The Saatchi Gallery Magazine 'Art & Music' with one of my illustrations in....which was very nice indeed.

It's a great issue all about drawing and it's importance in the creative world.
Some fantastic people comment about why drawing is important to them and their practice.

On Tuesday {well, wednesday} we read....

2011-10-26T20:20:00.003+01:00

Today we read 'Stuck' by Oliver Jeffers. I find he has a great mix in his narratives between humour and real warmth and caring. We already own a lot of his other books, but this is his latest.
Stuck is funny, and in places silly....and i love it!

My First Giveaway!!!

2011-10-22T18:09:00.001+01:00

As I'm not sure who really reads my blog, and I'd like to set up an ETSY shop very soon I'd thought I'd see what the interest would be like by offering my first ever GIVEAWAY!!!

I'll pick someone randomly next Sunday to win a Topiary Bear with an initial or number of your choice. Below is one I have done already with an 'S'.
It is 29cm x 21cm and printed on textured Somerset Enhanced paper.

Just leave a comment below, and let me know what initial you'd like.

Thanks for reading! Love Sarah xoxo

PS. The Bear is happy to travel so please feel free to enter if you're not from the uk!

Bits & Pieces

2011-10-21T19:17:00.001+01:00

My bits & pieces from today.

I'm all set to go on my colour for the children's book I'm doing with Bloomsbury and Lucy Coats. I need to tidy my desk and have a paper sort over the weekend ready to get going on Monday while Stanley is with my parents. I can't wait to get cracking!
Enjoy your weekends xoxo

Pic 1 & 2 - New pictures to hang
Pic 3 - Snoozy
Pic 4 - Messy work space
Pic 5 - Stanley playing with his namesake
Pic 6 - My favourite thing...new pencils!!

**As always thanks to Bleubird for the idea and encouraging us to share....

Something for Someone

2011-10-20T12:51:00.001+01:00

I'm hoping to open an etsy shop soon...this might be one of the first things I sell....with any letter...
I just need to get myself in order and make some work!

Now this bear is about to go in the post.

On Tuesday we read...

2011-10-18T17:45:00.001+01:00

Richard Scarry's 'What do people do all Day?' I just LOVE his illustrations. And although the book is quite hectic and I guess sometimes laid out in a confusing format they are great fun to look at as there is so much content.

I particularly like the page 'Mother's work is never done'!!!

We have a few of his books, I look out for them in Charity shops and on ebay etc...and at the moment the 'opposites' one is easiest to read with Stanley as it is more simple. But I'm looking forward to it when he wants to sit and look at the 'Busy Busy World' one with me...

Bits & Pieces

2011-10-14T18:48:00.003+01:00

Pic 1 - pretty brighton beach huts
Pic 2 - pretty new flowers for our windowsill
Pic 3 - pretty clever kitty called betty
Pic 4 - pretty lunch for one
Pic 5 - pretty tidy shelves
Pic 6 & 7 - pretty messy baby playing

**As always thanks to Bleubird for the idea and encouraging us to share....

On Tuesday we read....

2011-10-11T18:49:00.004+01:00

'I want my hat back' by Jon Klasson. It has a lovely cast of characters, and a clever use of coloured type. So lovely to have a children's book written and illustrated by him.
It's pretty hot off the press, just recently released.You can look at more of his work on his website here. I'm a big fan and think it is very original and beautiful....

2011-10-10T12:58:00.003+01:00

For a friend's upcoming wedding....

Bits & Pieces

2011-10-07T18:46:00.005+01:00

What a week! We went from the hottest October day, like EVER...to a chilly windy Friday. Autumn is definitely here, but I really don't mind. I was itching to wear snuggly cardis, and put one on Stanley too.

Hope you all had good weeks. See you Monday xoxo

Pic 1 The beach before the crowds desend
Pic 2 Enjoying the sun
Pic 3 Shades of greeny grey
Pic 4 Fun at the swings
Pic 5 Simple lunch
Pic 6 Atreat for later
Pic 7 Yum!
Pic 8 Peekaboo bath time

**As always thanks to Bleubird for the idea....

On Tuesday we read....

2011-10-04T18:53:00.001+01:00

'Whatever' by William Bee.
Such a fun book. Very different in style and content to the many children's books out there. Billy is a little boy that says "whatever" to his poor Dad no matter what amazing things he's shown.....until.....
.......Well, I can't reveal the twist - I'd spoil the ending!!

Children's Book Circle

2011-10-03T11:12:00.002+01:00

On Thursday I am speaking at the Children's book Circle at Penguin Books, the Strand. The topic is 'Illustration for the Next Generation' and other speakers are Val Braithwaite, Creative Director, and Ele Fountaion, Editor both Bloomsbury Children's books.

We will be discussing design and illustration in children's books. Where do illustrators and designers find their inspiration? What role does illustration play in the art of storytelling and how can pictures tell us more than words alone? And are design and illustration fundamentally more important than written content for younger readers?

It will be very interesting to discuss these points as they are something I feel strongly about. I'm sure many children's book illustrators/readers of books have opinions on the matter......please feel free to leave a comment, it'd be great to hear what people think on the subject!

You can find out more info and buy tickets here.

Monster Day at Work Review

2011-10-03T10:31:00.002+01:00

A nice little review of my children's book here.
A good way to start a Monday morning I think!

Bits & Pieces

2011-09-30T18:50:00.001+01:00

Short and sweet from a VERY sunny week!
Pic 1 - Spider building his web
Pic 2 - Betty
Pic 3 - Nappies drying
Pic 4 - Practicing standing
Pic 5 - Can't help myself...two new book purchases.

Thanks again to Bleubird blog for the idea.....

Armadillo Review

2011-09-27T19:16:00.002+01:00

Mrs Muffly's Monster has made Editor's choice over at Armadillo magazine. You can take a look here. And very pleased about it I am too. Always lovely to hear nice words about a book I'm proud of!
Lots of other great books feature, I love Ed Vere's Bedtime for Monsters book.

the pleasure of paper

2011-09-26T19:13:00.001+01:00

I like google images, and I do use it a lot in my work and researching...but sometimes there is nothing better than looking at actual books. Above are some of my favourites for my children's book research. These are the ones I turn to first for inspiration or to start off an idea or character....

They are quite old. In fact the middle book I won when I was 13 years old at school for a form prize! I never knew how useful it would become in my career!

a Flea Market find

2011-09-23T14:42:00.000+01:00

I bought this game/puzzle at a flea market called 'the thieves market' in Lisbon a few years ago.
I'm not sure yet what to do with it. I thought about having them individually framed but I think I might just save them in their box and use them as character reference for a future children's book...

I think the fox is my favourite!
Happy Weekends x

a (very) small part of my collection of children's books

2011-09-22T12:55:00.001+01:00

I have so many, it's nice to finally be able to read them to Stanley... just a shame he's at the age where he just wants to eat them....

If anyone wants any recommendations, please just shout! Or please share yours....

Heavy bookshelves!

2011-09-21T07:36:00.000+01:00

Think it might be time to have a sort out....some are bulging under the weight....i LOVE books though!

On Tuesday we read.....

2011-09-20T16:14:00.000+01:00

Starting a new weekly post showing my children's book collection with a little help from Stanley...

First up, 'The Hair Scare' by Jeffrey Fisher. Stunning end papers and a character called Radbert - what more do you need?! Beautiful illustrations and type, Jeff Fisher is a brilliant designer but turns his hand to a very fine children's book too....

and this is what I'm working on.....

2011-09-19T14:53:00.003+01:00

Character development for my new children's book.

Back to work

2011-09-19T11:10:00.000+01:00

Bits & Pieces

2011-09-17T19:49:00.002+01:00

picture one: morning chores with the help of 'washing machine tv'
picture two: presents for friend's babies all ready and wrapped
picture three: trip to london to meet a friend
picture four: borough market
picture five: sara & sonny
picture six: home on the train
picture seven: legs
picture eight: finger puppets

*with thanks to Bleubird blog for the idea and for letting us share....

Starting a new book

2011-09-12T09:33:00.000+01:00

At last I've managed to start work on my new book. Stanley is now 8 months old and easier for me to have some time to get some illustration done. This time I'm working with the wonderful Lucy Coats who has written the text after seeing an idea I had. The text is amazing, I'm so glad someone is writing the story - it is beautifully written and means I can just get on with the bit I enjoy - the drawings!

A colour example of what is to come...I'll post more drawings soon!

Bits & Pieces

2011-09-11T09:33:00.004+01:00

A la Bleubird blog again.....

making bread

coffee and the most amazing sausage roll...

...with Stanley

book purchase, old and new

making a card for a friend

lazy cat

green dinner

Babyology

2011-09-06T20:33:00.001+01:00

Lovely blog babyology has featured Batty my new children's book and given it a glowing review which is very nice of them. If you have a minute check it out here.

Bits & Pieces

2011-09-03T11:01:00.000+01:00

A favourite blog of mine Bleubird posts 'bits + pieces' on a friday, a new ritual, and one that she kindly lets others share in. Check out the blog it's friendly, creative and inspiring....

My bits and pieces for Friday are below:

Breakfast

Playtime

Typecase my Dad made for me

One I'm making for Stanley

Things to go in it

Cooking apple crop

Starting a new children's book

Waiting for bathtime

Dinner & mini dinner

A new outlet

2011-08-25T14:02:00.000+01:00

I'm trying to put up more images about my day to day life, not just illustration related ones as I'm not doing as much work as I used to. I hope you will enjoy these posts as much!
I realise now with a baby that my working life is very different and actually looking after Stanley and the joy he gives me is more important that pursuing my 'career'. However I have really enjoyed being creative in kitting out his nursery. I wanted to find unusual things to go in there and not buy too many new things.

His cot is my cot that I had as a kid and I sanded down and gave a lick of pale grey paint.

The changing table is something I inherited from my parents that they used to have in their kitchen.

The images in frames on the wall are cut from wallpaper I found in the old boiler cupboard when we turned it into a little wardrobe for him.

I was really pleased with these. His room was obviously a nursery once before (our house was built in the 30s) and the paper looked hand printed - possibly from the 50s. It was very badly marked from the old boiler and people building round it so I was happy to save what I could.

Phew long post!

Creative at Breakfast

2011-08-25T13:46:00.000+01:00

I don't have a lot of time any more to do as much creative work for myself.....however I can get creative with Stanley's food!

LMNOP

2011-08-17T19:40:00.000+01:00

This is a lovely shop in Brighton featuring fantastic artists.
Their shop is new and improved and looks great....I obviously happen to be one of the artists they stock....but I think you should take a look here - some beautiful and original things.

My Incomplete A-Z Book

Nice Post - New books!

2011-08-17T19:33:00.000+01:00

Stanley is getting big!

2011-08-16T15:38:00.001+01:00

Commission

2011-08-16T15:27:00.000+01:00

Recently completed a lovely little commission for a friend of a friend's little girl called Willow.
I hope she likes it!

JUNIOR magazine review

2011-02-16T20:07:00.000Z

March issue of Junior magazine.

REALLY nice magazine...

...and kind review. Hooray!

BATTY

2011-02-16T20:04:00.000Z

Now published by Frances Lincoln and out in the shops in hardback and paperback.
I love the finish on it - they have done a beautiful job...

For the copyright page I got to dedicate it to all the little children I know which was a nice way to say thank you to the many people that have bought my books for their children...

I'm back!

2011-02-16T20:00:00.000Z

Been away so long. Very busy creating my best work yet...a little baby called Stanley!
He is now 6 weeks old....and things are busy busy but amazing!

MA Show

2010-10-11T17:06:00.000+01:00

Brighton MA

2010-08-18T15:58:00.000+01:00

Finally nearing the end of my two year part time MA at Brighton University.
It is why I have been VERY quiet on here as of late...It runs for a week, so if you are in that neck of the woods pop along, there is lots of interesting outcomes from the mixture of sequential designers, illustrators and independent design students....

Book Nook

2010-04-06T11:32:00.000+01:00

I will be here at the Book Nook in Hove this Saturday from 11am doing a book reading of Girl with the Bird's Nest Hair and lots of drawings of birds. Pop in and bring some kids!

There will be free badges!!!

Colour i've been working on....

2010-03-13T20:45:00.002Z

Bologna deadline looming - some colour spreads for the bat book....

Yes this is the right way up.....

It's a 'bat' book.........

chine-colle

2010-01-24T17:44:00.003Z

Experiments from my MA

Printing using a metal (etching) plate and tissue paper coloured myself.

Battling with the new Bat book

2010-01-21T15:30:00.002Z

Pun was intended....

bunny wunny

2010-01-21T15:12:00.001Z

I made him for a lovely little one called Evie x

New Book!

2009-12-01T11:30:00.003Z

My lovely new book out in February 2010 published by Frances Lincoln. Advance copy has just arrived in the post...I'm really pleased, although it is always odd looking at work I finished almost a year ago!

Competition

2009-11-16T13:39:00.002Z

Last few days to enter this competition here http://www.artisancam.org.uk/home.php which is in association with London Zoo.

Entry closes on November 30th so be quick!

Great prizes to be won!

Daily Imprint

2009-11-12T15:54:00.003Z

The lovely Natalie at the Daily Imprint at http://dailyimprint.blogspot.com/ has featured my work on her blog. It is a fantastic place full of amazing inspiration and I feel very lucky to be on there with lots of fantastic other designers. You can read about me here.

Booooooo

2009-11-11T09:23:00.002Z

My website has been down for the last few weeks....however it is now back up and running.
Hoorah!

Times Cheltenham Literature Festival

2009-10-06T18:02:00.003+01:00

I am appearing at this year's The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival on Sunday October 11th.
http://cheltenhamfestivals.com/literature-2009/sarah-dyer/.
I am doing two workshops with children exploring my book THE GIRL WITH THE BIRD'S NEST HAIR, published by Bloomsbury.
Should be a lot of fun, it is a lovely festival to be part of!

26th International Exhibition of Children's Book Illustrations

2009-08-19T11:28:00.009+01:00

I was lucky enough to be one of two UK artists selected this year. My book was chosen after it was seen at the Bologna Book Fair last year. I went to see the exhibition just outside Venice last November, and have now been sent the very gorgeous catalogue to go with the touring exhibition.

I was invited to illustrate a piece for the show titled 'Tales from the Arctic Regions' which was about arctic folk tales, this is also included in the catalogue.

The website for the exhibition is here.

Edinburgh Festival

2009-08-19T10:19:00.002+01:00

I will be doing 2 events at this years festival promoting Mrs Muffly's Monster and The Girl with the Bird's Nest Hair. See you there?!
http://edinburghfestival.list.co.uk/event/10002533-monster-madness-with-sarah-dyer/
http://edinburghfestival.list.co.uk/event/10002627-sarah-dyer/

London Zoo & ArtisanCam

2009-07-29T12:20:00.002+01:00

Finally my project with the lovely people at ArtisanCam (they've won a Bafta don't cha know...) has come to an end and so the clips are available on line to watch. It was a brilliant project to be part of and interesting to think a little harder about what I actually do for a living!

Try not to laugh at me here.

Buy buy buy!

2009-06-23T17:30:00.001+01:00

The girl with the bird's nest hair is out to buy, in paperback and hardback and Japanese too!

a junk shop find

2009-05-21T13:42:00.001+01:00

who could resist photographing these two?
there's a story in there somewhere...

youtube

2009-04-03T17:37:00.002+01:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgXn9SBPyVM
please try not to laugh at me talking about my new book due out June 2009
The Girl with the Bird's Nest Hair, Bloomsbury Books.

Been off the radar...

2009-03-27T16:19:00.002Z

I'm currently doing a part time MA at Brighton University in Sequential Illustration and Design. It's excellent and I'm really enjoying - but I've been so busy with everything that I've neglected this blog...
Anyway some new images going up to show you my recent projects etc.

etchings from my genesis project

2009-03-27T16:04:00.003Z

Gorillas - London zoo

2008-11-10T13:12:00.000Z

Location drawing London

2008-11-10T13:04:00.001Z

Me

2008-10-10T10:43:00.005+01:00

Hmpf

2008-08-07T15:47:00.000+01:00

oh how i love the V&A childhood museum

2008-07-30T18:38:00.003+01:00