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"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week in 2013"

And just like that the year is over. 'Cheers' to blogging, and a great 2013. I'm hoping very much 2014 is even better and we can expand this little family of ours. Stanley will be 3 in 4 days time and I can't believe how much he has changed. I have so enjoyed this project and being able to look at others when I've had the time. I hope to continue my own version on a personal level next year as I've enjoyed recording Stanley, the seasons and the little moments that make up a year, our year.

Thanks again for reading my blog, I hope to be back in the future with a new blog in a new space, but for now I need to concentrate on this little boy, family, my work, and me.

With love, S & s

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"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week in 2013"

Stanley - when did you get so big?!

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"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week in 2013"

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'A portrait of my child, once a week, every week in 2013'

Stanley: please don't grow up any more....

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'A portrait of my child, once a week, every week in 2013'

 Stanley: inspecting stuffed things in the Booth Museum.

21 DAYS LEFT...

...until the end of the year! But also 21 days left of (non existent) blogging. I'm sure it'll come as no big surprise but my blog is ending on December 31st. I have lost the love for it and there is no point keeping it up. I have little time to live my life at the minute never mind document it and write about it here. I don't feel it is the sort of thing I can leave up here and just dip in and out of randomly, I'm an all or nothing girl so I'm happier closing it down. I find it easier to manage Instagram as a social space to share news. I am also feeling increasingly uncomfortable about Stanley's internet footprint. For me, age 3 feels like the cut off point. I feel a mix of sadness and relief writing this post. Relief I no longer feel obliged to document my life, my work, and Stanley. But sadness because when I had the time I did love blogging and all the friends I met through doing it. I'm sure this will not be the total end, I plan on updating my website (and eventually moving to an all new space) and will include a work only news/blog section there, and of course if you want to see what I or Stanley are up to you can find me on IG @sarahillustrator. The final posts will be the portrait a week (which, of course I'm behind on) without which I'm sure this blog would have failed about 6 months ago!

Thanks to everyone who has ever visited this site, or commented - it means a lot.

Love S & s xxx

THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

A few weeks ago I was invited up to the National Portrait Gallery, London, to see a preview of the exhibition of Elizabeth I and Her People. I love the Gallery and have worked with them before on their Big Draw events but if I'm honest it is not one I choose to visit with Stanley so thought I'd make the most of the offer and go. This was a family blogger event and so we were going to see the family trail in the exhibition and to test out the coffee and sweet things afterwards!

The exhibition was really good, small enough to get round all of it and they gave us a 'Family Trail' so we could focus on a theme within the exhibition. The little leaflet was perfect and even though Stanley is not quite three he enjoyed trying to find the animals in the various paintings and objects around the room. It was interesting to look at Tudor paintings with a fresh eye having previously only studied them at school! In fact when we were looking for all the different animals in Elizabeth I amazing dress two ladies in front remarked that they hadn't even noticed the animals and were pleased to have been shown something new!

They also have family trails which are free to pick up and a lovely thing to do with slightly older children around the museum - they can be a portrait artist and look for different things to draw. The paper quality is really good too (speaking from a proper paper geek!)

Although it is not a place I think of to take Stanley (normally heading for the Science Museum) it was really nice not to rely on buttons and fancy gadgets to keep him entertained - more effort from me, but a really lovely experience. I know they also have free storytelling sessions with an art activity afterwards once a month in the museum too, which is a lovely way to be introduced to a seemly 'stuffy' painting and learn the story behind the person in the picture.

The Portrait restaurant was great too - even though you are right in the middle of London there are some surprisingly nice views from the restaurant floor.

We were testing out their really lovely afternoon tea for kids which included a selection of sandwiches as well as 'ice your own biscuits' complete with tiny piping bags and dried rose petal sprinkles! Needless to say, Stan was a fan! It would make a lovely treat for a special occasion.

If you live in London GO! I think you'll be surprised by how wonderful it is to visit with kids.