New Year’s is a coming
An unlikely couple!
Christmas was lovely. Easy, fun, lots of laughs and enough presents yet not too many and both girls loved the dolls. Amelia spent a full minute or so cuddling her monster saying “Thank you mummy!” which was all I needed and Lily immediately started chomping on her doll which indicates love, I am sure.
I am taking a three week break from updating Kiddley.com and I can’t tell you how LOVELY it is to be doing nothing for a few days. NOTHING! While Kiddley is a great joy, it is also a great commitment and to have some time where commitments just slip away for a while is a fabulous thing.
We have been doing lots of mooching around in our pjs, colouring in, eating left over plum pudding and reading our Christmas books.
I am conserving my energy ready to leap in to my New Year’s resolutions. I have lots as usual, all about balance and organic food, walking every day, eating more Green & Blacks white chocolate etc. etc., but also about things I have been putting off… like.. I am finally going to start writing and illustrating a children’s book in the first part of the year. While I have done illustrations for others I have never actually created my very own book and I have been meaning to since I was 11, so it’s about time. About bloody time!
I have an idea, and a I have a main character with a great name… so to mark my commitment I opened a sketch book yesterday and did a very quick first pass on how she might look:
That’s as far as I have got. As you can see, I have a lot of work to do. But stay tuned!
Responses
30th December 2006 at 12:22 pm
Aaahh, I love your little character! She is sweet as pie. Can’t wait to see what you come up with.
30th December 2006 at 12:24 pm
Good for you… nothing like the beginning of a new year to establish some new goals!
Happy New Year!
30th December 2006 at 2:23 pm
How wonderful! I’m totally with you about starting that first book…I have plans as well! Good luck and I know you’ll do wonderfully. 
30th December 2006 at 5:21 pm
Oh, I love how the dolls turned out!! I am excited for you to do your own book! You certainly have the talent for it! :)
30th December 2006 at 6:39 pm
Good luck, and we’ll be waiting with bated breath to get our hands on your (no doubt) fabulous book…
30th December 2006 at 8:48 pm
good luck with your book. I’d love to do one…one day.
31st December 2006 at 12:22 am
The ginger bread recipe worked great even with GF flour, thanks 
31st December 2006 at 4:42 am
The character looks adorable and I already can’t wait to order a copy on Amazon!
No pressure.
31st December 2006 at 10:14 am
I love the doll and the ugly monster, they are just sooo cute. Cant wait to see what book you write. I bought my daughter the little postal book that you illustrated, and she said she did not want to use it yet as the pictures were too pretty. How cute from a 5 yr old to say that, and I cant stop looking at the pictures either, just so adorable. Good luck with your writing and hear from you soon. Happy New Year!
31st December 2006 at 12:19 pm
That is fantastic news - we’re all behind you! I have sent so many friends to view your Ugly Doll- it is quite simply the cutest thing ever
31st December 2006 at 12:28 pm
enjoy your break! your first sketches are wonderful. can’t wait for more…
31st December 2006 at 1:54 pm
How I love your site! I have been visiting it every few days or so and love the creative aspect of it as well as the links to other wonderful sites. I wish your beautiful family good health, happiness and fun in 2007 and look forward to hearing more in the New Year!
Kind Regards,
Lindyl
31st December 2006 at 3:45 pm
She is cute as a button! I love the dolls you made for your girls as well. Those are gifts truly given with love.
31st December 2006 at 4:44 pm
You know I reckon you could update Kiddley as little as once a week and we would all still love it - just a thought!
2nd January 2007 at 12:05 pm
Oh did you make the pink uglydoll? I have a blue one like it, which I named after an ex-crush of mine.
I think those dools are so sweet, with their funny misplaced eyes. Mine has one eye and is blue >_<. It was given to me as a birthday present from a friend, who also realised how much I fell in love with it everytime I passed by it in the shopwindow.
3rd January 2007 at 9:42 pm
Yes, it really is about time for a book! I’m already looking forward to it
The dolls turned out awesome!
5th January 2007 at 5:50 am
can not wait for the book.
i love the beginnings of a new year, project…it’s so exciting!
30th December 2006 at 11:46 am
I am quite certain that whatever you come up with will be a roaring success.
Any book you write, I know I will buy and read to my Kindergarten class.
Good luck with it!