Oh look! February!

February is a short month, so I'm excused for spilling this over into March...

Knobs // Marmalade making

And finishing // New sketchbook

And some pleasing arty things I've seen this month:

Daniel Danger is tumblr-ing the progress of his latest illustration (which I'm hoping is zombies). His commitment to one image is pretty inspiring.

Some useful drawing tutorials.

Loosely related to illustration... it shouldn't really be surprising to learn that Dr. Seuss was an avid hat-collector.

Oh, look! January!

New year's resolution: I'm going to try and do one of these towards the end of each month this year, rather than just when I remember...

So, this past month has included...

The ballet // Lots and lots of boxes//

Coming home in the snow // Real fire!

And some lovely arty links:

Ian Sidaway's sketches of Vienna appeared just as I was reading The Hare with Amber Eyes. Apt.

John Hendrix on how to find your voice as an illustrator.

Kate Bingaman-Burt has drawn what she buys everyday since 2006... (via lostateminor)

A little bit eery, but beautiful - images from Daniel Danger.

Oh, look! #17

Christmastagram!

Bond Street / View from Waterloo Bridge

Poinsettia / Christmas soup

And some inspiring links:

Wonderful tattoo illustrations, with the stories behind them.

Always draw.

Beautiful fairy tales.

Oh, look! #16

Recent nice things...

Book sculpture in a gallery on the King's Road // Baking bread

Curling up on the sofa // Festive lights

I think Quentin Blake's probably one of the few illustrators whose work almost everyone in the country would recognise, and there was a really interesting interview with him on Monday's Front Row on Radio 4.

A thought-provoking post from Jillian Tamaki on the difference between drawing and illustrating.

Useful drawing tips from Gary Panter (via Drawn).

Oh, look! #15

Recent nice things...

Greenest of green smoothies | Road trips in the rain

Sunday morning baking | Cat, baffled by curtains

(instagram: timballoo)

I love seeing how other people make things, so this video of Phil McAndrew painting 'fear' was inspiring.

Oh, look! #14

Recently I have been...

Messing about on the river // Rejoicing in breakfast

Horrified by this monster // Gardening!

(instagram: timballoo)

I've always had a bit of a soft spot for locals news*, so this blog of Angry People in Local Papers amused me.

* Nothing has ever thrilled me more than this story, from when I lived in Salisbury, of a terrifying beast that was stalking residents and described as 'a cross between a kangaroo, a leopard, a monkey and a cat'. And a bit raccoon-like. Oh, and with the gait of a monkey. Ah, Salisbury... 

Oh, look! #13

I have been...

going on rainy trips to the seaside // warming up with sunshiney cocktails

visiting Camden // finally hanging some pictures

(instagram: timballoo)

- not looking forward to the Olympics. Or rather, not looking forward to trying to do anything useful whilst they're on. This image sums up my feelings about the whole shebang quite nicely.

- amused by this cat lady drawing.

Oh, look! #12

This week has been about...

Dorset countryside // The Summer Exhibition at the RA

Surprising phone boxes // Sending the first wedding savethedates!

(find me on instagram: timballoo)

... finding out where monsters get their supplies . I can't decide whether I want Zombie Mints or Cubed Earwax... (via lost at e minor)

... learning that mermaids don't exist.

Oh look! #11

This week has been about...

epic breakfast pancakes // cat-battles

sunshine on the South Bank // not-boring salads

... being reminded of how I felt when I first read my mother's copy of Angela Carter's The Bloody Chamber (covertly, because I was 'too young' for it). These new illustrations for the book from the 2012 Book Illustration Competition reminded me of the impact it had, and why I still love it.

... watching the talented Rory Kinnear in The Last of the Haussmans at the National Theatre. Amazing set as well.

... reading Fifty Shade of Grey to try and find out what the fuss was about. Not finding out. This review sums up my feelings quite nicely though, I think.

Oh, look! #10

This week I have been...

Eating birthday cake // Enjoy the occasional sunshine on the Thames

Making an instagram-tree // Wandering round the St Martin's Degree show

...wondering whether it really made any difference whether you use unsalted or salted butter when you're baking, and then Joy told me!

... feeling glad to hear (via the Inky Fool) that 'bimble' has made it's way into the OED. I'm sure I use it all the time and it definitely deserves 'proper word' status.

Oh, look! #9

This week has mostly been about...

Enjoying the occasionally moment of sunshine by the river // Making crumpets!

Getting through a lot of fruit, post-holidays // Drawing

Being inspired by Londoner Emerson Thaine's beautiful line drawings (via meoldchina)

Wondering whether grown-ups can have mobiles (as in the hanging, spinning things, not the phones), and where I could put this bicycle one.

Oh, look! #8

Things that have brightened my week...

Spring flowers in the rain. Using my vintage tea set. 

Making buns! The swing outside CSM.

Benedict Cumberbatch must have heard a lot of interesting versions of his name, but I think this might be the best...

I might complain (a lot) about how hard it is to find decent cycling gear for women, but this round up of cycling through the ages made me count my blessings. At least I don't have to ride in a corset and boots!

Oh, look! #7

Things that have amused me, pleased me or caught my eyes this week...

Getting my bike stuck on the door handle for ages. Coffee. Lots of coffee.

Watching London put its posh frock on before the Jubilympics.

(Instagram: Timballoo)

Sasha Prood's beautiful water colours and illustrations are awesome - both in that they're amazing and that they fill me with awe. (via designismine)

This xkcd cartoon is perfect. Telling people amazing things is definitely more fun than laughing at them for not knowing stuff!

Ever wondered (or tried to remember) how we ever managed to meet up with people in the days before mobile phones. Here's the answer...

Happy Saturday everyone. We're off to a wedding so I've got my fingers crossed for nice weather down in Dorset!