tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78487804828593381982024-03-12T18:20:36.883-07:00Fiona McDonald Her BlogFiona McDonald makes dolls, puppets, paintings and sculpture. She takes inspiration from old children's books and illustrations. She has exhibited nationally and internationally and won several awards.
Fiona is also the author of eleven non-fiction books, mostly popular history and one children's novel.Fiona McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073467256539888783noreply@blogger.comBlogger93125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848780482859338198.post-20330835696073880692023-07-26T20:46:00.001-07:002023-07-26T20:48:38.210-07:00What's been happening in 2022 and 2023<p> Lots and lots of stuff has been happening this year. </p><p>I have a number of new drawings.</p><p>These two were for an exhibition at NERAM in February called Illustrate Armidale. These are both set around the old entrance to the swimming pool.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvAwXZNBkZf04Z0_ZQf8faIKT0bF5_cOO8WHZu340KcUFYqBQSJkRu6XmCRqw1kgx7lny6bDx3PRgcaU-yhXINIr_oUqZQvyfbb4anwoHJVMRHwGDLGR595HkyS-mb_QZkaQ-6x44t7pqtaCwL0ezSxqPGZr5pmbFvU5HS87B7XGlgkNWA80HTPqXy849/s2265/Fiona_McDonald_Old_Swimming_Pool_Gardens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1532" data-original-width="2265" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvAwXZNBkZf04Z0_ZQf8faIKT0bF5_cOO8WHZu340KcUFYqBQSJkRu6XmCRqw1kgx7lny6bDx3PRgcaU-yhXINIr_oUqZQvyfbb4anwoHJVMRHwGDLGR595HkyS-mb_QZkaQ-6x44t7pqtaCwL0ezSxqPGZr5pmbFvU5HS87B7XGlgkNWA80HTPqXy849/s320/Fiona_McDonald_Old_Swimming_Pool_Gardens.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZ7dJ9ZM5_7FmHr-3T4G0ijxEFVi-3ESdHYQCe2uGaZKEV0G4KelS9C5qBi4kFcdzPyiXW1zKrmxu2b98N-v3daE9Zdym0ao7EoRvGA07_b-wf7iHyO-AROEb3ye94h_pA35JulgbJK-ecbUhgsyb6St47x3xIUCQESnhCw5Dbsqm7XKRCzZYJmb5vgjQ/s3750/Fiona_McDonald_Bridge_To_The%20_Old_Entrance_Swimming_Pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3750" data-original-width="2538" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZ7dJ9ZM5_7FmHr-3T4G0ijxEFVi-3ESdHYQCe2uGaZKEV0G4KelS9C5qBi4kFcdzPyiXW1zKrmxu2b98N-v3daE9Zdym0ao7EoRvGA07_b-wf7iHyO-AROEb3ye94h_pA35JulgbJK-ecbUhgsyb6St47x3xIUCQESnhCw5Dbsqm7XKRCzZYJmb5vgjQ/s320/Fiona_McDonald_Bridge_To_The%20_Old_Entrance_Swimming_Pool.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Last year I did this triptych all about my relationship to drawing.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-NO38-5QaAEx4amV0MzMIROZ7gI-jSxviMhFx6g_giUk0VNsF3-C6OVPc7Nxmcq-3EFMWlDxwn0zN-Lgqa6q6GIwqI7EL8dTvOVWRazi7VsW4SxyfJ5CiozfYouMSiNGcurkogcwetijr9ZQm54OaAiyFGJyomURZaVUScJqLzlI4u6fQP0_KW3EbQ5d/s3071/316264309_10226355982118667_4402145787062715260_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="3071" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-NO38-5QaAEx4amV0MzMIROZ7gI-jSxviMhFx6g_giUk0VNsF3-C6OVPc7Nxmcq-3EFMWlDxwn0zN-Lgqa6q6GIwqI7EL8dTvOVWRazi7VsW4SxyfJ5CiozfYouMSiNGcurkogcwetijr9ZQm54OaAiyFGJyomURZaVUScJqLzlI4u6fQP0_KW3EbQ5d/s320/316264309_10226355982118667_4402145787062715260_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I embarked on an abstract.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHyOfxNUeE6ddct-EwO6sUwnSSzIcMj_AftD7HbPL3_9tLOnLnungH_XCDkUN_pQUJQrt1UntNb4d4-E5i2HpBrkIKg59aR3YiwoXLDMCUegbP0bDMXUusIf2TvSBqsxeVDJoLQ57W_Nh97F6_ECGrIbQBC-1VsDIfpwcJF9_IvsLrJfKyBD9YTZpQlQd/s2048/330931297_842634483501471_3720278597915254631_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1443" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHyOfxNUeE6ddct-EwO6sUwnSSzIcMj_AftD7HbPL3_9tLOnLnungH_XCDkUN_pQUJQrt1UntNb4d4-E5i2HpBrkIKg59aR3YiwoXLDMCUegbP0bDMXUusIf2TvSBqsxeVDJoLQ57W_Nh97F6_ECGrIbQBC-1VsDIfpwcJF9_IvsLrJfKyBD9YTZpQlQd/s320/330931297_842634483501471_3720278597915254631_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Started working on a graphic novel about my love of Tennyson's poems.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4iDfEoiHZfOOOCrPgwBDTpTkb4uSLVxoU46qG_RbZvw5yabqX7y9e7_n_Ip0bUdRDkYrUTUErrJYjhdZa2Fx8wlTFwZ1PXbySemtzj78ZHc2byQKyiIvozMIWNFdxmuyHzml9knLvgMVIg6OWa2yJi50g_wP4JpnMWPB5roooWZA-18FMgZL7HFSofPo/s1800/321289723_662957212225536_6690903257849703846_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4iDfEoiHZfOOOCrPgwBDTpTkb4uSLVxoU46qG_RbZvw5yabqX7y9e7_n_Ip0bUdRDkYrUTUErrJYjhdZa2Fx8wlTFwZ1PXbySemtzj78ZHc2byQKyiIvozMIWNFdxmuyHzml9knLvgMVIg6OWa2yJi50g_wP4JpnMWPB5roooWZA-18FMgZL7HFSofPo/s320/321289723_662957212225536_6690903257849703846_n.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Did an illustration for Edgar Allan Poe's <i>The Red Death.</i><div><i><br /></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPToOWLHFBPO2hLYTGK31Igot2VzmbPwRHVRcPhCYKGXdkiRLW_9E8DEJqlO8H2qHZk37tqU8oGkRgbGpARxWr3vyAmnQ8svsqSH16dDnrRG2x1RF5MYv4_atpgZOtHQz1scRzbl_d0W2p___f8JNlDnUOd8WCy6PVX7cenFmxjjHnTKr8XM_RZmy7Fxv0/s2048/312730362_10226101365633414_8613736616240726081_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1466" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPToOWLHFBPO2hLYTGK31Igot2VzmbPwRHVRcPhCYKGXdkiRLW_9E8DEJqlO8H2qHZk37tqU8oGkRgbGpARxWr3vyAmnQ8svsqSH16dDnrRG2x1RF5MYv4_atpgZOtHQz1scRzbl_d0W2p___f8JNlDnUOd8WCy6PVX7cenFmxjjHnTKr8XM_RZmy7Fxv0/s320/312730362_10226101365633414_8613736616240726081_n.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And I am currently working on a portrait of some of my puppets as they sit in my studio.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfvnHR3vJ-kino_8XXSLt5iapPHzBj53M5ncY0NKjSqUSwS8VCanzlDICMSdKJC4svpSSE-yc9CukG3Y_PqXQ-ilYDNG7IPyIMaEpJNNbQBQqwZjqzrxPqbydu6wd460C6SA3R3HcQZDf0bCUphuHbhobpYttrzXSRm-EFef7fE14CQ-1LNLPkFto5IHDZ/s1800/361621457_10227904803118224_5354587230392656161_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfvnHR3vJ-kino_8XXSLt5iapPHzBj53M5ncY0NKjSqUSwS8VCanzlDICMSdKJC4svpSSE-yc9CukG3Y_PqXQ-ilYDNG7IPyIMaEpJNNbQBQqwZjqzrxPqbydu6wd460C6SA3R3HcQZDf0bCUphuHbhobpYttrzXSRm-EFef7fE14CQ-1LNLPkFto5IHDZ/s320/361621457_10227904803118224_5354587230392656161_n.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also started to do some print making.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-owxmo-HTtUYA94dASmMl0NuVGwdwTbLN-T1yqEXpSJsr61iwsaA7LAkJ5dEM-eJj0yRMZWW8Y-FujjuMkuRT_7vxGVb3BfaY5kms0bGoJg-BQjDkDKL673OUNAxKujXWZL8-yPoBKNwpmMZz3NEFzzWgx11-EqnMXlyUhNdNQPW1Edv9u8NeAbqbiTA0/s1503/326893594_711887587178278_2085510484928214630_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1503" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-owxmo-HTtUYA94dASmMl0NuVGwdwTbLN-T1yqEXpSJsr61iwsaA7LAkJ5dEM-eJj0yRMZWW8Y-FujjuMkuRT_7vxGVb3BfaY5kms0bGoJg-BQjDkDKL673OUNAxKujXWZL8-yPoBKNwpmMZz3NEFzzWgx11-EqnMXlyUhNdNQPW1Edv9u8NeAbqbiTA0/s320/326893594_711887587178278_2085510484928214630_n.jpg" width="307" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdMxjxBZjlZ9hdGLx4nJHtQNSTARyUSytZb56GH8JKdAk7Tm-cW_H3iTuGEzCr2h7M64HkrxSeQFRqtlI1tvzbHsSBAsLOWi_eJHlWEisDyZj5dkV_0Kb_pzRhyYVmQaiMO86qtnjhZ35cEvdVcpMUgKSOUIJlSWKv-oiKt5AAhErLtWQZpu36kk6XEky/s1503/326973462_3267292073536026_4846601422721761584_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1503" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdMxjxBZjlZ9hdGLx4nJHtQNSTARyUSytZb56GH8JKdAk7Tm-cW_H3iTuGEzCr2h7M64HkrxSeQFRqtlI1tvzbHsSBAsLOWi_eJHlWEisDyZj5dkV_0Kb_pzRhyYVmQaiMO86qtnjhZ35cEvdVcpMUgKSOUIJlSWKv-oiKt5AAhErLtWQZpu36kk6XEky/s320/326973462_3267292073536026_4846601422721761584_n.jpg" width="307" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO6t-VhKV6-1DL8mfNDglOucnhQso_Gt1FLASKKKWaE57AtSS_Blfr1vUqwgP6qHEpoHRS4rtclCxqmuiPJXM8x2dj6ZuiLcNOS3bTOvnzx3Lw4brA1TNfFs-xs9uXyJZJl3fGBsfDQx17p84kK3t6CVVteSI1nROx4VDsrJ9S27dJ79M_LtO3SjeBEarx/s1715/334679026_6616819098332239_573399366903653526_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1715" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO6t-VhKV6-1DL8mfNDglOucnhQso_Gt1FLASKKKWaE57AtSS_Blfr1vUqwgP6qHEpoHRS4rtclCxqmuiPJXM8x2dj6ZuiLcNOS3bTOvnzx3Lw4brA1TNfFs-xs9uXyJZJl3fGBsfDQx17p84kK3t6CVVteSI1nROx4VDsrJ9S27dJ79M_LtO3SjeBEarx/s320/334679026_6616819098332239_573399366903653526_n.jpg" width="269" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKt-eQ425b6Mzx5vz1ZbHDIGeDjkqgR9uW6-UNmTtQ7bxU-nNBlQYnCZYMB_25cSHtus9Oz0_FfzhY1aa5DsK4OaVGXLo556xGlpytZCaBOheThvXyvt9kwwbmqpmKHTg0muCvTDG6pV1GykBJh-OYr_s4GVLZf7PgCmnT2twBQ0noLBfFKB1wlu-UH5Sx/s1800/344363838_231884922854737_2808153560787725676_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKt-eQ425b6Mzx5vz1ZbHDIGeDjkqgR9uW6-UNmTtQ7bxU-nNBlQYnCZYMB_25cSHtus9Oz0_FfzhY1aa5DsK4OaVGXLo556xGlpytZCaBOheThvXyvt9kwwbmqpmKHTg0muCvTDG6pV1GykBJh-OYr_s4GVLZf7PgCmnT2twBQ0noLBfFKB1wlu-UH5Sx/s320/344363838_231884922854737_2808153560787725676_n.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4mad99HEAZcRd3NHzREoqLGdJ9y1YVjbrksfWt4Sj39jY9qrKdifWmD-DAwKpDvkEAtCRt9JybRgr83DTGTGvWgJDHztu1Ju_HHN_MLsfOVq6uQ5fVkUhK-LO0FiMnOueV_fLwkFXUHJF_wGv2QiUX8XtPzq8E4QsPra89VYyxqxqWGgX9s9na1lEsmR/s1800/356628220_10227770484960354_8236892441895085896_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4mad99HEAZcRd3NHzREoqLGdJ9y1YVjbrksfWt4Sj39jY9qrKdifWmD-DAwKpDvkEAtCRt9JybRgr83DTGTGvWgJDHztu1Ju_HHN_MLsfOVq6uQ5fVkUhK-LO0FiMnOueV_fLwkFXUHJF_wGv2QiUX8XtPzq8E4QsPra89VYyxqxqWGgX9s9na1lEsmR/s320/356628220_10227770484960354_8236892441895085896_n.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIowUE1o-bb81QLNQEhRUDeRtHPZk-sOFbq4hSw0YYm5450y1QhYYoI-90udeMqxH3nGoUKF6V6_JpHEOzaNCZglSwOC1Qi97Jj9aNikh4MPBHP_0yNZ43e89XPc2c6tZW-2Pe_Q9qou1CGDXQMvhLdMI00F9xcc-d771crA6p4Tgz5kkVjwS_en_92gSq/s1800/356660728_10227763436424145_3030785542666946379_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIowUE1o-bb81QLNQEhRUDeRtHPZk-sOFbq4hSw0YYm5450y1QhYYoI-90udeMqxH3nGoUKF6V6_JpHEOzaNCZglSwOC1Qi97Jj9aNikh4MPBHP_0yNZ43e89XPc2c6tZW-2Pe_Q9qou1CGDXQMvhLdMI00F9xcc-d771crA6p4Tgz5kkVjwS_en_92gSq/s320/356660728_10227763436424145_3030785542666946379_n.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>And in an ideal world, or one with a bit more time, I would love to keep this blog up to date more often and add a lot more words. But this will have to do for now!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /></div><br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p></div></div>Fiona McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073467256539888783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848780482859338198.post-34749536167462479722022-07-17T18:59:00.003-07:002022-07-17T19:00:48.650-07:00What's happening in 2022<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqAqP9xJuUtAqUX0B800VWVIGuwa0aqw5HiaSaaOYnscqQhfQL5QooaLhiokbfC9HUJbiVfI0OPBXfltOpfy82YpbU3QbP2XTKNgFTKbIigTnuEX3w0p8odY4kmHiPKnLooJmhWYdXcyI0GNcVPpvxq0kwIL3ejDcNTmYkyIMwk38MarRZUg4qW3wIOw/s4032/IMG_6005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="521" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqAqP9xJuUtAqUX0B800VWVIGuwa0aqw5HiaSaaOYnscqQhfQL5QooaLhiokbfC9HUJbiVfI0OPBXfltOpfy82YpbU3QbP2XTKNgFTKbIigTnuEX3w0p8odY4kmHiPKnLooJmhWYdXcyI0GNcVPpvxq0kwIL3ejDcNTmYkyIMwk38MarRZUg4qW3wIOw/w391-h521/IMG_6005.JPG" width="391" /></a></div>Here we are already half way through 2022. Lots of things have happened, lots of drawings done. Not much blogging but I always have good intentions of updating more often.<p></p><p>This year I decided to try a huge drawing. I have always wanted to do this. Now I have a great studio space to do it in and no excuses. I have cut a length of paper that is approximately 2 metres tall and about 1.5 (or a bit less) and clipped it to some ply board. </p><p>I thought it might be interesting to draw in Biro. It has been interesting but also frustrating because the Biro does not like working on a vertical surface even with the pen held at an angle so the ink can flow down. I love the scale and I love the effect. I will definitely be doing more large drawings.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmYU_cNN0csu-X4KU_MjVLMouuDWc0IyHXfH9fb-UYJYc2qWsG0Hk2mKKbDGRJsP6HlUCsWSntlKlCPUjluIe2luD4ANS734JaT8ZzMmC-hqVCsJ376ppTEP8hJxz21znJQj-QP80CSxQbo8Mg5Mq8IFpAI0XLc12mFAgnmagfA8W3F2n54yYM8DpQTg/s2048/290575049_2252786184877136_5897445834807355852_n%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1896" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmYU_cNN0csu-X4KU_MjVLMouuDWc0IyHXfH9fb-UYJYc2qWsG0Hk2mKKbDGRJsP6HlUCsWSntlKlCPUjluIe2luD4ANS734JaT8ZzMmC-hqVCsJ376ppTEP8hJxz21znJQj-QP80CSxQbo8Mg5Mq8IFpAI0XLc12mFAgnmagfA8W3F2n54yYM8DpQTg/s320/290575049_2252786184877136_5897445834807355852_n%20(1).jpg" width="296" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSCL16ZLXI2PpyxpejS7PIT4qZ7Vg-T8CZdEkwIEBu-jccVaQ2p4XAjr8MsiVyJR-Ees_uYcAEVZU_vJCCfjzhdXo4-GNMgZ7PvaX2sT8RCjpskP9HFgwdzi4zUF6Vh2zUuNuAQmdXAt3xcedIxdc7MApm5uIlvKQyHeNg-2Ye5CNuCWUq90N7SOY2yg/s2048/290682377_2252786178210470_7757360136176868397_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1586" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSCL16ZLXI2PpyxpejS7PIT4qZ7Vg-T8CZdEkwIEBu-jccVaQ2p4XAjr8MsiVyJR-Ees_uYcAEVZU_vJCCfjzhdXo4-GNMgZ7PvaX2sT8RCjpskP9HFgwdzi4zUF6Vh2zUuNuAQmdXAt3xcedIxdc7MApm5uIlvKQyHeNg-2Ye5CNuCWUq90N7SOY2yg/s320/290682377_2252786178210470_7757360136176868397_n.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(photos courtesy of Little Pink dog Books)</div><p><br /></p><p>I finished the illustrations for my book, <i>Edward's War </i>which is being published by Little Pink Dog Books and will be out in October. This is the link to the publisher's website with details:</p><p><a href="https://littlepinkdogbooks.com/edwards-war/">Edward’s War – Little Pink Dog Books</a></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4E5ybT9bxXEvXBaQIYhbKaiqNmqJ7-84iBOTwDmqHeSFJ4UpoBrqGzrYc3KxTubKA-s7qvFF4VE2z7gRIvyHZusi7oilD4CqgppQMl6flUrB4AsjdgiGSoNivDOxSvVF-SCO_jE-Ksbf9CR-VffaFJIhAf6yrCdsp4cfittm1sK-3CFruZFI7fhP10w/s3832/IMG_E5710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2874" data-original-width="3832" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4E5ybT9bxXEvXBaQIYhbKaiqNmqJ7-84iBOTwDmqHeSFJ4UpoBrqGzrYc3KxTubKA-s7qvFF4VE2z7gRIvyHZusi7oilD4CqgppQMl6flUrB4AsjdgiGSoNivDOxSvVF-SCO_jE-Ksbf9CR-VffaFJIhAf6yrCdsp4cfittm1sK-3CFruZFI7fhP10w/s320/IMG_E5710.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There has been time for some doodling too!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMmaKVWpOxFsIeZlRahxEqHfk0N9M8S6Jgbu7LVKePAStZKyUmnlvkEW9PaleXzm5wabZ_-4azefJcbJjTGr9XK2vTuWk-77cEs4TpMytE_jlpo-NlyTth0qAJR8MmRi0x__Yh8KvJD7rMgaG1NjWHRZdywjjS0ZV7JLw1P1To8I3Ng-REupaMLFh6CA/s4032/IMG_E5718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMmaKVWpOxFsIeZlRahxEqHfk0N9M8S6Jgbu7LVKePAStZKyUmnlvkEW9PaleXzm5wabZ_-4azefJcbJjTGr9XK2vTuWk-77cEs4TpMytE_jlpo-NlyTth0qAJR8MmRi0x__Yh8KvJD7rMgaG1NjWHRZdywjjS0ZV7JLw1P1To8I3Ng-REupaMLFh6CA/s320/IMG_E5718.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvHmp6o2RiRfz0syK8D_7fTYm0XXg2FVnaNKze0_lGRqI9NaSRHt2njIgjdFm-6pfc87b9MtNApNdYg3SrZ2Z9EZh5RjMAybQ349AqlTYMbZfJf1yQIoSbPUorsirJjLMxHXAVYa82Rud3q6fb2buF_jxWw-VfHZfj9jx8xetZJkljyMjAJ2pQtIdhMg/s4032/IMG_5765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvHmp6o2RiRfz0syK8D_7fTYm0XXg2FVnaNKze0_lGRqI9NaSRHt2njIgjdFm-6pfc87b9MtNApNdYg3SrZ2Z9EZh5RjMAybQ349AqlTYMbZfJf1yQIoSbPUorsirJjLMxHXAVYa82Rud3q6fb2buF_jxWw-VfHZfj9jx8xetZJkljyMjAJ2pQtIdhMg/s320/IMG_5765.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ePmuX9yKTzTKUFEECoKYZ3IVEf8x7IUHNKVgp7loMx8oL7Dibqfe-DrjOwQRY_qe0whd99AaNQfVpCkrurXhGz3nbb5DPHuCwJ_fB1V8U08sJFbC_T-T9m9dGl46872RqHvRDkravWYSlMBtQUW5btqJhgaKM33sSNXvd6OUhnhD0d2Ujp2H2Og7RQ/s3888/IMG_E6011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2872" data-original-width="3888" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ePmuX9yKTzTKUFEECoKYZ3IVEf8x7IUHNKVgp7loMx8oL7Dibqfe-DrjOwQRY_qe0whd99AaNQfVpCkrurXhGz3nbb5DPHuCwJ_fB1V8U08sJFbC_T-T9m9dGl46872RqHvRDkravWYSlMBtQUW5btqJhgaKM33sSNXvd6OUhnhD0d2Ujp2H2Og7RQ/s320/IMG_E6011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_2636XMlqiNixtv_SXeMZfLKwARkiBtqOFL-be1iNkWuee7zchdSCOiWfKFtctxqB0iEwU3rUQSVSw9XOtnK6qg1ohWyV0xg6hQToql1TMirhfcm4rpzH_Ufq0hBvEtp0BLru7185C1dxBwBcrx5fjL4vLGB5GPaGPMFeyFGO6NwMP8jhwTYZvoMHZg/s4032/IMG_6129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_2636XMlqiNixtv_SXeMZfLKwARkiBtqOFL-be1iNkWuee7zchdSCOiWfKFtctxqB0iEwU3rUQSVSw9XOtnK6qg1ohWyV0xg6hQToql1TMirhfcm4rpzH_Ufq0hBvEtp0BLru7185C1dxBwBcrx5fjL4vLGB5GPaGPMFeyFGO6NwMP8jhwTYZvoMHZg/s320/IMG_6129.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /> </p>Fiona McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073467256539888783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848780482859338198.post-65501144665050235062021-10-10T15:36:00.004-07:002021-10-10T17:40:41.045-07:00Blimey, another year almost gone! Where does the time go? An update starting with the most recent<p> </p><p><br /></p><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;">One of the goblins was chosen to perform in the Arts North West Puppet Project for Lockdown, shown here in my new art studio.</span></p></blockquote><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LiHk3Euz5hI/YWOHm8eBnrI/AAAAAAAAA40/6jvBJw8gxbkt_iYHt6QJLNpTddcHMPkDACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_5148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LiHk3Euz5hI/YWOHm8eBnrI/AAAAAAAAA40/6jvBJw8gxbkt_iYHt6QJLNpTddcHMPkDACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_5148.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He had been made for an interactive pop-up installation in the mall</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u1_ILrGQfww/YWNrZZPptMI/AAAAAAAAA4s/ASaHRdhE8zkOByZWQK5OjixkU-HWrzW_gCNcBGAsYHQ/s756/198798187_924886604739770_4125796395092028497_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="741" data-original-width="756" height="314" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u1_ILrGQfww/YWNrZZPptMI/AAAAAAAAA4s/ASaHRdhE8zkOByZWQK5OjixkU-HWrzW_gCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/198798187_924886604739770_4125796395092028497_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">2021 started with a microgrant from the New England Writers' Centre for the Summer in New England project</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UOelYFEWoNc/YWNq-KR5cEI/AAAAAAAAA4g/O8IB3MBbezg_Xq3toSc_J_pj8V7DBNq6wCNcBGAsYHQ/s630/IMG_3774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="454" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UOelYFEWoNc/YWNq-KR5cEI/AAAAAAAAA4g/O8IB3MBbezg_Xq3toSc_J_pj8V7DBNq6wCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_3774.jpg" width="231" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What happened at the end of 2020...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kdqlZ7JtdzI/YWNqwPW7j8I/AAAAAAAAA4c/9HrGfl0YsCgnASsef3I6ftj0OSRsoSSZACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Lyre%2Bbird%2B3%2Blow%2Bres.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1361" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kdqlZ7JtdzI/YWNqwPW7j8I/AAAAAAAAA4c/9HrGfl0YsCgnASsef3I6ftj0OSRsoSSZACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/Lyre%2Bbird%2B3%2Blow%2Bres.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My knitted lyrebird that I designed for Angela Savage's project to support the book, 'Animals Make Us Human', published 202 by Penguin Random House</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><br /><br /><p></p>Fiona McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073467256539888783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848780482859338198.post-73342679276932806482020-09-13T17:51:00.000-07:002020-09-13T17:51:15.767-07:00Compressed Charcoal Videos for the Arts North West Micro Grant<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dya7duF8baW72oPVDQ9BW-bCBFuKCJqRvz9ai6H_Qph70H94THiJ-vlm8gZ8xwSuIZksCZLDSF0gprH68XebA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxVOe9RyRw6eYHp18CSmfKfzH0q6_WNuEpu6gWtI_uDVm6obTOPpB75DOOoOKdLAW2zYkwnvjXLuVYKI0x0oA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>These two videos show how I build up darkness with compressed charcoal and below is the finished drawing. Compressed charcoal is much darker and richer than ordinary charcoal and extremely messy so use newspaper or a drop cloth under your easel. It will also make your hands very black. If this could be a problem I suggest using a disposable rubber glove. The charcoal will wash off with soap and water but it takes a bit of scrubbing. <p></p><p> </p><p><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-317oVn1KXYI/X168F1XlgQI/AAAAAAAAAz8/mXCu_2k1P1sDYQ97omw0pjyhnWvB-DLUwCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_2166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-317oVn1KXYI/X168F1XlgQI/AAAAAAAAAz8/mXCu_2k1P1sDYQ97omw0pjyhnWvB-DLUwCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_2166.JPG" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p>Some artists use a mixture of compressed charcoal, charcoal pencil and graphite in their work in order to get really dark areas. I am still experimenting with cross hatching graphite into areas of compressed charcoal in a way that gets a believable blend, the drawings below show such a work in progress.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Z5euzYHBoY/X169iZfo--I/AAAAAAAAA0Q/bcFaVWv-0TAmTUvwMZ9i3MK5_SXEwVUCQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_1293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Z5euzYHBoY/X169iZfo--I/AAAAAAAAA0Q/bcFaVWv-0TAmTUvwMZ9i3MK5_SXEwVUCQCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_1293.JPG" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DdIUcaEW8dc/X169X3hMQbI/AAAAAAAAA0M/3I8XZiNcbNQN4Vw7FroN2aHFVD2OxEsLgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_1297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DdIUcaEW8dc/X169X3hMQbI/AAAAAAAAA0M/3I8XZiNcbNQN4Vw7FroN2aHFVD2OxEsLgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_1297.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Pmd39c7FL4/X169sCKm3_I/AAAAAAAAA0Y/ZV0qIEIipxQHYNf58U3ieqQ9iAEhofccgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_1298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Pmd39c7FL4/X169sCKm3_I/AAAAAAAAA0Y/ZV0qIEIipxQHYNf58U3ieqQ9iAEhofccgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_1298.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Fiona McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073467256539888783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848780482859338198.post-54034171705084217122020-09-01T21:45:00.000-07:002020-09-01T21:45:35.685-07:00Videos of knead-able graphite.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here are two videos I made of myself trying out a product called knead-able graphite. It is very messy but lots of fun. These were my first videos and I didn't think about actually talking about the product while I used it. The materials were purchased courtesy of a micro grant supplied by Arts North West. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyCQ_Vxe-cLm0sMI6rW4uOTyKYLgfem8n9I60MqjPx7ycLwZ8_edAS3c0U_JAn5WvCDdkKB71dmO80Q6X3PMQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwChOteP3k-MLVl22f2u5kr1r1YoJQ3beZPpJIAV0HxgM9jg2qjfXHrYIUYyKHndDe6FUipaP3DajXus95ZbA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><br /> <p></p>Fiona McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073467256539888783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848780482859338198.post-89447455625288141402020-08-26T17:39:00.001-07:002020-08-26T17:47:13.141-07:00Arts North West micro grant for a home-based residency.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-er25ls3dNW8/X0b7tsLLFqI/AAAAAAAAAyk/qWpoL-bY5_kUTH1BxAwEubVqqkKmTSxWQCNcBGAsYHQ/s359/ArtsNW_logo%2528comp%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="359" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-er25ls3dNW8/X0b7tsLLFqI/AAAAAAAAAyk/qWpoL-bY5_kUTH1BxAwEubVqqkKmTSxWQCNcBGAsYHQ/s0/ArtsNW_logo%2528comp%2529.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>In May this year I was the lucky recipient of a micro grant from Arts North West that enabled me to undertake a home-based residency exploring issues of loneliness and isolation generated by the Covid19 lock down. I have found it to be the most exhilarating experience and have had a couple of extremely productive months. I have experimented with new materials and started working on a major theme revolving around Dante's dark and savage wood. </p><p>I have made some mini videos of myself trying out the new drawing materials and aim to get these all posted to this blog over the next week or two to give people the time to see them without feeling they are being overwhelmed by the number of them. All of the videos have been posted to Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/123fionadolls">https://www.facebook.com/123fionadolls</a></p><p>Creative New England also did an interview with me about the project which you can find here: <a href="https://www.unelife.com.au/blog/2020/06/30/fiona-mcdonald">https://www.unelife.com.au/blog/2020/06/30/fiona-mcdonald</a></p><p>Here are some photos of the works in progress and some of the finished pieces.</p><p>Thank you Arts North West! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BNo57OlNX6Y/X0b9voy1bGI/AAAAAAAAAyw/1HLlT5RF35EFDaMAgT0qfs49D7PWrK9QwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_2155.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BNo57OlNX6Y/X0b9voy1bGI/AAAAAAAAAyw/1HLlT5RF35EFDaMAgT0qfs49D7PWrK9QwCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_2155.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7GzjPdmLiNM/X0b-sf5zTEI/AAAAAAAAAy8/pTYsCBmlYAUENSwFn7u3ZQQUgQSKx0CBACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_2167.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7GzjPdmLiNM/X0b-sf5zTEI/AAAAAAAAAy8/pTYsCBmlYAUENSwFn7u3ZQQUgQSKx0CBACNcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_2167.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qV0xRqox4Fs/X0b-vRu1S2I/AAAAAAAAAzA/FiIZfqfEzIc23xsivI_IBEXPWKRA7xNuwCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_2163.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qV0xRqox4Fs/X0b-vRu1S2I/AAAAAAAAAzA/FiIZfqfEzIc23xsivI_IBEXPWKRA7xNuwCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_2163.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ztQgU-ie-_w/X0b-ylLcKCI/AAAAAAAAAzE/5QqAzH-gzVonfmnZGD2I_tfiw3q1TeECwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1280/IMG_2039.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ztQgU-ie-_w/X0b-ylLcKCI/AAAAAAAAAzE/5QqAzH-gzVonfmnZGD2I_tfiw3q1TeECwCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_2039.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tFLt_BZxPGc/X0b-9KBNYTI/AAAAAAAAAzM/vPg7ddq40qg0wpRBIwRgPx_0YnPwUnWBQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/McDonald_Fiona_Charlotte%2527s%2BMidnight%2BGarden%2Bin%2BDante%2527s%2BWoodlow%2Bres.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1463" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tFLt_BZxPGc/X0b-9KBNYTI/AAAAAAAAAzM/vPg7ddq40qg0wpRBIwRgPx_0YnPwUnWBQCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/McDonald_Fiona_Charlotte%2527s%2BMidnight%2BGarden%2Bin%2BDante%2527s%2BWoodlow%2Bres.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VgnswhU8LmI/X0b_DEMZX8I/AAAAAAAAAzQ/0kIPm4DQRZQsalhLbhbG2f48RZQty2w1QCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/mcdonald_fiona_Grandmother%2Bsends%2BCharlotte%2Binto%2BDante%2527s%2BSavage%2BWoodlow%2Bres.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1425" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VgnswhU8LmI/X0b_DEMZX8I/AAAAAAAAAzQ/0kIPm4DQRZQsalhLbhbG2f48RZQty2w1QCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/mcdonald_fiona_Grandmother%2Bsends%2BCharlotte%2Binto%2BDante%2527s%2BSavage%2BWoodlow%2Bres.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Fiona McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073467256539888783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848780482859338198.post-7756659601149042172018-04-16T18:17:00.002-07:002018-04-16T18:17:39.538-07:00Update Long Overdue<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It is so long since I posted on my blog, I apologise. In my defence I can truly say I have been busy. I shall try to make up for it by posting some of my creations that I have finished over the last year.<br />
This one is pen on paper, approx. 51cm x 71cm. It began as an old drawing I'd made for an 8 metre mural I was commissioned to paint at St Agnes Catholic College in Rooty Hill in 2002. I unearthed the drawing and thought it was too good to leave as a sketch. I have made a few additions to make it something completely different from the mural. I am currently working on the second panel of this piece.</div>
Fiona McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073467256539888783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848780482859338198.post-79028584694674641542016-11-16T19:48:00.001-08:002016-11-16T19:48:44.711-08:00What's new?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I posted the finished version of The Junk Shop on FaceBook but here it is as well! It was inspired by a visit to a magnificent junk shop in Walcha. It was a rainy, cold day and the huge old shop was gloomy. It was chock a block full of stuff. </div>
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The little girls in this picture have wandered off the street from the picture in my previous post and are now playing hide and seek.</div>
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Other news is that I have just had official word that my application to do an M Phil in Creative Practice at UNE has been successful. I will be writing a novel/novella using Jenny Wren, the dolls' dressmaker from Our Mutual Friend, as the main character. The genre? Crime!</div>
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So lots of writing and lots of drawing coming in the next year. I will try to keep progress documented on my blog!</div>
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Fiona McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073467256539888783noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848780482859338198.post-27561500407992666612016-06-15T23:48:00.000-07:002016-06-15T23:48:25.174-07:00Finished!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Fiona McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073467256539888783noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848780482859338198.post-53297136672291483832016-06-11T15:37:00.001-07:002016-06-11T15:37:13.247-07:00New Drawings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Yesterday I began a new drawing, it will probably be the beginning of a series, don't seem to be able to do many stand alone pictures. This one was inspired by an article my lovely literary agent, Isabel Atherton of Creative Authors, sent me, knowing I would love the work of Domenico Gnoli.</div>
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I had to start a drawing straight away. The influences are: Gnoli, of course, Edward Gorey, a long time favourite, as well as the brilliant Paula Rego and one of my first artist loves, Balthus.</div>
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Below are three examples of Gnoli's drawings.</div>
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Fiona McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073467256539888783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848780482859338198.post-25999625082072831052016-06-04T15:15:00.000-07:002016-06-04T15:15:01.882-07:00Forging ahead with my new epic!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I had a great response on social media to my idea of an illustrated epic story for older children based on a dream I had which was, and this is how the dream appeared in my head, 'Game of Thrones meets the Hobbit under the auspices of The Dark Crystal.<br />
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I am now forging ahead with the idea in earnest. Stay tuned, stay very tuned!</div>
Fiona McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073467256539888783noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848780482859338198.post-85389022087535420982016-06-02T20:37:00.003-07:002016-06-02T20:37:33.609-07:00Game of Thrones meets The Hobbit under the auspices of The Dark Crystal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Some time ago I began making little gnome like creatures which were unofficially called Lumpies. Then after selling a few of them I had a dream in which I wrote a story about the Lumpies and other similar creatures. In my dream the book was hailed as <i>'Game of Thrones</i> meets T<i>he Hobbit</i> under the auspices of <i>The Dark Crystal'</i>. <br /> The next day I began this picture which I have been posting updates of. A while after I began the drawing I sent a photo to my son, Gabriel Hooper, who took one look at it and said, 'I dreamt that last night!'. I have taken this as a sign that I need to follow through with this epic illustrated story for older children. <br />
Here is the more, or less, finished first illustration.<br />
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Fiona McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073467256539888783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848780482859338198.post-427164099113794432016-06-01T15:44:00.003-07:002016-06-01T15:44:50.435-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I have an exciting announcement to make.</h2>
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Little Pink Dog Books, Armidale, NSW, Australia are going to publish my very first children's picture book in which I am both writer and illustrator.</h2>
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The book is called <i>Edward's War</i> and it will be hardback, full colour. This is their first book publication so very exciting for all of us.</h2>
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You can read all about Little Pink Dog Books on their website: <span style="font-size: x-small;">https://littlepinkdogbooks.com/<br />
and their facebook page: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LittlePinkDogBooks" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/LittlePinkDogBooks</a>/<br />
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<i>Edward's War</i> will be published in 2017!</span></h2>
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Fiona McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073467256539888783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848780482859338198.post-7277916017825084202016-01-21T12:56:00.001-08:002016-01-21T12:56:38.905-08:002016! What will it bring?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Ahhhhhh! Last year was really difficult, financially and emotionally. My elderly mother is getting very frail and losing her memory. <br />
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But, this year the show has to, not only go on, but grow and succeed. <br />
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Let's start with a finished pen drawing.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Q6YoEt-ofA/VqFFVhM9wCI/AAAAAAAAApU/Tt9toacgqv8/s1600/The%2BDoll%2BMaker%2527s%2BWedding%2BTriptych%2Blow%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Q6YoEt-ofA/VqFFVhM9wCI/AAAAAAAAApU/Tt9toacgqv8/s320/The%2BDoll%2BMaker%2527s%2BWedding%2BTriptych%2Blow%2Bres.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This is a triptych called The Doll Maker's Wedding that I submitted a week or so ago into the Art Takes Manhattan competition. <br />
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Fiona McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073467256539888783noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848780482859338198.post-85158992234787932812015-10-08T17:02:00.002-07:002015-10-08T17:02:27.231-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I've just posted the finished pieces in the Melusine series. Now I'm starting something quite different.<br />
This is the Doll Maker's Wedding. Another pen drawing. You can catch up on its progress on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fionamcdonaldbooks</div>
Fiona McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073467256539888783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848780482859338198.post-6677586858918110742015-10-08T16:55:00.001-07:002015-10-08T16:55:24.691-07:00Catch up on pen drawings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This is Melusine's house finished.</div>
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Melusine at Swimming Creek, Nambucca Heads</div>
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Melusine in a landscape inspired by Eugene von Gerard</div>
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Fiona McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073467256539888783noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848780482859338198.post-45172804050042023372015-01-04T04:57:00.001-08:002015-01-04T04:57:50.001-08:002015!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Happy 2015. This is going to be a very productive year. My first deadline is in ten days when I deliver the finished illustrations to Two Fearsome Fairy Tale From France, retold by Adele Geras and published by Christmas Press. I think it is coming out in May.<br />
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I am working hard on a novel for YA audience which will be out of my usual fantasy, however, possibly classified as sci fi. I have to finish it and see if a publisher wants it, but at least I will be writing.<br />
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My toy shop, Granny Fi's Toy Cupboard is moving from Uralla, NSW, Australia, to Armidale (all of twenty kms away). The grand opening is the 23rd January.<br />
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And I would really, really like to do some painting. The picture above is from the early 90s. I dug it out of a folder last year I think and actually quite like it.<br />
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And thank you everyone who makes these lovely comments about my work. I'm sorry I don't et round to publishing it sooner. </div>
Fiona McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073467256539888783noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848780482859338198.post-17405728722755152062014-12-08T14:48:00.003-08:002014-12-08T14:48:26.250-08:00Another pen drawing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The night before last I began another detailed pen drawing. I'm only working on this at night just before bed. It has Melusine in it again. I don't know where the narrative is going, but isn't that just like a novel?<br />
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What I would like to do is a huge pen drawing, perhaps next year.</div>
Fiona McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073467256539888783noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848780482859338198.post-29385186138905703402014-12-01T15:00:00.002-08:002014-12-01T15:00:41.214-08:00Finished new drawing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Here she is. Melusine. HAs anyone thought who the mystery man behind the curtain might be?</div>
Fiona McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073467256539888783noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848780482859338198.post-67107480482656614172014-11-27T13:59:00.000-08:002014-11-27T14:01:56.087-08:00Melusine update and emergence of mystery man<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I was working on Melusine last night at bedtime. As I was blocking in the left hand curtain I noticed the shadowy figure of a man in a bowler hat emerging. His appearance is surprising and a bit disturbing, I'm not sure if he is a sinister presence or friendly.<br />
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If you have any ideas, please let me know.</div>
Fiona McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073467256539888783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848780482859338198.post-62874278730872133412014-11-23T15:43:00.000-08:002014-11-23T15:50:39.078-08:00New Drawing of Melusine reading, work in progress<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Have I done any of the 101 things I was supposed to be doing this weekend?<br />
Um, no.<br />
But I did spend a lot of time working on a new pen drawing of my crab-clawed mermaid Melusine. I love the work of Edward Gorey and decided to do a full out, detailed piece inspired by his style.<br />
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Hoping to waste more time on it when I get home this afternoon.</div>
Fiona McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073467256539888783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848780482859338198.post-13402142761306350322014-11-20T16:01:00.002-08:002014-11-20T16:01:27.640-08:00Sneak Peek at sketches for Two Fearsome Tales From France, retold by Adele Geras, illustrated by Fiona McDonald<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Two character sketches for Beauty and the Beast (top) and Blue Beard (bottom). Can't let you see anymore than this at the moment. Christmas Press is bringing out <i>Two Fearsome Tales From France</i>, retold by Adele Geras and illustrated by Fiona McDonald, earlyish in 2015.</div>
Fiona McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073467256539888783noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848780482859338198.post-6218871143230577972014-10-30T17:16:00.001-07:002014-10-30T17:16:08.114-07:00Unemployed Again! Can't wait.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A long time has passed since I posted on my poor little blog. If I want fame and fortune I shall have to work harder at it. <br />
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The good news is that my contract at uni is coming to an end and it doesn't look as though there will be anything more from then. This is a good thing because it has made me very, very, lazy. I am returning to self employment.<br />
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I shall be rebuilding my music studio: flute, recorder, clarinet and saxophone. this means I will actually get to play music myself. <br />
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I will be bringing out more knitted toys designs, including the long awaited dragons and other mythical beasts.<br />
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I will be writing more books-non-fiction and some fiction, at last.<br />
And I will be doing lots of drawing and painting and illustrating.<br />
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And then I will be happy again.<br />
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Oh, and I will make a big effort to keep my blog updated.<br />
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Fiona McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073467256539888783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848780482859338198.post-41029861926098592512014-08-04T21:07:00.000-07:002014-08-04T21:07:56.002-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span id="goog_107222574"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><a href="http://www.skyhorsepublishing.com/book/?GCOI=60239104012670&" target="_blank">My new book Fairy Gardening 101</a><br />
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Here is a link to my newest book: Fairy Gardening 101 published at Sky Horse Publishing, NY. It was so much fun to do. <br />
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Fiona McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073467256539888783noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7848780482859338198.post-91486478173593265902014-03-11T17:01:00.000-07:002014-03-11T17:01:31.839-07:00Selkies, websites and writing. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hello everyone!<br />
Fiona has been hard at work on a LOT of things! As mentioned in our last post, we finally have our website up and running! <a href="http://www.grannyfi.com/" target="_blank">www.grannyfi.com</a> and it's beautiful!<br />
We're working on more toys, stories and a way to sell knitting patterns so that they can be downloaded instead of posted...watch the website for details!<br />
While the website has been building, Fiona has finished the illustrations for her first picture book, written by the magnificent Kate Forsyth of Bitter Greens fame. Two Selkie Stories from Scotland will be published in May by<a href="http://www.christmaspresspicturebooks.com/" target="_blank"> C</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" target="_blank">hristmas Press Picture Books</a> (you knew that Fiona started her own publishing company with some friends, didn't you?). This is the beautiful cover she's done! I'm so proud of her!<br />
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The launch will be at our shop on the 10th of May at 4:30 if anyone feels like dropping in for tea and scones! <br />
She's also been working madly on a proposal for a book on the history of Voodoo... she has a wide variety of interests! Plus working on picture books and her fiction works.<br />
In her down time (ha!) Fiona has been knitting up some 'woodland folk' to be a new range of toys and patterns. She has been forced to watch 'The Labyrinth' (if you haven't seen it, you should!), 'The Dark Crystal' and 'The Princess Bride' for inspiration. What a hard life! <br />
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All the while we're BOTH working on the Booked In! Children's Literature festival that will be held at the shop for the second year in a row and she's working her boring 9-5 job out at the Uni.<br />
We meet for lunch almost everyday and watch our favourite episodes of Escape to the Country and dream of where we'll live once we're rich and famous!<br />
You can follow her (and me) on pinterest if you want to see more of the things we dream up or about! <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/beattiealvarez/" target="_blank">http://www.pinterest.com/beattiealvarez/</a> and <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/123fionadolls/" target="_blank">http://www.pinterest.com/123fionadolls/</a><br />
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Love,<br />
Beattie xoxo <br />
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Fiona McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08073467256539888783noreply@blogger.com4