HORAY FOR LOVE

So I managed to choose 8 cards to print - they are now available to buy in my Etsy shop I chose these ones.

And also and of course as promised - I have made the second installment of the Because You're Worth it love zine. Featuring all the best alternative valentines I have made since I first published the original zine. 

That is available also - buy them for your nearest, dearest, secret admireee etc and usv 

This is them both. 

SUPER EXCITING VALENTINES VOTE COMPETITION

HELLO

So I've been making alternative collage valentines on and off since moving to London 5 years ago (wow, really? 5 years?)

After a few years of this I compiled my favourites into a mini-zine which I have been selling online and at various real life venues ever since. I also did a limited edition entirely pink version of this to use up the excess ink in my broken printer, as something special for you guys. 

I've made 7 new designs this week, but I want to step up this little corner of my 'practice' you know. As well as offering the originals for sale and making a second issue of the Love mini-zine, I want to print 100 Valentines cards to sell using some of the best designs from all 5 years, and sell them at a much cheaper price point (£1.70). I want to send these to print this Sunday in order to have a few weeks of optimal Valentines selling time, 

but this is where I NEED YOUR HELP.

I'm not sure which designs are the best to print. 

So I thought I'd ask for some help, and throw in a cheeky little competition to make it worth your while. I'll run this here and facebook too, to make it super easy. 

WHAT YOU COULD WIN:

one randomly selected entrant will win: a copy of both old and new Love zines, and a printed Valentines card of their choice. And a two finger KitKat. 

Two additional entrants will win their chosen printed Valentine card. 

WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO:

In order to be in with a chance of winning, please tell me which designs (up to 6) you think I should print, 

be sure to say which design you would want to be sent to you if you win. 

you can do this in a comment on this blog post, or on the corresponding facebook photo album. 

Deadline is Saturday 18th January

HERE ARE THE CARDS

I've narrowed it down to the 23 designs below - go click through them and see what you think

I advise you to make sure you read all of the words on the card before deciding you like it, because some of them have a bit of a kick in the tail. If that's the expression that makes sense. 

Forty Forty Forts

I can't write the word forty and convince myself it's spelled right. surely that means something that resembles a fort? not four tens, why would that not be fourty? 

Stupid English language. 

I'm actually probably not dyslexic. 

Although I've never OFFICIALLY been tested. So who knows. 

 Anyway. What I meant to say was, here is the one hundred and forty first drawing in the Facebook Project. (yes I am still doing that, slowly, really really slowly), and I liked it, so I thought I'd show it to you. 

It is of James.

Also here is a picture I did of Micah P Hinson with the Yellow Bird Project bird on his head for Amelia's round up of Best Christmas Indie Tunes for 2013

Also also also also. I am making collagey alternative valentines again, and I almost have enough for a second edition of the Love mini-zine. Which is exciting. Expect details soon, hopefully even in time for me to get some printed in sensible time for Valentines Day. Horay! 

See, I told you I'd make cards out of them. And from found (read, cut out of last year's Christmas cards and this year's Tesco magazine) text. Of course. 

Christmas Stars

Hey look I've been making these collage stars for Christmas crafting purposes.

I will not insult your intelligence by doing a how to. You cut diamonds out of magazines/pretty papers and stick them in star shapes. 

I like them. 

They have many uses. I will put them on cards, on trees, on jewelry, i will photoshop them on to random pictures. Yes.  

You can make them from many things. 

holidays are coming, holidays are coming, holidays are coming TIS THE SEASON etc.

You can see all 4 of my Real TV Wisdom Christmas card designs here now.

I also wanted to share with you some pictures from the Gallery of Mo portrait events I've been doing. Still my absolute favourite way to spend an evening. Photos courtesy of Gallery of Mo on Facebook.

The Movember Gala party has the added bonus that people are in fancy dress. I get to draw people in fancy dress? Best thing ever. You could totally pay me to do that at your office Christmas party you know, just saying. 

holidays are coming

It's coming up to that time of year again kids, I've cried my face off at the John Lewis Ad a few times already and made cryptic notes to myself about Christmas shopping which I've already forgotten what they mean. I made the mistake of cycling through Covent Garden a few weeks ago where to all intents and purposes the pedestrians seemed to think it was already Christmas Eve. 

Also I've started working on some Christmas card ideas. The plan is to make a single addition illustrated card, and a 4 strong series of Real TV Wisdom celebrity chef cards. 

I'm not sure about this one, it's a contender, although the colours may need some tweaking. Bit of a departure from my usual text based cards (which will also be available as I have most designs left to some extent). Feedback would be appreciated ladies and gentleman. I could mash it up with some text. In a more pleasant way than that sounds. 

I also feel compelled to point out that although this is clearly a Robin's Christmas, any similarity to a Robins' Christmas is purely coincidental. Winky Face. 

Here exclusively I can also show you a sneaky preview design for my Real TV Wisdom cards;

I have been spending a lot of time watching youtubes of past christmas specials to research this and couldn't resist this tragicomic contradiction. Oh Heston, you marvelous sell out. Nigella in progress. If you know of any marvelous seasonal cheflebrity soundbites please do alert me. I'm not sure how many more mince pie recipes I can stomach. (I know how many actual mince pies I can stomach: a lot.)

Watch the space of hereness childerwinks.