I know I said I was back...

...but now I'm really back!! Sorry I've been away, this is what i have been working on....
Stay tuned for more! x

Hello! I'm back... with a little exhibition treat!

Aaaaaah! What a really long time it's been between blogging. Without getting into too much nitty gritty, I just needed some time out. But it feels really nice to be back. I have this newfound sparkle and spirit about my little jookiku world and am really excited about sharing it all with you in 2015. Yay!

Hey, what better way to share my jookiku characters than with an exhibition! One of my little characters, Alastair the bunny, was transformed into 3D for an exhibition titled "Little Creatures" held in the shop/gallery called "The Creatory" in Summer Hill, Sydney. The only prerequisite was that every creation could only be 15cm or under. The exhibition started last Saturday week, March 28 and runs till Saturday April 11. So if you are in the area, there is still time to take a peek! Please pop over and take a look at "The Creatory" blog here....they have a special link to the blogs of all the different 'makers' explaining each of their creative processes. And they have even featured really lovely pics of Alastair on their blog and facebook page too :)

It's so funny as I haven't done any kind of paper mache since I was a kid, but I had a definite 'flash' of an image in my head of one of my little characters as a paper mache creation. And that is where the idea of Alastair: Bunny By Day, Crusader By Night, was born. I have attached some photos showing the process....starting with bending fuse wire to create the shape, then  applying paper mache over that frame. After lots of blowdrying, Alastair was then ready to paint.....that was the fun bit, he really came to life then. And then dressing him....making a little red velvet jacket and using lots of coloured felt for bits and pieces (felt has got to be my favourite type of fabric-no hemming!!)

And walaaa...Alastair appeared!!

I think he has been having fun over at "The Creatory" with his other little friends and he was actually sold on the first day of the exhibition, so will be off to his new home.

He is my first ever 3D jookiku character, but has definitely inspired me to make more....I can't wait! I think there will be a jookiku menagerie very soon!

So lovely to be back....see you soon xxxx

Happy Christmas from jookiku xx

I would just like to wish everyone a wonderful, safe, happy Christmas from all of us crazy critters over here at jookiku! We wish you lots of love and peace at this time.

I have been very quiet over here on the jookiku blog and it's crossed my mind that maybe blogging isn't for me. i am very much an instagram girl! You can follow me here if you are too! Anyway i will see how i go in 2014...

The reason i have been pretty quiet is that i have been 'head down, tail up' creating lots of new little characters to add to the jookiku family...i have had so much fun, getting back to my collaging, and i am so excited to show them to you in 2014. Here is just a few of my new little buddies....

But for now, here's to a beautiful festive season spent with friends and family!

xxxxxxxxxxxx

jookiku meets tractorgirl!

I was very excited this week to be featured on a beautiful blog that i love, tractorgirl. Julie Gibbons is the creative mind behind tractorgirl - a blog that showcases designers/creatives/makers; also provides tutorials; has a shop filled with Julie's creations...and so much more to discover! And we are almost neighbours (well, not quite...more like a small car trip away!)

You can take a little peek of jookiku's feature here. Enjoy! ;)

Happy October....and a little feature.

I am really thrilled to be featured on the beautiful and very creative blog, muyMajo today. Maria Jose Bautista (or Majo as we call her) is a gorgeous friend, fellow surface pattern designer and creator of this beautiful blog. I was lucky enough to have been asked to be a part of her 2013 calendar project...and i had so much fun designing the artwork for the month of October. The high resolution artwork can be downloaded from her blog. And while you are over visiting at Majo's please make sure to check out all her beautiful work....her blog and website are choc'o'block full of so many creative treats!

Thank you Majo! ;) x 

Where did September go?

Actually where did the last 3 months go??? I haven't been such a great blogger over these past 3 months. It has a lot to do with Winter, hibernating and not being in the mood.

But Spring has well and truly sprung....and i think i have my blogging mojo back!!

I can't believe Harry and i were playing and tobogganing in the snow only a couple of months ago!

i have done a bit of a revamp of the jookiku website and have included lots of new patterns....

here is a peek..... be back soon x

jookiku for Keka = yay!

Woohoo! Something that has been in the pipe-line for a little while...jookiku has a new licensing contract with the American based company, Keka. You can find my patterns on their ipad and kindle cases over here! Anyone in need of a gift for a friend...or for themselves?? :)

Hello happiness

'hello happiness'

A happy colourful print for a cold wintry day ;)

Welcome to the Pin Hop!

Hello and welcome to our Pin hop! A kind of a tweak to the old blog-hop idea...that is, a quicker way to look at the work of your favourite designers.

A big thank you to Tina Olsen, for coming up with this idea and organising lots of designers (not an easy task!) This is how our Pin hop will work: on Saturday June 15, over 40 surface pattern designers will pin one design each onto a pinterest board, you are then able to click onto the designs you like, which will link you back to that particular designers' blog/website and to more of their designs...ta-dah! A fab new 'hop' idea.

The inspiration for our 'pinned' patterns are derived from 4 different themes provided by the A/W 13-14 trend board by Patternbank. I chose Midnight Garden to inspire me for my patterns...

"Actually, Alice....."

"Storybook shadows"

"Far-away fables"

Ok, well my inspiration began with the 'Midnight Garden' theme, however i admit i did go off on a bit of a tangent which was definitely influenced by Tim Burton, old fairytales, vintage packaging, my nan's doilies, paper cut-outs....i think that covers it! And i also had an overwhelming desire to just draw in lead pencil (something i haven't done in years!) Even though it was pretty time-consuming, i really enjoyed the process!

To head back to our Pinterest board, just click here....http://pinterest.com/fndnewdesigners/pin-hop-june-2013/......or if you would like to 'hop' to the next designer (like a traditional blog hop), please visit the very talented Emma Hawman from Emma Frances Design.

Thanks for taking a peek! ;) 

Pin Hop June

I am very excited to be participating in a 'Pin Hop' starting this Saturday June 15. Similar to a blog hop, however all the patterns will be on a Pinterest board...here is the link to the board:
http://pinterest.com/fndnewdesigners/pin-hop-june-2013/ ...don't look yet, it begins Saturday and will be showcasing the work of over 40 surface pattern designers! Hope you can take a peek and enjoy!

To my dear poor neglected blog....

....please forgive me my poor little blog for being so neglectful since the beginning of April....what???? How did that happen?? Hmmm...too many distractions...too many commitments...licensing work to get finished...school canteen to volunteer at...excuses, excuses!!

Well, i am here now...i have been busy, i promise.....check out one of the new girls from a card range i am working on....her name is Maeve....

And yes, you may have seen Alice around these parts before, but she asked to be rendered in pencil today: i like the feel of her pencil rendered-a little dark, eerie even....not quite finished yet, but she's given me a good idea for an up-coming 'Pinterest-hop' that is coming up June 14..think she will star in my "midnight garden" pattern collection....stay tuned...this blog will be given a lot more tlc!...promise! :)

homegirl

'homegirl'

Having a quiet day drawing at home today when this girl turned up...i like to call her 'homegirl'....

The new girl

There is a new girl in the jookiku neighbourhood....i'd like you to meet, Jooni.

She is a bit of a character this one, a little bossy, a little sassy... she has even made her way over to my website...homepage no less! I think she may be sticking around for a while...even popping up on all sorts of treats (treats that will be found in my shop-yes, that online shop that really will be opening...i promise!)

...back to Jooni, here is a little bit about her...

age: older than she looks!

starsign: Scorpio

favourite food: creme brulee and dark Lindt chocolate...combined is even better!

favourite singer: Dolly Parton

favourite song: Jolene

occupation: circus performer (having a little holiday here at jookiku indefinitely due to a knee injury!)

favourite colour: black + white (with a splash of yellow or hot pink)  

favourite animal: elephant (obviously from her circus days!)

favourite place to hang out: jookiku....of course!

I think she may get herself into some mischief around here...will keep you posted on all her escapades ;) 

sunshine, bunny cakes & cute magnets!

What a lovely relaxing Easter break! The weather was sooo beautiful and sunny, so Harry and i did a bit of chalk drawing out in the sun. These very cute bunny cakes were made by our very talented neighbour-they tasted even better than they look. And look at these gorgeous kitty magnets (love the packaging too) by kiki k - a lovely surprise gift by my friend, Karina...(she has a beautifully inspiring blog, over at a kreative life , take a peek!)

Hope everyone had a lovely Easter break!

what's new pussycat?

Gosh, i really have had a bit of a theme of cats, the past week....i did draw part of this illustration a while ago, and the rest came together today. I do like mixing different techniques: 'old-fashioned' pencil rendering with loose line drawings, mixing them together to give a quirky result. This one was fun, although i do admit a little weird...

'what's new pussycat?'

a fairytale Friday

Well actually it wasn't really a 'fairytale' type of day, nothing really magical or amazing happened....but a little 'fairytale collection' was born. I drew my 'alice' and 'little red' a couple of weeks ago, and they have been waiting patiently to be put into their patterns with their new pals...so here they are...a bit of 'fairytale fun' for Friday!

'alice'

'fairytale floral' (i know, not an exciting name, couldn't think of anything...)

'little red'

bye-bye Sam-Sam

A bit over 3 weeks ago now, my little cat, Sam was run over. He was such an adventurous little spirit, always on the move, visiting all his neighbourhood friends (he had a better social life than i did!) It had crossed my mind that sometime in the future he may get himself into trouble on the road. But it still doesn't prepare you for the sadness, flatness and that horrible feeling in your stomach when you realize that little member of your family is not coming back. I am lucky that my little boy, Harry is probably still a bit too young to understand the concept of death...though i did talk to him about it. His big question to me when i tearfully explained what had happened was....'when you found him, Mummy, was he really flat?'....

He was a one in a million cat, with a massive personality...i think he actually thought he was part dog: following us to Harry's preschool last year, yes right in...he had to meet the kids. Following us to the shops, the park, to school, even to last years' neighbourhood New Year's Eve party (no fireworks, loud music or crowds bothered Sam-he was the last to leave!) I am only just beginning to stop looking for him when we pull up in the driveway or think that i can hear his meow when i peg out the washing. The house is very quiet without him.

I really wanted to 'capture' Sam's great big personality in some drawings...but initially, it didn't come easy (as i think i just felt too sad when i thought about him)...but i think my little 'illustration tribute' below sums Sam up. We loved you Sam and we miss you heaps.

let's march into March!

I can't believe it is March already! I have been a little quiet around these parts lately, but i did want to remind you about the great calendar project of 2013, (organised by my pal, Majo, where 12 of us got together to design a month of the year). March is now ready to download from Majo's blog here, it has been beautifully designed by the very talented, Simi Gauba...enjoy!

Business Boom!!

Really thrilled that jookiku has been featured on the great site, Business Boom Collective!
Take a little peek here....

a little surprise

A nice little surprise arrived in the mail today in the shape of 3 beautifully wrapped and beautifully designed postcards from the very generous Rachael Taylor - thank you so much Rachael, i love them!