Cristalnickerter - Word of the Day.

Wishing all you lovely book nutters a very happy Cristalnickerter, I have whistled up a little Christmassy scene of a hare and a bear. 

I used some really lovely French pastels that were my Dad's for the sky, with a generous dollop of watercolour that I won from an illustration competition when I was at College in 1991. Although the pans have been renewed in most of the colours, the tin is my favourite trusty one that reminds me of finding my true path in illustration.

My dear Dad died nearly 5 years ago and we had the very tough decision of finding a lovely residential care home for my Mum this autumn. That means that I have been sorting through all their worldly belongings and coming to some very resolute decisions of my own about keeping things. In amongst their stuff was the airline tickets for their honeymoon and some confetti, letters to each other while on different sides of the world and the box of dread: the file with my sister's Inquest Report and newspaper cuttings of her tragic death. This has left me with a renewed view of my whole family and an understanding of what must have been a terrible time for my parents.

So I've been thinking quite a lot about my family, past and present in the last few weeks. I'm using the artists materials that my Dad left behind for me with a real joy. He had some lovely things... old palette knives, materials from his journeys around the world, ceramic paint mixers.... and looking forward to using some of them in my next book, which incidentally I've decided to call The House on Hare Hill.

In other news, Vincent and the Vampires 2nd Edition is soon to be released. I've had the proofs through and with only one minor typo mistake now rectified, it is approved for printing. Do remember that I post copious amounts of waffle on Twitter and that my website is always open for business, 24/7!! I aim to give a Luxury Service with plenty of Glitter and Fairy Wishes.

www.scarlettinc.co.uk

So with that I will wish you a Very Happy Christmas and New Year. Wouldn't it be lovely to wake up to snow?

Jules xxx