Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

Earlier this year I was lucky enough to be asked to produce a hand-drawn animated crying sequence for the Royal Ballet's new full length version of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Those that missed the ballet at the Royal Opera House can see it in full on the BBC iPlayer.

(Available until 30 April 2011.)

Alice is danced by Royal Ballet's rising star Lauren Cuthbertson. Choreography by Christopher Wheeldon, Design by Bob Crowley, Projection design by Jon Discoll and Gemma Carrington.

Inspiration rack

This is a rack I've had for years. It's where I put bits of my work along with things I like. It's kind of a precursor to my blog, that slowly evolves as I add stuff. The top image must be from about 5 years ago, and the bottom image is as it is today.

Pick up sticks and a parcel.

Drawing of the coloured stripes on pick up sticks and a parcel of cards about to go to the Barbican gallery shop.

Museum of Everything

Due to overwhelming public demand, Exhibition #3 at the Museum of Everything will re-open for 5 more weeks. It's well worth making the trip to Primrose Hill for a glimpse at Sir Peter Blake's private collection of curios. A personal favourite was a room of embroideries by Ted Willcox (2nd image).

Top Image of Sir Peter Blake by Uma Jovita Valaityte

Candy Cane

Work in progress snaps of new work for Candy Cane, including collaborative tea towels with Joanna Rucklidge. Candy Cane Fair is on this Saturday 27th November at Millennium Gallery, Sheffield, 10 to 4 pm. All are welcome.

Smitten

Kate Spade mittens and stunning painted stairs at the London pop up shop.

Until November 10th.

Cards at Pelicans and Parrots

Pelicans and Parrots is a new vintage shop in London's Dalston. It's the place to head to if you're after some wall-mounted antlers, a Printclub screenprint, an original 1950's settee, a carnival feather headdress or one of my hand printed cards.

Istanbul - Windows

Reminds me of Ensor Holiday's mathematic research into the recurrence and links between certain geometric designs found all over the world. As mentioned in my blog last year.

Istanbul - Sihirli Daireler

Most of us know it as Spirograph, but many Istanbul street vendors sell little sets packaged as Sihirli Daireler (Magic Circles). One of the said street vendors takes the credit for the bottom two pics. These magic patterns never fail to amaze me.

Istanbul sketchbook

Click to enlarge.

I've just returned from an inspiring trip to Istanbul.

My holiday read was Istanbul: Memories and the City by Orhan Pamuk. There is a whole chapter devoted to Hüzün, the Turkish word for Melancholy. He writes- "hüzün, which denotes a melancholy that is communal rather than private. Offering no clarity; veiling reality instead, hüzün brings us comfort, softening the view like the condensation on a window when a tea kettle has been spouting steam on a winter's day."