I'm getting married tomorrow, hurrah! Here's our Save the Date.
I kept to a simple colour palette of greens, pinks and browns, on white. This runs through all the stationery and the decoration at the reception. We're having a Quaker wedding, so I drew two of the founding members for the invitation,
and a little vignette of me and my fiancé for the cover.
Congratulations us, happy days!
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's River Cottage veg book has just been published in German. My illustrations are still nice and veggy, and I love the new cover photo!
I went to see the wonderful musical Top Hat in London for the second time last week. I totally adore this musical! It's old timey, simple, and just plain amazing. I have a soft spot for tap dancing, I have to say...
The feather dress is my favourite in the show, but of course you can't beat the good old top hat and tails.
I love pies! In case you hadn't already realised. I was thinking about pies the other day, and suddenly remembered a lovely little job I did for Parade magazine in the States, all about pies...
The article was all about American pies, their history, which ones are famous, and what's so great about them (everything!)
The hand-drawn animated TV adverts I did for First Merit Bank with Brokaw in the US last year were so popular, they asked for more! And here they are. Enjoy!
I'm in San Francisco this week, just strolling in the sunshine...
along the Embarcadero...
to the ballpark, to watch the game. Loving it. Go Giants!
I've just seen the April issue of Conde Nast Traveller UK and am super happy with my illustration. I tried a fun, loose and brightly-coloured style for this map of Amsterdam.
We went to Heston Blumenthal's The Fat Duck restaurant the other day. It was an experience and a half! My very first 3-starred Michelin restaurant. 
When food looks as exquisite as this, it's impossible to resist...
Here's a nice photo from kapok, advertising their hanging lights. It's got my blue Peony etching in a pretty white frame on the right hand side!
I painted this rubber ducky for my niece. 'Duck' is her first proper word, and this one is covered with clouds and stars...
I was featured recently in South Side magazine in Hong Kong. I grew up in Stanley, which is 'South Side' so I was happy about that! You can see the interview online here or click on the image below to see it full size.
I was in Porto last weekend, and loved its faded charm. It's run-down, but in a delightful way. We had tea at the Majestic Cafe...
and I had a very tasty eggtart, with toasted almonds on the top.
I love the blue azulejos tiles covering all the walls.
We spent a rainy sunday in the museum and church. I like this carved lady holding a sign. I wonder what it could be for...
There is good design everywhere, and I especially admired the typography in the metro system.
A very happy Year of the Snake to everyone. Here's a red & gold snake I created for chocoyou to bring us all prosperity and luck this year...
I've decided to make one special limited edition Mariko Jesse product collection every year. Welcome to the very first! I've designed and made some fabric lavender sachets that feature two of my ceramic etchings printed on the front. The reverse sides are made from a selection of pretty vintage materials. 
This sachet is 14 x 11cm, with a dark purpley-brown etching of a white jug on a floral background. As well as the lavender, it contains rosemary hand-picked from our garden.
This sachet is about 11cm square, and has a specially created image of a Chinese teacup decorated with lavender flowers. The lavender inside is from Provence, and both sachets contain some rice to give them a bit of weight. 
I've used vintage fabrics and ribbons that I've collected over the years for the reverse side. Most are cotton, though there are also some linens and silks. Thank you to my friend Karen for helping me with the actual sewing!
They're packaged in a little card box with my new shiny gold sticker, and a paper description inside.
They're available exclusively in Hong Kong from Mingei Antiques in Central, or online directly from me. E-mail me if you'd like to buy one, or pop to my etsy shop here.
Chinese New Year is just round the corner, and I've designed some exclusive packaging for Hong Kong based personalised (you can create your own flavours!) chocolatier chocoyou. The special new year red and gold sleeve is wrapped around a gift box of 5 chocolate bars. 
2013 is the year of the snake, so I've based the illustration on a stylised Chinese papercut snake. When opened up flat, it also works as a fai chun (lucky sign) you can put up in your house. The shiny gold brings good fortune, wishing you a prosperous new year. Here are some of my sketches for the project...
I also designed a sleeve for a special Valentine's Day set.
The pretty watercolour floral illustration is a romantic Valentine bouquet.
You can order both these box sets here, the perfect gifts.
Another of my drawings has been featured on an e-gift card at Lane Crawford in Hong Kong. They're special personalised ones that you can add a little message to...
I create maps quite regularly for the travel section of the CSMA Club magazine in the UK. They feature places to stay, things to see, and often lovely local edible specialities. Here's a map I did for them of a Scottish walking tour.
May you all have a wonderful and delightful year. Can't wait to see what exciting things will happen...
My favourite bit about Christmas is wrapping the gifts. I often wrap other people's gifts too! My friends Bob Foundation in Tokyo have just published a new book about wrapping. 
I love wrapping! They asked me to demonstrate my wrapping powers, and here I am in the book, with my specially wrapped Bob gift.
I used to dream about being the gift-wrapping person in the department stores in Japan....
May your Christmas holidays be warm and cosy...
...and full of festive fun!
