rodeo!

Last weekend I went to my first rodeo, the 2013 Grand National Rodeo, held at the Cow Palace (what a great name!) in San Francisco. There were all sorts of events, but most were just too fast to draw: bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, they only last a few seconds! There were lots of parades with people on horses holding flags...and displays where the horses galloped super fast too...I enjoyed it all, it was such a spectacle! Before the main event we went to see the animals, and I adored the goats and soft furry cows (that were having their fur blowdried to supreme fluffiness) and was super happy when they did a parade of the best-in-show.

Jenny's wedding

I created the Save the Date and wedding info card for Jenny and Randy in Hong Kong this summer. Their Save the Date was interesting, as they asked for a map showing all the places that meant something in their lives, especially Okinawa in Japan, where they got engaged. They requested three colours: brown, pink and champagne...I then made a more detailed map of Bali, where the wedding was taking place, showing all the various wedding event venues. It featured little pictorial icons of some of the surprises in store for their guests.They also printed tote bags featuring the Save the Date map as favours for their guests. Nice! Congratulations guys! What a cute couple...First photograph is by Jada Poon Photography, and second is by Johnny Productions.

interview blog

I did an interview this week with lovely Hong Kong lifestyle blog shoebox living... Be sure to go to the actual blog to catch up on all sorts of other wonderful Hong Kong news too...

Winchester Mystery House

I went to visit Winchester Mystery House in San Jose recently, home of the widow of the heir to the famous Winchester rifle fortune. She was a bit eccentric (to say the least) and built a truly bizarre house. There was a very nice little mini exhibit of all the things that the Winchester company made in their heydey, and I drew these sketches there. I really love old handtools!

London toile dinner plates

I'm in London, and I've just received some samples of my London toile dinner plates. They're super cute!They're made from fine bone china, blue on white, in a set of 6, and each plate has a different London icon in the centre.I have to say that I have a soft spot for the corgi...They're available to buy online and instore from faux and tree, in HK.

Sparkhouse mural

I've just been to Sparkhouse, in South Orange, New Jersey, to add another little character to the growing collection on the walls of my friend's toy store. It's always nice to do a little favour...I'm now trying to think of a name for the mini supercute robot...

Hong Kong chopsticks

I'm really missing HK this week, so here's a photo I took at my local cha chaan teng when I was there last time, just down the steps from my studio. I love the combo of colours and textures...

New York collection

Here's a beautiful jigsaw puzzle I illustrated for Galison in New York. It features the big apple and all its wonderful sights. Really fun!In the same collection, there are also magnetic bookmarks, and sticky notes.You can buy all these things on amazon!

River Cottage veg USA

River Cottage veg everyday has been re-printed in the US, and the publishers here have taken the illustrated endpapers I made for the original UK edition, and put them on the front and back covers of the book, with a short dust jacket. I like it. Though I kind of miss Hugh on the cover.Vegetable books are super popular in the States at the moment, and I saw the book in a nice article in a foodie magazine...I was also super chuffed when I saw it in the anthropologie online store...and even more when I saw it in the actual store!It's available on amazon US.

Topsy-Turvy

I did some line illustrations for this fun knitting book in the US recently.I drew several different frames that were used for chapter headings throughout the book:and created little background scenes for the knitted creatures to feature in, some as double pages, some as single.I've never been that good at sewing or knitting, but I may just give these a go! The book is available on amazon.

Santa Cruz

I went to Santa Cruz the other day, and spent a day happily wandering with my little polaroid camera...I walked along the pier, and saw sealions, pelicans, and these baby seagulls.And I loved the old-fashioned boardwalk, with its 50's fairground rides.

allotment

Here's a very sweet picture of my parents-in-law's vegetable allotment, with the sign I painted for them. Hurrah for an English summer!

thank you

I designed some thank you cards that matched our wedding Save-the-Dates and invitations, to send our lovely guests. The illustration features the watercolour leaves from the wedding, but small pink flowers have been added to the design, to show love blossoming...The leaves were printed in HK (my friend Sandy at Lui & Co handled this for me) on specially chosen thick soft paper, and these were then sent to my friend Katie Baldwin in the States, who letter-pressed my calligraphy and flowers by hand. This created the effect of softness and crispness, in one beautiful package. I hope it's a special way to thank everyone who shared our wedding, and those who sent us gifts from far away...

my birthday!

It was my birthday this week, and I spent it in San Francisco. I went to the Asian Art Museum to see the Japanese art exhibition, and admired some lovely ceramics (this is a birthday peach from a Chinese plate),and some Japanese sculptures and painted screens.I walked through the civic centre and then on to the Hayes Valley to look at some pretty boutiques......and then in the evening we went to Sons & Daughters, a lovely little restaurant in Nob Hill. The service was delightful, the food exquisite. I drew each dish in the tasting menu as it came out...and took some photos of the colours and presentation. Yum in every way.

BEYØRG

I worked with organic cosmetic company Beyørg (Beyond Organic) in HK this year, to create images they could use on promotional products, supporting the Breast Cancer Foundation charity.I drew pandas (cutest of all Asian animals) interacting with various ingredients from the cosmetics, such as acerola fruit, ginseng root, and white lupin flower. The illustrations also featured a farm element, as the client wanted to emphasise organic farming. I tried to make the pandas cute, but not too cute. They were used on packaging, and promotion for the brand.I  created a repeat pattern with the pandas along with some extra elements, and this was used on a patterned white umbrella. I love it! The umbrella is a limited edition gift item for customers in the shop, and will only be available until the end of August. There's also a cuddly panda...The products have been featured in various local magazines, along with a little about me. How nice!

London toile

My London toile collection launched this week. There's a teaset with a perfectly pouring teapot...and I love these wider teacups and saucers, perfect for afternoon tea with a cucumber sandwich.The design is in blue, and made up of all my favourite London things: phone boxes, bobbies, corgies, fish & chips, teatime cakes, cabs, the Albert Hall, and more! I tried to include a few things that you might only get to know if you spent a little time there...There are also napkins and teatowels featuring the toile, and coming soon, some fun dinner plates. They are currently available exclusively at faux in HK. If you know someone who might like to sell them in London (ideal, really), please let me know!

Fish Market cookbook

I've done some illustrations for Running Press in the States, for a book about how to choose, buy and prepare seafood. The cover looks like a market blackboard with chalky lettering and illustrations of today's catch.The drawings for the inside pages are pen and ink line. They were used reversed out for the inside cover.Inside I did drawings of each individual fish.There are also instructional illustrations, showing you how to do various prep things...If you're into seafood, I think this would be a great book to have! It's available from amazon.

Juri's Cotswolds tea shop

I did  some work recently for a lovely little teashop in Winchcombe in the Cotswolds called Juri's. I did a hand lettered version of their original script font for their logo rebrand, and added a classic typeface for their house font. I created 4 watercolour and pen illustrations for their home-blend tea pack labels, basing the illustrations on the blue and white china they use, and the delicious cakes and jam that Juri makes. There's a dotted line at the bottom of each label, for Juri to write in the particular blend of tea in the pack by hand. I also added one of the teacup illustrations to their shop information card. If you fancy a delicious cake and cup of tea, this is the perfect place...I worked with my dad Nick Jesse on the layout and type for the project.

mindful magazine

I recently did some illustrations for mindful magazine in the US, and have just received a copy of the current issue. My illustrations are delicate calligraphic line drawings in white, over photography.The article was about listening out for everyday sounds. I tried to listen, and capture those little noises that I usually don't hear.I really enjoyed doing different sorts of lettering to match the kinds of sounds.They also featured a little sketch and mini interview with me on their contributor's page...

horus

I've been reading a book set in the Egyptian era recently, so I went to visit the British Museum to have a look at the sculptures again. It's always great to see things with fresh eyes...