Hi Bluesky, I thought you all might need to see something beautiful today, and it happens to be the short time in the year when the red hot poker flowers in the front paddock bloom. Aren’t they spectacular?

Hi Bluesky, it’s hard to post pretty things when the world is sort of terrible. But we have to keep the magic alive, keep showing each other that there is beauty in the world and there are good things, and in our little ways we can be those things ourselves. Anyway, I saw this today.

Earth imp for day 1 of #forestfloorfunguary #fffunguary #funguary Fly Agaric + Ladybug (known as Ladybirds in NZ).

Decided to do some traditional sketching to kick off #funguary It’s been a while since I gave my sketchbook some love.

Happy Chinese new year! This is my earth imp (who doesn’t have a name yet), I chose her for this because it’s the year of the Wood Snake #yearofthesnake #impsbyem

Hi Bluesky, look at this stunning bag created by a family friend and master leather worker more than 20 years ago. Mum had one when I was a kid and I got one when I was a teenager. I’ve just cleaned it and put leather conditioner on it and it is looking glorious 😍

Hi Bluesky! It’s the last couple of days before my kids start returning to school so we’re busy filling it with as much fun as we can. Here’s a teeny adorable little sea snail we saw at the beach today 🥰 Seen any cute little creatures lately?

Hi Bluesky, I’m almost done with my website update and am hoping to start working on the illustrations for my next book! Had hoped to have my daughter return as illustrator but not to be this time. Ate gelato from our fav place, Tiramisu flavor, second only to Lemon Meringue. How are you all doing?

Hi Bluesky! Visited the Dunedin (NZ) library and found my book looking very well loved 🥰 Also very proud to see a “UNESCO city of literature” sticker on the front. Also found the English/Te Reo Māori edition in the bilingual section too.

Hi Bluesky, I *did* do some art today even though I am still busy. Will be able to post some Birbfest Imps soon, it’s almost the end of the month and I have yet to post a single one 😅 Oops, sometimes intentions and what my AuDHD brain can actually follow through with don’t match, frustrating.

Hi Bluesky! Pretty busy the last couple of days so not much creative work done. Here’s a heart shaped rock I found with a fluffy cat who found us. Would love to see some cats or rocks in my replies!

Hi Bluesky! Wanted to share my happy and very cramped pitcher plant, Petra. When we got her her largest pitcher was about thumb sized and she had aphids! I’m very proud of her because I am NOT a gardener! She keeps squeezing new pitchers out in any gap she can find. She needs a new pot 💚

Hi Bluesky! Today we went for a windy beach walk where we saw many New Zealand Sea Lions and I got a wee bit sunburned. Most of my photos are of clouds. We had our weekly gelato on the way home, I tried the Black Forest and Blackcurrent, both delicious but no match for my favorite, Lemon Meringue!

Hi Bluesky (that rhymes ✨) today on the way home from the arcade we walked on the rocks at the edge of the harbor. We turned over a few rocks to find crabs and this gorgeous beast the size of my hand greeted us. I got some drawing done but nothing to show yet. Did you see anything interesting today?

My son turned 16 and my younger daughter turned 7. Son is a huge half-life fan so I drew him a combine soldier and and daughter loves portal and LOL dolls so I drew her herself as an LOL Chel.

Mitzy just showed up one day and stayed outside for a week while we attempted to ignore. She now lives here and we are friends with her actual humans (she had gone partially feral when they got a second cat).