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imogenfoxell.bsky.social
February sketchbook: narrowboat, mirror trap, handgel incident, playground with friends

#kidlit #kidlitart #toddlerDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #dailySketchbook #soloMumByChoice #smbc
Sketch of a red and green narrowboat with a perkily angled chimney on the canal under yellow willow branches Sketch of toddler re-enacting a scene from Janet and Allan Ahlberg's "Worm book" where a worm is lured into a trap by a mirror. The toddler recreates this by climbing up a chair on to his bedside table, fiddling with the mirror and jumping into a "hole" on his bed Sketch of the handgel incident - toddler likes to play with an (unused) urine sample bottle at bedtime - we can't find it, so I hurriedly offer him a nearly-empty handgel bottle. But then he pours it near his eye and a bit in his mouth. I wash out his eye and give him water and milk and worry all night - but he is totally fine! Sketch of my toddler and friends' kids hanging out in a playground
April 8, 2025 at 8:47 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
February sketchbook: theatre trip, a typical day of examining pipework, baby terrapins, chaos child

#kidlit #kidlitart #toddlerDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #dailySketchbook #soloMumByChoice #smbc
Sketches of our second theatre trip - a big success (Hey Little Bird at the Pegasus theatre) - toddler pays attention and there are hats and disco lights, an owl, balloons and a carnival! Sketches of a day with a toddler: he actually borrows books in the library but only because he's intrigued by the machine, he plays a lot of "posting screw through hole in a cupboard", we look at the boiler, we examine my neighbour's CD player, we do a disco in the dark, I find him in the cot with his pyjamas wrapped round he so both he sleeces are on one arm (then he does a massive poo) Sketches of baby terrapins Sketches of "chaos child" - toddler exploring my room - taking things off my shelves, climbing things, rolling around with bubble wrap
April 5, 2025 at 8:55 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
Winter sketchbook: a mummy and granny day, things that are used as wires, tools, a tree full of parakeets!

#kidlit #kidlitart #toddlerDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #dailySketchbook #soloMumByChoice #smbc
Sketches of a freezing cold day with toddler and my mum - visit the market, watch people make flatbread in café, bake (toddler only interested in chocolate drops), find missing toys and bits of old dust, cuddle up and watch Duggee, fill freezer with soup and curry Sketches of things that are used as (pretend) wires in this house: keys, string, bungee cord, tape measure, sewing thread, duplo chargin cable Sketch of a selection of toy tools Sketch of me walking along Iffley Road in the dark (half moon), when I look up startled at a tree full of squawking green parakeets!
April 1, 2025 at 8:05 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
January sketchbook: St Barnabas Jericho, highlights of the Ashmolean Museum, the fish shop, marble run!

#kidlit #kidlitart #toddlerDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #dailySketchbook #soloMumByChoice #smbc
Sketch of St Barnabas church tower, rooftops and wintery tree and sky Sketch of toddler's Ashmolean highlights: security robe, radiator, status base, automatic doors, lights on floor, lockers, bridges, stairs Sketches of fish from our local fish shop/aquarium - various weird and wonderful fish and a terrapin, sketched while toddler was busy fetching imaginary disco lights for the fish Sketch of our excellent marble run, which I was playing with while toddler was asleep
March 29, 2025 at 9:50 PM
surkea.bsky.social
My new zine Leevi and the Feelings ready for TampereKuplii! It's a chaotic collection of my private comicdiaries, 60pages in total. Already planning a sequel for it, as I couldn't fit all the material in the first one... Find us (OUTOLINTU collective) from Pienlehtimarssi table P23!👋🌝
March 28, 2025 at 3:58 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
January sketchbook: the saga of my sore finger, East Oxford by moonlight, the last day of "Chripmen"

#kidlit #kidlitart #toddlerDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #dailySketchbook #soloMumByChoice #smbc
Sketches of when I had a sore finger on new year's day and all the doctors and pharmacies were closed and it was raining. But thankfully out local aquarium (the goldfish bowl) was open and toddler was coping well with partially giving up breastfeeding (thanks to chocolate bribes) and we went to my neighbour's party and were the two youngest people there Sketch of me getting my sore finger dealt with - go to phramacy, doctor (who prescribes antibiotics) and back to pharmacy, all with toddler in tow - amusing moment when I provide my own medical supplies to doctor for him to rewrap my finger. And after all that we're only ten minutes late for our trip to play on the seesaw in the park Sketch of me heading out on a cold night (to pick up toddler) with a crescent moon and single star (Venus presumably) in the dark blue sky Sketch of a day with the toddler - we go to story museum where all he wants to do is cuddle owls in the dark, we watch David Attenborough (well, I do), we take down Christmas decorations (toddler says "Chripmen it finished now"), we build a duplo chocolate machine (toddler's idea), I give toddler a haircut, and he genuinely helps me with the washing up!
March 26, 2025 at 9:31 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
More sketchbook diaries from Christmas: tree, sneaky trip to the theatre (minus toddler), playing in fountains at King's cross, and self portrait

#kidlit #kidlitart #toddlerDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #dailySketchbook #soloMumByChoice #smbc
Sketch of a Christmas tree Sketch of the London eye against a pink sky and some buses near Waterloo Bridge - caption "sneaky trip to the theatre!" Sketch of the toddler dragging me through a network of little fountains at King's Cross Sketch of me sitting on the bed sketching in a purple sweater with excitingly messy hair. Caption: 12 years daily sketching (except 28th November 2019)
March 22, 2025 at 8:38 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
Sketchbook diaries from December: a play, a sick toddler, a sick me, and my baby nephew

#kidlit #kidlitart #toddlerDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #dailySketchbook #soloMumByChoice #smbc
Sketch of the toddler's first play - the Elves and the Shoemaker. Toddler liked the lighting rig and the bit where they blew bubbles - I liked the bit where the dog made a spreadsheet Sketch of sick toddler cuddled up on the sofa in a big red blanket watching telly Sketches of travelling for Christmas while sick - I was feverish all night (chattering with cold and then burning up); I cuddle sick boy; mum takes toddler out while I do hurried packing (I'm crawling towards my suitcase saying GNNN); we just about survive bus, train, tube, bus and I collapse on my parents' sofa Sketches of my baby nephew - most of them looking nothing like him!
March 14, 2025 at 10:11 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
Happy Christmas from the December diaries! Live nativity, merry-go-round, Christmas shopping (in fact my only Christmas shopping because we got ill), choir concert

#kidlit #kidlitart #toddlerDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #dailySketchbook #soloMumByChoice #smbc
Sketches from a live nativity event with my toddler: he's more interested than tinsel than live animals; he has a go at crafts and decorating biscuits; I enjoy a tiny child's attempt to pronounce "Quirinius" and a small king called Chloe; I feel unsure about this early introduction to Christianity, but I also tear up during Away in a Manger; all the Christmas fun pales into insignificance for toddler compared to a stick he found outside Sketch of double decker blue white and gold carousel with horses, carriages and reindeer. A record of the best outing ever - when the toddler was off sick from nursery but feeling better, so I took him to ride the carousel at the Christmas market. Sketchbook of my exhausting (and, as it turned out, only) day of Christmas shopping - I forced toddler to nursery, cycled to town, realised I'd left my phone at home, couldn't cope and turned round, went trouser and underwear shopping, ate a pie and a Ben's cookie, did actually quite a lot of Christmas shopping, tried to sketch and realised I'd left my pencil case at home, collapsed at home on the sofa before rushing off to collect toddler! Sketch of my former choir in Christmassy attire singing "What ay shall I give him? Give my heart"
March 10, 2025 at 10:41 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
November sketchbook: lots of cooking, no nap day, bad mood, genius plan

#kidlit #kidlitart #toddlerDiaries #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #dailySketchbook #soloMumByChoice #smbc
Sketch of all the meals I cooked one lunchtime (in pots and neatly packed up in freezer boxes): leek and potato soup, tomato sauce, cheesy pasta sauce Sketches of toddler peacefully playing and watching tv (with caption: this boy hasn't napped today!) Sketches of toddler in a bad mood: crying because my bicycle light isn't flashing; all he wants to do is lie on the floor and rewire duplo house with a bungee cord; eats a reluctant potato waffle in from of Duggee on TV and leaves masticated fishfingers all over the floor; refuses a bath; demands medicine and then he's fine Sketch of my genius plan - teach the toddler to wash up - what could go wrong? Sketch of toddler and me at the sink - he's saying "more soap on it", I'm saying "very good - try not to break that one"
March 3, 2025 at 10:46 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
November sketchbook: tree, freezer, bouncy castle, snow!!

#kidlit #kidlitart #toddlerDiaries #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #dailySketchbook #soloMumByChoice #smbc
Sketch of a beech tree with a few remaining autumn leaves Sketch of me manically hacking ice from the freezer with a fish slice while I'm supposed to be working Sketch of toddler's first time at a traditional birthday party - he learns to navigate the bouncy castle, and has his first experiences of party rings and putting hula hoops on his fingers Sketch of SNOW! Toddler is very excited about snow outside the window ("it 'nowing it 'nowing) but very upset about going outside in it. I then cycle to work, admiring pretty Oxford but getting my socks soaked, because I wore unsuitable boots. Luckily I did have the wisdom to bring spare dry socks to the office.
February 25, 2025 at 10:23 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
Sketchbook diaries from October: diversionary tactics, trees, top toys, cursed Halloween

#kidlit #toddlerDiaries #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #dailySketchbook #soloMumByChoice #smbc
Sketches of toddler's nighttime diversionary tactics: turning off lights so he can 'bang into things in the dark', counting stars, pretending to cut my fingernails and hide the imaginary clippings around the room, continuing to pretend to be at Reading festival, and apparently his toy Mummy Owl needs to bang into things too Sketch of dark trees with few remaining autumn leaves in various colours, a flock of birds, a lamppost Sketch of the best "toys" at my parents' houes: CD player, toy cake, book about money, toy merry go-round, trumpet, radio, sink, doorbell, toilet flush Sketches of cursed Halloween - I have a cold again and no sense of taste but apparently not covid; I can find no pumpkins but carve a butternut squash (to look like a cat); I forgot to bring buggy to nursery pickup, but carry toddler home on my shoulders (he's dressed as an orange ginger cat)
February 13, 2025 at 9:59 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
October sketchbook: illness season strikes in earnest,with suspected scabies and a sick toddler (content warning for sketches of my itchy back)

#kidlit #toddlerDiaries #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #dailySketchbook #soloMumByChoice #smbc
Sketches of the suspected scabies incident - I've got an itchy back (toddler is fine); doctor asks if toddler has been biting me and then suggest scabies (yuk!); I am distracted from work by reading about sealing everything in plastic bags; I cover toddler in cream while he's distracted by telly - it's surprisingly fine; I wash EVERYTHING on hygiene pluys setting and seal it in plastic bags Sketch (one of many) of sick toddler asleep on my bed Sketch of toddler happily wading through piles of autumn leaves (caption: "in a somewhat trying week of stomach bug/cold/scabies, a lovely autumn moment") Sketches of a troublesome evening: 7.20 exhausted toddler falls asleep on my breast; 7.30 I make TERRIBLE mistkae of trying to move him from bed to cot; 8.20 he is wide awake and wants to play "Reading festival" (where I sing "loud music" and we dance under a duvet tent; 9.47 I eventually stroke him to sleep
February 10, 2025 at 10:04 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
Autumn sketchbooks - drainpipe day, today's games, much domesticity, and a trip to the park

#kidlit #toddlerDiaries #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #dailySketchbook #soloMumByChoice #smbc
A sketch of me wheeling happy toddler in pram during a massive rainstorm, while drainpipes pour water into the gutter - all coloured in with blue watercolour paint (partly applied by the toddler) Sketches of games with toddler: drumming on bedknob, throwing stones in fountain, kicking cafe window, painting (but only orange), little home in playground including imaginary toilet, hoovering with a chair Sketches of domesticity and its results: cooking sweet potato curry and chips - all refused (he was sad because he really wanted the "odange chips" but then didn't like them); vast amounts of laundry and then we hide under my duvet cover and pretend it's a tent at Reading festival Sketch of an autumn trip to Cutteslowe park, including playground, walking on railway lines, eating fishfingers, finding conkers, feeding swans
February 7, 2025 at 9:18 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
September sketchbook: this was the month the toddler forgot how to sleep (and discovered conkers)

#kidlit #toddlerDiaries #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #dailySketchbook #soloMumByChoice
Sketches of "my terrible life" - toddler has forgotten how to sleep (I am depicted kneeling next to him with sore nipples sobbing "PLEASE go to sleep") - relatedly we both have colds and he has a tooth coming; also, my work dictionary software is broken and attempts to fix it make it worse; and while drawing this I allowed toddler to play with baby monitor and he unplugged it, so now I can't see him Sketch of me and toddler finding conkers and shouting "Aha" when we find one. We're next to the river (where there is a duck and approaching yellow kayak) under a chestnut tree which also contains several swings Sketches of "the story of last night" - I tuck toddler into bed at 8; 8.10 he's screaming so I put him down to rampage while I wash up (i.e. eat crisps); 8.40 I come and snuggle with him and he is being frustratingly adorable and non-sleepy with his owl toy and trying to steal my glasses; 9.15 he demands to read a book and starts "reading" the writing (apparently it goes "one two one two one two"); 9.30 I feed to to sleep Sketches of a day with toddler: rain threatens; toddler appreciates the wiring at the story museum and eat substandard hash browns; we wake up to a storm and make cheese scones and duplo merry-go-rounds; swing at the playground, blow bubbles; toddler loses my keys then finds them; I am mean about bedtime and toddler eventually goes to sleep without feeding
February 2, 2025 at 9:12 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
September sketchbook: a stupid evening, toddler with hosepipe, my friend's cat, still life with apples

#kidlit #toddlerDiaries #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #dailySketchbook #soloMumByChoice #smbc
Sketches of a silly night - I have a cold, the washing machine is full of poo, I'm meant to be packing, toddler won't go to sleep (wants to find buttons on duvet, discuss ferry boat, goes to sleep, wakes up again and needs feeding to sleep) Sketch of delighted toddler in waterproof suit wielding a hosepipe 10 sketches of my friend's cat, Majel, in increasingly improbable poses Sketch of kitchen scales, bowl of apples, and many things that need washing up
January 30, 2025 at 9:43 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
End of summer sketchbook: Gloucester Green market, apples and blackberries, Cowley Road carnival, pipes

#kidlit #toddlerDiaries #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #dailySketchbook #soloMumByChoice #smbc
Sketch of yellow- and green-roofed market stalls, a woman in a yellow summer dress wandering past holding a drink Sketch of blackberry and apple crumble being prepared - apples in bowl and stewing, crumble topping in another bowl, blackberries in a tub Sketch of Cowley Road carnival fairground - children on bouncy castle, spinning swing tower, terrifying spinny thing... Sketches of toddler's ongoing fascination with pipes: connecting the hoover, staring at the U bend, pumping up the bike tire (which then goes flat on the way to nursery pick up and I only just get there in time)
January 28, 2025 at 9:49 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
More holiday sketches from August: the voyage home and the toddler's holiday highlights

#kidlit #kidlitArt #toddlerDiaries #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #dailySketchbook #soloMum #soloMumByChoice #smbc #soloParent #normandy #normandie
Sketch of travel home from holiday (done between Eastleigh and Winchester at 21.53) - leave amid much chaos; 30 minutes car nap is all we get; ferry is notable for funnels, "funny man" (magician), pom bears on the deck, posh fish and chip restaurant; finally get on train but toddler not keen on sleeping (crawling around going "mind the gap"); but then he sleeps until we get home about midnight! Sketches of toddler's holiday highlights: pom bears, making stone rainbows, washing line "hosepipes", sand waterfalls, car phone cable, big plate of chips, Bruno the dog, velcro house, paddling, windmill, Briquebec castle garden, Rowan making funny noises, "find more grass seeds", real screwdriver, sugary breakfast cereals, funnels, merry-go-round. My holiday highlights: mostly tea and company
January 24, 2025 at 10:33 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
August holiday to Normandy: overnight ferry, first paddle, sleepy dog, building a climbing frame

#kidlit #kidlitArt #toddlerDiaries #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #dailySketchbook #soloMum #soloMumByChoice #smbc #soloParent #normandy #normandie
Black and white sketches of travel with toddler: I am so nervous; eat lots of crisps on train; explain Reading festival (toddler is thrilled at the concept of loud music); eat fish and chips and admire beer taps; get stuck in a playground; panic about buses; run around ferry port and getreprimanded for abandoning our pram; utter failure to get toddler to sleep in pram; finally on board overnight ferry - can't assemble travel cot despite toddler's enthusiastic help; he's still awake at 10.30 singing "dum dum dum" in cot Sketch of 3 adults and 3 small kids playing in tide pools at the beach - toddler's first paddle! Black and white sketch of man asleep on sofa and dog curled up asleep on the floor Sketch of man and child assembling a climbing frame in a large garden next to an old stone barn with ivy growing on it; dog inspects flowers nearby
January 21, 2025 at 10:39 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
Sketchbook diaries from August: in which the toddler turns two!!

#kidlit #kidlitArt #toddlerDiaries #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #dailySketchbook #soloMum #soloMumByChoice #smbc #soloParent
Sketches of toddler's second birthday celebrations - owl-shaped chocolate cake, extraordinary number of presents (mostly owls), most of the family, pretty much all the potato-y/breadcrumb-y snacks you can think of (hash browns, waffles, crisps, fishfingers), slightly too much transport, an entire model village (Bekonscot) which the toddler is ignoring in favour of a broken drainpipe Sketches of toddler's favourite toy - the cardboard tube, which functions as a hoover, a trombone, a ball run, and an egg making device (roll the toy eggs down it to make them crack in a bowl at the bottom) Sketches of toddler's real (pronounced "riddle") birthday - watching Twirlywoos, to nursery with a caterpillar cake, to the pub for pizza and chips - but more importantly to the the big extractor fan and play with the hosepipe Sketch of toddler playing with cat-shaped watering can near garden tap. He's saying "you making lake"
January 12, 2025 at 10:24 PM
surkea.bsky.social
it's going to have pages from my private comicdiaries i've drawn during the past few years, but i'm also drawing some new stuff for it too! ✌️
January 10, 2025 at 12:21 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
Sketchbook diaries: hanging out in my brother's garden, minimally successful swimming trip, Mary the bear, a big fan at our weekly playgroup!

#kidlit #kidlitArt #toddlerDiaries #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #dailySketchbook #soloMum #soloMumByChoice #smbc
Sketches of toddler and baby hanging out in garden in sunhats, a sandpit table, and a smart-looking tabby cat Sketch of an attempt to take toddler swimming with a bird's eye view of a swimming pool - accidentally plunge into deep end, shallow end not much better, toddler calms down enough to tell me "it got water in it", and he enjoys watching the adult swimmers but concludes that it was "a bit scary" for now Sketch of my old teddy bear Mary in a blue sweater and shirt, leaning on some blue mugs next to a small blue and white pot Sketches of my toddler in a sunhat, rapturous at discovering a big fan at our local playgroup (along with a couple of sketches of other people's kids)
January 9, 2025 at 10:56 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
Sketchbook diaries from the summer (on this snowy day) - fallen tree, dentist, toys, still life with milk bottle

#kidlit #kidlitArt #toddlerDiaries #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #dailySketchbook #soloMum #soloMumByChoice #smbc #soloParent
Sketch of toddler in a sunhat and my mum playing next to a fallen tree - toddler is saying "owl nest tree fall down" Sketches of a trip to the dentist - I wake up to a cold and the world's biggest spreadsheet, then go to the dentist for 3 fillings. I'm dreading the needle, but then have a lovely doze during the actual filling process. Sketch of soft toys in toddler's cot: a rabbit, two octopuses, a marshmallow, two mice, a gorilla, an elephant, a stegosaurus and an owl Still life sketch - kilner jars of porridge and flour, empty mugs, empty milk bottle, and a fly in the foreground
January 7, 2025 at 9:46 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
Sketchbook diaries from July: tree on Manzil way, washing line, Nick Cope, and the saga of big fan

#kidlit #kidlitArt #toddlerDiaries #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #dailySketchbook #soloMum #soloMumByChoice #smbc #soloParent
Black and white sketch of tall pine tree, overshadowing bus and belisha beacon Black and white sketch of brightly coloured clothes on washing line, above garden chair, old bike, toy car Sketch of toddler falling asleep during Nick Cope set at the rusty bike street party - Nick Cope is singing "I'm a little lizard standing on a rock", my toddler is fast asleep in his pram; also another toddler dancing and a little dog Sketch of "the saga of big fan" - toddler loves fans of all kinds, but is terrified when I turn on the tower fan in his room; and yet he is fascinated by it - sits on it, looks at the vents and the wire, pretends to press buttons, but refuses to let me actually turn it on; then a friend gave him a windmill and showed how he could use a fan to make it turn - this finally reconciled him with big fan and now the problem is getting him to stop turning it on
January 3, 2025 at 9:49 PM
imogenfoxell.bsky.social
Toddler diaries from July: the best toys, crane, screwdrivers, and mud kitchen

#kidlit #kidlitArt #toddlerDiaries #sketchbook #sketchbookDiaries #parentingComics #comicDiaries #parenting #dailySketchbook #soloMum #soloMumByChoice #smbc #soloParent
Black and white sketch of toddler's favourite toys: radio, bike pump ,whisk, hoover, straw (that he pretends is a screwdriver) Long tall sketch of a yellow crane against a dramatic sky (plus a red kite bird flying in background) Sketches of a day with toddler - playing with 'screwdriver' straw; hanging out in sandpit; filling watering can in garden full of ants; terrible scenes as he accidentally drains all the water from his bath Sketches of another day with toddler: playing in mud kitchen; pretending to be squirrels; a blood-inducing bump on a slide; outing without the pram to buy bananas; can't sleep because of storm (toddler think it will blow down a tree)
January 1, 2025 at 9:34 PM