Bits and bobs for baby...

Time's whizzing by, and I can't quite believe I'm already seven months pregnant! Suddenly my bump feels huuuge, the reality of it all's kicked in, and I'm feeling the need to get organised now.

I've had lots of fun in recent weeks starting my collection of bits and bobs for baby.

Finally I have an excuse to buy Sophie La Girafe - I've wanted one for such a long time!

I was most impressed when I realised this lovely giraffe serves a purpose as well as being a little beauty to look at... William Morris would've approved! Might have to buy another, though, once little one gets his/her milk teeth into it...

Thought this rabbit nightlight would be nice and calming in those sleepless nights that await us...

A little library is growing nicely... a kind cousin gave us a lovely hardback version of this classic to start it off...

And then there's all my old picture books Mammy-dearest patiently kept, boxed up in the garage, for years and years...

I'm hoping to put them all in this wonderful bookshop-style bookcase by The Great Little Trading Co.

or maybe this one, if little'n turns out to be a girl...

I haven't purchased anything from Moulin Roty yet, but I find their little world very enchanting indeed...

Frenchie and I are both very lucky in having kind and thoughtful families. Lovely sister-in-law sent us over boxes full of gorgeous clothes and a Moses basket that's been passed down in his family for years and years.

And I hadn't realised I had such creative aunties until now... we've been inundated with beautiful handmade knitted cardigans, blankets, booties and even a little beret for le petit bebe! 

There's something very special about a little baby wearing clothes that were made with love. They'll be very treasured, just like him/her.

My Phoenix favourites: part one

I've been working with Phoenix Trading for a couple of years now and I really love freelancing for such a smashing company. One of the best things is the way they keep their catalogue fresh by introducing new designs every couple of months. 

While browsing the new March catalogue I found myself compiling a list of my favourite Phoenix artists. Here are a few of them; I'll be featuring more in a future blog.

Sarah Summers: Sarah has such a lovely delicate, feminine style and paints birds beautifully... just look at this delightful blue tit!

Louise Rawlings: I love Louise's use of colour, and she always sets a scene so perfectly.

Claire Henley: As well as being a Phoenix artist, Claire's also a very talented children's book illustrator, and I've been a fan of hers since discovering the wonderful Zippity Zebra and the Windy Day.

Amanda Loverseed - Amanda is a prolific Phoenix artist, with a whopping 81 designs in the current catalogue! And it's quite clear why...

Kate Gunn - I love Kate's bright colours and adorable characters, just such fun! I can see her style working wonderfully in children's books...                                

                       

At the risk of blowing my own trumpet, I can't resist including one of my own designs! Like most artists, I find my favourite piece is usually my latest, so that would be this little lady who is very proud to be featured in the new catalogue.

You can see all of my current designs for Phoenix Trading here.

Wonderful workspaces

Well, it's back to work we go this week, after the Christmas break. I'm on the lookout for ways to make my Love Lucy Illustration workspace more inspiring and lovely in 2013, and while browsing the web I came across these beauties...

I love the cheeriness of this studio

Every artist or crafter will know the importance of good lighting... so this workspace is just perfect, ahhhh, one can dream!

Beautiful colours in this studio:

I spy Ikea drawers!

Wow - a dedicated space for everything, now that I like...

Hugely practical - think Frenchie would appreciate this:

Practically perfect...

Such a clever idea to brighten up cupboards and add a creative touch...

I'm going to attempt to re-create some of these ideas. Nothing too fancy, just pretty and practical is all I'm after. 

The best workspace I've ever used was this cute and quirky caravan, in my mother-in-law's garden, which I used for several weeks last summer .

If you have any inspirational photos or ideas on creative workspaces, I'd love you to share them over on my Facebook page 

Love Lucy x