Puddletown Moleskine prelims

First Puddletown ideas 11 Feb 2009

(All pictures can be viewed at much larger size by right clicking your mouse)

Goodness Heavens! I was completely overwhelmed at the amazing response to my little book announcement - and so touched to read such kindness, from 'old' blog friends I feel I've known forever, to all of you who commented for the first time and new followers. Thank you does not seem enough, but thank you all so very much anyway!

First Puddletown ideas 11 Feb 2009

It has been a hard secret to keep; I had my first meeting at Templar in February 2009, where it was loosely proposed that together we should create this little world (it didn't even have a name then). And as it was a new approach to all of us, creating models which would fit in a pop up scenario, there was no definite book offer. I simply went away and did some brainstorming in a little Moleskine.

First Puddletown ideas 11 Feb 2009

All I was required to do initially was draw whatever I felt would be in the world, so I set to work First I did little craft ideas for possible scenery and props, (at that point we knew there would be needle felted toys, but not how much of the rest of the book would be physically 'made'). Here I drew several toadstool and fungi models, of which one was eventually chosen to be made for the first book.

First Puddletown ideas 11 Feb 2009

A good many trees and landscape bits were drawn. One tree made it to final production.

First Puddletown ideas 11 Feb 2009

To begin with, I only made a few small 'props' - we didn't even have the main characters then, though we were certain geese would be a main feature. These props and a few toys I lent to the Templar sales team, were packaged nicely as a proposal to show at various book fairs. If feedback was good, I would hopefully get commissioned. If not...

First Puddletown ideas 11 Feb 2009

I also had to design some 'backdrops' and scenery settings. I have to confess, this was the easiest and most enjoyable part for me, l could draw little, lonely landscapes - well for a long time! I only ended up painting one of these.

First Puddletown ideas 12 Feb 2009

Still not decided on story lines, we juggled various ideas - here we have Custard eating trifle at a party he was afraid to go to. Eventually elements of this ended up in the second book 'Peggy's Lost Pennies'.

First Puddletown ideas 12 Feb 2009

More unused landscapes - who knows if they will also make a later appearance?

First Puddletown ideas 16 Feb 2009

This is the first sketch for what would become a much larger and slightly changed artwork that does feature in 'Mrs Mouse's Cupcakes', the background of the first spread.

First Puddletown ideas 16 Feb 2009

I never did get to make this sun - I've always liked the idea of suns, moons and stars hanging tenuously from a thread. In fact, nearly everything I drew in this batch of sketches ended up 'on the cutting floor' and you just have to be thick skinned about it. People often refer to producing a children's book a being 'a dream', but the reality is that it is a business, it is a job, and ruthless editing is often necessary to create something saleable for the market place.

First Puddletown ideas 16 Feb 2009

Of course, these were just the start of a much larger body of work needed, once we had two stories figured out.

Templar party

I've been drifting for a couple of weeks...done not-a-lot, especially not artwork. Needed a break. Got a bit bored by the end. So, the invitation to attend Templar's summer party seemed like an ideal way to round off July. Held in the lush, cushioned landscape of Surrey, it was no ordinary bash; no hot offices, warm white wine and sweating canapes.

This was more like an informal wedding reception, with camping. It took me two buses, two trains, another bus and, after a much needed pint of London Pride at the village pub, nearly 2 miles walking with a large rucksack to get to the venue. It was quite refreshing to see different countryside; as I rarely leave our patch of Oxfordshire, I get pathetically excited at seeing different field layouts, and stonework in cottages. More red brick and darker stone. Very pretty.

Just when I was thinking I was on a long, winding road to nowhere, I found the promised balloons - red and black, as the party theme was pirates, celebrating the launch of Piratology.

At last...at last...after another 20 minutes I reached the site. Someone kindly took me under their wing and helped me put my tent up, (although I still had to ring Andy at work for a bit of help with where the poles should go...). It wasn't quite right, but we agreed it would do for one night. Then it was off for mingling and hopefully beer. Everyone was so friendly - I hovered on the edges at first, feeling like a spare part, but the MD herself bounded up to me, introduced herself and led me to where a whole keg of London Pride was about to be tapped...after that, it was fine. There was a country band playing, the ubiquitous bouncy castle, hog roast, bowls of salads, a 'publishers amount' of alcohol and a warm, friendly atmosphere, with lots of children and dogs tumbling about having fun.

Several people from the company knew my name, and to my delight, two of the other three 'Princess's Handbook' illustrators were there - Georgina Mcbain and Sophie Alsop. We got together with our lovely (and incredibly patient) art director, and the writer, Stella Gurney and compared notes on the project. We were all thrilled to hear that although the UK version is not due out for a couple of months, it has been taken on in the US by the mighty Candlewick Press, which is very promising for sales. 'The Numptys' came up in conversation...sent to them in April and apparently vanished into the ether. Promises were made to find and review them. As well, to my mixed terror and wonder, I was introduced to one of my illustration heroes, Helen Ward, who is, in my opinion, one of the UK's most skilled picture book artists. I went kind of quiet...and didn't really know what to say. As you do. Or rather, don't.


With a few more beers, some foot tapping to the nightime band performing barn-storming covers, it was soon way past my bedtime. I accepted someone's offer to walk back to the camping field, thinking I was headed for bed and blissful sleep, when I saw, in the distance, a large campfire. The party beyond the party. Where I got to talk sensibly to Helen Ward, about this and that, and got another promise from someone else within the company to find the Numptys. In fact, with one thing and another, I didn't get to bed till the sun was pushing the night sky up. I did very well on four hours sleep, scrounged a lift to the train station and repeated my journey backwards. Met Andy with bike at the new cricket field, and we watched our side Eynsham win a legendary Airey Cup game against Tetsworth - now we go into the final!