My studio, it has to be said, is full of many things - it is my creative nest, where I can surround myself with the treasures I have found and been given. Although I may not use many of them from day to day, they inspire and console me. Many tokens from blog and non-bloggy friends...spot the Lily Moon card from my friend Maya -
The old year ended with the little people in 'Cat's Cradle' journeying far away to their first job. It is always a wrench to know I will probably never see most of my paintings again, but good to know that they are watching over someone, somewhere.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH00R5-jRb6yLeEY0SYsMUGkfGQcCvHG17B9cRBtUOaoKNTPp0Zv-FDmABsxRxy2rYVYLZu28xLfnxsl89Odl03EyokRbD4PfefRyM_PvbTmZSkXwyNJbd0nvXs5JiFjj04GNc/s400/cat's-cradle.jpg)
The new year started with one of Rima's beautiful calendars. I cannot think of a nicer way of getting through the year - she still has one or two left I think, so if you hurry...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzozazICQDbdelCSLwWyN4l9fwdtepgxJEljZdrXmxI5HoKwqg-Dm4b98CBmWKgD3MECjqYzeUMPSvLPC-uMu1RJYe8XAtf57IPfSTZfnbEQSoNpkPZOxEWFNrtadGeseEelkJ/s400/Rima-calendar.jpg)
Entering January with some gorgeous letter blocks, with huge thanks to fellow illustrator Paula for her thoughtful gift...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikuF-dJkLPbELUM9Gfo5ChOwGEVpydV7K1PAw4-Jlq49NKLCeM41-HZ1zSK9mp28O8t7e_sZ3upN7Yy2LJn5szovU9o3VojPZ29YB5lpAQVaS9Q8mmeh6s6D4DdZxd7XCaNvCs/s400/wood-blocks.jpg)
...and my triple good luck charm, to keep bad things away from me this year, especially timewasters, as I had enough of them in 2007. White china heart from Tara, rosehip heart from Higgledy Piggledy, textile/embroidery heart from Border Tart - thank you my dears - I defy anything truly bad to happen with the combined love of these three friends.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDi5Y8-i1Fq8aNebt3hjKGAUTQ43s4PDX4XoKaYVbBeP6on7ekCMDjLVbzLQV7XusdUuQ7wtA1EOsjpRVcGBzH4EX_YHXdqqHIPavlp50HR8XjfagG-btlH7BvSo_eOCneokW/s400/hearts.jpg)
A big red hand to point the way bravely forward to 2008 - there is something very commanding about this stern indicator. It arrived unexpectedly in the post this week, mysteriously unsigned...for a few minutes I felt like my all time hero, Tintin, receiving an anonymous signal summoning him to a new, exotic adventure. But then I remembered kind Alan Brignull of the Hedgehog Press, and his lovely picture on Flickr which I had fav'd. Thank you so much!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifu0Qr5pdjx2rQTlLCN9hDkDo_DDxoa-YTmbJq4PILVqHGFRBF2NOtbAz9G2tVWrCmNOGIcnJy0ZJI0e4YZVDEiN-47I9Gc0GHRQSoxHg3PntNNn3r5k_EeYBE-WFYm4xNTt0H/s400/red-hand.jpg)