Obscure beats are a sign of the rain.

Well hello there.  =]

I'll open with the now-obligatory 'It's been a while, internet!'. I just find it so hard to keep up with everything lately. =3

So what's been happening to me since the last time I blogged? *checks last blog*

I've been very busy, still working with Keep It Secret! to create all sorts of cool kawaii stuff. One of the most exciting things that has happened is this:

Keep It Secrets furry little mascot, Tanuki, has been made into a cuddly plushie!

I have to say, it's extremely humbling to have something I designed and created made into something physical like that, especially by such an awesome company. I've been working with Keep It Secret probably for around two years now, and i'm so very glad for all the help they've given me. I've had so much fun with them too. =]

Tanuki will soon be available to buy; I believe there will be a Limited Edition run, so if you're interested, better keep an eye out! I'll be posting on my facebook page when he'll be available, and any other updates.

Another exciting piece of Keep It Secret news is that for the past two months or so, I've been working with them and two other people; Tartan Kawaii, a lovely Super Kawaii Blogger, and another talented individual (whose personal name I won't mention, lol). But you can find his app page here.

We've all been working very hard to bring you this:

It's a game! Kawaii Dash is a fast paced race where Tanuki needs to get to the Post Box in time to mail your package! It's very addictive, and you can post your times up on Facebook and Twitter. If you get a fast enough time, you can even win physical prizes! When you share your times on social media, you're automatically entered into a monthly prize draw in which you could possibly win more Kawaii goodies! How cool is that?

Kawaii Dash is still in Beta, which is why we need people to test it! So if you have an android phone, please let us know what you think. (Obviously, the Beta version is still a work in progress, so no prizes will be sent out with this version, but eventually they will be, so get practicing!) =]

So that's Tanuki and Kawaii Dash! I've also done a few adverts for Keep It Secret which are published in NEO Magazine quite a lot.

So that's pretty awesome too. It's nice to be able to say i've been published in a magazine every month or so, haha. Definitely going in the right direction. =]

Okay, now, unrelated to Keep It Secret (although, they ARE great)...

I've been doing a little bit of work for local bands and venues. I did a couple of posters for a bar in Camborne, which I need to re-do this week for another gig. 

I also worked with a local pirate-themed band called Pirate Copy, who seem to be doing brilliantly at the moment. They asked me to create the artwork for their first EP; The Shape of Piracy to Come.

As much as I love drawing manga and kawaii illos, it was actually really fun and refreshing to draw something so different. I'd love to work with them again in the future. =3

I've also drawn a logo this month for the most lovely Stephanie Demelza B, who is a very talented fashion designer. She hasn't unveiled it herself yet though, and I never show anything until my clients do, so I'll wait until she does before I show you. I have to say though, I was quite pleased with it - one of my favourite little logo illos i've done. =D

I've also been trying my best to keep up with my own artwork. My personal life is very hectic right now, and since things aren't going too well for me on that side of things, it's good for me to vent it all through doodling and drawing.  Some of the most recent things i've done:

Hmmm, what else...?

Oh, I will be attending Exeter Comic Expo on the 1st this year. I'll be selling the usual things; prints, badges, bags and prints, but I thought that this time I might offer quick coloured Chibi portraits? It's going to be subject to how my arm feels around then, but I should be able to do it. =3

Oh, at this point I should probably explain what I mean by that. About a year and a half ago, my arm and wrist started hurting a lot whenever I used it. I got it checked out and I apparently have quite bad Repetitive Strain Injury and Tendonitis on my right hand. Obviously, this makes a big impact on my work; I can't complete commissions as fast as I used to since I need to rest my arm a lot, but nothing can stop me drawing so I'm powering through. =D 

So the main thing i'm working on now is getting more products to sell at Expos and online. I have an online shop: studiomoonlil.bigcartel.com if anyone is interested. =D

So I think that's it for now. Maybe next time i'll update this blog before the need arises for a mammoth update like this one, haha. 

I go to seek a Great Perhaps.

I'm going to stop beginning every entry with 'I apologise for leaving it so long', because I guess leaving it this long between each entry has become normal practice for me now, hehe.

Anyways, just a quick note to let you know i'm not dead. =]

I've been working on various things, one being Vinita Hemachandra's website:

www.vinitaslazyafternoon.com

Still need to finish up a few tweaks and get the shop up and running, but i'm getting there. =]

Mostly, i've been running up and down the length of Cornwall for Moonlet and the Love-monk gigs, all the way from Penzance to Saltash. Speaking of which, they have a gig coming up next friday if you're in the St Austell area:



Opens at 8 - Free Entry! You can see an amazing gig for free! What a bargain. =] Do stop and say hi if you're around.

I've been working with Keep It Secret! lately too on their brand new mascot; Tanuki!

He was unveiled in this months Neo magazine, and you'll be seeing a lot more of him next year! He's already got his Xmas thing going on. =P

So other than drawing Tanuki and finishing my other private commissions, I've been coming up with all different gifts and bits and bobs ready to sell. I've been raiding Ebay for all sorts of cute accessories, so watch this space! I have some exciting plans with me bezzie mate Vee Dunstan that will start coming into effect after the New Year. I'm looking forwards to it. =3

And lastly, i've been playing with inks again. This keeps telling me it's a work in progress, but I don't know when i'll ever have time to finish it:


Now, i'll leave you with a cool little link:

Bella's Beautiful Beads, as the name suggests, do really, really beautiful jewellery. I bought some butterfly earrings and I wear them everyday, they're just so pretty. I can't wait for Xmas so I can get this pink butterfly necklace:

I was so happy when you smiled.

Again, i've left it ages between entries. I'm sorry, i'm a very busy girlie nowadays. =]

I guess the first and biggest news is that my artwork is now for sale on two amazing websites!

The very lovely Minkyshop.com and Keep It Secret are now seeling my artwork in their gallery pages! Check out their sites, they both have really awesome stuff. For example, I recieved my Panda Earmuffs in the post this morning, ready for the snow we're apparently meant to get next week!



So i'm all set with my Panda Hat (which some of you have probably seen me wear recently, lol) and my Earmuffs.

(For those who don't know and Xmas present research; I like Pandas.)

And speaking of Xmas presents, wouldn't a print makea spectacular one?

Haha, I know, I know, shameless plugging.

Anyways, the next order of business is one I wanted to post in my last entry, but due to some annoying hiccups, I wasn't able to.

Moonlet and the Love-monks have a new EP out! It's called The Likes of David Bryant (not a reference to an actual person!) and it's now available on iTunes.


Just search for Moonlet and the Love-monks on iTunes and i'm sure you'll find it.

In other news, I have a new Tumblr account: ukiyobutterfly.tumblr.com

It'll mostly be for personal, everyday stuff that I enjoy; books i'm reading, anime, manga, music, moods, that sort of thing, but every now and then I may post doodles and sketches that I probably won't be posting on here or facebook, so do check it out. I hope I don't bore you too much. I do have another personal blog on another site, but it's private, so this is my public equivalent. It's where i'll put all the things that i'm fine with the whole world knowing. =]

So, things i'm working on right now:

Well, i'm still working on Vinita Hemachandra's site. I've got a rough design down, and it's just changing a few things and getting on to actually building the site now.

I've also got some little favours for friends I need to get on with. They involve a logo and a cake design. Diverse. =3

Apart from that, my days have consisted of getting my prints in stock ready to send, and working. I'm thinking about re-doing Moonlil.com at some point too, so watch this space. =D