My fave reads and movies of 2010

Movies

1. Best of the best: Spud The Movie. I loved everything about this lovely movie – the setting, acting, casting and the sound track
   
2. Biggest disappointment: Eat Pray Love Yawn. Was so looking forward to seeing this and it proved to be hugely disappointing. Some books should remain just that.
3. Best movie surprise: The Ghost Writer Love it when I sit own to watch something I have no expectations of and get caught up in a gripping story line and superb acting along with gorgeous settings and cinematography. The Ghost Writer also gets my Best house in a movie vote. Pierce Brosnan's house is supposed to be set on the shores of Cape Cod. I say say supposed because it wasn't shot in the States at all. The house was taken from it's German forest setting and plunked on a beach... It has an interesting story all of it's own.
   
4. Cutest: How to Train Your Dragon Loved the story AND the dragons. Felt the need to get me a dragon after seeing it
5. Harry Potter – Deathly Hallows part 1 My fave Potter fliek so far. I stayed awake and thought the illustrated story of the Deathly Hallows was an added bonus.
   

your pet's mug on a mug = great gifts... take a look

I've added personalised mugs to my petpawtraits gift rang. Mail me a pic or pics of your pet/s and I'll create the perfect pet portrait mug for you. Guaranteed to be original, the quality ceramic mugs make excellent gifts... create an entire range featuring your own furry friends.

Holiday pet portraits

While 2010 was one of my busiest years EVER, I only had a couple of Christmas commissions. This meant that I wasn't drawing until midnight on the days leading up to the 25th and I must say that I really enjoyed the downtime.

The first commission was for Lisa Bucher, founder of The Animal Race. I'd donated one of my pet portraits as a prize, which Lisa had won in the raffle. She'd coveted a portrait of her own dogs and thought this was her ticket to getting one. In the mean time her step dad had commissioned a portrait of her two delightful dogs – Tallie the Pitt and and Maverick the Dachsie. It was only later that I put two and two together, realising that the photos in my possession were actually of Lisa's dogs! Needless to say, Lisa was really surprised when she opened this on Christmas morning...

She had the nicest things to say:

You naughty, sneaky monkey - just opened my xmas present - it is amazing Coll - you captured Talli's facial expressions SO well, and little Maverick - well, just bless him. You truly are amazing :) Thank you my darling. It's amazing - couldn't be happier :) will be spending my week off trying to find a frame to match it in perfection which will be a hard task. You are SO talented XX

My second challenge was a gift for Heino's wife of herself and her mare Divine Brown, who just happens to be stablemate to my horse Flying Promise. The photo wasn't great quality though...

More gifts for the horse lover

Bookmarks – 5 in a set and priced individually.
Laminated for durability. Tassels may differ from picture below.


Greetings cards come in a set of 5 (not 4 as pictured) with matching envelopes.

They're blank inside and measure 210mm x 150mm when opened, printed on matt card with a luxurious velvette-type finish.

PetPawtrait's Gift Range – The Great Unveiling

I love pretty, gifty things. I think it must the raven energy I carry, because anytime I walk past a shop window filled with shiny, glittery goodies, I have to stop and take a look. For years now, I've wanted to develop my own gift range. I've dabbled with the idea for almost 10 years, and now that technology has finally caught up with my thought processes, I have been able to realise my dream.

I would like to introduce you to my PetPawtraits Gift Range. Inspired by all the wonderful animals I have had the privilege of drawing over the past 16 years, I've gathered them together in a collage-style design and applied them to coffee mugs, book marks and gift cards.

The idea is they they'll be sold as stand alone items, or as affordably priced gift packs – created especially for the über animal lover.

So, here they are... ta daaa...

For the DOG LOVER...


... and the CAT LOVER...


... and the HORSE LOVER...
Bookmarks and greetings cards to come. I can't tell you how excited I am about these – they've been a long time coming.

I'd love to know what you think – drop me a line or hop over to my Facebook page and leave a comment there. I have a limited stock of these available, so if you're wanting a last minute Christmas gift for the animal lover in your life, please get in touch.