Summer Fun!
Hello Everyone!
I hope you’re all thriving and vibing (as much as possible given the current climate) <3
It’s been a hectic summer season at Ysabel Yllustrates HQ but I thought i’d just pop on to share some of the stuff I’ve been up to - cos did you even do/make/live it if you didn’t post it somewhere online, am I right?! Am I right, guys?!
I have 4 exciting developments for you (I know, I spoil you rotten don’t I) - 3 of which are not directly illustration related but you know I love to yap so I’m telling you anyway.
Exciting development No 1.
I have been developing a range of cards that will be for sale soon (woohoo!).
It’s been my dream for a little while now to have a range of greetings cards, and I’ve been slowly chipping away in the background to make that dream a reality. There have been so many decisions to make - how I want them to look, and feel, and be packaged and branded. It’s been a journey. I’ve felt quite out of my comfort zone to be in full creative control of making a product but I must say, I’ve really enjoyed it.
This is the latest prototype of my first design ‘Boomer’, featuring a cake with a firework instead of a candle on a checkered table cloth. There’s just a couple of tweaks left to make and we are good 2 gooooo.
Once they’re ready I’m going to be setting up a shop on the site and you’ll be able to get yer mitts on one if you want it.
Exciting development No 2.
I went on holiday (and it was AMAZING).
We (me and my lovely partner) went to Budapest, which is not only and incredibly beautiful city that is rammed with culture and cool stuff to do, but is also home to a restaurant where you can pay for pickles BY WEIGHT.
An absolutely genius idea, as an avid pickle fan I was delighted by this - we went three times and each time I was too absorbed by the pickle eating experience I was having to take any photographs of the situation.
We also ate an unholy amount of Langos. It was fantastic. Here are some snaps:
This is the Fishermans Bastion at sunset (beautiful)
A snap of the parliament, also at sunset (beautiful)
a snap of the Langos I forced my partner out of bed at 11pm to go scran with me (beautiful)
Exciting development No 3.
It hasn’t fully developed yet, but the money has left my bank account for it so I am counting it - I’m starting a ceramics short course in a couple of weeks so I can create my own little trinkets! I’ve always been interested in ceramics and I must admit that I have dabbled before in college, but I’m hoping this six week course will give me the confidence to take it a bit more seriously.
No pics as yet but check back in a few weeks to see me living out my ‘ghost’ dreams.
Exciting development No 4.
I, in one of the hottest weeks of the year so far, have just finished knitting this cardigan.
Here she is enjoying the sunshine on the kids play matts I use to block all my knits.
Who is she?! Glad you asked - she’s the stripe overload cardigan. The pattern is by the designer Spektakelstrik, and I really enjoyed knitting this up, although by the end I was like yes, this is actually perhaps too many stripes. (It wasn’t too many, it is totally worth it and you should make one).
The yarns I used are West Yorkshire Spinners ‘Fleece’ in the colour Ecru, and John Arbon Textiles ‘Appledore’ in the colour Spicy Pippin (my favourite yarn name ever). I decided to use a bunch of random buttons I had already acquired from multiple thrift adventures.
A friend of mine told me she thinks it looks like something from a Richard Scarry book, which is the highest compliment any one could ask for.
just a little close up of the delicious colours of these yarns.
Anyhow, that’s all from me folks! If you have any questions about anything i’ve yammered on about let me know, i’d love to hear from you!
Thanks for reading!
Until next time, stay well <3
Ysabel X