Two years ago, I told Richard “I’d like to pick up my pen again and draw”. So I searched around the house for an empty sketchbook and started practicing. It had been a long time since I actually sat down and draw properly.

These were my first few doodles. A bit rusty…and I wasn’t EXACTLY sure what I was supposed to be drawing. Then I moved on to the next page, and I started drawing a little girl.

I enjoyed the whole process and I realised how much I had missed drawing on paper. So I drew another piece.

And this piece led me to an idea. What if I started making things from my own drawings? What if I made a range of paper goods with this character on it? On that very same day, we decided to call her Little Mo.

I printed my first drawing on some recycled postcards and listed it on my Etsy shop (after hearing lots of good things about it). I named this print Little Mo and Twigs.

Two years on, I am still drawing Little Mo. And what started off as a doodle, turned into an awesome adventure for me. Thank you so much for your love and support! I couldn’t have done it without all of you.

It’s still not too late to grab some Little Mo art in my Etsy shop. My Two year anniversary sale ends on 8th November midnight. Buy any two items from my shop and get 20% off your total order.

This weekend I’ve been busy making tiny earrings to list in my shop. I’m quite excited about them! I like finding unique settings to put my art in. I think the flower adornments on it makes it look pretty and vintage looking.

I only made one of each design so this is a limited edition piece. You can see all of my wearable art here.

Also, to mark my TWO years anniversary on my Etsy shop, I’m having a two day sale. It starts today on 7th November and ends on 8th November midnight. For two days only.

Buy two or more items from my shop and get 20% off your total order. Discount will be refunded through paypal. Discount does not include shipping prices. If you have any questions, just contact me! Thanks and happy shopping!

I finished this custom portrait for my sister-in-law. She wanted me to draw a family portrait of my brother and my little nephew.

This is them on holiday in Phuket, Thailand. It’s a surprise birthday gift for my brother who turns 35 next month. I doubt he reads my blog but at least mum and all of you can see it…and maybe have a good laugh.

I like the little mice swimming in the ocean:)

Hello! What a weekend!

It’s been my most productive one so far! If you haven’t noticed yet, my shop is now filled with lots of little goodies. Bursting with cuteness and I can’t wait to share my art with all of you! Enjoy them while they are in stock!

These pendant necklaces are my latest addition to my wearable art collection. Comes in antique copper for a sweet vintage look, or silver plated for a fun fresh look. I like both colours…I’m not bias…really!

I was on the phone with my mum yesterday and she wanted to see a photo of me wearing my necklace. So here you go mum. I look a bit dorky here…I probably should have combed my hair first!

You can see all of my wearable art collection here or on my facebook album. Each piece is handmade by me, enjoy!

This has turned out to be quite a fun week! You may have notice some of these cute dome shaped brooches in my shop.

These are my new wearable art pieces that I have been working on, and I’m so happy with how they’ve turned out! I love that the glass domes magnifies the artwork underneath and makes it look like a pretty bubble of art. It also reminds me of a mini snow globe:)

Today I’ve been packing a few orders. I’m so thrilled to be sending them to happy homes! Thank so much to those who’ve placed an order!

If you’d like to collect one of my artwork pieces to wear, just purchase them from my shop here. You can also see more photos of my wearable collection on my Facebook album. Some items may have sold out as each piece is made in limited quantities. Enjoy!

I’ve just finished this cute portrait for Ema Lou’s daughter, Scarlette Rose.

Ema Lou asked to have her daughter drawn in a rainbow fairy dress and she also wanted lots of roses in the portrait. So I drew Scarlette sitting under a blooming rose arch. For colours, I used dusky pink and scarlette red. I think it came out pretty sweet…I would have loved to smell the roses in this picture!

I’m off to the printers now to have it printed. I’m also available to take in a few more custom portraits before Christmas.

No not me…but this print is:)

Picked up Philip’s custom portrait from the printers today. It looks great! Thought I’d snap a photo of it before sending it off to the big apple. I can’t share it on my Facebook page yet because Phil wants this to be a surprise for Mark! So ssshh!

Extra large custom portraits are available to purchase in my shop. Comes in 8 x 10 inches and will fit any standard frames. It’s pretty big as you can see. I think it will look stunning once framed on a wall.

Thanks for all your comments in my last post! You guys are awesome. I usually keep things to myself and I’m quite private in real life (though I know ironically I am sharing part of my life here on my blog). I did ponder for awhile whether I should have posted the previous post. But a weary mind and heart made me do it and I’m relieved to have shared it. After reading all your comments it has kicked my mojo up a notch and it has also re-charged my creative juices. Thank you!

Today I worked on photographing my Little Mo jewellery to add into my shop. Taking jewellery photos is a new experience for me. I find it so much harder than photographing paper goods! I found myself combating glass reflection, wrinkled fingers and shaky hands (from holding the camera in one hand and photographing the ring on my other hand).

I’m also convinced that I don’t have pretty hands! They are covered in smudges..from my pencil or black pen. And I also have a little nub on my middle finger from holding my drawing pen tightly.

I’ve been experimenting with packaging my jewellery pieces and finally decided with the simple recycled box look. Much more eco friendly and the boxes are pretty sturdy and will protect the pieces in mail. What do you think?

I’ve only made one jewellery per illustration because I like the idea of making something different each time then make 10 rings of the same illustration. But we’ll see how things goes. My wearable art is now available to purchase in my shop. Enjoy!

A lovely customer posted me a copy of head2head. The cover looks great! I’ve had a few people tell me that they’ve seen my artwork at their offices and health clinics! I’d love to be able to draw more magazine and editorial illustrations like this.

Last month my contract with my agent ceased. I’ve always known that business and art making can be competitive, it can get commercialised, it can be very subjective and it can also be brutal to the artist’s ego. I’ve had positive feedback from retailers who stock my stationery, saying that my products and packaging are very professional and very well made. My notebooks and paper dolls have been very popular in store. But I’ve also had feedback from other retailers as being “too cutesy and too kiddy” and requested if I could do general patterned or plainer designs. Or maybe less of my Little Mo character.

These are all valid feedback and I have nothing against them. As an artist you have to be open to all kinds of criticism. Art can be really subjective, it can be based on what’s trendy and what other shoppers are buying and re-creating the same kind of art and formula. I’ve always known from the start that my drawings will never be everyone’s cup of tea.

As quoted from Sarah “Not everyone is going to want to buy your product. But that’s okay. Finding your target market is about finding the people who appreciate you for who you are and what you do. These are the people who need somebody like you to bring a little handmade goodness into their life. These are the people who want to buy everything you have to sell. And these are the people who will go out of their way to tell their friends about you.”

And I’ve had customers and friends like that! Mostly YOU! You who read my blog and facebook page and bought Little Mo goodies! You motivate me to continue drawing cute and happy illustrations. And you make me excited whenever I come here to blog about a new artwork. Thanks for keeping me in check! While my art isn’t for the mass market, I’m thankful that my art has its own niche.

So for this coming year, I want to work harder at drawing more Little Mo goodies and promoting my art as it is! I’d love to know your thoughts on this post!

I’m sure you know making little Mo jewellery and wearable art has been on my list of things to do for quite awhile!

I’m not a jewellery maker so everything has been self thought with lots of trial and error and tons of research. Some of those days I wanted to give up and I often asked myself why couldn’t I just stick with making paper goods? I think what kept me going with this project was my determination to finish off something that I started. I’m really happy with how they’ve turned out and I think I’ve managed to simplify the process so that it’s less stressful and tiring for me.

Here’s a sneak peek at what I’ve been working on today. Some Little Mo rings and brooches. Each piece features one of my hand drawn illustrations which I’ve sealed with a protective coating and then covered with a clear glass. The end result looks very cute and happy! I plan to start listing my jewellery in the first week of October, in time for holiday gift giving!

See any favourites yet? Let me know!