Tor Freeman's Blog, page 13

Website

It's been nice going through old work to update my website (that sounds contradictory - but I guess some of the old stuff still seems relevant, and it's nice not to have it buried in my blog). 
I found this picture of Molly Ringwald, looking stylish as always... her character in Pretty in Pink was the reason I started sewing aged 15, and has been the longest running style influence in my life. I used to think about making myself a WWJD-style bracelet for when I was clothes shopping - if ever I was unsure of what to buy: WWMW - What Would Molly Wear?

Hifest

I had such a lovely day at Hifest in Hastings yesterday. I went with Alice and Barney, and shared their table, and their snacks. I met so many great people. The organisers had done an excellent job of spreading the word and getting people through the door - it was a great turnout, especially for the first year.
As usual, Al and Barney were the best company. They were there with their new collective, Pinch Press - check out their stuff! And Barney's new graphic novel, Beetroot, is out any day now. I was lucky enough to see an advance copy yesterday - it is SUPER, and I can't wait to get my own copy!
Some of the wares I was selling 
 Setting up our stall! 
Al and Barney manning the stand

The quality of other exhibitors was really wonderful - I could've ended up spending any money I made, but limited myself to these great pieces - the vase screen print is by Melissa Castrillon, the house with yellow moons by Somin Ahn (I love it - where is that house? What's happening? Why are those pigs hanging around???) and this brilliant card by Benjamin Phillips - a real pet portrait! Lovely lady dog.

I'm already looking forward to next year, and will plan to spend longer there and see Hastings. I can hardly feel walking from the carpark to the exhibition hall crossed it off my list...!

**Soundtrack: Absolute Crock: Tush, ZZ Top**

Bits

I've practically finished the book I've been working on! So it's on to new things... this Saturday is Hifest in Hastings. I'll be there with half a table and bits and bobs to sell. Come along, O please do!
 I've finally worked out how to use my printer, thanks to a top paper tip from Emma Farrarons - so I'll have some digital prints, I think mostly on A5, with me. 
Some of these lizard guys for sure:

I've also given my website a good makeover, through Cargo. It's at the same place as ever:
www.torfreeman.com
and now has space for books and everything else that my coding wasn't quite up to including on the last site. Please check it out! 
And lastly, here are some ballet cats, for no good reason. A palette cleanser, maybe. 




Plus I've been trying to draw hermit crabs and those dudes are HARD.

Iguana make a riso

Of this guy... thinking about colours. Oh, which to chose! Should he even BE a riso??

He's looking at YOU...

and he's LOVING the view!

Drawing this guy MAY not have been the most constructive use of my time. But when you wake up thinking about a way to finish off the iguana head you drew a couple of weeks ago, and that way is to draw him sitting on a chopper - that's urgent work!!
"Don't leave me hanging!"

Sewing roundup!!

Still working to finish up this book - it will be done by the middle of next week, and then onto new things! Partly trying to get some more stuff together to sell at Hifest...
In the meantime, I've been carrying on the sewing. First up is the Miette blouse from Tilly and the Buttons. I made this for my mum, but in the end a blue shirt I'd made was a better match for her.

Front view
Back, with buttons from Mum's button box!
Copied from old Jaeger charity shop shirt - let's pretend those buttons aren't sewn down sans buttonholes.
Shirt outside Mum!
I also had a go with some cotton jersey, and with some flammable horrorfabric from Goldhawk Road. But I love the white dress even so, I feel like a powerful 80s lady in it - a feeling I enjoy very much. 
Sewing stretch cotton - pretty forgiving.
Powerful. Channelling Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead.
I'm also working on some numbers cards... these are what I've managed so far. These are roughs, but I can imagine making a range from these guys... 


Need to work out a palette for them all that will really make the numbers obvious!

Bits of news

I'll be taking part in two events in the next couple of months. 
The first is Hifest, the Hastings Illustration Festival on the 6th of January, at which I will have a half table. I'm really looking forward to it - there are some great exhibitors showing and events happening. I'll be selling some (hopefully new) prints, cards and other bits and bobs.
I will also be taking part in an exhibition, A Long Way From Home. All the proceeds from this will go to Crisis. It runs from the 11th-14th of December, details below - it should be a great exhibition.

Olive giveaway!

Anorak Magazine are doing a giveaway on their blog today, until the 25th of November. If you leave a comment telling them the most embarrassing present you've been given, you will be in with a chance to win one of three copies. Yay!

Happy Halloween!

Here are some old Halloweinie pictures. But don't be frightened, they're all just kidding!Hope you all have super spooky days! 

Bitty bits

I'm still working towards my book deadline and concentrating on that, fitting in some Cacahouète and friends too! And turning my thoughts towards cards again... was thinking about them today, and how my line perhaps doesn't work so well at that size, and that they should be more graphic... I've been keen on making cards for so long and yet somehow always feel quite seized up thinking of how they should look. Anyway, one day soon I hope!
He's actually Crocahouète in this issue! 

Bedtime for dogs and peanuts!

Cat-tus

Pencil cowgirls

Book deadline!