This is my studio. A place to think, explore, reflect and draw. There is no washing staring at me here, or clothes to pick up. I have always worked in a studio, except when the children were tiny babies. I must admit I love having a studio. I know some illustrators work from home and are very happy, but for me being able to go to a studio and paint is wonderful. I thought you may like to see the view!

Speaking of illustrators and authors, this weekend there is a fabulous event on at the State Library! There are so many exciting people to see there. Its all happening on Sunday from 10am - 4pm and its free! 

In the heat of the evening I am finally writing some of the things that have been happening over the last month or so. Last week I received some excited messages from friends telling me that one of my books (written by Jane Godwin) was on The Block! Beautifully placed on the bedside table in the Children's bedroom that won that evening. The second time in the space of two weeks that I have had a book on television. There was a children's show reading 'I Don't Believe in Dragons' in the morning recently. It is great fun to see the books out on their adventures!

In other news the wonderful illustrator Sonia Kretschmar has painted a portrait of me for The Archibald Prize. The painting is called 'Basement Bird'. I was honoured and a bit overwhelmed when Sonia asked if I would sit for the painting. It has been an amazing and strange experience being the subject of an image but I am delighted with the result. Looking at the painting is like stepping into part of my imagination. Over here you can see the fascinating way Sonia creates the layers of the painting. Fingers crossed the painting makes it into the final exhibition!

Today was spent giving the studio an end of summer clean. I painted the floor again and it looks so clean and white, all ready for a busy day in the studio on Monday. My Frankie calendar is hanging up to remind me of some of my new year's resolutions. I have begun a course in Adobe Illustrator (improving my computer skills was one of my resolutions!). It has been a good start to the year and I am looking forward to the weather cooling down a little and beginning some new projects.

Hello, and Happy New Year for 2013! This space has rested for a while over Christmas and the summer holidays and is happy to be back now, ready for a shiny new year. I hope you have enjoyed some relaxing time with family and friends. We spent time at the beach, pottered about in the garden, went bike riding, walking, visiting and completed a giant puzzle! Among these adventures I have also been drawing and painting. The piece above is part of a poster promoting reading in May - so much fun to work on! There are other projects underway which I will gradually show further into the year, including a book which is coming out in September.

Our terrarium seems to be growing some tiny maiden hair ferns.

We have a tiny kitten arriving this week and I am knitting him a cushion.

I am busily working on a picture book which was due in February next year and now is due in early Jan! Hmmmmm. . . it is hard to tell yet whether I will be able to finish it by then. This time of year is full of so many activities, end or year concerts, celebrations, shopping, getting together with friends, that it is hard to steal hours from the week for the book. I think there may be a few long hours to put in before Christmas. I am hoping a team of elves will help me out one evening. . .imagine that, a whole team of tiny, lovely elves who create beautiful illustrations and place them carefully in my plans press ready almost finished.

In other news!

• Today We Have No Plans is now available as an enhanced eBook. Available in the iTunes store, the enhanced eBook version of this our book features a read along with the author option, with audio of Jane Godwin reading aloud.

• I Don't Believe in Dragons is going to be translated into French! Hooray!

• The Kids Bookshop, a special project I worked on earlier this year. I was delighted to work on the illustrations for this online children's specialist bookstore, almost ready to be launched. Pop over to face book to have a look and I will keep you posted next week when the site is live!

Last week I heard a rustling in the letter box at the studio and thought it was probably another bill arriving. . . but on further investigation I discovered a BIG envelope full of lovely letters and drawings! The children in Prep at Coolangatta State School have been busy exploring Dragon adventures! I was beaming as I looked through them all. Thank you to the children for the special words and pictures, and to Mrs Jenny Waldon and Ms Caprice Schmida for sending the joyful bundle. I have pinned up the pictures next to where I paint, so that I can look at them while I work on my next book!