Thus ends 2010

Wow. The realisation has just dawned on me... this is my first 2010 post. A bit sad to have to say that on the last possible day of 2010, but never mind. The good news is, I have not dropped off the edge of the planet.

At the end of last year I purchased (with the total of my savings) a fantastic "antique" etching press. This beautiful cast-iron beast was recreated from an old mangle by Waihi artist John Mulvay, and works like a charm! I absolutely adore it. (By the way, Johnny is still making and selling etching presses... Check out his blog!)

In March Daniel and I got married (yup, we're still starry-eyed!), and I became 'Mrs Tattersall'.

I took up a part-time position alongside Dan growing orchids, kept my part-time job at the polytech library, did a spot of weekly housecleaning for a friend with baby twins, and discovered that "running the house" is harder and much more time-consuming than it looks... especially when pregnant! Yup, due in early February... Not far away now.

We shifted house in September to a beautiful place with THREE bedrooms. Us, baby, and The Press. Perfect. We felt a bit lost in the huge living room, so got ourselves a pool table to fill up the space.

I cut back my orchid and cleaning jobs a couple of months ago, and then finished up at the library last week... but in-between our siblings' birthdays (we have twelve younger brothers and sisters between us), visits with the midwife, end-of-year functions, more birthdays, and ante-natal classes, I am glad when I have just a few spare moments in order to collect myself. Surprisingly, I have still been able to sell some work in amongst it all. But I have the strangest feeling that things are NOT going to suddenly become less busy when bubby arrives...!

Currently, I am focusing on getting this blog up-to-date and cataloguing all my past artworks (check out my Picasa Web Albums). Getting there. I'll keep you posted with what's new.

So, yes, I am alive and kicking. Hopefully you'll see a bit more of me next year!

Cheerio...

'Button Thief' for sale

The children's book that I have spent the past year illustrating has finally been published, and is now available for purchase for NZ$19.99 each.

Latesha Randall, ill. Esther Griffiths, Button Thief, Button Books Ltd., Dargaville, 2009.

Button Thief is a book about friendship, forgiveness.... and buttons! It is aimed at 3-7 year-old girls - and with some trickier words it is one that is intended to be read aloud to kids.

If you would like to purchase a book, either...

- Contact me directly

- Email our newly established publishing company, Button Books Ltd., at buybuttonthief@gmail.com.

For more information, visit our website.

I will be uploading more images onto my blog over the next little while. The original drypoint prints are now for sale, for between $30 and $120 each. WATCH THIS SPACE!!!

Button Jars

Another drypoint print for the children's book that I'm illustrating... We now have a date set with the printers, so I'll have to get a wriggle on and finish off the last couple of illustrations!

Esther Griffiths, Button Jars, 2009

Drypoint print on paper, 13.5 cm x 27.0 cm

These prints will be for sale once the book has been published (hopefully the first week of December - just in time for Christmas!).

My new Felt shop

Hey everyone, check out my new Felt shop! I only have one item for sale there at the moment - one of my 'Daughter of the King' prints - but will be adding more each week or so.

Felt is an online outlet specifically for handmade things. It is the New Zeland equivalent to Etsy, where users can buy and sell handcrafted goods. The more artists that can get on board the better, I say... C'mon guys, register now – it's FREE! (Hooray!)

Have a look at my Etsy shop too...

Triumphant explorer

Esther Griffiths, Triumphant Explorer, 2009

Acrylic, graphite, and coloured pencil on MDF board, 19.5 x 19.5 cm

'Warrent of Fitness': exhibition

Come and check out our end-of-year exhibition! The last exhibition we will hold together as a class... :)

Invite designed by John Wright (painting) & Janis Webster (graphic design).

Images to come after the show, but we'd love to see you at the opening...

Opening: Saturday, 14 November 2009, 4:30 pm (light refreshments provided)

Location: Old Library building, Rust Ave, Whangarei

Exhibition runs until 28 November.

Features work by Aaron Hoskins, Esther Griffiths, Ian Pritchard, Jaymz Edmonds, Jane Blucher, Janis Webster, John Wright, Kay McGowan, Matthew Gould, Nicky Cox, Nicky Umuroa, and Trish Clarke.

Hope to see you there!

Mischief!

Esther Griffiths, Mischief, 2009

Acrylic and pencil on MDF board, 50 cm x 122.5 cm

Working on a larger scale is great fun (and for some reason seems to make it feel more important!). This latest series of works will be exhibited in November at APT, Whangarei. Details to follow.