A Huge Thank-You

I've finally got around to making thank you cards for people who sent us things for Christmas, so I'll be sending them out in the next few days. I do regularly update my illustration website these days so please do go and have a look , if you haven't seen my work for a while!

Tootles the Taxi

Hey, Tootles, take me back to the 1950s, it looks nice there! The streets are clean, the houses well-kept, there's nice little shops on the high street, not a Tesco's Metro or a Chelsea Tractor in sight, PLUS people come and deliver buns to your door! Hurrah!
I had this book when I was little (in the 70s) and I'm not sure if this is the exact same copy or whether this one came from a boot sale or somewhere. Both our boys have enjoyed having it read to them despite it being old fashioned - of course that's exactly why I like it. There's something very charming about these nicely executed illustrations of 1950s utopia. I am sure I hardly need to say that it was published by ladybird books, as the format is so recognisable.
Vintage ladybird books now have quite a following and are collectable. If you like these books check out these particularly cool plasters. Worth getting injured for, I reckon!

Hacked Off?

A post by fellow bloggers over at the curious eye reminded me that I have in my possession this remarkable tin which once contained Hack's cough sweets. When I glance at it I never fail to be amazed by it. Whoever thought it would be a great idea to depict an old bloke coughing up gawd knows what into a hanky? ... and the name - might as well call it phlegm's - whoever it was -you're fired!
Still, I must like it or I wouldn't have been carrying it around with me all these years.

Country Fair

I found these little gems hiding in a charity shop . They date from 1950/51 and are primarily aimed at farmers and other country gentry. Although not of the huntin' shootin' and fishin' persuasion myself there's quite a lot of interesting information relating to all things country - as the title suggests. There's also lots of 1950s adverts which, as I'm sure we're all aware, are usually game for a laugh. Some are for odd contraptions which wouldn't look out of place in the "innovations" catalogue. However, I did just buy these because I like the covers. There's actually some black and white illustrations inside which are also pretty good. Although I've only shown some of them here, I have 12 issues each featuring animals with a different main colour. I particularly like the one with the black lamb, although I wouldn't want to bump into it on a dark night - it looks mean!