Sunday house chat

OK-ish

Hello, come on in, I’ll make us a brew.

What’s been going on at Chez Helen this week?

Yesterday Gerry made muffins and left out the eggs by mistake. They were surprisingly OK-ish.

The joiner has continued his magic and we have a nearly complete floor.

I have been illustrating my wee heart out and hope to have lots of Salty Dog artwork done before the Bologna Book Fair.

Katie Chappell

and I had a chat about how we wrote the stories together. You can watch that here.

This week I went for my first massage in nearly fifteen years and boy oh boy, am I knotty! I can’t wait to go back for more untangling next week.

Recently one of my best friends started training as a psychotherapist and when she talks about her therapy seasions I have pangs of jealousy and yearning for some more in depth digging myself. I decided I should listen to that and booked an appointment for an assessment so that I can be paired with the right person.

When I was in my late twenties I had seven years of psychotherapy. It was painful and confronting but also deeply revealing and inspiring, and it completely changed my life. I have lived with the benefits ever since.

I am not going to psychotherapy in crisis this time. My life is great. I don't even know what I will talk about. But what I do know is that unexpected things will emerge and I am excited to see what else there is to unpack. I am eager to get started!

I am doing

Jane Porter

‘s comic class, which is brilliant by the way, if you are interested in making comic diaries, do it! This week we were drawing tumultuous seas with wet ink. Then using a dip pen, stick or dry brush to draw into the washes. It was amazing, but I kept thinking of a conversation I had in my psychotherapy assessment and ended up going off piste and drew this moment.

I missed the ‘a’ between ‘you’ and ‘few’ but I don’t like redrawing my comic diaries because the first draft is always full of emotion

I highly recommend Jane’s class. I find it hard to do these comic diary drawings in my own time, I need someone to sit me down and tell me to do it. I’ll be signing up again next term.

I have found myself with a free weekend. No plans! So I am going to do something I rarely do on weekends (self care and all that) and I am going to work. It’s nearly time for the Bologna Bookfair and I am chomping at the bit to draw more Salty for Walker Books to show to the world. Go go go Salty!

Also, trifle. I have honed my trifle making skills and make a mean raspberry concoction where the fruit has a nice sharp kick to balance out the sweetness of the custard. But Pie requested a chocolate one, so I am gonna attempt one with chocolate mouse in the middle layer instead of jelly. Wish me luck!

What are you up to today? I want all the details. Thank you.

Love Helenx