It has been an incredible year for me. I completed an illustration project which was a great experience. I now have experience of illustrating for black and white chapter books and colour picture books which was always my ambition. The upside to the experience was that it really taught me my limits on how much work I am able to fit in around the family. My confidence in taking on commissions grew enormously as I took all that was thrown at me and did the best I could. Realistically though I learned that full time illustration as a career isn’t appropriate for the stage in life that I’m at.  I am happy to take smaller commissions but the longer ones will have to wait a while. Working around the family meant that my average working hours were between 10pm and 2am. With my husband working from home and keen for company in the evenings I found that it didn’t give me much time to spend with him as I was poring over the computer during all my freetime. I love illustrating and I’m keen to keep the fires burning with my work but long projects simply aren’t suitable for me right now.
Aside from the illustration I have added another string to my bow - glass painting. It is a hobby which I have enjoyed on and off for years and when I began selling a few glasses to friends last December I was amused to find that several friends and family reminded me of glasses that I’d painted for them in the past. I’d painted far more than I’d remembered. A few friends had encouraged me to sell the glasses in the past but I’d still been keen to stick to focussing on the book illustrations. Having experienced the highs and lows of working in book illustration I felt incredibly fulfilled but aware that it meant a huge amount of personal sacrifice which has made me balance up other alternatives. Our children are now 2, 4, 4, 6 and 8. They are at a stage where they really enjoy sharing the children’s illustration that I do but also slightly resentful when it means they get less cuddles when they are poorly as I have a deadline to meet and can’t sit hugging a feverish child for the night and as the money comes in at the end of the project we’re no better off for a long period of time while I’m slaving away. My desire to create, paint and draw is as massive as ever but now I have found a place to be which allows me bring in lots of diverse small commissions which may keep me busy for a week but then I get a break. If things are incredibly busy I can literally shut up shop for a week or two while I catch up or get things straight. With the glassware it’s far easier to work around the family and the children really enjoy coming downstairs in the morning to eat their breakfast with an eye on the Welsh Dresser to see what creations I’ve made during the night. As the glasses are so quick to produce I’ve been able to paint a glass each for the kids and it’s a wonderful gift for their friend’s many birthday parties. It is saving me quite a lot of money!

Most of my sales come through my personal website which I have now adjusted to show both my illustration and my glassware sales:
http://www.louisepoulsom.co.uk/

Here are the glasses which I painted for my girls. I still need to paint a glass for our 4-year-old son. I had painted him a dinosaur but he saw his sister’s glasses and demanded to have a boy glass too so that will follow soon.

Looking for a fun and easy winter project to make with the kids? Guest blogger Megan Jessop shares her super easy, kid tested, home made play dough recipe.

Home Made Play Dough

by Megan Jessop

This is by far the best home made play dough recipe ever. As a former preschool teacher and having tried them all I am here to tell you this is the only home made play dough you will ever need to try. It is easy to make, has great consistency and it lasts a long time.

You need:

• 1 cup flour (full cup or slightly over is OK)
• ½ cup salt (again full ½ cup or slightly over is OK)
• 3 teaspoons cream of tarter (or as I call it “the magic ingredient”)
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• liquid food color (use at least 20 drops but for real rich color use up to a teaspoon)

1. Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside

2. Place liquid ingredients in a pot and heat to a near boil (so it steams and you can see the bubbles)

3. Pour liquid over the dry ingredients and mix. Your consistency should be softer than store play dough. As soon as the dough cools (but still warm) it is ready to be used. If your consistency is too wet add a mix of salt and flour to your work surface and keep kneading until it feels dry to the touch.

Be sure to store your play dough in a zip lock bag to keep it moist, and it will last for months.

This is a great winter project. Kids love it when it is still warm it adds a new quality to the texture and warms our winter hands. Have fun!

About the author:

Megan Jessop is a Child psychologist and mother of two preschoolers. Megan is also a writer and member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.