I joined the Creative Women’s Circle in 2011, but it wasn’t until April this year that I finally got out of my comfort zone and attended a meeting. I am so glad I did, it is an almost eight hour round trip for me to go to Melbourne, but, connecting with the “circle” members has been a really worthwhile and enriching thing for me to do. Tess McCabe is at the helm of this group and I have found her to be warm and inclusive. She is also the author of the “Conversations” books, and has just released volume two. I really enjoyed the first edition and was thrilled (to say the least) when Tess asked me if I would like to illustrate for the founder of the Nancybird accessories line, Emily Wright. When I visited Emily in her Northcote studio I was impressed by her down to earth and approachable personality and her accommodation of my excitable questioning! (and did I mention that when I first moved to Victoria three years ago, one of the first things I purchased was a Nancybird bag, which I still use!).
When I was playing round with the initial drawings for her title page I was reminded of my own doodlings as a child, as I was called by the name Emily until I was about nine years old, when I decided to change my name to Jasmine (no offence Emily’s out there). At the time I thought Jasmine sounded a bit more exotic and wild! So, the name Emily floated pretty easily at the end of my pencil. The whole project was stress free and fun and I can’t thank Tess enough for the experience! I guess I better go over to Linked In and add illustration to my list of skills!
If anyone is in Melbourne and would like to come along, the book launch is from 6-8 pm at 87-89 Albert Street Brunswick. Or, if you would like to purchase a book, just visit the Creative Women’s Circle website for more information. Also, I am going to be having a giveaway for subscribers to my blog just before christmas, so if you haven’t already, enter your email details in on this page soon
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Thanks guys
Jasmine x