So close..

I have worked NON STOP this week to bring everything together and actually make the book.

(Its not technically a book though.. more a pile of pages)

Katie has finished the story, which is so beautiful, and the second set of illustrations will be winging their way from Edinburgh to Broad Chalke shortly. I have been sewing, painting, drawing, cutting, sticking and even using glittery gel pens to create the visual (and textile) world of the story. Hopefully it will look good in the end!

At this stage i think i can safely say that the collaboration aspect was successful. (for me anyway- the others haven't seen what i've done yet!)

Despite all the research I have posted here on the blog and put in my folder, it has been Katie's writing that has been the most inspiring thing and has fed a lot of my work. She has worked so hard this week despite being unwell and I really really appreciate it!

Sophie's lovely characters are so simple and delicate, but seem to fit into everything so well and have brought the whole thing to life like magic.

So here is a little snippet-

'Outside the day was cold and wet, and the girl saw her first ever rain. She looked up to where the stars had been that night and instead the raindrops hit her face. For some reason the girl felt a goodbye in the wind, and indeed Joe once again took her by the hand and together they walked a few steps away from the cottage.

“We must carry on,” he said, and as he said it he wiped the rain from her face with one big gentle sweep of his hand.

“And so must I,” the girl said, sure of herself. Joe smiled.

“Yes, it’s true!” he smiled. “But where will you go?”

“I will keep on along the path by the stone walls, I won’t go back the way I came, for I know what to expect that way.” Joe nodded, and she felt he thought it was a good decision. “Where will you go?” she asked back.

“We will go up and away,” he answered, pointing at one of the hills. “We’ve heard tales of work as sometimes we must earn some money.”

A sort of sadness flickered across the girl’s face, and Joe looked into her eyes again, “No time for sadness,” he said, “There are still great adventures to be had, and so many new things to see.”

“Yes,” said the girl, thinking back to the old man she had first met.

“Come on, Joe,” shouted Wilf, as they had started walking up to the hill.

“Here,” said Joe, and pulled one of his woollen coats from his shoulders and put it around hers, “For the rain and the cold.” Then,“time to go!” he sang, excitement in his voice, and before she had time to think about anything, he had kissed her, his lips on hers, and was running to his friends, and all three were waving, and she waved and waved back, until once again they were just small figures on the hill, disappearing into the distance.'