Blue Footed Boobie in a Pinwheel Beanie

These are fantastic birds, cannot believe it's taken me this long to draw one. The bluer the feet, the higher the sex appeal, obviously. Have a search for 'Blue Footed Boobie Dances' on youtube if you need cheering up.

Crow in a Sheriff's Hat

Yup, I've become slightly obsessed with 'The Walking Dead' TV series. Most living creatures don't exactly prosper during a zombie apocalypse but on the plus side, carrion birds thrive... Swings and roundabouts.

Rainbow Lorikeet in a Polka Dot Bowler

Another Australian bird - seem to be getting delayed post holiday blues from February so I shall keep drawing colourful things till that fades..

The Big Egg Hunt NY

Hello! If you have an eye on my Twitter/Facebook/Instagram feeds you may well already be aware that I was lucky enough to be involved the The Big Egg Hunt in New York this year!

The Big Egg Hunt, sponsored by Fabergè, is a huge charity fundraising event where over 250 artists are asked to paint giant eggs which are then hidden around NYC for the month of April! They're auctioned off at the end of the month and raise huge amounts of money for 2 seriously awesome charities. 'Studio in a School' - which brings the visual arts to over 150 NY public schools every year and the 'Elephant Family' charity, fighting the extinction of the endangered Asian Elephant. It's a brilliant event and I've loved seeing all the photos flood in of my birds in New York (egg140!) on Twitter and Instagram. There are two days left to bid online and view many of the eggs now collected at the Rockefeller Centre.

As the event is coming to a close I thought I'd post a few of my progress photos online. I chose three of my most popular birds for the egg and was in New York for most of January painting it. Needless to say freehand painting three original illustrations onto the huge convex surface that was my egg took some serious time and effort - you can find the full album here on my flickr.

Galah in a Trilby

Going through a pink phase at the moment. Cheeky blog post on the Birds in Hats egg knocking about Manhattan next week - I'll also be at the Crafty Fox in Brixton on the 26th of April, selling my wares. Come and say hi :)

Flamingo in a Tropical Print Cap

Here's a cheeky one I finished on my Brick Lane market a couple of Sundays back- you'll see him as a card and print very soon!

Little Ringed Plover in a Sun Hat

Not sure about the proper name of this hat? I know I had one when I was a kid and it was awesome.

Yep, it's been a while since the last update. I did spend the first two months of this year in NYC and Australia, respectively, so that's my excuse. Many more Birds in Hats on their way and exciting news to share soon!

Waxwing in a Flat Cap

I'm back! Only briefly however as I'm heading to New York on the 11th for an exciting project (more on that later hopefully…) For now here's March's Waxwing in a Flatcap - you'll be seeing him in a couple of months if you snapped up one of this years Birds in Hats calendars! (A few still on sale here!) 


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Emperor Penguin in a Christmas Jumper

Ok it's everyone's December favourite - the years Emperor Penguin in a Christmas Jumper. I've already had to reorder twice more of any other Christmas card!

Winter Wren in an Elf's Hat

It's nearly Christmas time... I've been busy packaging calendars and Christmas cards to be sent out - here's one of the new Christmas birds, a winter wren in an Elf's hat! (The same one Zooey Deschanel wears in the film 'Elf'!)

2014 Birds in Hats Calendar

The Birds in Hats 2014 Calendar has finally arrived! You can now find it online on my Etsy shop, amongst lots of other fun Christmas things that I'll be featuring in the next few weeks.
Watch the Birds in Hats Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for a few competitions too....

Kingfisher in a Fly Fisherman's Hat

The calendars have nearly arrived and will be online to pre order very soon, so here's May, a kingfisher in a fly fisherman's hat!

Budgie in a Trilby with Novelty Sunglasses

The calendar is finished and has been sent to the printers! Here's August, who you can also find on a brand new tote bag...

Male and Female Ring-Necked Pheasants in Wedding Hats

This was a commission I did a while back that was given as a wedding gift. Said wedding has passed so here they are :) (Congratulations Rob and Danni, hope you liked it!)
Things are very hectic lately - I'm mainly working on getting the 2014 calendar ready which has been a lot of fun so watch out for some previews coming soon....

A Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu in an Aso Oke hat

My very good friend Jenny has been away with a NGO in Burkina Faso for the past 3 months so this ones for her birthday. Apparently these awesome guys are all over Burkina Faso!

Red-whiskered Bulbul in a Red Visor

Another bird I discovered in Hong Kong (Kowloon park to be precise) and vowed to 'put a hat on' once I returned. They were everywhere!

Peregrine Falcon in Flying Goggles

So I've decided to upload a new Bird in a Hat every Friday, to reduce these ridiculously long gaps in posting. Time really does fly! I have moved into a new studio & gained new stockists in my home town of Derby and in the lovely Bruges! Managed to drop the stock off in person in Derby on a recent family visit, hopefully I'll be able to take a trip to Belgium one day..

Golden Eagles in Matching Scottish Bonnets

A couple of Eagles I did a while back. This was a commission for a couple's 2 year wedding anniversary - they had been bird watching in Scotland when they saw a pair of Golden Eagles and decided to get married. So a very appropriate present :)

Burrowing Owl in a Miners Helmet

This one's another personal commision - I was particularly pleased to find the worlds 'frowniest' Owl..

Red-billed Blue Magpie in a Red Bowler Hat

I'm back from Hong Kong! It's such an incredible, varied place, it has some brilliant parks (and aviaries!) hidden amongst the madness of Central and Kowloon, with half-deserted, forested islands just a £2 ferry away. I managed to see the critically threatened Spoon-billed Sandpiper at the Hong Kong Wetland Park, which is well worth a visit if you get a chance.

I spent a Sunday in Stanley on the south side of Hong Kong island and saw these crazy birds - they have the longest tail of any Corvid, sound really odd and look amazing when they fly.
I also came to the realisation while I was there, that I might be a full-blown bird watcher rather than bird enthusiast these days...

Finally - & very excitingly - my favourite London market's Easter outing is coming up - it's the Crafty Fox market, I'll be there this Saturday with a bunch of new things, but just go either day, it's cracking. It's held in The Dogstar pub, which is a five minute walk from Brixton tube station :)

Atlantic Puffin in a Sou'wester, Red Crowned Crane in a Bucket Hat and Rock Pigeon in a Deerstalker (!)

This was a really fun commission I did a couple of weeks back for a Norwegian/Japanese/English couple! Hence the mix of Japanese, Norwegian and British birds. It was a lot of fun to work at A2 size and I will be drawing more Cranes on some very large paper as soon as I get the chance..

Gentoo Penguin in Top Hat (with Monocle and Cane)

The Gentoo is a pretty good contender for my favourite penguin, and I decided I wanted one on a bag. So here he is!

Avocet in a Trendy Beanie (with roll up, glasses & a sailor tat)

One of my personal favourites and another one that I designed for the Maybe a Vole's Christmas show - not just because I know a few human versions of this one but because I've been meaning to draw an Avocet for ages. It's the mascot of the RSPB, a lovely charity that you should go join if you're in the UK.

Flamingo in a Bowler Hat (with pipe)

A pretty slick fellow I drew for the lovely Maybe a Vole galleries' pop up during Christmas (he'll be available as a print on my online shop soon) It's a lovely place in Dalston and my birds had a cracking time there, go visit if you get a chance

Rockhopper Penguin in a Party Hat

This was a special commission I thought I'd share that I designed before Christmas - for somebody's Mum's 60th Birthday! (Apparently she's a fan of Rockhoppers)

European Robin in a Flat Cap

So I had a very, very busy December, followed by a very, very sedentary holiday. Back to business now with lots of new, exciting things in the pipeline! Not all birds in hats, but mostly animals wearing human clothes. And some birds wearing hats.

Apologies for those that didn't get Birds in Hats 2013 calendars - I was pretty overwhelmed by their popularity! Needless to say I will be much, much more prepared for the 2014 calendar...

This was a commission for a friend's Granddad for his Christmas present, who was apparently visited by a robin just like this, named Robin :)

Emporer Penguin in a Christmas Cracker Hat and bad taste Christmas Jumper

My calendars have sold out! This is brilliant and slightly scary news - can't believe so many people are happy to have birds in hats on their wall all year round :)
I have a big delivery of them coming on Thursday though and am taking lots of pre orders on Etsy over here, so there is still a chance for you too to own a bird in a hat for every month of 2013.

In the meantime here is a Penguin from the Christmas card range... I wasn't going to upload any Christmas ones till December but... I have

Mute Swans in Matching Winter Hats

Some loved up Swans for February on the Calendar. Might be 2013's Valentines Day card!

I've also added a bunch of stocking filler things to the Etsy shop, including these cute fridge magnets, of which you can get all 5 for ten pounds!

Peacock in a Scottish Bonnet

A commision I did awhile back that I haven't got round to uploading - a peacock in a scottish bonnet! 

If you fancy a commision in time for Christmas (because where are you going to find a more useful gift than a personal bird in a hat?) then send an email to alicetams@gmail.com, I'm getting booked up!

Eurasian Magpie in a Witches Hat (October)

Since October's coming to a close... here's October's bird! Part of the calendar that is finally on sale over here in my shop :)

Barn Owl in a Rain Hat (November)

So - I am off to New York for 10 days and when I return many more things will start to get added to the shop... one thing I'm very excited about is my calender, which I'm going to start posting now.
Say hello to one of my favourites, November!

Superb Fairy Wren in a Red Beret

Have been meaning to do one of these amazing wrens for ages. So blue! Very the artist formally known as Prince...
Have been working manically on a 2013 Birds in Hats calender and the new Christmas range - both of which have been filtering onto the Birds in Hats Facebook page in their half finished forms and both of which will be posted in full in the coming months :)
I also had the most lovely time at the Renegade Craft Fair a couple of weeks ago. The awesome Ali & Jam of HelloDodo have blogged about it, as has Amy of 'Into the Treasure Box' and Kat of 'Sweet Valentine'. Check them out for a few shots of my stall, me (well, kind of) and some awesome blogs!
I will be starting a proper, and much broader blog in the next month or so and will begin chronicling the many many gems I bought, traded and put on my Christmas list....
Oh yeah and some new stockists to announce soon. Exciting!

Hoopoe in a Poker Visor

87!

Toco Toucan in a Safari Hat

A cheeky one I did for fun. Over 2 years ago my second 'bird in hat' was a Vulture in a Safari hat. I ought to count how many I've done so far really. News on that in the next post (maybe)

Dodo in Lewis Carroll's Mad Hatter's Hat

My second Alarmist illustration - this one's Lewis Carroll inspired

Bluebird in Bukowski's Wooly Hat

This is the first of three illustrations I did for The Alarmist (do follow the link and buy the first issue, it's absolutely full of brilliant words, images and surprises) going along the 'literary' bird in a hat route. Which I'm sure is a regularly followed route...

Mute Swan in a Danish Clapper Hat

A fun commission I did a while back, very Danish indeed :)

Budgie in a Bow

So one computer meltdown later... I am back. Despite the stress, cost, inconvenience etc... it is exciting to have a new toy.. and I have a HUGE backlog of illustrations to upload and mess about with due to my week or so confined to paper and pen alone. I'm at the Backyard Market off Brick Lane, Sunday as usual drawing away and am going to start to do more Greenwich markets since my back problems seem to be on the mend. Come say hi!

I may draw this guy (the blue ridge on his nose is the give away apparently) a green lady friend - suggestions on the colour of bow welcome :)

Common Starling in a Brown Floppy Hat

One of the more labour intensive birds... but I've been meaning to do a Starling for ages, I love them! The Superb Starling is definitely on my very long to-draw list now. (best bird name ever - google it, it's very jazzy)

I also have a June 'stall' on the brilliant Blog and Buy Sale site which, as usual, has a great selection of treats to browse through. If you head over there and give my stall a 'like' or a 'tweet' that would be lovely and very helpful.
Also remember to like my facebook page if you'd like a bit of bird and hat related friendly spam ;)

Great Hornbill in Indiana Jones' Hat

This was a commission for someones boyfriends birthday :) email alicetams@gmail.com for your very own!

Zebra Finch in a Summer Straw Boater Hat

Because London has been GLORIOUS this past week or so. Hopefully the lovely weather will continue through to the jubilee weekend because I will be in Brick Lane Backyard market this Sunday and I'll be taking part in the Rivington Street Festival, on Rivington Street in Shoreditch next Monday bank holiday. Come and say hi, have a drink, dance and a shop in a hopefully sunny east London with me! :)

A Diamond Jubilee Garden Birds Party - and some news

Living a stones throw away from 'Royal Greenwich' (if the stone was thrown by a powerful robot) I couldn't really resist doing a little homage to the Diamond Jubilee this year. I've been very busy lately - Birds in Hats has gained a few more stockists which I'll be talking about soon - and lots of more fun products in the store. Even pocket mirrors! Due to a back injury confining me to my flat a lot more than I'm used to... there will be a lot more updates too :)