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..

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 :)

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 :)

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)

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...

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 ;)

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 :)

Bald Eagle in an FBI Cap

Another commission for a special American friend! Lots of markets in and around London towards the end of March - details to come - and some new stockists :)

Valentines Day cards and February Sale!

Valentines Day is approaching and there are two new romantic Birds in Hats cards over in the Etsy shop! Next day delivery to make sure they get there in time AND 10% off everything in the store with the code HAPPYFEB10 as a special treat :) Lots of new birds on their way and I'll be knocking about Greenwich Market next Wednesday and the New Vintage market in Brixton next Saturday selling my wares, details to follow.
I was also interviewed by the lovely Aussie blog Spincushions a while back, which you can find here.

Rock Pigeon in a Bearskin

Synthetic, obviously.

Peach-Faced Lovebirds in Matching Bobble Hats

Getting ready for Valentines day with a couple of snug lovebirds.

Rock Pigeon in a British Police Helmet

The second pigeon of a series of four London themed birds - Hopefully ending up on postcards in the near future. Tote bags and some special Valentines day cards are underway and there are three new designs up on the Etsy shop - Valentines day discount/treat coming soon :)

Bald Eagle in a Crystal Palace Beanie

A Christmas commission for my manager's boyfriend - a Crystal Palace fan (their mascot being an eagle...)

Magpie in a Brown Leather Trilby

I was asked to give a magpie a 'pikey' hat by a drunken regular and here we are. Inspiration taken from Brad Pitt's brown leather trilby in Snatch...

And thanks to everyone who came down for the Christmas market in Brixton last Saturday, it was great fun and I'll be doing plenty more in 2012 :) I'll also be expanding my stocklists majorly, so email me if you're interested and birds in hats now has it's home on facebook - here.

Christmas!!

Four new A6 christmas cards have gone up on my Etsy shop!
If you're ordering online they'll be posted the same or next day first class and so should be with you before Christmas for now...

...However I will be at the second New Vintage market in Brixton this Saturday, on Coldharbour Lane at
The Living Bar. Last months market was brill and there'll be many new designs on sale there!

Some of which you can see here - my 2011 Christmas designs! They'll be printed on 350gsm card, A5 and with some extra glitter.
Hopefully on sale on my Etsy shop after the market if there's time - email me if you'd like to pre order any (£3.50 per card, all 4 for £12)

Happy Christmas!

Red Footed Partridge (in a tree) in Christmas Knitwear

Two Turtle Doves in Gold Christmas Cracker Hats

Three Winter Wrens in the Three King's Hats

Four Long Tailed Tits in Santa Hats

'Norwegian Blue Parrot' (Hyacinth Macaw) in a Top Hat

Finally an update! My flat has been without internet for a long time so I'm using my work's wifi for the foreseeable future. The market in Brixton last month went brilliantly, it was lovely meeting everyone and I'm going to be back at the living bar next Saturday, on the 10th of December on Coldharbour Lane, 2 mins from Brixton underground for the Christmas market. There will be mulled wine...

I've also added some items to the etsy shop, 4 new Christmas designs and a swan, goose and a mandarin duck! I'll be posting all orders the next day, first class since it's December, and will be uploading some special Christmas card designs from this year soon!

Lastly, this was a request from a regular of mine and a monty python fan, who will have to make do with this macaw since the Norwegian blue parrot exists only in John Cleese's imagination...

Market!

Come and say hi this Saturday at the Living Bar in Brixton, 5 mins away from Brixton underground on Coldharbour Lane :)

Common Snipe in an Orange Bowler Hat

This fella's for Hans Jakob Helms's birthday, who is part of my Danish 'family' back in Copenhagen! The Snipe plays an important part in his latest novel which I am going to help translate at some point and the hat is made by Danish heritage hat makers called 'Andersen and Berners', whom I found out about on the German blog SOTO here.

In other exciting news, I'm going to be in Brixton this Saturday (flyer with exact details coming soon) selling prints, cards, and christmas cards - which will be going up on my Etsy shop soon after the event - and cupcakes! Come down and see me if you can :)

Rockhopper Penguin in a Shower Cap

This one's for my deputy manager John, because Rockhoppers need to keep their hair dry when they're going fishing...
Christmas cards imminent!