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 :)

Bald Eagle in a U.S Navy Lieutenant's Cap

A commission for a lovely American chap. Email alicetams@gmail.com for your very own bird in hat!

Saker Falcon in a Tennis Headband

For Wes Anderson fans... (Mordecai!)

...And lots of new fun things going up in the shop this week :)
Thanks to everyone who came to the Crafty Fox in Brixton last Sunday. it was brilliant and I can't wait till the next! I shall be in London Bridge/Borough this Saturday for the Wonderhill Market and in North Finchley on Sunday for the Mercy&Pearl Market, so stop by and say hi if you're near either!

Three Chicks in Easter Bonnets

The two on the left are talking about the one on the right...

... and pigeon tote bags now for sale on my Etsy shop :)

Duckling in Easter Bunny Ears

Spring is coming...

Mallard in a Fisherman's Hat

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 :)

Cardinal in the Ohio State College Football Helmet

For a friend in America, who is clearly a fan. (The cardinal is the official state bird of Ohio)

Rock Pigeon in St. Edward's Crown

Just in time for the jubilee... (I'll be in Greenwich Market tomorrow if you want to come and say hi!)

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.

Blue Tit in a Valentines Day Top Hat

Break the ice with a valentines day bird in a hat...

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!

Black Swan in a Fur Hat

All the way from Copenhagen, this hat belongs to my amazing Danish friend Kristine, who shares her bed, wine, flat, cigarettes (pre-give-up) and pretty much anything else with me whenever I get a chance to visit. Mange tak smukke!

And in other news, I'm kicking off producing prints, starting with the pigeon in a top hat over on my Etsy shop :) email/tweet/comment me any requests/questions! And I forgot to mention last post, the lovely blog 'Heiter bis glücklich' of Die Zeit, a weekly newspaper in Germany, featured me last month here. Yet more evidence that I should move to Berlin...

Embden Goose in a Propeller Beanie

It has been faaar too long since my last update! This one is a request from Steve Leinbach and he is long over due. I've moved into a new flat in New Cross and am getting an element of stability back into my life so plenty of updates to come - including some exciting new christmasy birds. Woo.

I'm off to Copenhagen for a week to see one of my favourites and will be selling prints on my Etsy shop as soon as I return. With any luck the prints may become request-able in the near future! I'm also heading up a stall at The New Vintage's Market in Brixton on the 12th of November, go and check out their blog and watch this space for more info (I may even make cupcakes...)

Tree Sparrow in an Alpaca Hat

Well, I've finally finished my degree, been to Berlin, got a full time job, started jury duty and as of yet, have failed to find a new flat in London... It's been a busy few months. Thanks to everyone that has ordered cards off my Etsy shop, Christmas cards are definitely coming this year and there will be some limited run prints on sale soon due to a few email requests :) Also, the lovely 'ImagineThat' blog interviewed me last week, go check out their blog, full of illustration and good advice.

Lots of new birds in hats lined up, though all will happen much faster once I find a new flat

This hat actually exists, bought at Leeds festival in 2007 (I think) by Jack Wall...

SHOP

Finally, an Etsy shop! As you can see, I've chosen 6 designs to begin with, and they can all be found on Etsy at £2.50 a card. Click on the link above to have a look. Many more birds in hats and a blog revamp to come...

African Grey Parrot in a Brown Felt Cowboy Hat

Sending some birds in hats off to the printers in the next week or so, so let me know if there are any you really want to see on cards :)

Mandarin Duck in a Black Bowler Hat

Tree Swallow in a Sailor's Hat