I had expected - as October arrives - to be wrapped up in blankets in a freezing studio... Yet, an extraordinary heat wave has embraced the British Isles, an "Indian Summer", predictably coinciding with the end of the (so called) Summer Holidays, and less predictably with the new Ella Bella book.

And so I find myself sitting in my studio, sweltering in the heat, watching the garden dry to a frazzle (and combined with autumn, the colours are terrific). Yet my mind is keeping cool in the heat. For I am drawing wintry forests and dancing snow flakes and Christmas trees as I plan the pages of Ella Bella Ballerina and the Nutcracker. Here is an example of the first drawings...

A real life Ella Bella!

I love coincedences. I suppose a little girl called Ella, being nick-named Ella Bella isn't all that big a coincedence. Nor that she likes Princesses and Ballet. But when she goes to Ballet Classes held by a teacher called Miss Rosa... well, that really is extraordinary.




Her mother emailed me with the story, and to say how much she loves the books. I was so pleased to hear that, it makes all the hard work worthwhile!

So... roll up! And meet Ella Bella Ballerina, from the USA. She'll soon be celebrating her 4th birthday, and is celebrating with an Ella Bella Ballerina party at her dance school! How great is that? Wish I could go. I bet there'll be cake...

I'll be thinking of her (and the cake) as I begin the first drawings for the new Nutcracker book!