I have now been living in Casebrook for just over one year. That is the longest I've spent in one location since 2008. In the last four years, there have been a lot of moves, back and forth between Hokitika and Christchurch and around different suburbs here in the city.

It's a lovely feeling to be settled in a place and I enjoy the neighbourhood in our small cul-de-sac. But there is one thing in particular that I miss about Hokitika: the river.

During the summer, I would often spend afternoons along the banks of the river, exploring streams and fossicking for aquatic life. The strangest creature I ever found was a bright electric blue lamprey, which looked sort of like an eel, but with two blue stripes running down its body on either side of the dorsal fin. My friend and I were thrilled to find it, but we had no idea what it was - we had to take it to the local aquarium centre to get it identified.

I had many other adventures at the river, sometimes fishing, sometimes exploring the surrounding bush. Now that I'm on the East Coast, I will have to make an effort to investigate some of the rivers around Christchurch in an attempt to sate my longing!

These are photos of one of a couple my favourite spots.

Lynne Chapman is an award-winning illustrator. I follow her blogspot and enjoy watching her short videos. Here is a clip where she explains how she ended up becoming a children's book illustrator. Well worth watching!

Last week I had to spend the day in hospital for a simple routine operation. I was in by 7am and discharged a little before 5pm. Despite the fact that it was not 'major' surgery, it still feels like it deserves that title!

While I've been resting, I have had lot of time to read. One book in particular caught my attention: Play Pen, New Children's Book Illustration, by Martin Sailsbury.

I found it in the library a few weeks ago and checked it out with a bunch of other books. It is divided up into four sections that explore the artwork of 36 different children's book illustrators from all over the world. Before reading this book, I'd never heard of most of the artists. Now I am aware of some stunning, creative and diverse illustrators. Here are two that really impressed me.

Istvan Schritter, from Argentina. On his method of work: 'I never use a computer, except for writing or scanning as a way of recording. I cut everything with a pair of ordinary tailor's scissors, down to the tiniest circle for the tiniest pupil of an eye. The larger pieces are stuck with solid glue and the smaller ones with liquid glue and tweezers. Sometimes there are twenty or twenty-five layers of paper.'(pg.56 PlayPen, by M. Salisbury, Lawrence King Publishing)

(image from: istvansch.blogspot.com)

(image from: newhousedesignmapstuff.blogspot.com)

Noemi Villamuza, from Spain. Her use of pencil, especially in black and white, is gorgeous - it captures beautifully a sense of liveliness and wonder in childhood. As I have so much difficulty with it myself, I particularly admire the way she draws children's faces. She conveys the roundness and youthfulness of the child so vividly.

(image from: bibliocolors.blogspot.com)

(image from: filustra.com)