Summer Solstice Illustration

Yes, it's finally time for the promised Summer Solstice image I knew I had to post, to balance the Winter Solstice one here (and which you'll probably prefer to share today if you're in the Southern Hemisphere).

Originally, I meant to have the two images "matching" in some way. But it soon became clear this wasn't how this image (in digital watercolour, in Krita) wanted to be. This was a puzzle, until an obvious truth hit home.

The two solstice points in the year are opposites. So it makes sense that the approach, tone and feeling behind each is going to be, well, opposite also.

In any event, feel free to share this jpg image as it is if it's of use to you today, or in illustrating Solstices generally.

Happy Solstice, and more soon.

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New Inspiring/Funny Quote Illustration: Life *Is * A Bowl of Cherries. But...

It's cherry season here. Somewhere in the course of the first few this year, I got to thinking the thought, "Even cherries have pips". Which evolved as you see below.

Find this magnet on Redbubble

Just a fun thought for a Friday, which you're also welcome to share via the image below if you'd rather.

Hope you have a happy weekend. More soon!

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Free Happy Father's Day JPG Image and Animated Gif

Hello there, and hope you're feeling great and thriving.

If you have a father or father figure in your life, Father's Day is upon us this week.

So I thought that either the jpg image below, and/or the animated gif below that, may help you and that person to celebrate.

Simply tap, click or right-click (according to your device) and you'll be able to download and share the images.

Hope these are happy, helpful and joyful for you and those who receive them. More soon!

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New Sketchy Roses Pattern Collections to Mix and Match

Hello there, and hope this finds you well and thriving.

Today, am so happy to be able to present my new, Sketchy Roses collection to you. 

 It's a coordinated collection of my designs for your projects, in a light and fun style that nods to tradition, but is sketchily light enough to feel fun and happy too. Each design can also be used in either direction. The collection is available on fabrics, printable papers, and home décor/gift items too.

Sketchy Roses
by Bounding Squirrel

"Sketchy Roses," is available from Craftsuprint as printable papers, or from Zazzle on fabrics, in a  paler background colourway, because of the differences involved in printing on fabric.

The collection (in all  its forms) was inspired by the beautiful rose gardens we're lucky enough to have around these parts. (Thanks to The Computer Man who took these pics on a stroll we had.)

And, just like the different, multi-coloured roses in a flowerbed, these papers and fabrics are designed to be mixed and matched together in your projects too.

Finally, if you love the designs, but aren't feeling crafty, I've also popped a "mix and matchable," selection of gift and decor items onto Redbubble. You can see the whole collection here.

Here's how just some of  those gift items mix and match together as cushions and pillows, and on a mixture of items.

See more of the collection on Redbubble...

Explore the collection here...

More than anything, please have fun, and may anything and everything in this collection spark joy and delight for you, your friends and family, and the world at large.

More soon.

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New Cartoon and Pretty Pics...

Hello there

Hope you're thriving. It's been a week of being out-and-about (at last!). So please forgive me that the new project launch, about which more very soon) isn't this week.

But I do have a new cartoon for you. Which I sent to the Computer Man for his birthday. Upon receiving it and laughing heartily, he insisted that I put it up for sale (with a few details changed).

Funny Birthday Card for Husbands: Wife Alerts
by CartoonsbyClare

And so, it's become the newest item in my CartoonsbyClare collection at Zazzle. (where you can change the wording as much as you like...It doesn't have to involve the word "wife", for instance).

In other news...

As good weather and being able to go out are now finally coinciding, so many beautiful things are there to be appreciated in London's parks and gardens. So we slowed down this week, and took some time to enjoy them.

One day soon... these rhododendrons (please correct me if you think they're something else) are highly likely to make their way into a design somewhere.

For now, they are just stunningly beautiful and in need of no other introduction over in the gardens at Kenwood House. (Pics are also courtesy of  The Computer Man, who also takes much more wonderful photos than he realises...).

I'll leave these with you to enjoy. 

Hope you have a lovely week, wherever and however life finds you right now.

More soon.

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These Are Free Rainbow Gif Arrows (And I Need Your Help, Please)

Hello there! I hope this post finds you thriving. Us too, though we're in the middle of a blog revamp here.

This pretty little rainbow arrow gif is  free for you to download and use (credit and link back are always appreciated, but never required). As ever, just right-click, click  or tap on it to make that happen.

But this time...

The arrows have an important purpose too.

With a huge thank you to my  computer whiz hubbie for providing me with lovely code that will just point you to my social media accounts and nothing else, I have a favour to ask of you, please.

The arrows are here as a reminder that you can find out about new posts on my social media accounts too. They're pointing to the right if you're on a PC or laptop, but could equally be pointing to the bottom of the page for mobile us (yes, we're making it easier in the revamp, please bear with us).

Not on social media?

(And if you're not on social media, or just prefer to get emails about updates, please subscribe to Bounding Squirrel on the Bloglovin network).

This is extra important just in case you're still getting emails about blog updates from the old Feedburner service. I don't think anyone is, as I started changing this, literally years ago and think everyone has changed options already.

But just in case, am letting you know, because Google are switching off key parts of that service. So if you'd like to keep following posts, please do join Bloglovin (it's free) and/or follow us on social media.

Many thanks!

And now, for something completely different...

After such an uncommonly techy email, it's probably best to leave you with something that's altogether quieter, calmer, but also available for you to use as a free image if you'd like. 

And this free rose PNG clipart file is  also a hint about things to come.  Update June 10th: The Sketchy Roses Collection has now been released. Click or tap here for more info...

(The rose isn't yet involved in any design at Craftsuprint, but everything of mine there is on  20% discount until the end of Bank Holiday Monday (May 31st 2021).  If you love to craft with nice images, do have a look if you can).

On that note, will leave you guessing, but thanks so much for reading down so far in a post like this, and have a lovely weekend.

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Free Inspiring Quote Image: You Can Do This...

Let's face it, life continues to be various kinds of weird for a lot of people at the moment. Which (maybe) is why this illustration popped into my head. This woman *is* managing to balance her strange and heavy load at the moment. Maybe the message, "You Can Do This..." that goes with it *is* all she needs.

If you know someone who would appreciate this, it's fine to tap, click or right-click (according to your device) on the image on the left and send it to them. Please leave the web address and signature on it, though.

Also...

Also, if you'd rather send them something more physical (or have some encouragement yourself), I have stickers, cards, magnets, badges and more that carry the same message, available on Redbubble.

(You can see what some of them look like in the images below).

Buy on a tote bag here

Buy as a sticker here

Buy on a greeting card here

And whatever you do or don't do, remember that you too can do whatever is in front of you. And that, better yet, you have the power to let other people know that they can, too.

Hope this helps anyone who needs it. More soon!

New Painting: Peaceful Willow Tree

Hello there. Hope you're doing well out there in your corner of the world. 

And if you're surprised to see the style of this painting, I'll let you into a secret...So am I.

If you've followed along for any length of time, you'll know that I do little digi and traditional watercolours, right?

And definitely not landscapes of any kind.

And yet, and yet, all of this changed, in trying out my new Luminance digital painting program from Pixarra. (That's not an affiliate link, BTW. Am just really impressed with the app so far).

It's so new to me that have not even had time to review it properly.

But if it helps in creating "places," that feel as peaceful as the underneath of that willow tree...You might be seeing quite a bit more painted with it.

Many thanks and more soon.

PS. You might know this already, but you can stay in touch with BoundingSquirrel on Facebook and Twitter

New Elephant Cartoon-And a "Creative Block" Solution...

Hello there. Hope everything is going well for you. And that you've had a smooth and peaceful week.

If, like me though, you've had things turn out now quite as you'd hoped, and a little trip into Creative Block Land, then am going to share a tool I found that may help, and the story of how it helped me.

Which, believe it or not, is linked to this new elephant cartoon:

There I was, frustrated by project roadblocks, and feeling distinctly un-creative. (Which, thank goodness, is rare for me...but all the scarier therefore, when it strikes).

"What I need," I thought, "is a way of breaking old patterns, and creating new ones..."

And somehow, from that, the almost-magical discovery of the random word generator at, wait for it, randomwordgenerator.com.

At random, the generator presented me with five words. One of which was, "adoption". Which got me to think about those, "adopt an animal and get a cuddly toy and progress report," schemes run by animal charities...

Which led me to wonder what it would be like if a person ended up with more than they'd expected...And hence the cartoon.

Hope this has give you a laugh, and/or, an idea to try next time you need your mind to break free.

Have a lovely weekend. More soon.

New "Bowls Superleague" Cartoon

Hello there. It's been a while since I posted a cartoon, but this week has been full of them. Now that at least one has been received (with joy, it seems...phew!) I can post it here.

As this was a "custom-designed" card, it may take more explaining than your average cartoon. Basically, the recipient is a fan of both bowls and football (soccer if you're reading this in the US). 

Other salient points that might or might not need a similar explanation: 1) The bowls season has just started in the UK, and 2) There have been recent (unsuccessful) attempts to set up a football super league, involving eye-watering amounts of money, and no-one ever having to leave the league, no matter how badly they play.

So I started thinking about what would happen in a parallel universe, if those two things combined...

Anyway, if you know anyone who likes bowls or football, please feel free to share this with them if you'd like.

But the next project is different

The next project I'm working on should take much less explaining, and I'll be revealing it next week. I know that all the lovely people who read this blog (thank you!) come for different reasons. But I know that you also often like new designs, cartoons,  and/or items that you can use in your own projects.

As the next project combines both of these things, I'm hopeful (and hoping) that you'll love it.

I'll see you next week with that. 

Update May 12th: The next project has hit various snags. But I'll still be posting the art that is ready for you to enjoy. More soon!

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