Taco cat loves tacos

I did some special aprons for a totally awesome Taco van in Australia.  I have two left if anyone would like to buy one!

Textiles of all sorts, including socks.

I was the May 2013 artist of the month with gift box subscription service Goodie Goodness.  This is a photo of a whole load of Czech Dog pillows which travelled down to London to be added to the gift boxes.  These dogs actually ended up hitching a ride on the Megabus with a real nice gal who volunteered to take them with her to London so I didn't have to.  There's good people out there!!

Speaking of dog pillows, I mentioned earlier about a new stockist of mine in Manchester.  Here are a few photos of the new cafe and gift shop that I just DIE over the niceness of.  They make good coffee and they sell beautiful things.  Dream shop, yes.

(I borrowed these photos from Manchester's Finest)

Taco kitty is proving quite popular in South Korea and Japan.  These totes are stocked at some cool shops in Asia, in case you're planning a trip to that part of the world! 

SO moving on to other textile-based conversation... a little while back I attended a running conference called Write This Run.  It was marginally geeky but I got over being a geek a long time ago (no use fighting the inevitable) - and after a fabulous day listening to inspiring people talk about running and achieving goals I came away with not only a turbocharged urge to sign the heck up for loads of races and be all awesome and stuff, but a pretty hefty goody bag full of sweet gear.  I got a pair of these balega socks and darn, they saved me!  After the conference I had to leg it to the train station down a very long (long) driveway in the rain, in a pair of leather chelsea boots. With no socks on.  On arrival at the train station boy was I glad when I discovered this lovely pair of socks - they saved my feet from an imminent trip to blistertown.  

As I'm pretty sure the nice folks at balega didn't design these 'pro racer 3 Low Cut' socks with chelsea boots in mind I decided to try them out the next day - with a pair of runners.  And they're nice.  Thinner than a lot of my running socks, they're comfortable and light.  I also like how they're a little higher on the ankle.  I've been on some long runs where my socks have slipped down my ankle and thus caused some major blister issues.  So yeah, all in all these are good socks - and even better for turning up in my bag when I needed them most.  

Well I'm due a short 3 mile run this afternoon, which is roughly the distance to the supermarket where I shall purchase some kale and beans as my other half is out for the evening and I don't get to eat kale and beans for dinner when he's around.  Let's raise our green smoothies and toast to sad, guilty indulgences we delight in when our sane life partners leave us to our own devices. CHEERS! 

Taco cat, running, eggs. All good things.

Most importantly, 

the Taco Kitty Canvas Tote is now reduced to just £9 as it's being discontinued.  Get your freaking paws on one before it's too late.

That out of the way, my Juneathon efforts as follows:

Tuesday was run club and boy was it run club.  We did a 30 minute continuous fast paced loop near Chorlton Water Park that consists of some mean hills and some horrendous gradual inclines.  I'll just say there were two new starters (we have a 'new starter' almost every week) and they snuck off halfway through! Then we followed with 10 x hill reps and 6 x 30 second efforts with 30 second recovery.

Wednesday (yesterday) I basically did my (4 miles worth of) errands on my bike again.  I wasn't wearing lycra and I wasn't really sweating but I also wasn't being subjected to open sores and ear dandruff on a 143 Stagecoach so Wednesday's activity was ultimately a success in my opinion.

Also, O to the M to the G on the scrambled egg sandwich situation.

And this morning started with a 3.7 mile run - nice start to the day.  Now if you'll excuse me, I have a date with Breaking Bad and some sweet & sour chicken.

PS: those of you who asked about running tote bags, they should be available to order again next week. Thanks so much for your nice feedback on the bags, super stoked that they went down well!

Totes amaze

Just in case you've been dreaming of owning a tote bag with a unicorn on it I have made you one and you can buy it from my etsy shop.  Now if you'll excuse me I have an appointment with some Emmenthal cheese.

Running and gangsters and cake

Hello! It's Tuesday.  Yesterday's errands and drawing and making vegetarian chilli didn't really count as exercise so in the spirit of Janathon I did some crunches and thigh work (while the Simpsons was on the tv...) last night.  It was a 'rest day' on my marathon training plan and as I had done 9 miles on Sunday with run club I felt I owed my legs a day off.  But hey my 100 crunches must count for something.  Especially since my taco kitty tote bag was featured in the 'treat yo self' etsy newseletter (ayyy!!!) on Sunday and I was feeling in the spirit.

Today I spent the morning packing up orders and listening to UhhYeahDude.

Did you see my illustration for issue 105 (December 2012) of Whitelines Magazine?  This is it:

These cats sold out over Christmas.  This week calls for some sewing and stuffing (and maybe some cake.)

Run club again tonight.  My legs are ready.

Win some loot!

I'm doing a giveaway on my facebook page.  You can potentially win a taco kitty tote bag, beardy man charm, xmas gift tags, sweet ass cards, stickers to put on your face, pocket manfriend number 300 Ralph, a foxy keyring and a taco time pocket mirror.  The feet are not being given away because they are mine and I need them for various things including walking and running.

It's busy, no?

It's October!  What the... this is when things start to get a little whack/my hair stops being washed/sleep rarely happens.  On top of the crazy insane businessy ness of this time of year, I'm also going away for 3 weeks in November.  So... in case I mutter nonsense to you this month, you know there are reasons beyond my normal reasons for muttering nonsense. (Lack of coffee, lack of human beings to talk to during my working day)

So I've been working on some (a lot... too many? see nonsense, above) different things - new products, new colours, kitty-based designs...

Draw/make/cut/sew/eat/snooze/repeat...

These kitties have been travelling 'round the world!  Kitty kitty kitty kitty kittyyyyyy

Have you seen these zebra coasters?! Now available in sets of two.

Taco kitty totes have been travelling worldwide! They are now sold in Japan, New Zealand, and Australia.  Have you got one? I have finally started using one myself! Did you know they got a mention in frankie magazine last year? Yeh. And Now that we mention it, I might be over on that side of the world later this month.

(Check out my retro iphone btw)  But where have I been, you say?  I've been travelling a bit!  Yes, yes.  I did a fair amount of running and swimming in Manchester, to start.  And there were trips to various places in France and the Czech Republic - for more running and swimming/eating ice cream.  But first I will probably show you more photos of cats and horses....

(This is a bag, with a horse on it:)

Speaking of running, you might be interested in the running blog I have setup.  Are you a runner? Talk to me, I want to hear you.  By the way, do you like tacos?

So yeah, and aprons got did.  Hand me the goddamn hot sauce, I have some eggs to eat.

Stay tuned for more unfinished sentences and disjointed nonsense....

Early Christmas present

In the words of Clark Griswold, "Hallelujah, holy shit!" Yesterday I received a copy of Issue 45 of Frankie Magazine.  They've featured my pocket manfriends and my taco kitty tote bag.  Thank you, Santa.  You done me good.

We're going global!

Goodness gracious, things have been busier than ever - and I mean ever!

November had me packing up a couple large orders... one was a large clan of pugs, kitty pillows and pocket manfriends who touched down at ThunderEgg HQ on Oldham St, Manchester.  They're now actually hanging out (literally hanging) in the window display, how awesome is that.  Here's a few pics of the furry friends before they left home!

I also now stock a selection of greeting cards at a few shops in Old Towne Orange, California.  Pretty exciting that my cards are going 'round the world all the way to southern California :)

I've also just recently topped up two of my absolutely fab stockists in Liverpool's Bluecoat, Nook & Cranny and Landbaby.  You can buy kitty pillows and original drawings at Nook and get your pockets loaded full of pocket manfriends at Landbaby.  Oh and while you're there check out the other artists work in both shops, because they are packed to the rafters with beautiful products and artwork.  

Now if you'll excuse me, my other half has drilled into a pipe in the kitchen floor this evening and although emergency panic stage has passed (I seriously almost pooped my pants) and we have a plumber on the case, it may take several hours for my heartrate to drop back down to anywhere near where it should be.  Ahem, please pass the gin. 

Taco Kitty Cotton Tote GIVEAWAY

Cotton Taco Kitty tote bags are now available to buy, and as it's my birthday tomorrow, I've decided to give one of these bad boys away.

All you have to do is comment on this blogpost with what you'd use the taco tote for if you won it.

For extra entries
1. Tweet tweet "I wanna get my paws on a taco kitty tote bag from @nicolarowlands  http://bit.ly/oBuQRS"
2. Facebook status "I wanna get my paws on a taco kitty tote bag from @Nicola Rowlands Illustration and Design (you'll have to like the facebook page first to be able to tag it in a post)

I'll choose a winner on October 21. meow!