I have periodically dabbled in illustrations of stories, combining art-me and writing-me. I have thought I wanted to be an illustrator but I know now I don’t. 

I took the original Colin the Weevil story and made it into a more child friendly story. I think I had my Enid Blyton Hat on that day.

These days i’d make it far more inclusive and no way would I have two male main characters. But you know. Inherited, unseen patriarchy and all.

I have two versions of illustrations for this story, which I’m going to publish here in chronological order. It’s the same story with different pictures. I prefer the original pencil ones but it was pointed out to me they were not child friendly so I redid them in colour – which I never really liked and there are too many of the boring bits and not enough of the story.  They are not great, but why the heck not publish old things to see where you’ve come from and where you’re going, right

Colin’s Party (Black and white/pencil version)

Colin the Weevil lived in the flour barrel in the kitchen cupboard. He was great friends with Andie the Ant who lived next door in the sugar-tin.

Colin loved flour, it was his favourite food.

“Nothing like flour to start the day,”  he’d say.
Colin was having a birthday and decided to have a party (as well as flour, he also liked presents). He sent out invitations to all of his friends, telling them when to come.He spent a long time cooking for his party.  Everything was made of flour. There were cakes, biscuits, rolls, and scones. There were trifles and fairy bread and pies. He even tried making flour jellies but they didn’t set (he ate them anyway).

It all smelled delicious!

The morning of his party, Colin was so excited that he couldn’t eat his flour porridge.

“I hope everyone has fun,” he thought.  “I wonder if anyone will give me a present made of flour?  Oooh, that would be good to eat!”

He set out all the goodies for the party on a clean tablecloth.
“There,” he grinned, pulling the cloth into place. “That looks nice. I hope nobody is too late, or they’ll miss the blowing out of the candles on my birthday cake!”

At party time, there was a knock on the door.  Colin opened it and stepped out to greet his first guest.  Andie the Ant was standing there, holding out a present wrapped in a box.

“Happy birthday to Colin!” she sang, as Colin unwrapped his gift.

“It’s a badge in the shape of a wheat flower!” cried Colin happily, putting it on.  “Come in, come in!”

Soon, all his friends had arrived and the flour barrel was filled with chattering insects.

“And now for the food!”  Colin said as he showed them to their seats and brought out the food. “Please help yourselves.”

The insects looked at the food.

“Is there any nectar?” asked Jen the Butterfly.

“How about a bowl of sugar?” asked Andy the Ant.

“I’d like some roses,” commented Kellie the Ladybird.

Colin looked upset.

“I’m sorry, I made everything from flour…. don’t you like flour?”

All his friends nodded.

“But we like other things better,” said Ainsley the Grasshopper.

“It’s ok,” said Benji the Aphid, “it’s your birthday and I’m sure we’ll all enjoy what you’ve cooked us!”

 

All the insects cheered and began to eat.

The party was a great success. Colin got lots of presents and there were games of pin-the-leg-on-the-caterpillar and pass-the-grub and musical hives.  Everyone enjoyed themselves and all the food got eaten to the last crumb.

Later that night when all his friends had gone home, Colin the Weevil smiled as he settled back into his comfy chair.

“I have a lot of good friends,” he said to himself.  “It’s such a pity they have such bad taste in food!”

*

Colin’s Party – Colour picture version (same text as above)

(Please forgive the bad scanning!!!)

Colin the weevil lived in the flour barrel in the kitchen cupboard. He was great friends with Andy the Ant who lived next door in the sugar-tin. Colin loved flour, it was his favourite food.
“Nothing like flour to start the day,” he’d say.

It was Colin’s birthday and decided to have a party (as well as flour, he also liked presents). He sent out invitations to all of his friends, telling them when to come.

He spent a long time cooking for his party. Everything was made of flour. There were cakes, biscuits, rolls, and scones. There were trifles and souffles and pies. He even tried making flour jellies but they didn’t’ set (he ate them anyway). It all smelled delicious!

The morning of his party, Colin was so excited that he couldn’t eat his flour porridge.
“I hope everyone has fun,” he thought. “I wonder if anyone will give me a present made of flour? Oooh, that would be neat!”
He set out all the goodies for the party on a clean tablecloth.

“There,” he grinned, tweaking the cloth into place. “That looks nice. I hope nobody is too late, or they’ll miss the blowing out of the candles on my birthday cake!”
At party time, there was a knock on the door. Colin opened it and stepped out to greet his first guest. Andy the Ant was standing there, holding out a present wrapped in a box.
“Happy birthday to Colin!” he sang, as Colin unwrapped his gift.

“It’s a badge in the shape of a wheat flower!” cried Colin happily, putting it on. “Come in, come in!”
Soon, all his friends had arrived and the flour barrel was filled with chattering insects.

“And now for the food!” Colin said as he showed them to their seats and brought out the food. “Please help yourselves.”

The insects looked at the food.
“Is there any nectar?” asked Jen the Butterfly.
“How about a bowl of sugar?” asked Andy the Ant.
“I’d like some roses,” commented Kellie the Ladybird.

Colin looked upset.
“I’m sorry, I made everything from flour….don’t you like flour?”
All his friends nodded.
“But we like other things better,” said Ainsley the grasshopper.
“It’s ok,” said Benji the Aphid, “it’s your birthday and I’m sure we’ll all enjoy what you’ve cooked us!”
All the insects cheered and began to eat and drink and chat.

The party was a great success. Colin got lots of presents and there were games of pin-the-leg-on-the-caterpillar and pass-the-pupae and musical hives. Everyone enjoyed themselves and all the food got eaten to the last crumb.
Later that night when all his friends had gone home, Colin the Weevil smiled as he settled back into his comfy chair.

“I have a lot of good friends,” he said to himself. “It’s such a pity they have such bad taste in food!”