Question: Do you feel sad that the Question project has finished?
 
Well, I'd just like to say big THANK YOU to all of you who have come along for the ride and enjoyed the posts over the last month, and of course to all my friends and family (and some strangers thrown in for good measure) who unknowingly asked the questions in question which made it in to the blog!  I've loved the challenge and the opportunity to play around with some ideas, and I hope you have too. 

I'm happy to say that this isn't quite the end of the project... last week I had some exciting news confirmed that I will be taking The Question Project out in to the public domain - I'm having an exhibition!

SO THIS IS WHERE I NEED YOUR HELP... I need you to help me pick some favourites posts. I need to know which are your favourites!

I have set up a quick survey which should only take a couple of minutes, and anyone who completes it, will get entered in to a prize draw to win a bundle of my greetings cards....and WIN a print of their favourite Question from the Project!


Click here to take The Question Project survey!

Question: Do you do Caricatures?

Well, here it is, my FINAL question of the Question Project!
 
This will hopefully appeal to the artists out there who may have been asked this question. This came from a very nice gentleman who, upon me telling him my profession, asked me 'Do you you do landscapes and portraits and things' along with the caricatures question.  I would love to say I had these skills, but I would be lying.

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Question: So you think you can just draw on the window?

I was all set with a question from the lord major of Durham who I met at the exhibition launch, when I came home on Tuesday evening to find that the husband had played me at my own game (it was only a matter of time really!) and I was confronted by this....

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Question: Is it straight?

Setting up an exhibition is something of an ordeal if you've forgotten one of the essential staples - sticky foam pads, pins, measuring tape, all variety of tapes, hammer and most importantly a spirit level.  Failing that, a good eye and a helper to move it left a bit, right a bit can help greatly!

Today we've been setting up the exhibition for a big Helix Arts and Sure Start project I've been working as one of the lead artists on for it's launch tomorrow. I'm happy to say, it's all looking great, and straight. I just drew this on the window when I got home tonight.

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Day 27: Are you trying to say I'm being anal?

This is another one from my husband.  We both work in the same creative disciplines (in fact he studied illustration and I did graphic design) but approach things very differently.  He likes to call himself 'naturally precise' whereas I tend to dive in and do things wibbly and wonky.  Both have their place, but we like to tease each other about it sometimes.  I started drawing this and true to character, gave up being precise after I was half way through the first letter! He took one look at it and said, 'it's a bit messy isn't it' but I somehow managed to persuade him to hold it up for a photo.  I think his rolling eyes say it all don't you?

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Question: Can you taste the rum in it?

I went over to my mum and dad's on Saturday to say hi.  My mum had made some Mint and Rum Chocolate Brownies and asked me whether I wanted to sample one. Well, what could I say? Expectantly, they tasted lovely and minty, a hint of rummy-ness and of course super chocolatey, so they got a big thumbs up from me as we sat chatting together.

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Question: What's the magic word?

I've spent the day with my sister, bro-in law and my two little nieces, and my sister was asking this question to Sophie, who is two, whilst we were having lunch (it usually comes out when either food or wanting to watch C Beebies is involved).  

I've always loved the phrasing of making 'please' and 'thank you' a "magic" word, as a universal hook to making sure your kid learns manners.  Sophie is really good at it and replied 'Pleeeeeease mummy' in the cutest way that only a 2 year old can.

I had to take the photos using my rubbish phone so not the best quality today!

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Question: Do you think the spotty version is over kill?

This question came from my friend and fellow illustrator Emily MacKenzie on a great new illustration she's been working on.  She is probably the biggest fan of spots you could find so I thought I'd do some spotty type in her honour.

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Question: Do you know about women's football?

I've been in Cramlington running a creative workshop with a teenage girl's group, making a leaflet about the history of women's football.  Luckily I had done my studying and armed myself with the basic facts, although the girls were much more interested in practicing their football tricks and drawing colourful footballs!

 

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Question: Are you Team Howard or Team Jason?

I went to Take That on Monday night.  There, it's out in the open. Some of you may be surprised at this, others (who know my cheesy leanings) may not.  I am not, and never have been, a die hard Take That fan, but I'm not afraid to admit that I am partial to a bit of a Take That sing song.  So off me, my sisters, Jen and Lola trotted off to Sunderland to see 'the boys'. 

It was class, I even managed to get swept up in liking Robbie (I have been of the opinion that they are better off without him until now) and one of the best bits was when Jason and Howard had a Run DMC-style 'Dance off' in the centre of the stadium.  Jason won hands down, cutting some break dancing shapes. Howard just looked a bit silly. The crass aesthetic of this question is in honour of their 90s peak.

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Question: Um... I didn't do anything too embarrassing last night did I?

As I said, it was a great night! Aside from and few bruises and a sore head, the hen sailed through with flying colours.

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Question: Do you want a shot from my test tube?

Now, it's not every day you get asked this.  I went down to London this weekend for my friend's Hen Do. Due to a let's say 'interesting' journey where I had to side step cross country via York and Manchester, I arrived late and missed some vital cocktail drinking time. The beautiful hen, who as any hen worth her salt, was nicely merry when I arrived, offered me a shot from the test tube attached to her garter as we walked through Soho to help me catch up.

It almost goes without saying, it was a great night!

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Question: A letter's come with 'Final' visible in window.  Do you want me to open it or post it on?

An ominous letter has arrived at my parent's house  I've decided I'm going to delay finding out what's inside for as long as possible. Part of my procrastination plan involves folding up lots of other envelopes in to letter shapes as it is way more fun.

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Question: What came first, the bike, the scooter, the space rocket?

Coming home from seeing Pirate's of the Caribbean last night (I didn't rate it by the way) with my nephews and this question came out of nowhere. Well, it started out as "what came first, the bike or the scooter?" and evolved to include the much more exciting third invention.  Its not often I can answer any questions about inventions easily but I'm happy to say I sounded very knowledgeable in my reply, not sure I'd make it on to Eggheads just yet though.

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Question: Do you have an alternative plan for the cakes if they can't do it?

I have been helping with some organising of promotional cupcakes for a book launch of a project I have been involved in for quite some time and we were going through some options of how best to put the illustration of one of my characters on top of the little cakes.  One option was to hand ice each one, although he might be a bit complex for an icing job, but however it is done, it will be a (exciting) first for me to have my illustrations on cakes.

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Question: Have you ever had ghostly happenings in this building?

I was down at the studio this morning fixing something in the corridor when the man who has just moved in to the building asked me this. He then proceeded to tell me that a picture flew off and hit him in the head yesterday out of nowhere, I lamely suggested that it was the wind - as it was blowing a gale yesterday - but we both knew that it shouldn't really affect inside his studio.  The building used to be an old cloth making factory, so there is lots of history there.  I have a healthy 'sit on the fence' attitude to this sort of thing, but it did weird me out!

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Question: Do you need a hand with your packing?

I pretty much only spoke to 2 people today, one was was my husband, and the other was the cashier at the supermarket, and even she only really said this question half heartedly and told me how much my bill was. I felt slightly bereft at my lack of question choices, (perhaps it's a half way point lull?) but as a freelancer, you do have days like this.  I try to do my bit for the environment and that, so brought my bags along which made me think of drawing the question this way.

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Question: I could do you a Sunday dinner, without the meat, or an omelette?

Me and the husband took a trip out to Tynemouth today with two aims, one, to have a 'bracing' walk on the beach and two, to get a Sunday dinner.  Now I love Sunday lunch as much as the next person, but I often have a stumbling block, I'm a vegetarian.  So this is not the first time I've been asked this question (or even worse offered only the option of a tomato pasta dish) Now I know you're going to say it's my own fault - in fact my husband's exact words were "well, this is what you get for being a vegetarian"  but I think pubs can do better than that. Although I really don't mind just having all the trimmings as long as the Yorkshire's are good.  As it happens, these were some of the best I've had, but don't tell my Auntie in Huddersfield.

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Question: Do you think they have any S Club Seven?

Last night I found myself in a Karaoke bar for my friend's birthday.  Am not going to deny, I was a little nervous of how it was going to pan out.  But a combination of drink, mood lighting, loud backing music and sheer giddiness resulted in a lot of coarse voices this morning.  The high point was everyone recreating Bohemian Rhapsody, punching the air and working the inflatable electric guitar ala Brian May.  The S Club 7 suggestion was the birthday girl's guilty pleasure.

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Question: Have you heard of Vibro Gym?

Apparently it's this amazing machine that makes your body vibrate and you lose inches instantaneously. My friend's been going on her lunch break.  I asked whether she actually ate her lunch whilst on the Vibro gym, but you only go on for 10 minutes, so there's enough time to do both.  I had visions of soggy lettuce and tomato flying everywhere.  I think I might try it.

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Question: Can you put screen printed wallpaper in a bathroom?

I went to Sunderland Uni's Foundation show last night and was ridiculously impressed by the quality of the student's work.  I was asked this question by someone planning on buying one of the student's hand screen printed wallpaper from her show.  I couldn't answer for certain, so if any printer friends know the answer or of a protective spray/best ink to use etc, please let me know and I'll pass it on!

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Question: Are you coming on Friday?

Well, I've made it to double figures on the Question Project!

Today I was reminded of this Friday's plans to go to a lovely Clothes Swap party at a friends. I have got lots of my favourite material scanned in from previous projects, so thought it the perfect excuse to make use of them again!

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Question: How many sheets do you want love?

I was in Chester le Street this morning measuring up some space for an exhibition and was killing time between venues when I spotted the outdoor market getting set up.  I spotted this amazing wrapping paper, asked how much it was, '20p a sheet'. I had a pound left in my purse and blew the lot. The colour combination is so tasty.

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Question: Would you like a chocolate mousse?

Bit of a silly question to ask me really, I think we all know what the answer was...

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Question: Oh! Has he got a Teardrop?

Running slightly behind with Sunday's Question as I was at a lovely meal until late hosted by the amazing Lara Robinson of Set of Drawers.  She also happens to be caravan obsessed and got very excited at the mention of a teardrop, which until last night, I had no idea was a type of caravan, or possibly a dream 'Laravan', as Lara might say.

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Question: Have you got your glow stick?

I so wish the answer was Yes, but alas I never managed to get my hands on one.  I've been helping at Northern Print tonight for the Late Shows and used a photo of the colourful ink covered board at the end of the night to make my letters.  Its no fun being glowstickless on a saturday night.

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Question: Have you planned out your route for the weekend's after hours fun?

I sort of wanted to keep the context of this question vague, as it's quite intriguing out of context, but seeing as it is Friday and the start of The (crackingly good) Late Shows, I thought it was only fitting to give you a clue. 

A tweet question from @thelateshows themselves prompted me to get out the old letraset and respond in a 'Question Project' kind of way! Although I did snap about 5 pencils in the process, Letraset, you gotta love it.

You can click on it to see it a bit bigger

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Question: 'scuse me, ha' yer got the time?*

*to be said in your best geordie accent

On my way home from town on the number one bus, I was happily minding my own business when this question shot out at me from the other side of the bus, complete with the 'tapping imaginary watch on the wrist' action.  After scrambling round to find my phone to complete my task (I don't wear a watch), I decided it was the perfect distraction to the rest of my journey, and got my notebook out there and then. I then took a quick phone photo on the bus seat and went back to staring out the window.

Subsequently, its more of a sketchy one today.

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Question: If you had your bumhole showing, would you show your face as well?

Questions of this ilk were flowing thick and fast this evening and it was hard to choose which one to go for to be honest. Some might say a slightly risqué choice, but in the spirit of this project, I do want to pick my favourite question of the day and this certainly was an interesting debate... Many thanks to the lovely Mr White and Miss Corkhill for their goldmine of conversational topics.

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Question: Where do you fancy for lunch Thursday Any ideas?

Day 2 has been a surprisingly sparse questions day, possibly because I was in the studio on my lonesome for the majority of it...However, I did get a lovely text which inspired a debate in my head of the best eatery to go to Pink Lane way.

Now all I have to do is decide where to eat!

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Question: We wouldn't want to miss the pet shop boys would we?

Hmm, wouldn't we??

Either way, this question provided a perfect start to my Question Project.  Here's hoping there's more of those sort of questions coming my way over the next month.

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I've been sitting at my studio thinking. Staring at my noticeboard for inspiration. And so far this is what I've come up with. 1. I'm itching to start a new project. 2. The old graphic design student in me would quite like it to be to do with type 3. I feel very guilty, as I abandoned my last blog pretty much as soon as I started it.