[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":11},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-post-garys-garden-launch":3},{"_type":4,"body":5,"bodyHtml":6,"excerpt":5,"featuredImage":5,"publishedAt":7,"slug":8,"tags":9,"title":10},"blogPost",null,"Last night the Fleece Station studio was out in force to celebrate the launch of \u003Ca href=\"http://www.garynorthfield.com\">Gary Northfield\u003C/a>'s new comic book, \u003Ca href=\"http://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/product/garys-garden-book-one/\">\u003Ci>\u003Cfont size=\"4\">Gary's Garden\u003C/i>\u003C/a>\u003C/font>! You may recognise \u003Ci>Gary's Garden\u003C/i> as a frequent strip in \u003Ca href=\"https://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/\">The Phoenix Comic\u003C/a>, one of the comics in there that the parents like as much as the kids do because it works on so many levels.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/garysgarden_fleecestation_zpsc4078922-e6fdd2ad09.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"http://www.elissaelwick.co.uk/\">Elissa Elwick\u003C/a> and I both wore \u003Cb>Chompy the Caterpillar\u003C/b>-themed garb. \u003Ci>Gary's Garden\u003C/i> makes the perfect prezzie for kids (say, 5+ with some help reading), adults who love nature and gardening, anyone who likes a good laugh. Buy it here a \u003Ca href=\"http://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/product/garys-garden-book-one/\">The Phoenix Comic online shop\u003C/a>! Gary works so hard on these comic strips, has such great drawing skills an perfectly pitched comic timing; we're all very proud of him. Look, \u003Ca href=\"http://www.whodunnknit.com/\">Lauren O'Farrell\u003C/a> (aka Deadly Knitshade) makes a perfect perch for \u003Cb>Bob the Butterfly\u003C/b>!\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/garysgarden_laurenbob_zpsfc6bc782-d90d5f96b3.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003C!--more Click here for lots more photos under the cut!-->\\r\nAnd here are the lovely Ficklings - \u003Cb>David and Caro\u003C/b> - who make it happen, at \u003Ca href=\"http://www.davidficklingbooks.com/NewsStory.php?item=198\">David Fickling Books\u003C/a>, based in Oxford. It was also great to see \u003Ci>Gary's Garden\u003C/i> amazing designer \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/wood_ness\">Ness Wood\u003C/a> (who also designed \u003Ci>Jampires\u003C/i>!), DFB's \u003Ca href=\"http://www.philearle.com/\">Phil Earle\u003C/a> and \u003Ca href=\"http://ccgi.millstream.plus.com/blog/\">John Dickinson\u003C/a>. \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/booksellercrow\">Jonathan Main\u003C/a> and \u003Cb>Justine Crow\u003C/b> of \u003Ca href=\"http://booksellercrow.co.uk/\">Bookseller Crow\u003C/a> in Crystal Palace hosted the party, and they've been great supporters of lots of our books, we love our indie. I love buying books from them, even online; they stock a great selection, including lots of beautiful graphic novels.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/garysgarden_ficklings_zpsb22f1b83-5b072bd62a.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nGary's sister, \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/susannah1968\">Susannah Northfield\u003C/a>, made the cake! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/garysgarden_cake_zpse09d1055-eb6bb93232.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n...Bits of which were consumed most elegantly by Gary and his partner \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/sillygirlIam\">Nicky Evans\u003C/a>.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/garysgarden_garynicky_zps3f99e757-5e09afa53b.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nSpeaking of elegance, just as David Fickling was giving his speech, a giant bird swooped down and placed a wafer upon his lips. We all bowed our heads for a moment of awed silence for this great book.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/garysgarden_davidf_zps6967d45b-43b983f7bf.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nGary made a big window display; here he is stage directing Nicky in setting it up.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/garysgarden_shopfront_zps96cf359d-00c7ae7104.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nThere were a couple other Phoenix Comic people present: the fabulous \u003Ca href=\"http://www.fumboo.com/\">Jamie Smart\u003C/a> (\u003Ci>\u003Ca href=\"http://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/product/bunny-vs-monkey-book-one/\">Bunny vs Monkey\u003C/i>\u003C/a>, \u003Cb>also out now as a book!\u003C/b>) and the excellent \u003Ca href=\"http://mattbaxter.org/\">Matt Baxter\u003C/a>, who creates the \u003Ci>\u003Cb>Live from HQ\u003C/i>\u003C/b> strip with the Phoenix comic-character editorial crew. I didn't manage to get a photo of Jamie, but here's Matt. And you can just spot illustrator and app-creator \u003Ca href=\"http://heatherkilgour.com/\">Heather Kilgour\u003C/a> over his shoulder! There were quite a few comics makers there that I didn't manage to photograph, including \u003Ca href=\"http://www.fabtoons.com/\">Francesca Cassavetti\u003C/a>. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/garysgarden_matt_baxter_zps32c28818-08001f2432.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nHee hee, another hat photo. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/garysgarden_sarahlauren_zps8c0e4257-3a218011da.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nThis Thursday (called 'Super Thursday' in publishing) was also the official publication date for my book with \u003Ca href=\"http://www.scribblehound.com\">David O'Connell\u003C/a>, \u003Ca href=\"http://www.jampires.com\">\u003Ci>Jampires\u003C/a>\u003C/i>, and wow, a couple of them showed up! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/bookseller_crow_jampires_zps7f34a8f6-1eacd3d9bb.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nIt was really Gary's night, but we had a happy mix of new creative stuff. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/bookseller_crow_jampires2_zpsbd843880-f57e46326e.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nI was very proud of my Chompy hat, made from a pencil case, foam balls and pipe cleaners from Poundland, some felt, a yoghurt pot and a coat hanger. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/garysgarden_hat_zps0e75ad89-adeb84f532.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nWhen creating Gary-themed characters, it's very important to get the wonky eyes right.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/milways_bakewelltart_zpsc7d04ef6-7354dc3e9e.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nBefore the launch, we went for a top-notch Afternoon Tea in \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/Alexmilway\">Alex Milway\u003C/a> and \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/shinykatie\">Katie Lee\u003C/a>'s garden (Gary lived with them for a couple years while he was working on \u003Ci>Gary's Garden\u003C/i>), and Dave and I brought along some of our local \u003Ca href=\"http://www.thebutchinstitute.co.uk/\">Butch Institute\u003C/a> Jampires-themed jam. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/milways_jampires_zps1f893053-da0c4c2d5f.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nHuge congratulations, Gary! \u003Ci>Gary's Garden\u003C/i> is amazing, and everyone, spread the word and help it fly off the shelves! And subscribe to \u003Ca href=\"https://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/\">The Phoenix Comic\u003C/a> for ongoing \u003Ci>Gary's Garden\u003C/i> goodness.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/milways_gary_zpsccb61c76-3648ff732f.jpg\">","2014-09-05T07:47:00.000Z","garys-garden-launch",[],"gary's garden launch!",1776628726799]