It's a bright sparkly new year - and already I have to start with an apology! I know I said I would try to put some little 'gifts' up on the blog over the twelve days (and here we are on day twelve without so much as a Christmas doughnut!).
I do have an excuse. I was laid up with one of the many Christmas lurgi bugs that are doing the rounds at the moment - so I wasn't full of Christmas cheer; more like Christmas congestion!
Anywho, I'm back for a year of vintage Puffinalia that sees the first new Puffin Post on the doormats of new young puffineers, eagerly ripping those membership boxes open to savour the contents (including their own fuzzy puffin).
Things may seem bleak out there at the moment, but it is warming to remember that the powercuts and financial worries that accompanied the winter of discontent all those years ago also had it's Puffin Club to give an identity to the avid readers of the 70's. Maybe not a lot has changed after all!
To make up for not posting the promised goodies over the festive season, please accept this offering:
This is the cover to Puffin Post Volume 14 No 3 - Voted the best Jill McDonald cover by Puffineers following her death. It is very lovely!
The second place by only two votes was Volume 8 No 2 - which I have already posted, followed by Volume 3 No 2 (which will follow, I promise, I promise, I promise).
For those that may be interested, Jill painted 219 puffins on the covers of Puffin Post in total (though I hesitate to collate the total for the contents as well (should one include reprints?!).
Here's the old members book that remained pretty unchanged for the whole original clubs existence. Two founder membership cards have a similar look to them in blue and pink.
Isn't he super! I've still got a a pile of these to post - hope you enjoy them.
And here is the 80's answer.
This is an example of the badges that followed Jill's death - The work is very slick, and obviously follows Jill's example, but it doesn't quite reach me in the same way. If you are the illustrator, please don't take offense! I'm a big fan of Jill's work, and I may be a bit blinkered.
This is the cover to Puffin Post Volume 14 No 3 - Voted the best Jill McDonald cover by Puffineers following her death. It is very lovely!
This cover has always been one of my favorites. It has been said to me that Jill McDonalds work has something of the stained glass window about it - and I think this is particularly true of this picture. If I can find some time away from the kids over Christmas, I will post some little bonus pictures to raise a smile.
Here is the promised back cover. It's a lovely composition by itself - and that is how I think it should be seen.
Ho ho hum! Here is the first of the Christmasy (!?) covers/pictures for this season. I know that this Raymond Briggs cover is one of the big favorites. Many puffineers remember this as having a wrap-around cover - but I'm afraid it didn't! The perspective just doesn't line up - It's still very nice though!! I will post the back cover and a mini spread to prove the point.
