I work in a unique and inspirational museum, the only museum in the UK dedicated to the art of children’s literature. Every day I am surrounded by original manuscripts and artwork and it has rekindled a desire to draw and a resolve to draw something every day. So I draw faces. The rules are; no sketching, straight to paper with a bunch of fine liners or pencils and see what happens. Some take no more than five minutes, others a bit longer. However, these faces have evolved into pointy eared, sharp chinned elves and I try to post one up each day.
If you would like an elf created especially for you or you would like to be “elfed” leave a comment on this page. I’ll get doodling and link it up to your blog.
Ziggy Shortcrust Elf
Love Ziggy.
February 7th, 2012 at 11:06 pm
Oh, wow, Ziggy, would you really? On my blog, scillagrace.com, you can find a photo of my daughter at the faerie festival under the post title “27 Years Ago – my greatest adventure began”; it was posted on her birthday, Jan. 24. Would you do a 5 minute face of her as Tenebrous the Raven-haired? It’d be such a kick!
February 7th, 2012 at 11:35 pm
What a fabulous photo. I’ll get doodling.
February 12th, 2012 at 10:32 pm
Damn, I wish I could come up with something this cool in five minutes…. or even fifty minutes! Great drawings <3
February 12th, 2012 at 10:37 pm
Aw cheers. I often get carried away beyond the five minute deadline. But I like the name.
February 13th, 2012 at 1:53 pm
hi I love your blog! I’m glad you stopped by “My Other Creative Side” blog and liked mine! I have a different blog on my art website which I consider my main one, but on “my other creative side” I have been using it as a place to post recipes I make, poems I write etc. I’m trying to put together a collection of my poems and art to do a book for children. It must be great working in that museum. Can you tell me more about it or send me an email? I travel to England as my boyfriend lives there in Northumberland, where about’s are you? I’m in Buffalo New York area.
Nice to meet you,
Mary
February 13th, 2012 at 8:55 pm
Hello Mary. Yes working in a museum dedicated to the art of children’s books is a dream job for me. Seven Stories is in Newcastle, Tyne and Wear which is the county directly south of Northumberland. There is a link to the website in the “About” page on this blog.
February 14th, 2012 at 6:32 pm
Lovely idea (and oh my, I must try to visit the museum on our upcoming travels). If you’ll draw me a face I’ll return the favor!
February 14th, 2012 at 6:38 pm
I have just discovered your blog and I love it. I’d be delighted to draw an elf for you. Have you anything in mind?
February 14th, 2012 at 6:43 pm
Thank you!! Cat ears would be wonderful.
February 14th, 2012 at 6:44 pm
I’ll get doodling
February 16th, 2012 at 8:49 pm
As a fellow five minute caricature fan, pls send an EGG elf to faceonmyegg.wordpress.com and we will post it with our compliments – fun work! thanks for sharing.
February 16th, 2012 at 10:03 pm
An Egg Elf. Brillian!t
February 27th, 2012 at 5:21 pm
Wow that’s fantastic! You have a great talent
February 27th, 2012 at 5:34 pm
Aww thank you Becky.
February 28th, 2012 at 12:00 am
Would love to see an “mj elf” doodle, my new friend!
February 28th, 2012 at 7:20 am
That’s brilliant. I’ll get doodling.
February 28th, 2012 at 12:42 am
This is a very cool idea! I think I’ll try it! Thanks so much for commenting on my blog today! And I’m happy to have found you. I love your fine liner drawings!! Your job sounds absolutely fabulous! There are a couple of UK children’s book illustrators who’s blogs I follow: Vanessa Cabban and Julia Crossland. Wonderful artists!
February 28th, 2012 at 7:23 am
Thank you. Good to have found you too. I love your illustrations.
March 1st, 2012 at 8:17 pm
I love your faces–beautiful and so much fun.
March 1st, 2012 at 8:22 pm
Oh thank you, that’s so kind.
March 5th, 2012 at 4:09 pm
These are so sweet!
I wonder… do you ever draw animals as five minute elven faces? …horses specifically?
Also, I was curious if you had heard of Patience Brewster? http://www.patiencebrewster.com/
She’s a family friend and incredible elfish-artist to boot! I found your enchanting drawings/subject matter in a similar vein to hers.
March 5th, 2012 at 4:17 pm
Cat elf is the closest I’ve got to animal elves. Although some do look decidedly horsey. I hadn’t heard of Patience Brewster so thank you for the link. Had a quick look; her work is delightful.
March 7th, 2012 at 6:56 pm
Meeeee please I want to be elf (ed). Pretty please!
March 7th, 2012 at 7:22 pm
I would be delighted to do an Alex elf. Shall I use the photo on your “about me” page?
March 7th, 2012 at 7:31 pm
No let me send you another
thank you xxxx
March 7th, 2012 at 7:33 pm
Actually I forgot I had that picture there! yes please use that one! I only got introduced to your blog today and I love it!
March 7th, 2012 at 8:20 pm
You are too kind. One Alex elf coming up
March 8th, 2012 at 1:49 am
I cant wait to see more of your factional characters! Your site is a delight, if an elf for me, then a cartoon for you, it would only be right. Thanks for stopping by my site Z.S.!
March 8th, 2012 at 6:17 am
Thank you for your kind comment. A “Rob Elf” it is.
March 8th, 2012 at 11:44 pm
I would like an elf, please.
http://chezlilly.wordpress.com/
March 9th, 2012 at 6:38 am
Oooh a daffodil elf would be great. I’ll get doodling
March 12th, 2012 at 10:23 am
March 12th, 2012 at 8:59 pm
I’d love a sketch of me as an elf!
March 12th, 2012 at 10:09 pm
I’ll get doodling Tara.
March 13th, 2012 at 12:49 pm
I’d love it if you create a elf out of me! Actually as a child I used to have really short hair and was told I had a bit of an elf-ish look
Would also really like to chat to you about children’s creativity and Seven Stories…
March 17th, 2012 at 12:00 am
Hi Rose, consider yourself “elfed.”
March 24th, 2012 at 12:23 pm
Thanks so much Cathy! I love ‘Rose Elf’, especially the flower in her hair, very whimsical. I have blogged about her (and you) here if you fancy popping over
http://www.mydesignmade.com/blog/read_49086/creating-character.html
March 17th, 2012 at 11:52 am
You have such a dream job! How lucky! And lucky me to find your blog today. Very good!
March 17th, 2012 at 9:56 pm
Aw thank you. Yes the museum is an inspirational place.
March 21st, 2012 at 10:20 pm
Oh me, me can I be an elf? Pretty please? I wrote children’s picture book and eBook LUCCI THE NO SMOOCHIE POOCHIE, and i bet if you drew me as a little pointy-chinned elf, I’d look just like him! Thanks for your kind consideration Ziggy! You really do have a terrific job!
March 22nd, 2012 at 9:45 pm
Of course you can be a pointy chinned elf Donna. I’ll get right on to it
March 22nd, 2012 at 9:58 pm
I am so excited that I can’t even contain myself!
)) Thank you so much Ziggy for making me one of your ‘Elf’ subjects. I’d be happy to gift a copy of LUCCI in return, so if you email me your email, I’ll get right on it as well. Perhaps there’s a little kiddle in your life that will love it. You made my day!
April 3rd, 2012 at 10:30 am
That sounds like an awesome place to work! I wish I could draw a cool lookin’ elf like that in 5 minutes! You’re awesome!
April 6th, 2012 at 2:20 pm
What a fantastic idea and so great that you’re pursuing it! Keep up the incredible work!
April 16th, 2012 at 7:30 pm
Thank you for stopping by and being my first commenter today! I’m bowled over that you draw, love a good brew, have a gorgeous camper van and work in a children’s literature museum. I also draw (drew), and love tea…but I have an imaginary child in an imaginary camper van, for whom I have secretly started a stash of real children’s books whose beautiful illustrations and stories I fell in love with! Please could you elf my imaginary child? I’d love to feature you on my blog too if I may.
April 16th, 2012 at 7:35 pm
I would absolutely love to draw an Elf Child. I’ll get doodling.
April 16th, 2012 at 8:02 pm
Thank you! I can’t wait
April 17th, 2012 at 7:15 pm
Thanks for visiting my site…your drawings are elftastic!
April 17th, 2012 at 7:32 pm
He he, thank you.
June 10th, 2012 at 8:27 pm
An elf in the camper van? I can’t remember where we went but it was an experience. Not long after you’d enthused how you had your dream form of transport. I thought I saw Sunny in Yorkshire last week but couldn’t see you?
June 10th, 2012 at 8:30 pm
I was in Yorkshire last week! I went to visit my Mum who lives near Scarborough
June 10th, 2012 at 8:34 pm
And an elf in a campervan. What a brilliant idea. One coming up
June 10th, 2012 at 9:07 pm
We were at Fountains – Sunny has a twin! Now that’s something to conjure with….
June 10th, 2012 at 9:09 pm
Two Sunny’s!
June 16th, 2012 at 9:59 pm
Hello! Just wanted to say that your blog is amazing and the elf doodles you do are just great! Do you mind doodling one for me? You can find loads of “self portraits” of me on my blog: http://jniggelart.wordpress.com/. I’ll return the favor!
Btw. working in a museum must be super fun! I love museums!
Have a good one!
June 16th, 2012 at 10:01 pm
Thank you so much. Consider yourself “elfed”
I’ll get doodling.
June 16th, 2012 at 11:13 pm
Thanks!
June 23rd, 2012 at 9:09 am
Hi Ziggy – you KNOW i want to be elfed!!!
June 23rd, 2012 at 3:43 pm
I’m on to it !
June 23rd, 2012 at 11:12 pm
Thanks! you’re a lovely girl elf
July 9th, 2012 at 3:31 pm
I have dispatched an invisible gift to your address, and it should reach you anytime now. But since it’s invisible, you might have some difficulties enjoying it.
In return I would like to ask you to doodle something based on the photo I have here: http://en.gravatar.com/vincentmars.
I would be forever grateful, and I might send you one more invisible gift.
I tip my hat to you.
July 9th, 2012 at 6:58 pm
Vincent, I would be delighted create an image for you from your photo.
September 12th, 2012 at 10:15 am
Oh how odd that I haven’t seen your very own Ziggyshortcrust elf.. enchanting my dear
September 12th, 2012 at 10:16 am
Thank you
October 12th, 2012 at 10:53 am
[...] to discover than first meets the eye. For a start, she elfed my imaginary daughter for me. Just check this out to see what I’m talking about for [...]
January 19th, 2013 at 5:30 am
Really? I can get my own elf? This is awesome. May I, please?
January 19th, 2013 at 9:22 am
Would you like a particular kind of elf or would you like to be “elfed”?
January 20th, 2013 at 12:42 am
Very good question. Both options are so awesome I’m having a hard time deciding…
What kind of elves are there?
January 20th, 2013 at 8:18 am
What kind of elves? Bad and very bad
What about a Swing elf? A Lindy Hop dancing elf?
January 20th, 2013 at 8:43 am
ooooooooooooooooh, that would be amazing! Yes, let’s do that
January 20th, 2013 at 10:27 am
We like 40′s and 50′s vintage swing in this house. This will be so much fun to do
January 20th, 2013 at 10:40 am
Awesome! I like all vintage dances from the 10′s, 20′s, 30′s and 40′s. And or course, I’m crazy about vintage fashion too
January 20th, 2013 at 12:39 pm
Yes, love vintage fashion. i enjoy collecting vintage items for the campervan too.
January 23rd, 2013 at 4:55 pm
Your illustrations fill me with a sense of joyful lightness and dreamy delight..like being sprinkled with fairy dust. Love it Ziggy
January 23rd, 2013 at 7:23 pm
What a lovely thing to say. You make my little doodles sound good enough to eat. Thank you
February 23rd, 2013 at 9:13 pm
I love your blog & illustrations Ziggy. Your elves might light like a peek into my Garden Fairy’s Wardrobe – http://petalandpins.com
February 23rd, 2013 at 9:18 pm
Oh my goodness, your petal dresses are gorgeous.
February 23rd, 2013 at 9:20 pm
Thank you
February 25th, 2013 at 3:44 pm
I’d love my own elf to
My picture can be found on my contact page 
Your site is AMAZING
February 25th, 2013 at 9:19 pm
Oh thank you. You’re too kind. I’ll get doodling.
February 25th, 2013 at 10:47 pm
Thanks a million Ziggy – Your AMAZING
If you have free time to do a online interview for my blog that’d be cool to!
February 25th, 2013 at 10:51 pm
Wow! I would be honoured.
February 25th, 2013 at 10:53 pm
Yay, Im excited, I’ll write one up for you now and I’ll send it to your email at ziggy.stardust@gmail.com You should get it later today!! Super awesome
February 25th, 2013 at 10:56 pm
Fabulous. I’m Shortcrust not Stardust though. Mr Bowie might take offence
February 25th, 2013 at 11:01 pm
Sincere apologies, I think your drawings made my mind go through wonderland and think of stardust whilst I was writing
but alongside your blog, ziggy.stardust is an awesome name to. That’s funny.. 
You might like the David Bowie movie “Labyrinth (1986)”
February 26th, 2013 at 8:27 am
I do like Labyrinth. Sadly, I am old enough to have gone to the cinema to see it when it first came out
February 25th, 2013 at 11:24 pm
I sent you the interview just then, I hope you’ll like it!
February 26th, 2013 at 8:28 am
Received it
March 13th, 2013 at 12:40 pm
[...] Isn’t he handsome? At the start of January Ziggy decided to write a letter a day with an Elf to revive the art of letter writing. If you would like your own Elf from Ziggy then go here. [...]