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Competent Communicator! July 27, 2010

I was a guest speaker last week for the fabulous Victoria Jamieson during her Children's Book Intensive, at  PNCA. The students were friendly, everyone was patient and attentiive and asked brilliant questions. And get this, I actually had fun. A lot of fun. 

If only you could peek inside my brain and see how far I've come in the speaking-in-front-of-people department, you would stand up and give a little cheer. Or, at the very least, a tiny high five. 

Just a year or two before The Secret Circus came out, the thought of getting up in front of a group of folks and speaking for an hour, (an HOUR), was unthinkable. Totally impossible, like eating fourteen saltines in a minute.

Slowly but surely, when more and more bookish opportunities started popping up, public speaking became something for me to consider. I started doing events, and did just fine when it was just kids. But once a few adults were in the mix,  I transformed into a sweaty and nervous ferret with a shaky voice. 

Me and my sweaty-public-speaking-ferrett ways have come a  long way over the last two years, and I have the fine folks at Toastmasters, to thank for it. For those of you who don't know what Toastmasters is, you can read more about it right here. Basically, it's a really supportive and gentle place to practice public speaking. You get better and better at talking by assuming different roles within the meeting every week, speaking spontaneously on different topics, working your way through various speech manuals, and being evaluated by others in the group. 

As a matter-o-fact, a few weeks ago I actually finished my first Toastmaster's manual, and got a signed certificate that said I was a Competent Communicator.  Me! ME! A Competent Communicator. Yes! 

How many times in your adult life do you get a certificate for something big and scary that you've faced and become better at? Not many, my friends. Not many. 

So here's the thing, I want to make you a certificate, for anything at all. Seriously. Email me your achievement and mailing address, and I'll make a special certificate just for you. You can hang it on your fridge, or wave it in the air, or stuff it in a scrap book, or recycle it with your cereal boxes. Whatever you want! You deserve it!

Happy last days of July!

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the ocean floor July 16, 2010

At last, the new Ocean Floor album! I'm so thrilled to share this with you guys. The Ocean Floor is such a special band, I was lucky enough to do their cd art last year, (as soon as I get my brain together, I'll update my artwork section with these cd images, and more...)

Lucky me, I got to do the artwork for their new vinyl release as well, (gorgeous, gorgeous!) It just hit the world the other day (images courtesy of their label, Electricity and Lust) This record has been getting a lot of listens around our house. Stunning music. I love it.

You can read an interview with Lane, from The Ocean Floor talking about this vinyl release, and more...right here.

I first met Lane, at The Funky Church, when Hanner opened for the Ocean Floor, way back when. (Remember my little music project, Hanner? Oh yeah, that. New Hanner tunes are actually going to be recorded in the next few weeks, can you believe it? After all these years?) I loved The Ocean Floor set so much, and was really excited to play another show or two with them along the way. And happier still, to make art for this record.

Have a great weekend!

 

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etsy store July 14, 2010

The link to my etsy store is temporarily hidden, while a certain handsome and lovable tech guy spruces up the page.

In the meantime, you can make your way to my etsy page, right here. 

 

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Proofs! July 08, 2010

Back from Chicago land! It was so great to hang with Gabe's family, swim and swim some more, and enjoy the real summer weather. We've been having a very limp, wet, summer up until now in Portland land, but all of that seems to have changed in a matter of seconds.

Now we are in full on heat wave mode, and I'm hunkered down with my work stuff, a freezer full of frozen blueberries, and a dutiful window fan. A pretty good combo. I've been drinking water like a crazy person, a plan that surely backfired on me last night when I had to get up to pee six times. Six! More info than you would care to have about my bladder, but there we are...

Now, on to some business items! And what do we have here? What is this spooky hand doing? Looking through the proofs for my new book, Bandits (Roaring Brook, Spring 2011)! Oh happy day! I actually received these before we went to Chicago, but didn't have time to shout about them before we left. 

There is something absolutely spine tingling and mesmerizing about seeing the hard work of a picture book, come to life. And, also slightly terrifying. It's a good kind of fear..it reminds me of the feelings I have about becoming a mom. Weird how things like that all get tied together, creative projects and the building excitement of what lies ahead....

 

 

 

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art and the vineyard July 01, 2010

 

 

I'm on vacation in Chicago land at the moment, but I wanted to share some exciting news!

The annual Art in the Vineyard festival is happening this weekend in Eugene, Oregon. It's a three day celebration of (you guessed it!) wine and local art. Oh, but so much more. I loved going to it as a kid, and as an adult.

They have plenty of live music, yummy food, book signings, and so many awesome things to peruse in bare feet (or shoes), right along the Willamette River. Lovely, lovely. Anyhoo...the image that you see promoting the festival this year, is a painting I did called, "Green Tree Party." I think there are even going to be t-shirts and prints for sale with that image on them, at the Maude Kerns booth. Yahooza!

And by a great timing coincidence, the 'Green Tree Party' image has been appearing in other mysterious places that I can't wait to share with you. More soon, happy 4th of July weekend!

 

 

 

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so long, spring June 22, 2010

Before you roll your eyes at yet another photo montage, please know that I've been sick in bed for the last two days with an icky stomach flu that I'm pretty sure I caught from a menacing chipmunk when I was camping, (not really...just a mysterious ickiness of some kind.)

Oh, but the flu is going away and I'm returning to the world of the living, only long enough to tell you all that it's officially summer, and I was an incredibly busy and lucky lady this spring. I haven't even mentioned half of the adventures I've been dabbling in over the last few months..camping, beach trips, more beach trips, friends, dance parties, airplanes, yurts, tents, dinners, hikes, campfires, speeches, work stuff...it's all a blur.

So, here is a photo montage of just a sprinkling of the fun times and good company. I'll post new art soonish, but for now... I'm off to slurp some chicken soup.

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The middle of June? June 16, 2010

Eeks! It's June already and the days are just piling up on top of each other. In a good way. I've been finishing up lots of loose projects and custom pieces, trying to get as much done as possible before the wee baby arrives in the fall.

(I'll be finishing up the last of my custom paintings by August 31st, peoples. The end of an era! I have loved and appreciated your requests VERY much over the years. For anyone I've had the pleasure to work with, thank you! Onwards and upwards..) 

In bookish news, I'm starting production on Rabbits on Skates (Roaring Brook Press)! Yahoo! It looks like that one might just be released in 2012, and I am super duper excited about it! This is actually the first picture book of mine that ever sold, so it's near and dear to my heart. 

I'm also going to start on Bonnie O' Boy Rides a Bike (Dial, 2012) in the next month or so, and I'm really, really, really, (really)  thrilled about that as well. I had the best time hanging with Jessica Garrison and Jenny (amazing editor and fabulous book designer) from Dial, when I was in New York. 

And I STILL have some super exciting book news that I haven't been able to share with you yet. But, alas, secrets must be kept. Good secrets! I LOVE good secrets!! And I kind of hate them. They are, (after all), really hard to keep...

More soon.

 

 

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New Work June 06, 2010

New paintings are up at the Bethel Street Gallery and the Peggy Chun Gallery in Honolulu!

 

 

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home again/interview May 25, 2010

Home from New York! I had a fantastic trip. Being back there felt like slipping on a really old, worn pair of shoes. And I mean that in the best way possible. New York is such a special place to me, for a million reasons.  I feel sometimes, like it's an actual person that I go back to visit...someone that has seen me at my best and worst! So it's easy to be myself there, and I love that about New York. 

I was lucky enough to spend time with lots of old friends while I was away, (sorry to those I didn't get a chance to see..) along with the fantastic folks at Roaring Brook Press, and Dial Books. Also, my amazing super hero agent, James Proimos, who was kind enough to take time away from his farm in Baltimore to come to NYC and hang at some fun editor meetings with me. So much love! Amazing. I can't believe this is my life sometimes....

I have lots of good book news that I'm bursting to share, but I have to contain myself a little bit longer. Sorry to tease, but there we are.

One more thing! The lovely Jenn over at the Mixed Up Files, posted a studio peek and interview of yours truly, yesterday. You can check it out, right here. Thanks, Jenn!

 

 

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nyc May 19, 2010

 

I've been strangely quiet on this blog this week, because I'm in NYC! A whirlwind last minute trip, filled with old friends, work stuff, and more soft serve ice cream than I would care to remember. I'm heading back to Portland tomorrow with lots of good news and tired feet. 

 

 

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