Crafty Wonderland on Sunday! December 10, 2009

I'm going to be at the Crafty Wonderland Super Colossal Holiday Sale on Sunday! Come on by and take a peek at all of the wonderful vendors! I'll be in booth 24.

Gabe and I are in the middle of packing right now, so there will be no studio visits this month for friendly folks (sorry!). I really recommend coming to the Crafty Wonderland event if you have emailed me about seeing artwork in person. I will have a big stack of books that I'll be signing and selling, so if you want to get one directly from me, this would be the place to do it. And of course I'll also have minis and prints for sale, and some bigger pieces too!

This sale is BIG, and it takes place in the Oregon Convention Center, NOT the Doug Fir so it can comfortably hold everyone. Last year was super fun, and there was plenty of room to walk around.

Hope to see you there!

The New York Times December 06, 2009

The Secret Circus was reviewed in the New York Times Sunday Book Review!!!

I don't even know what to say. Let me just begin by telling you all, that I was so shocked when I found out about this on Saturday, that I spent a long time just staring at the words of the review without being able to make sense of them. Luckily, I have since regained my ability to read, but my giddy and surreal happiness, remains...

New York Times/The Secret Circus

Holiday Stuff December 03, 2009

"Bikes, Bikes, Bikes" available on etsy.

A bit later than I had hoped, but the new stuff is up in my etsy store. Happy holidays!

Drumroll please... November 30, 2009

Ok, here is the big exciting news!

We bought a house! We bought house! I can't believe it, but Gabe and I are very nearly, home owners. I've been bursting to tell the world about this for weeks and weeks and weeks, but there have been so many hurdles and unknowns along the way. I just wasn't sure if it was all going to work out or not, right up to the end. 

I think we are close enough now, that it's safe for me to finally spill the beans. Hurrah! We are so happy and  extremely grateful and excited about it. (A wee bit scared, too...)

If all goes well, we will be signing stacks of papers tomorrow to make it official. I'll be sure to post some real pictures as soon as we get the keys...(!!!)

In other news, I'm going to be uploading a bunch of new mini paintings and such to my etsy store, on Wednesday. I'll be sending out a mass email when I do. So for anyone who hasn't signed up for my mailing list and would like to receive (sporadic) art and book updates,  please do! 

Gobble, gobble November 23, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Gabe and I are going to be celebrating close to Portland this season. We are about to do something very big and exciting that I hope I get to share with you, (finally!) next Monday.

Have a wonderful holiday!

Three cheers and crossed fingers! November 17, 2009

Thanks again for making this such a special week. I really appreciate all of your emails and kind words!

There are a lot of well deserved awards that seem to be floating around in the children's book world this week, and I want to share some of the love.

Congratulations to Brian Floca! His fantastico book, Moonshot was one of ten books that recently appeared on the NY Times Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2009! I was so thrilled to see this great news. I took a really fabulous children's book writing and illustrating class with Brian at SVA, many years ago. He is such a talented, hard working author and illustrator, and Moonshot is one heck of a book! Go! Purchase!

Also, Portland friends Jim Di Bortolo and Laini Taylor's new book, Lips Touch Three Times, is a National Book Award finalist! This is such a stunning book all around. Both the writing and the illustrations, are amazing. There was a recent article about Jim and Laini in the Oregonian, that you can read right here.  Jim and Laini and baby Clementine are off eating pizza and cupcakes in New York at the moment (and doing lots of National Book Award events too, and important work related things, I'd imagine..)  All of my fingers and toes are crossed for the NBA announcement tomorrow night.

And lastly, you might be wondering what the heck these pictures (posted above ) are all about. A former teacher of mine, kindly sent these to me the other day, after watching the OPB broadcast. I think I was in, 4th grade? This particular class only met once a week, and it was so special to me.  But I'm not totally sure why I have my shoe on my desk, and seem to be writing with extreme fervor in one of the photos. Also, if you lean in close, you can check out the awesome bowl hairdo and ginormous 80's glasses that I'm sporting!  And the Cosby sweater. Boy did I love those Cosby sweaters back then. Still do, come to think of it...

Congratulations again, children's book peeps!

OPB November 06, 2009

The Art Beat segment is online! Thank you to everyone who saw it last night, and for all of your kind emails! Wow. I feel like such a super lucky lady!

You can watch the segment RIGHT HERE. It will also be repeating on Sunday at 6pm on OPB.

Oregon Art Beat! November 03, 2009

For those of you in Oregon and Western Washington, you can see me in an episode of Art Beat on Thursday, November 5th, at 8pm on OPB. It will be repeating on Sunday, November 8th, at 6pm. Yahoo!

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Last spring, a fantabulous crew from OPB (Oregon Public Broadcasting) followed me around, and filmed me doing all kinds of arty and children's book type things.

On the day of the filming, we spent some time at the Hawthorne Family Playschool, where I read from The Secret Circus and talked with the preschoolers about the illustration process for the book. My sister loaned me a tiny mouse puppet who did most of the talking (in a French accent, being a French mouse and all...) Thank you HFP for hosting us, and for being so welcoming!

After the Hawthorne Family Playschool, the OPB crew and myself, caravanned to my writer's group, where we were met by children's book writer, Sharee Chapman, and children's book writer, Rick Huddle. OPB filmed us having our regular bi-weekly group meeting, where we talked about new work, and gave each other feedback. Writing and illustrating can be such a solitary thing, and I feel so lucky to have Rick and Sharee on my team.

The last stop for the OPB crew, was my studio. I spent some time working on some new projects and paintings, and chatting with the Art Beat folks about it all.

It was a pretty remarkable day, and I felt really lucky to be in such great company.

That day of filming feels like a long time ago, so  I can't really describe how surreal it was last night to be flipping channels and to see myself on a tv commercial for the show! OPB has been airing promos this week for Thursday's episode. You can read more about the show (and see the other fabulous folks whose segments will be airing as well), right here.

I'll post a link of the episode when it appears online, so folks that aren't in the area that would like to see it, can! Hurrah!

Country Pleasures November 03, 2009

Well, I have the pleasure of having my artwork on the anniversary issue of Country Pleasures, this month. Hurrah!  Pick one up when you're out and about. It will inspire you to do all kinds of crafty and cozy things...from quilting to apple bobbing. Well, I can't guarantee that it will make you feel like apple bobbing. But one can hope... 

New York Stores October 27, 2009

I have paintings for sale in two New York stores at the moment. Two lovely stores that I like very very much. Stop by if you get a chance!

Dig Og Mig (Manhattan)

Fuego 718 (Williamsburg, Brooklyn)