In the neighborhood

I’m getting ready for the Direction print show in New York. This means generating lots of new spring prints which is what the buyers at this show will be looking for. I recently finished the print I’m featuring today called in the hood. I tried to squeeze in a few of my favorites: funky buildings, rain shower, a roundabout, a plane off to who knows where, my cursive handwriting and a colorful stripe. It’s a bit wacky but fun.

Festive Patterns

So... Hope we all made it through Christmas.  It's always a wonderful time and yet always a bit of a relief for me to have over.  Today I wanted to share a scattering of festive patterns I painted in my sketchbook.  I scanned them in cropped out section & placed them on the white ground.

Any favorites?  Think mine are 5 & 8.

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Wishing you & yours a Merry Christmas.

Shhhhh....Do you hear the reindeer?

Winter Garlands

Greetings,  Hope everyone is able to start the Holiday wined down for a nice change of pace.  I still have so many fun Christmas illustrations, prints & product that I may have to double up the images or save some for next year.  Today I thought I'd show the winter garlands I made for The Land of Nod.  I started with sketches, I moved on to fabric mock- ups & special instructions for the vendor. Finally, they come to life in the catalog.  When I design I think what would I like to see, how can a add a little surprise, is there a way to give it a sense of humor? We have both the mittens hanging at the studio & the trees hanging at home.  They really brighten up a room.  I have 1,000. garland ideas so more to come.

Happy Chanukah!

Hello... as Christmas draws closer I don't want to neglect all those who celebrate Chanukah. The last couple years I've worked on some special projects for this holiday.  I didn't know nearly as much as I should about Chanukah but have loved learning more about the festival of lights.  Today I'm posting the Hanukkah place-mat & Countdown calendar I made for the Land of Nod.  I just wrapped up a book for Scholastic called Don't Open Until Chanukah (notice it's not me this time each company had me spell the holiday a different way?)  I'll post some spreads from the book next year once it's out.  In the meantime Happy Chanukah & enjoy the art.  I was really pleased with the place-mat to me it feels like quality family time.  We all need a bit of that right?

Festive Friends

Greetings.... Hope everyone has had a good week.  Today I thought I'd share a seasonal fabric collage piece.  I like to think of this bunch as festive friends.  Each square focuses on a different seasonal activity.   When I build characters I like to think about the life they could have.  The dog & cat carolers were only pulled there friendship together for one night, while the sowing fox has been at it for years & can not only sow but knit & is fluent in japanese.  Angelic froggy really is that good while super shopping bunny has a bit of a gambling addiction.  Good or bad this somehow makes them seem a little more real to me.

Skating in the City

Today I'm posting my Holiday City scene place mat for The Land of Nod.  It can be personalized ever so subtly in the tree area.  I've not been ice skating yet this year but it's on my winter To Do list.  (that & making homemade marshmallow which I'm planning next week)  Like all my art I've tried my best to pack it full of little areas to get lost in.