1, 2, Cha, Cha, Cha

Dancing my way into 2020!

Wish I had those starry boots.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hello, World!

Over the last couple years I've been busy writing & illustrating a board book

series for toddlers called Hello, World!  This series has been such a gift.

I've learned some basic information around science & nature & then I get to boil it down some & draw pictures to further tell the story.  The best part is when I see the books in stores- better yet in hands of young readers! (like I said... what a gift)

Writing is something I was terrified to try.  I'm dyslexic & writing just doesn't go well with me- or at least I thought.  My ideas are good but the transcribing can be a mess.  I decided to take a chance & give it a try.  It takes me a long time to get the words down, there has got to be complete silence and usually a stomach ache, always self doubt, an overwhelming feeling when I look at a pile of words I'm linking together but, I've worked through it.

 I'm currently working on my 17th book in this series.  So I've proven to myself

I CAN WRITE! (of coarse with help from a good editor)

I'm sharing this with you because I'm proud to have taken a chance & as the 

year draws to a close it feels good to take stock of what you've accomplished

& gratefully gear up for what's next.

*Author of my own life.

CHEERS!

You did it!

Some awards for crushing the holiday season- some years that

is no easy feat!

(well done)

How will you get there?

One day late but no less sincere- 

Merry Christmas to you & yours!

Hanukkah

Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah a festival of lights set against

a backdrop of painted blues.

Let it grow,

let it grow, let it grow!

(grow over snow my kind of December)

What to do when it's really cold outside?

Make a batch of mulled wine!  It'll keep you warm & toasty with or without the booze.

Here you go!

(I got you:)

Holidays on Ice

Slipping & sliding my way through the season!

Something so charming about an outdoor ice rink.

Something different

Floral jewels on a mossy green background.  Sometimes it's nice to have something festive this time of year without it screaming Christmas.

Holiday decisions...

which one?

We have a fake tree we put up each year.

It's not as much fun as picking the perfect pine 

but, I feel better about it.

Technicolor Christmas Village

Made with gouache, cut paper, colored pencil & lots of holiday cheer!

Friday is on the nice list....

  hope you have a great one!

Buckle up–

The holiday season has begun!

Let the caroling begin....

on land & sea!

Do you have a favorite holiday tune?

If I'm feeling melancholy I go for Silent Night if I'm in the 

mood for festive fun it's Deck the Halls.

Time to Deck the Halls

I wait until December then...

I let the holiday decorating BEGIN!

Happy Thanksgiving

Wherever you ended up today I hope you felt loved.

November

                                                 
                                                     Mark making in blues and tans.

Paired with some painted birds in my sketchbook.

They seem to work well together.

Planning Pies

A few of the pies I will be busy baking in just a couple days.

I enjoy making them but, have a hard time following a recipe.

A nice reminder....

That it's not Christmas yet.

The jump on the holiday season is a bit much!

Every year it eagerly creeps in a bit sooner.

I'm holding on to fall a little longer.

Balance bouquet

A nice quote for the weekend– when everything feels a little more manageable!

Forest retreat

Doesn't that sound nice!

Few things feel better to me than being surrounded by trees.

(Even in the winter when it's more open & bare.

There's different discoveries in each season.)

Snip, snip!

I still love to cut & paste.

Winter flowers in my sketchbook.

Monday

Hand full of bling! * * * *

(some promo buttons we take to shows as a fun little giveaway)

Fall back

This year that whole fall back deal has zapped me!

But, it did inspire this so... that's something.

Going to bed early tonight!

–Shine ON–

November Vibes

Enjoying all the autumn colors around me!

It's ARRIVED

Hope you're not superstitious... black cat headed your way-

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

DREAM fabric collection

Met DREAM my gender neutral baby collection for Windham Fabrics.

Packed with a playful crew of characters in a nice, neural palette.

I'm really excited about the baby milestone mat I designed

A great way to capture how baby grows month by month.

(or no baby, perhaps your pet?)

There are simple animal outline prints in two colors.

A playful alphabet print.

A sprinkling of dots....

A panel print with 4 different pillow options- perfect for a reading

chair or rocker in the nursery.

And this lovely quilt pattern to make your own Fresh Faces quilt.

Hope you enjoy sewing with my latest labor of love!

Halloween

Wishing you a scary good weekend!

I'm excited that Halloween is just around the cobwebbed corner.

PETS

Pets is one of the newest additions to my Hello, World! board book series.

I am delighted to have the opportunity to share my life long love of 

animals with curious little learners.

Met my pet Sophie!  She keeps me in good company

while I work in my studio painting, collaging, writing &

working on the computer.

She brightens up the day!

Spicing up...

a grey Monday.

Here's to a brand new work week!

Seasonal Fun Fact

This one might just blow your mind!

Did you know that pumpkins are berries?

I've spent most of my life thinking they were a vegetable.

Had to pass this tidbit along!

A pumpkin is technically a berry. Defined as a "simple, fleshy fruit that usually has many seeds," the word "berry" actually encompasses a whole lot more than you may have previously thought. ...  

Quack, quack!

A sleepy fall village & one silly goose.

Look Up

Enjoying a beautiful fall weekend & noticing all the magic that is starting to 

happen high up in the trees.

Arctic Animals

Arctic Animals is one of the new additions to my Hello, World! early learning

book series.  Let's head to the frozen Arctic & meet the animals that live there.

Brrrr, it'll be cold so don't forget your coat!

Warm Wishes

As the weather cools....

I prefer the heat but,

there are always nice moments in

the cool, crisp air.

It's FRIDAY....

Let your imagination run wild!

OCTOBER

See ya September – HELLO, OCTOBER!

A month of pumpkins, changing leaves, spider webs, cool mornings, warm

afternoons, fuzzy socks, dramatic shadows & the occasional chill in the air.

Blueprint Show

The Blueprint show is in full bloom October 1st- 3rd.

If you're in San Francisco & headed to the show I hope you'll

stop by & take a peek.  Lots of  lovely, new art to see!

Fall Vignette

I like to mix up seasonal art & inspiration on my walls.

This is a medley of painted florals & some embroidery work from my friend Gina.

Headed to the orchard?

If you're headed to the orchard soon check out How Do Apples Grow?

This board book part of my Hello, World! series covers the growth cycle of apples.

From seed, sapling, bloom, to fruit!

It's a fascinating process that is explained in a simple, concise way.

I know it made me look at the apple laden trees differently during my last

trip to the orchard.