Shifting seasons

 

Mid September in my studio, where the light is soft and shining.

Labor Day weekend

 

Here’s to a fun, breezy, long weekend with some extra time to embrace the outdoors!  This watercolor painted was turned into a card for Design House Greetings.  I've mentioned it before, (and I'll do it again) I have dreams of learning to sail one day! 

All tucked in! (almost grown up)

Thanks to those who entered my Hello, World!  Bedtime book giveaway.  The winner was notified this afternoon.  Bedtime has always been special to me.  I’m fascinated by the science of sleep and some of you may or may not know I started my freelance design career working on mainly kids and baby bedding.  Primarily for The Land of Nod and Target’s Circo crib bedding. Eventually landing a brand under my own name sold in Babies-r-Us stores across the U.S.  I designed a dinosaur lamp for that collection that I still love today.  So much so I added it to the nightstand in my new book Bedtime.  Some ideas just stick with you!

 

 

 

The packaging for the Jill McDoanld baby brand had my picture holding my son.  This pulls at my heartstrings, that baby I loved to hold is turning 17 later this week.  I know that whole "time flies by" thing people tell young parents can come across as annoying, especially when you're immersed in the messy ins and outs of baby– toddler life.  Looking back now I can say this was totally true!  Another one of those lessons life teaches you with some space to breathe and a little distance.

 

Two NEW Hello, World! books

 

GIVEAWAY— to celebrate my new Hello, World! BEDTIME book out today!  I’m excited about this title, I remember when my son was a toddler wanting a book that explained the importance of sleep in a friendly, factual way.  Go to bed rarely works but a simple explanation on why our bodies need sleep, bedtime routines, dreams and what to do if you have a nightmare are helpful tools that can set them up with good habits from the start.  

 

If you'd like to enter visit my Instagram page to do so.

 

One last bit of nice news, Amazon has selected BEDTIME as one of the best books of the month for baby to age two!

 

 

 

From Seed to Pumpkin is my other new Hello, World! book available now.  With fall almost here this title explores how a pumpkin grows, visiting a pumpkin patch, how to pick a perfect pumpkin and many more fun pumpkin facts!  I plan on offering a GIVEAWAY of this title on Instagram the last week in September.  I love embracing the season and thought it would be nice to wait a month or so on this one.  That way we're all thinking crunchy fall leaves, trips to the orchard and everything pumpkin spice! (Which I'm still not sure I'm a fan of?) 

 

Sun sign 🌞

 

It's my birthday and you're ALL invited to the party!

Flipping for gymnastics

 

Anyone else enjoying the start of the Olympic games?  I’m dazzled and delighted by all the athletes but particularly the gymnasts!  Forever a Simone Biles fan she’s already a BIG winner to me whatever fantastic feat she does over the next couple weeks.  I was a gymnast when I was little (although nothing like this) that said I still do a handstand once a day.  I think I just like to be upside down!

Pirate's Map

Ahoy, there!  Back with you to share a new Pirate’s Map print I made for Little Sleepies.  A perfect way to sail off to bed!  You can see more here.