Just two weeks ago I was down in Portland for the week attending the 7th Annual PNW Children's Book Conference, part of the PSU Haystack Summer Program.

Marla Frazee was the entire reason I attended and she was amazing! And not only was Marla amazing but the REST of the faculty were fantastic and inspiring. I highly recommend this conference to anyone interested in learning more about writing or illustrating for children.

The conference was Monday through Friday and I've never been to one that long. There was so much to learn and time to learn it, although I was never bored. Time to get to know the faculty and your fellow attendees. I learned so much about the art of picture making for books from Marla and Elsa and so much about writing from Kirby, Steve, Linda, Susan, Susan, Nancy, Ann and David that it has impacted all of the illustrations and stories I'm currently working on for the better.

I'd like to bake them ALL a chocolate chip zucchini cake. I recommend searching these great people out and studying their books or the books they've edited. I recommend Haystack wholeheartedly and wish I could go back tomorrow!

One of the assignments of Haystack (for illustrators) was to take a paragraph long writing prompt supplied by the writing track attendees and illustrate it. MY prompt was written by the amazing Emily Whitman who has graciously permitted me to reprint her text below. All text below by Emily Whitman, copyright 2006.

Marla had us start out with doing a character study of the main character, front and back.

Then, if your paragraph mentioned any other characters we'd work on a secondary character study.

And then, if time permitted, we'd try to work out a sequence of illustrations from the paragraph.

This was so much fun. I'd move to Pasadena just to take Marla's class.

All this enthusiasm and gushing might be due to: Haystack rocked; I love to draw; it was great to lose track of time and get creative at this week away from home and all responsibilities (other than to be receptive);
AND
I gave notice at my day job before leaving for the conference!

Giving notice was exhilarating--I know that just a few weeks from now everything I've learned at Haystack I'll finally have the time to spend days and days on implementing in my stories and art.

Jaime

I've been out of town and blogless but NO EXCUSES!

Please, all you Washingtonians, consider coming out tomorrow night and supporting a worthy cause:

Cocktails for the Cure Benefit Night

Tomorrow night only!
Thursday, July 20th, 2006
5 to 9 p.m. upstairs at the BalMar

Appetizers from 5 to 7 p.m.
DJ Wonderbra and DJ Man-ssiere
iPod mixes starting at 7:30 p.m.
Raffle drawing and cupcakes at 8 p.m.

DONATE!
Onsite cash donations welcome,
checks should be made out to: Breast Cancer 3-Day
OR purchase raffle tickets for $5 (the raffle is going to be super fantastic)

Down the Booby Hatch Drink Special!
See your hosts or bratender for details

You'll be helping Kate, Kirby, Sara and me meet our fundraising goals to be eligible to walk in August for this great cause.

Thanks and hope to see you there!

Jaime

I might be biased because I've worked on art for the book's website but The Beast of Noor is a wonderful wondeful book. Janet immediately pulled me into this other world with rich scenery and tender believable characters. Plus I had to stop reading it and say a prayer that it held a happy ending. When you are doing that you know the book's put a spell on you. AND it is the first of a trilogy! Can't wait for the next adventure.

AND there is a book party this Saturday, July 8th, at Parkplace Books in Kirkland at 7pm. I'll be there with bells on...or at least butterflies.

Here's the copy from Janet's evite and all are welcome:

Host: Janet Lee Carey
Location: Parkplace Books
348 Parkplace Center, Kirkland, WA
When: Saturday, July 8, 7:00pm
Phone: (425) 828 6546

Book Sales will Benefit
National Disaster Search Dog Foundation
Help a dog save a life.

Bebop came home no wiser but much more valuable on Friday. He's on two different kinds of human sized antibiotics and is up to his old tricks again. No one knows what he had except our bank account. I'd done this as a sketch originally for Illustration Friday: portrait and never got around to painting it--partly because the dingus was getting himself into emergency vet worthy scrapes and I was too scared to try painting him clouded as I was in worry that he was not going to get better.

But he's better! And if I wake up and Bebop is sleeping next to me and I say good morning and pet him a large black shadow with a wet nose passes between Bebop and me and tries to sit on Bebop so all I can see is said large black shadow. This from an animal that receives 98% of my attention.

Stinker