Yippee! Aaron designed some very cute -- I mean frightening -- mailing labels that match the Holiday Monster Cards. They are free (now through December 2nd) and can be personalized with the purchase of an 8 pack of cards.

In other news: The holiday art I've been working on goes up at the bakery on Sunday. Prints of each piece will be available for sale via CocoaStomp. I think I'll post a new print each day starting December 1st. Twelve days of holiday monsters coming soon -- including three Hanukkah monsters!

Hey Chompoblog buds, I've been busy painting up a storm of holiday monster art at home and haven't gotten out much lately. Being a hermit is hard. Maybe it is just that November has a lot of sad anniversaries for me, or maybe it is just the lame weather, but I've been a bit blue and really anxious about this art show. My meltdown-of-inadequacy has passed, though, and I don't think I'll have time for another one before the art show in 13 days.

My one reprieve has been blog surfing and I'm thrilled to piggyback on the outside accountability that Holly and Jolie have drummed up for themselves. I love Holly's timer suggestion. I'm timing everything now. How long my shower is, how long I take a break to drink some water or remicrowave my coffee for the 8th time. Getting out a blog entry should be timed, too, but I don't know where this post is going.

A short detour through Bluesville you may skip:

Maybe it is because I'm about to be a year older that I'm blue or maybe it is because I really miss my grandfather at this time of the year. He was like a father to me and there's still such a sense of loss and it has been 6 years.

And a new, small sadness I didn't know would bug me so much is that didn't have enough moola to jump over to Boston last week for the James Marshall event.

Yes, most everybody loves James Marshall. But do you have nightmares about him being your real dad and only finding out about that fact after he's died? And I have the same nightmare about Jim Henson and wake up in tears. Anyone? If there ARE other people out there who've had these same nightmares do you think we could start a club and maybe get together for a potluck dinner and watch old Muppet episodes or something?

Lord. And another sad thing. From a little blip in PW I saw that one of my favorite illustrators passed away: Marylin Hafner. Her illustrations for Cricket Cookery are imprinted in a very deep layer of my brain tissue. I love her work on Jack Prelutsky's books, too. If you haven't checked her stuff out you should.

Now back on course in Happytown (Kim is in charge of Sunnytown):

I do know that Chompoblog won't be around much longer. At least in its current formula. Maybe just a new banner and a better focus? Or maybe a CocoaStomp blog instead? Making stuff for the Etsy shop and thinking of stuff to make has been a real joy. I completely understand why people self-publish, it feels so good to make something and have control over it. Not books for me, but cards and doohickeys.

As soon as all the paintings are done I can't WAIT to start assembling some goodie bags for the art party--how does everybody feel about Glühwein???

I bet George and Martha drink Glühwein by the barrel.

HEY YOU GUYS!

If you are in the Greater Western Washington area on December 5th around 6:30 pm I expect to see you with bells on at the North Hill Bakery on Capitol Hill.

I'm having my first ever art show opening that night. Eeee! (Art will be up for the month of December if you are having an appendectomy or saving a village -- your only excuses not to come.)

Above and below are some of the pieces that will be up. I'm so excited and also nearly vomitous with nervousness. Yum!

Aaron and I have been visiting the bakery and trying out treats in the name of "research." Super delicious! And there will be treats on me plus bevvies on December 5th.

One of my favorite charities around is Page Ahead, but for the art show at the bakery I really wanted to find a local group that helped feed hungry kids and Deb Lund found it for me.

Besides some GRRREAT presentations from Deb Lund and Suzanne Williams at our last SCBWI WWA meeting, Deb mentioned this place: First Place.

Their lovely vision statement:

Hope, home, and education for every child, one family at a time.

And a little about what they do:

We are a service agency devoted to educating and nurturing children whose families struggle with the risk or reality of homelessness. We offer housing, culturally relevant education and support services enabling families to achieve permanent stability. First Place provides the following services to families at no cost:

* Quality Education in a safe, small classroom setting for children in grades K through 6th grade including assessment and evaluation.
* Counseling, case management and social services to empower children and their families to achieve stability.
* Basic Services such as a nutritious breakfast, lunch and snack, clothing, school supplies, transportation, health screenings and referrals, and art and therapy.
* Services to facilitate student placement and transition in to the most appropriate school setting.

So please come, enjoy some naughty snacks, see goofy holiday art. And if you feel like buying some original art you can feel good that a portion of the proceeds will go to First Place!

Holiday Monster Art Opening After Bakery Hours Party

December 5, 2008
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
North Hill Bakery
518 15th Avenue E
Seattle, WA 98112
(206) 325-9007

Password to get in is Eggnogtopus

Hooray! This afternoon Martha Brockenbrough and Grammarella, the Punctuation Psychic, will be at Queen Anne Books for a Things That Make Us [Sic] book event!

This is my favorite grammar book EVER with my most favorite MARTHA ever, no less.

I know for a fact that there will be delicious cocoa at the event.

Details, plus another event in December:

Book signing at Queen Anne Avenue Books
Sunday, Nov. 2, 3 p.m.
Join Martha Brockenbrough and illustrator Jaime Temairik for a signing at one of Seattle's most charming neighborhood stores.

Queen Anne Ave. Books
1811 Queen Anne Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 283-5624

Grammar time at Third Place Books
Saturday, Dec. 6, 6:30 p.m.
Come for the grammar, but stay for the baked goods at the adjacent Honey Bear Bakery.

Third Place Books
17171 Bothell Way NE
Lake Forest Park, WA 98155
Tel: 206-366-3333

Speaking of Third Place, I learned something exciting the other day -- the Third Place Books Ravenna will be getting a Vios in their store. Aaron and I just had lunch at the Capitol Hill location the other day and it was super delicious. The woman in charge there kissed everyone but us. I hope, if we go there a few more times, we will get a smooch as well.