Oh, Brenda! Don't leave me!

We had our final picture book illustration class last night and I wish it would never end. There were so many different kinds of baked chocolate goodness I swooned. And even Pina Colada licorice!

Everyone made great strides in their work. I laughed out loud at the hilarious and quirky dummy of Jaime Patneaude, daughter of super writer Dave Patneaude.

I am still working on my bunnies. Laboring over the first double page spread and working out how to paint and finish the art. I made a ghastly version with pink and purple bunnies that looked sort of like Seuss Vomit. And the drawing kept getting farther and farther away. I can't even show you because my scanner thinks it is too ugly to scan.

So now, the bunnies are natural bunny colors according to my loose color sketch and I've cropped in on them for this double page spread (at top of post -- yes, that is a straw up the baby bunny's nose, I promise it all makes sense in the book dummy.)

Finding the last version of the manuscript I made is on my list of things to do (maybe it didn't save in stupid Word?) in addition to redoing the dummy and a piece of finished art. All by next Wednesday (!) in order to have something exciting and new to take to LA. I have one more trick up my portfolio sleeve, but who knows if it will be ready in time. Wish me luck.

Ooo, I loooove Melissa Sweet! I love Carmine, I love what she does for eeBoo, I love her earlier work with adult titles and now I can love her every time I bake.

Got the above back around Xmas time. Problem with an alphabetical recipe box is: I don't cook alphabetically. I wanted to use the adorable index cards, though, so I got some tab markers and made my own categories -- notice the separate categories for Baked Goods, Cookies, and Desserts??? I didn't get much farther than that in the recipe box since baking sweets is my biggest concern in the kitchen (Eggs, Soup, Booze and Meat are my only other categories.)

Ooo, and notice the recipe out? My Nana's Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake! Yes, I'm baking it for my last class with Brenda.

Tonight's class we'll mostly share the work we've done and celebrate. No alcohol allowed as per UW policy (even though I'm pretty sure the MBAs in the classroom next door are always tipsy) and zucchini is the next best thing. It is usually a plain bundt cake, but I'm making it in cupcake form for tonight with cream cheese frosting.

Unfortunately, the zucchinis in my garden aren't quite big enough to harvest yet -- BUT my three plants are the size of a baby elephant. If you live near by expect to find some zucchinis on your doorstep in a few weeks.

I'm fighting a losing battle with blogging today and have opted to have you all go look at Betsy Bird's blog, instead, and think about covers while I go paint.

Betsy spent some time at a major chain checking out new kid books and posted a bunch of great cover comparisons. I've already complained about covers here and here and here and wonder if I'm just a curmudgeon when it comes to the older covers getting updated?

Reissues with original covers are super ideas, though! One of my all-time favorite books, The 13 Clocks, is about to be reissued NEXT week with the lovely Marc Simont art intact AND an introduction by Neil Gaiman -- how cool is that! I can't find my copy anywhere and it was about to turn to dust anyway. The version illustrated by Ronald Searle was probably just lovely, too, but I'm sticking with the Simont one.

Last night in class, guest speaker Julie Paschkis (Caldecott deserver extraordinaire) gave an amazing Amazing AMAZING talk/slideshow. She showed some of the picture books she loved as a child and how they're still influencing her today. I'd say, definitely, that The 13 Clocks is one of those books for me.

1.5 lbs of pork loin cut into 1 inch cubes
2 1/2 cups of store bought salsa, thanks Costco
1 small can diced green chiles
salt and pepper

In a crockpot on high for 4 to 6 hours. If I'd remembered early I could have cooked it on low for 8 hours. Right before dinner, while prepping some lettuce and tomatoes and stuff I threw a can (drained) of small red beans into the crock pot.

Once the beans were heated through we made tostadas that were super dee-lish and watched, you may smite me down now Lord, our version of church -- The Vicar of Dibley.

Still lots of leftovers, so no cooking today. Maybe a nap because of my experience ALL LAST NIGHT -- here is a one minute sketch:

Note mouth-smothering paw, chest-poking paw, crotch-poking paw, and the paw that always manages to find the most tender or bruised part of your leg to step on. Maybe it is the full moon, but Bebop is on my list.

Here is the Before Picture when it was a lowly, exposed studs tool shed, 8 by 12 from the outside, ant colony included:

Here is shed before:

And studio after!

Note the new window, addition of a window, lovely floor, and white beams -- in between the beams on the ceiling is rigid insulation which is covered in silvery/aluminum foil. I was going to paint it, but it reflects so nicely, why bother?

Here it is with some initial decorating.

Everything light and bright because it is a small space. I made that enormous bench cushion myself! The bench is great for reading, napping, dreaming and holds the heaviest of dogs and cats -- er -- I mean, my office workmates. Someday I'll paint a nice graphic mural on one wall, but just working in the studio has been such a joy I don't feel the need to fuss with it much right now.

And to close: My CFO and COD who work with me everyday and the view from my desk window of pea vines!

Read on if you don't mind stuff like this.

So one of the exercises recommended in my awesome class is to build clay models of your characters for drawing reference.

I got some kid's air-hardening clay and sculpted little models of my three main bunny characters. They require at least 24 hours to air dry and I put them on a little tray in the sun. As I was sculpting I didn't think their heads or ears or legs would stay on without some extra support so I made some of the pieces separate to glue on later. The guillotined effect got me thinking -- I took a page from a dead manuscript revision, splattered it with some red Dr. Martin's, and stuck an X-acto knife on the tableau -- now I have a scene worthy of PBS Mystery!

The buns will be fine. I haven't painted their eyes on yet so there won't be any emotional scaring or repressed childhood memories from this event.

A little sketch of a scene I witnessed a few blocks away.

Here are some things we've been enjoying so far this summer, most of them are semi-sinful or vapid:

Aaron becomes a man transfixed when Wipeout or I Survived A Japanese Game Show comes on. I watched every episode of Suburban Shootout while sewing up an enormous twin-sized cushion cover.

A Posie post reminded me of the joys of light reading -- I read Rose Cottage. I thought it would be more funny and fantastical like Eva Ibbotson's books, but those are only for Eva Ibbotson to be like and they aren't really guilty -- just a pleasure.

And a surprise package from Karen! Thanks, lady! We both have a great new textbook and should be posting our homework from it this summer in a regular fashion.

Two albums I've listened to at least once every summer day are Koop Islands, which is full of great standard Koop noise, but my two favorite tracks sound like they could have been in the Twin Peaks soundtrack, too. And Anne Dudley might be the coolest lady around! There's nothing to put a spring in your step like Hugh Laurie singing songs from the twenties. Sadly, it is out of print and you'd have to search around for it, but it is definitely worth looking for.

All my other summer things are food related:

Aaron got new after shave which makes him smell irresistible -- JUST like a waffle! I'm digging some lotion I got at the grocery store. Says it is Herbal, but smells like bubble gum. Herbal bubble gum?

My summer drink is a Kermit colored Iced Matcha Latte with Rice Milk. I'm not sure if it is hippydippy or totally fashion forward to be drinking this. To make it properly requires accessories that are specialized and a bit intimidating. I had my first one at Flying Apron. I know they sell the supplies at Uwajimaya, but in googling recipes I guess Starbucks makes one, though I bet it is ultra-sweet. I love the colors on this site and look forward to trying out some of the recipes. Here's a picture of their matcha starter set:

I shouldn't be eating these cookies and mostly I just gaze at the box. But everything about them reminds me of the sweetest cutest people we miss across the pond. Cutest cookie box ever? I wish they credited the artist like Theo Chocolate does on its bars.

And finally, dark chocolate coconut milk ice cream is the best thing ever.

I'm taking my favorite class again, at the UW Extension with superhero Brenda Z Guiberson. The class is called Illustrating Children's Picture Books and our big focus is dummy building. Brenda does amazing edits of manuscripts besides kick butt art and dummy critiques. This is the THIRD time I've taken the class -- it is really a super boot camp for projects that need a bit of toning. I can't recommend it highly enough.

And it is my third time because...I love it! The other two times I've taken it I had stories that didn't quite sing to me and no amount of Brenda-izing could save them. But THIS time around I'm digging the story and art I'm working on and feel like singing that song from West Side Story "Something's Coming" (before all the fighting and death happens when Tony is about to meet Maria and not his impending doom.)

Here Brenda shows us examples of picture book art styles...Raul Colon's scratching and some scratchboard samples.

I turned in my manuscript again after receiving some great edits/comments at the last class. I also turned in a redo of some character designs I've been working on for my bunny brothers story.

Here they are as they've been since, hmm, November or something? And Brenda wanted me to get the bunny on the left, he's a 3rd grader, looking different from the middle guy who is a kindergartner. And the baby of the family, who is in the 2 to 3 year old range, needed to look less beefy compared to the kindergartner. Brenda also suggested sticking the eyes of the younger two bunnies below the half way points on their noggins. Below is my redesign:

The one in the middle is named Cheeky. I like that his ears mimic the arcs of his eyebrows (I'm not sure if that will work for every pose, though.) He, the budding thespian, is delivering an impassioned monologue. I think he looks angry in the redesign so that needs some tweaking -- he's not angry, just acting. I feel like the three characters are three parts of my own personality, though Aaron will tell you I most resemble the middle guy who is predominantly a whiny pain in the patoot. Just wait till I write Aaron, The Naughty Farting Dog Who Dies In A Horrible Way and we'll see who's so funny then.

That is the view from Shangri-Lar. The amazing new home of my favorite Lar couple!

Sooooo beautiful, so happy, cheerful, eco-friendly, delicious, warm, and inspiring a home has never been built before.

And above is the lovely couple: Kirby is wielding two knives while Neil protects a wine bottle. Look at those happy kitchen colors! Even the lights are exciting -- some repurposed South American glass seltzer bottle halves. Incredible! And this is only 1% of the gorgeous and unique things that make this house so special.

The food and company are amazing at Shangri-Lar. We went out at low tide to walk in the water and look for shells and pretty rocks. We stepped on horse clams spouts and got our toes tickled by little crabs and fast fishies. Kirby and Neil made the most delicious dinner. Wine flowed. And then at sunset Neil returned to his ancestral urges and made a big blazing fire for our s'more dessert. It was heaven!

Thank you, dear friends, for such a great time.

I think I am in Blogadoon -- where you only make a blog post every one hundred years to chronicle briefly seeing Gene Kelly before going back to sleep for a century.

I'm not sure why blogging is a habit I can't start. Maybe I should do it in conjunction with starting smoking? That would make blogging seem exciting and dangerous. Or maybe I should pretend that Martha has hired me to blog everyday. She's a brutal task master and one should be frightened of ever disappointing her so I'd be motivated by fear. Or maybe I should just be an adult about this and find some inner motivation?

Here's my public declaration to start a 21 day challenge to blog everyday for the next 3 weeks and see how that goes. I would like every post to have a point or relate to illustration, but many of the blogs I like don't always stick to a narrow theme or have a point... Those blogs are simply chronicling a slice of the blogger's life with pretty pictures -- often of cake. That's what I like. And they post regularly which is key.

How is everybody's summer going? Mine is fine, thanks.

June I spent just eating broccoli and rice and rice flavored rice milk to determine some food allergies. I think I am allergic to bread and cupcakes and pasta. My three favorite food groups.

July I've been working on my art studio/office and taking the best class ever (my third time!) We also went to the most magical place on earth outside of the Disney properties -- Shangri-lar.

The inspirational beauty and wondertude of Shangri-lar
+
The need to decorate someone's baby shower
+
A new craft (linoleum/rubber block carving) to explore
=
Veggie Baby Alphabets!

I hand-printed these on banner flags, some onesies, some present packaging, and some dishtowels. Block carving and printing is soooo much fun! I can't stop! I like it more than knitting or sewing. I especially like it in conjunction with PBS Masterpiece/Mystery watching and baking (now gluten-free :{ )

I'm researching what sort of items parents of the 0 to 3 crowd might enjoy seeing these designs on:
Framed art prints for a nursery?
Onesies?
An alphabet poster?
Pillows?
Bowls?
Bibs?

If you e-mail me in the next few weeks with some thoughtful suggestions I'd be happy to send you a print of one in thanks (in lieu of cupcakes which don't mail well in manila envelopes (Oh! There are two other veggie baby print choices, too, which I'll post in one of my next 21 daily posts and you can pick your favorite.))

I do wish the t is for tomato was scratch and sniff -- just pruned my tomato plants and I smell like one hot tomato now!

Sad news from a little blip in today's PW Children's Bookshelf. Tasha Tudor has passed away at the age of 92.

Her books were lovely, but what I really enjoyed was reading about her amazingly self-sufficient and creative life at her farm in New England. And corgis. She seemed like such a spitfire and I'm sure she got more done in a day at 91 than I do at 31.

I had always admired the corgy books, but Betsy Bird introduced me to A Time to Keep, which she lists as one of her all time favorite books from childhood. Right after reading about Tasha's passing in PW I clicked over to Betsy's blog where I was sure I'd find a nice tribute and I did.

The event will be at my favorite library branch, Ballard.*

4:00pm
Ballard Public Library
5614 22nd Ave. NW
Seattle, WA 98107

Linda is super smart, funny, kind, wise, a true hot lady of children's literature.

Come see her in person and check out her ALL her groovy titles!

* Ballard Library is not only lovely, but a block from Secret Garden Books AND a fabric store AND Majestic Bay Theater AND Caffe Fiore AND Cupcake Royale! Oh, how I miss you sweet Ballard.

Hoo Boy. Inside Story was yesterday, the last day of Children's Book Week and smack dab in the middle of the U District Street Fair. I love the smell of sweaty patchoulied college student in the morning.

The Inside Story presenters, however, smelled delightful and fresh. They all did an excellent job on their short, but sweet presentations. These people are so awesome! I know they are talented, gifted, thoughtful creators, but I love to see them toot their own horns in public. All the books presented last night are wonderful books they've written or illustrated or both. Like lovely lovely lovely Laura McGee Kvasnosky. That is her adorable dog and girl above that graced our invites and programs.

The main goal of Inside Story is to get our amazing local talent in front of booksellers, librarians, teachers, and the media with the hope of providing connections between the two groups for future speaking or workshop opportunities. And getting these great books into libraries, classrooms, book reviews and stores.

But being none of those invited professionals I still LOVE listening to Inside Story presentations because it reminds me that in Washington alone at least 15 people had their dreams of making children's books come true this spring:

BONNY BECKER
JENNIFER BRADBURY
ERIK BROOKS
ANDREA HELMAN
KATHLEEN KEMLY
LAURA MCGEE KVASNOSKY
RICHARD & STEFFANIE LORIG
MARGARET READ MACDONALD
CRAIG ORBACK
L.L. OWENS
DEBORAH REBER
CAROLE LEXA SCHAEFER
SUZANNE WILLIAMS
PAM WITHERS

Great job you guys!

And yes, we moved! We are still unpacking and haven't found all our stuff quite yet. For breakfast this morning I ate cereal out of a flower pot with some BBQ tongs.

Moving! We've spent every waking weekend minute getting ready for the big move to our new house. Which means boxes and boxes and cleaning and yard work. And constant companionship from animals that I thought loved me, but are, in fact, trying to kill me. Always underfoot when carrying a fifty pound box of exposed knives or my terrarium of highly poisonous angry geckos.

I took care of our rental yard which had sort of become a jungle, too. And the weed whacker wasn't plugged in correctly and started to smoke from its outlet. I thought I was just doing a really good job. Really whacking those weeds. But the smoke wasn't a sign of skill, just an early electrical fire.

And I'm limping. I talked Aaron into a final Redmill burger fest last night since we won't be living near one anymore. Afterward, as we were walking to the car he complained that he felt awful after eating food like that, like bricks were in his stomach. I felt fantastic and to show him so I leapt to the car like a gazelle. A beautiful, graceful gazelle UNTIL my last leap which landed in a pothole and crunched my ankle and slammed me to the pavement. So now I'm a limpy troll with two scraped and bruised knees limping around with my boxes of knives and a half open bag of frozen corn kernels tied to my left knee. Maybe gazelles watch where they're leaping to.

Roast chicken? Logan, a dog who should be more mature at the ripe old age of 4 can't resist a roast chicken left on the kitchen counter. We had dinner last night and were in the dining room. JUST finished our last bites when we heard a funny dead-chicken-flopping sound. This makes it the fourth roast chicken since February that Logan has tried to "free."

I was gone the first time it happened -- in New York. And Aaron called to tell me Logan had gotten his paws on a roast chicken and eaten every square inch of it. Like the chicken never existed. It sounds like Logan had a moment similar to that scene in Requiem For A Dream. It is now his high of choice.

You'd think we'd know better by now, too. We keep thinking he wouldn't be so bold as to try it again in broad daylight with us only a wall away. We put the bird waaaay far back on the counter to let it cool, but somehow Logan turns into a ninja and surprises us with his tenacity, stealth, and unbelievable reach.

For me, I can't resist signing up for conferences and retreats. I just signed up for the SCBWI Int'l LA conference in August, I'm going to BEA in May (as a media escort,) and I plan on signing up for our 2nd Annual Fall retreat whenever we open registration. Conferences are expensive, but the Seattle one convinced me of how important making personal connections in the industry is and how much more opportunity you have to do that at a conference. And wonderful critical feedback on work. And showing your work in public -- not crying into your roast chicken alone on the kitchen floor (I don't do that, but illustrating IS lonely.) And it is a high. I heard so many helpful things at this last conference. This new knowledge has informed and changed all of the projects I'm working on.

For starters, from Jim's workshop, I'll try out Vista Print to make some new postcards for a summer mailing. I'm not sure about the type at the bottom, but I really like this image and heard nice things about it at the conference.