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.

Lately I've been digging working late into the afternoon/evening. Making dinner puts a cramp in my style, man, so I enlist the help of my trusty crock pot. Yesterday after lunch I threw:

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.

One of the best things about moving has been the chance to have a real studio space. It is a dream come true and I wanted to share a little bit of it!

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

Continue reading "My new studio" »

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.

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.

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 world is especially full of wonderful and magical happenings at the holidays:

1) This morning Bebop jumped up on my drawing table which was full of important sketches. I ran and grabbed him, picking him up around his middle. As I lifted and squeezed a lilting, harmonious high pitched noise came out of his rear, "Beee - booop." He was like a furry orange bag pipe. I tried to squeeze again and get the same response, but certain Christmas miracles only occur once. Like:

2) Logan wearing the Santa outfit my family gave him long enough to be photographed.

3) Logan learning to listen. I read Logan Llama Llama Red Pajama substituting 'Logan Logan' for 'Llama Llama' (which is said on almost every page) and he wagged his tail the whole time. Later, when my friend, Mika, came over I convinced her to try reading Red Pajama's sequel, Llama Llama Mad at Mama with the same name substitution. Logan REALLY got into the sequel. Holding a stinky meat treat in the book helps, too.

4) Starting a new business that you are thrilled and excited to be a part of.

5) Getting the chance to HOPEFULLY illustrate some spots in an awesome book! I'll know more in the New Year, but it all really came about in the last few days and I'm terribly excited.

6) And a final miracle is finding a seven year old musical/Rock Band playing genius. Mika totally rocked the drums. She's ready for tours and stage diving, but promises not to go all Britney on us.

Wishing you and yours the best holiday ever,

Jaime

A few days ago I had the pleasure of being a Reflections judge for an evening at Woodridge Elementary in Bellevue. The brand new school is absolutely beautiful and behemoth, the walls decorated with tiles hand painted by its first year of K through 5ers. Even at night the entire building still buzzed with hope and energy. I'd love to see the school on a busy weekday!

Reflections is "an arts recognition and achievement program for students. The Reflections Program provides opportunities for students to express themselves creatively and to receive positive recognition for original works of art inspired by a pre-selected theme, while increasing community awareness on the importance of the arts in education.

The Reflections Program was established in 1969 by National PTA board member Mary Lou Anderson. Since that time, more than 10 million students have participated in the program. The program's longevity and participation figures attest to its strength. The excitement and enthusiasm that the program generates for children, parents, schools and communities is unmatched."

I got to judge Visual Art and Literature as divided by K-2 level and 3-5 grade level in addition to 3-5 level Photography and Dance. Um, kid art is freaking awesome!?! I've seen some kids in action lately as it relates to them drawing dresses for the Fashion Book, but the art I saw last night was really stupendous.

This year's theme was "I can make a difference by..." I saw tons of fabulous art -- great story telling, bold color choices, ahead-of-their-time editorial cartoon type stuff or light-years-beyond-me poetry forms, and innovative use of perspective (or non-perspective.) And really awesome composition! I took notes for my own work! Woodridge has a real live art teacher, I hear, and she is loading up those kids with great art education and chutzpah to express themselves if these Reflections entries are any indicator.

Ahem, as a past Reflections winner (boo-yah Northshore District 1983 Primary Division 1st place winner!***) I can tell you this program has legs and is a wonderful and support-worthy endeavor.

This settles it. I'd really like to be more involved with kids and art as soon as possible. Unless I can teach Logan how to paint with his tail...

Continue reading "Reflecting on Reflections" »

I woke up this morning around 2 am, two hours into being 31, to a stabbing pain inside my knee that wouldn't stop. It felt like a demon was in my knee cap trying to rip its way out of my body. I think it was just a muscle cramp! But I didn't know it could happen in a knee, do knees even have muscles? Thanks, aging body.

Around 9 am, nine hours into being 31, my family called. I was waiting for the "Happy Birthday Song," but instead my mom told me our family cat, Tod Blankenship, had passed away in the night. It happened really fast and it sort of sounds like it was something he ate outside, but he was surrounded by people that loved him at the time and he'd had a really good life.

Here's Tod on the couch with a surprisingly docile Calvin. I named Tod when he was a freshly-rescued-from-Episcopalians kitten. Tod only has one 'd,' because I knew Tod would be a frugal and pragmatical cat that wouldn't need the decadence of double letters.

TEN GOOD THINGS ABOUT TOD:

1. Tod, when he didn't way 30 pounds, would let me play 'Rollercoaster' and 'Peter Pan' with him and never complained.

2. He let Wiley (our dearly departed golden retriever) play 'Mop' with him. 'Mop' was a game Tod and Wiley invented together which required Tod laying on his back on my Nana's shiny kitchen floor. Wiley would shove his nose into Tod's rear and push Tod around on the floor like a mop. No cleaning ever came of this, but both animals really enjoyed themselves.

3. Tod had a cute habit of sitting on a tiny step stool in the kitchen when he wanted snacks or food.

4. Tod didn't shed too much, just the right amount.

5. Tod's breath was never too pungent, just pleasantly gamey.

6. Tod never had dingleberries, maybe see Good Thing #2 above.

7. Tod was an on again off again snuggler, not too needy like another cat I know.

8. Tod respectfully slept on the furniture areas my grandmother approved of.

9. Tod never had a bad thing to say about anybody.

10. Tod was a good friend through and through.

We'll miss you, Tod. I hope you and Wiley are together playing 'Mop' and eating loads of crab cakes and roast chickens.

Jack-o-lanterns bring out the best in people.

Aaron is really clever and made his jack-o-lantern's mouth also look like a bat.

Dana and her family had a pumpkin throwing up pumpkin guts and another one squinting because a knife was still stuck in its eye.

Karen grew a bunch of nobbly gourds and arranged them around her yard looking like little animals with the gourd stems as beaks.

Maybe they will start blogs and post pictures of their creations.

Karen is also the reason for my new favorite fall dish -- a tian.
She puts potatoes, apples, beets, yams, sweet potatoes, olive oil, herbs, and shallots or onions in a big casserole and bakes it up.

Here is a tian before being baked. Mine has a turnip instead of a sweet potato and it is darn good. We've been eating this all week and don't want to stop.

Here's my pumpkin and Aaron's bat-mouth pumpkin on the right. I'm trying to be adopted by these people because of this meal and thought having exciting hair might make me look more like one of the family...Is that a monster peaking out from our front door?

I looooove Halloween. Everything about it. Especially the TREAT part. The root of these Haunted Hooters is from Sunset Magazine, but mine are made with pumpkin dough and chocolate icing. There's a great cookie cutter shop in Ballard called Cookie that stocks every imaginable cookie cutter and cookie accessory you could imagine. I got the parent sized owl cookie cutter there, but the baby owls are free form and blobby like I imagine baby owls really are (or if they'd turned out much blobbier they would have been owl pellet cookies. Mmm.) That's also where the exciting eyeballs came from!

Lots of important Halloween TV this week. Or there used to be. It's a shame nobody is showing the Wonderful World of Disney Halloween Hall of Fame like they used to show on Sundays -- the one hosted by the Magic Mirror from Snow White showing clips of all the best Disney villians? I think it also included the Trick or Treat cartoon with Donald Duck and Witch Hazel and maybe a few other cartoon shorts with Mickey and Pluto.

Without access to the show above we watched 28 Weeks Later last night which is sort of the absolutely exact opposite of Huey, Dewey, and Louie. Nor is it as good as 28 Days Later or Shaun of the Dead or Sleepy Hollow or It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (which is on ABC on Tuesday this week.)

Ooo and books! Some of the books that put the 'boo' in children's books:

The Last Apprentice Series by Joseph Delaney, illustrated by Patrick Arrasmith
The 13 Clocks by James Thurber, illustrated by Marc Simont
The Beast of Noor by Janet Lee Carey
The Haunted House by Jan Pienkowski
Pumpkin Eye by Denise Fleming
How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? by Margaret McNamara, illustrated by G. Brian Karas
Bunnicula by Deborah and James Howe
Ed Emberley's Drawing Book of Halloween by Ed Emberley
Aaargh, Spider! by Lydia Monks
The Spider and the Fly by Mary Howitt, illustrated by Toni DiTerlizzi
The Gashlycrumb Tinies by Edward Gorey
The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree by Stan and Jan Berenstain
Miss Nelson is Missing by Harry Allard, illustrated by James Marshall
The Witches by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake

Wow. We were gone for three weeks and came home to a new bathroom, a raccoon-attacked kitty and a dog grateful to be in a one-dog family again.

A not-so-brief account of England Part One:

We spent the first week of our trip in jolly old England in Sheffield. Sheffield is cute as a button and home to the fantastically talented and most gracious hosts ever, the McVeys -- Mike, Ali, and the world's cutest, smartest, best baby boy, Cal.

Besides daily excursions to exciting places in and around Sheffield Mike drove us, on September 15, over THREE hours to the hidden town of Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire. Why? Why? Why drive nearly four hours in such a small country where every inch is jam packed with scones and history and lager?

BECAUSE IT WAS ROALD DAHL DAY!!!!

Yes! We were lucky enough to be in England on Roald Dahl's Birthday Weekend. The entire country (schools and libraries all over the place) celebrates his birthday with Roald Dahl themed parties and readings. But we went one step further:

Roald Dahl Museum and Café Twit

The museum is in an old carriage house with a lovely gift shop, the Twit Cafe, a story room, inventing room, and museum rooms devoted to Dahl's life as a child, writer and family man. If you haven't read Boy or Going Solo yet you are SO in trouble, but those books will give you a taste of what the museum covered. There's a courtyard in the middle planted with giant peach trees (each peach has a hole for James and friends) and everything is strung up with flag streamers and little lights. There's a replica of the Wonka Gate and almost every fixture, furniture piece and photo has been touched by Quentin Blake's illustrious illustratorness. I'm ready to move in and eat Snozzcumber sandwiches every day -- Cafe Twit even pumps out the smell of baking brownies CONTINUOUSLY in addition to selling lovely brownies and cookies, too.

Because it was Roald Dahl Weekend the courtyard was filled with balloon animal makers, magicians, face painters, kid friendly games, a fizzy lifting drink bar, candy floss station and design-your-own candy bar making area. I skulked around the candy bar area for a good five minutes, but I think maybe they cut you off at puberty from all those activities.

We ate our Boggis chicken sandwiches quickly at the cafe and then lined up to take a walking tour of Great Missenden.

Our knowledgeable and sprite-ly guide was part human, part illustration -- I've never seen hair more Quentin Blake like and wonder if he's developing a line of hair gel? She was really good and funny and read parts of Dahl's books out loud and took us all over the village.

There she is in the red Dahl Day tee on the left. There we were, on the road that goes towards Dahl's house looking at a railroad overpass. Our guide explained to us that Dahl would time his evening bedtime stories (scary ones to his kids) to the last train of the evening and walk them down to this overpass. JUST as he was getting to the really scary parts -- BAM -- the train would rattle by in the dark overhead. What a great dad!

We also saw the library where Matilda read her books, the window where Sophie sees the BFG and the petrol pump from Danny Champion of the World.

We visited Dahl's gravesite which has a beautiful view of the town. Roald's beloved stepdaughter died a few months before he did and that is her tombstone in front. A lovely tree was planted nearby (upper left) with a bench that contains the names of all of Dahl's children and the last lines from The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me:

"We have tears in our eyes
As we wave our goodbyes,
We so loved being with you, we three.
So do please now and then
Come and see us again,
The Giraffe and the Pelly and me."

People put candy bars and flowers on his grave and it might be the cheeriest graveyard I've ever been to.

After that we did a final walk up to Gipsy House and our wild-haired guide left us to explore the grounds of Dahl's amazing estate. Only a few times a year does Mrs. Dahl open the grounds up to the public and TODAY was one of the few days!

There was a scavenger hunt and a raffle for kids (for kids...) and BBC Radio4's John Waite read stories in the sunken garden.

He's a GREAT storyteller and was reading from Revolting Rhymes which is quite racy by American standards, but Aaron and I ate it up.

I got to hold a rehabilitated owl that can't survive in the wild, but instead lives with a witty Englishman and gets treats and gentle pets from people all day. Owls really are as soft as I always dreamed they would be and I can't believe I was so lucky to be able to hold one. I asked mine if it knew any of the Hogwarts owls and it swiveled its head completely away from me. I guess that was an inappropriate question...

In the Dahl garage Mrs. Felicity Dahl was serving tea and squash and cake. She was very nice and very glamorous wearing a pretty scarf and huge sunglasses and yellow, Roald's favorite color. She spilled some of my tea while pouring it and said, "Oh, sh*t -- I mean, bother." Isn't she wonderful?

I used the "loo" in the Dahl billiard room and saw lots of great framed posters from plays and musicals based on Dahl books.

Here is a lovely tree-covered walk to the Writing Hut where Dahl wrote many of his stories. It is closed up and dusty inside now, but the second photo/poster in this blog post is taken in the hut and it looks much cozier when he was using it.

Here's a poster from the museum showing Dahl when those trees were just babies being trained up.

Doesn't that look like a place where magic happened? The whole estate does, but having a little studio with a yellow door...and a pet owl....and a candy factory. That's my new dream in life.

Still with me? I'll finish up quick:

Behind Gipsy House is the caravan like the one Danny had with his father. (Above the caravan is a treehouse built to cover the caravan in winter, but its also an amazing death defying treehouse that we weren't allowed in.)

And a dog misbehaving.

Eventually we strolled back to the museum and looked around a bit more. Bought some exciting Dahl products and said Cheerio to the BFG who was now manning the museum door.

What an awesome day.

Kudos to England for having such great Days. I'd love to organize a Roald Dahl Day in 2008 in Seattle. Anyone with me?

It is a hard life when your grandmother is the best baker in the world. You can follow her recipes, but you know deep down she just does it better. We've got some weekend guests and I felt the need to buckle them up. It may not be as good as Nana's, but it is still terrifically scrumptious. You can mix this by hand in a bowl and plop it all in a pie dish or square pan.

Nana's Blueberry Buckle

Aaron sent me a link to this. Silly boy. He knows our future holds chickens and donkeys and pygmy goats, but he's always poopooing the idea. So why on earth would he send me a link to the cutest tiniest donkeys and goaties in the world? Of course we are going to get some now. Maybe not tomorrow. But donkeys are the future.

Check out Snow Pea (donk) and Boris (booboo goat) while I go do "research" here.

Jaime

Here is my big New York purchase. A lovely green apron with some Tomie dePaola art on it.

NOT to be a Debbie Downer (I promise to still write up some NY highlights), but here is where I am today:

After an interesting morning of me making silly mistakes and getting huffy I've decided to wear this apron while working on art or stories that I don't want people to comment on YET. That's the problem with not being a monk or a stylite--I don't live alone on a pointy rock and sometimes I open my mouth or share a sketch too soon before it is ready to share OR I am ready to take criticism on it. This morning I should have known better, but it is hard NOT to want to talk out a new plot idea or show a sketch sometimes. Especially if none of our in-house doors lock.

The new house rule (also applies to all house visitors) is: If I'm wearing the green apron and I show you something or read you something all you can do is smile and say "That's GREAT! Keep going!"

You CAN'T say it like Ben Stein or Joan Rivers--more like Hayley Mills in Pollyanna or Julie Andrews at any time. Once I take the apron OFF and I ask for feedback you can be brutally honest, but while the apron is on it is a world without criticism so I can keep creating without any internal or external editors.

Am I the only one who feels this way or makes this mistake? Still looking in my writing books for corroboration that other authors and artists sometimes share their work too soon, too, before the idea has had time to root and grow more than those two little bud leaves. I'm hoping that this IS true and NOT that the story line I told Aaron about this morning stinks like old manure.

I've been sensitive about my new work before, but part of this irritability might be due to our plane ride home from NY...

Aaron and I spent Valentine's day walking all over Manhattan in cold snow and whipping winds, but our JetBlue flight was still listed as departing at 7:30 pm. We took the subway to JFK and got there shortly before 6 pm. We didn't get on the plane until 9:45 pm and THEN we sat on a full plane until three in the morning smelling other people's hot Nabisco snack breath. We finally took off around 3:30 am. Thanks to a really nice crew and pilot we landed safely in Seattle, but JetBlue management seems a little screwy. I get nervous on planes normally without sitting on one for six hours and not moving or sleeping. And we were some of the lucky ones.

So my sleep cycle is a bit wacko and I'm edgier than normal this weekend. My new apron might stay on permanently for the next few days. I'm going to bake some bread now and maybe let that story idea do some rising and proofing, too.

And NO MORE plant or pastry mixed metaphors I promise.

Jaime

Just a few days left in my new favorite city. Thanks to Betsy for the picture. She also recommended the fantastic Books of Wonder store and Rice to Riches.

Although I'll post more when I get home, the conference was jam packed with lots of wonderful opportunities to meet new people and catch up with old favorites--look for their new books in stores soon!

Also found my new favorite band and saw someone eat lard pizza. Olive oil gelato YES, lard pizza NO.

New York New York!!!!

Jaime

Working on my homework assignment for the upcoming Illustrators' Intensive Day at the 2007 SCBWI NY Winter Conference. It is driving me crazy. I've been color copying a key section of my illustration to practice doing the finishing touches. I think I've found the answer I'm looking for...but in the meantime, to get a little distance from the problem, I'm introducing one of the new Chompo Blog features: The Monthly Recipe.

These brownies are part cat and part donkey inspired.

If I won the lottery I'd start my own bundt cake cafe called the Bebop Bakery, named after my bread-loving butterball of a cat. There's a whole picture book story behind how I think a cat could help launch a bakery and maybe you'll see those sketches soon. For now, besides bundt cakes, the Bebop Bakery in my mind ALSO makes scrumptious brownies.

The optional sesame seed sprinkling might sound strange, but I promise it is an exciting and delicious addition to already good brownies. The first time I had sesame and chocolate was in France. Aaron and I were staying in Sisteron, at a remote farm complete with chickens, cats, and a baby donkey named Kirikou. Kirikou ran free around the farmyard and frozen lavender fields. He fell in love with Aaron's bottom. Kirikou stalked Aaron from behind and then would gently try to nip at his coat tail or belt or camera bag. If we turned around to catch Kirikou mid-nibble he'd scamper off and hide behind a tree. It is really hard for a donkey to hide behind a tree. Kirikou also liked to sneak up on the cats. But cats have claws and Aaron is more handsome and alluring than any French country cat. So Aaron followed the cats and chickens taking pictures, Kirikou followed Aaron and I followed Kirikou. That darn donkey just wouldn't pay attention to me the way he would to Aaron.

Kirikou's owner made her farm guests breakfast--among other things--tiny chocolate muffins sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds.

Bebop Brownies

Let cool for a couple of hours if you can wait that long. When using the dark cocoa you MUST have some cold milk or ruby port handy to pair with these super-delicious chocolate treats!

If you can believe it this is the champagne Aaron bought for our engagement STILL UNCORKED. We were too happy and freaked out to even consider champagne, but there are SO many more reasons to pop it open NOW:

1) NEW BEAUTIFUL CHOMPO BLOG! Chompo Blog is now a true reflection of my brain via Aaron's masterful web skills. Look for exciting features every week and (soon) a link to my illustration portfolio!

2) HATTIE BIG SKY GOT A NEWBERY HONOR! No author or character is more deserving. I am pouring Hattie a glass hoping she'll throw caution to the wind and gulp it down.

3) ZELDA AND IVY GOT THE GEISEL AWARD! Two scampy girl foxes and one great award. They are too young for champagne, though, so Laura will have to drink it for them...

4) MY FAVORITE BRITISH ILLUSTRATOR HAD A BABY! Alison Friend McVey is a new great friend, an amazing artist, and now the proud mother of handsome baby Cal. I can't wait to meet him and hope his parents will imbibe with me.

I also can't wait to share all the new fun stuff that I'll be posting on Chompo Blog in the near future!

Woohoo!

Jaime

The last few weeks I've been busy finishing up the fashion book illustrations. But last Thursday I was surprised with a trip to Orcas Island...

Continue reading "Christmas Comes Early!" »

Zippetydoodah I turn 30 today.

Continue reading "happy birthday" »

What's a sick sullen girl napping on her couch to do when the next Newbery winner's husband arrives at her door with a huge bushel of apples?

Continue reading "an apple a day" »

Last Friday morning I met with nearly 3,000 other ladies and a few gentlemen to take part in the Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk. We walked 60 miles in three days, camped on baseball fields on a hill somewhere in Kirkland, ate highly refined carbohydrates, nursed numerous foot injuries, got sunburns, became intimately familiar with port-a-potties and did alot of talking and thinking about why we were doing this enormous amount of walking.

My tentmate, the next Newbery winner, walked in celebration of her friend Mary, a breast cancer survivor. I walked in memory of Aaron's mother, Sue Bitney, who passed away about six years ago after a long battle with cancer.

The whole weekend was very emotional. There was lots of fun. But definitely I did alot of thinking. Especially of what it would be like to lose a parent or a friend for such an assinine reason as a disease or a poorly managed nation. I did lose my grandfather, who was like a father to me, before his time, I think, and our family hasn't been the same since. I imagine all the spouses who lost their soulmates and all the sons and daughter who lost their mothers--everyone feels that same void.

There's no easy answer or fix to fill that void, however. But my goal has been to keep my grandfather's spirit--his humor, his habits, his compassion alive in me and find ways to celebrate that in every season and through the kinds of books I hope to make for kids. My grandfather was great with kids and I haven't found a better bedtime story reader yet.

So I hope Aaron and I can find ways to celebrate his mother and my grandfather in the coming years. Walking 60 miles seems like a strange thing to do. But I'd walk to the ends of the earth to show the people I love how much I care and 60 miles seems like a nice gesture. And 60 miles is nothing if it gets us one step closer to finding a cure for breast cancer.

I'm not normally on a soapbox so forgive this burst:

If there is a cause close to your heart what are you waiting for? Find a way to get involved and help make some positive things happen in this world of ours.

Jaime

Hey everybody!

When: After work today, Friday, 5 p.m. and on

Where: Nectar Lounge in Fremont 412 N. 36th St. Seattle, WA. 98103 ph.
206-632-2020
http://www.nectarlounge.com

Why: I quit my job! Come drink with me as I embark on my children's
book illustration career. My four weeks notice is up!

Also leaving my company today is a good friend, Bebeth, who just got
her Peace Corps placement to Kenya.

Sorry for the late notice but I am a little slow on the uptake and
Bebeth came up with this idea yesterday...(not the quitting but the drinking)

Yippee!

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

Sweet Bebop, brave Bebop.

I spent all morning going from the normal vet to the emergency vet to the x ray lab and back to the emergency vet for poor Bebop. They don't know why he has a fever and isn't eating or drinking. I did get him to purr for me today after he had to stay the night at the normal vet but he wouldn't eat for me and his tummy still hurts to be touched. So he's getting more and more tests done today.

These pictures are from his last vet visit for a tummy gash when he had to wear the clown cone for weeks.

Please come and support us! There'll be scrumptious vittles, exciting drinks and a kickass raffle of great gift certificates to local hot spots and shops.

Here's the copy from the eVite that we sent out last night:

Cocktails for the Cure

Host: Sara Easterly, Kirby Larson, Jaime Temairik, Kate Jackson
Location: BalMar Lounge
5449 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA View Map
When: Thursday, July 20, 5:00pm to 9:00pm
Phone: (206) 297-0500

You sip and nosh, we’ll walk 60 miles, and together we’ll help fight breast cancer – how great is that?

Jaime, Kate, Kirby and Sara have pledged not only to walk 60 miles over three hot August days, but also to raise a total of $8,800. The goal is in sight and we’re throwing a party to help us get the final few steps to the start line.

You’ll be in the pink as you sample complimentary treats and sip your happy hour libation of choice (no-host bar). We’ll all be in the pink when you bring the green to buy raffle tickets for the dozens of special prizes supportive merchants have donated for the cause!

The Breast Cancer 3 Day walk raises millions of dollars each year to fund critical breast cancer research and community outreach programs. Seattle’s walk is one of 12 this year, country-wide. 85% of the funds you donate go to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and 15% benefit the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund.

If you’ve already donated, thank you! Please come enjoy some tasty tidbits as a thank you for your support! If you’ve been meaning to donate, here’s your chance to do it and have a great time, too.

(If you can't attend, haven't yet donated, and would like to, please feel free to make an online donation by visiting http://www.the3day.org. Simply click on Donate > Seattle, then enter in any of our names to complete the online donation form.)

Here is our new puppy love. Logan Happypants. There is no sweeter more loving poochiepoo. We've gone for long walks and to the dog park everyday since he got here. He's showered us with kisses and snuggles and just a few bottom toots...Aaron thinks they smell like peanut butter that has died.

Logan is okay with Bebop--they sleep on the bed together but they aren't quite spooning yet.

It is so nice to have a dog friend!

jaime temairik

Sunday night we saw a blowout game--the Sonics stuck it to the Blazers with a landslide victory. And second best to them winning (I know the playoffs aren't in the picture but I am still happy for them) we had AMAZING seats. Two rows behind the Sonics bench. Aaron's company has courtside season tickets and it was incredible to be that close to Jesus Shuttlesworth and sweet baby Luke Ridnour. Earl Watson is my new favorite, too. Super fun game all around.

I'm quite sure I made eye contact with Nick Collison but with my freaky wide excited player-stalkering eyes I don't think I painted quite the pretty picture.

Yay Sonics!

Poor Beepers. This morning Aaron took a polaroid of him in his favorite lounging position. On Beepie's last dog free day. He IS the most dog like cat I've ever owned. But unlike dogs Bebop's life revolves around Bebop and a big wet nose is about to snot that all up.

Logan, our future hopeful new puppy pants is due to arrive with his friend, Tina, at 5pm tonight. They'll see if they like us and we'll see if we like Logan (pretty sure we do!) We found Tina