February Five

1. 2017: The Year of the Viking Cats! Thanks to a fun sketch date with my friend Vita Lane, I managed to extract an idea for a postcard. And thanks to Storystorm from Tara Lazar, I have a story brewing about these characters.

2. My Funny Valentine I had fun coming up with illustrations for these Valentine's jokes in the February issue of Spider Magazine, out now. It makes me wish I had a little pig to hog and kiss!

3. 100day project, part deux I decided to pick up where I left off with my Gluten Free themed 100 Day Project. The secret to a mini pancake party, by the way, is a cheap, plastic squeeze bottle. Fill it up with batter and get your hot griddle ready. This was my favorite food to bring to the preschool potluck picnic - I never brought home a single pancake!

4. Fall 2017 Children's Sneak Previews So fun to see Small in Publishers Weekly's preview. And an extra bonus to be in such nice company, including my good friend Tracy Bishop, illustrating Snowball Moon. I actually *just* received F&Gs for Small and am trying not to freak out with excitement!

5. Week 5, Still Alive I've been spending a lot of time making exercise a real ritual in my life, and thanks to Betty Rocker I think I'm there. She has super positive vibe and the short HIIT routines are perfect for my schedule. I did her 30 day challenge last year and picked up her 90 day program to keep on track. This is my second time through the program, having dropped it when I got the flu last October. I finally made it to the same place where I got the flu, week 5, and where it also gets REALLY hard. I'm determined to make it all the way to week 12. And as a bonus, I should be finishing final artwork for Too Much, Not Enough around the same time.

New Year's Five

1. Go big or... just go big. At some point in 2016 I told myself to not worry about the how and just say yes and think big to every project. So when I took on a 19" x 24" poster project for The Children's Museum of New Hampshire I suggested a whole city full of animals driving cars. Was I a little nervous about so many wheels and details? Yup. But I did it anyways. And I'm SO glad I did. I hope 2017 brings a few more chances for me to go big.

2. I am the OA Have you seen The OA on Netflix? OMG. Go. Now. It's beautiful, and unique, and mysterious, and dark, and strangely uplifting and... just do it.

3. Books! I'm not going to lie. My favorite Christmas gifts will ALWAYS be books. While I adore my new phone (Thanks, Kristian!) it's that new pile of books that makes me feel like a kid again. I burned through Big Little Lies in one weekend thinking the HBO show started that Sunday night. Oops! I'm halfway through Anna Kendrick's Scrappy Little Nobody and debating about juggling Elizabeth Gilbert's Big Magic. 

4. Speaking of Posters... Russ Cox sent this packed with awesome poster before the holidays. Knowing a good thing when he sees it, my son snatched it for his room. Thankfully I can visit it whenever I want. ;) Thanks, Russ! You are missing out if you aren't following Russ on instagram, especially during Inktober.

5. You say you want a resolution, well, you know... Yes. It's 2017. I felt like so many people were ready to throw 2016 in the dumpster and while I TOTALLY get that and had similar low points, last year was like... amazing! I created art for my first two trade picture books. I ended the year by signing my contract for the next two books. I picked up several new clients who were just so so fun to work with. It was the kind of year I had been dreaming about for a very, very long time. I had little happy-weepy moments working at my desk thinking about what a long road it was to get there. 2016 also gave me two incredible, never-forget family vacations. So 2017 has a lot to live up to! I think it's on track to be a great year, but more on that next time. And I know it's actually "revolution". We might have some of that this year too, no?
 

Monday Five and a Giveaway

1. 2017 is going to the dogs Weiner dogs! I am so proud of our beautiful Bookmark Literary agency calendar (Thank you, Teresa and all you super talented clients!). So proud, that I am giving an extra copy away. Just leave a comment here and I will pick one winner on Friday, December 23rd. My piece for February is below.

2. Picture the Books I am also proud to share that I am part of an exciting group of 2017 debut picture book authors and illustrators. Go visit Picture the Books and/or follow them on twitter and instagram to catch all the new releases!

3. Hamilton Mixtape Oh, my gosh. I am definitely the last person to 'discover' Hamilton. BUT! I feel less behind the crowd listening to the November release of the Hamilton Mixtape. My favorites so far are Regina Spektor and Ben Fold's Dear Theodosia and Immigrants (Rogue One's Riz MC is in there too!)

4. Chickpea stew This is my new go-to warm-up nutrition-up batch-meal recipe. It's a bit of prep and saute, then off it goes into the crockpot. Yum!   recipe here.

5. Hat selfie! Guys! I actually made a hat for me, and both of my kids since that last post. I credit bulky yarn. The kids were so excited about the poms on top that we'll be making more poms just for fun after school today.

Don't forget to leave a comment! I will pick a winner Friday at 8am!

Friday Five, December 2nd

1. Same place, different season We've been exploring mid-coast Maine for many, many years. I don't think we'll ever run out of new places to visit. It's a beautiful place. Sadly, we didn't get a chance to visit all year until just before Thanksgiving. It was a bit later in the fall than we are used to so it was fun to note how different the same places looked. The greenery behind the house was totally gone and I managed to spot a huge deer bounding through the yard a few times. A nice reminder that things are always changing if you just look long enough. The photo is on the way down from Beech Hill Preserve in Rockport, Maine. If you time it right, you can buy the BEST organic blueberries picked from here at the base of the hill. Otherwise, it's a very quick walk to the top. Easy enough that we've been doing it as a family since our youngest was just two.

2. Tis the season to buy art Travis Jonker at 100scope notes posted an amazing A-Z list of children's book artists shops where you can buy art. What a nice surprise to be on his list! Go browse and see what lovely thing you'd like to give this season. My shop is here, with a special link for 20% off + free shipping through this weekend.

3. Slowcooker Tacos I'm getting into that chauffeur age with my kids, taking them to activities when I would otherwise be prepping dinner. Since tacos are a staple food for us, I found a great slowcooker taco recipe that everyone loves - set it and forget it, people!

4. Monkeys! Remember those monkeys from a few weeks back? I got a great monkey assignment from that (and other past monkey things, I do love monkeys). It's also a reminder that I need to make more time for non-work work. I finally got Jennifer Orkin Lewis' Draw Everyday Draw Every Way book, now I need to make time to play!

5. Ready, set, crochet! I haven't crocheted anything in a really long time. It's a combination of a lack of time and enthusiasm. But my old winter hat is terribly ratty. It took a few weeks to find the 'just right' yarn, my hooks, and my trusty handbook (A to Z Crochet - it's THE best resource). I won't promise a new hat selfie next Friday...*maybe* two Fridays from now. 

Smile, it's a giveaway!

Two years ago I received a box from Smile Create Repeat - surprise art supplies and other treats, shipped to you as a monthly subscription or as a gift. I loved everything about the service and did a giveaway to a reader. Fast forward two years - I totally forgot that a gray Mepxy brush marker in THAT box really kicked off a whole other style of work for me - doodle style!

Art supplies are no longer convenient or diverse. We don't always try new supplies on our own. We don't always know what to pick for our growing artist kids. If I hadn't tried that marker, I'm not sure I would have found that new style in my own work!

I'm so happy to host ANOTHER giveaway for a surprise box from Smile Create Repeat. Click here to enter the giveaway. It's open now until November 23rd at 8am EST.

Christmas is coming and I just LOVE that they have a deluxe holiday sketch box. Buying from them is supporting small business (local if you are in New Hampshire!).

Good luck! Go enter the giveaway!

**My disclaimer: I did not receive any products or money in exchange for this review. My opinions are always my own. I have bought SLC in the past and think it's a great product and company!**

Friday Five, 11/4

1. It's all about me, me me. Well, November 1st was Self Portrait Day. And I've been meaning to make new business cards. So here's illustrated me. With my Jonathan Adler face mug, a taco, a book, my little toy truck, a Pentel e-sharp mechanical pencil, a pineapple, acorns and leaves. And a rainbow. Why not?

2. This week hurt. Literally. I was finally over that flu and dove back into exercise. I even tried a new hot power yoga studio this morning. I chased the pain with a new smoothie recipe I've been saving: coffee lover's protein smoothie (full disclosure: I added a smidge of swiss miss)

3. Baby baby baby. I spent a solid day making baby photo albums. What's that? No, I don't have babies anymore. They are school age but mommy was so busy trying to start her author/illustrator career that she didn't have time to make your albums. Thanks to a recommendation from Laura Zarrin, I used Mixbook to create a few books. It was actually FUN.

4. Sometimes, your ideas are stinkers. I started my first new business card last week. It was going to be double-sided. Business Monkey and Party Monkey. I like the monkeys. But it just wasn't working. So now I have some vertical monkeys and nothing to do but share them with you!

5. Is it Sunday yet? Listen, I'm thrilled that it's Friday. But lately I keep counting the days until Sunday because of Westworld. It's not Mr. Robot or The Leftovers, but it's the best thing on TV at the moment (you know, says me). And pair it with a podcast from my favorite Lost podcasters and I have days of entertainment and theorizing. Go listen to Westworld with Jay, Jack, and Mike. Geek rant over.

Friday Five, Halloween Edition

1. Detoured by Flu! In the middle of a very busy time I got sidetracked by the flu. It was a miserable, long beastie, and it's still lingering. Trick or Treat in the rain last night didn't help. I missed a few Friday Fives (and some fun friend and life related things too!)

2. Crafterella and Cut Out and Keep interview. The crafty super girl above was done for Cut Out & Keep's Crafterella gallery. She also puts together a really fun interview. Cat invited me to make my own twist on her super crafty super hero and I had fun putting her in a kid's Halloween world. Cat inspired me to make that jack-o-lantern too. With a little bit of black paint and some toothpicks to hold the ears on it was a cinch!

3. Go big bigger biggest. I've been trying to ignore that voice that tells me 'Oh, that sounds too hard.' when coming up with illustration ideas. I feel like every time I ignore that voice I'm pushing myself harder and find myself much happier with my work.

4. Starboy by the Weeknd. I usually find a song that gets my pen moving right away. Right now, it's Starboy and I've been overplaying it big time. Hopefully I'll find a new jam before I burn this one out.

5. Ghosts! Narwhals! Harry Potter! and Trayaurus, oh my! So many good books are going around my house. My son was really excited to get Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea by Ben Clanton and Trayaurus and the Enchanted Chrystal by Dan TDM, illustrated by Doreen Mulryan. I was thrilled to get ahold of Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier at our library - another beautiful, rich story by Raina. And together, my son and I have been reading the first Harry Potter. Perfect reading for the Halloween season!          

Friday Five, 10/14

1. Fall things have been done. I made the gluten free mini apple cider doughnuts. They were DELICIOUS. And very mini. But even better, I got to chaperone my daughter's Kindergarten class field trip to Applecrest Farm. It was cold but sunny and beautiful. The kids sang, picked apples, learned about cider making, fed some animals, and had a wild hayride. The kids and the foliage were spectacular.

2. Michelle! If you haven't watched Michelle Obama's speech this week, you really must make the time. So powerful! I wish I had been there in person. Then move on to number three for your evening entertainment...

3. Friday Night Movie: Mascots! It's been a wild week since last Friday, amiright? I'm totally ready for a less fraught rah-rah, the latest Christopher Guest mockumentary.

4. Don't be a dummy. Be a SMART dummy. I wrote a post for Dani Duck's Smart Dummies challenge. I hope it was helpful and inspiring - go check it out here.

5. Write it down! I was really inspired by Teri Weidner's author talk this week. I was reflecting on the long, long journey I've been on to become an author/illustrator. And then lightning struck and a whole workshop popped into my head. I wrote in my head until I got home and had time to type it up (on my phone, because that's how I roll). But anyway - don't let those flashes flicker away. Write them down. I might not have a chance to propose a workshop for another 10 months, but when the time is right I'll have it down.