NAWLINS’

Happy Spring!

I’ve been in a funk-but luckily I have lots on my plate to keep me distracted…but UNluckily, all the creative work I need to get going is being held up more than i want.

So THANK YOU spring break!…My son’s school was off the entire last week which prompted reason to get away. I love traveling. No, wait, I LOOOOVVE traveling. It’s the one thing I really miss from my days of full-time work where I’d travel to factories and what not. New Orleans is a place I’ve always wanted to visit…my hubs too… Actually, I notice it’s a place many people want to go if they hadn’t yet and if they had, they’d go again!  So we went. And had a great time! Nawlins’ is a town of amazing history, amazing people…food…music…and just a happy place. I left feeling happier and inspired. I CAN’T wait to get back to “work”. Tomorrow, school is back on for the kid, and I’m already sketching things in my head and setting up my paints.

Thanks NOLA! You’ve fed my belly (although, a crisp salad was hard to find and the gym is calling for me) But most of all, you’ve fed my soul.

can’t wait to see you again-xo!

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squeal!

I am finally with agent. Literary agent, that is. And I couldn’t be happier or more honored to be part of the Pippin Properties family. Holly, Elena & Ruby are just golden.

So part of the initiation process is for illustrators to illustrate their version of the Pippin logo/mascot…the pig. Here’s mine :PIP! PIP! Hooray!! xo,s

 

 

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rock on

You know when you don’t see something for a while …then when it pops up, you remember how freakin’ cool that thing was ? …and oh man, if it passes the test of time and keeps all its cool-it becomes AWESOME forever.

Thats how I feel about these t-shirts. Part Classic Rocker, part Iconic Film Buff -this collaboration between artist Bob Bianchini and Cinefile Video is something I freakin’ love.

 

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Upcoming book:)


I’m beyond thrilled to be included in …

Watercolor: Paintings of Contemporary Artists

a lovely book published by Chronicle coming out this April…stay tuned. pretty please.

 

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Things that move YOU!

For a long while now, I’ve been wanting to bring in some guests to this here blog. I thought it’d be fun to ask the same questions to different people. Whether an artist, a business person, a parent, a smarty pants or whatever we call ourselves-we all have something that moves us and makes us…well, us. 

My first guest is the absolutely lovely Mia Scofield. A wife, mother, grand-mother, former school counselor, now founder and designer of Mo. & Co - a cool and casual handbag company that is inspired by vintage and hand craftmanship.

What moves you to create?I guess it is kind of like…There is a saying about a tree, it is either growing or it is dying.  I think creativity is like that…you have to have a project.  You must be making something, or making something happen, or….   Kind of like create or die.  It is that strong a drive.  So, I create.

 What moves you to laughter?  I like to laugh.  I am not funny, but I appreciate funny.  The other day my husband and I were talking about how getting old snuck up on us…all of a sudden it just happened.  And, he said—“Yes, I got out of the shower the other day (there is a full length mirror next to our shower) and I thought it was a home invasion.”   I am still laughing at that.  So, he keeps me laughing. My daughters make me laugh and my granddaughters make me laugh.

I looked up from working on my computer the other day and my grand daughter had done this with stickies and she was just sitting there silent! What moves you to tears?Lots. I cry easily-books, movies and television. A bit over-sensitive.   Not crying much lately though…as I am happy.

I like happy tears the best; I get those sometimes too.

Then there is the just-because-you-are-old-your-eyes-are-watering.   I am horrified to say that I have actually had that as well, lately.  Ugh!

 How do you set up for work?I am all over the place.  Mostly though…where I am, my little Sony laptop computer is as well….and setting up is opening the computer.  Bed, couch, lawn chair, picnic table.  I can communicate with India, my office, my customers. That is for creating the business.  For, developing/design work—it is a team effort and I am working with our customers and/or designer in our office, or designers in the factory. We pour over fabrics and leathers and ideas until something comes up and our designers take it from there.  Then I go back over all the little details working with the factory.

Who do you listen to(music in the background) ? What do you do during breaks?I don’t listen to music when I am working on work.  I find R & B helps me get my housework done.  But, for real work….I prefer no distractions.

I like music (loud) when I am driving and my all-time favorite album is Jem, Finally Awoken. And, driving with my granddaughters we love Parachute Express.

But, I guess nothing is best when I am working for Mo & Co.

Unfortunately, breaks usually mean a bite to eat or grabbing a drink of some kind.  Should be carrots and water, but that is not always the way it goes.

 Last supper-with who, where would it be and what’s on the menu?

Oooooh.  Scary thought.  My beloved family and friends.  And, it wouldn’t matter what we ate or where we were…just that they were there.

But, if you were just talking about a good supper and a good place…..I would take hanging with my husband and eating purple sweet potatoes mashed with coconut milk and watching the sunset in Maui, like I did last night.

Close second would be family and friends on the beach in Oregon (my home state) and eating fish soup.

THANKS MIA! On a personal note,  Mia is also a dear friend whose spirit has truly inspired me. Her heart and soul is complete gold.  Mo&Co can be found in specialty stores, Athleta.com (and catalogue) and moandcobags.com.

 

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2013!!!

Hello!

I know, I know, it’s been awhile. It’s been so long. It’s been so long that I grew some facial hair:

I don’t know what happens. Work, Deadlines, Holidays, dealing with colds, hurricanes, other various dramas…all while trying to be the best Mom I can be. Time slips by. More than ever, time seems to go by much too quickly. All the more reason why I need to get back on the ball by catching my breath every now and again. So I will get better at this blogging thing. Really, I will:)

Ok, so since I last wrote (yikes) 4 months ago…let’s see, I did finish my third Birdie book. Here’s a sneaky peek…

Hmm…Can you guess what it’s about?           I can honestly say that this is my favorite of the Birdie books as of yet. Mostly because I am getting slightly more comfortable with picture books. I mean, I still have A LOT to learn and want to get much better and all that, but for some reason, I felt a little more at ease telling this story and had fun. We’ll see…

So what else happened?

I went to the UN! I did some artwork for UNICEF to launch the “Education First” campaign. It was so cool-going thru all the security and being in a room full of Prime Ministers, Diplomats and Noble Peace Prize Laureates. And for the cherry on top of this wonderful honor, UNAIDS made me their inaugural “Artist In Residence”…crazy:)

Ok so onward…omg. Well, there was Hurricane Sandy! No power or internet for almost 2 weeks, Halloween canceled and life just on pause. But in the end, I feel so lucky…I was merely inconvenienced and can’t complain as there was so much tragic devastation that has affected so many. My heart goes out to anyone who experienced any loss or grief.

The next event following, that comes to mind was Thanksgiving. We spent a most lovely evening at our dear friends, the Blackmans’ home along with some other good friends. Then came December, which was a flurry of catching up with friends and family for the holidays. Charlie’s school had the most awesomest Holiday show ever! That’s him, the first little boy in the big sombrero complete with pet, pinata…

Then we went to Florida to visit my momma and celebrated her belated Birthday and an early Christmas. Back home, we enjoyed a quiet Christmas with our dear friends, the Solares’ (where my moustache pic was taken), then headed to my in-laws’ for some holiday fun, and back home for New Year’s Eve ..then back to back, we all got sick…and just recently do I feel somewhat settled…sheesh!        Well, at least it’s still January!

I’m starting a little project here where I’ll be “interviewing” creative or just interesting or just lovely people. Asking them ‘What moves THEM’… My first one will be with            Mia Scofield…stay tuned!

xo

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working ahead

Last night, I painted until 3am. Sadly, this is going to be my life for the next several weeks as I work on final art for Birdie’s Big Girl “#3″.

It’s crazy to think that for a book that will not launch until Febuary 2014 (!!)-my deadline is October 2012. Ah well, such are things. Luckily, I really love my job.

And with a tear sheet like this-I have nothing to complain about….

so here’s to 2014, xo

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Mangia! Mangia! Now!


Don’t you just LOVE when you cook something from a recipe that not only is crazy delicious BUT ALSO ends up looking like the photo of the dish in the book?

I do. I mean, eyeballs need to eat too-you know.

I borrowed this cook book, A Twist Of the Wrist, by Nancy Silverton from my momma-in-law just based on the cover picture (my eyes were starved). It was one of those nights and I wanted to cook… If you like creamy, savory, eggy pasta dishes-please try this:

Egg Pappardelle With Bagna Cauda, Wilted Radicchio and an Olive-Oil-Fried Egg
Serves 4

For the pappardelle and bagna cauda:
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
15 anchovy fillets
8 large garlic cloves, minced
¼ cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
12 radicchio leaves, torn into small pieces
Grated zest and juice of half a lemon
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
8 ounces egg pappardelle

For finishing the dish:
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
4 large eggs
Parmesan cheese
1 heaping tablespoon finely chopped flat-leaf parsley

1. To make the bagna cauda, place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil, anchovies and garlic and cook, breaking up the anchovies with a fork and stirring constantly, until the anchovies dissolve and the garlic is soft and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Turn off the heat, stir in the parsley, radicchio and lemon zest and juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

2. Prepare the pasta by bringing a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add enough kosher salt until the water tastes salty and return to a boil. Add the pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente.

3. To finish the dish, heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over high heat until the oil is almost smoking, about 2 minutes. Break 1 egg into a small bowl and pour into the skillet. When it just begins to set around the edges, break the second egg into the bowl and pour into the skillet. (By waiting a moment before adding the next egg, the eggs won’t stick together.) Repeat with the remaining 2 eggs. Cook until the edges are golden, the whites are set and the yolks are still runny.

4. Use tongs to lift the pasta out of the water and transfer it quickly, while it’s dripping with water, to the skillet with the bagna cauda. Place the skillet over high heat. Toss the pasta to combine the ingredients and cook for 1 to 2 minutes more.

5. Using tongs, divide the pasta among 4 plates, twisting it into mounds. Grate a generous layer of cheese over each. Place an egg over the cheese. Sprinkle the parsley over the pasta and serve with more grated cheese and pepper.

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Procrastinating

UGH… a lifelong issue. I have so much to do that I’m paralyzed. I thought I’d be proactive today and set my art space out on the deck and work outside. But it’s kinda’ worse…i just want an arnold palmer. Wish me luck. xo

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Bullseye

I LOVE Target.

To have worked on their ClubWedd campaign for 3 years was an honor and just so much fun. The culture there was amazing and the people were awesome.

I’m in the middle of some de-cluttering and organizing and found this ol’ fun nugget … It was an in-store animated spot created from my illustrations .  Now that I have this here blog-I figure this is a nicer place to file it away.

Enjoy! xx

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