Ces's Show of Love

Hello Friends,
So, like this morning I wake up at 2:00 am cause I couldn't sleep. I came to check out
the blog and maybe go and check on a few of you when I see this message from my
SisterFriend Ces of Cesandherdishes.
I've been a crying fool ever since. I have known Ces for a little over a year and half now.
I get that it's blogland. I really do. There are so many of you beautiful souls that
I have spoken to on the phone and emailed and I appreciate EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU.
You don't have to leave comments. Your lives are busy with other important things to
do, but you take time come and visit and it means sooooooooo much to me. I appreciate
every single comment and every visit. I am so very grateful to have and call you friends.
Ces, you will never ever know how this has touched me. I am so blown away by your
show of sisterhood and friendship. I will treasure this always. You have made me
feel soooooo very, very special. Again I am blessed to know you and have you in my life.
I look forward to meeting all of you someday. Thanks Ces again and again. You are going
to make me send you a ticket to Jersey he he he he! Hugs
V

Feed Me Doc

Dr. Lipshitz would be so involved in his lab
experiments that he would often forget to feed
Horton. Horton was a man eating monster. Poor Dr. Lipshitz
still doesn't have a clue. Have a wonderfully creative week.
Looks like it's going to be a short one for the Dr. he he he!

Janelle Monáe - Tightrope ft. Big Boi [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

Here is something to make you smile and dance around. I really love my music and really good music
at that. Here is a wonderful singer and dancer Named Janelle Monae. I call her the female James Brown.
I really love the the whole vibe of this girl. She has the 60's thing down pat and I am really digging it.
As many of you know I am a fan of Outkas and Janelle has been seen in one of their many videos.
I love the lyrics of the song very inspiring. Take a look and have a great weekend.
Kwan, You know your stuff Dude. Thanks!
Tip on the Tightrope!
he he he he he!!!!!

The Cleaners Lair ( Strange things in the Cupboard)

Uncle Roscoe knew that he to come clean
about his powerful minty freshness.
Truth is, He was Tammy's Candy pusher by day
and the Cleaner by night! Tammy was a nosey child.
She found Uncle Roscoe's Secret Lair in the Wardrobe.
Oh the shame.
Have a minty fresh week Y'all!

Okay, I got the chance to sneak out and quietly say, THANKS YOU GUYYYYYYYYYYYSSSSSS!!!!
Shoot.... I mean (Thanks everyone for you wonderful comments.)
They really keep me encouraged in so many ways. I so appreciate Y'all taking time to say something!
So today I want to thank Amalia x3, Anne, Eve, Krista, Ces,
Rachel, My twin brother Eric, Sontaswelt, Dot, Jane Wilson, Andrew Finnie, Bella, (if my butt
is missing please find it and sew it back on for me please?), Tamara H, Meagan C, Monica1,
Charmaine,(I'm so proud of you girly!), Atelier B., Amba, Lisa, Vanessa, Rmsmi, Shirley ( are your
fingers falling off yet??), K.H. Whitaker, Diva Diana, Tomas, Tl Holmes, Mechelle, Monica2, Cynthia,
Francisco the great!, Jack, DSM, Michael the talented, Justdoodleit, The Mighty Kwan Holler!, Skizo,
Donny baby, Kelly, Amba (thanks for following), Greg H. Artman, Peter b,( I found your
butt in my yard! I'll help you sew yours back on as soon as Bella fixes my butt!)
Okay I have to go back in, but I just had to come and say,"Hello to all you beautiful souls!"
I leave you with those devilish two, " Nanette and Mr. Wabbit." They are up to no good
again of course!

Hello

Pssssssssssss.... over here." K... don't tell my mama, but I sneaked out
just for a second to say,"THANK YOU Everyone!" K... let me lower my voice.
Thanks Everyone for your comments. I so appreciate you taking time to
leave one or two. I'll be back soon. I owe Y'all. Okay, I hear somebody
coming. Oh dangit! It's my mama! Now I have to drop my butt and run!!!!
Have a great week everyone!

Summertime Invite

Hey Family,
This is just a little invite I did for client. I also used it for the WAWE
post this week as well.
Well looks like I have to go under for a minute. Got lots
of fabulous work on my desk and I need to tend to it. Please don't be
to upset if I don't respond to your comments. I owe you one he he he!
Okay People, behave yourselves!!!! Hugs to you!
peace
VBN

Equipment

Nurse Karen and Nurse Gracy knew Dr. Lipshitz didn't have enough
"Equipment" to examine the poor sick creature. Poor Dr. Lipshitz,
didn't have a clue.

Everyday is Mother's Day (Remembering Mama)

I remember her smile and
butter brown skin.
I remember the swishing sound of her
silk slips and girdles as she walked to the kitchen.
I remember her pink handbag and matching shoes.
I remember her Diva like attitude.
I remember spankings and long talk
about being a girl.
I remember Bible lessons and singing.
I remember candy sweets and cornbread dressing.
I remember a house so clean you could
eat off the floor.
I remember your iron fist in a velvet glove
I remember your awesome love.
I remember all this and more. I remember all this and more.
Happy Belated Mother's Day

Letterpress at Intima Studio Studio On the Square

Hey There, I've been taking a letterpress course at Studio on The Square or Intima Press located in New York City.
I am loving each class! Letterpress is really big now and I see why. It's something so delicious about
cotton paper being pressed with an image. It's not embossed, but pressed into the paper. It's just beautiful
that's all I can say. I took letterpress many, many years ago in highschool. It's changed a little since then.
I wanted to learn the process over again and I really appreciate letterpress even more now.
If you live in New Jersey or New York and are interested in learning the art of Letterpress or
book making please feel free to reach out to this fabulous studio. Mindy is a wonderful and very knowledgeable instructor. No bad projects ever leave her press he he he he!
You can also email Mindy at intimapress@yahoo.com or call 917-412-4134


My illustrations as letterpressed images


Beautiful block letters for letterpressing

The Master Letterpress Artist Mindy Belloff of Intima Press New York

Abby and our fearless teacher Mindy

One of my very talented classmate. She is an awesome illustrator!
Abby and our fearless teacher Mindy

As Promised "Piccoli"

Here are the illustration from the book "Piccoli"
I just love them!!! The line work is amazing! I even love the end papers.
The illustrations are done in a few colors. You have full color and then
tone on tone and and monochromatic as well. I will treasure these
always! Hope they will inspire you too.
Have a great week!

Coocon

I was inspired by a rare children's book that I gifted to myself
called, "Piccola" Okay finding a copy of this amazing book is
not easy and it sure ain't cheap! Some people by the designer
shoes or handbags. I do rare children's books that I love.
I had to have this baby! It's a beautiful book. A collectors item.
I will post pictures of the story soon.
It is wonderful children's book about a boy and
a very tiny girl named Piccola. Piccooi is a girl who is so little that
she can sleep comfortably in a ordinary matchbox or sit curled up,
in a walnut shell. But she is unusually strong for her size.
She is also brave, enterprising , and ingenious-without being in
the slightest stuffy about it! I wish that Simon and Schuster would
reprint and bring it back. The illustrations are amazing. The book
is written by Phillppe Halsman and illustrated by one of my favorite
illustrators Paul Julian!!! Oh if you have ever watched Bugs Bunny you
have seen his before background work. Amazing!
Have a wonderful week!

Don't Let Auntie Mabel Bless The Table

Hey Everyone just wanted to let you know that "Auntie Mabel"
will be coming to store near you soon. I just found out today
that it will be released on my husbands birthday day July
28th 2010! If your family is as hilarious and crazy as mine
you and your children will enjoy the book! The book is
produced by Blue Apple Books and Chronicle.
Fish and Grits Y'all!

If's Ahead

Sure Richy was tall for his age and still wore his sneakers
on the wrong feet, but Zack and Tyrone
would put his over active pituitary gland to work
to get the trio Ahead.
Nobody dare step to these nerd boyz. These boys
had a wonderful relationship and even put a tall roof
on their tree just for Richy. Ain't frienship grand?

Strange Birdy

Have you ever just felt like you just don't fit in???
I would say I have been different the whole of my little life.
Question is why do we feel the need to fit in anyway???
At 46 year old, I feel the need to be honest and true
to myself. I feel that as illustrators and artist, before we ask
other people's opinions of our work, we need to have our
own opinion. Trying to please everyone and trying to fit in their box
makes me tried and zaps me of all my creative energy.
Sometimes being the strange birdy is what takes you to the next level.
I'm just saying...
Have a wonderful week everyone!!

A Day at the Brooklyn Library

Hello Everyone,
Boy did we have fun at the Brooklyn Library. As my daughter says, " It's the bestest place in the world!"
he he he he he!! We read and sang ,"Let Freedom Sing" and did a few songs from "Neo Soul Nursey Rhymes".
We had a ball! The children seem to really enjoy themselves and I even had them scatting along to
Spider Jazz he he he he!! They make great background singers. A very special thank you to Deloris and
Angeli from the library staff. You ladies are the bestest!!! To my sister Coy I love you sooooo much!
Rosa I love you girly your are the bomb! Thanks to all the beautiful children who came to share the day!
You guys were AWESOME!!!!!! I agree with my daughter the Brooklyn Library is the bestest place in world!

Scene from "Don't Let Auntie Mable Bless the Table"

Hello Everyone,
I finally caught a little break so that I could come out and play for a second.
It's really busy around here and we are happy about that!
This is a scene from a new book that I wrote and Illustrated called
"Don't Let Auntie Mable Bless the Table"
What happens when Auntie Mable blesses that table??
Havco and a little chaos is what! The guest get a little irritated
and hungry while Auntie Mable says the table grace and that's
all I can tell you right now. It will be in stores for the Thanksgiving
Holidays and is being published by Blue Apple Books.
I'll keep you posted. Have a great weekend!!

Cooking Up New Stuff

Hey There good People,
Just wanted y'all to know that I didn't fall off the planet.
Lots of work on my plate and that's a good thing!
Just need to take care of some work and I'll be coming around
again with some new stuff. Have a wonderful week you
talented people!
Eat, Pray, Create!
V

If's Rescue

Poor Pinky the 50 foot Python would need to be rescued many times in
his short life. He he he he!!
Have a wonderful week everyone!

If's Expired

Tanya and Mya's playdate would soon expire , but
there lasting friendship never would.
Good friends are a joy forever!