Hello Folks, Hope that all of you are enjoying this wonderful summer. It's been hot and humid and buggy and exciting. I wanted to share with you all a new book released just yesterday called, "Think Big". I am so excited about this one. I had fun working on it. Liz G. Scanton is the author of this wonderful book. She is about the sweetest person ever. Bloomsbury gave me all the creative freedom I wanted. Thanks so much for giving me some freedom and liberty on this project. I wanted to share some illustrations with you from the project. I will be posting some pieces for you to see. Hope this will brighten your day. Thanks to all of you beautiful people for you kind words and visits to this blog. Thanks for all your awesome energy. Shalom

Something I did a long time ago for a children's magazine. Happy Friday, Shalom

Have a swinging week everyone!

Hey Everyone, Hope that all of you good people are doing well. It's been a super long time since I've written or posted anything here. Life is moving at such a fast pace and I have been working and finishing up project after project. I wanted to personally thanks each and everyone of you Beautiful folks who come to visit my blog and leave such encouraging and sweet comments. Thank You all from the bottom of my heart. It is my joy to know and even speak to some of you. I'm going to be coming around to your blogs and leaving you all some love. Thanks for the support cause it means soooooo much! Beauty is just not a skin thing, it's a heart thing. You guys have beautiful hearts sho'nuf! Best to you all and hope that you are enjoying your summers! Shalom

Happy Father's Day! Have a great weekend. Shalom

Just something to make you smile! You look so much better when you do. Have a great week folks.

Cedella Marley has written and adapted another book to add to her growing list of children's books. This one is called, "Every Little Thing." It is the follow up to her previous children's book, "One Love." This book is loosely based on her father song, "Three Little Bird." I had the pleasure of doing the illustrations for this book as well. I wanted to show you a few spots, but the publishers would prefer I wait. I will keep you all posted. Have a great weekend.

One of my favorite movies is,"The Read Balloon." I really don't know why. It's just so sweet and and moving I guess. I just had to capture the moment with an illustration. You know how it is? All you dyslexic folks know what I'm takin' bout. Have a wonderfully sweet day! Shalom

IF's Hitched

They were the very best of friends so they decided to love each other's and grow old together. Didn't take long for them to get hitched.

You are always greater than you think you are. What doesn't kill you makes you fat for the journey. Keep your heads up and run to your destiny. Positive ramblings from a under my rock. Have a great week people!

Character study Have a wonderful weekend.

Hello Friends,
Yeah I know, I've been missing in action. I'm still here
under my pile of work, but I came out just to share
another piece that didn't make it into a book.
I did this piece for the new, Billie Holiday book
that will be coming out this fall. Sometime certain
pieces just don't make the cut. While this one didn't
I still adore it. Hope you like it. Have a wonderful
week everyone!

Mr. & Lady Cover Art

Hello Wonderful people!
I know it's been a while, but I'm up to
my neck in work right now. It's been
super busy around my little studio which is
a good thing. I have been working on a wonderful
book about the late Billie Holiday and her sweet
dog named, "Mister". I am finished with the
inside art, but we have been working on the
cover art over the past couple of weeks.
It's not as simple as just drawing something
and passing it in and everyone saying" It's beautiful
let's use that. It's perfect!" Nope, I presented this cover
and it didn't make the cut. They had something else
in mind for the cover and I will keep that under wraps
for now. The book is due out this fall. I will keep you
posted. I wanted to share with you the artwork.
Hope that you all are having a wonderfully creative
week!
Shalom

Magic Trash at the Smithsonian

Hello All,
The Smithsonian Magazine for Kids featured, "Magic Trash"
way back in Dec 2011. "Magic Trash" also made Michigan's Notable Book List.

"Think Big" is one of the newest picture books that
I've been working on with Bloomsbury Books.
Award winning writer Liz Garton Scanlon is the amazing
author of the book. Liz encourages kids and parents to
of course, "Think Big", but about what? About art of course!!
The arts are slowly disappearing from our schools.
It's so important that we get our kids making all kinds of art.
Through dance, paint, music and yes even food. Come along
as Liz and I take you and your kid on a wonderful journey
through the arts! Due in store in early July 2012.

TDAC Entry for Kraft

Hello Hungry People.
I am such a big, big fan of, "They Draw and Cook!"
I adore the site and all that fabulous artwork and food.
Did I mention the food?? The recipes are awesome.
Kraft foods asked "TDAC to host a contest. I just entered.
Read all about the contest on their site.
Okay good people, it's back to my hole.
Hugs to you all.
Me.

Back to the Lab

Inspired by all things retro and mid century,
I played around and came up these.
I'm still under my rock, but took sometime
to do a few doodles just for fun.
When I finally open my Etsy Store
I will be selling these a prints.
Okay, back to the lab to do some
work.
Have great week people!

Wishing you the sweetest weekend ever!
Thanks beautiful people for stopping by
and leaving such nice words. I promise to
stop by and visit you all as soon as I crawl
out from under my rock.
Have a sweet day!

It's amazing what a song can do.
Sing
Sing a song,
make it simple
to last your whole life long
don't worry that it's not good enough
for anyone else to hear
just sing
sing a song
Have a great week folks,
Shalom

The Best Kind of Oreo

The best part of life is having good friends and good friends that
become family, is even better.
My sister Coy and I always wanted a baby brother.
My Mom gave birth to a stillborn baby boy.
We named him Allan. Allan would have been
35. No one will ever take Allan's place, but
we have been blessed to have a wonderful
addition to our family. He came when we
where all in our 40's. He was raised by his own
wonderful family. Now adopted by us,
we get to have him as our very own brother.
This is the best kind of Oreo!
Love you guys

Just Passing Through

Hello Wonderful people! I know it's been a super long time.
I have been working and not doing much blogging at all.
Just came through to remove the cobwebs and put up
something new. Sending all of you a BIG 'OL SLOPPY hug
until I get back. Hugs all around!
Peace out,
me

Baby Faces

A baby book I did over the summer.
Will be available this summer.
Have a great week!

Fun with Handlettering

As some of you have noticed I have been posting a lot of late.
Only because I will be back on the work clock in a second or two.
I just wanted to spend a little time blogging with my friends.
I so appreciate ALL OF YOUR VISITS and COMMENTS. I really do.
Forgive me if I don't get back to you. I try. Mostly I always want
to leave you feeling good and inspired. The world takes so much
out of us. Leaving us empty and frustrated and sometimes depressed.
I encourage you to put back some joy by caring for you. Do something
you want to do. As said in the movie" The Help"," You is kind, You is
smart and you is important." You really are. Thanks for stopping by.
Have a great week.

Weekend Fun

I find that I am my most creative at 2:00 am.
For the last couple of nights I haven't been
able to sleep. It could very well be that I needed to
get these characters and plushies out of my
head. Have a wonderfully creative and restful weekend
Y'all!

Have A Great Weekend

Finding Ways to Make It Happen

What would happen if we stopped waiting to be discovered
and discovered ourselves and did what made us happy??
Find a way to do you PLEASE! And Hurry up cause we're
waiting! Find a way to make your dreams happen.
Have a wonderfully creative week my friends.

A Little Birdie Told Me

A little Birdie told me to tell you that,
your hard work is going to pay off in a big way.
I know it's 2012 and the things that you've been
waiting for seem so far off, but really you are
just were you need to be. All is well and all will be
well.

Oh You Fancy Now

Sometimes it's just nice to dress up for
YOURSELF PEOPLE! Time to do you.
Have a great day!
Illustration from the
Fashion Post card Collection

Happy New Year to YOU!

To Every single blogger friend new and old, Happy New Year
to YOU ALL!
Thank you so much for every wonderful visit and comment.
Your visits and comments mean so very much to me and
I am humbled that you would even bother to take time out
of you busy worlds and even drop by. I wish each of you much
joy , laughter, grace, prosperity, happiness and creative flow.
I hope that this year will blow last year completely out of
the box! Keep your head up and dream big! Anything can
happen! Anything at all. Sending you all the biggest hug
I can muster!
Best and Shalom

Happy Holiday's Friends

I know that I have been missing around blogland.
So sorry about that. It's been a super busy year and that's a
good thing honestly. I just wanted to say to all my blogger
buddies, "THANK YOU GUYS!" You have made this year such
a joy and pleasure. Sending each and everyone of you best
wishes and prayers for a creative holiday season
and New Year! Keep making it do what it do!
Best to all.
Shalom

Drum Roll Please.......

Morning Wonderful People!
Well today is the day I make my announcement of the winner
of Oohlaladesignstudio's first ever contest! So sorry everyone
couldn't win, but thanks to each and everyone of you who came
by to share your favorite comfort foods. I have gained 100 pounds
just reading each and every one of 'em! Okay drum roll please.......
the winner of a TDAC Cook Book and Chef print is.....
ROBERTA BAIRD!!!!! "Tell her what she's won Bob"
CONGRATULATION Roberta, You have won a beautifully illustrated cookbook,
provided by the folks over at They Draw and Cook! Salli and Nate!
There are also five additional winners who will receive a print of
the Little Chef Girl.
Congrats to
Ben Clanton
Trauma Newell
Christy
Gwendoulash
Nita Jo
Thanks to ALL of you for your comments and
visits. I so appreciate each and everyone of you.
Stay tune there will be one more contest coming up
before the year is out so keep your eyes peeled.
Best to you all of you for a wonderful holiday season.
Shalom

Happy Born Day Eli Allan Newton

We have a new addition to our already huge family.
Eli Allan Newton. We are super happy that Eli is here
safe and sound with us. Congratulations Al and Rene!
This is a little illustration I did for Eli's room.
Best to you all of you.
Shalom

Wishing all of us Seasons Greetings.
Thanks for entering the contest and
remember I will be announcing the
winner on Dec 5th 2011. Hope you win!
Have a great week everyone!

Ooh La La Design Studio's First Ever Contest With, TDAC

Hey Beautiful People!
Are you hungry?? Well then you've stopped at
the right blog. Welcome to Ooh La La Design Studio's
first EVER, contest! It's painfully simply folks. I would
really love to know what are your favorite comfort foods?
Is it chicken pot pie, or mac and cheese? Maybe beef
stew or quiche? How about Shrimp and grits?
Or maybe Ho Ho's or a Funny Bone?
Whatever it is just share it in a comment left here.
You have the chance to win a lovely cook book from,
"They Draw and Cook" which I am featured in, as well
as a limited addition print of The Little Chef Girl".
I love "They Draw and Cook" it's a fabulous website that
has helped me embrace the foodie inside me. Over 100
illustrators share their love of art and food in this wonderful
book. So please join me and I will randomly select the
winner from a bowl and post it on Dec 5th,2011.
"They Draw and Cook" is also available at Amazon.com
Wishing you all cheesy goodness all month
long.

Happy Birthday Zoe

Hey there Zoe,
Happy Birthday my baby girl!
Today you are 11 years old and I still can't believe it.
I wanted to let you know how special and beautiful
you. You are my Sunshine and joy. I am so to be your
Mommy. YOU my girl are the bestest part of life.
There is greatness in you so run to your destiny!
Love,
Mommy

Remember when going to the toy store was fun?
I loved going to the toy with my parents. We'd
start going right about this time of year so they could
get some since of what my sister and I wanted for
Christmas. There is something so charming about the
mom and pop toy stores back in the day
that you don't find with the big chain stores.
I often find the toys that I played with as a child and
the most beautiful pictures books in places like these.
When I grow up I am going to have a huge toy store
for grown folks who still like to play Battleship, Operation,
Trouble, Jacks and Paddle ball. Big babies who still
love Radio flyers, Dawn dolls, Flatsies,and model airplanes.
And less we forget the eye damaging Klick Klacks!
No bells and whistles or electronics just your fabulous imagination
to make it all work he he he he! Have a wonderful week everyone!

Be Kind To Someone Week

Hey there,
It's Be Kind to Someone Week.
Yes indeed it is. Oh, so you haven't heard
about it?? Well that would be because I just
made it up. So lets be kind! Yeah... go ahead
and speak to that nasty little old lady who
tells you" Hey get off my grass?" Be kind to
the postman by keeping your dog away from
him. Find another way to get your laughs. And
for Pete's sake keep your comments about
Aunt Ada's wig to yourself. Find something
nice to say about it. Man up people and be
kind to someone. Anyone! LOL!

Saturday Morning Doodles

Doodles in my head now on paper.
Hope that you're having a wonderifical weekend!
Shalom

Berthas, Bettys and Belluahs

Hello Friends,
I know it's been a long time. Between falling down,
working, death, and life, it's been really busy.
I live for my weekends and this is what I did
on Sunday morning. As many of you already know,
I am a Geechee Girl or Gullah Geechee.
I come from a long line of strong men and woman who
all could either cook, sing, dance, preach, or tell
a tale. In honor of my Great Grammy , Grammy and mom
I did this collage called Berthas, Bettys and Bellauhs named
after some of the woman in my family.
I adore the Russian nesting dolls, but I have never seen
any African american ones, SO, I made my own, but started
it out as this collage piece.
Can't wait to show you the nesting dolls. It's a weekend project
so it won't be for a while. Hope that all of you are
doing well and being creative. Sending you all
the positive energy I can muster up.
Have a great week!
Shalom

Filler Up Please

If we fill them up now with love, knowledge, self esteem, manners ,
creativity and imagination then the world can't drain
the life out of them.
It's time for self care. When we are filled to overflow,
then we will have enough to share with others.
We can't keep giving out of our empty places.
I hope that you show yourself some love and care on
today. Take some much needed time for yourself.
I'm just saying......
Shalom