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!

Taste The Raindow

The O'Leary twins always looked forward to St. Patrick's Day!!!
They got to eat all the cabbage and corn beef they wanted
which gave them the gassy lift they needed to taste the rainbow.
It's raining Shamrocks and Skittles Yall!
He he he he!!

They Draw and Cook

Hey Family,
I have to tell you all about this wonderful new site called, "Theydrawandcook.com"
It is a most wonderful site! They are looking for artist who can draw and of course cook i.e. the name.
I got a delicious email from Nate Padavick . He and Salli Swindell
of Studiosss.com run the delicious site!
He invited me to do a piece. I did my Geechee girl's Low Country Red Rice Recipe with some illustrations.
I have to tell yall it was fun, fun, fun!!! The most fun I've had in a while. This girl enjoys food and art.
What is more divine than food and art??? I love it! My blogger pal the very talented
and hilarious Michael Robertson of Sambaforrats.blogspot.com
did the most Fabulous work of art that you have got to see!
If you get the chance go and check it out. You won't be sorry!
It's an illustrator's and Foodie's dream come true! he he he he he!!!
Shrimp and grits Yall!

Remembering Renee

Alas our beloved Renee is finally at rest. Out of that pain
wreaked body and now at peace. I will always remember her
as being totally talented and told it as she saw it! I pray that God
will be bring healing to her family and friends and give us all
peace where she is concerned. I believe Renee is in a wonderful
new home and wouldn't returned if we all begged her too.
It's way to peaceful and beautiful. Rest in peace darling.
Love you
Nester

Old School

These are things that my childhood was made of.
Long games of Jacks and Pixie sticks. Hours of trying to fix
my paddle and ball. There was no time to be a couch potato
because we played hide and seek for hours on end. Stick
and Kick ball until the street lights came on. My daughter
and her cousins want to sit around and play video games all
day long on Saturdays, but they are in for some good ol'
Old school running around until your butt falls off kind of fun!
Yeah I know they'll hate me for the moment, but they will thank
me later the little Stinkers. Have a good one everyone!!

Playing with Collage

Well, thanks to all you fabulous dancers the snow that was promised
never ever came. Only a little rain and I actually welcomed it.
Your dancing feet worked like magic! he he he he! Thanks family.
This is a collage test piece that I am working on for a possible
project. I will be doing a collage style book in a couple
weeks and I just needed to get my feet wet. All my books
have been digital up until now. I adore being able to work
digitally and traditionally as an illustrator, but collage will always be
my first love.
It's fresh and free and organic. I plan to take this week off
from working on projects and do some free collage work.
I'll let you know how it all comes out. Have a great week family!

Bella, Eric, Ces and Peter Doing The Dance

My weather man tells me that Jersey will be getting hit once
again with SNOW. Now, I Have sent grass skirts and coconuts bras
to my family and friends to prevent this snow from coming.
Yes,we believe that there is a snow dance that will prevent snow
from coming! Oh, never heard of it?? This is because it's an
old family secret. Okay so it won't actually stop snow from coming, but
it's hilarious as heck! Here is an illustration I did showing Bella, Ces
Eric and Peter doing the dance! That's right people!! Shake what
Yo Mama's gave you! he he he he he!!! Now if it still snows like they
say it will, then you people haven't shaken it hard enough. You don't
want to see me shake it! Honestly, you don't.
Have great weekend!

What Nester DId on a Very Snowy Day

">l=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344">

No More Snow Please Lord

Gosh, Jersey is being hit with a nice storm. I've had my fill

of snow. I need spring. Stay safe and warm and very creative!