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