Ruth Chew books reissued

 I'm a bit late on the news, but I am so excited to hear that Ruth Chew books are being reissued! I've mentioned before how I adored them as a child and so happy that a new generation of children will get to enjoy them like I did.

Now if they would only bring back the Jeanne-Marie books  I would be perfectly happy. Or at least I could stop looking on eBay for them.

fortune cookie friday

"If there are no clouds there will be no rain."
-Chinese Proverb

A Girl Scouts StoryTeller

All the way in December, which seems like years ago,  a videographer came to film me for a little movie for the Girl Scouts. When they first requested the filming, I was completely honored however I was also in a bit of a quandary about where to shoot. Should I wait until the studio was set up in the new house? (Good thing I didn't as it's still not set up yet). Would we be able to clean the studio to a degree of decency in the apartment? In the end, Lexan, the understanding videographer filmed me strategically in the living room so that we would only have to straighten up a few shelves.
Here's how the video turned out:



Thank you, Lexan! Thank you, Girl Scouts!

keeping in touch with old friends

One of the things I am worried about moving is that I'll lose touch with old friends. Already with Rain Dragon, I have a hard time doing anything--from changing clothes in the morning to answering e-mails. But, I want to try to make more of an effort to actually see people.

So in Andover, after a school visit in the area (so maybe that doesn't count as making an effort!) Rain Dragon and I went to visit my good friend Elaine (she recently signed a contract for her first children's book with Chronicle!) and her granddaughter:

And then, a couple weeks later Rain Dragon and I took the subway to see good friends and oh-so-talented authors Mitali Perkins and Justina Chen for breakfast:

Yes, we traveled a whole 15 minutes.  So maybe that doesn't really count as making an effort either. But in both instances we had to get out of our pajamas! Don't we earn something for that?

Not that it wasn't worth it, of course. It was great fun and we can't wait to see them (and other friends) again. But we might stay in our pajamas...

on my desk monday

At night, when the baby is sleeping and packing is too noisy, I've been experimenting with my Star Baby book idea. I remember an editor telling me once a long time ago that every time and illustrator has a baby he/she changes his/her art style. I'm not sure if that's completely true--I don't know if I want a permanent change--but I do understand the sentiment because I've been playing around with some new art styles, trying to see if anything sticks. This one is a return to watercolor, which I haven't done since college:

We'll see where it goes!

fortune cookie friday

"A friend made is a road paved; an enemy created is a wall built."
-Chinese Proverb

Original Art Trunk Sale

As you know, I'm moving! One of the things I've been thinking about is lightening my flat files. They are just stuffed with art and I can't fit anything else in. It's time to make an art purge!

But what to do? At first I thought I'd just give it all to an archive like the Dodd Center  but it does seem a little sad to think of all of it just sitting in a vault (not that it's doing much more in my flat files). I'd love the art to be seen and enjoyed.

Then, my good friend Janet Wong suggested that I have special online "trunk sale" of my artwork for schools and librarians. I could offer them  the opportunity to purchase my art at a discounted price, it  would be displayed instead of put in a vault AND I it would be financial aid for our move!

The first 12 pieces will go on sale in a couple of weeks and I'm making a special list for it. If you are a teacher or librarian* and would be interested in purchasing my art, please sign up to be on the list HERE. There will be a choice to be on my newsletter list or the trunk sale list---make sure you click "Original Art Trunk Sale"  to be on the list but feel free to sign up for both (I have special giveaways on my newsletters, too).

Please spread the word! If you are a PTO member, please let your teachers and librarian know and have them get on the list! Tell your public librarians. I'd love for my art to be at your library!


*if you are a collector yourself, you are welcome to put yourself on the list, too. 

My last booksigning at Porter Square Books!

I'll be signing and reading at Porter Square Books on Saturday, March 23 at 6pm in support of the Cambridge Friends School.  Come and support a great school and bookstore--Porter Square Books will donate 20% of all sales at the event to the Cambridge Friends School Fund!

Also, this will be my last event at Porter Square Books before I move away (sob). So this is the perfect chance to get any personalized autographed books of mine! Pre-ordering is advised as I might not be able to stay long (Rain Dragon has an early bedtime!).

on my desk monday

on my desk today is....NOTHING!

We're doing the first "wave" of our move! We got one of those pods:

and it's full of my studio...and some other things:

There's still a lot left to pack, though. This is going to take a while...

Rain Dragon says, " Don't forget to move me, too!"

fortune cookie friday

"Happiness is something to do, something to love, something to hope for."
-Chinese Proverb