Thursday, March 26, 2009

A sad day and A new computer and a little bit of old work

Last night, my iMac G5 kicked the bucket. I was trashed, sad and mad... and it turns out it is the logic board, and since it is almost 5 years old anyway - not really worth fixing. I hate that we are like that, but when you need up-to-date technology to make a go of it, you just do. SO I am doingmy part for the economy and buying a new macbook pro 17" laptop. Right now I am working on my 12"iBook that is almost 8 years old and still humming along quite well I might add! Though it has so little memory, I can't add anything to it, but it is great in a pinch, and since I need to wait a week or so to get my new baby - this is great. So, while I am on my old computer, maybe I will post some of my old stuff - just for fun...


Sunday, March 22, 2009

When we were walking down the road



I am doing my very first bookstore event this coming weekend. Today was my birthday and we decided to go to Belleville and toot around downtown for a bit, and we came to the bookstore - Greenley's books On Front Street (best bookstore ever), and they were starting to put up a window display of my book (okay, so I knew they were there, and wanted to see, but absolutely did not expect this!) Here are some pics, I am so honoured, and so very glad I am working with these folks, they are warm, friendly - and BOY do they know books. No website that I could find though - bummer.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Sticking and Painting




This is so much fun - and SO very different for me.. but here we are. This is after a couple of hours of painting and experimenting. These are photos, not scans, so in actuality the images are a bit brighter, but hey - this shows what I am doing. This paper is so gorgeous, I am thrilled to be able to use it. This is the first time ever I've been excited to show a work in progress.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

New Sketch for book set in the Gambia


I am working on a new book with one of my favourite authors to work with, and this book is a challenge - but a fun one. It is more research than I am used to, and a style I have always wanted to work in, but had not felt right up till this point. This is a very rough sketch of where I am going. Right now I am still working out the kinks, the characters and the setting, but I am excited... it is howeve, taking about 5 times longer than it usually takes me, but hopefully that will show in the end.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Tour Kick-off!

So, this morning I did my very first interactive play reading. That is what I am calling it anyway. Sixteen Kindergarten kids, and a whole lot of fun!

All the kids know me as Mowat's mom, and when I told them I made books, they went crazy. As I read, they were so nuts about the pictures and the story I could not believe it. I thought I needed gimmicks, I thought they would be BORED. But they were not. It was the best. It is the reason I do what I do - I just did not know it.

They were engaged and curious, respectful and bright. And did I mention INTO it?

I made a felt board and all sorts of creatures and veggies etc for talking about the book and gardens in general. My plan for interaction. This is the part I need to sort-of rethink. They loved it, but it was a little haywire. Some kids are so good at waiting their turn and others want in right away... I am thinking we will talk about the stuff - silly and not, and then I will put it up and then afterwards they can play with it in smaller groups. I will post a picture, it actually turned out pretty well. In small groups it would be rocking.

Then we talked about seeds, and we planted some. It got pretty dirty. I really want to be able to send the kids home with a little seed in dirt, so have now come up with a plan to make it more accessible, less messy and still get the same results. One little guy was convinced his magic bean had already started to grow.

I love this part.