A dolly & spring pants for Amani

A box went out in the mail today for Amani - I hope she likes her dolly!
xo

Welcome Amani!

A little 6" x 8" painting on gessoed wood, for my new baby niece Amani. I can't wait to meet her!

Christmas 2012

 Okay it's about 2 months late, but here's my sweet tree this year...

And a mini tree, complete with working lights, sent from Ms. Sandy Claus, for the wee forest folk.
It's a long time back now, but I hope everyone had very happy holidays! xo

Mousekins fan letter

i received a cute fan letter today by snail mail (yay!).
(the sender's info has been removed for privacy).

she writes exactly like i did at her age -
switching out with multiple colors of felt-tip pens.
so fun!

sneak peek

a peek at a new piece for january's issue of High-5 magazine...

it's hard to believe that cold weather is on it's way -

we're having such a glorious extended summer here in seattle! xo

i'm experimenting with surfaces on which to create the line for my next book.

i want a soft thick line that varies. i really want it to resemble Mo Willem's line in his Amanda & her Alligator books (they're the best!!), but i'm pretty sure he used a Cintiq - maybe some day i'll get one. meanwhile, this is Borden & Riley parchment trace.
i like it okay...
xo

mothers' day memories

 Here's my funny little mom between her 2 big sisters, just starting her life...

 and here about 30 years later, nearly smack in the middle, with 3 kids of her own....

and here about 30 more years later, her body ravaged by MS, and not too many years from the end, but still vital & interested. And for all her debilitation, she never had a gray hair!

She was excited by animals, nature, and flowers until the very end in Feb '08. Sending you a whole Field full of flowers today mom. Miss you, love you. xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxxoxo