Merry Christmas!

Three Wise Men Card

2014 Tomie DePaola Contest Entry

Here's my entry for the 2014 Tomie DePaola Contest:

This was the prompt:

Over the past few years, the picture book seems to be geared more towards the very young crowd. With this in mind, here is this year's task:

Illustrate a poem (see below) in full color for a book of poems that will be "pitched" to parents to read to their babies, toddlers, etc.

Poem: 

Sneeze

A sneeze

Is a breeze

In

Your

Nose.

Specs:

8" x 8", full color, full bleed or border, any medium except photography.

Advice:

·       Keep in mind that we are a country of diverse ethnicity.

·       The target age is two months to two years.

·       Gender is up to the illustrator.

·       Addition of type is not necessary, but be sure to leave space so the poem will appear on the same page as the illustration.

Once again (and I really mean this) PLEASE surprise me.

Good work, best of luck, and have an inspiring time. It is all about the work. 

Wish me luck!

Portland Christmas Bazaar

This December I got to participate in a Christmas Bazaar in Portland.  I had a great time meeting and talking with A LOT of fantastic people.  One of those fantastic people was my next-door booth buddy, Kari of Hippie Chick Jewelry and Design.  I had a great time chatting with and getting to know Kari, her mom, and her daughter.  They really made my time at the bazaar a fun experience.  Kari is also a very talented jewelry designer, and you should check out her Etsy shop here.  

Booth Set-Up

Booth Set-Up

Booth Detail

Booth Detail

Booth Detail

Alice in Wonderland Paper Dolls

I've always loved the story of Alice in Wonderland, and so I've finally completed a set of Alice in Wonderland Paper Dolls, featuring The Cheshire Cat, Dinah (as a kid, I always thought that Dinah should have gone with Alice into Wonderland), The Mad Hatter, The Caterpillar, and of course, the White Rabbit, who has his own little change of clothes!  Also included is a Wonderland backdrop, two outfits, a white rose tree with red paint can and brush, "Drink Me" potion, "Eat Me" cakes, and a tea pot and two cups.  This set is for sale in my Etsy shop here.  

Happy Halloween!

Pumpkins!!

For Halloween this year, CJ and I went to the Roloff Farms, of "Little People, Big World" fame.  We picked out a pumpkin, had a picknic, and had a blast!

CJ and I at the Pumpkin Patch

The Pumpkin Patch

We later carved some pumpkins with some friends of ours.

Our Jack-O-Lanterns (my pumpkin is on the far left, and CJ's is the third from the right)

Multnomah Falls

To get away this weekend, CJ and I returned to a favorite hiking location, Multnomah Falls.  We hiked the Wahkeena Loop Trail, and were able to see a bunch of gorgeous falls.  

Multnomah Falls

Fairy Falls

Beautiful Spot on the Hiking Trail

Portland Zoo

For our anniversary, CJ and I returned to one of our favorite places in Portland, the Portland Zoo.  

Adorable Otter

Some Fancy Flamingoes

Giraffe

A Couple of Hippos Playing with a Large Red Ball

A Massive Rhino

CJ in front of the Hippo Enclosure

A Caracul - My New Favorite Cat 

Baby Elephant!

In Front of the Elephant Enclosure

Polar Bear Making His Rounds Around His Enclosure

Three Cute Black Bears

A Cute Bobcat

Newport and the Oregon Coast Aquarium

For my birthday CJ and camped overnight at the South Beach State Park in Newport.  We also visited the Oregon Coast Aquarium, where we had a great time looking at all of the cute aquatic creatures.  On our way back to Forest Grove we stopped by the Devil's Punchbowl, where we were lucky enough to see a whale surface.  

Newport

Adorable Otter

Next to a Leopard Seal

One of the walk-through aquariums

Some Exotic Fish

Some Beautiful Jellyfish

Giant Pacific Octopus

Devil's Punchbowl

Coastline at the Devil's Punchbowl

CJ and I at the Devil's Punchbowl

  

Woodland Paper Dolls

I've been working on a set of Woodland Paper Dolls that are Scandinavian-themed, and I recently got them back from the printers.  This is an extended play set that includes a forest backdrop, three outfits, a bear, fox, owl, raccoon, squirrel, beaver, skunk, field mouse, Cardinal, Blue Jay, rabbit, and a Gnome, who has his own little change of clothes! I am very happy with the high quality print results (I use Moo to print my printed goods), and am excited to announce that they are for sale in the shop here.