meet Warren!

Remember this sweet little face? And remember a couple months ago when I introduced you to Elijah and Brody? Well I finally just finished the third custom children's book of that trio of commissions! Meet little Warren! He's a good friend of our family (and my little sister's best friend). It took me ages to finish this little guy, plus in the middle of the process he got a new little sister so I wanted to incorporate that into his story! 

But now he's done, and not a minute too soon because...I'm going back to Florida... tomorrow! Disney World round two! Pretty stoked about this trip, it has been in the works for a couple months now and wouldn't be at all possible without the very generous help of my very sweet (and handsome) boyfriend. 

I may be on the the other side of the country but the blog won't be completely quiet. I have a Friday Feature coming later this week, there's the giveaway on Kitty and Buck also and I have a special surprise for Monday so make sure you keep an eye on the blog this week. 

There is also an interview that Shirley did of me over on Trees.Hides., one of the blogs I sponsored this month! Pop on over to check it out and show Shirley some love for such a nice interview/post!

Without further ado, meet little Warren! There are more photos of this little guy over on my website too. 

Want your own custom children's book for a special little someone? Check out my Etsy listing here. 

meet Elijah and Brody

Happy New Year everyone! Okay, I'm a few days late...our house has been in a constant state of hibernation since we returned from traveling. Which is very much welcomed, but also very hard to get back into a state of productivity. A tiny dilemma that I'm slowly remedying... 

It's about to get back into the full busy swing very soon. My lessons for Arts Outreach are starting up again next week. I'll be teaching two workshops, a 1st grade landscape/custom class and a 3rd grade mask making class. I'm a little scared of the mask making...seeing as it's not something I do very often but it will be a fun challenge. 

As you can see, I've also been making some changes to the blog. Like them? I really do! I love the old layout but this one feels much cleaner and new. I'm also brainstorming some new items for the Etsy shops and I'm finishing up some goals from the list, but more on all that another time...

I really wanted to do a peek at the custom children's books I've been working on! I started the illustration on the third today and then there are two I finished right before Christmas. All were commissioned by people I love and care about, which made them so much harder to finish! It's one thing filling a book with illustrations of people you don't know or imagined, but it's another level of stress when it's faces you know and care about. I'm really happy with how both the books turned out (and it sounds like the recipients of both loved them to tears as well!) so here's a little peek at Elijah's story and Brave Brody's tale!  

Hello Lumen, it's so lovely to meet you!

My baby is here! My first printed copy of Lumen arrived yesterday afternoon and I've been smitten with her ever since! I feel like she's my newborn child or something, I just want to take her around town and show off her cuteness to the world! I snapped some pictures of her this morning before I rushed off to paint a silo for a wedding (more on that tomorrow...)

I love having her in my hands. But even more, I want her in the hands of other people and their little ones. Which poses a very hard decision. Do I, A: self publish her and release her for sale through the Blurb bookstore, or B: send her off to publishers and simultaneously renew my old nail biting habit while I wait anxiously for their decision...but potentially gain a larger audience and the rights to say I'm a real published children's book writer and illustrator.

This is hard. I also just dropped a nice chunk of change on having some real prints made of a few of my illustrations to send to publishers before I leave. So really, what's pushing back sharing her with the world just a little longer....but I'm really far too impatient to wait much longer. This is REALLY hard. HELP!

Does anybody out there have any thoughts on this out there??? In the meantime, enjoy some cute little owl eye candy. 

I could get used to this page pretty easily...

children's books

Who knew today would be so productive? Of all days, a Monday?! Not only 2 posts in one day, my paper bag up-cycle is featured on Kitty's A Law Student's Journey AND I'm officially a registered member of the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators! I've been meaning to become a member for some time and today a catalyst arrived...or a lovely instance of kismet!

The wonderful fireball of a writer Kristen Faulconer walked into my work today and we started chatting about her SCBWI gear and within 10 minutes I was registered, inspired and had a list of writers and illustrators and conferences to look into! So nice when a great resource just walks through the door! I will also be meeting with a good friend and published illustrator, Bobbi Hunter, this week to get geared up on the children's book publishing world. Huzzah!

So! Children's books! Love 'em, always have. From cute little ones to unique contemporary ones, I love them all! I still hoard my old ones I had when I was little. I was obsessed with Calvin and Hobbes comics and anything by Bill Watterson (I'm still pretty obsessed...) and the illustrations in The Paper Bag Princess by Robert N. Munsch.

More recently, I've been in love with Jen Corace's illustrations in Little Pea and her series with Amy Krouse Rosenthal, as well as Suzy Lee's simple illustrations in her book Shadows.

 

So yeaaah.....there are some amazing, lovely and daunting shoes to fill out there in the children's book world...here we go!

The Adventures of Ross & Lola

New blog look! It was time for a change...I'm test driving this new look for the time being and so far I love it!


I've been working on a new book, involving my little lovely round owl, who is now named Lumen! She will be joined by some friends as well...this book will be made specifically for turning into a real book using Blurb so hopefully I can get that written/illustrated/printed & up on Etsy really soon!


In the mean time, it's high time I uploaded my latest commission book. This book was written for one of my friends from Italy, about her two children Ross and Lola, and their lives living between Italy and the United States.

It was another really fun book to write and illustrate, especially since I know a lot of their family and have spent a lot of time with these kiddos. Unfortunately, I was unable to get to a scanner before I took off so some of the photos are a little crummy...

Vabbè! Here are the Adventures of Ross & Lola!

 

There once was two children

named Ross and Lola

who split their home

between the US and Italia.

School years in the states,

full of Texas sun and thrills.

Then off to Castiglion Fiorentino,

tucked into the Tuscan hills.

Between Italian and English,

they made friends far and wide.

In vineyards and bluebonnet fields,

under enormous star filled skies.

As they grew older,

the need to travel stayed strong.

Off they'd jet together,

into the wild unknown.

Lola, the sweet little girl,

with personality like no other,

would charge into the wilderness

carefully watched by big brother.

Ross was their brave leader,

across all continents he'd lead.

From Asia to Europe, Africa and beyond,

the Versari siblings, wild and free!

But the duo would always come home

to be with their mama and babbo.

Bacini for all, buona notte a tutti,

until the next adventure tomorrow.

Dear Little Aubrey

Aubrey is completed! She is currently on her way to her new home in Nova Scotia. It's still a weird sensation putting one of these guys in mail, knowing I will likely never see this little creation ever again in person. Vabbe'.....

On to the story!

Dear Little Aubrey

Dear little Aubrey,

so big you have grown,

how sweet you have become,

all the promise you've shown.

But there’s so much more to do

and a lot more room to grow,

many great things for you to be

and grand places for you to go.

You could go abroad

and see everything far and wide!

Travel by plane, boat and caravan

with cousin Jesse, by your side.

You can see the world!

Oh, wouldn’t that be grand?

Aubrey, you can see it all,

from every ocean to far off land.

You two can be Prince and Princess

and travel all throughout the land,

make friends with all your people

but being sure to lend a hand.

You’ll fly with dragons, swim with mermaids,

ride horses ‘cross the plains;

and remember to write home

about all these places you have been.

And don’t forget my dear,

all the great things that you can be;

A great singer, artist or ballet dancer,

so many choices, don’t you see?

Or maybe be a teacher!

How proud your mom would be.

Miss Aubrey teaching her lessons,

how to count, one, two, three!

You are sure to be amazing

at whatever you choose to be.

Be it baking cakes or skydiving,

writing books or taming bees. 

Maybe singing in an opera,

or making friends with Kings and Queens.

Who knows, maybe you’ll be an astronaut

all by the time you’re three!

And you won’t have to go very far

to find people who love and care.

There’s always Mom, Dad, Tucker,

Aunt Jill and Jesse, who will all be there.

But right now, dear Aubrey,

seeing as you’re only one,

just be sweet, grow up slowly,

be a good girl and have fun!

more photos...

Little Aubrey peek!

My first commission from Etsy is nearly complete! I'm completely smitten with one of the illustrations so I had to share it. And I think it's pretty applicable to Illustration Friday's theme this week: mesmerizing...
So! Here is a peek at "Dear Little Aubrey," while she is busy being an astronaut and charming bees.

A Sister for Mongo

Tyler's tale, A Sister for Mongo, is done and on its way to the states now!

I'm also using the first illustration for Illustration Friday's theme this week: sweep

(I'm thinking Mongo looks pretty swept up in the summer weather....just as I am here...)

A Sister for Mongo

Mongo was a happy dog, as happy as they come,

There's nothing he enjoyed more than laying in the sun

Or rolling in the grass, with Mom and Dad nearby,

Then lazily drifting away while watching clouds go by.

But as happy as he was, something was not right,

He'd toss and turn as he went to sleep at night.

Mongo loved his Mike and Erica, but something was not there,

He was sure of this, from his big wet nose to the last shiny tail hair.

He loved his furry friends but Mongo wanted someone new.

Someone kind, possibly his size, and to grow old with too.

Maybe throw a ball for him, the simple things he liked,

Someone to love and pet him, and sleep next to through the night.

Then, one joyful day, Mongo learned he'd get his wish!

Mom and Dad announced he would soon have a baby sis,

A sweet little girl to add to their happy family.

Mongo danced around and could hardly contain his glee.

Patiently he waited for the day she would come home.

Quietly he watched as Erica's belly continued to grow.

Day in and day out, Mongo sat cheerfully and dreamed,

Of his new little sister friend, how grand it all seemed.

Then on a beautiful summer day, Mongo got the call,

He barked and shared the news, with everyone and all.

"Her name is Tyler! She's coming home, it's time to behave my best

For my tired Mom and newborn sis need a quiet home to rest."

Mongo was so happy when he saw her tiny face,

Glowing and smiling, surrounded by delicate lace.

He was excited for the future and all the love they'd share;

Tyler's big brother, always by her side, to protect and to care.

the end

Liam's Adventures!

At last! Liam is complete and ready to be shipped off to the states! I want to enjoy him for a little while longer before I may never see this little guy again. I've loved working on him but it is time to move on to other projects more in depth....So here is my latest little guy before he makes his next adventure to the states and then home to Australia!

Liam was a little lad who dreamed both far and wide,

to travel across all seven oceans and up great mountain sides.

He hoped to ride a camel 'cross the sparse Moroccan plains,

then traverse the African jungles in a jolly caravan.

After dining one night in Rome, with no less than the Pope,

Liam would then catch a flight to go ski an Alpine slope.

A quick trip to Paris, the lunch atop the Great Wall,

before a flight back west to see London's Royal Halls.

He'd then cruise South America aback a vintage motorbike,

being sure to make a stop for a brief Peruvian hike.

From San Francisco to New York, Madagascar to Tripoli,

there surely is no place too far for Liam's need to see.

After it all, he'd return safe to his cozy Australian home

and tell of all the places he was lucky enough to roam.

He'd chat all day with Annie and Lee then sleepily drift away,

back into his jet plane to explore all through the next day.