What Goes Around

This is too wonderful. I had a customer from Finland who was trying to purchase my fabrics in my Etsy store. She had some troubles with Paypal and we were both disappointed that we could not figure out an easy way for her to make the transaction. I decided to send along some fabrics to her anyway, as she was so disappointed. She was thoroughly surprised and sent me this lovely package in the mail. Little did she know - it arrived on my birthday - what a great birthday treat! Check out these fabulous Finos Finlaysan fabrics all the way from Finland, now there is some alliteration for you! Check out the way cool Marimekko box the fabrics came in.









Thanks again Pirjo!

Newsworthy

Amy (badskirt), talented maker of this bird mobile, has a fabric mobile tutorial on the sewmamasew site.

I am also on twitter now - I will be posting fabric updates and give aways if you want to follow along.

Fun Owl Fabric Project

So, I got an e-mail with these fab photos. I think this is one of the best projects I have seen using my fabrics, or well, any fabrics.
How cool is this?





It reminded me of my son's third birthday, when one of my closest friends (whose son was my son's best friend) made a teepee for his birthday party.

Two little blonde headed, hand holding summer boys, a field, and a teepee. They were SOOOO excited. Blissful memory.

Happy Birthday To Me Giveaway

Hey, it's my birthday weekend and I am giving you a gift.... I have two bird garden Spoonflower fabric panels that I will be giving away. Just leave me a sweet comment and I will randomly pick two winners. Check for the announcement next Wednesday, the 25th.

Here is what you get:



GOOD LUCK!

More Forest Animal Quilts

Cherri House reworked the Girl Power Quilt with the new Forest Fun fabrics. Here are the instructions. Don't they look great?

Wizards of Waverly Place - Helping Hand Promo

Did anybody happen to see this show yesterday? My On A Whim owl fabric popped up on the show. Thanks to Michelle for sharing the news with me.

Quilts for Kids Fabric Collection Sneak Peek

(click to see enlarged)

Release Date for reps is April 2009 and the fabrics will be available to retail customers August 2009.

I met the founder and president of Quilts For Kids, Linda Arye at the Quilt Market in Portland last spring. Quilts for Kids is a not for profit agency that provides quilts for needy children. Here is their mission statement:
"Quilts for Kids, Inc. transforms discontinued designer fabrics into quilts that comfort children with cancer, AIDS, and other life-threatening illnesses as well as battered & abused children. Our goal is to link design centers nationwide to their communities, so that children in need in those regions may be served."

I was asked by Linda and Robert Kaufman if I would be interested in helping them develop a line of fabrics for this cause. The line will be in stores in August - dogs, cats, monkeys, turtles and friends, safari panels, and fun coordinating geometrics.

Purchase of these fabrics will go to a great cause! It is a bit of a wait but stay tuned for more information as we get closer to the release date.

New Quilt Shop in Town

I just got a lovely phone call from Meeta in the Atlanta area. She just opened up a new quilt shop called Patchwork Cottage in Lawrenceville. If you are a local reader of my blog go check out her shop. (the store website will be up beginning of March.)
She was so excited to share that she is carrying the new Forest Fun collection from Robert Kaufman and it is selling well. I think her shop will be very successful, she has some creative ideas and is very enthusiastic about her fabrics.

It was a treat for me to hear directly from a local store vendor - her enthusiasm put a big smile on my face, a nice way to start the week.

Hope your weekend was chocolove filled and wishing you all a Happy Monday.

More Monoprints and a Monkey Sighting

I spent the day yesterday printing (monoprints). Here are some pics -

One of the finished prints -


I loved how the inked plate looked after I pulled one of the prints -


I noticed this on the newsprint when I was all done -


So I get this e-mail this morning from Lizzy House and this really cute photo attached, made my day:

"I was at Epcot, and there was this little boy running around the Canada exhibit, and I saw his shirt, and realized it was your fabric. I asked his Mom if I could take a picture of him because I knew the designer of the fabric. She said sure, and then directed me to the Grandma, who had made the shirt. I told her that you were a friend of mine and she was very excited. She started listing all the things that she had made using your fabric. Needless to say, she likes it. The little boy was a doll, and the monkeys were appropriate.

It just goes to show, it's a small world, after all."

Children's Book News

CONTINUOUSLY UPDATED

I recently illustrated a book for Oxford University Press. It is part of their Reading Tree Traditional Folk Tales series. The title is "The Mouse and the Elephant", a traditional Indian folk tale.

The Mouse and the Elephant
(click here to order in the US)
(click here to order in the UK)
(click here for free shipping worldwide)

I just completed a new book with Little Simon titled "Splish Splash". 
Also, in Fall 2010 Booktime.org distributed over 1 million copies of "Why is the Sky Blue?" along with Eric Carle's "Slowly, Slowly, Slowly, Said the Sloth".  Read about the program here.

Splish Splash 

(click here to order in the US)
(click here to order in the UK)

"What Do You See?" 

 (click here to order in the US)
(click here to order in the UK)

"Why Is The Sky Blue?" 

(click here to order in the UK)

"What Are Clouds Made Of?" 

(click here to order in the US)

Board Book Series

by Parragon Press

(scroll down for ordering information)

In the UK:

I am 1

I am 2

I am 3

I am 4

In the USA (at the time of this posting, 11/14/11, there is a 6-9 week wait time. If you want them now see the links below)

I am 1

I am 2

I am 3

I am 4

Free shipping worldwide:

I am 1

I am 2

I am 3

I am 4

"Do Dogs Dream?" 

(click here to order in the UK)

"Ten Friendly Fireflies" 

(click here to order in the US)
(click here to order in the UK)

Other online stores carrying books I have illustrated:
Powell's Books
Target
Barnes and Noble
Borders
Simon and Shuster
The Scholastic Store
Sears
Alibris
Allbookstores.com
Chapters Indigo (Canada)
Paddyfield (Asia) 
Fishpond (New Zealand)
Fishpond (Australia)
Book Depository (free shipping worldwide)

New Book Available for Pre Order

My new book with Ladybird Books is due out this April and is available for pre-order.

New Illustration Work

I have been busy working on some new work for my portfolio in between a couple of commission projects for clients. I am focusing on my illustration work at the moment and I have really enjoyed getting back to doing some projects for myself and very grateful for the work that continues to come in. Here are some cropped samples of my new work... I definitely have spring on my mind:)

First Forest Fun Etsy Product Sighting!

Clutch and Mini Wallets at Baffin Bags. So sweet!