Busy October

I spent a good part of October in the studio working out the sketches and layout for my new picture book. But when I wasn't sitting and sketching and wracking my brain for ideas, I was busy prepping for a few events!

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A couple of weeks ago I took part in a group Down East book signing with several wonderfully talented and kind authors and illustrators. The event took place at the Portland Public Library on a Saturday afternoon. We all had activities for kids to participate in, from decorating cookies with Katie Clark, to tail shaking and froggy hopping games from Pond Babies, with Cathryl Falwell, and making books about their own 7 Days, like in 7 Days of Daisy, with Jamie Hogan. I brought some coloring pages from Down East in the Ocean, that you can download here, and some freebie pins with images from Down East in the Ocean on them! All the kids who came also participated in a scavenger hunt, thanks to Kirsten Cappy of Curious City. I had a great time chatting with the other illustrators and authors. I enjoy the group events because I get the opportunity to pick the minds of wonderfully talented folks who have been in the business and can offer me advice. I always leave with new bits of information, which I appreciate. My camera wasn't working well, but I caught a few...

The kids loved Cathryn Falwell's games and crafts!

We did a drawing and gave away one of each of the books for the kids.
A lucky little girl named Truly won mine!

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The next day, I drove down to Kittery where I had a table at an outdoor fall bazaar/flea market type sale near the outlet shops on Rt.1.  The turnout was a bit dismal, unfortunately, but at least it was a good excuse to prepare all my prints, so now I have a good stock for future sales...and I had Riley with me for good company!

Even though she was a little bored, she kept me company and kept me warm

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Then, my last little project in October was more on the crafty side! My good friend, Toni, is in the process of launching and marketing her own business. She is a chef, and is available for private catering, cooking lessons/demonstrations, private chef, and special occasion baking! Mmm. So, Toni cooked up a wonderful meal and we invited some good friends over to have a photo shoot/dinner party, to get some good shots for her website--coming soon! I played photographer for the evening, and I put together the centerpiece and table, to accompany her beautiful meal. It was a fun excuse to get crafty in the cozy fall, and we did it all on the cheap, which was great! The centerpiece was put together primarily with items we already had around the house, and only spent about $25 on the rest (mainly the fabric for the table runner and some candles). We had a blast and will definitely be doing more. Stay tuned for info on Chefette Toni, as well!

Mason jars, flowers, candles, pretty fabric, Chinese Lanters...so warm and lovely!

Delicious fig and goat cheese spread. And I mean deeeelicious.

The wonderful chef(ette)!

I got lots of the ideas for the party on Pinterest.com, be sure to check it out...if you feel like killing some time. It's easy to get lost in there!

Phew, very full October!

Weekend in Rockland, ME

Last Saturday I was at the Maine Lighthouse Museum in Rockland, Maine, for a book signing with 10 or so other authors and illustrators.

Me and Down East in the Ocean were in the company of authors like, Thomas and LeeAnn Szelog: Our Point of View - Fourteen Years at a Maine Lighthouse, Carole Lambert: Sea Glass Hunter's Handbook, and fellow Maine Illustrator's Collective friend, Jamie Hogan with her lovely children's book, Seven Days of Daisy.

Lots of great talent and different types of books!

It was fun doing a group signing; I had a nice time chatting with the other authors and seeing their books, as well as meeting some very kind people from Down East Publishing. The Lighthouse Museum is an interesting place, too. I definitely recommend stopping in if you're ever in the area! The old lighthouse lanterns and pieces are works of art in themselves. It's interesting to see them up close and learn some history along the way.

  

I do love puffins

Dave and I made a weekend trip out of it for a mini-midsummer-vacation, and stayed in a nice B&B, The Old Granite Inn. It was in an ideal location right on the water by the ferry, and although our room didn't have a water view, we enjoyed the scenery and beautiful garden in the front, which seemed to be the inspiration for the artwork in our room.