Volunteer Project on the Local News

Tonight we FINISHED the mural! We've been working everyday on this to get it completed in time for the open house this Thursday evening. Tomorrow is clean up day, but the last bit of white was painted and brought to life tonight, and it feels great to be done! We've been getting some publicity for the work we're doing and for the Community Counseling Center lately, too. Yesterday, the Portland Press Harold stopped by to shoot photos for an upcoming article, and today WCSH6 reported on the project on the 11:00 news. I wasn't expecting to be interviewed (and was a little nervous for my TV debut!), but we were happy to share the story. Photos of the finished room coming soon.

Here's the clip!


We also were mentioned in an online article on the WCSH site: Read here

It's been a blast...but my back and I are ready to go back to my nice desk, chair and flat paper  :)

Children's Room Mural

For the past couple of weeks, several artists and I have been working in collaboration with my sister, Dani Fazio, on a wonderful project for the Community Counseling Center. CCC offers an important and wonderful service, and has recently moved into a brand new facility in Portland. However, they were in desperate need of a little color on their walls! That's where we came in.

We are working in the children's trauma room, called the "Willow Room", which is a space dedicated for kids, from toddlers to teens. I'm part of a group of local artists and volunteers who are donating time to transform the space into a fun, magical, comfortable and interactive area for the kids to spend time. It's the first mural I've ever worked on, and am having so much fun with it.

We have started a blog to show the CCC staff and community our ongoing progress. It's fun to see it all coming together so quickly. Check it out here! 

Dani worked with a couple people from CCC to come up with a concept of what they wanted to see in the space- on one wall an underwater scene of the ocean and Portland skyline, lighthouse around the corner and tide pools. On the opposite wall, a willow tree blowing in the wind. (Sketches by me)

We then projected the drawings onto the walls to trace out the plan...

Few days into painting...

Check out the blog for more pics, and stay posted here for the final product! 

*Side note, see here for info on how you can help us decorate the rest of the rooms, hallways and offices! We need more art! THANK YOU!* 

Len Libby Signing

Thanks to all who stopped by Len Libby Candies this past Sunday for our My Maine book signing event! It was a rather small turnout, (because let's face it, competing with the first 75° degree day after a month of rain wasn't easy!) but it was a fun afternoon either way. We met some great people, made a few new little friends, including a future children's book illustrator in the making, and of course couldn't leave without a helping of the best needham ice cream you'll ever taste. The book, along with matted prints from the book, and a few chickadee and moose prints on wood blocks, are still for sale at Len Libby. So if you were too busy at the beach, we understand, and you can still go check it out!

Me, Suzanne, and Maureen Hemond-Len Libby Owner

Our next book signing scheduled for My Maine is on July 9th, in Dameriscotta, ME. Stay posted for details!