Archive for the ‘my art’ Category

This is the play by play at our house:

7:00 pm: Put the kids to bed.

7:30 Flop on the couch.

7:30:01 Feel the wave of exhaustion hit.

7:31 Snuggle my husband and chat pretending like the day is over.

7:50 Kiss him goodbye as he leaves to go work on the new house (tonight it was ripping up sicko-grosso bathroom flooring).

7:51 Ignore the pile of laundry and dishes.

7:52 Make myself some tea (tonight it was Bengal spice mixed with milk and honey)

8:00 Start drawing.

But since the exhaustion is still present from a day of crazy moving-ness, I warm up. A lot. And I love it. Because then I get excited like a little kid who gets to stay up all night and read. It’s just me. On the couch. All night. Drawing. The book is nearly done…but I still spend time doodling to get my hands warm. And my eyes engaged. Here’s highlights from tonight’s warm up.  Nothing special…but the time I get to doodle with no references, no deadlines and no reasons always excite me. Like waking with no destination. It feels good.

Wow. February. When did that happen?

Month of love. For me…it’s a month of lots going on: more house hunting (yep…still in the game) book making (loving every second) and baby loving (she is the most kissable thing!)

So, news:

New Print Your Own Valentine Cards in the shop!

Valentines cards you can print yourself. Yep. DIY with some of my favorite designs in the shop. Do you remember this post from last year? Here is an image I found last year that inspired me.

These are Audrey Hepburn inspired: the deer loving darling via 1958. Audrey as a little girl. I really love that woman.

You can also find these to print yourself. Fun. Fun. Fun.

OK: so, come over to the shop and do some last minute valentines shopping! If you are like me, you don’t have Valentines Cards yet, and PDF downloads are your only hope!

You can print out as many as you want! Perfect for your kid’s classes and neighbors!

I know that’s what I will be using! Well, for the boys we’ll use something more like this. I love having stationery on hand…it’s nice for procrastinators like me:)

Enjoy!

I often get asked what my favorite pieces are from my shop, and my answer is always the same: “The piece that is currently in my head by not yet in print.” Once it’s up in the shop, the creation of it is done, and I am moving on to the next thing. I don’t tend to get attached. But I do have a few favorites, and I am so happy to say that one of my favorites is going to be carried by a very favorite online site of mine.

Have you browsed around Mahar Dry Goods lately? If there was a online store for children that inspired me most to get my shop up and running, it was this one. Was it the enter page illustrated so brilliantly by Jen Corace? Was is the quirky novelty toys? There is an exclusive tea set from Mahar Dry Goods which shows up in my Summer Tea Party print (commissioned for Small Magazine) that was too amazing to not be inspired by. Short story: I love this shop. And, this week, I found out, that they will be carrying my Personalized Family Trees and Paper Dolls.

I have a long list of retailers that I love working with, but I was just tickled to hear the news, simply because this shop is truly what inspired my desire to enter the handmade children’s industry. Robert, who also has a very hip and retro children’s blog Junior Society, has fantastic taste, and always offers a pic me up when I visit his sites.

Horray for good design. There is something about good design that feeds my soul. And today, I am thankful for great associations.

Every shop has the favorites…the ones that sell over and over again, and then the ones that shine quietly in the back. This print, a first of mine when the shop opened 2 years ago, always makes me happy.  These elephants often get stuck in the back, and I wanted to give them a proper reintroduction. Translation on the print is: Dance with me (which can easily be omitted if you just don’t speak french like these elephants do).

So, say “Hello Elephants? How’s the dancing?” or, if you are brave and feeling up to it, you could say, “Bonjour Elephants, comment va la dance?”

Because really, how can you not smile and laugh when you dance. I have learned well from my kids: that when the days get yucky, we turn up the music. It works every time.

Happy weekend, and happy dancing.

Shhhhh…..I am supposed to be working on my book….but I have February on my mind, and I have been warming up with some sketches. Here is a darling friend I’ve had in my head for a while. She may or may not end up in the shop, but she is sure making me smile this weekend. Back to book art….and hope you have a lovely weekend! I’m going shopping for a bit of spice to wear to the ALT Design Summit. Are you going? I can’t wait.

Ok…enough tangents. Happy Weekend. And happy creating.

xo, sarah jane

The economy is messed up. Politics are crazy. It’s freezing outside (without the advantage of fresh snow). My kitchen has seen better days (maybe not).  The laundry is getting a wee bit on the scary side. My hair could use a good doing.

But just now,  my 5 year old breezes across the floor like this.

And I wonder if I could go back to when my mind was filled only with unicorns, purple things and bubble gum. My pace was that of hers.

But then I remember: I have unicorns, purple things and bubble gum every day. She hugs me and says “I love you, Mother.” And so I skip.

So, Day 8 into the new year, and I have managed to draw every day. What is so hard though, is that the art that I am working on (my first picture book CHRISTMAS GOODNIGHT with Harper Collins Publishers) really can’t be shared. It’s just the way it is! But I can share the models that I use, right? It sure is nice to have live models for Baby Jesus, and others. If only they’d sit still a minute!

But I will say, that most of the art I have done so far won’t ever be used. It really is an amazing process. In book art making, you never get what you want on the first try!

It’s like how I finally get to the point when I am trying to tell my husband why I am upset about something: It takes a lot of talking about every which thing before it finally comes out! (Come on…You know it’s like that…it’s amazing how much has to come out of your mouth before you say what you really need to say!)

Well, same with art making. Or at least my art making! I have sketch books full of stuff that just doesn’t work. Or is completely random and has nothing to do with the book I am working on, but just happened to come out while I was working (like those conversations, you know?) But it all ends up being necessary to get what I am ultimately working towards.

It’s really amazing to see how illustration births itself. It’s the coolest thing ever. I love it!

I plan on having the book art done by May, and then comes the just as long production work. So cool. I get to work on Christmas all year:)

Hello Friends!

Sorry for all of you who subscribe to my newsletter….this is the second time you’ll be hearing this. But I had to let you know!

Prints are priced down now through Christmas! They will be on sale up until the holiday, but remember to check the shop for shipping dates to get there for the holidays.

Oh, and those popcorn balls turned out great. I wish I could fit them in your packages. I might just have to post the recipe soon.

Happy shopping!

xo

sarah jane

PS: PLEASE come visit the silent auction with a gift certificate to the shop here.

A cute elephant and bunny. Can you see?

On Ohdeedoh this morning.

And can I tell you how much I love that ceiling?

I’ve never gotten Christmas ready so fast in our house.

The day after Thanksgiving, we put up our tree. It feels wonderful!

Last year we moved over Christmas (please…I beg you…don’t ever try that!) and so this year, I’m ready to really enjoy every single day. Even if there are still a few boxes of Christmas decorations that got lost in the move. Humbug.

But really, I wanted to say, Hello! Happy Christmas season! Lots of new fun things going on the shop!

New Christmas Labels:

New Christmas cards:

(Insert sad sigh) The Snow on Snow print didn’t make it to a card this year. The order came back faulty, and well…no time to redo. More Humbugs.

And this card which is a personal favorite (I’m still convinced my kids are going to stay in size 3)

But, on a Happy Note:

I’m joining the throngs of Cyber-Monday fanatics and offering

FREE 2010 CALENDAR with $40 purchase! (savings of $24!!!)

FREE CALENDAR MONDAY ONLY!

So I guess it’s official: Christmas is here. I just love every bit of this season, and this year is extra special: We aren’t in the throngs of boxes and get to enjoy the smell of pine and the sight of twinkling lights. I love it all.

Click here to go to the shopping.