How to use this Page

Aren't they precious? Cooling off in the water is a favorite thing to do - just like kids in summer.

Add a Comment

A couple of new pieces for my 'folio, working on my younger audience characterisation, & my black & white linear work.

I like naughty, tree-climbing princesses better than any other princesses.  She just likes the outdoors! & swamps.  & toads...maybe she shouldn't have gone out in her new summer dress?  Oh well!


Anyone who has had a peek at my (largely unused) Tumblr a while back would've seen the sketch for this one already.  Last Hallowe'en I was lucky to be walking home from work, past some trick-or-treaters & overheard "has anyone played the 'Deal or no Deal' board game?"  I was thrilled.  I thought, every friend group has a Yoda, don't they?  The geeky kid who just likes games, & books, & films, & was basically me.  Thus a drawing.  I haven't had a really serious sesh with my brush & ink for ages, & this was really cathartic during what was a very, very stressful weekend.

I love drawing, & I love all of you.
xxx

Add a Comment

My new 'favorite' show is Downton Abbey. I've met someone who has the same obsession and hosted a tea party using the show as her theme. I love it! http://pinterest.com/pin/223209725253911377/

Add a Comment

Bradybug is available any place books are sold. If it's not in stock, just ask for it or order from the publisher here: http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/bradybug.htm To find out which bookstores carry Bradybug, click HERE.

Display Comments Add a Comment

Beth's little brother has so many pets, he's lost track of a few! Children will delight in finding the animals in the vibrant illustrations and discovering hidden pictures on every page. Humorous rhymes entertain and inform with fun facts about the creatures. Of course, the animals all show up in the end - or do they? Buy from Publisher: http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/

Add a Comment

I love getting letters like this from kids:

It was fun to meet you in person and it felt good that we got similar reading and writing report card grades. 

Also, it felt really good you called me an author during our library meeting. My mom was proud. If I become an author, I'll come to my old schools to inspire future authors, too.

Display Comments Add a Comment

Dear Barbara O'Connor:

I like to read books about animals and monsters. I like the book How to Steal a Dog because the kids are funny. 

I do have a wish. I wish you would have put a couple of monsters in it.

Add a Comment

The best kids parties are full of colour, music, games and laughter. A Secret Seed Society children’s party will bring you all this with vegetables as the stars, the heroes, the entertainers. Your guests will leave with a bounce in their step and an excitement for growing and eating vegetables.

“Vegetables are great food for the imagination, the colours, textures, flavours, and processes from growing, to cooking and finally composting.” Ash Perrin, Secret Seed Society Entertainer.

The parties bring to life characters from the Seed City storybooks. If your child has a favourite vegetable or character let us know and we’ll incorporate it into the show. if you want a special theme just let us know; Pirate Parsnips, Ghoulish Gourds, Princess and the Pea. Remember Cinderella went to the ball in a pumpkin!

Sugar coated pink cup cakes and over the top goodie bags are out, London’s best children’s entertainers are ready to pick up their box of vegetable tricks and visit your party! The parties are adapted to suit your group. We recommend our parties for 3-9 years old.





We provide party bags and prizes that provide fun and inspiration for all the kids after the party has ended without compromising your eco and ethical standards.

Secret Seed Society has worked to make vegetables more loveable through storybooks, theatre shows and workshops but now you can invite us to your birthday party.
Email fun@secretseedsociety.com with the details of your party and we will let you know if we can make it and give you a quote, or call Amy 07779 080776.
Secret Seed Society kids parties are currently available in London, if you are not London based please contact us to express your interest.
Specs: max 30 kids, 2 hours, space provided / chosen by you.

Add a Comment

Peepsqueak LOVES BEARS!  …. and so do I!! I LOVE toys!  I love weird toys, stuff animals, special teddy bears, and more. Having three grandsons gives me a great excuse to buy MORE toys!  I took a trip to the thrift store just this week to look for action figures!  I ran them through the dishwasher and stowed in my big toy trunk.  Three more trucks are sitting near the book-case in the “YaYa” room.  Its great fun!  On Tuesday I played “Superhero”!  My youngest grandson loves the stuffies!  Including my own little Peeksqueak plush by Merry Makers.  If you want to order one, you can go to the website, or call them.

retail orders online at http://www.merrymakersinc.com and retail and/or wholesale orders at 888-989-0454 or via email at merrymakers@merrymakersinc.com

They are a great toy company.  I want ALL THEIR TOYS!  ha ha!

You can also find Peepsqueak on his Facebook page.  I am going to have another book Give-A-Way as soon as the new toy gets here!  Peepsqueak and I are so excited!  I may also put it on this Word Press site so stay posted!

Filed under: Just for fun, Kicking Around Thoughts, Peepsqueak!, Surprises

Display Comments Add a Comment

Dear Barbara O'Connor:

One last thing: If Popeye's Uncle Dooley shot Popeye in the eye, his eye would fall out, wouldn't it?

Add a Comment

I did an Illustration Friday image for the word prompt, "Eye-Glasses" and posted it on my blog, then thought I'd rework it just a bit and post over here. Please check out the rest of the images posted on Illustration Friday. Good stuff, y'all!

Paula's Blog
Paula's Website

Add a Comment

Thought I'd put up some Easter-related items here, since we are into March. This is part of a licensing package I've been working on.

Add a Comment

Display Comments Add a Comment

Place your order online or by calling retail and/or wholesale orders at 888-989-0454 or via email at merrymakers@merrymakersinc.com.

Filed under: Just for fun, My Characters, Peepsqueak!

Display Comments Add a Comment

The weather is teasing me!  A warm day, a nice breeze, flowers peeking from the cold wet ground, and then WHAM! A freak snow storm!  Such is life in Colorado.  Peepsqueak is not worried.  As you can see in this picture, he is thrilled to find the first Spring flower.

Do you have any flowers up yet?  We only have a few tulips and iris peeking out of the dirt. Flowers are still a few weeks away.  I am ready!

 

Filed under: Peepsqueak!

Add a Comment

Display Comments Add a Comment

Oh little Peepsqueak.  This picture of you reminds me of something that happened to me when I was little.  We were visiting an aunt in Washington.  She had a rope that dangled from a tree in her backyard. She also had a big DOG that came running into the yard barking at ME!  I jumped on that rope and UP, UP, UP  I went!  I did not even know I could climb a rope!  I just did it!  ha ha!

Most of my art comes from my imagination, but it is also from my memories and from my life experiences. All that being said, I think I can still climb a rope!

Filed under: My Characters, Peepsqueak!, Reflections

Display Comments Add a Comment

So much fun creating this design for our Waldorf Charter School’s Jog-a-thon!

Add a Comment

Display Comments Add a Comment

I'm reading about the hero's journey lately - 
the road a character takes
to become changed in a story
- a.k.a the story arc. 
Writing and life are so linked, don't you think?

We're all on a journey.
We face monsters, magic, trials, portals every day - they just look a little different in real life.
Tests, school, work, laundry...
Pip's monster this week is tonsils. 
We're trying to equip her with happy times,
to sustain her on the road of liquid food and couch time.

So we took her ice skating.

And experimented with pennies.
and made some copper valentines.
 
Did you know salt and vinegar can make some pretty impressive green crystals?
  
and purple cabbage juice to reveal our secret messages.
 
Like the book geo-caching we did last year when Winnie said goodbye to her tonsils.

Sticky note clues hidden in favorite books: "The Nutcracker" ill. by Maurice Sendak, "The 5,000 Year-Old Puzzle,"  ill. by Melissa Sweet

And speaking of books,
Margaret Bloom's "Making Peg Dolls" book giveaway is coming to my blog soon!
Stay tuned!

Happy, healthy hearts to you!

Sick days, valentines, and writers' journeys:

 
 

Display Comments Add a Comment

Add a Comment

collage from an add for shoes

Add a Comment

Illustration For Kids just put out a group postcard promotional--With a Valentine's Day theme, of course! Below is the postcard with our joint venture to offer our fun & whimsical illustrations to the world.

Thanks for stopping by!

Add a Comment

“Welcome to the studio, Dahlia!  I am so glad to meet you!  Your entrance made me smile! Now let’s get down to business!  Tell me about yourself? “.

When I create a new character I have to find out who they really are and what makes them tick! Will they be loud and boisterous?  Will they be shy and hold back? Will  they run to meet the world or hide behind trees and bushes?  It’s great fun to imagine!

Since Dahlia is new, let’s walk this process together. Let’s get a good look at her and ask ourselves some questions.

Here she is, in her great BIGness.  As you can see, Dahlia is running!  That gives us our first clue. She is ready to meet the world!

(Another little tidbit you can use when creating a character.  It is a link to writing a character profile. I can get your wheels turning!)

http://www.squidoo.com/CharacterProfiles

In order to decide WHO Dahlia is, I  look into her face. Her eyes are not like our eyes, but expression and body language are quite helpful.

Dahlia is running.  Dahlia is laughing.  Dalia is carrying a flower. Dahlia is practically leaping off the ground!  I can almost hear the ground shaking!  So, she is a “ground shaking” happy elephant.

But wait!  She has no tusks!  That tells me she is a baby elephant. My imagination is taking off now!  Dahlia tromps!  … but no…  I found out that tromp is not a word… (hmmm…it seemed so fitting).  So, Dahlia thumps, stomps, tramples and plows through!  Thank you dictionary.com!  Love all those words!

Looking again at this picture, I see that Dahlia is also clumsy.  She trips, stumbles, tumbles, plunges, sprawls and topples. Even so, she is not bothered by falls.  She simply rolls over and gets back up to her feet laughing!  “What great fun!” she gigglies, “Let’s do it again!”

This tells me that Dahlia does not take herself too seriously. She is playful,  but is she smart?

More of her qualities may surface once the other characters in her story emerge.   Bring on the monkeys!

Filed under: My Characters

Display Comments Add a Comment

Display Comments Add a Comment