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You've given this advice before and I think it was golden. It's taken a lot of the fear factor out of the conference adventure for me.

"Think of the conferences as opportunities to network first."

I want an agent who meshes with me personally as well as one I think will do a good job with my projects. I would think that would be important with an editorial relationship as well, though not to such a strong degree.

Someone with a sense of humor is always going to make me take notice.

Hopefully, the conferences will give me a peek at the personality of some people I would like to work with.

Patience during my pitch appointment would move them up on the list several notches. If I get the guts up to pitch, that is.

Very timely topic for me because I'm thinking about National. I appreciate knowing that it's more helpful than not to pitch to editors, even if they reject the partial they've requested.

I'll take Julie's comment a step further. During one pitch, I quickly discovered that the pitchee (I being the pitcher) had zero sense of humor -- confirmed in a later conversation with someone who knew her. A sense of humor is a non-negotiable requirement for me, so I knew we wouldn't be able to work together and didn't send my partial to her -- though I did thank her.

Jessica, how much follow through have you found after conference pitches? Have you ever signed a client as a result of one?

I think the most important word in the entire post is "networking." If you attend a conference for that reason alone, it's worth the cost of travel, registration, etc. Making contacts within the industry can be an invaluable asset down the road.

The key for me was to go in looking to connect rather than worrying about the outcome. Maybe these appointments make all the difference for some writers (and I’m sure there are plenty of “big break” stories out there) but I really didn't think one agent/editor appointment would make or break my career. Rather, these sessions are better than any workshop if you want to learn about the business, what people are buying and what they're looking to buy.

Plus, I’m not the type of person to just walk up to an agent or editor in a bar and start talking. But if I have that block of time where we can sit down one-on-one, well that’s golden. I can’t control whether or not they like whatever book I’m working on at the time, but I can get a great feel for the industry and who I’d like to work with.

Two years ago, I ended up getting an appointment with the agent of a new author whose book I loved. I think I spent more time asking her about that then trying to get her to like my manuscript. The agent ended up being a lot of fun. I learned a lot and when we got to the pitch, I was much more comfortable than I would have been and I felt like I'd really gotten an inside look at the business.

That manuscript didn’t sell, but I became a better writer for having pitched it. So, yes, the pitch helped my career. Then last year, I missed the RWA agent/editor appointment sign up and didn’t meet anybody. The book I would have pitched sold anyway.

So my advice would be to focus less on the selling. If they like the idea, they’ll definitely request. Instead, focus on connecting personally and learning all you can about this crazy business.

I appreciate this info. It's nice to know. Thanks.

Jessica-

Wow. Good timing.

I'm toying with the idea of going to the OWFI conference in May. I most likely won't because of some other things going on, but I've considered it strongly. A rep from Baen Publishing is going to be there and I think they are ideal for my work, so it's very tempting.

I am definitely going to the Surrey Conference, though. I have to admit the thought of talking to agents scares me witless and I'm not normally a shy person. I'm also not much of a star gazer, but I do have a fear of saying something stupid.

"Mama always said better to keep your mouth shut and let people think you're a fool, than open it and remove all doubt," she said in her best Forrest Gump accent.

"For another, I don’t want to be reminded that now you’ve seen me in my swimsuit."

This made me giggle and put agents on a more "human" level.

Is there a way to find out where certain agencies and publishers will be attending without scanning every conference?

What if your manuscript isn't finished?

Thanks,

Julie

"my suggestion is to always introduce yourself and make small talk."
Easier said then done. When nervous I tend to babble like an idiot. Small talk? Whatsat?
Relax? Ha! When we meet an agent we really want to work with its like waiting for the coolest guy in school to ask you to the prom. Nervous? Mind goes blank, stupid stuff puddles out of the mouth. Leave feeling sooo dumb. (Please! I'm not really an idiot!)
I never thought it was a bad thing to mention I'd be rejected, but I guess I can see where it would put the agent on the defensive. That wouldn't be the intent. More like I like the way you work so much I've submitted to you before.
Question; if asked to submit a full how soon is a reasonable time to send it in? Even if I finish something, when asked for a full I have a strong urge to go over the whole thing one more time. A week? Two weeks?

I just had an odd encounter with an agent. Recently, I was at a conference and spent a few extra bucks for an agent to critque 10 pages of my manuscript. The odd circumstance was that I signed a contract for that novel with a small press about 4 weeks prior to the conference.

The first evening of the conference I was at the bar and happened to start chatting with a lady, not knowing she was the agent that had my 10 pages to critique. When I introduced myself, she said my name sounded familiar and then she remembered my work, which she said was quite good.

After I told her I had signed a contract, she went off about my stupidity. (She was a very blunt lady.) She said that she couldn't believe that I wouldn't have picked up the phone and called her, or some of the agents that recently rejected it. (I had 2 agents ask for fulls a month or so before I signed the contract and they ultimately rejected it.)

So, my question is, under these circumstances, where after you rejected a full, and the author received a offer from a small press, would you expect or receive a phone call? And would you consider reversing your decision?

Jessica has given a great common sense approach and I agree with her, BUT BookEnds is an accessible agency, where a query will get answered (even if its a form reject). More and more agency's are not this polite. Many don't answer queries at all.

So before everyone gets out their billy club, please know I'm not directing this at Jessica or BookEnds. But I sometimes I wish agents would understand writer's conferences from the writer's POV instead of their own. After paying a lot of money they don't have, writers are instructed to never mention their work unless they have a pitch appointment:

*DON'T TALK TO THE AGENTS ABOUT YOUR BOOK!

*MAKE SMALL TALK. ASK ABOUT THEIR SHOES! TALK ABOUT THE WEATHER!

Also, 95 percnet of the agents attending AREN'T looking for new writers. You can hear an audible groan from those around you when an agent/editor in a workshop or roundtable proudly annouces they haven't taken on a new client in 5 years and don't intend to. This is partly to blame on the conferences themselves -- the hawking of certain agents/editors to newbies that think they'll be discovered in an elevator, but still.

Writer's conferences have a tendency to make writers fearful. And unworthy. Agents aren't that fragile. It isn't a date for heavens sake. Where else but in publishing do you attend a industry event (writers conference) and it's considered bad taste to talk about the work?

Wonderful info, Jessica, thanks! Especially about talking with an agent who's passed on a query or manuscript--those are great tips.

Anon 9:34,

"BUT BookEnds is an accessible agency, where a query will get answered (even if its a form reject). More and more agency's are not this polite. Many don't answer queries at all."

Many of the agents that have stopped answering queries do so because they've gotten such nasty replies when the do send out rejections. I've been heavily researching agents lately, and I find this more and more, because so much is done via email, disgruntled writers have no problem hitting the reply button and lambasting the agent for the rejection. That's the same reason agents who once offered constructive feedback in rejections have thought twice about doing so - they've already taken time out of their schedule to offer help and been verbally abused over it. Granted, it stinks for the rest of us, who understand rejection isn't personal and would love the feedback when they can give it. But, if I had angry writers reading me the riot act every time I replied with a no, I might stop replying, too.

I haven't been to a conference yet, so I can't say how they're designed or what percentage of agents are currently taking new clients. But I do follow a number of blogs, including this one, from agents that don't rep my genre - I think there's something to learn regardless and when you're looking at a conference as your 'big break' to getting an agent, I think you're probably putting a lot more pressure on yourself and the event than you need to. Looking at it as a chance to meet and discuss writing with other professionals might be a better way to get more out of the experience.

I've attended a lot of conferences over the past twenty-odd years, and the biggest surprise to me was just how friendly and accessible a lot of agents can be. They're not ogres and they're not all snooty (though a few are!) and I've actually become friends with quite a few. We keep in touch and talk about books and trends and they're just regular people. Go figure! Of course, they became "just regular people" when I started treating them that way...

Thanks for the tips, Jessica. I will be attending a couple of conferences this month and your advice couldn't come at a more perfect time.

I was a complete conference newbie when I won a scolarship to attend RWA National last year in Dallas. I've learned a lot from that experience alone.

As for the small talk, I am incredibly shy when I am nervous. I tend to babble, as well. However, I have found just the thing to break me out of my shell. it's called Toastmasters International. Ever since I've joined, I've noticed my confidence level go up a few notches. It's a great organization and I reccomend it to anyone who wants to improve their public speaking skills.

Take care!
Sindee

I've attended the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers' Colorado Gold conference every year for the past 14 years and have witnessed many changes in the demeanor and social interactions of attending literary agents. I met Jessica at last year's conference (waves at jessica *grin*).

I'm a very social person and have no problem greeting an agent I've never met and striking up a conversation. The conversation may last for just a couple of sentences, but it helps put them at ease because they're in a new place, probably don't know anyone, and there are lots of expectations placed on their shoulders. Also, they're probably wondering if there are any writers hovering nearby who feel hostile towards them because of a rejection. Man, when you think about it, that would be really uncomfortable. So take pity on these industry professionals who really need your welcome!

My friends and I would often host a little private party in our room for any agents or editors wanting free drinks and snacks late in the evening. These parties would usually go on til way past midnight, and we all had a blast! It's not so common anymore. I think most of our conference's professional guests are too tuckered out to socialize beyond the awards banquet and meet-n-greet dinner. But I really miss those late-night parties!

A great way to get to know some of the attending agents at conferences is to be a volunteer. You could be the one handling pitch appointments, or driving them to or from the airport, moderating their panel or workshop, etc.

And remember that agents agent because they probably love the book business. So you already have loads in common. Watch their eyes light up when you mention a book they love, or that you've read a book by an author they represent. If you read their blog, let them know!

IMO, you'll get the most out of your conference experience if you focus more on the learning than on the pitching. I'd say 95 percent of agents can't remember a word from any of the pitches they heard over the weekend let along the writers' names, so don't put your focus there. Glean the knowledge they have to offer about the business and revel in the subjects that interest you both: books! And come away with your conference experience uplifted and inspired.

Writer's conferences, in some aspects, aren't that different from other tradeshows or business conferences. I've been in the shoes where someone wants to sell ME their product.

Out of a three day conference, a few hundred people who start up conversations, 90% of them trying to sell their products or services. By day two, your brain ceases to recognize most English words.

Most of the people I met, I don't remember. But I DO remember meeting a woman who commiserated about the idiocy of wearing heels to a trade show because they made your legs look good. She handed me a business card as she left, and when she called me at work a few weeks later, we went on to do business together.

I think Jessica gave sage advice, and I definitely intend to follow.

What if it wasn't the agent who passed on a query but (and you know this for a fact) an assistant? Assuming the book is of the sort the agent is intereste in, is it fair to repitch?

Some of my thoughts on your comments....

Julie--I have no idea if there's a master list of who is attending what. Somehow I doubt it, but does anyone else know?

I think going to a conference at whatever stage your writing is at is a great idea. Remember, it's not always about pitching, but often about networking. Meeting agents now and getting a feel for who you like is great for when your manuscript is finished and it is time to query.

Aimless: I would shoot for two weeks. I think it's perfectly acceptable to want to review the book, but on the other hand the agent is excited now and anxious to read the rest. You want to get her while the excitement is high. You also want to get your work to her when presumably she's looking for something, which is why she asked for yours.

Wilfred: I'm sorry you had such a bizarre experience. My question to you would be, do you really want an agent who only seems willing to represent you because you have an offer? I wouldn't have gone back to those who rejected the work, but it would have been perfectly acceptable to let those who were currently reviewing your work know of the offer.

Anonymous: I think it's a shame that conferences get themselves into these situations and I agree. Not all agents are as accessible as you'd like them to be. But if they aren't then I guess you know you can rule them out the next time you query. And let me say, I don't think it's at all bad taste to talk about your work. In fact, it is perfectly acceptable. But, if you want to make yourself memorable, if you want to stand out from the pack I think it's best to try to get to know the agent rather than simply use her as a vehicle for your pitch.

anon 12:03. If it was just a query feel free to pitch the agent again, but remember that when your material is sent a second time it's probably going to go to the assistant first. Don't assume assistants don't know what they're doing.

--jhf

I have to say, for myself, I find it rather easy to talk to agents. And I've even broken a few rules here and there -- mentioning to one agent a rejection I'd just gotten from her a month prior. Course, She didn't remember the sub right off hand, and I said not to worry, the only reason I mentioned it was because I was impressed with her fast turn-around on getting back to me about it.

The only thing I hate about speaking to agents at conferences (when it's a random thing, not an appointment), is making sure I'm not interrupting them.

Fortunately, the few times I've broken this particular rule, the agent, and their client, has been gracious to me, and I've bought a book out of the deal, so (I hope) no harm done.

Good advice, thank you Jessica!

It's slightly disconcerting, to say the least, that you actually had to put in not to follow an agent to her hotel room. Creepy! :S

Food for thought nonetheless. Bring on the conferences!!!

Hi, I'm new to the publishing/book world and I really enjoy reading your blogs. They have been a great way to get to know the industry. I'm working for a company that edits manuscripts and (if they're good) I try and get agents interested. Any suggestions for approaching agents when it is on behalf of an author? I'd appreciate any tips you have to offer!

Love the pool note. Keeping that one for future reference, but you know what? You'll have seen me in MY swimsuit too. LOL And it's a scary sight indeed. *wink*

Here's a thought from the dark side: A few years ago, I sat between an effete, little man who was an agent at a large agency and a woman who wrote literary fiction. I landed between them by chance.

Mr. Agent looooooooooooves literary fiction. I write thrillers. So for the next hour he leaned across my plate and chatted up the lovely woman to my right.

I tried several times to see if I could pass my hand through my midsection, figuring I must have gone invisible. Finding I could not, I sat quietly in my humiliation, struggling to force food down my throat.

I know BookEnds would never do something like this, but obviously some agents would. So I'd like to give a shout-out to Mr. Effete.

Hello Mr. Rudeness. We're the reason you guys have jobs. And yeah, we're human too. We paid good money to go to the conference. We had high hopes for our precious manuscript. That is until we had lunch with you. I'd really appreciate it if you'd ESAD.

Jessica, thanks for letting me blow off steam.

Anon 4:02, if I were an agent, I'd ask to look at your work purely based on that comment. If you didn't mean to be funny, my apologies, but I think I peed myself, I laughed so hard. ESAD??? I SO know what that means! Mr. Effete? LOL!

But look at it like this - who wants a tacky old man for an agent anyway? I've come to believe a writer should be very simpatico with her agent, and I'm thinkin' an effete, literary snob wouldn't do it for me. Sounds like he's not for you, either. (still chuckling...)

My favorite Writers Behaving Badly story will always be the author who passed her manuscript under a bathroom stall to an editor. I know it's a true story - it happened to my previous agent while she was still an editor.

This post is so helpful, and I'm definitely bookmarking it. Thank you! :)

Jessica;

Thank you for responding.

I was thinking more along the lines of agents and editors announcing they are going to be attending xyz conference ahead of time. I'm sure a master list would be something akin to finding the holy grail.

Come to think of it, that might be a bestseller.

*Gets out steno pad and pen.

So, where will you all be attending this year?

I confess, OWFI would be mainly in the hopes of getting an appointment with Mr. Minz of Baen.

Surrey, that's for the workshops and networking. If I get some appointments, whoo yah.

JW

Stephanie, I love an audience. Thanks for laughing. Sorry about the undies.

anon 4:02

I confess to being another tongue-tied individual in front of agents.

My RWA chapter hosted agents for an event, and I literally sat there mute. At the lunch table. With just the 2 of us.

She started reading a full ms from her satchel.

I mean, good Lord, I know she's JUST a human being (and she'd been SUPER nice at the dinner reception the night before), but my mind was BLANK.

Trying to psych myself up for RWA Nationals in August. Your post has encouraged me to write a list of converation starters!

I don't want to meet anyone while wearing my bathing suit either. Let's gather near the chocolate fountain, shall we?

I don't understand why rejection should be so painful. People who write crap should expect to be rejected before they waste a stamp.

Rejection is an unbiased, professional assessment of talent or the lack thereof. Most authors are not children. If you don't want to be rejected, don't write it in the first place. If you write, read your rejection slips and grin and like it.

With the volume of queries you receive do you recognize a repeat query when it comes in?
I have one book that I submitted a while ago, since then I've hooked up with a truly great critique group (run by published authors)and learned a lot. I like my story and am in the process of a rewrite. So, when I resubmit do I tell you its a rewrite? Or would that shadow your view? Would you even read it if you saw the word "rewrite"?
I don't see rejection as painful-its just another notch in my writer's belt. I put it in the can and move on.

What if you requested based on a query and rejected based on the partial and the manuscript changed significantly? Does that make a difference?

Assuming the book has been put to bed is accurate for the 2nd and later books an author polishes up for submission. But, in my experience and from my observation, the first one gets polished a bazillion times while submitting because the author is still learning all about the process of submitting. In fact, because of the nature of the process, a lot of it must be learned while going through it. In that case, it's wonderful if an agent will give the author a second chance.

Thank you, this is most helpful. I've just started reading your blogs, and there are a lot of important points you offer to new authors that I'm taking into account.

-Rachel Glass

Hmm, curious about something. If you sign a client on the second work submitted to you, what happens to that first manuscript you rejected them on? Is it destined for the dust bunnies to enjoy or do you work with the author to clean what you thought the story lacked?

Hard advice to take, but very good advice. It makes sense.

I personally see rejection as one step closer to publication. Thanks for the insight on resubmitting.

Sindee

I have a question, and I hope it can be answered here. I was rejected by maybe thirty agents for book one. I have since written book two, it needs edits before I do anything with it.

30 rejects really isn't anything there are a lot of agents out there. But with book one (which has seen a complete rewrite for the beginning--it suffered serious overediting) it's the first in a series (four book set I have planned) how can I pitch book two, when book one needs to be told first? I'm going to try my darndest to make book two and subsequent stories stand alone, but I want to requery book one--or should I move on to book two and if I spark interest try and get book one in front of the agent's eyes?

I assume anyone rejected on partial or full shouldn't send another query. Is that right?

hI agree with kimber an.

I did a round of queries, got several requests for partials, and got two comments back that my first page needed work. I totally rewrote it, which also entailed rewriting a later section with the same character. But for the partials still out there, it's too late to make a good first impression.

It's just part of the learning process, where you kick yourself and then have to move on. I suppose every newbie goes through it.

There is, however, something to be said for the draft process. Of course book 1 is shiny and polished and finished and set aside, but while writing book 2, style changes and, if you're doing it right, improves. Craft improves.

Which means that, after you finish book 2, you look back at book one, that got queried around and rejected, and you suddenly realize places where it went wrong and how it could be better. Because you're a better writer. And you still love that story, so you revisit it, sometimes revising but sometimes also rewriting it.

There's a cycle here, and it's the basis for the idea that great work is never finished, merely abandoned, and that great novels are not written, but rewritten.

Of course, many writers' problem is that their writing improves but their business sense does not.

I think its very crass, not too much incompassionate to tell people that because someone's work was rejected, it was crap. There are a million things that affect rejection, including agent's preference. I agree that as adults we need to be able to handle rejection, but that does not make it any less painful. Learning from it and doing better on your next pitch would be the ultimate goal. No writer WANTS to be rejected. They want the gratification that someone else loved their story.

Hello all! I'll answer some of your questions....

I'm often amazed at how often I can recognize a query, title or author name. However, I can't always remember where know it from and there's no guarantee that I will remember it. So to answer your question Aimless, I guess it sort of depends. If the book is completely different from what you sent before I think it's fair to simply submit without mentioning a rewrite--especially if you simply sending a query. However, if the agent had previously read pages I would recommend mentioning it. Better safe then leaving the agent believe you tried to trick her.

And to all of you. Feel free to resubmit as often as you want. However, my recommendation is that twice is enough--whether it's a query, partial, or full. And of course please be working on something else.

Keri:
Good question. It depends. Usually though, if a client is signed on the second work it's because the second work is ready to be published and the first was not. There have been times however when we've talked about resurrecting the first one. Usually though I like to move forward and not backward.

Tiffany:
You're in a tight place. My suggestion is to try to make book #2 the first in the series.

--jhf

Anonymous 6:44, ouch! The thing is, people don't think they are writing crap, they think they are the next Hemingway or Jude Deveraux or JK Rowling. And I don't think rejection necessarily means the rejectee isn't talented. Agents say all the time that it could be a million reasons, including that they just sold an equally well-written book just like the one they are passing on.

I agree, we need to accept rejection and it's part of the business, but you don't have to like it, you just have to believe it and learn from it if you can. But I don't think that getting a no--or fifty no's--necessarily means the no-getter is a no-talent.

And it IS biased, absolutely. This business is propelled by personal taste (which is what if not bias?) at every stage--from the writer writing it to suit his or her tastes, to the agent accepting or rejecting based on "falling in love," and the same romance with the editor, and on the the Border's shelves, where it is 100% reader bias. Yup, rejection is professional, definitely, but it's far from unbiased.

Thanks Jessica. It's unfortunate for me that that just isn't possible...

This will be an interesting problem to solve.

Tiffany,
You might want to consider setting up the first book as a prequel. Sell the second as if it's the first in the series, then inform the agent that a prequel exists. That might be the middle ground you're looking for.

I’ll start with Tiffany because hers is somewhat of a separate issue. Prequels sell, and that was (in my opinion) excellent advice. It is less a matter of rewriting the first or the second, but instead finding an open doorway in book #2 to insert the possibility. Flashbacks, intriguing loose ends, or twist endings that beg for deeper understanding of the characters your readers grew to love—or hate—might offer such a reverse entrance.

Next up:

Genius is not the same as talent, especially in fiction. Talent breathes; it pumps diligence like blood through the soul. Talent gets back up to fight because it knows no other way to survive. It cannot be silenced in the heart. If you have talent, you will keep going; this is inevitable. Having said that, should you have unsuccessfully exhaust the market then the story requires severe medical attention, so don’t throw it back into the ring for another black eye and bruised ego.

Trickery and repairs aside, an agent should only be approached a second time—be it one book or twenty—when the reason to do so is specific, detailed, and justified by thorough market research of said agent. Typically, agents reject via form letter; a generic no thank-you used neither to persuade nor dissuade the writer from continuing the endeavor. The form letter represents decision, not opinion.

Steven King’s advice is that if ten people critique your work and recommend ten different opinions, discard or utilize based on your own opinion. If ten people offer identical criticism, listen and revise. But what does the writer do with ten form letters? A hundred? Do we give up writing to take up origami using our stack of form rejections? Hardly.

Failure is like Braille; you learn to read the bumps along the way. It is the path toward success—not a different path—filled with shadowy mystery, friends and foes, not to mention every emotion known to humanity.

(Okay, I’m gearing down now…whew.)

Submit only what you believe strongly in. Sometimes this means putting to rest the story that taught us how to write. That’s okay. If you find it hard to let go, glean the story, rescue you most love about it, not its entirety, and take it with your on the journey. If a character is truly alive, he/she will find a good home in a new setting.

Lastly… Anne of Green Gables collected 20 years of attic dust before becoming a classic.

Sometimes, your only error is timing.

Thanks anon one and two... now why didn't I think of that before... that's a very good idea.

You have some very good advice here:

"If you keep sending me Book #1, I worry that you’ve got nothing else in you, and that’s not a client I want either."

This is so true. Writers have to keep writing books. Lots of them. Write a book, try and sell it, then move on to the next one. If the first one doesn't sell, that's just the way it is. I've started my eighth book and landed an agent with book seven. I like to think I'm getting better at it as I go along, but other times I feel like I'm just getting started.

Good luck everyone

Wonderful work Gretel.

The heart on the kitten is a nice touch.

Wow G! these are really good, the cat looks really yours if you know what I mean.
P.x

These are beautiful, I have never done 'needle felting'I can see I may have to try it sometime!!!!

I have been hoping to see what you have been up to in your studio over the past few days...I couldn't quite see on your webcam.
These are just so cute...three D versions of your paintings:-)
Take care,
Alison x

you are so talented at everything you seem to do. these little felted animals are gorgeous.

fairly respectable? Oh my goodness they are just gorgeous!!

Wow, I totally love those! I've never heard of needle felting, now I have something new to google.
The idea for the crown and frock on the goose would look adorable!

Oh now you've got me going, these are just so very adorable, I want to have a go. Where on earth does one start?

They are wonderful! So full of life and character, and they've got my fingers itching to have a go at needle felting too, it sounds as though you've had that effect on lots of your readers/commenters!

I LOVE these....may I just say I LOVE these OMG! I have the needle and I have some roving....I don't know where to begin to make something 3D. Did you put something under it first...please tell me! I LOVE these Gretel...oh wait...I think I said that already!
XOXO

Captain Rupert and I love Mr Apricot, Captain Rupert would of invited him down the pub too for some rabbit compnay! and all your other creations, are great too. Look forward to you doing more.

These are Gorgeous! I agree that they remind me of your illustrations, even the colours. This is one of the few crafts I never tried in my crafty days of long ago.

I am smitten. I am in love.
You are not only an artist,
you are a felt fairy.
Where do hide your magic needle?

That rabbit is wonderful! Of course the other animals are too, but the rabbit does it for me...so much like your drawings and those ears are full of expression. :-)

I love the rabbit - just gorgeous. They are all lovely but the rabbit really makes me smile.

Obviously the bunny is gorgeous ... but I simply ADORE the goose ... I think she needs a crown ;-) Goosey seems very grand in deed!

Oh your fantastic at this ! I ca n't belive you've never done this before !

Theyare really beautifull ! It's a good idea to felting, they are simply too cute !

Adorable!

Hehe.. I love how you've managed to get the same feel in these as in your illustrations - that sort of "armless bewilderment" :)
Lovely and well done and your busy-ness puts me to shame! Cheerio xxx

You are a a rare and exceptional talent!! I enjoy your blog so much.

Love,
Linda

www.lindablondheimartnotes.blogspot.com

gretel-these are absolutley brilliant! the goose is looking great so far. you look like you are having such fun with needle felting. i especially like the goose.dx.

What wonderful pictures you`re doing and now toys too! Love them all !!! I wish my computer as well as my connection were working better. I miss visiting here :)

tea
xo

Your felt animals are so lovely! They have such distinctive personalities--you really have a gift for felt work.

These animals are just wonderful...I have been wanting to have a go a felting myself - bought a book that sells supplies and now just need to find a little time to fit it in! I am told it takes quite a while but is so easy !?
Carol

I found your blog a few months ago, and your Etsy store, =) and have been reading ever since. I love your artwork and am sure I will have to buy some very soon. But today I went right over to Rima's store at your suggestion and bought myself a calander! Thank you for the hint.=)
My favorite picture of yours, by the way, is the header to your blog!

Sorry your feeling poorly and hope that you soon feel better.
Carolyn
Willow House

Gretel, as you can see you have been wafting custom through my shop doors :) Thanks so much for telling all about my humble little calendars!
As always it is lovely to see the nooks and crannies of your inspiring studio and lovely that you've got the oompf to get drawing :) I hope the weather climbs right back underneath you soon! Sending you virtual picturesque snow from up here today :) Lots of love and thanks again x

Thanks, Gretel!
I didn't think a signature was necessary, but I'm pleased to have provided a few moments mystery at least.
When visiting a friend's house I cannot resist looking along their bookshelves … you have some wonderful old volumes there. Surely it cannot be pure chance that the pointing finger card finishes up directed at "The Caxtons"?

Alan

What a lot of lovely things have come to you! Hope you recharge a bit and come out of your retreat feeling better. Your tags were very well received by the way! thank you.

Lovely drawing, I hope 2008 is agreat year for you.

Thanks for the link to Rimas blog. Her esty shop is wonderful. Yes take a rest with your sketchbook in front of your woodburner, and show us your sketchbook delights when you come out of hibernation ! ~ love Julia x

Gretel it has been wonderful to catch up on your last few posts (I am so behind on blog reading but actually it is nice sometimes to read a few favourite bloggers posts in a row). I just wanted to wish you a wonderful year for 2008 - it has been lovely to discover your art and your world via your blog and I look forward to seeing more!

Have fun relaxing and sketching in your beautiful wee home - xxx

lovely books (and other stuff)
poor poorly heffalump, and you

hope you feel better soon
and that 2008 is GREAT for you

I would so love to have a rummage through your studio, as a fellow accumulator! Hope you feel better soon and at least get some drawing done.

Hope you make a speedy recovery Gretel. I've just read about your tumble.

I'm sure you will be grabbing 2008 by the balls and make it a successful year.

I'm sorry to hear you're not feeling well - hope you are better soon.

I don't know if it's just your artistic eye or whether a lot of thought went into each one, but I love the way your items are framed against the backdrop of the books. I so want to come and rummage through your tomes - I see some old friends tucked in there:)

I hope you are feeling well again very soon, Gretel, and looking forward to seeing your drawings. This is such an iformative post - thanks for the links to Rima's etsy shop, too.

Clare

xx

PS - I love your blog header, too!

Hope you feel better soon.

Lovely drawing, look forward to seeing more.

Other peoples studios are fascinating. I love the items on display

Your gorgeous cards arrived this morning...stunning art work. I don't think that I can bare to part with them!
Hope you feel well very soon.
Take care,
Alison x

Happy New Year Gretel
Sorry it has taken me so long to reach you with this greeting.. I was a bit blogged out at Christmas!
Hope your weather isn't under any more and you are feeling better..
Your creative cogs are turning out some lovely works..
May 2008 be full of success and inspiration..
Michelex
P.s Ha... another Tintin fan... I teethed on Tintin books.. my Belgian aunt sent new publications regularly..signed too!

Everything is lovely. I'm afraid the goop is going around--all over the world it seems. Feel better soon.

Hope you are soon 100% dear girl.
Thanks for the peek into your studio...its fabulous.
(())
Francie

I think we all feel a bit like the poor collapsed elephant at this time of year.
I'm really loving your blog and illustrations!
all best wishes from Marrakech

I loved walking through your studio. Some of those books made me go all weak because I love old books. The covers and binding on them are a work of art in itself and I can disappear into the world of illustraions quite easily. How marvellous it would be if I could draw my own world to emmerse myself in. You are so lucky to have such talent. Hope you are feeling better and look forward to seeing what you are working on next.

I adore interesting studios, like yours. Gawd help us from the designer minimalist places some people seem to prefer.

Get well soon!

I just found your blog. It is wonderful.I love your swet, beautiful illustrations. They speak to my heart.
Love,
Linda
www.lindablondheimartnotes.blogspot.com

Oh my lovely, I am sorry you are feeling under the weather at the moment; I hope that you're feeling a little better. Much love xx

I just discovered your blog - I love the Cat's Cradle cards. And those books with the printer blogs.

Hope you're feeling better!

Guilty as charged. Glad you liked it, spider an' all!
x L & Ash

Thank goodness you opened it - I can relax at last! Lovely stuff - worth the wait!

How beautiful the package and contents. I would never have been able to wait. I'm a rip it open person.

I think I would have slung the parcel across the floor.. on first sighting of spider! Not intentionally.. I should add!
Glad you are made of stronger stuff and managed to unwrap contents without having a cardiac at sight of hairy legged one! (no.. not me)
and what a treat inside!
I am mightily impressed with your hand-crafted tags!
Hand carved..!!!!!!!
Michelexx

Your tags are beautiful, the dedication you've put into them definitely shows! Now you can put your feet up, non?

I dont know how you save your presents Gretel, what control!
Anyway, looks like you've got some lovely goodies, I like the look of the 'tablet' never seen this before.
P.x

That tablet looks like my Mums fudge...yum! I`m not sure if I was able to comment on your last post, but I love those tags.
Have such a struggle commenting anywhere. The comment page always comes up blank for at least 3 or 4 tries on anyones, it seems.
Anyway....you have some nice goodies there :)

tea
xo

Hello PG and thanks so much for your comments on my blog yesterday. I really appreciated them. I have decided after a headache-inducing few days to go ahead with NOTHS, although I am frankly terrified!! So much money, but the 5yr deal seemed to be too good to miss. I don't think I would have gone ahead if it was for just one year.
Your products are so beautiful and I love your honesty about things; can't stand it when people claim everything is perfect as any business must have it's ups and downs. I will be back (bit Schwarzenneger there!).
Pipany xx

Fab tags, Gretel! I hope they sell well as compensation for all your effort.
I'm saving for a new brayer...my rubber one isn't up to the job, so actual printing is at a stop for now. I'm still carving at blocks though.
I'm with Cowboys and Custard,,,I'd have flung the box down! That spider looks real! What a lovely box of pressies though (spider apart!).

Aunty Gretel,

you could be quoting the telephone directory and I would read with avid interest.

Nice taggles!

Erica
xxx

Great post as usual Gretel. I'm really inspired by your industry.

It's very hard to 'mass produce' handmade items. Creating as many products as possible, at a consistent quality, and at the same time retaining the hand crafted look, is an art in itself.

Gretel ... I am so very delighted to have received some of the loveliest Christmas cards and tags EVER from you from your beautiful Etsy shop. Honestly, you do incredible work. I could not be more excited to have received (in amazingly short order)my order and I highly recommend your artwork and cards to anyone who reads this! (Has blogspot changed the way we make comments here ... have been trying for several days ...).

Wow all the packages look marvellous, your packages, the gifts you received evrything. I think all small gifts will be wrapped in pages from CL from now on they look wonderful.
Whoops looks as if Blogger has changed the way we comment I'll have to be anonymous - yikes!
Carolyn
http://willowhouse.typepad.com

So many beautiful things in this post! Congratulations on work more done well done, you are a very hard worker and great artist. Sheer delight reading about it, even though you have slaved so hard.
Are you getting a breather now at Christmas time?

Oh Gretel it is such delight to catch up on your last few posts - I love reading a few at a time! It is like a half hour escape from the city life where I don't feel I belong - to a world where there is mushroom picking and mini letter press industries (although I am sure 'mini' is perhaps not the word you would use after all your busy'ness!

The tags are just beautiful and that parcel - wow!!! You are very strong willed to have kept it - but what wonderful goodies!

Have a wonderful week

Lovely work. It's nice reading your posts and imagine myself in the countryside away from Bangkok traffic.
Have a great day!

I can indeed confirm that the tags are gorgeous and beautiful, and they're going to be adorning all my Christmas pressies this year! What a fabulous package, pg - enjoy!

that fudge looks gorgeously delicious!

i've enjoyed catching up, hope you are well

The whole family has decided yet again that there will be no gift exchange this Christmas and we will continue to give to charities, but after seeing your amazing tags, I'm almost tempted to suggest we change our plans! They are simply stunning.
Now I'm off to see if I can find a recipe online for Scottish fudge.
Cheers, Barb

At the risk of abusing Gretel's blog, Seaside1 and anyone else with a sweet tooth can try the tablet recipe as it's on my www.bordertart.com under Treausre Trove!
Happy holidays!
Lindsay

Love your design. I am glad you are having fun.

The printed pink pages with chickens are brilliant and the results (sounding a bit like the old "...if at first you don't succeed," sort of thing, must be so satisfying now that you have the space to work in. It was all worth it!

The little folk bird is called a distlefink... I think... it's from the Pennsylvania Dutch... which largely explains everything. Also, I'm delighted to see the results of your printing... yu make it look like magic. Thank you, Jenny

How about that for serendipity? here I am in France, me and Madame Grognonne contemplating a return to lino printing as a change from tile panels (and it must be said to avoid houswork) and there you are with all the info and a studio and house as dismantled as our own!... oh damn just realised some of those are before pictures, ah well one day I may get around to tidying my studio too!

Lovely site.

I did some lino printing in one of my childrens lesson and we used water based inks - becuase of less mess in there mums kitchen. It does not take very well. I love your chicken design. Have fun printing. Love the web cam and looking forward to seeing what that teddy with the paint brush paints, this morning!

Love the chicken print paper, must have been so much fun printing again. I fully understand the frustration of supplies, I do drive, do have a car and do live near a decent town but can you get what you want?
Now I'm off to check out all thse links.

Oh Brill, you've started! love the chick notes and was interested to read of your fix to the slippy lino surface. Good thinking!

Re supplies I get everything from the internet now. I loathe driving and the art shops in town seem to cater to hobbyists rather than real artists.

Oooo. They're looking fab. I love, love, love the yellow ones above. Yellow being my colour of the mo.

What be this 'ere "Children, Chocolate and Wine" blog all about? I went to have a look but I couldn't figure out how it works. Is it just a portal to other blogs?