Camden Public Library, Maine must be right up there in the list of prettiest locations for a library. And last week I was lucky enough to be part of the line up of authors and illustrators for the 7th Annual Children's Book Festival .... it was a fun day, and I think the pics say it all! I love doing Book Festivals!
Toodles!
Hazel
Today's inspiration were colour combinations I wouldn't normally choose, so that was fun! All that pink, it had to be a ballerina. Maybe she is a spring sprite ...
Toodles, Hazel
from snowy Maine.
Saturday was beautiful. We had a deck roof to put on, grass to cut, a huge to do list. Blue sky, light breeze, no humidity. Perfect weather for projects!
"Let's go to the sea!" I said. So we did.
Much better than slaving away hammering and staining. We had all day Sunday to do that (which we did).
Playing hookie we scooted Down East to Schoodic Point, a beautiful, wild nature reserve about 1.5hrs drive. The backdrop view from this finger of Maine granite is Acadia National Park. The colours were breath taking. Bright cadmium reds in berrys and hips and haws thrown against viridian green leaves and the ultramarine and prussian of the sea. Surf bubbled and foamed throwing up spits of azure creaminess against grey granite and sparkling malachite rocks. Superb.
Sometimes you just have to obey your desires and GO.
All this beauty was, ofcourse, followed by a cracking fish and chip lunch. OK, not quite up to Yorkshire standards (what is?) but good enough.
This 'call of the sea' seems to be a pervading theme in y life this week. A sketch here from my sketch blog ...
The biggest 'call of the sea' is that we've made the decision (been coming on a long time) to begin the search for a place to live nearer the Maine coast. My hubby works in Belfast, Maine and has a daily commute of about 45mins one way over some beautiful, but very hilly, roads. In winter it can be treacherous and means over 2 hours or more travelling. We have lived in our current house (which we built ourselves) for seven years. It's longer than we imagined we'd stay here. Do I have the seven year itch? Undoubtedly. The 'Call' is strong.
Before I moved to America (2000) I always lived by the sea. I grew up in Scarborough, England, a beautiful fishing town. Then spent 6 years in the Royal Navy and 10 years after that in Portsmouth, England. Coming to America (first to SC) I felt extremely land locked. Although we are only 45 minutes drive from the sea right now ... it's just not the same. Heavens above, if I ever had to live in the Mid West!
That's what's on my mind a lot right now. This move. I am not looking forward to it. The disruption of work and routine. I will be sad to leave our little house, just when we have finished it - it took a while . But the restlessness I am feeling won't be satisfied and gets worse with each passing season, birthday and new year. Better to get the pain over with.! So ... realtors are alerted, their nostrils flared and twitching. Meantime, if you know anyone who would like to buy a sweet logsided house in a country area of Maine, send 'em along.
1 Comments on The Call of the Sea, last added: 9/13/2011
Fall is coming quick to Maine. It seems amazing that the summer has come and gone so quickly, but there it is. We've been stacking wood, fitting a new propane stove and insulating. The leaves are tinging red and yellow, birds are gathering, the garden is giving up it's last thrust of produce and it's time to think about submitting dummies. Well, it is in this house anyway!
Submitting is something I haven't been doing much of lately. The last two months I have been deep into finishing the final illustrations for the next two chapter books in the 'All Star Cheerleader' series for Kane and Miller by Anastasia Suen. Each book has 23 black and white illustrations and colour covers. You can buy the first one on line right now!
In fact I was so deep into them that I even forgot to blog! Wowser!
So, that is why I am thinking about submitting dummies ... I have several hanging around, and they are no good loafing around on my desk, it's out into the world they go. It's back to the CWIM to research likely publishers and fingers crossed on interest and not rejections. But, hey ho!
The hurricane passed us by uneventfully (Irene). Power off for a bit, but nothing horrible. Poor Vermont, they had a rough time, we were lucky. I will be glad when hurricane season is over, although all we get usually is humidity and a deal of rain. I don't mind rain, but if I wanted humidity I would have stayed in South Carolina.
I did make time to visit the Camden Book Fair and listen to some excellent authors and illustrators. It was nice to take a few hours out. Here's who attended ... I got some fabby signed copies!
How many do you know? Spot Toni Buzzeo, Jeannie Brett, Chris Van Dusen, Stephen Costanza, Cynthia Lord and Melissa Sweet amongst others.
The beautiful harbour and library in Camden, Maine.
All of which gave me some great inspiration for my own work. It occurs to me that this is the first time since October 2010 that I haven't been illustrating a book for someone else. It has been fantastic, and it has been a little frustrating ... working on my own projects has been limited. Hence no submissions. This week I have been reviewing and rethinking. There are new stories I would like to work on. Heck, I would love to get back to the MG I star
By: Hazel Mitchell,
on 8/26/2012
Love the photos Hazel, pretty place, I hope oneday to make it to Maine.
Do come to Maine ... it's so beautiful!