A sad day and A new computer and a little bit of old work

Last night, my iMac G5 kicked the bucket. I was trashed, sad and mad... and it turns out it is the logic board, and since it is almost 5 years old anyway - not really worth fixing. I hate that we are like that, but when you need up-to-date technology to make a go of it, you just do. SO I am doingmy part for the economy and buying a new macbook pro 17" laptop. Right now I am working on my 12"iBook that is almost 8 years old and still humming along quite well I might add! Though it has so little memory, I can't add anything to it, but it is great in a pinch, and since I need to wait a week or so to get my new baby - this is great. So, while I am on my old computer, maybe I will post some of my old stuff - just for fun...

When we were walking down the road

I am doing my very first bookstore event this coming weekend. Today was my birthday and we decided to go to Belleville and toot around downtown for a bit, and we came to the bookstore - Greenley's books On Front Street (best bookstore ever), and they were starting to put up a window display of my book (okay, so I knew they were there, and wanted to see, but absolutely did not expect this!) Here are some pics, I am so honoured, and so very glad I am working with these folks, they are warm, friendly - and BOY do they know books. No website that I could find though - bummer.

In Bookstores NOW!!

So exciting - In the Garden is now on store shelves... what a great feeling. I have also signed on with the Skype an Author Network - so I am able to do visits over the internet - technology is great, there are so many places I would like to go, but time and $$ can be limiting, so this should be a nice alternative for those schools and libraries who might be interested in talking with me - but can't afford to bring me on-site. Contact me for details if you are interested please!

A completed half of my women

And now, here is a scan of part of the spread... it is working out quite well this paper thing. I don't think I will do this for everything, since it is terribly time-consuming, but it is fun to work in a different way for sure.

On another note - my books are being shipped, and are starting to appear in bookstores... so exciting!

Sticking and Painting

This is so much fun - and SO very different for me.. but here we are. This is after a couple of hours of painting and experimenting. These are photos, not scans, so in actuality the images are a bit brighter, but hey - this shows what I am doing. This paper is so gorgeous, I am thrilled to be able to use it. This is the first time ever I've been excited to show a work in progress.

New Sketch for book set in the Gambia

I am working on a new book with one of my favourite authors to work with, and this book is a challenge - but a fun one. It is more research than I am used to, and a style I have always wanted to work in, but had not felt right up till this point. This is a very rough sketch of where I am going. Right now I am still working out the kinks, the characters and the setting, but I am excited... it is howeve, taking about 5 times longer than it usually takes me, but hopefully that will show in the end.

Needle felted board and tour

As part of my school visits, I have developed some activities to go along with my book, so we can explore this farther, in a very tactile, interactive way. Well, It was a HIT. The kids loved it, we had a great time, they were hooting and hollering right along, Here are some shots of the board and some of the different questions we explored.

Tour Kick-off!

So, this morning I did my very first interactive play reading. That is what I am calling it anyway. Sixteen Kindergarten kids, and a whole lot of fun!

All the kids know me as Mowat's mom, and when I told them I made books, they went crazy. As I read, they were so nuts about the pictures and the story I could not believe it. I thought I needed gimmicks, I thought they would be BORED. But they were not. It was the best. It is the reason I do what I do - I just did not know it.

They were engaged and curious, respectful and bright. And did I mention INTO it?

I made a felt board and all sorts of creatures and veggies etc for talking about the book and gardens in general. My plan for interaction. This is the part I need to sort-of rethink. They loved it, but it was a little haywire. Some kids are so good at waiting their turn and others want in right away... I am thinking we will talk about the stuff - silly and not, and then I will put it up and then afterwards they can play with it in smaller groups. I will post a picture, it actually turned out pretty well. In small groups it would be rocking.

Then we talked about seeds, and we planted some. It got pretty dirty. I really want to be able to send the kids home with a little seed in dirt, so have now come up with a plan to make it more accessible, less messy and still get the same results. One little guy was convinced his magic bean had already started to grow.

I love this part.