El Rito, NM...right before Christmas

Although I love San Francisco, there is something about New Mexico that makes its nickname: Land of Enchantment, resonate deeply with me.

I was lucky enough to have a research project that absolutely, positively required an in-person trip to Sante Fe. And I am lucky indeed to have a dear friend and artist, Susan Guevara, to stay with.

Susan arranged a visit to the El Rito Elementary school, where I visited with the kindergarten and 1st grade.

1st thing was to present Ms. Mary with her own Miss Bindergarten to help celebrate Christmas. Next I read When Lucy Goes Out Walking aloud and drew an illustrated story with the students. Then we just hung out, decorated their classroom tree and made funny faces.

The day ended with a walk in the snow. It was light, fluffy and just right for dancing around in.

Ogden, Utah...again

Treehouse Children's Museum has created a new exhibit incorporating a mural I painted for them last winter. Old MacDonald's Woodshop is attached to the big red barn. In the barn is a milkable cow and animatronic sheep and rooster.

Miss Bindergarten and I visited Ogden in November and met 1000s of schoolchildren in area schools. I had a chance to see the new exhibit and take some shots of Miss B exploring the entire museum.

My gracious hosts, Lynne and Michael Goodwin, took me on some fun excursions. One to a Navajo Rug Show in Park City. I was thrilled to buy this Eye Dazzler pattern rug made by weaver Sandy Benale, a 12 year old, 6th grader.

We had a brief visit with Franz, the Park City bear and checked out the skiing possibilities. Not happening yet!

Later we drove out into the Great Salt Lake to Antelope Island. The bison were grazing in the late afternoon light and the Wasatch Range was glowing purple.

Better Business Cards

The wonderfully talented Bob Barner turned me on to the best business card product I've found. They are not the least expensive but, as a promotional vehicle, they couldn't suit my purposes better. I buy Moo Cards, printed in London, England: http://www.moo.com/

What I love about the regular size and the mini cards is that an artist can upload from 50 to 100 different images so you are carrying around a miniature portfolio at all times.

I just ordered my latest batch of 200 regular size cards. I uploaded 50 images and will get 4 of each design. Here is a small sample of the details I chose from I Call My Grandma Nana and I Call My Grandpa Papa.

Boston

Although I have never lived there long, Boston has been an important city in my life. I am always being drawn back and this year is no exception.

I was born in Boston Lying-In Hospital, established in 1832 as one of America’s first maternity hospitals.
I lived as a baby in Cambridge before my parents moved to Middlebury, VT.
One summer I lived on Craigie Street in Cambridge and another summer I lived in Marblehead. Both times my dad was teaching summer sessions at Harvard or Columbia. I remember going weekly to buy vegetables, meat and flowers at Fanueil Hall Marketplace, before it was all gussied up. It was gritty back then.
As the largest US city within a day's drive, a day trip to Boston was an occasional treat when I was a teenager. My mom and I would get our hair cut and have lunch on Newbury Street.
I have walked with my boys on the Freedom Trail, ridden the Ducks, the swans and cheered for the Sox at Fenway Park.
My long time agent and mentor lives on West Newton Street, my best old friend lives in Brookline and now my husband is living for the 2008-09 school year in Cambridge. He was awarded a Knight Science Journalism Fellowship and is taking a year off from the struggling San Francisco Chronicle to refresh and recharge.
Although I chose to stay in SF for various reasons, I visited him recently and experienced a taste of life in Boston and Cambridge in February.
Sabin and I rode the T, mostly the Green and Red lines, visited the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Science and the Peabody Museum. We ate at Emma's Pizza, and at the homes of friends. We watched The Wrestler, the Oscars and Slumdog Millionaire. We had fun!

Michigan in November

That doesn't sound like a recipe for beauty, but it is.

What a pleasant surprise it was for this homesick Vermonter to catch the last of the fall color on my recent visit to Grand Rapids.

I was the guest of two school principals, Sue and Rich Miller in their farmhouse in Ada.
They live with Tucker, the biggest, handsomest border collie you've ever seen.

I had some free time before and after my visits to their respective elementary schools: K.E.C. Oakleigh and Palmer, so I took full advantage of the winter sun and snowlight.

I Call My Grandpa Papa

“My Dedushka is amazing, He can make things disappear. And once he found a quarter-- Right here in my ear!”

“Ojii-San is tall and strong.
He lifts me way up high
So I can see the whole parade
As it goes marching by!”

“My Opa took me camping
And the part I loved the most
Was eating the marshmallows
He taught me how to toast”

“Nonno takes me to his barbershop.
We sit in two big chairs,
And a nice man named Rosario
Cuts off all our hairs.”

I have just finished 2 new books for Tricycle Press. This one is called
I Call My Grandpa Papa

They are about the different names chosen by grandfathers from different world cultures and from here in the United States. They are illustrated with a collage technique I used for the 1st time here.

I Call My Grandma Nana

My Lola has a million blocks,
And wooden tracks and cranes.
We build a town--and all around
I get to drive my trains.”

“Abuelita is my Grandma,
She’s teaching me to sew.
The doll we’re making looks like me:
Blue dress, black braid, white bow!”

I have just finished 2 new books for Tricycle Press. This one is called
I Call My Grandma Nana.

They are about the different names chosen by grandmothers from different world cultures and from here in the United States. They are illustrated with a collage technique I used for the 1st time here.

Happy Halloween 2008

I created this card using the new collage technique I used in my 2 new books for Tricycle Press. See my next post for samples!

The Appalachian Trail was right next door

To get in shape for the Proper Walk I needed lots of exercise.

Luckily the Appalachian Trail, which runs for 2000 miles from Georgia to Maine, passed right by Hollins.

I discovered a trailhead and met many interesting people who were doing the entire route in one summer.