It's Holiday Time!

2 year old me on a Santa visit. I look worried.

Hope everyone has a safe and Happy Holiday!

I made Pickles

Back in August, I went to the Farmer's Market with Fru and bought a big load of cukes to make into pickles. The same recipe my Grandma Hilda used to make and my mom too. Bread and Butter pickles. I was nervous because it was my first time, but they turned out GREAT! We tested a couple of jars to make sure we weren't going to poison our friends when we gave them as gifts. (Friends, you haven't gotten these yet, so turn away! Don't look!)

I also made a batch of "dill" pickles...not photo worthy. Let's not speak their names because....they are just....ew. I felt like Aunt B with her pickle fiasco. What do you do with 6 jars of nasty, disgusting, inedible pickles? My Uncle Bill says: "Throw them away". So in the composter they will go. Lesson learned with pickle making: Always follow a recipe, do not be creative with spices! It was so fun though, and next year I'll try another family recipe, Spice Pickles....yum!

Inspiration...got some? need some?

For a few years when I would be sitting at my desk in my cubicle illustrating for a children's educational publisher, I would daydream about working for myself doing my own style of illustrating and being successful. So I'd hit Google up for some illustration inspiration and found Holli Conger's encouraging advice. Her work is so fun, and her helpful advice is worth a lot.

I'm needing some inspiration today and was happy to see her December advice posts on her blog today.

So here I am, venturing off on my own. I hope I have what it takes!

Projects!

It was a nice relaxing Thanksgiving Holiday in Orlando with the folks. The weather was beautiful, and it's always nice to see my parents. We went to the Sanford Zoo and saw lots of (venomous!) snakes of the world, cheetahs, kangaroos, leopards, and one dinosaur. The favorite of the 2 year old...LLAMAS and the mini choo choo train!!!

Finally, some of my hard work is paying off!! I have 2 freelance illustration projects going on. One is illustrating paper dolls for a certain demographic, which I think is going to be fun. I'll post pics when I get approval from the client. The other is a toddler book for a self publishing author. Should be cute! So, all of a sudden, my plate is a little more full and I feel a little less stressed about the future. I also have a painting to finish for my cousin that is a challenge. I haven't used real paint and brush in quite a while...I can't tell you how many times I've tried to press Commmand+Z!!! It's funny how your brain adjusts to digital ways.

Ups and Downs

So this unemployment journey is a rough one. Full of indecision, doubt and fear. One great thing to come out of it is a lot of learning. I've been taking classes like crazy trying to soak up as much new info as possible. I've even signed up to be a real curriculum student at our local community college to get my certificate in Web Design. Since I've only been neck deep in the illustration side, I didn't diversify my skills. But honestly, I can't think of anything else I want to do, but illustrate. I'm trying really really hard to reinvent myself. Not an easy feat with a spirited toddler wanting a lot of my attention.


Also, I've recently become a published member of the society for children's writers and illustrators!

smokey mountain boy.

smokey mountain boy.
Originally uploaded by starleneg

Fall is the best time of year, I swear. I always feel so excited when the air starts to nip at you a bit and the leaves show their stuff. We recently went up to the (higher) mountains to visit some family that I only get to see once a year at most. It was hours of outside time for Ro, which he thrived on, lots of games of dominoes and the best homemade pickles by Uncle Bill.

Spice Pickles....mmmm....mmmmm....good! I need to make those next year. This year I made bread and butter pickles. Those fresh cucumbers floating in that brine are so pretty. Too bad, I didn't take a photo.

Family Collaboration

Ro, his dad and I did some watercolor painting yesterday and I couldn't help, but see some little creatures hiding in there.

Kwan-Kwest: How To Work with an Illustrator!

Kwan-Kwest: How To Work with an Illustrator!: "Cool little video that takes a new client on a basic tour of the process of working with an Illustrator! Enjoy!"

Gearing up for monsters!

here they come....candy monsters!

Sigh...

Things are not easy in the unemployed world. I had to make a hard decision this week and turn down a job offer....Hoping it wasn't a huge mistake. We'll see!

Acrobat

Here is my first Illustration Friday submission since Ro was born...Practice makes perfect, right? Also posted here.

The first day of the rest of my life...

I'm starting over with a new blog. I've recently been laid off from my job illustrating children's books for a publishing company. I am seriously grieving the loss...it was a really fun job for a really long time, but it's time for something new! Do I find a new job, or finally start my own Full-time Freelance business?
We'll see. I'm starting this blog to refresh and start doing Illustration Friday again and figure things out. Whatever I do, it's going to be new and uncharted territory for me after spending the last decade at the same job. I'm taking classes here and there and learning new things!

Here we goooooo!!!!