Inspiration Board.

I'm in final art mode for A Christmas Goodnight (Fall 2011) and I thought I'd share with you some images I have in my studio to get the juices going. The book is full of wonderful color and texture, and though the characters in these images have nothing to do with the subject I am working with, the line and color inspires me.  It's so important for me to have visual inspiration for the projects I work on. It gets me right in the mood!

Image via Bibliodyssey

Image via Bibliodyssey

Mauric Sendak from "The Art of Maurice Sendak"

This has been in my files forever....can't find the reference! Let me know if you know!

EDIT: William Joyce from MY FIRST BOOK OF NURSERY TALES

Image from Kevin Henkes upcoming book via Greenwillow Press Blog.

Maurice Sendak, Moon Jumpers

Rosemary Wells, Original Art

And a little Van Gogh, Starry Night

Book's you'll love: My Garden

We started our garden this week. Our yard is going to need quite the make over (it hasn't been tended in over 10 years!) But that is the charm of it really. It's like having  a secret garden....we're uncovering all sorts of wonderful things. We've had the kids out digging and planting and watering. A garden is magic to a child, and magic to me really. My Garden is a new book by Kevin Henkes (one of my children's illustrator hero's) and this couldn't be any more perfect for this time of year! So charming and sweet and simple. I absolutely love his illustrations....like I said...he's my favorite to admire. And the story is just as charming: this little girl imagines what her garden would be like if she could have it any way she wanted: and there are endless possibilities. I have this book standing upright on my desk and it's like having a bouquet of flowers right next to me. Happy reading and happy gardening!

The Tree Swing.

We moved in about a month ago, and the very first thing we did was put in a tree swing in the back. Well, not we exactly....my monkey husband who climbed 30 feet up a tree and even chopped off a huge limb (in his dress shirt and slacks mind you....it was that urgent!) to give the rope maximum swinging power. My kids have spent hours on this thing. It reminds me of this print, but with much more action.  And it makes me so happy to see them swinging up to the sky without a care in the world. And somehow when I watch, I remember my carefree moments as a child, and realize that they aren't so far away. Better yet, they can still be had....mixed with the typical mothering-worries of course....but there are so many moments of bliss in every day.  I am thankful for reminders from a tree swing.

Books You'll Love: So Many Days.

Good morning. It's Monday. Very much a monday, and I need a good book.

Have you seen this wonderful new title from Taeeun Yoo? I've chatted about her before and how in love I am with her simple illustrations. But her sweet prints are making me smile this morning.

So Many Days. A book about dreams and possibilities and the wonders of the world we see.  There is this darling mini-video of the illustrated book here. It's one of those books perfect for gifting, graduation presents or for that new baby. "So many doors in all your days....So much to wonder about.....Where will you go.....and who will you be?"

I just love Taeeun Yoo's illustrations. Simple prints with fresh color, Asian influence and a vintage feel. They are timeless and wonderful. She has illustrated titles such as ONLY A WITCH CAN FLY, THE LITTLE RED FISH, and THE UMBRELLA QUEEN. She is an up-and-comer getting a lot of attention for her work, and I think there is so much to her simple lines and color that create the unique feel to her books. Here are some of my favorite illustrations from this book:

Aren't they wonderful? Have you seen any other of her books? I'd love to know what you think about them. They really speak to me as an illustrator, and to that inner child in me that craves imaginative illustrations and creative lines and color. Her illustrations are really inspiring me this morning....this plain-jane monday. Seeing illustrations like hers really thrill me and remind me how much I love illustrating for children. You can tell from her art that she loves illustrating for children too.  Hope you enjoy!

A room for brother and sister.

The fact that we are moving to a house, a perminent dwelling, a place we won't move from in less than a year, gives me the design bug. Bad. Like really bad. I lay awake at night designing the house, the studio, the kid's rooms...I even have the halls figured out. It's a curse really....but I love it.

And I don't even have the keys yet. Tomorrow, folks. Tomorrow I will be a home owner!

The big "decision" we are figuring out in our house right now, is who gets to sleep with whom and where. Addie and Ian have been together since infancy, and surprisingly want their own rooms in this new house. But, that leaves Ella having to sleep with a big kid, and I just don't know if I am ready to have her disturbed by the nightly ritual of getting out of bed 32 times for urgent demands like "another story", "bedtime snack" or "I'm scared of the dark" incidences. Truthfully, I don't think they could sleep apart...they have grown up as twins really, and miss each other after 5 minutes of being separated. So....since we haven't decided yet, I have been designing up a few alternatives.

This is what I have so far for a possible Boy/Girl or Gender Neutral Room. Addie is for sure a girly girl, and Ian is my 1960's school boy. The colors match up just right, and I am loving the color going on.

Here's the round up:

(Left to right)

1. Vintage Map

2. Favorite room from blog land here.

3. Anthropologie quilt I found on Craigslist ($40 thank you very much)

4. Room Seven Inspiration

5. Image here.

6. Le Balloon print available in the shop

7. Via kikiandpolly.com from Bloesom home tours here.

8. Le Petit Prince: a fav. book and design inspiration

9. Designs from Shinzi Katoh

10. Summer Tea Party Print available in the shop

11. Red chair found here.

I'm having a ball scouting out Craigslist, my local classifieds, and second hand stores. I'll let you know if this is what we go for...or if we end up going with the girls room/boys room idea. Personally, they only have so much longer until they really won't want to be together...I want to keep them together for as long as I can.

And so far, I've convinced them to stay together with this design:) I'm a tricky one, I am.

Off to the paint store....!

Bubble gum candy.

The economy is messed up. Politics are crazy. It's freezing outside (without the advantage of fresh snow). My kitchen has seen better days (maybe not).  The laundry is getting a wee bit on the scary side. My hair could use a good doing. But just now,  my 5 year old breezes across the floor like this.

And I wonder if I could go back to when my mind was filled only with unicorns, purple things and bubble gum. My pace was that of hers.

But then I remember: I have unicorns, purple things and bubble gum every day. She hugs me and says "I love you, Mother." And so I skip.

New beginnings.

Hello, Hello!

Hope you all had a wonderful break for the holidays. I can't tell you how good it feels get away from the computer and other essential electronics for 2 weeks. What a treat! But it is good to be back. We went to California for the break, and as good as it is to be home finally, I do miss the leisurely days.

But it's the beginning of the week. And January. And 2010. And it feels good. I feel fresh, ready to restart. Like trying on new clothes. Or diving into the lap lane. Fresh is always good.

So, I am a big goal setter. Remember this post? And I have already started to round up my resolutions for the upcoming year. But I have learned through experience, to only set a few....too many goals ensures total doom (usually the lose 10 pounds kinda goals!)  I have my own personal and family resolutions (namely to stop complaining about things I can't control and to make sure my husband knows he is the center of my universe), but for my art....

1. Finish the art for my first picture book

2. Draw every single day

You'd think that drawing every day would be rather easy to do...but OH it's hard to find the time...and the free elbow room to even draw on paper when I have 3 other little ones claiming my other limbs! And the book....I've been working on this for a while now, and it's so rewarding...nothing like being challenged doing something you love.

So yes...bring on the new year. Bring on the new vision, the new goals and the fresh start.

What goals are you setting this year? I have a good feeling. It's going to be a great year.

Lunch quote download.

{DOWNLOAD HERE}

I have an amazing mother. You want to know how amazing? Had-five-children-and-made-their-lunches-everyday amazing. For nearly 25 years, she made school lunches. I hear it now, "She spoiled her children!" Ah, yes. But we made our lunches too, of course. What made her amazing is that she didn't mind making our lunches because she could then pack in secret notes. Mostly on post-its or folded pieces of paper. There were the "I love you's," "Good luck on your test today," and other motherly love notes. But more often than not, there was what we call "Lunch Quotes". I actually kept many of my lunch quotes...even when they were stained with grape water or condensation from my box juice. I kept so many, because they reflected what my mother cared about, and what she thought I needed to hear. It was a mother's way of staying in touch during the days when she hardly saw her children because of school, homework and other activities.

Growing up, if you were to walk into my mother's kitchen, you would see "lunch quotes" stuck to the fridge, close pinned above the sink, and by the phone. I always could tell what my mother was thinking about based on the quotes she chose to place around the house. It was a simple act of love for her family and for herself I will always treasure.

And so....after all these years of not having school lunches, I miss my lunch quotes!

So I made one.

For you and for me. And of course, for my Mom.

After watching this incredibly inspiring video, the end phrase was the catch-all for me.

This will be going in my kitchen above the sink. As a reminder for when things get stressful...as they always do...to kiss a bit more , listen more intently and hug a little longer.

You can download this "Lunch Quote" here. (For Personal Use only, please!)

Enjoy a love filled weekend!

xo

sarah jane

**And, no...there is not a typo in the quote...it's just a fun + messy font. Enjoy!