Caldecott Medals 2009.

On Monday, the 2009 Caldecott and Newbury awards were announced, and I must say I am no less than inspired. Working on my own children's book has given me a completely new perception of what these awards represent.  Here at home, we acquire new books monthly...mostly from the library, but we have since built up our own children's book library. I even have my own picture book collection that the kids aren't allowed to touch (or chew or rip!). And I started thinking....I would love to start a picture book review weekly on the blog! Every week, I'll introduce a favorite find...old and new in the category: Books you'll love. But for this week, here are the Caldecott winners for 2009!

The Lion and the Mouse illustrated and written by Jerry Pinkney (Caldecott Medal)

All the World illustrated by Marla Frazee, written by Liz Garton Scanlon (Caldecott Honor)

Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski, written by Joyce Sidman (Caldecott Honor)

It's really fun to think that right now, I have acquired these books without the medal on them. I purchased them before the gold sticker perminently gets placed. I think I like it best that way: it reminds me of what first came out of the publishing house...fresh and raw, ready for review.

But check these books out...you won't be disappointed. How a story is told in pictures is a genius I am so intrigued and inspired by. Hope you are too!

Design on my mind.

What do these images have in common? There is a theme here, and I'll give you a secret: it has to do with ALT DESIGN SUMMIT this weekend!

Ok, Can you guess?

These are the ladies I'll be speaking with on my panel under a topic that will for sure spill overtime cause there is so much to talk about: Building Your Brand and Your Business.

I am so thrilled to be speaking with Victoria from te super savy style blog Sfgirlbybay and the expert gardener and renaissance woman Gayla from You Grow Girl. We all have something in common: we love what we do, we started to put ourselves out there in the blogging world, and a business grew partially by accident and partially planned. We will be talking about the steps we have taken to get there and advice for the journey. Come with your questions too...I think we'll have a Q&A at the end if we have time!

So, if you haven't had time to get your tickets, this is your last chance! The first ever blogging conference with design in mind. I can't wait to hear from some of my biggest social marketing heros, and design heros. It will be a party with lots o lots of packed information.

If you can come, please come over and say hi! This will be my first day away from the baby, so I will be considerably more lonely than normal...either that or completely care free!

See you there!

She Knits.

Shhhhh.....I am supposed to be working on my book....but I have February on my mind, and I have been warming up with some sketches. Here is a darling friend I've had in my head for a while. She may or may not end up in the shop, but she is sure making me smile this weekend. Back to book art....and hope you have a lovely weekend! I'm going shopping for a bit of spice to wear to the ALT Design Summit. Are you going? I can't wait.

Ok...enough tangents. Happy Weekend. And happy creating.

xo, sarah jane

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.

Huge Sale!

In case you haven't heard, these lovely things are 50% off until they are gone! Presents all around!

Hope you are having a good Monday!  I'm currently the head captain of Battle Earache this week.  Yup...all 3 kids are sick with nasty ear infections...all at the same time. Wow....I don't think I could have planned that one any better!

I am starting to watch the calendar for warmer weather to come. This cold/flu season has been a bad one at our house. Yours?

And for all our movie watching this week with sickies at home, I was so excited to see this and this new to hulu. Love it.

Back to cuddling warm bodies...I really do love my job;)

xo, sarah jane

Conversations on book art making.

So, Day 8 into the new year, and I have managed to draw every day. What is so hard though, is that the art that I am working on (my first picture book CHRISTMAS GOODNIGHT with Harper Collins Publishers) really can't be shared. It's just the way it is! But I can share the models that I use, right? It sure is nice to have live models for Baby Jesus, and others. If only they'd sit still a minute!

But I will say, that most of the art I have done so far won't ever be used. It really is an amazing process. In book art making, you never get what you want on the first try!

It's like how I finally get to the point when I am trying to tell my husband why I am upset about something: It takes a lot of talking about every which thing before it finally comes out! (Come on...You know it's like that...it's amazing how much has to come out of your mouth before you say what you really need to say!)

Well, same with art making. Or at least my art making! I have sketch books full of stuff that just doesn't work. Or is completely random and has nothing to do with the book I am working on, but just happened to come out while I was working (like those conversations, you know?) But it all ends up being necessary to get what I am ultimately working towards.

It's really amazing to see how illustration births itself. It's the coolest thing ever. I love it!

I plan on having the book art done by May, and then comes the just as long production work. So cool. I get to work on Christmas all year:)

My mothering day.

This month is so sentimental to me: It's a month full of birthdays. The birthday of my two Irish twins (Yep...12 months apart, baby!) and my Mothering Birthday. I had never really ever thought of it this way: my eldest daughter's birthday is really my day too: the day I became a Mom. And this month it'll be 5 years of mothering. Wow. FIVE. Sometimes it seems like a lot, and other days....I it is just the beginning.

5 years ago:

I was in the middle of my first birth.

I held my first baby.

I felt her soft scalp and understood why they call newborn's hair "velvet"

I found my true calling.

I cried my first tears of joy after a long wait of trying to conceive.

I became amazed at how natural it felt to care for and be responsible for this fresh new soul straight from Heaven.

I felt more heroic then ever before: I gave birth!! My body is incredible and made to do that!

I learned what all parents say they are amazed with: the instant love you have for your child

I gained a love for my husband I'd never known.

I learned a new meaning of 'tired'

It was the beginning of life as I know it. And I love it.

(And I have to comment on this photo walking towards the door: How did I open my own door in those days? Mother's of twins and Irish twins can appreciate those kinds of minor details!)

For more baby love, check out this new favorite movie trailer of mine. Completely awesome.

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.