My kinda irresistable.

Can you get any cuter than this?

Nope. Sorry. She's the top of my can't-handle-it-any-more-she's-so-cute meter. In fact, she broke the meter.

She is my happy baby, and I couldn't be more lucky to have a baby with such an easy temperment with all that is going on right now...she just kinda rolls with the punches.  Rolls being the key word.  I hear the 3rd baby is like that. She has no choice, I guess. Life is such right now that "crazy" becomes her "normal."

She's making it really hard for me to get off the floor/couch/bed and do something productive like....oh....housework or packing.  Smooching her is about all I do around here (Well...besides illustrating the book, mothering 3 kids and trying to move in a couple weeks).  Ella is a pretty good distraction.  And I don't really mind!

Happy Tuesday!

Oh, and thanks for all your congratulations on the house! This is really such a big deal for us since we have been living out of boxes it seems like for so long. We finally feel like we are "settling" here in Utah, not just temporary residents. It's a good feeling.

Our little house.

Oh gee...I'm still here. Yes, I am alive. Feeling like I fell off the internet planet for a bit...and for good reason:

We bought a house.

Ya, only a small purchase with minimal amount of stress. Oh boy...We have been house hunting for wow...over a year now?  I know this is confusing for some who follow this blog closely....we almost bought a house over Christmas, but it fell through when a higher bid came in unexpectedly at literally the very last second. But, we're relieved now because we have finally found a place to put our family! And we love it! We've actually been in total transition for over a year, and trying to move to a more permanent location for 3 years. I will still be pinching myself until it closes in 2 weeks...but it's basically a done deal.  It's a fixer-upper with a lot of work to be done, but we are up for the task.  We fell in love with location (up in the mountains) and the charm and potential of the home is so appealing to us.  We are firm believers in the "teach your kids to paint the fence" kind of upbringing, and this is definitely one of those homes! In this case, even the fence needs to be rebuilt...along with many other things....and I have visions of working on the house together as a family over the years. The mild amount of chaos that a fixer-upper brings only compliments the artistic lifestyle we crave, and I am just aching to get in there and paint and make it a magical place.

And no...we will not be keeping the avocado green. I love avocados with a passion...just not in my stairwell.

Who knows...this blog might start turning into a "before and after" blog.  You'll at least get to see the studio...which won't be presentable for a while I am sure.

So, is this a good enough excuse for being silent for 10 days? Wow. These are really big decisions, and frankly...it's been all consuming. In a good way. It's just a house, but it's going to be our home, which requires a lot of thought, prayer and patience!

I'll keep you posted! The idea of finally making a home the way I want it, and not waiting move again (this will be our 6th move in 9 years) is giving me such a sense of artistic freedom to make a real home for ourselves. I can't wait!

Print your own Valentine's cards.

Wow. February. When did that happen?

Month of love. For me...it's a month of lots going on: more house hunting (yep...still in the game) book making (loving every second) and baby loving (she is the most kissable thing!)

So, news:

New Print Your Own Valentine Cards in the shop!

Valentines cards you can print yourself. Yep. DIY with some of my favorite designs in the shop. Do you remember this post from last year? Here is an image I found last year that inspired me.

These are Audrey Hepburn inspired: the deer loving darling via 1958. Audrey as a little girl. I really love that woman.

You can also find these to print yourself. Fun. Fun. Fun.

OK: so, come over to the shop and do some last minute valentines shopping! If you are like me, you don't have Valentines Cards yet, and PDF downloads are your only hope!

You can print out as many as you want! Perfect for your kid's classes and neighbors!

I know that's what I will be using! Well, for the boys we'll use something more like this. I love having stationery on hand...it's nice for procrastinators like me:)

Enjoy!

Books You'll Love: Fables.

I am really excited to start these book posts on the blog! There are a lot of blogs that review their favorite books, but I want to focus mostly on the illustration and design of picture books: Why I love what I love and what makes these books great because of the story they tell in pictures.  Come on now...isn't that why we all love children's picture books? Because of the pictures? Ok...the words do help a little:)

Fables. This book shaped my childhood. Really. Still, to this day, I can remember the emotions I felt while staring at these pictures. Each fable gets a single picture, so you really have time to stare into these images. Pure genius.

I mean, an alligator lying in a comfy bed with pretty wallpaper? A rino dressed up in her best dress? I love Arnold Lobel's Elephants and especially his frogs...OH! His frogs! Love. But Fabels gets a special place in my heart because the stories and characters think they are in very serious situations. Yet, it is all so farcical and silly. Can you tell by the color and dress and body postures? It's just a great mix of fun visual storytelling.

Is it the color? The texture? the detail? Yes. Yes. Yes. But...let me add: Arnold Lobel has incredible composition of his frames and incredible characters. His greatest strengths I think. In some of his other books, the Frog and Toad series, and Owl at Home, for instance, there isn't much color, or texture. But don't be fooled: his images are captivating. I thought it was just me...I figured my kids wouldn't go for the muted colors.  I mean, I didn't grow up in a competing world of visuals, right? (I am not that old, but compared to now, I thought my kids would for sure dismiss the colorlessnes of his other books). But honestly? His less colorful books are my kid's favorites. Even as 2 and 3 year olds. Why? Because his characters are so believable and his compositions are so strong. He doesn't fuss with what isn't important. He gets to the meat of the storytelling, and keeps is to is most key elements. I look back at what I loved as a child, and it is still the same today. And beyond that, beyond the things I could articulate, there is that "it" factor that I can't articulate, nor do I want to try. I just like it. Love it. And it is so captivating. And it proves true when I read it to my own children.

And I love Arnold Lobel. If I had the chance to visit with any illustrator of my choice, he would for sure be on my list.

I still find myself staring at these pictures. Eye Candy.  It received the Caldecott for a reason.

Happy picture looking!

xo

sarah jane

Mahar Dry Goods.

I often get asked what my favorite pieces are from my shop, and my answer is always the same: "The piece that is currently in my head by not yet in print." Once it's up in the shop, the creation of it is done, and I am moving on to the next thing. I don't tend to get attached. But I do have a few favorites, and I am so happy to say that one of my favorites is going to be carried by a very favorite online site of mine.

Have you browsed around Mahar Dry Goods lately? If there was a online store for children that inspired me most to get my shop up and running, it was this one. Was it the enter page illustrated so brilliantly by Jen Corace? Was is the quirky novelty toys? There is an exclusive tea set from Mahar Dry Goods which shows up in my Summer Tea Party print (commissioned for Small Magazine) that was too amazing to not be inspired by. Short story: I love this shop. And, this week, I found out, that they will be carrying my Personalized Family Trees and Paper Dolls.

I have a long list of retailers that I love working with, but I was just tickled to hear the news, simply because this shop is truly what inspired my desire to enter the handmade children's industry. Robert, who also has a very hip and retro children's blog Junior Society, has fantastic taste, and always offers a pic me up when I visit his sites.

Horray for good design. There is something about good design that feeds my soul. And today, I am thankful for great associations.

ALT Wrap up

OK. If you weren't there at ALT, you really need to go next year. Like, really.

It was that much fun. Packed full of info, meeting my favorite bloggers, networking and sharing experiences. I learned so much at this conference and it really helped to solidify in my mind the importance of this new wave of information sharing we have created: Blogging for design. Is my blog a "design" blog? No... well kinda, maybe. But all in attendance had a common bond: We love blogging. We love writing. We love sharing. We love visuals. And we can't stay away from design elements to communicate daily to others over the web.

It was a party. Everyone was so generous, open, warm and really....it was like we had a big family reunion for all these people who only communicate over a keyboard and monitor. I made a lot of great new friends, and even had the chance to say "Thank You" to some of my hero bloggers.  We were in a super fancy-shmancy hotel, and the whole event was so put together. I just loved the fact that I got to leave home and have a day away to spend with people who were hungry for the same information. And I must say, having the chance to speak was incredible. It was a great opportunity to collect, in a small pocket of time, so many of the things I have learned over the past 2 years!

Here is an inconclusive list of Bloggers who came to speak, to give you an idea for what to expect for next year.

Nicole Balch of Making It Lovely

Allison Czarnecki of Petit Elefant

Jaime Derringer of Design Milk

Karey Mackin of Mackin Ink

Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan of Apartment Therapy

Heather Armstrong of Dooce

Grace Bonney of Design Sponge

Kelly Beall of Design Crush

Joy Deangdeelert Cho of Oh Joy!

Rachel Jones of Black Eiffel

Emily Goligoski of The SanFranista

Victoria Smith of SFGirlbyBay

Gayla Trail of You Grow Girl

Sarah Jane Wright of Sarah Jane Studios

Erin Loechner of Design for Mankind

Megan Reardon of NotMartha

Kathryn Storke of Snippet & Ink

Joslyn Taylor of Simple Lovely

Stephanie Brubaker of Stephmodo

Sheila Bernus Dowd of Lookiloos

Chelsea Fuss of Frolic

Maggie Mason of Mighty Girl

Justin Hackworth of Justin Hackworth Photography

{list compliments of Apartment Therapy}

Really, if you are a blogger with a desire to learn more about branding, building an audience, photography for the web, advertising, designing for the web, and the applications of social media, I hope to see you next year! I will for sure be coming again. Thanks ALT Design Summit!

Follow me here.

I know a lot of you have emailed or tweeted the sad news that you can't attend the conference this weekend. But no worries. I plan on tweeting about it, so stay tuned.

So, if you tweet (Do you tweet?) you can keep up by following #altsummit, or follow me on Twitter by clicking the little orange button just to the right.

Sorry...I just have to say that I never thought I'd ever be using words like "tweet" to refer to correspondence. Who'da thought. Communication is so fascinating, ya? But, it's all about using what works! More about that tomorrow!  Happy Weekend!

Dance a little.

Every shop has the favorites...the ones that sell over and over again, and then the ones that shine quietly in the back. This print, a first of mine when the shop opened 2 years ago, always makes me happy.  These elephants often get stuck in the back, and I wanted to give them a proper reintroduction. Translation on the print is: Dance with me (which can easily be omitted if you just don't speak french like these elephants do).

So, say "Hello Elephants? How's the dancing?" or, if you are brave and feeling up to it, you could say, "Bonjour Elephants, comment va la dance?"

Because really, how can you not smile and laugh when you dance. I have learned well from my kids: that when the days get yucky, we turn up the music. It works every time.

Happy weekend, and happy dancing.