The ABC Picture Book Competition is all set up and ready for votes. Please go VOTE for Sandy and myself for Butter, Butter and More Butter!

It's all painted and submitted. Voting starts on August 28th. I'm working on a marketing campaign now. I'll reveal the entire piece then!

Here's a little sneak peek of a project I'm working on. Today I'll be painting it all and so far I'm pleased with each piece I sculpted. This projects is for the ABC Book Competion I was chosen to take part in. Soon you'll be able to vote for the best story/illustration combo, so stay tuned!!

Here is by birdie I received from Elaine the other day. Isn't is beautiful? I love the crackle she gives to her work. You can see more of her work here.



And this is what i made for her. It's a little mixed media piece. For some reason I am really into making small things for people. I guess things just look cuter to me in miniature.



I've decided to hold off on the swapping for right now (I'm booked until September) and might start it back up with doing 2 or 3 a month rather than a week like I'm doing now.

I've been tagged my Roz and Jelene.

Jelene tagged me with: Bedside table meme

Nothing interesting to share here. On my night stand I have:
- a lamp
- a music box
- a coaster
- a phone
- and a bowl (from the cake I ate last night)

And Roz tagged me with:

5 albums on your iPod
I use my ipod as another hard drive so I'll list my CD's.
- The Best of James Taylor
- Third Day (all their albums)
- Soundtrack to Beyond the Sea (bobby Darin songs performed by Kevin Spacey)
- Fernando Ortega (the album with the purple CD - the album's downstairs so I don't know the name of it at the moment)
- Soundtrack to A League of Their Own (I've loved this one for years!)

5 movies you've seen recently
Since we own a video store it's my job to watch the new movies and give a report :)
- Because of Winn-Dixie
- Kung-Fu Hustle (fell asleep)
- The Naked Gun, The Naked Gun 2 1/2, and The Naked Gun 33 1/3 (we'll count those as one)
- Babe
- Meet the Parents (currently playing)

5 nice things that happened to you lately
- The Woog gave me a kiss without me asking
- I landed more illustration work this week
- I was told "I rocked"
- I got a check in the mail
- I was complimented on my work

5 MP3s on your playlist
-No MP3's

The above is my interpretation of Illustration Friday's theme: empty (click the image for a larger view). I got my inspiration from Roz's impending move and remembered how when you move to a new place as a kid, although your house is all empty, you feel empty inside as well. You never believe you will find new friends, but you always do.

Here is the birdie I got from Dee. The birdie is saying "Create" in Portugese and on the back she has written two quotes. They are: "A bird doesn't sing because it has answers, it sings because it has a song" - Maya Angelou and "Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings." - C. Archie Danielson. I love it, and it's in the square format I like so much. Thanks Dee!!



This is what I made for her new "winged-theme" studio. It's a "Birdie Bouncer." Similar to the "Bunny Bouncer" I made for Becky. I'll be selling these in my store which is almost ready.

This is what I receive from Courtney for my biride swap. The colors are so vibrant. Now I need to find a frame that doesn't detract from it.



Here is the little bee painting I made for her which she hung in her daughter's room.



Thanks Courtney!!

Here is my submission to Illustration Friday's theme: Aging. It was fun to do older people for a change.

Working on some new clay pieces for my portfolio. More to come soon!

The above magazine is on newstands again and it features 4 of my illustrations. This magazine actually came out last summer but I guess they decided to distribute them again. I did these illustrations while I was 9 months pregnant and I was so scared I'd go into labor and miss the deadline. Luckily I finished them in time.

Thanks for everyone who's emailed me telling me they saw the magazine. It's nice to be recognized.

I've also updated my portfolio with some new work if you wanted to take a peek.