MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Another holiday far away. Once again I found the celebration in unexpected places. It wasn't in the tree- though we had one. It wasn't in Santa- but he did come. Happy content kids. Family love- near and far. A very warm space heater and the very best sausage stuffing ever.

Merry Christmas to everyone.
love,
amy

Rapunzel

Usually my side projects don't make it past the drawing out and making a huge mess stage. Case in Point: Juniper, my daughter, and I had a great idea to make a giant tree out of cardboard and put it up against the wall of our kitchen. We were going to make it big and beautiful and hang cards and ornaments and snowflakes and birds and owls and leaves all over it. It was all we could think about and we drew pictures and dreamed dreams. We got out all the cardboard scraps which covered the kitchen floor. We drew it all out and started cutting. Within a couple of minutes both of us lost complete interest at the exact time and went and played dolls.

THis time though I finished what I started. When I was little my Grandma painted a pillow with Rapunzel on it like this one with yarn for hair so that I could learn to braid. I loved it! Anyway this one is for Juniper. Merry Christmas little girl that I love!

Look what I found in the Sugar Bowl!!

I went down stairs in the middle of the night and this is what I found. ELVES. They are now literally all over the place. Apparently here to stay. Clearly they have a nose for Sugar- not that they’ll find any in Our house. (That is if I beat them too it).

SUGAR BOWL!

IN THE BREADBASKET!

BOOKCASE!




FISH TANK!

POINSETTA?


HANGING FROM THE LIGHT!







OH DEAR! THE PANTRY!

Years ago my Grandpa made some elves out of wood that he hangs up every Christmas. Numbered One to Twleve, they hide all over the downstairs. Our job would be to find them all. There are only ten at our house, my son sternly reminded me. Maybe there are a couple we still haven't found?

They seem friendly enough, but they had better keep there hands off my dark chocolate Kit-Kats, which are already disappearing right and left.

'TIS THE SEASON!

What is Thanksgiving without turkey...pilgrims...

Thanksgiving is not a holiday in Japan. Which makes sense. It would be weird if it was, but maybe not surprising- America has a unique ability to make people want what they do not need. However, we decided we needed a Thanksgiving Feast. A smaller theme to the holiday is the eating of food native to America, right?. So there isn't turkey here- at least you have to go to extreme lengths and many Yen to get one, and frankly I am just not that big of a Turkey fan. Besides which our oven is the size of a small Microwave. It is in fact both an oven and a microwave. Possibly also a T.V. A Turkey simply would not fit inside it. (see exhibit A)

In other words we needed to improvise.
List of things we didn't have for Thanksgiving:
1. Turkey
2. Pilgrims
3. Pumpkin
4. Large Oven or Stove
5. Spices (though we found most in the end)
6. Extended Family
7. An actual holiday day



Here is a list of things we did have:

1. Chestnuts!!! lots of them Big Ones. For the best tasty, smoky, savory Chestnut stuffing.

2. Kabocha -a Japanese squash
(like acorn squash) which made the best pumpkin pie I've ever had. A more complex flavor. yum
click here http://kyotokids.blogspot.com/ for our recipes
3. Many strange and delicious vegtables which we ate without knowing exactly what they were.
4. Our little family, and honestly it was a great day with my husband an little ones around me. Laughing playing warm and cozy.
5. Butter, without which there is no point. To food.
6. Gratitude. There is an old Japanese coin that says on it something like "I have learned the value of contentment"
contentment . nice.

Geisha

A bit of fun this week. LOTs of sketching, so here are a few from my sketch book:

Geisha or actually Maiko

In the land that is Japan, I had a chance (rare) to draw a Geisha or Maiko- an apprentice Geisha. They are sort of like the Pork in the Pork n' Beans, because you just don't see them very often. Sometimes Foreigners have a little stereotype of being what you might call Geisha-obsessed. (whatever-like everyone isn't). I'm just saying I am not one of those people. :0

Tricky- to draw someone in full makeup
-to draw someone in such a rigid stagnant pose
-to draw all the fabulous textiles- which I gave up on in the end
but
Fun- to draw Geisha!!!










I can't say much about some of the other things in my sketchbook, legally speaking. Well, I'll speak very quietly so don't tell. fairies. and pirates.

Subway

Last week was the Original Art Show Opening at the Society of Illustrators. It was a fabulous evening, and I met Eric Carle. He was receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society. Lots of other people that I knew by name -both illustrators and designers, publishers, art directors.

Lots of beautiful artwork. Get out and go see it all for yourself- if you are in New York.

Since I was without my little ones, I had loads of free time to sketch like mad. Here are some folks on the subway.

Is one of them you? I was the person trying to pretend she wasn't sketching anyone.

Original Art Show

Well here it is folks! The Original Art Show at the Society of Illustrators. I haven't been before, but I know it will be amazing. I am Assitant Chair this year (which means that I cheated and already know what is in the show). Two of my books made it in the show, Bear in the Air and the Brother's Kennedy ( I didn't cheat for that-it was all fair and square).

I happen to think that the Original Art show is an interesting concept with regards to Picture Books. A book in its mass produced form next to the only one true original art work. I CANT WAIT.

I ♥ illustration.


here is a link to the society of illustrators:
http://www.societyillustrators.org/At-the-Museum/2010/2010-Original-Art/Opening-
Reception--2010-Original-Art.aspx