keeping in touch with old friends

One of the things I am worried about moving is that I'll lose touch with old friends. Already with Rain Dragon, I have a hard time doing anything--from changing clothes in the morning to answering e-mails. But, I want to try to make more of an effort to actually see people.

So in Andover, after a school visit in the area (so maybe that doesn't count as making an effort!) Rain Dragon and I went to visit my good friend Elaine (she recently signed a contract for her first children's book with Chronicle!) and her granddaughter:

And then, a couple weeks later Rain Dragon and I took the subway to see good friends and oh-so-talented authors Mitali Perkins and Justina Chen for breakfast:

Yes, we traveled a whole 15 minutes.  So maybe that doesn't really count as making an effort either. But in both instances we had to get out of our pajamas! Don't we earn something for that?

Not that it wasn't worth it, of course. It was great fun and we can't wait to see them (and other friends) again. But we might stay in our pajamas...

on my desk monday

Every year I think I will get out holiday cards and I never do (maybe Chinese New Year cards?). Part of the reason why I never get it done its because I see all the creative cards my children's book colleagues do and I feel I just can't compare. This year the coolest Christmas card award goes to Leo Landry who sent this crossword puzzle card with a secret message (which I haven't solved yet). Isn't it neat?

tradition

It's definitely that time of year! Things have been crazy, at least for me as I've been finding the baby + book balance a hard juggle. But I made time for what has become a little tradition--having a booth at the RISD sale!

However, I barely made it. I packed late and set up in a sleepy stupor. The booth was far from a thing of beauty-- wrinkled tablecloths, no display (I forgot to bring the hooks for the prints) and low stock. But I was so bedraggled I couldn't even complain--I was just grateful to be there!

I decided to rely on Rain Dragon to liven up the booth, anyway. She had a great time at the sale, smiling at people and looking at all the neat things:

you can still get this cute dragon onesie, though I heard that they will be gone soon...

This year, they gave my good friend Anna Alter the booth next to me which was really nice. Her beautiful booth attracted a lot of people who wandered over to mine, causing brisk sales:

I didn't purchase much from other booths like I have in years past, even though there were a plethora of amazing things. I have to save up money for our big move and I am kind of hoping that if there is an surplus I can splurge and buy this light for Rain Dragon's bedroom.

Afterwards it was the 2nd part of the tradition, meeting up with some of my blue rose girls. When you work at home, it's hard to make friends  and I feel so lucky that my little circle of friends is still intact--even as we move around and make additions:

this year with a blue rose baby!

Until next year!

red egg party with friends

Rain Dragon is one month old! (I have to admit, it feel a lot longer...perhaps it's the sleep deprivation). And she is a doubly lucky baby because she had not one, but two red egg parties. The first one was thrown by good friends Luke & Ranida (who wanted to return the favor).

It was a lovely party with friends,

babies,

dogs:

 and food!

The pièce de résistance was the incredible dragon cake made by Luke:

who had meticulously planed it, first by making paper patterns:

Then cutting the cake accordingly:

He claims he had problems with the frosting:

But I think it turned out amazing! Don't you?

Unfortunately, little Rain Dragon thought sleeping was more interesting:

Though, big girl Maia thought the sleeping baby was so interesting that she wanted her own:

It was a wonderful welcome for Rain Dragon!

Customarily, the first big festivity in a Chinese baby’s life is the Red Egg and Ginger Party. This party is given in honor of a baby’s first month or first moon birthday, signifying it welcome to the family. Until a baby had lived a full month it was not considered part of the family. Consequently, the Red Egg and Ginger Party was an especially joyous occasion.

Eggs represent new life and, because of their roundness, harmony while red is, of course, the Chinese color of luck and happiness. So Red Eggs signify a happy and lucky new life, the perfect symbol to welcome a new baby.

New mothers “sit a month” after giving birth. It is only on the first moon birthday that the new mother is allowed to leave her home and rejoin the world. On this occasion, she is given much ginger, thought to contain special nutrients needed to give the mother strength.

on my desk monday

They say when you're expecting, the "nesting instinct" comes on strong. Well, it's true in my case. Because even though it is 70 degrees, I am shopping for afghans and blankets. Which is why when this gift came in the mail, I was especially thrilled:

It's a beautiful, homemade quilt made by Winifred Weng (a friend made by her daughter, Charlotte's enjoyment of Year of the Dog).  There's a little inscription sewn in:

as well as a dragon quilted in it! In honor of Rain Dragon!

Isn't it gorgeous? I love the colors.  And if that wasn't enough, the cutest hedgehog was also included:

Wow! Thanks so much, Winifred and Charlotte!

booking through bookfairs

Finally catching up with things! I'm hoping to start regularly posting about current topics but here's one more about last month's events.

My last two events were book fairs. One of the fun thing about book fairs is that I get to see and meet other authors. At the Ct Book Fair I saw/met these delightful people:

Allison Paul, me, Susannah Richards, Salley Mavor and Matt Tavares

And I spoke to a room full of  people and signed books for a lot of them, including the lovely ladies of the blog  The Secret  DMS Files of Fairday Morrow who just wrote this nice review of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon.

Then a couple days later I headed of to the Miami BookFair where I snuck into the  children's book authors Boy's Club:

Jonathan Auxier, Gene Luen Yang, Dan Santat, me and Matt Phelan

At this point, even though I was trying to keep the surprise under wraps so we could tell the family at Thanksgiving, I felt like I was starting to show. So I let the secret out  (also, it was hard to explain why I couldn't eat sushi)  and Dan dubbed the baby as "Tex Lin." What do you think? Nice ring to it?

At the Miami BookFair, I spoke to a group of 700 kids, each of them receiving a copy of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon!

Many students had already read it. One girl brought in her book project on it:

Isn't it GREAT?

It was a super fun time...but onward I go! For my last event of this year, I'll be in Central Ohio to celebrate the release of the 2012 Red Threads Calendar! Come and get a calendar and some books signed for holiday gifts!* Hope to see you!


*Don't forget, you can order personalized autographed books from Porter Square Books (617-491-2220)

happy halloween pumpkins!

It's been a bit crazy lately but I refused to give up our holiday pumpkin carving tradition. So, the gang gathered together again and we had a messy massacre of pumpkins guts:

But I think we are all getting better at carving because I think this was our best batch yet:

As usual, there was an eclectic theme ranging from Spiderman to bunnies:

The Sasquatch did a particularly charming Pac-Man themed pumpkin:

I admit I had a soft spot for the children's book ones:

Richard Scarry and Ed Emberly-inspired!

Because, of course, I carved some of them:

My older sister and niece came to the pumpkin carving for the first time and both did frogs:

What will we carve next year?

on my desk monday

China fortunes given to me by my friend Anna Alter. I hope they inspire my writing fortune!

there's food in the buses!

Here's my niece with my belated birthday gift to her, a Kikimoto Backpack that was designed by my friend Aaron Meshon (you might remember him from this post):


The Kikimoto Backpack was a big hit! In our imaginary make-believe it became a school bag for pretend school (taught by Mr. Hinklemcdoodle, aka the Sasquatch...I wonder if she would draw the Sasquatch like darpl?) and then a traveling pack for our expedition through the pyramids. I was actually surprised how much she liked it.

"This is my favorite bag," she said, "because there's food in all the buses."

what can you do with an old red shoe?

My college years were during the age of grunge and combat boots were the rage. In attempt to be cool and artsy, I bought a pair of bright red Doc Martens--mainly because I loved the color and they were on sale (I was a poor college student!), even though they were a good 2 sizes too large on me.

Needless to say, over the years, I realized that these oversized, red boots made me look like Ronald McDonald and weren't very comfortable. But somehow, I didn't have the heart to throw them away. So, I left them in storage at my parent's house where they have been for years.

Recently, when I returned to visit, I saw this is what my mother had done to them:



Ha ha!

Coincidentally, my mother's creative gardening venture is the same project my friend Anna Alter titled her book on.

Next, I think my mom should consult Anna on what to do with my old cassette tapes of the Cure.

luna's sea

Okay, I am not a very actively social person. If I am not going to school visits, I like to stay at home and write or paint in my pajamas. So the fact that I've been running around to San Fran, having Red Egg parties and (gasp!) talking to people is pretty unusual. And to add to my unusually social calendar, I went to Mystic, CT to see the opening of my friend Linda's show Luna's Sea. It's a children's theatre show with the Mystic Aquarium, it is all about a girl's adventure under the sea. Linda produced, designed and created it:

It was an absolutely beautiful show. Some of you might remember Linda as a fellow children's book illustrator (with books like this) but recently, she's been edging away from books for the more expansive format of theater. After seeing this show, I can see how it's a natural progression. Her show is like a children's book come to life:

Actually, I think it might be better than a children's book, at least for Linda! I could see how illustrating a book seems so limiting compared to a show like this. Theater is so much more expansive and there is more scope for a talent like Linda's to create scenes like this:


The photos don't do it justice, here is a small clip--which also doesn't do it justice but is a tad better:

And when I say Linda created it, I really meant it. She (with help, of course) made all the puppets that grace the stage. It was pretty amazing. When watching the show, you are transfixed by these underwater creatures.

And when the lights go on and you go up close, you realize how ingenious the puppets are! You can see more behind the scenes and all the work that went into the show at the Luna's Sea Blog. It's rather awe-inspiring to see that it's all a creation of bubble wrap, plastic lids, paint and foam:

I think this one looked particularly like Squatchie:

But as I said, it was a beautiful show. You don't want to miss it! If you are anywhere in the area (Mystic, CT) I encourage you to go see it! Maybe I'll see you there, because I'm definitely going again.

(Linda, creative genius & me)

Luna's Sea
Performances Every Saturday
at the Cornerstone Playhouse
in the Olde Mistick Village
April 16 thru Oct 2011