Things are getting windy. and my legs are soaked. Hurricane time.

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I illustrated a book. and other true tales.

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One of the illustration projects that I completed a while ago was hush hush until the book was released on the company's website. 

But now. You can get a peek at Al. 

A character from the Al's Pals program, who helps young children make wise decisions and learn how to relate to one another. 

Al's Pals is an educational program focused on helping kids to make healthy choices.

If you have small children.. or know some... or ever were once, a small child yourself, visit this site 

AcornDreams.com

And if you need some healthy eating advice, check out their book, Al's Healthy Choices. 

Information on purchasing this book. Here.

That's where I come in.

pretty cool to be a part of this company's journey onto book shelves.

And I can only show you the cover. but I assure you... inside this book. Al eats right. He picks some apples. He plays some basketball. He chooses carrots over chips.

I am very thankful for the opportunity to illustrate for a business that is doing big things in the field of education.

And

I am lucky to be on the team that launched the first of many Al's Pals books for the classroom, for at home, and most importantly, for bettering the minds of little ones. 

So, visit their site and see what Al's Pals are up to.


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When I met Al I was stumped for a moment on how to illustrate a 3D puppet that already existed
as a 2D picture book character.  But again...

When you try something. 

That is when you know whether or not it is really possible. 

And it usually is. 

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You should probably feel a little scared of bigger opportunities.
That's how you find out the true scale of what you're attempting to do. 

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This may be the coffee talking.

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Really. it probably is. 

But if I had the choice to live life under or not under the influence of such a delicious drug. i would have to say.... Venti.

Because it is Sunday. and Sunday makes you stop and evaluate things. 

You have to look ahead at the week. you have to plan. you have to think about last week. you have tozz.z z zzzz z. 

yeah normally I fall asleep on Sunday. in a chair. standing. at the wheel. you know. you just 

pass. out. 

Sunday is conducive to long naps you never even knew you agreed to. 

you only find out about them when you wake up in a pool of drool. 

I've never been a good nap-recoverer.  After I wake up I feel 2.
and I need a few hours to warm up to people again.

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So I went to a coffee shop. a popular one run by a local mermaid.  Because I am trying to run with the rest of my weekend energy. as fast as I can. before I wipe out in public.

This weekend I sort of kicked ass. 

wait. let me re-word that. 

My friend did. 

I have a friend who has stepped in with amazing computer knowledge. and is helping me transform my website into something that looks a lot more like my dreamsite. 

I am talking about my website... not this blog. 

My site has been down because some changes happened with Apple and their hosting plan.

But like every obstacle and moment of this-feels-like-permanent-devastation. it has actually been a blessing in disguise. 

Because there are things I wanted to happen with my site. and with my list of projects ahead, I needed to be forced to make them happen.

and to get out

I think you are supposed to be still. 

Which. as an analogy. works really well.

I guess that would be... be patient. call for help. and move slowly. but dont give up.

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Something else awesome
is that I use a tablet to draw many of my graphic design images.

It broke months ago. 

But. working as an artist... 'broken' really means... 

'use this differently. i dare you' 

So, Scotch Tape.
every day.

The wires had to be taped together exactly right.

And ultimately I had to tape the tablet to the table in a specific position, or else it wouldn't work.

If I breathed wrong it would turn off.

Don't ask.


So dumb.

But the amazing news is that when the pen broke, I finally had to just order a new one.


woohooo.

no more tape.


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I woke up one morning in panic. 

said "Hey. Im sort of worried about things lately. Like. Im a full time artist. which i believe in. but im constantly nervous and upset about how its not the easiest. and maybe I need to.... "

the other end of the line says, 

"No. You worry when you realize no one has your back and you are totally alone in this. but you arent yet. so go get things done. "

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I think everyone needs to fall in a tar pit I guess. 

Some time. 

For one. You realize you need each other. 

For another... 

You know what it is like to fall. 

and be trapped. 

or hurt. 

or down. 

or struggling. 

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and to understand what it is like to be someone else.
that is what makes people kind.

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Posting this lady in honor of my brilliant decision to get high on frap. and write about how hard things get. and how much easier they seem when you change your perspective. or when you look up. 

because things are always possible. 

Queen of coffee highs and infinite possibilities 

ink.thread.fabric.

210.00 ORIGINAL FRAMED

80.00 PRINTS

She's always in my gallery library.  but today she knows how to throw down. 

let a sister out.

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and to other people, be good.

they may totally need it right now.

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I am collecting treasures disguised as nephews.

I have one precious, unique, smart, funny, and kind little nephew named

Jack.

But. to my surprise. 

you can get more than one. 

So I am happy to say. 

little new baby, Ike, is lovely. 

A fall baby.

This is his birthday picture: 

And this is his plane ride sunrise. 

and this. 

Is Ike.

And while big brother is on new adventures...

he is a good boy.

and still a little boy when he needs to be. 

Thank goodness.

But 

Don't anyone worry. 

He's here. 

This guy.

The verdict is in, it gets more fun. 

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HE IS MY FRIEND.

creative nephews forever.

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  Today is the day that my sweet dad died. 

I still hug his navy blue suit jacket.

think of him on planes.

drink coffee with him in the morning.

cry to him in the car. 

eat spicy food and try new things.

laugh at mary tyler moore.

instinctively reach to call him when things happen.

appreciate the stars.

do things that scare me.

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And miss him every.single.day.

Heres to him:  READ THIS TODAY.

do, read it.

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We are who we are.

And I know I am probably one of the luckiest. but I also feel inordinate amounts of pressure to keep up with 

doing what I am moved to do.

and also surviving.

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Let's be frank. Things that are real are more interesting.  

So I am not going to sugar coat anything.

I'm going to show what is in my passenger seat.

I assure you. if you are at any moment

afraid. I am more so.

* no joke.

This project is a puppet replica of an actual person. 

and whenever I get into a project like that... I panic.

Agh.

But then I start making something. and like riding a bike. I remember. I like this.

                                                                                                       
                                                                                                           *adapting

So, here he is.


Keep in mind. there is a real version of this guy walking around.

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This one. yeah. I know.

On any given day... if you are walking a puppet to the car. 

It WILL startle people.

and if I'm not startling people. 

I'm not being exactly who I am.

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