my paper trail

a soft place to land

sweet suga'

Rosy outlook: not only is that how Photoshop describes the color pink I've used in this drawing, but it is just the way I would describe Miles' personality. Happy-go-lucky, always smiling and snort-laughing, he seems to get the most enjoyment from seeing Max happy. He's going to be a great brother.

illustrated journaling workshop in greensboro

We are SO excited about leading the first workshop of the year at Just Be and we'd love for you to join us if you're in the area!

a lunch break

There is so much I could say about this little drawing. But, I'll stick to the fact that it reminded me that it has been far, far too long since I've sat down, away from the computer, and used markers. When it's so easy to be exact in Photoshop, it's so easy to forget the beauty that comes from being imperfect in hand.

status report

The holidays wore us out! Both boys were sick and sleep...sleep...well... Thankfully, things are back on track, routines have resumed and all is well.

happy, happy, joy, joy

ho! ho! ho! merry christmas!

busy days

These days have been busy, but somehow I have managed to spare some time to have fun in my journal.

Mon, Dec 12 :: Max kept us up all night as he is currently teething. Miles slept like a possum.

Tue, Dec 13 :: Flew to Dallas, TX. Prepared for a big presentation.

Wed, Dec 14 :: Presentation went well! Suzanne called me to tell me Miles said "Dah-Dah".

the week in review

Today marks a momentous occasion.

I finished a magazine.

Yes, that's right, a magazine. Not a book, mind you, but a simple periodical: 46 pages long. This may not seem like an accomplishment to many. But, with twin babies, reading anything beyond Clifford's Bedtime is an absolute luxury: one I savor at the end of a long day for exactly 4.1 minutes [or 5 paragraphs] before falling into the deep sleep [the deepest sleep one can achieve when they're sure to be awakened by strange breathing or a pacifier leaping out of the crib every 30 minutes or so].

It's this short attention span that has left me unable to complete a single issue of The Week for six and a half months before another week passes and another magazine arrives in my mailbox. Yes, today is a turning point.

mr. moptop

Edgar doodled The Beagle and this 'cool kid' last night. Every time I've run across them on my desk today it's made me smile. I'm lovin' that hair!

a cute crustacean

sleepwalking

Thanks to Max, I'm neither a morning-person, a night-person, or a middle-of-the-day-person. I'm a zombie.

a happy recap

Sharing the work we do doesn't always come easy.

I remember being very reluctant to start this blog a little over five years ago as I didn't know how I'd handle the criticism that was certain to come with going public. The internet can be a very mean place after all. This fear, however, was erased within my first week's worth of posts as I was introduced to an incredibly warm community of people who not only didn't tear me to shreds, but offered their unrelenting support.

But, while it's one thing to hang out behind a computer screen, it's another to stand by and attempt to sell your work in person. For many years this is something Edgar and I have both wanted to do, but ahhh, the pain to sit quietly and watch others mull over your work's [or in a sense, your] worth.

For this reason, this weekend's double dose of craft fairs ---The Greensboro First Friday Indie Market on Friday, and The Big Crafty in Asheville on Sunday--was a big hurdle for us. We tried to go into it with 'no expectations' but inside hoped we'd receive a fraction of the support that we've had the great fortune to meet online. Looking back over the past three days, we are once again in awe of the supportive community that surrounds us and humbled by the way in which our illustrations have been received. Trust me when I say that no kind word goes unheard, no smile overlooked.

I'm sure I speak for others out there when I say it is wonderful to have people connect with the thing you love to do most. For us it's not about the money, but the feeling that we are doing what we should be. Your gracious response to that which we put forward confirms this...and its a very good feeling.

Thank you so very much.

note to self: chichi

illustrated journaling

Last week I mentioned my desire to freeze time in sketches. As much as I want to do this, Edgar is much better at actually making it happen: drawing daily, without fail, in his journal. As a result he's created quite the record of this past year...something I'm sure the boys will treasure as they get older.

Here's is a tiny portion of the entries from the last few weeks...

Arriving home from vacation:

Before a super-busy time at work:

When he was sick:

[check out my cleavage]

When I needed my own super hero! [AKA my mom]:

On his dad's birthday:

Pokey and Reilly's thoughts on our new furniture:

Discussions between Max and my mom:

And working late, like tonight:

hope to see you!

'tis the season

...to eat within reason...

Now its your turn! Fill in the blank!
'Tis the season to ___________.
[Clever responses may very well merit clever illustrations!]

brown hand-drawn packages

Checking some items off your Christmas list today? We hope you'll follow Santa's lead and visit our shop.

We're pleased to offer special personalized packaging this season, allowing your prints to go straight from the mailbox to under the tree. No additional wrapping necessary. Simply let us know who your gifts are for and we'll take care of the rest.

See our ever-expanding variety of prints, perfect for all the good girls and boys [and the bad ones for that matter!] here.

don't want to miss a thing

'She was twice blessed. She was happy and she knew it." --Kathryn Windham

Edgar shared with me earlier how he wishes he could bottle up the moments we're living and keep them forever. Recording them in my sketchbook is my eager attempt to do just this.

Life is grand. And I love this little family of mine so, so much.

letting nature take the lead

In the past Edgar has been determined to rake up the leaves from the million trees that surround our house as soon as they touch the ground. This year, however, the babies [or should I say, our bosses] have kept him too busy indoor to maintain the yard. As a result, when we look out our windows now the ground isn't a mossy green, but a wash of gold and amber. It reminds us just how beautiful nature is when left to do its own thing.

in other christmas news

We're pleased to share that our work was awarded 1st place in the Downtown Greensboro holiday magazine cover competition. It is certainly nice to be recognized for doing something we love in a town we've grown very fond of.

If you're unfamiliar with Greensboro, the red awning across the street in this illustration belongs to what used to be Woolworth five-and-dime [currently the International Civil Rights Museum]. It was in this building that in 1960 four young black men, who refused to budge from a whites-only lunch counter, launched the civil rights sit-in movement, dramatically changing the course of history for the better.

santa's in the house!

Yes, it seems a little early to me too. Nevertheless, we're busy little elves these days preparing goodies for Santa's list. Don't let those rosy cheeks and that belly of jelly fool you. He's quite a demanding boss!

a chip off the old block

I haven't shared with you that Miles was born with a tooth. So was I. I like to say we are over-achievers since birth. But, as there are no scientific studies to prove it, you'll just have to take my word for it.

Right now this one little tooth is like a razor blade. Just this morning, I heard Max squeal after he'd inadvertently stuck his hand in Miles' mouth. Perhaps this will teach him not to stick his hand in other people's mouths...or not.

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Lots [and lots] of work happening these days...just not here. Here's hoping distance does indeed make the heart grow stronger!

no, they're not identical

Edgar and I have been working for months now, struggling to define how Max + Miles should look in cartoon form. Yes, I know...isn't this the dilemma that every new parent faces? Anyway, today I think we've finally stumbled upon something.

I'm certain they will continue to be refined...an extra roll here, another dimple there...but it's a start. Mickey Mouse wasn't completed in a day, afterall!

And as for the title of this post, you wouldn't believe the number of times we've been asked this.

getting back in the swing of things

...after spending a few days with the boys at my folks'.

so in love.

The most significant part of Edgar's day...as revealed in his illustrated journal:)

there's an elephant in the room

When my oldest sister was just a toddler she had an infatuation with elephants. Having asked for one as a pet, this is what she got. He's been standing in the window sill of my parent's kitchen ever since.

to the boys

After putting the babies to bed, we've been spending many of our evenings in the shop working on a special memory box for our family. Here's a glimpse into our process.

three socks walk into a bar

I'm doing laundry out the wazoo these days. Luckily, M + M equate watching me folding laundry to the finest in quality entertainment, with emptying the dishwasher running a close second.

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On another note, regarding my last post---sometimes I write about how I'm feeling in a given moment and move right on, giving it little extra thought. However, in this instance, several of you were more tuned into my emotions than I was. I'm very grateful for your kind words and thoughts. Right now is the best time of my life, but also the most challenging. No book could have prepared me for the roller coaster ride of motherhood.

four eyes, two heartbeats, twenty toes

Miles + Max at their 4-month checkup this morning.

After a couple of days of being down in the dumps (for no good reason whatsoever), I got a reminder today of how incredibly, incredibly fortunate I am.

a prickly subject

We've lived with this cactus for four years. In that time it hasn't grown a millimeter. Makes me wonder just how old it must be..