Three New Books

  It may be the long slow, languid days of Summer but whoopee! I just finished three books!

            The first one , a board book version of "Over The River and Through the Woods" is actually published (Ideals) and out on Amazon and from booksellers everywhere.
             Cool and frosty, snow covered trees and a snowman...a jingle bell accompanied sleigh ride snuggled under warm quilts, sounds pretty good right about now!

Here are a few images from the book:

"Over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house we go..."

"Over the river and through the woods to have a first-rate play..."

      I  just finished, "On This Night" for Hachai Publishing, a child's first book about the Passover Seder. I have been working on this book for six years, in between other projects, a labor of love, which I have dedicated to the memory of both my Grandmothers. I can hardly believe that it is finally finished and will be out next Spring, Passover, 2013. Here are some images from this book:

Title Page

Next Year in Jerusalem

Blessing

Passover Seder Table

 The third book completed is "The Christmas Truce" by Aaron Shepard for whom I also illustrated  "The Baker's Dozen". This book tells the inspiring true story of the spontaneous

cease fire along the Western Front between the German and British soldiers on Christmas 1914. Many soldiers, from both sides, ventured into "No Man's Land" where they mingled, sang songs, exchanged gifts and food and mementos from home. 

      This book will be out in 2014 to coincide with the centennial anniversary of The Truce.

Here are some images from this book:

   

       Just to make certain that I don't become accustomed to lounging in a hammock and listening to the clouds drift by......I have two new books to work on.  More on all that, soon.

        

More Bunnies and a Horse

 Well, I suppose I could say that I was trying for a full year without a blog post but that wouldn't be true...... and I really have meant to write, so many times...... I've dashed off quickie drive-bys on Facebook and even quicker ones on Twitter even though, of course, it's not quite the same. Everyone knows what the road to Hell is paved with and while it's not as bad as all that...I do feel a bit embarrassed. At least I've been painting up a storm  since I posted last.
     I recently was commissioned to create a couple of designs for a fabric overshoe. This remarkably engineered object will cover anything from a flat to 4" heel and allow one to walk about in the pouring rain without insult to prized leather footwear. One of the designs was a "Bunny Toile". It was great fun for me to impersonate a copper engraving as my first love before watercolors was black and white pen and ink. I've probably spent half my life with a 4 ought Rapidograph or crow quill pen stippling, crosshatching... making tiny inky scratches, very hypnotic and relaxing!  Here is the boot and the tongue which hides beneath a zipper:

Bunny Toile Boot

    
        I'm about half way finished with two different picture books. All the drawings for both of them are finished and now I'm painting everything. I am loving painting horses...and, surprise, surprise...more snow!  Here is a detail from one of them:

detail from "Over The River"

    
        My latest quilting fabric collection , "So Many Bunnies" a soft book to sew, along with other projects has just come out from Wilmington Prints :

"So Many Bunnies" soft book panel

"So Many Bunnies" quilt and pillow patterns

   Lots more happening, I'll be back sooner than later next time!  Thank you.