a look inside

I know I've mentioned it several times now, but I have truly enjoyed the little peek inside the world of craft book publishing I've had a tiny glimpse of as I've been working on my book. Seeing the process of how a book is made has been very eye-opening for me... everything from knowing it what it takes just to get a book idea accepted, to all of the many teams of people working diligently to make sure each book will be a success -- editors, photographers, graphic designers, stylists, copy editors, an entire sales team, publicists -- wow! What a lot of work, thought and planning goes into each book. And I'm sure my tiny little peek into the world behind the book just barely scrapes the surface! Now when I look at my shelves of books here at home, I have an entirely new appreciation for the work that went into creating each one, knowing it was a collaboration of many teams of passionate people working in concert.

And, on a personal note I feel very fortunate that I've been able to have a chance to meet some of these people! Not only in person during the week I was in the F+W offices in Cincinnati, but also since coming home as I've conversed with them through email. I was very happy to learn that the folks at Memory Makers Books have started a blog: Memory Makers Books Blog, as reading entries from my editor, Christine (Executive Editor of Memory Makers Books) and the other folks from MM Books has allowed me to continue to have that little peek into the world at MM -- and I get to hear them talk about new books that are coming out! :)

Enjoy your day! (do something Scraptastic!, K?) :)
A.

last box

My last box of layouts for my book went out yesterday, and arrived in the F+W offices in Cincinnati this morning. How strange to have them all out of the house now, to have them sent away. The very cool thing about the process of writing a book like this is the insights I have been afforded into each step. I love knowing that my layouts will be opened by Eileen, who takes good care of them and logs them into the offices, and she has been totally sweet about emailing me to let me know that my projects have arrived and all is OK!

I understand from my editor, Christine, that they have been doing the flat shoot this week (high key shots of the layout from directly above, this is how you usually see layouts photographed in magazines), and the beauty shots are coming at the beginning of next week (so the shots with interesting props in the background -- I always like these the best as I find they show the texture of layouts a bit better). The super talented graphic designer who is working on my book, Marissa, asked me to email her some shots of my workspace so they could go prop-shopping to find some items to use in the photo shoots that will reflect my style. She has such a fantastic eye, I just can't wait to see what her and her stylist have come up with!

Now that all of the artwork is done, I need to finish writing the text portion of the book.... make sure the supply lists are correct, make sure the step by step captions for each of the 50 techniques fit the photos we shot in February... oh, and my headshot is ready (which I might have found to be the most difficult part of the process! Fortunately I found a wonderful photographer, JP Danko, here in Hamilton who did my headshots for me and made the entire process very pleasant and painless! He even managed to coax a few real smiles out! If you are in the Hamilton area and need a photographer for shooting a family event or portraits, I really recommend JP -- link to his website is on the right). It is hard to believe this process is nearly done! It is almost time to turn the whole package over to Marissa who will work her fabulous designer magic on it, and then copy editing... and then the long wait until it is finally in print in November!


It's late. Time for bed. I have an exciting date in a kindergarten classroom for singing, poetry, lemonade and cookies -- for a Mother's Day lemonade party in Summer Lily's classroom. :)

A.

Now that I have time to think....

I need to catch up on some Thinking Blogger Awards!
I am flattered to say that both Kari and Marilyn recently awarded me a Thinking Blogger Award, which is a totally awesome compliment because I am a big fan of both of their work. Kari has this fantastic vintage look and loves playing with surface. I have admired Marilyn's work for quite some time -- her balance of vintage and messy, clean and bold intrigues and inspires me.

Now it is my turn to hand our some awards. My Thinking Blogger Awards go to:
1. Steph McAtee. Her work is truly inspiring. I often find myself squinting up close to my monitor, trying to study every last line and beautiful little bit of texture in her work. Love her messy, inky writing. Love what she does with paint. She does some amazing things with surface!

2. Celine at the Green Frog Studio: What amazing, bold, bright, inspiring colour Celine uses! I love her fun and free, whimsical style. Her pieces always bring a smile to my face. AND -- how fun is this -- I'll get to spend a day in Paris with Celine this October when I'm in Versailles teaching at the Paper and Co Show! I am one lucky girl to have a super talented friend to tour around Paris for the day with. :)

3. Ashley Wren: This girl just makes me smile. Her pages are fun, and unexpected and bright, and so rainbowtic (I get this word stuck in my head sometimes). She loves her family like crazy, and that love just shines right through everything she does. Plus, I totally love her handwriting.

4. Garden of Pink Shadows: I love all of the fabric she uses! Her vintage-inspired colourways always make me feel like I've come home, so cozy and comforting. I love that contrast of clean lines and good design paired with the vintagey look she does so well.

5. Jane Wynn's Studio: Metal boxes, rusty stuff, dolls, and merged bunny drawings. She makes me want to be something that I'm not.


OK.
Now for 7 random facts about me.
1. After my entire life if biting my nails, last fall I started growing them and am now dedicated to keeping my nails neat, pretty and polished -- fingers and toes! I own 13 different shades of pink nail polish. Which is very strange because I'm not the pretty-girl, girl-y type.
2. I have never worn high heels. I recently learned this is odd.
3. I love tea, drink it all day.
4. I finally -- just recently -- finally! figured out what I want to do with my life. It is a good feeling, but I'm anxious waiting for the time I can finally dedicate myself to the work I want to do and wondering why I didn't see this before now. :)
5. I don't like it when my children touch my neck (though I happily welcome all other forms of hugs and cuddles!)
6. My favourite colour is pink, but I look terrible in it and after many unfortunate wardrobe purchases, now must force myself to reach past the pink and head for the blues; my mom always told me blue was "my colour" anyway.
7. I am very shy and often when I go out in public speak as though I am incapable of forming a grammatically correct sentence.


A.

entangled

tangled together before we met
paths aligned out of sight,
lives intersected that
first year, at 306
and 305,
and we became
unfrayed around the edges,
solid in the knots we tied,
we wove ourselves together,
bit by bit,
found the places where
we overlapped,
and the fibers of our being
felted together,
warm and strong.
and every day we tangled
together just a little bit
more, and I was tangled
up in you,
and you were tangled
up in me,
and we're tangled up together
enmeshed lovingly.
made our web,
pile of strings,
piece of you in
every bit of me,
can't tell the beginnings
from the end,
sometimes not sure
where you start
and I end.

a good witch

sparkle stars, twinkle eye,
pumpkins smile when she walks by,
cape floats, leaves rustle
ghostie drifts by in a bustle,
spider on brim of hat,
charms moth, talks to cat,
spooky porch, eerie street,
hand and hand we trick-or-treat;
brightens night dark as pitch,
Summer Lily is a good witch!

paper hats and party dresses

it was her 7th birthday
and all the girls came,
and they ate birthday cake
and played party games;
pink plastic baskets,
pink paper frills,
pink candy favours,
played pin-the-tail;
her best friend came,
her best friend was there,
signed her card
to Carol A.L.
from Donna M.C.
46 years pass,
seems too quickly,
now,
no more party dresses,
no more party hats,
she has the card
in the jam cupboard,
still good friends
after all these years.

the bike

couldn't reach the pedals,
couldn't make it go,
loved dad's old bike
loved to climb on up,
just sat in the seat,
would sit there all day,
riding, coasting, zooming,
flying far away.

ralphie and the mouse

it was a long time coming,
a long time waiting,
waited his whole long life,
ralphie finally
had his moment,
a quarrel, a struggle,
a final hurrah,
his legendary strife;
the yard was golden
in the last light of the day,
he stepped out of his twilight home,
bravely into the coming night
stalwart old bag of bones,
and i imagine
he was strong
and he was proud,
stalked the garden
mercilessly,
tracked that mouse
across the yard,
and he fought clean
and he fought hard;
and into the night there rose a cry,
cry of the old boy
returned from battle,
that cry shook our bones, made windows rattle,
piercing into the fallen night,
calling to the exultant sight,
ralphie stood fluffy triumphant
in the end,
stood straight and tall on the walk that night
with sly blink-blink to greet,
defeated mouse lay at his feet.
crowning glory on
his c. vitae,
memorialised in his last two days,
18 years and proud hero,
remembered for always,
for all to know.

winter wool

she played in the front yard with Aunt Janet, Petie and the Hoffman sisters from East Germany, now from the other half of grandma's house, on millen road before the lilacs grew down the side and the big tree in the yard was not so large, back when they had piles of snow, when winter was real, and they wore wool hats and wool coats and wool mittens, caked in snow, melted, and they would smell like wet dogs. my mom always said that the boots weren't warm.