Abigail 8/19/16 Abigail 8/19/16

Eight

As of this month, I've been working full-time as an illustrator for eight years. I went back today and read what I'd written about freelancing five years ago. I think it still holds up as advice, especially for newer illustrators.

The only thing I'd add is the vital importance of stepping back to assess what you want in life and in turn, your work. I'm learning (albeit, slowly) that it's okay to catch your breath and get your bearings, that it's not always necessary to be scrambling pell-mell towards the Next Thing. Dreams are good, but burnout isn't.

Also, I still stand behind the advice to eat ice cream when the job calls for it. Or donuts. Your choice.

Abigail 8/10/16 Abigail 8/10/16

Braids and Plaits

Some botanically coiffured ladies I painted last week that I've been turning into a pattern this week. Aside from that:

* A nice review from School Library Journal of Finding Wild

* I watched Iris last week and can't recommend it enough.

* I'm reading Mary Berry's autobiography right now and it's really smashing.

Abigail 8/3/16 Abigail 8/3/16

Queen Anne's Lace

A pattern inspired by afternoon walks on a nearby trail, the sides of which are lined with Queen Anne's Lace. It's a path I've never explored until this year and wish I had far sooner. Ten minutes down the trail and I can't hear cars, trains or planes, just perfectly blissful silence.

And speaking of patterns, I've added a bunch of new designs to my Spoonflower shop

Abigail 7/22/16 Abigail 7/22/16

Summer Things

Some bits of summer, right now. The past few weeks have been full. I turned in final art for Fort Building Time (I'll post more about that as the months go by). Aside from work, most weekends I've been helping to clean and pack up my grandparent's home of sixty plus years. Add in a badly wrenched neck and a mini-blogging hiatus made reasonable sense.

But aside from all that:

*I'm just finishing up this Tommy and Tuppence mystery. The opening is a bit uneven, but if you stick with it, the pace picks up brilliantly and makes for a fun summer read. Speaking of which, any summer book recomendations?

*A trip to Tandem Coffee for my birthday was splendid.

*And I'm getting ready for a shop update, mostly small watercolor originals (like the above), a few tea towels and an embroidery. I'll post here once that's all ready to go. I've also just sent off for a proof of some new designs and will have those available in my Spoonflower shop next month.

Happy weekend!

Abigail 6/24/16 Abigail 6/24/16

Midsummer

I'm in the home stretch with final artwork for Fort Building Time, so am in full blown mole mode at the moment. Life consists mostly of large quantities of iced coffee, zillions of podcasts and the occasional walk to get said iced coffee. Also, I've lately stumbled on the trick of listening to movie/television soundtracks while working (for times when music with lyrics is distracting). Speaking of which, any soundtrack recommendations?

And some Finding Wild news! I'm thrilled that Finding Wild made the Summer Kids' Indie Next List. And Finding Wild is also on Reading Rocket's Summer Reading Guide, a 2016 Bunk Reads selection and got a nice mention from the good folks at the TD Summer Reading Club. Confetti!

Happy Weekend!

Abigail 6/7/16 Abigail 6/7/16

Minty

Currently:

*I've developed a hobby an obsession with ice cream making. Mint chocolate has been my favorite so far, using this recipe and substituting 1/2 cup of maple syrup for the sugar. Of course this begs the question, fellow ice cream-ophiles: what's your favorite recipe?

* Lots of good news for Finding Wild! I'm tickled pink that the book is a part of Scholastic Teacher's 50 Sensational Books of Summer, on the SCBWI Summer Reading List and has received a starred review from Shelf Awareness. Jazz hands!