Fields and Forests
Last year, I had the good fortune to collaborate on a batch of mugs with the very talented Annie Buchholz, who runs Sunshine Design. I created the repeating pattern, which Annie added to her beautifully made pieces. The illustration was inspired by the area around Sandwich, New Hampshire, which piqued my curiosity driving up to teach at Squam in 2019. It’s hard not to get sucked into the story of a town that has a massive wall topped with an enormous statue of Niobe.
That Summer Feeling
August makes me think of this song. And that song makes me think of every childhood summer. It seemed from June until the first day of school I did nothing but swim and ride bikes and make forts and stay up long into the night reading. There was powdered lemonade and plastic lanterns strung up over the picnic table. Camping trips way up north. Perpetually bruised knees. And there’d always be beach trips, where we’d arrive when the sand was cool and the sun low and stay until a picnic dinner. I’d go back to school in September laden with freckles, full of ice cream and ready to take on the world.
Not every summer was idyllic. There was the July we all had chickenpox. And the August the dog died. But by and large, those long, languid, analog days were some of the happiest of my life. And sometimes when I’m awake far too late reading (because it’s far too hot to sleep), I feel temporarily 12. So I might have to buy some powdered lemonade, for old time’s sake.
Original Originals
I’ve been pulling original art out of files lately, trying to make room for new things. I’m slowly adding those pieces to the shop.
Owen's Disappearance
A few weeks back, I stumbled on a newspaper clipping about my great-grandfather’s cousin’s disappearance. Late one spring night, Owen Halpin left the house, distraught. He would later be found drowned in the East River. You can read the rest of the story here. It’s heart-breaking. And mysterious. And I wonder what really happened to a 60’something engineer, drowned on the eve of World War I.
Summer'ish Things
I may have co-opted my nieces’ and nephew’s markers… I’m back at final art for a 2023 picture book, after some time off spent with visiting family. I’ve mostly been glued to my drafting table since, but a few things:
* When the kids were visiting, we watched the new adaptation of The Mysterious Benedict Society. It’s an absolute gem of a show and we were waiting expectantly each week for a new episode. Also, there’s the matter of the delightfully anachronistic costume and set design. Think if Wes Anderson made a kid’s show and you’d be conjuring up about the right look.
* I’m finally getting around to reading All Creatures Great and Small. I’m also about a halfway through A Horse and His Boy, which awkwardly enough has sat unread on my bookshelf since the third grade. Guilt over this fact finally won out, which is a good thing, as it’s an awfully charming read.
* Most of what I’m listening to right now, on repeat. Be forewarned, it’s the auditory equivalent of dumping a couple of shots of espresso and a pack of pixy stixs into a blender.
Anne's School Days
Anne’s School Days is officially out! As you can probably guess by the cover, there’s a whole lot of Gilbert Blythe in this one. The third installment in this Anne of Green Gables inspired series, it was an absolute delight to illustrate. Kallie George’s adaptation is pitch perfect, capturing the spirit of the original in a way that’s wonderfully accessible to younger readers. And it’s such a joy to work with the amazing team at Tundra Books for Young Readers.
Here’s a snapshot of the interior art, as I was painting it last July. That summer, my uncle was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. I dedicated the artwork to him and my aunt, and was able to share the dedication with him before he passed away this spring. Quiet, gentle and incredibly selfless, I’m profoundly grateful to have had him in my life.
Cozy Up, Redux
Doing some more making with this faux patchwork design, from my Cozy Up fabric line.
I needed some instant gratification sewing, so whipped up Simplicity 1080. This is my second time sewing, so I ended up making a few modifications:
I made my own own bias tape for the neckline and next time around, would bind the armholes similarly. Both times I’ve found the armholes a little fussy and they haven’t finished up as cleanly as I’d like. I also raised the armholes, as they had been low on the first dress I made. That’s not typically an adjustment I have to make, so probably worth bearing in mind, if you choose to sew.
I dropped the front darts about an inch and a half, so they sit closer to the natural waistline. As the pattern is drafted, the darts create more of an empire waist.
I skipped the front pockets completely — it’s a fun feature, but I wanted something more basic. I also shortened the back ties by a couple inches.
In sewing again, I’d probably add an extra inch to the bottom of the dress, for hemming purposes. I’m 5’5 and had just enough to do a shallow hem, but would like something deeper for the future.
Overall though, this pattern is a great basic and easy enough that you can probably make it in a day. And now I have my eye on making a few more, to carry me through the summer.
