Cozy Up

This winter my second collection with FIGO Fabrics, “Cozy Up” came out. Inspired by the Danish concept of hygge, it’s full of mugs of hot beverages, snowflakes, pine boughs and all manner of, well, cozy things. I remember first working on sketches for this collection sitting at the window at Lil’s Cafe, with a latte and a cruller. Good times…

For Christmas, I decided to make a skirt with one of the prints from the collection. For a pattern, I used Zinnia from Seamwork. I made version 2, but went for the length of version 1 and skipped the belt loops. A quick sew, I love the shape, the pleats and most especially, the pockets (yesssss). I’d definitely make this one again. The only thing I’d rethink is a different finish on the side seams and pockets, but live and learn.

Itzhak

I’m thrilled to share that Itzhak: A Boy Who Loved the Violin was named a Schneider Family Book Award honor book, as part of this year’s American Library Association’s Youth Media Awards.

It was an absolute delight illustrating this book by Tracy Newman, a picture book biography about the young Itzhak Perlman. And I’m very grateful to have had Courtney Code as editor and art direction by the talented Steph Stilwell.

And while library and school visits aren’t a thing for me right now, I do have a virtual illustrator talk for the book that I recorded this past summer. A behind the scenes look at how the illustrations for Itzhak were made, there’s also a kid’s craft project included at the end of the recording. If you’re looking to make that craft, a violin sun catcher, here’s the free download you’ll need.

New Year New

It’s been awhile, but I’ve begun to miss sharing here. Following a death in the family, I thought some time away would be a good thing. And it was.

But now feels right to return, slowly.