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Day 1228:  A Photo A Day • Trip to PA Capitol Building

4/19/2018

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I recently attended an incredible guided tour of the Pennsylvania Capitol Building in Harrisburg, PA with the Eastern PA Branch of the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators. The capital is amazingly beautiful!
(Unfortunately, I forgot my camera, so these shots were taken with my flip phone.)
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"The Capital was designed in the American Renaissance style by Philadelphia architect Joseph Huston, who envisioned the building as a 'Palace of Art'."  (Text from brochure)
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View from the gallery of the House Chamber, featuring the 35 feet square mural, "The Apotheosis of Pennsylvania" by Edwin Austin Abbey
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"Architect John Huston borrowed the Capital Rotunda's features from the Paris Opera House, including the Grand Staircase and three-tiered gallery." 
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In 1902 Violet Oakley was the first woman artist to receive a large commission for adorning a capitol building in the United States. Her incredible forty-three murals (created over 25 years) are breathtaking!
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"Designed and manufactured by Henry Chapman Mercer (1856-1930) of Doylestown, the floor is interspersed with close  to 400 mosaics illustrating the state's history, animals, industries, occupations, and modes of transportation."
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"When Theodore Roosevelt attended the dedication of the building on October 4, 1906, he said,
'This is the handsomest building I ever saw.'"
We also got to meet and visit the studios of  Jonathan Bean and Lauren Castillo, two incredibly talented, award-winning authors and illustrators at  The Millworks.   Here are a few of their book covers (below).
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It was a fun and inspiring trip, and has me interested in writing/illustrating children's books again!
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Day 843:  A Photo A Day • Oil Painting Class with Lena Shiffman

3/24/2015

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My latest work-in-progress... Guess who?
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The beautiful still life Lena set up for us
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Artist and Art Teacher extraordinaire, Lena Shiffman
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“Little Bunny of My Dreams”  - a poem

2/25/2015

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I am honored to have another poem and illustration of mine appear today on the #LoveMadeVisible blog event sponsored by the EasternPennPoints blog, the official blog of the Eastern Pennsylvania region of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). #LoveMadeVisible is a month-long blog event with the theme being "LOVE - in any and every form". Check out all the awesome contributions during the month of February! Click here for my poem.
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“Bunny Licks” - a poem

2/18/2015

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I am honored to have another poem and illustration of mine appear today on the #LoveMadeVisible blog event sponsored by the EasternPennPoints blog, the official blog of the Eastern Pennsylvania region of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). #LoveMadeVisible is a month-long blog event with the theme being "LOVE - in any and every form". Check out all the awesome contributions during the month of February! Click here for my poem.


This illustration and poem was inspired by our beloved bunny, Tyler.
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Cookies In Heaven ~ Happy “God’s Love” Day!

2/13/2015

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I am honored to have a poem and photographs of mine appear today on the #LoveMadeVisible blog event sponsored by the EasternPennPoints blog, the official blog of the Eastern Pennsylvania region of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). #LoveMadeVisible is a month-long blog event with the theme being "LOVE - in any and every form". Check out all the awesome contributions during the month of February! Click here.
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Cookies in Heaven
by Kathleen Rupff

If God were a baker
You’d be his “special of the day”
His top-secret ingredient
His favorite flavor
His cherished recipe
You’d be the chocolate chips
The “only the finest ingredients”
You’d be – organic
 
If God were a baker
Every day would be a special occasion
To share you with others
He’d make you for friends
And mail you to distant relatives
He’d have you first thing in the morning
And last thing at night
He’d rave about you all day long
And finish each sweet crumb
With a sigh of satisfaction
 
If God were a baker
He'd share your goodness with the world
You’d bring healing and wholeness
Wherever you went
Your tenderness lighting up the darkness
Your aroma reviving the faint
Your sprinkles bringing laughter

Your frosting making dreams come true
And joy would fill every belly

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NJ SCBWI Picture Book Word Count SMACK DOWN Workshop with Ame Dyckman

9/16/2013

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Ame Dyckman
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One of Ame's recent books!
I attended the NJ SCBWI Picture Book Word Count Smack Down Workshop with Ame Dyckman in Princeton, NJ yesterday!

In addition to being a super-talented author, Ame is one of the funnest, most thorough, creative and helpful presenters I've ever heard (plus a SUPER-nice person))!!  If you ever have a chance to meet her or hear her speak, don't miss it!  Better yet, buy her books (or check them out from the library!  :)

Also present was the ever-wonderful and uber-talented illustrator, entrepreneur, and NJ Chapter Regional Advisor, Leeza Hernandez. Her readings of the participant's PB stories made everything sound good!!   
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Leeza Hernandez
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Coming soon: Cat Napped!
SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE WORKSHOP:
Ame's "Stylin' Moves for Wrestling Your World Count"
1. SMACK unnecessary backstory
2. Jump in with the action
3. Avoid stage direction
4. KAPOW! descriptive and filler words (including your dialogue)
5. SMASH redundancies (ex. sit down)
 For her link to Richard Nordquist's 200 common redundancies click here!

Ame's 3 Secret Tricks to Reducing your word count:
1. Use Twitter (140 words)
2. Listen to kids
3. Carry your picture book manuscript in your pocket at all times!

If you want to learn more about children's book writing and illustrating, check your local SCBWI Chapter for events near you!  :)
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Like Poetry? Like to Laugh?   Get Florian!

9/14/2012

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Check out Douglas Florian's work!  He's a children's author illustrator who's poetry and pictures are laugh-out-loud fun!!  

His latest books include:
UnBEElievables
Poem Runs:  Baseball Poems
Dinothesaurus
lizards, frogs and polliwogs


Click image on left to visit his blog, and read some of his amazing poems!

For his tips on how to write poetry, check out his thought's on Katie Davis's blog.  And/or listen to her podcast interview of him, which is how I heard of him....  Also, per an email I received from him -- He's also very nice!!

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Eastern PA SCBWI Conference (April 20-22) - AMAZING!

4/23/2012

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"Sweet Inspirations" given out with little candies at the conference!
I think this was my third SCBWI big conference, and WOW! another awesome experience. I wish I had the time to share ALL my notes here, but will limit them to a few...  (Please note, these may not be exact speaker quotes)
ILLUSTRATION:
Very special thanks to Laurent Linn and Amy June Bates for their phenomenal workshops and all the great advice, encouragement and suggestions regarding my illustrations!   
Amy June Bates, "We can't just wait for the magic to happen. We have to be brave and embrace our vulnerability now."
Amy also shared an inspiring quote from Chuck Close, one of my all-time favorite artists. Click here for his advice to young artists...
Laurent Linn, shared that the computer is just another 'medium' now, like watercolor, paint, or pastels. He showed us many samples of current artists he's working with and the class very often couldn't tell if it was digital or traditionally-created.  There is NO prejudice against digital illustration these days.  Cool!  Laurent also stressed that everything in the scene is a character - the clock on the wall, the flowers in the pot, the shoes on the character's feet etc.  Laurent sees each picture book as a little 'movie'. As illustrators we are costume designers, set designers, etc.  And of course, the child reading the book IS the main character.....!
"Make every sketch a story!"
WRITING:  
Laurie Halse Anderson. First time hearing her speak (AMAZING), and she autorgraphed Wintergirls for me!  Laurie encouraged us to give ourselves the gifts of: Time, Space, Art, Craft, and Permission. She also suggested we each do an analysis of how we spend our time for one week, the challenged us to follow this "ideal ratio for creative people":
"For every 10 hours of creating, spend 5 hours reading (other writers, studying, research, etc.) and one our of play (internet)."
And ask ourselves, "How is internet time helping my dreams??"  Turn the computer OFF when creating, so won't get distracted.
Kay Winters, "Sometimes we think we write for one reason, but it's really for another."  :) 
Deb Heiligman. Also heard Deb speak at the Rutgers One-on-One Workshop in 2010, and was blessed to sit next to her at lunch on Saturday!  She encouraged us in a variety of wonderful ways to "get over our fear, write from our hearts, and trust the process." She shared that in this business, "what we write is really the only thing we have control over!"  She shared about our focus now should be spending time working on our craft,  not necessarily developing a media presence. etc. She ended her talk by sharing from Uri Shulevit'z The Treasure... "We don't have to leave home to find our treasure. It's IN US...!  WOW!
GREAT CONFERENCE!  For anyone interested in children's book writing and illustrating, I encourage you to get involved with your local SCBWI chapter!!!
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Day 344: A Photo A Day • Authors and Illustrators Jerry & Eileen Spinelli and Ted & Betsy Lewin

4/2/2012

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At a book-signing this past Saturday with (l-r) Jerry Spinelli, Eileen Spineli, Ted Lewin and Betsy Lewin
Special thanks to Kathy Temean and her blog for the heads-up about this booksigning with the Spinellis and the Lewins at Booktender's Secret Garden in Doylestown, PA.  I was expecting a HUGE crowd for these distinguished guests and was suprised that it was a relatively small affair. To my delight I got to ask all the questions I wanted and boy, was it a treat!

For more on these awesome authors and illustrators, visit their websites:

www.jerryspinelli.com
www.eileenspinelli.com
www.tedlewin.com
www.betsylewin.com

If you're ever in the area, please visit:
Booktenders’ Secret Garden Children’s Bookstore & Gallery 
42 E. State St. Rear, Doylestown,Pa 18901 
Phone number:  215-348-7160 
ellensbooks@gmail.com
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A Quote from "A Girl of the Limberlost" by Gene Stratton-Porter

2/27/2012

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I'm currently listening to this on audio-book and loved this 'prayer':

"To the extent of my brainpower I realize Your Presence and all it is in me to comprehend Your power. Help me to learn, even this late, the lessons of Your wonderful creations. Help me to unshackle and expand my soul to the fullest realization of Your wonders. Almighty God, make me bigger, make me broader...."

Chapter 12, Katharine Comstock  (upon viewing the development and life cycle of a beautiful moth)
A Girl of the Limberlost
by Gene Stratton-Porter

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