IF ~ racing

They went racing back to their instruments...

This illustration for Illustration Friday this week is from the newest book I recently illustrated titled Harp Mouse Adventures - Book II, sold with or without mouse finger puppet, written by Diane E Dunn, the second book in the Harp Mouse series. The first of course being The Harp Mouse Chooses Her Home: The Adventure Begins, also sold with or without the little mouse finger puppet.

In the latest book, the harp mouse stowed away inside the harp when it left the harp maker's workshop, and now she lives in a cozy warm home. When she sees the harp leaving to be played for special occasions, she scampers into the harp and goes along for the ride. Find out where her adventures will take her!

Diane and I will be signing books at The Arts & Greens Holiday Market at Bogie Lake Greenhouses where many artists will be exhibiting and selling their one-of-a-kind works of art and craft prior to the holidays. I too will have a booth choked full of goodies for you to peruse. Bogie Lake Greenhouse is an extraordinary 28,000 square foot facility, complete with natural lighting, plants, flowers, and lovely holiday greens. Held on Friday, November 19 (5-8 PM), Saturday, November 20 (9 AM-5 PM) and Sunday, November 21 (10 AM - 5 PM.) Stop by and see us and pick up both copies of the Harp Mouse Adventures! We will also have the little mouse finger puppet available for purchase. This sweet little mouse finger puppet is the perfect company for your child to read along with in the book and the entire package makes a PERFECT holiday gift! It was fabulous last year and we look forward to seeing everyone there again this year to share in the excitement of the newest book!

When you purchase an item from MY STORE, 10% of your purchase price will be donated to my favorite animal charities; Last Chance Animal Rescue and Horses Haven, both in lower MI. Which charity the donation goes to, will depend on the item purchased and I will love you forever from the bottom of my little black heart. ...and even if you don't purchase anything from me, PLEASE go to their site and make a donation! These animals deserve a chance!

Have a seat in the yard by the bonfire, with a warm mug of something (and your laptop) and browse through the pages of my website ArtQwerks

MIlford Times Arts and Greens

Authors and illustrators (from left) Michele Roger, Donna Pellegata, Diane Dunn and Dave Mann will be signing their books and CDs at the Arts and Greens Holiday Market this weekend at the Bogie Lake Greenhouse in White Lake. Not pictured is Heiner Hertling, who will be signing "A Pirate's Quest" by Laura and Robert Sams, which he illustrated. The group is posing in front of a sampling of Hertling's art at his workshop in Milford. (Photo by Hal Gould, Staff Photographer)

Sarah Losey (left) and Olivia Pas make gingerbread houses during last year's Holiday Arts and Greens

Market. The event offers a variety of activities and entertainment. (Photo by Gerry Pas)

HVCA Holiday Extravaganza Starts Tomorrow
By Aileen Wingblad • STAFF WRITER • November 20, 2008

Activities galore will usher in the holiday season this weekend at a three-day event in White Lake.

Beginning tomorrow and running through Sunday, the Huron Valley Council for the Arts and Bogie Lake Greenhouse, Inc. present the 2008 Arts and Greens Holiday Market at the greenhouses on Bogie Lake Road in White Lake.
The celebration includes live music, book signings, artists' booths offering unique gift-buying opportunities, craft-making, professional storytelling and more."Definitely, this is a wonderful place to start your holiday shopping," said Becca Arrington, an HVCA member and public relations specialist who is helping to publicize the event.

THE KICK OFF
The artists' booths open at 5 p.m. Friday, to kick off the festivities. Paintings, basketry, photography and tote bags from more than 20 local artists are some of the items available for purchase. Artists booths will be open throughout the weekend.
"Usually, they are priced quite reasonably, and it's all made in the Huron Valley region," Arrington said. "So you can 'buy Michigan' - which is a really big thing right now."
Friday also offers the opportunity to help support the Community Sharing outreach center while enjoying a tasty meal. From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. is the "Empty Bowls: Community Sharing" benefit. A $10 donation supplies a bowl of soup, bread and dessert. The food is being donated by Duke's of Highland, Milford House Bar and Grill, Gravity and Saint George's Cafe.
The bowls are hand-crafted by Huron Valley Schools students and are yours to keep. Additional bowls without soup are available for a $5 donation. All proceeds will be turned over to Community Sharing.
Story lovers will enjoy a performance by the North Oakland County Storytellers, "Tellebration! A Time for Stories," on Friday, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 and will also cover admission to two other NOCS events on Saturday, elsewhere in the local area.
Musical entertainment on Friday will be provided by Doug Larsen. Artist Heiner Hertling will also be on hand to sign books and videos of "A Pirate's Quest" by Laura and Robert Sams, which he illustrated.

MORE IN STORE
The celebration continues on Saturday with art sales, book signing by artist Donna Pellegata, illustrator of the children's book, "Harp Mouse Chooses Her Home: The Adventure Begins," by Diane Dunn from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and book signing and readings by poet David Mann, author of "The Ties That Bind" from 1 to 3 p.m. Hertling returns from 3 to 5 p.m. for more signings, as well.
Winter Greens workshops are Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. presented by the professionals at Bogie Lake Greenhouses. Projects in the past have included topiaries, wreaths and centerpieces, Arrington said. For the younger set, there will be ongoing kid-friendly workshops Saturday and Sunday. For a $1 materials fee, kids can make and decorate a basket. They can also choose graham cracker house making for a $12.50 materials fee.

Upcoming Show and Book Signing

One Weekend, THREE Great Events

Visit our Blogspot for more event and artist information.

Arts & Greens Holiday Market

November 21-23

Stop by and see me here! I'd love to meet you if I haven't already! Diane E Dunn and I will be signing our new children's book! We'll be featured at the grandstand between 11am - 1 pm on Saturday November 22 and I'll be there all weekend. I'll have a booth full of great holiday art gifts and our fresh off the press illustrated children's book ready to sign for you!

Bogie Lake Greenhouses, Inc., (see map link below) collaborates with the Huron Valley Council for the Arts to host 2008's annual Arts & Greens Holiday Market. Friday 5-8pm, Saturday 9am-5pm, and Sunday 10am-5pm at 1525 Bogie Lake Road, White Lake, Michigan, 48383.Purchase unique fine art and craft gifts and meet the artists who make them. Enjoy local author/artist book signings, live music, and holiday ambiance surrounded by Bogie Lake Greenhouse's festive plants, flowers, and greens. Complimentary admission, ample parking at no charge.Weekend activities and additional ticketed events detailed below.

MEET MICHIGAN ARTISTS:
Mary Bajcz Diane Banister Pat Bombach Connie Elwood Natalie Helm Frances Johnson Lee Johnson Robyn Kane Beverly Larsen Carole Larsen Linda Locher Jaclyn McClure Richard McKee Lynne McLean Jessica Muraco Linda Onderko Donna Pellegata Dan Persinger Pam Proctor Jennifer Proescher Cindy Purola Ken Sigler Mary Stark Shelley Stevenson Barb Weisenburg Jim Williams Wendy Willihnganz, more! The Art Shop: Cathy Catallo, Jeanne DeHaan, Helen Fischer, Gail Hayton, Dorothy Kane, Susan Pugliese The Basket Sampler: Kathy McMinn, Rebecca Arrington, Nina Vickers

ONGOING EVENTS: Visual artists & booths on-site all weekend. Ongoing workshops include Kids Basket Making by The Basket Sampler ($1.00 materials fee) and Graham Cracker House Making ($12.50 for materials and instruction) with Questers.

Featured Artists and Activities:

Friday, Nov. 21 (5-8 PM) Earlybird Shopping

5-7:30pm. "Empty Bowls," Ticketed event. See accompanying article
Heiner Hertling - Book and video signing, Illustrator for "A Pirate's Quest", authors Laura & Robert Sams. Sculptor, painter, PBS film series "Your Brush with Nature" host.

6pm. Gala Opening:
Welcoming by HVCA Executive Director, Leah Ohmer
Comments by "Community Sharing", Mel Boomer
Live music with Doug Larsen
7pm. "Tellabration!" opens - Ticketed event. See accompanying article.

Saturday, Nov. 22 (9 AM-5 PM)

11am-1pm Donna Pellegata , Book signing, Illustrator for "The Harp Mouse Chooses Her Home: The Adventure Begins," author Diane Dunn

1-2pm Winter Greens Workshop sponsored by Bogie Lake Greenhouse

1-3pm David Mann, Poet. Book signing and "The Ties That Bind" poetry reading

3-5pm Heiner Hertling, (see Friday information)

Sunday, November 23 (10 AM - 5 PM)

11am-1pm Live music with Tim Twiss of Milford Music

1-2pm Winter Greens Workshop sponsored by Bogie Lake Greenhouse

1-3pm Ken Graning, Painter, demonstration and select merchandise

1-3pm Partly Brothers Acoustic folk musicians, performing music from their CD "From the Start."

3-5pm Michele Roger, book & CD signing by author & musician "Winter Solstice and the 1,000 Pancakes." Michele will also be showcasing her Harp students.

Empty Bowls: Community Sharing Benefit

Nov. 21, 2008 - 5:30-7:30 PM

"Empty Bowls" Fundraiser at the Arts & Greens Holiday Market at Bogie Lake Greenhouses. Join us for a Soup Supper and take home an original hand crafted bowl. $10 donation supplies your Empty Bowl, soup of choice, bread, and dessert. All proceeds support local Community Sharing Outreach Projects. Additional bowls without soup - $5.00, available all weekend during Arts & Greens at Bogie Lake Greenhouses and during Saturday evening's North Oakland County Storytellers Tellabration! performance, while supplies last. A special thank you to the Huron Valley Schools art teachers and students for creating the bowls:Denise Forrest - Country Oaks, Cecilia Gollan - Oak Valley Middle School, Tara Johnson - Muir Middle School, Judy Levitt - Brooks Elementary, and Abby Powers- Milford HS. Also participating will be Muir Middle School Leadership Class students.A grateful acknowledgment to the Restaurants Donating Soup:Duke's of Highland - Chicken noodle Milford House Bar & Grill - Minestrone Gravity - Wild mushroom St. Georges Café -French onion with croutons and support from: Main Street Art, Milford

Tellabration! A Time for Stories - Storytelling Festival
The North Oakland County Storytellers are united in the love of story and the belief in a story's power to connect us with one another. Come and join us as they tell their stories at the 4th Annual Tellabration! "A Time for Stories" Storytelling Festival, a ticketed event. Meet the artists and share the stories at this year's 1-ticket, 2-day, 3-location event.Tellebration! features member tellers of the North Oakland County Storytellers, including: Karen Czarnik, Pam Dawson,Carolyn Graves, Ron Hinman Lois Sprengnether Keel, Bob Reay, and Michael "Curley" Spaulding. Schedule: Opening night at Arts & Greens, Friday Nov. 21, 2008, 7:00-8:30 PM; continues Saturday morning 10 am at the Milford Library, and concludes at 7 pm in the Milford Presbyterian Church. Storytelling tickets include special options to win prizes from the Stop and Shop Raffle. By visiting local merchants between the Storytelling events, ticket holders will receive additional chances to win prizes from the Stop and Shop Raffle.
Tickets are $15. (Members/Seniors $12, children under 12 free.)
We'll see you there for a weekend of art, music, stories, soup, and community celebration!

Oakland Press Write-up:

http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2008/11/18/news/local_news/mj2402431.txt

Huron Valley Council for the ArtsHVCA

Map and address to Bogie Lake Greenhouse:

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?name=Bogie+Lake+Greenhouses+Inc&city=White+Lake&state=MI&address=1525+Bogie+Lake+Rd&zipcode=48383&country=US&latitude=42.627175&longitude=-83.518971&geocode=ADDRESS&id=6449407