starting the next book...

Donna and Diane

hard at work on the second book

Donna and Diane muggin' it up

Diane E Dunn, author of The Harp Mouse Chooses her home: The Adventure Begins and I, started the next book in the Harp Mouse series yesterday. We really do have the best time working together, yukkin' (and muggin') it up! Yesterday we gathered our thoughts and dove right in to the newest book. The last book has almost sold out! The time is now to get one so you can have a copy of each book in the series, for your collection! We sold books to fans as we were working yesterday so get yours now before they're gone!

...and while your at it, get to know Diane...

visit Author Dianne Dunn's Facebook page

and her website Heart & Harp where you can purchase YOUR copy of the 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. They deserve a chance too.

Grab a cup of coffee and take a long luxurious gander at my website ArtQwerks

IF ~ Wilderness

Wilderness

This is a preliminary illustration for the book I finished illustrating just before Christmas, titled "The Enchanted Tree of Crooked Lake" written by Rachel Longhurst. It is not a final illustration, you can only see THAT in the book when it is released this spring! ;-D

Rachel also wrote "Where My Story Begins" and you can read more about her here!

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. They deserve a chance too.

Grab a cup of coffee and take a long luxurious gander at my website ArtQwerks

Where My Story Begins by Rachel Longhurst

Rachel Longhurst, author of "where MY story begins" is currently working on her second book, "The Enchanted Tree of Crooked Lake" and has chosen me as her illustrator for the project. Her first book, "where my story begins" has been placed as a "Finalist" in the "Children's Picture Book: Hardcover Non-fiction" category - Best Book 2006 National Book Awards! While the second book is under construction, I bet you or someone you know would just LOVE this sweet story about a Labrador Retriever named Corey, a Golden Retriever named Lucas and the lessons they learn through their friendship. Click on the following link to read more about this book and it's author, Rachel Longhurst... http://www.wheremystorybegins.com/ . While I'm busy with this newest book project, over the next few weeks, I will be displaying some of my favorite art work from 2008. In the mean time, take a peek at Rachel's website to see more of this heartwarming tale about these precious pups! A story for animals lovers of ALL ages!

You can see most of my art in MY GALLERIES at: http://www.ebsqart.com/Artists/cmd_20424_profile_portfolio.htm or view my slide shows to the right. You can purchase my illustrated children's book "The Harp Mouse Chooses Her Home: The Adventure Begins" by Diane E Dunn (and the companion mouse puppet separately), prints and original art or request commissions and at the same time have 10% of your purchase donated to animal charities here: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5663698

Big Toys for Little Boys

Some us in the snowy north, need a reminder here and there that it is actually still fall. Technically, winter has not even started yet! Go figure. You would never be able to tell that from looking out MY window at the several inches of the white stuff on the ground right now! Not to mention the 20 degrees that blast me in the face each and every time I walk out the door! Being the glutton for punishment that I am though, I have to say I do love the beauty of it all.

So for the rest of you who are still enjoying the crisp fall air, here is an 11" X 14" pastel portrait of a little guy I finished last month taking time to enjoy an autumn ride on his favorite tractor! Ah...those little boys and their big toys!!!

You can see most of my art in MY GALLERIES at: http://www.ebsqart.com/Artists/cmd_20424_profile_portfolio.htm or view my slide shows to the right. You can purchase my illustrated children's book (and the companion mouse puppet separately), prints and original art or request commissions and at the same time have 10% of your purchase donated to animal charities here: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5663698

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

While we're waiting...Boo Boo Magoo

So I just saw the final, FINAL proofs for the new book and they are spectacular! Possibly another week and a half and I'll have real finger prints all over it. I won't say another word about it until then (yeah right), in the mean time take a peek at the newest portrait commission I've been working on. I love his adorable little kissy face! Boo Boo Magoo is not his real name of course, that is kept private to protect his innocence. Next finished project will be whatever hits the finish line first...next portrait...Harp Mouse Book http://www.heartandharp.net/book.html ...I just know your waiting with baited breath. What IS baited breath anyway?

You can see most of my art in MY GALLERIES at: http://www.ebsqart.com/Artists/cmd_20424_profile_portfolio.htm or view my slide shows to the right. You can purchase my prints and original art or request commissions and at the same time have 10% of your purchase donated to animal charities here: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5663698

Publishing Pitfall Postpones Printing

OK...there's been a little hold up on the book http://www.heartandharp.net/book.html. It looks like I won't have it in time for Milford Memories after all, due to a small printing malfunction... poop...but that's ok 'cause I'll have it very soon and most definitely in time for the Christmas season! I'll at least have portrait commissions and prints available for purchase inside the booth! And there will still be plenty of fun to be had at Milford Memories, http://www.milfordmemories.com/1/mm/index.asp , by you just showing up! So drop by...say hello on August 8th, 9th or 10th, and let's have us some summertime fun! I'll be in booth 106/107, The Village Fine Arts Association booth, with about a dozen or so other fellow artist/friends/members. So the shopping will be phenomenal, lots of goodies to choose from under one clever canopy! Bring the kiddies and for a small donation, get their little faces painted by our flock of facial feature festooners. Those lines are usually wrapped around the block! A very popular activity indeed!

You can see most of my art in MY GALLERIES at: http://www.ebsqart.com/Artists/cmd_20424_profile_portfolio.htm or view my slide shows to the right. You can purchase my prints and original art or request commissions and at the same time have 10% of your purchase donated to animal charities here: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5663698

New Book News In Time For Milford Memories!!

Get ready for a little summer fun coming up in the next couple of weeks. Milford Memories Summer Festival will be held in Milford MI again this year (as it is EVERY year), the 8th, 9th and 10th of August. There will be amazing art, special events, tons of kids activities (face painting at our booth), great food, and entertainment galore in one of the the best communities in the state of Michigan! See more about this fun filled art fair weekend here... http://www.milfordmemories.com/1/mm/index.asp

I'll be in booth 106/107, The Village Fine Arts Association booth, with about a dozen other fellow artist/friends and members. The new book I've just illustrated for author Diane E. Dunn will be there too (see photo for cover), on Saturday the 9th and Sunday the 10th, as it will be delivered from the printer the 8th. See more on my new book project and a few sample pages here:

http://www.heartandharp.net/book.html

I'll have more goodies to browse through and portrait commission bookings available too, so come on out and enjoy the day! You'll be glad you did!

You can see most of my art in MY GALLERIES at: http://www.ebsqart.com/Artists/cmd_20424_profile_portfolio.htm or view my slide shows to the right. You can purchase my prints and original art or request commissions and at the same time have 10% of your purchase donated to animal charities here: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5663698

It's out of my hands!!!

The illustrations have now left my hands, to be printed and bound and dispersed through the land! As soon as I get my twisted little fingers on it I will show it to you here. Just the cover mind you, you'll have to actually buy it and read it yourself (or to your children or pets) to see the final creation in full. But until the mean time you can read up on it here http://www.heartandharp.net/book.html. She will be announcing it before I do, since of course she wrote it! You will be able to purchase the book by clicking on Diane E. Dunn's website at that same address. I can't wait to see the finished product myself! Keep watching!!!

I've already started on my next book project, more on that as we move along!

You can see most of my art in MY GALLERIES at: http://www.ebsqart.com/Artists/cmd_20424_profile_portfolio.htm or view my slide shows to the right.

Sneak peek at the Squeak

FINALLY! The last tweak of the squeak will be finished this week and head off to the press, so here's just a peek. I can't wait to get my hands on it and sniff it's freshly printed pages. As soon as it's completed you'll be the first to know (after Diane Dunn, the author http://www.heartandharp.net/book.html and myself of course.) Then it's off to promote it and start illustrations on the NEXT children's books...more on those as I get started.

You can see most of my art in MY GALLERIES at: http://www.ebsqart.com/Artists/cmd_20424_profile_portfolio.htm or view my slide shows to the right.