IF ~ Swept

...and they came in and swept it all away

This for Illustration Friday

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, you can go to their site and make a donation! They deserve a chance too!

Have a seat in the sun with a sippy and browse through the pages of my website ArtQwerks

Latest Portrait Commission

Here's my latest completed portrait commission...

I've also just completed (as of today) the illustrations for the latest Harp Mouse book written by Diane E Dunn and they are off to the publisher tomorrow morning! The Enchanted Tree of Crooked Lake children's book written by Rachel Longhurst (illustrated by me) is on the press today! Everything will be ready (unless the sky falls) for Milford Memories in August. These fabulous authors will be at my booth signing their children's books along with me. Three days of unmitigated fun in the sun, lots of stuff to do, see, gawk at, friends to play and shop with from booth to booth and to eat and drink with in the beer tents.

Come see me there!

Milford Memories Summer Festival
August 13,14 &15, 2010

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, you can go to their site and make a donation! They deserve a chance too!

Have a seat in the sun with a sippy and browse through the pages of my website ArtQwerks

IF ~ Welcome

He was not certain he would be welcome...

Illustration Friday is a weekly illustration challenge. A topic is posted every Friday and then participants have all week to come up with their own interpretation.

When you purchase an item from ArtQwerks, 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 will depend on the item purchased and I will most certainly appreciate it.

See my store and galleries to the right--->

IF ~ Unfold

The story was about to unfold before his very eyes!

Illustration Friday is a weekly illustration challenge. A topic is posted every Friday and then participants have all week to come up with their own interpretation. Read more about it here: http://www.illustrationfriday.com/about_p.php

When you purchase an item from ArtQwerks, 10% of your purchase price will be donated to my favorite animal charities; Second Chance Animal Rescue and Horses Haven, both in lower MI. Which charity will depend on the item purchased and I will greatly appreciate it.

See my store and galleries to the right.

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