Back from Artfest!

I'm just settling back into normal life after the whirlwind that is Artfest. Still a little wiped out (see above), but I have just enough energy to share a lil' tease from the weekend:

More to come in the following days, plus a contest! Stay tuned.

Rockin' the B&N

Want my autograph? It'll be valuable someday. ;o)

Had a marvelous time signing books and doing the make 'n' take project with people who came to Barnes and Noble Alderwood today. Our names and books in the window and everything...

We held the signing in the cafe... lots of room for people to come see the rooms up close.

Tally explained how we put together the collaborative art project that resulted in the book...

...and I kicked off the make 'n' take of paper dolls.

I'm not sure how much we raised for the Arts Council of Snohomish County...

 ... but I do know these two fabulous ladies (I think they're sisters) gave us a nice boost.

Then Julie, Tally and I wrapped things up by signing some more copies of the book.

So you can still get a signed copy!

Remember, if you buy a copy online by March 25th, and you use the book fair voucher ID # 10169696...

... you can still help out the Arts Council. And leave me a comment -- especially if you came to the book signing or bought a copy of Mixed-Media Dollhouses. I've got plans for you for April... that is, after I recover from Artfest...

Quick quick -- Friday's book signing

Look -- a new fan, dazzled by the actual mixed-media dollhouse rooms!

Tally's talking art with this wonderful lady who made a point to come out to the book signing at Everett Artist's Supply yesterday. It was a nice day for it... see how much sunlight we still had, at 5-ish?

I guess it's pretty hard to motivate to go somewhere at the end of the work week and the end of the day. But Tally and I still welcomed the diehards who endured Friday evening rush hour to see the rooms in person. To all of you, thank you so much.

Next stop: Barnes and Noble Alderwood -- see the book insert that tips off people browsing in the crafts section?

Click on the details in the sidebar... hope to see you there tomorrow!

Your book purchase counts!

I'm really looking forward to seein' y'all at the book signings in (less than!) two weeks. And guess what arrived on my doorstep yesterday -- the dollhouse rooms you'll see when you come meet us!

Tally sent up rooms from the Wonderland house and the Treehouse. Here's a peek:

Also, when you come to the March 21st signing at Barnes & Noble Alderwood, print out this this voucher to use when you get to the register:

I'll really miss you if you can't make it to the book fair, but never fear! Buy the book online between March 20 and March 25th and enter the book fair ID #:

Bookfair ID# 10169696  

at the time of purchase. That way you can have your luscious new book, and still contribute to the Arts Council of Snohomish County. Mmmm... tastes like having your cake and eating it too.

Mixed-Media Dollhouse weekend -- March 19th-21st

Come on in!

Hang with Tally and me at our book signings during the weekend of March 19th-21st. I promise you'll get to eyeball some of the Mixed-Media Dollhouse rooms Up Close.

Might be one of these two... might be other rooms. Depends on which ones Tally ships up for the occasions.

We're going to do a fun demo and sign books at the Alderwood (Lynnwood area) branch of Barnes & Noble, at 2pm-4pm on March 21st. Look -- we're on the B&N website and everything!

The book signing is also a book fair: a portion of the proceeds from sales that day will benefit the Arts Council of Snohomish County. Which is a really cool organization, BTW: we go to their "Fresh Paint" art fair on the Everett Marina every summer. They also provide art classes and artist resources for the whole community.

Of course, I'd be thrilled to see you buying "Mixed-Media Dollhouses," but you can buy anything that day, at any time during the day, and it benefits the Arts Council. The Council is also raising money for the new Schack Art Center, which will be their new home for art classes -- as well as artists' lofts -- later this year. So you not only get something to take home [clears throat meaningfully] from this place right here...

...you're also chipping in to help support the arts for people of all ages and skill levels.

Now I realize you may already have plans for Sunday... lucky you, I've set up another book signing that weekend! 

Remember, on Friday, March 19th, we'll be at the Everett Artist's Supply 5pm-7pm.

And before I forget: Tally and co-author Julie Molina have set up a Facebook fan page for "Mixed-Media Dollhouses." So if your mind's a blank at 4:25pm on March 19th, don't worry -- check FB before you head out to your car. And in the interval between now and that weekend, I'll give you a few sneak peeks to further tempt you. Don't say I didn't warn you!

"Wonderland" inspired collage

From the Metropolitan Museum of Art; Art Institute of Chicago

Lewis Carroll strikes again: Apparently "Alice in Wonderland" inspired some Victorian aristocrats to move beyond scrapbooking into collage. Off with the heads of their friends and family... onto watercolor paintings. Outstanding.

From the Metropolitan Museum of Art; Art Institute of Chicago

The Met is hosting an exhibition organized by the Art Institute of Chicago called "Playing with Pictures: The Art of Victorian Photocollage." If I weren't up to my chin in Artfest and book signing prep, I'd totally go to this exhibition. Okay, if I were in New York and weren't up to my chin in prep work...

If you're within driving distance of the Met, go for me and let me know what it's like!

The new books are here! The new books are here!

Can I just tell you how much fun it is to see someone dive into your book...

... and hear them marvel over it as if it was a present just for them?

I don't know who was more excited to pore over Mixed-Media Dollhouses:

me, Dawn Brown (on the left) or Dawn Westmoreland (on the right)  at Everett Artist's Supply & Framing.

Dawn W. had loved the idea of Mixed-Media Dollhouses from the start, and she was eager to host the book signing on March 19th. But when the books for the signing actually came in, we were all just floored at the beauty of the book itself.

Shiny lettering on the cover and the spine... soft blue endsheets and flyleafs with a subtle sparkle.. and the dollhouse rooms. The rooms!

It's still a little hard to believe the book is real.

I mean, each time I finished a room, I couldn't wait to show Tally, Julie and my fellow artist-contributors. Their rooms spurred me on to the next room to design.

And when Tally broke the news that the publishing paperwork had been signed and we really were going to be in a book, I was ecstatic.

But I keep thinking: "Wow, it looks like a real book and everything." The weight of the book in your hands, the smell of the freshly printed paper as the cover opens... man. That's like ten different kinds of outstanding.

So come see (and smell and pick up) the book for yourself.

Tally and I will be at the Everett Artist's Supply, Friday, March 19th from 5-7pm. You now have seventeen days to find a babysitter, inform your boss that you have a Thing you have to go that night, and plot the quickest way for you and your friends to get here.