My Second Book

I'm thrilled to announce that my second book will be published sometime in 2016 by Storey Publishing!  The contract is signed, and now my work mornings, evenings, and weekends will be packed with book writing concentration (and, also, cookies, tea, and naps).

This book is another arts in education book with a focus on the connection between literacy and art.  It is based on one of the workshops I teach, which empowers kids to harness their creative voices.  The peeps at Storey Publishing are lovely and talented and smart; they were a joy to work with when I wrote Show Me a Story, and I'm extra excited to begin a new project with them.  I'm also working with SUPER agent Kate McKean, which is making everything so easy. 

I'll be sharing glimpses of my art and writing process in this space and on Instagram and Facebook in the weeks to come.

Hooray! 

Happy first week of December, friends.

Emily 

Book Review: Tinkerlab

This book! Oh my! It is informative, inspiring, interesting, and gorgeous -- a winner on so many fronts.  When lovely Rachelle Doorley's new book, Tinkerlab: A Hands-On guide For Little Inventors, landed in my book bag, I found myself drawn (pun!) to the pages during the very few small pockets of time I have these days.  It whispered to me, asking to be perused. It is that good.

Since my specialty is words and pictures, I was drawn to the Drawing Games chapter where Rachelle offers fun, creative tinkering opportunities for those who love to draw.  The activities in that chapter (as well as in the book in its entirety) lend themselves beautifully to classroom and homeschool experimentation.  My kids and I happily gave them all a whirl.

One of my daughter's favorites is the group activity called Exquisite Corpse For Kids, where each player adds a body section to a creature without knowing what the other parts of the creature look like. We found ourselves around the table with some special family members, and my oldest decided to teach everyone how to play.  It was a wonderful multigenerational connection opportunity because everyone was laughing, and also because we found ourselves admiring our work. Like, seriously admiring! We were all so impressed with our joint creations. I'm quite fond of Mr. Blue Face Polka Dots with Webbed Feet (above) made by my husband, Aunt, and daughter.

Doesn't it look like this guy with pink wings laid an egg? Ha!  Remember, my daughter did not look at the other panels when she drew the bottom panel.

Everyone signed their names to their panels.
This tinkering was fun, fun, fun!

 

We've decided that the Connect The Dots tinkering activity is perfect for office room waits, restaurant table time, and airplane travel.  My daughter turned my dots (above) into The Lady in the Green Dress (below).

And, we loved all of the other drawing invitations too.  They are so thoughtfully creative and engaging. 

Thanks for writing a book that invites both children and adults to be creative explorers, Rachelle. We can't wait for our next Tinkerlab adventure. 

Book Tour :: Chicago!

Last weekend, I zoomed to Chicago for some exciting events for the Show Me a Story book tour.  It was a wonderful trip filled with kind faces, incredibly creative children, a zippy glass elevator in the hotel (gulp!), and inquisitive teachers and parents.  I was so delighted and honored to spend the weekend with lovely people in a super city.

We stayed in a great hotel directly in the heart of the city.  It has glass walls, a glass ceiling, and a glass elevator that made me a little weak in the knees.  I eventually got used to it, and by the end I was brave enough to look outside as we raced to the fifteenth floor. 

 Standing in the hotel lobby, looking up.

This was at the wonderful Magic Tree House Bookshop in Oak Park, right outside of Chicago.  It was my first stop, and as soon as I began making Story Disks with the children, big, fat snow flakes fell from the sky.  It was beautiful and perfect.

My next stop was the Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier where I was so impressed by the creative exhibits and sweet staff.  And, um, the children and families that made Memory Cards with me were unbelievably creative.  Oh my!  They had it going ON! 

Don't worry, this child's Memory Card reads "Fire" because he went to the fire station Christmas party where his grandfather used to be a fire fighter.  Oh, this little boy was SO sweet and funny!

Tom and I walked to the end of Navy Pier where we seemed to be the only ones willing to brave the frigid wind.  Night was coming, and I was determined to stare into the milky blue waters of the Lake Michigan before it was time to go.  We caught a gorgeous sunset and we were serenaded on our way to dinner.  Such beautiful gifts!

And then we squished onto a tiny plane (3 seats across and all of the tall people had to crouch while standing) and soared back to our home sweet home, where my two children greeted me with warm cheeks, smelling of chocolate and shampoo.

It is so nice to soar, to go on adventures, to meet crowds of wonderful, new people. It is fun to drift and gaze and wander.  It is also so nice to come home.

xoxo
emily

p.s. Want to see more of my Instagram photos? Follow along here: redbirdcrafts.



 

Today!

xox emily

Improv Sewing :: Review and Book Giveaway!

I'm excited to have the chance to share this wonderful new sewing book with you! Improv Sewing, written by Nicole Blum and Deborah Immergut  and released this past May by the amazing Storey Publishing, is a beautiful and inspiring book packed to the brim with an incredible amount of how-to information. Let's get right to it -- the focus on unfinished edges and imperfect lines speaks directly to my imperfect heart. I love how they embrace simplicity and that imperfection is seen as a beautiful stylistic choice.  This is my kind of sewing book!  It is an especially great resource for anyone who enjoys (or dreams of) transforming thrifted materials (oversized t-shirts, old sweaters, etc.) into gorgeous clothing. 

 Photograph by Alexandra Grablewski

The projects throughout are beautiful and intriguing with clear instructions and friendly little tips.  Nicole happens to be a good friend of mine, and through her,  I met the lovely Deborah.  Because I know them and their creative ways, I knew this book was going to be amazing.  And, of course, it is, but what I hadn't considered is that it would leave me feeling so set-for-life when it comes to making clothing for myself.  I really, really feel that way.  Skirts, tunics, and dresses have never felt so accessible and doable.  How beautiful is that yellow dress?  And, that girl (Nicole's daughter)?

 Photograph by Alexandra Grablewski

What I love most about and Nicole and Deborah's approach is the way they encourage readers to have confidence and to trust in their creative intuition. Yes,  it is no surprise that this way of thinking resonates with me.  I'm such a passionate believer in individual expression and remaining true to your creative instincts, which is why I love that the instructions are less about rules and more about doing what feels right.

 Photograph by Alexandra Grablewski

I feel so happy to have this sewing resource on my bookshelf where I can look to it again and again for inspiration and guidance.

Photograph by Alexandra Grablewski 

 Photograph by Alexandra Grablewski

A wee note from Storey Publishing about Improv Sewing:

Improv Sewing is about “pursuing joy, not pursuing perfection”, Blum and Immergut explain. There are no patterns to follow, and hardly any rules. The authors embrace forgiving fabrics such as knits that invite wavy hemlines and raw edges. They encourage readers to look at solid fabric as a blank canvas. With this inspirational approach to sewing, crafters at any level of experience will be confident as they create these fast, fun, and fearless projects.

The folks at Storey Publishing have generously offered to give a copy of Improv Sewing to one lucky Red Bird Crafts reader.  Simply, leave a comment on this post from now until Tuesday (6/26),  I will choose a winner using a random number generator,  and announce the winner on Wednesday (6/27).  Please be sure to leave a way for me to contact you. And, good luck!

xo e

proof!

My book proofs landed on my doorstep a few days ago.  I chanted "be cool" to myself over and over (out loud) as I tore through the envelope.  There they were: pages and pages of my words and projects in book format with incredibly beautiful photographs and amazing design and layout (thanks to incredible Storey peeps).

My heart is still fluttering.

I'm going to take a few deep breaths and I'll be back next week to share the title and cover of the book.

For now, orange and vanilla infused rooibos tea, Friday pizza, wood stove warming, and maybe a movie.

And, some promised sunshine.

I wish you all a restful weekend.

xo e

Note:  You'll notice that I did open the envelope, pause, put the contents back in, put the envelope back on the step,  and then snap a photo.  Couldn't wait!