Just for the Record(er)

Do you know someone in need of a recorder book? Look no further! The FJH Recorder Method for Everyone is just the book for you! I illustrated the girl playing the recorder and the close-up of her hands right below it.  Note: Click on the link to the book, it looks like you can get a free copy if you fill out the registration form. How cool is that!?!

Music Notes

Hello! This is an image I drew for Sight Reading & Rhythm Every Day, Let's Get Started!, Book B. The title for this particular unit is "Weather Watching." It was fun to draw the rabbit, hen, and chicks throughout this book! I have just finished illustrating Energize Your Fingers Every Day, Book 2B. Book 2A will be published mid-Feb. I have had so much fun illustrating these music books! It is still very cold and snowy in Minnesota, looking forward to picnics this summer! Stay warm, Friends!

Resolution One: Done

My desk is clean. Hooray! I finished up the last batch of music book sketches and am sending them off today, so now I'm on to the inking. What else is new? I'm now one of The Sketchables. I'll be posting every other Friday starting the week of January 27th. You can also find me today over at the Design Juices blog. That seems like plenty of news! Hope you are well!

Happy New Year!

Happy 2014! Thought I'd make my resolutions publicly in hopes that it will help me accomplish them. haha 

1) I am going to turn my cool desk (pictured above) into an actual workspace instead of a catchall for the kids' homework, etc...
2) I am going to bake a brioche.
3) I will also try to drink more water and get enough sleep (thanks for that reminder, Anne!).

Making some smaller resolutions felt better to me that tackling a great big one. Here's to a fab '14!!!

Gnome for the Holidays

Hello! I just realized that I haven't blogged since October or thereabouts. My desk is a mess, covered with music book sketches, stuff I need to help the kids with at school, Christmas card envelopes waiting to be addressed, and a new cookie recipe to try out this year. We are on that slippery slope to the New Year now and I am just doing my best to stop every once in a while and watch the snowflakes. Wishing you all a peaceful holiday season! xoxo

Tricks or Treats for Bats

This was a super fun coloring page to make. Bats are so darn cute and it was surprisingly fun drawing a bunch of bugs! In North America, bats feast on between 2-6 THOUSAND bugs a night! What a treat for all of us! Thank You, Bat Friends! Be sure to check out all the Bat Fun Facts on the Organization for Bat Conservation website. Special thanks to all the wonderful people out there who care for bats in real-life (like my friend, Jean!). I will leave the flies and beetles to the bats and hope for Milk Duds.  Please feel free to print this page up and share it with your friends (there are a couple more Halloween coloring pages on my website, too). Happy Halloween!

Blog Hop!

Last week, my wonderful and talented friend, Courtney Pippin-Mathur, was kind enough to tag me in a blog hop where I answer a few questions and then pass it on to a few of my kid booky friends.
Here goes:

What are you working on right now?
My website has been freshly updated and I have a new postcard that I am getting ready to send out. I have also been busy revising my diner dummy, and I have plans to dive into some of my other dummies and polish them up until they shine because I really would like to be a writer and an illustrator someday. I baked a Dr. Pepper cake yesterday and am working on a Halloween coloring page today.

How does this differ from other works in the genre?
This is a tough question and I don't really know the right answer... My hope is that when people see my artwork and read my writings, that they can see the real me in there somewhere.

Why do you write what you write?
I was lucky to be born into a family populated with very clever people. My kids and family and friends and coworkers all inspire me. Some of the little ideas have grown into bigger stories, so that is super fun! I am also writing all of my little jokes down and maybe they will turn into a book of Nina Jokes someday. Here is one I made up this weekend:


Where do you go to wash your yard?
The Lawndromat.


What is the hardest thing about writing?
Trying no to use too many words, or not enough words, and choosing all the write words! Right? haaa



Happy to tag my dear friends:

Andi Butler

Sara Weingartner

Christina Rodriguez