A Little End of Year Story - The Tale of Despereaux

A few years ago a dear friend and I discovered that we both loved this wonderful book by Kate Dicamillo - The Tale of Despereaux. At the time I was needle felting mice and this friend was shortly to become a grandmother - for the first time. My friend said she looked forward to the day when she could read this great book to her grandchild. In my mind this was 'simple math' and the answer was that I should make a needle felted version of Despereaux - the main character - as a gift for her and her grandchild. For some reason I initially thought my version of Despereaux should be the size of a stuffed animal toy. If you are not familiar with the main character please note here that his most notable identifying physical characteristics are that he is tiny and he has relatively big ears.  

As I felted what I will call Despereaux #1 my interest started to wain, something didn't seem quite right. My evolving #1 did not feel like the wonderful illustrations by Timothy Basil Ering, and so #1 got shelved for a while, okay it was actually a few years. In the meantime I became a grandmother and found myself trying to explain to a two year old what the creature on my shelf was and this was a rather impossible thing to do. Fast forward to November of this year when my friend and I were to meet for a lovely little hike on Mackworth Island - sort a mid point between our homes in Maine. For a lark I decided to bring along Despereaux #1 and confess my never-completed-project to her. I left #1 in the car. We hiked. While hiking my friend mentioned that her grandchild was coming for the holidays and she thought that the time had come to read Kate DiCamillo's book to him. I of course said 'Well, I have someTHING to show you back in my car!' It was a bit embarrassing to share my big floppy #1 - but at the moment I did I realized there needed to be a #2 and he would be very tiny.

Despereaux #2 turned out very sweet and was the perfect size.  He arrived at my friend's home before her grandchild did and he came with a needle, red thread, and a tiny tissue - all the right accessories!

If you haven't yet enjoyed this Kate DiCamillo book, I highly recommend it. 

And THAT is my little end of year story.  

See you in 2022!

 

New Greeting Card, Cuban Proverb

 

This is my latest greeting card. It celebrates diversity in a subtle and woodland creature way. I suppose the chicken isn't a creature from the woods, but you get my point. I love the quote: 'When the Sun Rises, it Rises for Everyone.' 

When illustrating, there are so many iterations of an idea. Pencil, eraser, and paper are wonderful companions while going on the 'idea journey'. It's so easy to erase, adjust, change your mind. Working with these 'traditional' mediums, there is always the hint, a slight pencil stain left behind when a new idea wants to be known and the previous one is removed. It's the history, the footprint, of the idea. 

One thing I struggle with though, is the lost looseness, or fluidity of the original drawing compared to the final watercolor. This past year I've been adding ink lines with my watercolor painting, and I think this helps suggest some of the original drawing's character.  

I considered hand drawing the lettering on this card, but did not because it would have taken too long and I'm lacking the confidence... maybe next card.

Knitting Report: this is a sweater I started about 30+ years ago. I altered the original pattern (called  'Dancing Girls and Boys') to the point that it wasn't really coming together. I put the sweater away until earlier this year. In the end, it was too short. To solve this problem I cut the sweater in half right above the gray dancing boys. I then knit a 4th white diamond pattern and used the 'kitchener' stitch to marry the two halves back together. I'm quite happy with how it came together... except the overall design is a little 'loud' for my life at this point! Question: Do you write 'gray' or 'grey'. I just heard a saying that says Americans write 'gray', and people from England write 'grey'. Gray with an A for America, Grey with an E for England. I use

both, but there you have it. Here's the sweater before I cut it in half. 

Summer 2021

Chickadees, chickadees. First came my new greeting card (available on Etsy). Today it's these Chickadee Mittens. They are my 220th pair of mittens. Well, just since I started keeping track of mittens in 2012, I really have no idea how many I've made.  The 'chickadee' bird graphic came from Ravelry - I designed the rest of the mitten around it. Mittens are my jam... well, one of my jams!

The light grey and white yarn is Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride, worsted weight. I do love this yarn with it's 15% mohair and 85% wool blend.

Though I have seriously neglected my gardens this summer, they continue to put forth flowers. I am eternally grateful. 

Chickadees Greeting Card

This summer has been dedicated to house renovation. It turns out this old house is (maybe) from 1841-ish. I'm guessing this because I found that date printed on a piece of newspaper that was stuck in between plaster and lath in a bedroom wall. What else have I learned? That vinegar is a miracle worker when it comes to removing layers of old wallpaper. 

 

On a sadder note, another thing I learned this summer is a little trick to do when burying an animal. When filling a spot in the ground that you don't want disturbed by curious wild creatures, first soak a rag in hot sauce and lay it about 6 inches below ground level. Sprinkle red pepper flakes on the rag and fill in the area to ground level. The scent coming off hot sauce and pepper flakes will deter any creature from thinking they might want to dig there. Now you know. Carry on.

Maine Flower Gardening

All these photos were taken today. I've been working in my gardens (that's weeding, weeding, weeding) and I'd say my gardening time is now paying off. There are so many flowers in bloom it's hard to keep track.

I save the seeds from my flowers. I need to watch closely in order to collect right when the seeds are ready. Though much of my garden is perennial plants, I save the seeds to expand my gardens or to give seed away. It's actually fairly easy to collect and save seeds, and it's very rewarding. Having grown up thinking that all seeds had to be purchased in a little envelope each year, it's been nice to learn that I can 'make' my own.

Rhododendron, over 30 years old.

I'm particularly fond of Lupine - seen here in the foreground. I put little bread ties around the stems of plants that I want to save the seeds. I color code the bread ties so I can offer friends specific colors. I don't have any yellow Lupine, but my pink ones are lovely.

Yellow Iris in background.

Purple and Pale Yellow Iris border the bottom of this photo.

Columbine.

More Lupine, and a swallow poking out of the bird house! 
 

Chipping Sparrows. I believe there are 4 baby birds in this nest. This nest is right outside my dining room window. I actually watched the mother bird eat the egg shells as the babies were born. I was surprised to see this until I looked into it - she does this in order to replace the calcium in her body that she lost when she laid her eggs. 

Rosa Rugosa, or Beach 

Rose.

Poppies below.

Paper, Paper, Paper

Over time I believe that my 'smart' printer has updated itself to reflect new printer specifications. These new specs are subtle, not like printing sizes or paper orientation. More like subtleties in the quality of the images being printed to the point that I was no longer satisfied with what said 'smart' printer was creating. I've had to find new card stock that works well with my artwork, not an easy accomplishment in a time of pandemic. I like to feel paper, check it's brightness and weight, know my choices and possibilities, etc. Fortunately I have found new paper that I'm happy with and it's been a big relief. Having a 'fancy' printer that (seemingly secretly) updates itself is sort of like realizing your teenager has a whole life you don't know about. 'When did THIS happen?' 'Why wasn't I told?' 'Do I get a say in the matter?' I'm glad to be back on the same page and creating beautiful prints.

I have two new cards out and available locally at Sheepscot General Store, and always online at: www.Etsy.com/shop/GenevieveKeller. I'll have frameable prints of both available online soon. 

These two new illustrations represent two of my styles. The Poppies and Bees are what I'd call my botanical work. The Flower Fox is from my more whimsical side, possibly looking a bit like children's book illustration. I've questioned myself over time as to the effectiveness of having more than one style. Translation: successfulness. As an artist when one's work is varied will you ever be recognized for your work? Or will you confuse people? Recently, I read Lisa Congdon's book 'Find Your Artistic Voice' and I flat out got over worrying about having so many avenues of creativity. I highly recommend this book to any creative person, it was a very good read. (You will need to read this under good lighting though, the font was quite small and pale, maybe gray not black?)

I felt my Flower Fox illustration was appropriate either without words, or as any number of cards: Happy Birthday, Mother's Day, Thank You, and Thinking of You. In the end... this card is available in all the ways mentioned. Why not? She's a sweetie and she just wants to travel out into the world greeting people!

Next up? I'm working on an illustration of chickadees. Happy Spring!

Work in Progress

https://www.etsy.com/shop/GenevieveKeller

A few days ago I read about an artist who scans their sketches into a computer, and then adds color digitally. It apparently takes them a couple of hours to fully add color. The artist learned this technique in art school (college). I know this method is commonplace nowadays, and I was actually jealous... for a few moments. 

My process starts with wetting and stretching Arches hot press watercolor paper (140 lb.) onto a board, one of several boards that I have used too many times to count. This beginning is almost spiritual, like I am communing with the paper and the possibilities that lay before us both. (In case you are wondering, I too learned my method in art college.) On drawing paper, I sketch my ideas in graphite pencil and then transfer the drawing onto the (now dry) Arches paper. My 'adding color' involves days... even weeks of painting in watercolor.  My process slowly takes form through the layering of paint in a 'dry brush' fashion. Along the way this can be a give and take, sometimes removing paint to the extent it's possible with watercolor. Ideally, I have a few paintings to work on simultaneously. I find my paintings need to sit and have 'a peaceful time out' while I contemplate another painting. I can then return to each in turn with 'fresh eyes'. It works. It takes a long time. I listen to classical music and books on my phone. It's a good life. What pulls me from my work? My dog. 
 

View from my studio, February 2021

New Greeting Card Design

Here is my latest greeting card! It is adorned with this Jane Austen quote: "You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you." 

I see this as a multi-use greeting card. It could be used for an Anniversary, Birthday, Valentine, Encouragement or Friendship.

I've enjoyed hibernating in my studio while working on this card. It is truly a dark time in our nation's history.  I wish you all the best.