December Lights

It’s December! I missed a month but that’s not so uncommon these days. ;)

How are you all? It seems like everyone decorated early this year. Perhaps we were ready for some cheer- I know I was. I put the tree out last Sunday, and fluffed the two Christmas pillows for our bed and reading nook. My son also got a Brio train set from a very dear friend, and it feels festive to have the little trains going around while the lights twinkle on the tree.

I got a treadmill for under my desk so I can get some decent exercise. It’s made a big difference already! I feel less stressed after a day of work and I can tell I am digesting my food better. I also painted a little holiday piece for fun, which filled me all the way up. I hope you all make some time for the very simple things that are important to you. Mine are friendship, movement, sweet playtime with my children, and brief time slots for creativity.

Since I am a “glute-o” (gluten free weirdo) I am going to make these sugar cookies this weekend with some neighbors. Wish me luck. The recipe looks promising, but I’ve never baked with cassava flour. It’ll either be a joy to eat or taste like wood. What are you doing to get into the spirit of this time of year? Do you make cookies or watch holiday movies? Do you partake in the Christmas bird count? My Dad does. Shout out to my Dad.

I hope you take time to read that book, to watch that movie with a pal, and/or to sit in a room alone and just be. This is an important time of year to rest and heal, however that looks for you. My warmest wishes to you, and see you in the new year.

Annie

Pastels, Sightings, and Martha Graham

Hi there friends. Happy May to you! It’s been hot and windy here, after a couple weeks of rain, which is typical of May in the Ukiah Valley, but I’m still getting used to how erratic it can be here. My husband and I are putting lots of time into growing our garden, just as my body is growing this little being in my belly. I’m easily worn out, and starting to feel ALLLLL the hormones, but I’m also grateful, filled with wonder at this process, and enjoying the sunshine and fresh air of Spring.

Last weekend I got to try something new: chalk pastel drawings on pavement! I’d never tried it and… it’s harder than it looks! I signed up to be an artist for a fundraising event, and I was assigned to make a piece for the local bookstore in town (lucky me!). Other artists were out there using paintbrushes and rags- I mean, I didn’t know you were supposed to paint with chalk pastels? I just rubbed them into the sidewalk and hoped for the best. I noticed, that although it turned out great (I was very happy with it), the whole water technique helps the chalk adhere to the pavement so it doesn’t blow away or fade so quickly. I’ll have to try that next time. Toward the end I tried “painting” with the black pastel and got some nice clean lines, so that was a huge victory. Here’s how it turned out:

A couple days later, husband-man and I wanted to get out of town for the afternoon. We drove to a larger adjacent city and made our usual rounds to the second-hand bookstore, and then to the Barnes and Nobles. We passed by the large window display of books as always, to enter the store, but one of them caught my eye.

I was amazed! This was the first time I’d seen in displayed in a book store outside of my own little town, and I didn’t even ask them to put it in the window. I felt strangely proud that day. :)

As I work on this next book idea, I admit, I have lots of ups and downs in motivation. I like to remember seeing SOMETIMES IT’S BRIGHT in the window, because it helps to remember all the hard work that went into that little book and it feels totally worth it. While reading an article recently about Martha Graham, I came across a quote that landed hard.

“There is no creative satisfaction at any time,” she cried out passionately. “There is only a queer dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.” Martha Graham

No matter what, the creative process will always fill me up and tear me down. Somedays it’ll be a mountain, and other days a steep slide- both thrilling and intimidating, and the effort will wax and wane. I do love it though. It’s in my makeup and I honestly can’t help myself.

I’m in a revision stage for this new picture book. Once I have some artwork to pitch my agent, I’ll share some of the sketches and color studies! Until then,

-Annie

In Pursuit of Persimmon

I remember the first time I saw a persimmon tree. It wasn't that long ago, actually! Maybe five years?

I was on a walk with a friend in Mountain View, CA on a brisk December morning, and I saw these bright orange globes dangling on an otherwise barren tree. The stark contrast of the fruit against the cool grey sky was stunning. "What are those?!" I said to my friend. She scoffed at me like I was a goof and said, "Persimmons, Annie. You've never seen them before?" I hadn't! We grabbed one that was haning over the sidewalk, and when I tried the gooey, sweet, almost nutty bite of 'simmon goodness, I fell in love.

As these orange fruits have graced us with their presence once again, my pal Eveline suggested we make a bread with them. I googled some recipes that were both vegan (for my friend and my husband) and paleo (for me), and luckily I found one that looked delicious and full of whole ingredients.

We substituted the egg for a flax egg and otherwise followed the recipe from Bakerita to a "Tee." I turned out moist, cakey, not too sweet, nutty and textured perfectly with all the chunks of walnuts and pecans that we used. It tasted like Winter and warmed our hearts AND bellies.

The best part was baking with a sweet friend and eating the bread together with our husbands. In Holland, they have a wonderful work for this simple and intimate moment of comfort with others: Gezelligheid.

Earlier in the week I went on a walk at a new park in the hills surrounding my city. It was quiet out there and I felt a different kind of closeness. It was a kind of solitude and reverie, and I felt near to my own heart. If the Dutch have a word for this, I wish I knew!

Expanding The Spacious Tarot

Hey guys! I've been quiet on here, working diligently on the new expansion pack for The Spacious Tarot with Carrie Mallon. We knew we wanted to stay in the "Spacious World", and when Carrie thought of this old Minchiante deck that has an additional 22 cards, we both felt that exciting burst of butterflies!

We've been working on these cards for over a year now and we are finally close to printing them!

Right now we are finalizing the last two cards, and I'm laying out the guidebook. I recently stopped freelancing (it's been good) and I'm devoting my time to either my work wth fly.io, or the Spacious Tarot. Carrie is no longer having to ship all these decks, and we are thoroughly enjoying the focus and creativity.

Back to Expansion...

This oracle-like deck has 12 Zodiac signs, four Values, and the four Elements. It's a very grounded deck, and you can draw a card daily as a practice, add it to your tarot deck, etc. It will feel and look like the Spacious Tarot, but--fun fact-- I am illustrating it in Procreate this time rather than Photoshop. I think it'll have a slightly different feel but much richer over all.

We are making updates on when this project will be out via Instagram, so please hang with us over there!

Carrie posted this recent photo from when we got together last month in Salt Lake City. (Note the little kitty face in the lower left corner) I don't have any pets, but she has four of them, so it was a pleasure seeing her, her partner, and so so so many soft snuggles with all the animals.

Have a creative rest of your month and Happy Halloween!

-Annie