June Newsletter

Hello Creatively Juicy Friends!

June has been a sweet month. My hubband is off work for the Summer and the weather has been wonderfully cool here in our little Valley. Usually it’s scorching, but we’ve been able to enjoy lots of time outside playing in the pool, the garden, and going on walks without terrible sunburns. It’s been wonderful. And I’ve made some progress on music and books, which I’ll share about in a moment.

My artwork for Fly.io is up around San Francisco! It’s fun to see it in the buzz of a big city while people make their way to their jobs and while on errands. Hopefully it adds a little magic to their day.

And another project update: My pal Joshua from Accelerated Tech asked me to create box art for his cool 3D printer expander that he designed. I just got it in the mail and it turned out awesome!

I’m still tuning up the B. Tull bok, making sure it’s as tight and strong as it can be for a publisher’s eye. Everytime I work on a book it feels like the first time!

In music news…did you know I make music?? I uploaded my first album from 2011, to my bandcamp page. Now there’s 1 album and 2 EPs, and I have another batch of 5 songs. I’m working on for my 4th release, due later this Summer, titled: RUNAWAY. Music has always been so special to me, always a sacred outlet. I have too many songs that I’d like to record and share, but who has all the time to do this with a job and two young kids LOL??

This month’s goals are to carve out time for making music and my books, read some literature, and spend enough time doing nothing, too. I hope you get some time to do that, too! This dream weave class from my friend Kelly might interest you. I plan on joining! It looks like a great way to connect with the self, which I know I need!

One last update on the kids: Brother used to hate baths but once he got into the kiddie pool, all of that changed. He is OBSESSED with playing in the water. And sister loves doing anything that he’s doing. :) This is a typical Summer day around here:

Have a great rest of your June and see you in July!

-Annie and the Crew

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

February

Winter always gets me. Even when I try my hardest to work with this slower, colder season, I feel like I'm born again out of a dark hole when the end of February arrives. My body finally wakes up, my heart opens, and I'm ready to take on the days ahead. Not the case in Winter. All I want to do is sleep and hunker down under ten blankets. Maybe I'm part bear??

February has been a great month, though. I wrapped up the final watercolors on my newest picture book. I'm so happy with how they turned out! I reflected recently on my first book, "The Three Things"- did a little post about it on Instagram and sold some copies. That was delightful, knowing my story would be read to some new children. I still LOVE this book with all my heart, and there aren't many copies left. I'm a bit bummed that I won't really be able to promo it anymore. But I'll always have a few copies on hand to do a reading!

Because I have renewed energy, I want to start making things again. Things that nourish me, things that require time and some ingredients; things that require a process. My first attempt at sourdough in a while is going well. I have yet to bake a loaf but the starter is lookin' alive! I'll let you know how it goes. I've had back luck in the past but I'm optimistic this time!

I'm also finishing up some custom art pieces for the platinum kickstarter folks of The Spacious Tarot. I've been sharing the progress on Instagram and talking about why I chose certain colors. Some are for stylistic reason, and some are to convey perspective or distance.

Lots of love, everyone. Spend time with the people you love and doing some things that bring you joy.

-Annie

My Dad, me, and my twin sister at a local farm.

Henry's Message.

A tale for the ones who'd like to listen....

Thick fog lay over Walden pond, lazy and unwilling to break apart, no different than the thick clouds blanketing the sky. Few birds sang even though it was mid morning, but so everything was so grey that the animals were just starting to wake up. My parents and I walked along the side path that lead us from the Walden Swimming Resort building to Henry David Thoreau's cabin site, taking note of how picturesque Walden really was. Water like glass, almost no sound but nature's whispers.

School children had left educational signs along the path, showing what turns the Maple trees red, and why some trees stay green.

Strolling, listening, absorbing, we took our time.

Upon reaching the cabin site, we heard teenage voices in the distance. There wasn't much time before the old home would be over run by quick energy. We were slow, on the other hand, like him, and we took our time trying to feel what he felt. What Henry felt.

Large stones rose behind a brown sign, similar to those you see in national parks with the words carved deeply in sans serif white, which read: "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived."

Standing still, I breathed in truth and longing as I whispered the quote aloud to myself. We all want the woods, we all want the solitude. Or some are afraid of it, perhaps? I know I used to be. But setting foot on Thoreau's humble cabin site reinforced my own calling to simplify simplify simplify. What was I doing, running around all day checking off my "to-do" list? And for what? For some paycheck so that I could feel safe?

It's about what makes us feel truly safe. It's about that that. And I know this is not singular, we all need to feel safe.

I imagined Henry (I like to call him by his first name), building his cabin joyfully with a couple friends. I imagined him taking long walks around Walden to see his favorite trees, and maybe even planting some seeds along the way since the lumber lot had been well used at that point in time. I imagined him making soups and beans, and walking into town every week to see a friend or to buy a few supplies, like ink and paper. I imagined him self sufficient, spending hours taking care and preparing for weather, but also spending hours observing.

High schoolers appeared between the trees, jogging and scrambling toward us with their agenda to learn details of a man who they were most likely reading about in class. Did they understand his message? Did they feel the necessity of his solitude? They were chattering about text messaged and plans after school so I couldn't be sure.

My Mom and I started walking back along the same path, my father splitting from us and taking the 1.5 miles around the rest of the pond. If he didn't do this, he'd be dwelling in regret for days.

Mom and I walked in silence a bit and also shared thoughts about Walden pond. Sacred and soft, we shared a special time, just Mom and me.

I had not read Henry Thoreau's work before visiting Walden, but I'd heard his tale. I wanted to buy some of his books, so we headed to the gift shop and waited for my Dad while we perused trinkets. There was a video about Walden, well directed and quite moving, and some displays of Thoreau's journals and scientific findings so visitors could understand more about the ecology of Walden pond, just as Thoreau did. Oh how I want that deliberation. At least his writings I could take with me.

Leaving Walden, my parents and I drove back toward the main highway, knowing we caught a special glimpse into life beyond the potent layers of society: achievment, institutions, productivity. We saw into a young man's intention and presence, his strong will to moderate his life according to his soul's wishes. Walden gave him this opportunity, and in turn, he gave it to us.

Where is your Walden?