Back from a SCBWI- Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators- conference and am bursting with new ideas. I am reminded it is a field of passionate people which I am glad to be part of.

Yes, go hug one today!

A couple weeks ago, our neigborhood hosted a passing fox. I saw him just for an instance crossing our main road. The sun shone on his lovely red coat and I thrilled to see his black "gloves". Neighbor Sarah was priviledged to see him napping under her deck! Neighbor Michelle saw him in her garden later on that afternoon.

I did a little scratchboard of our fox. I scanned my black and white work, then colored the print as usual (bottom fox). But then I decided to watercolor right on the actual scratchboard (something I seldom do) and was happy with being able to "lift" highlights by scratching through to the white chalk layer (top fox, with eye closed). I may do this method more in the future.

..and passover and spring! The above print was made from actual peeps candies- no peeps were harmed (or eaten) during the process, only immortalized forever!