tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40392305844969392482024-03-13T15:55:39.246-07:00Kate's Pictures and WordsJoin me as I navigate the multicolored path to writing and illustrating a children's book.
Bag, baggage, sunscreen and map included. It could be very interesting journey. Or not.Kate Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09861373649696211491noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039230584496939248.post-70282997331507718762016-10-31T16:23:00.001-07:002016-10-31T16:25:49.812-07:00 AfTeR TrIcK oR TrEaT!<div class="MsoNormal">
This is a 100 word, picture book story about Halloween. It was inspired by a draft illustration I did several years ago called "<i>Eyes and a flashlight</i>"</div>
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<b>Happy Halloween!</b></div>
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+ + + + + + +</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>After Trick or Treat:</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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I cannot sleep.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The lights went out when the thunder came.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It's not the same bedroom in the dark...<o:p></o:p></div>
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...but I'm not afraid.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I forgot to close my closet door.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Eyes beside my backpack blink.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Something groaned or was it me?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Do trolls like stinky feet? <o:p></o:p></div>
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A ghostly bump sits on my bed... <o:p></o:p></div>
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...but I'm not afraid.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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My under-bed-monster has a new address; I don't know where.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I wonder if he still eats toes?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Spiders, extra large, scratch at the moonlit windowpane...<o:p></o:p></div>
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...but I'm not afraid.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I keep my friendly flashlight handy!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>It's not the same bedroom in the light.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFFGTSHakcSguHrC0y3G-wU0N2VXog6rX31ht6qZA_y-L8Ii31Plj9dZZKq_psTI8s6NbFHU6j8mJcUWftonI6DjoZnhm4cavLXl92BJNqHHFntY0CrXueddTCVIDstsNN-xVa89v_Z2Z/s1600/boyflashlite-trick+or+treat.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFFGTSHakcSguHrC0y3G-wU0N2VXog6rX31ht6qZA_y-L8Ii31Plj9dZZKq_psTI8s6NbFHU6j8mJcUWftonI6DjoZnhm4cavLXl92BJNqHHFntY0CrXueddTCVIDstsNN-xVa89v_Z2Z/s320/boyflashlite-trick+or+treat.jpg" width="320" /></a> kah2016<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt;">©</span></div>
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<!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment-->Kate Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09861373649696211491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039230584496939248.post-15301115422827355472016-10-09T16:55:00.000-07:002016-10-09T19:44:47.868-07:00Just a picture of my cat this time...For my friends on the 'Reef' at http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.com, this is a picture of Cedar's sister. Since I too have problems imbedding links without leaning on Colin, I chose to post it here.<br />
Cedar and Fern express their happiness at being 'featured" on this page.<br />
(<i>Beth: I did get a picture of the elusive Fern!</i>)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRkuGxAIqhsnnGtWZirjhnA_Gx5vhG3HBSoTM733P8PPz0xU_R0wjfJmeSFBfvalXpq_9btRI7nkjDZawao4efDwTwTQRFOtBAEflSGSlNPpkAJTbjEDRYOvZTHNjnKTs2wP6XpUvIvCu/s1600/Fern2portrait.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRkuGxAIqhsnnGtWZirjhnA_Gx5vhG3HBSoTM733P8PPz0xU_R0wjfJmeSFBfvalXpq_9btRI7nkjDZawao4efDwTwTQRFOtBAEflSGSlNPpkAJTbjEDRYOvZTHNjnKTs2wP6XpUvIvCu/s320/Fern2portrait.JPG" width="274" /></a></div>
<br />Kate Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09861373649696211491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039230584496939248.post-50420599649211382692016-02-11T15:26:00.000-08:002016-02-11T15:28:34.047-08:00<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
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My entry for Susanna Hill's <a href="http://susannahill.com/2016/02/08/be-still-my-heart-the-1st-annual-valentiny-writing-contest-is-here/" target="_blank">"The 1st Annual Valentiny Writing Contest"</a></div>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><b><br />Grumpy, Groany, Grouchy, Growl</b> </u><br />
<i>by Kathleen Higgins 2016</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Go to your room Mikey." <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"You don't love me!" Mikey grouched<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"I love you but sometimes that's what mommies do <br />
when they
love you."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mickey stomped
and stormed into his room and slipped <br />
under
the edge of his blue blankety world.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Hello? Anyone home?" <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Mommy won't let me do what I want to do. Mommy doesn't
love me!" groaned Mikey <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Daddy swooped under the blue blankety world.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Love
is a funny thing." Daddy said, "My mommy wouldn't let me do <br />
what I
wanted to do.<br />
Sometimes I sat in a corner for almost forever. "</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Grandma didn't love you either!" griped Mikey <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"She loved me but sometimes that's what people do <br />
when they love you"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"I hear voices but I can't see anyone?"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Popa slithered under the blue, blankety world." <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Once
my brother sat on my head," Popa said, <br />
"he wouldn't let me do what I
wanted to do "</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"That's really mean. He didn't love you." grumbled
Mikey.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"He
loved me but sometimes that's what people do </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
when they love you"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Is your blanket talking, Mikey?" <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Go away, Mommy!" growled Mikey<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"We
are discussing love" <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"We are talking about doing things we shouldn't do."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Three cookies silently slid under Mikey's blue blankety
world. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Because sometimes that's what Mommies do <br />
when they love you.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Kate Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09861373649696211491noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039230584496939248.post-49452052062351416242016-01-31T19:08:00.001-08:002016-01-31T19:08:06.495-08:00 A Valentiny writing contest from Susanna Hill February 2016<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSp9opfgA7e1pgM5Ppr3NyL0xgRsN3Eu_-qT1CxFIWnLR4atIqsvs7U2_8go-jfusyaujXvMd0uJ6KVOT2ep2l-aonGUbpemOZNtVlDUOBA0XYsAaO88ih7bY1SauZdGgt5MqlBynfMNyE/s1600/valentinyBearSusannaHillBlog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSp9opfgA7e1pgM5Ppr3NyL0xgRsN3Eu_-qT1CxFIWnLR4atIqsvs7U2_8go-jfusyaujXvMd0uJ6KVOT2ep2l-aonGUbpemOZNtVlDUOBA0XYsAaO88ih7bY1SauZdGgt5MqlBynfMNyE/s200/valentinyBearSusannaHillBlog.jpg" title="" width="180" /></a><span style="background-color: #134f5c; color: white;"><b style="background-color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Susanna Hill, a wonderful children's book author, has </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">a bright idea about a “writing contest in February to break up the winter doldrums” it is called the; "</span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><i>First Annual Pretty Much World Famous Valentiny Contest!</i></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">"<br /> ... with prizes!</span></b></span><br />
<b><span style="background-color: #134f5c;"><span style="background-color: #134f5c;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></b>
<b><span style="background-color: #134f5c;"><span style="background-color: #134f5c;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It looks like fun (and good writing practice) so </span><span style="color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'm entering. Just 214 words a</span></span><span style="color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">bout “big emotions for little people” </span><span style="color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> in which </span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">someone is grumpy. </span></span></b><b><span style="background-color: #134f5c;"><span style="background-color: #134f5c; color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you are interested:</span></span><span style="background-color: #45818e; color: #674ea7; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #134f5c;"><a href="http://www.susannahill.com/" target="_blank"> </a></span></span></b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><b><u>http://susannahill.com/blog/</u></b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #134f5c; color: white;"><b style="background-color: #134f5c;"><br /></b></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span>
Kate Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09861373649696211491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039230584496939248.post-24847553165572663352015-10-26T19:53:00.000-07:002015-10-26T19:53:14.333-07:00PiBoIdMoPiBoIdMo: that means<b> Pi</b>cture <b>Bo</b>ok <b>Id</b>ea <b>Mo</b>nth. Easy, just come up with 30+ new, original, fantastic, picture book ideas. It's not like I have the time. I mean, I'm really busy but I am also very tempted. I imagine at least 7 impossible (to mis-quote Alice in Wonderland) and this will provide a way to log them and maybe just maybe one will eventually become a book. Want to know more? Visit: http://taralazar.com/piboidmo. I already have 3 ideas:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWyM1Q5YSe_uW811ax2y4_RIqqd4NG0K01cMJV1PEhLAizgvdjdzTdaN-ggNGG9RSkAqbzXxjRfQW8LaDlWRvVCy3yYrTEDJxa5Oi6D1_DWJIoHA6kCicUF9lgDRTveYklDJUUpZNKXoo5/s1600/piboidmo2015participant.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWyM1Q5YSe_uW811ax2y4_RIqqd4NG0K01cMJV1PEhLAizgvdjdzTdaN-ggNGG9RSkAqbzXxjRfQW8LaDlWRvVCy3yYrTEDJxa5Oi6D1_DWJIoHA6kCicUF9lgDRTveYklDJUUpZNKXoo5/s200/piboidmo2015participant.png" width="200" /></a>1) A story with frogs in it<br />
2) The theme has to do with brothers<br />
3) The story involves not sleeping<br />
<br />It has been suggested that we don't reveal all in a blog; Idea-ntity theft you know or possibly undead, idea zombies who'll eat your brain and suck those ideas right out of your head...humm...maybe idea number four...<br />
<br />Kate Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09861373649696211491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039230584496939248.post-53943137716586789542013-01-05T21:01:00.001-08:002013-01-05T21:01:57.695-08:00Something Creative This Way Comes...Amazing how creativity can lead you to where you've never been. Three months ago, in order to bring in extra cash in this stressful economy, I (re-)opened my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/CedarMoon" target="_blank">Etsy</a> shop (see the mini store to the right). I really didn't know if my summer brainstorm would be successful but jobs for graphic designers (and illustrators) were few and far between (there are 100 applicants for each one). So I gave it a go with something I knew I could do; create art I like.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiytobfdpjQZDRU3EEad7hYcUTIlHfrFZOshOmZOZVxaB9ZYwf9Qx3jl16GTfjnp7eJFAf4-p2GpfyhwgSzszxUROb-KgxiHESITh4rbhjjUMzYIvA9If6kM1hTDlW7EMZm33pZblLJn4sN/s1600/Pelicanwithfish2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiytobfdpjQZDRU3EEad7hYcUTIlHfrFZOshOmZOZVxaB9ZYwf9Qx3jl16GTfjnp7eJFAf4-p2GpfyhwgSzszxUROb-KgxiHESITh4rbhjjUMzYIvA9If6kM1hTDlW7EMZm33pZblLJn4sN/s200/Pelicanwithfish2.png" width="192" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pelican Beakcan Bellycan </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXf9GNcyBVYXawSHP1xalH9sDTU-X_7WOxaF-cbZxnFUwX45TycicWcDzztO9Z9wBGy1zUbMgdZOZAO8dhMMTxVZHiISLVqEYGZXh3LmtETb-oUEdwPUTdpBI_TcrQuE7et7azZBtaidQF/s1600/A.horse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXf9GNcyBVYXawSHP1xalH9sDTU-X_7WOxaF-cbZxnFUwX45TycicWcDzztO9Z9wBGy1zUbMgdZOZAO8dhMMTxVZHiISLVqEYGZXh3LmtETb-oUEdwPUTdpBI_TcrQuE7et7azZBtaidQF/s200/A.horse.jpg" width="148" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andalusian Horse</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Now in the new year I have a retailer interested in possible licensing of an exclusive character, I've produce two custom Flamingo Incognitos! and I'm still surprised that people want my artfully disguised birdies. There really <i>IS</i> a pink Plastic Flamingo in there somewhere (you can just see the tip of it beak in the pelican's mouth...like a tongue!)<br />
<br />
This little shop has caused me to work in my studio more, stimulated my imagination and produced a multitude of great ideas for stories and illustrations. And I am <i>not </i>procrastinating. Or making excuses. Or feeling like my art is 'not good enough'. It wasn't the money (though it didn't hurt), it was supplying something completely different that others truly appreciated and wanted. Wow.<br />
<span id="goog_855482043"></span><span id="goog_855482044"></span><br />
I not trying to please anyone but myself. I don't copy some other character style. It is just me and my imagination and I love it. Now I'm realizing what Mark Twain said years ago, "Do what you love and the money will come"... is true.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Kate Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09861373649696211491noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039230584496939248.post-49080598400669780532012-08-26T21:47:00.000-07:002012-08-27T06:34:09.698-07:00Flamingos with an identity crisis...<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBcP4ynyhEhv5LBbcuEc5xoeuq1lPv7Gnw0K91yvLT1ghJwfrjTZNEYPvkf_bSgL9_m-oeSlAW9MLIereyTAlSt6d1kMd9DFrGgFBWV8zWJUWohR6soBYchcASjZ0JzlefqVIVJkESXbT/s1600/viewer-BEFORE-flamingo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBcP4ynyhEhv5LBbcuEc5xoeuq1lPv7Gnw0K91yvLT1ghJwfrjTZNEYPvkf_bSgL9_m-oeSlAW9MLIereyTAlSt6d1kMd9DFrGgFBWV8zWJUWohR6soBYchcASjZ0JzlefqVIVJkESXbT/s200/viewer-BEFORE-flamingo.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before the transformations</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Creativity can strike at anytime. This summer it came in pink. Pink Plastic Flamingos, those kitschy 1950s yard birds. Inspired by the thought that maybe some pink flamingos would like to be different than the big pink flock. Individuals. Unique.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMCbt2nDIzr4o0NicTp7XkYQ_oGaaj3XsCpBM4qd8-HNaaonkuGrQ1g_ZTTxmXdz0plZPs9ijAoPJ5_t25fKeLNatAEyvgJx0dmqrGLzRFmA1JftwMOCpwfBf5G17wVDxw7lrh2XsLIR2f/s1600/4x3-camclose-ingarden-vert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMCbt2nDIzr4o0NicTp7XkYQ_oGaaj3XsCpBM4qd8-HNaaonkuGrQ1g_ZTTxmXdz0plZPs9ijAoPJ5_t25fKeLNatAEyvgJx0dmqrGLzRFmA1JftwMOCpwfBf5G17wVDxw7lrh2XsLIR2f/s200/4x3-camclose-ingarden-vert.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/CedarMoon" target="_blank">Camo Flamingo</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It all started as one of those weird dreams that grab at you at 3 am and
start churning away until you have to <i>DO </i>something about them. So I did
and now they are for sale to those who always secretly wanted a pink
plastic flamingo in their yard. One of my flamingos is totally camouflaged
so you really could have one and no one would know it. But somehow I
think that goes against having a kitschy, pink flamingo in the first
place.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Z9rYwitl1I7fcKHvRATCekYWLu-zAWw5PCIe3DOpJ5b_9LcOTgZSZVWeX8acVviQEy_c7oiy3wQKOamWIyyKEwLZUZymMemmnc2ZCQory4pQCdRU1Xl8TXR7hnA8nz8AaBVWOqkEvMGt/s1600/3x3-steampunk-head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Z9rYwitl1I7fcKHvRATCekYWLu-zAWw5PCIe3DOpJ5b_9LcOTgZSZVWeX8acVviQEy_c7oiy3wQKOamWIyyKEwLZUZymMemmnc2ZCQory4pQCdRU1Xl8TXR7hnA8nz8AaBVWOqkEvMGt/s200/3x3-steampunk-head.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/CedarMoon" target="_blank">Steampunky Flamingo</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
To showcase my dream birds, I have just opened a new section of my Etsy shop called: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/CedarMoon" target="_blank">Flamingo Incognito©</a>. Flamingo Incognitos are at heart, plain ol’ 1950’s, kitschy, pink plastic yard birds but I re-invented them with household plastic leftovers, handmade assorted body parts, objects d’art from the studio junk drawer, paint and large doses of imagination. These flamingos make you look twice or maybe three times. Come take a peek and tell me what you think. You never know what will pop up in a creative dream.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/CedarMoon">http://www.etsy.com/shop/CedarMoon</a>Kate Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09861373649696211491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039230584496939248.post-64215499282745981182012-07-30T16:14:00.001-07:002012-07-30T20:35:56.667-07:00A Different Perspective...Ah, sooo long since I blogged. Sorry about that but this blog is as good as any to start up again. One blog I follow shows the value of a different perspective. A great way to spur bouts of creativity is seeing life through another's eyes, in this case a cat's or rather a kitten's.<br />
The blog is called Housecat Confidential (<a href="http://housecatconfidential.blogspot.com/">http://housecatconfidential.blogspot.com</a>) and it is written (mostly) from the viewpoint of a kitten named Quill. With a sense of humor and a distinct opinion of what humans are for – servitude – the blog is written for anyone owned by a feline.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv00eUHaBhcv0FtkOZ5q721N3G0FPxW5WMt_gRq32-Od5yvv0sH4Jzc0kwEH6M1jgwyd-JYL_orV2noCMqpj0l-6xg4dVQqSj1bm7hYDWVijkWo5tXJC-gQt-wbaOo1FCQV9RehSsh1Bxt/s1600/cedarhiding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv00eUHaBhcv0FtkOZ5q721N3G0FPxW5WMt_gRq32-Od5yvv0sH4Jzc0kwEH6M1jgwyd-JYL_orV2noCMqpj0l-6xg4dVQqSj1bm7hYDWVijkWo5tXJC-gQt-wbaOo1FCQV9RehSsh1Bxt/s320/cedarhiding.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This month Meg Hart is concentrating on the Cat-O-Lympics narrated convincingly by a pair of fictitious announcers named Jim and Bob. First round is the Hiding event. My Cedar, a 17lb, Maine Coon, Tuxedo cat is a late entry.<br />
<br />
It is said humans once worshiped cats as gods and Cats have never let us forget that fact.<br />
If you have cats or if they have you, you will enjoy Housecat Confidential. Let the games begin!Kate Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09861373649696211491noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039230584496939248.post-88156421989350611052012-01-18T14:19:00.000-08:002012-01-18T14:19:07.553-08:00An Unhappy HummingbirdWith a snow storm blasting away here in the Northwest corner of the U.S. A couple of my little friends were not happy with all this snow. Luckily I keep the hummingbird feeder full and de-iced. It seems to keep them warm until the stuff melts.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1fw_pEbgYi8fY9K37zarHYhFPGr2FTkSqRpSJt4H3C1fxQwmzvS5NzMwNFwayY2wP1DvyyBeNA0yjcp9shdex3bB19TjGrmGkSZXvUhNyCNENJG2-ssgixNmE87o5CaPgSNuqbL3drPF/s1600/hummmhungry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1fw_pEbgYi8fY9K37zarHYhFPGr2FTkSqRpSJt4H3C1fxQwmzvS5NzMwNFwayY2wP1DvyyBeNA0yjcp9shdex3bB19TjGrmGkSZXvUhNyCNENJG2-ssgixNmE87o5CaPgSNuqbL3drPF/s320/hummmhungry.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think this picture needs a caption...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>When I go out to feed the birds (and squirrels) in bad weather I can feel hundreds of little eyes watching me. An interesting feeling. My daughter calls me Snow White. My husband says I have animal magnetism.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Kate Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09861373649696211491noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039230584496939248.post-53103349172352334492012-01-12T21:36:00.000-08:002012-01-12T21:36:49.375-08:00My Work-In-Progress progresses...Someone once said to put your work-in-progess on the back burners and let it simmer. Mine has been simmering now for more than 5 months so I dug deep in my nested computer files and found it. I found several versions of course but I read the last one I worked on. I had prefaced this version with a synopsis and remembered that I had spent the whole night working on it. And hated it.<br />
<br />
However after I reread it, I liked my synopsis! I remember tossing the whole thing aside and saying it was drivel and it was a stupid story and no one would read it. Then I reread my first 15 pages of the manuscript and I realized I actually liked this story and I wanted to read more. Surprise, this WIP was OK! It wasn’t drivel after all. I liked my characters. I liked my plot. And the writing wasn't too bad for a 2nd draft.<br />
So now I am re-energized by my own work. Now my work-in-progress is progressing. (<i>what exactly <b>is</b> 'drivel' anyway?</i>)<br />
<br />
✩*¨*•.¸¸✩*¨*•.¸¸✩*¨*•.¸¸✩<br />
<br />
<i>Excerpt from "The Emerald Boots" </i><br />
<i>a middle-grade work in progress by K.A.Higgins <span style="font-size: xx-small;"> ©2010</span></i><br />
<br />
“Applause soared up like a mountain from the celebrating crowd on the other side of the woven wicker wall, closely followed by what sounded like a huge dragon belching from somewhere high above her. Jade curled up much tighter into the small storage corner she was hiding in. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIv1emR1diAe7ioKfdjdArOiG49n4Cvo-ZqkpFckmA_lFvksHEixrjZuIQmJY2Q0dE8mdR3VFxXSkC8xKqb5VELCP6X_bAwO-XgZc0G3NW0A0zyXWCXUWsjDKUqXU7aUid7wslFn3USgJa/s1600/wizballoon-oz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIv1emR1diAe7ioKfdjdArOiG49n4Cvo-ZqkpFckmA_lFvksHEixrjZuIQmJY2Q0dE8mdR3VFxXSkC8xKqb5VELCP6X_bAwO-XgZc0G3NW0A0zyXWCXUWsjDKUqXU7aUid7wslFn3USgJa/s400/wizballoon-oz.jpg" width="191" /></a><br />
Covering her ears and pressing her face firmly against her knees she tried to drown out the noise by chanting in her brain,<br />
“<i>This is a good idea</i><br />
<i> … this was a good idea</i><i>… </i><br />
<i> </i><i>… </i><i>… </i><i>this is not a good idea!</i>”<br />
<br />
A longer and much louder roaring vibrated the whole basket. The brain chanting abruptly adjusted to; <i>“Eleven-year-olds don’t scream...</i><br />
<i> Eleven-year-olds don’t scream…”</i>. <br />
<br />
KaPoossh-SHHHHHHHHhhh – her whole wicker world tipped and swirled and completely knocked Jade loose.<br />
<br />
“<i>YES, THEY DO!!!</i>” She screamed and scrambled out of her hiding place smack dab into a pair of solid, green tweed legs.<br />
<br />
“Yes, they do what?” asked a Great And Powerful but familiar voice from above.”<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> ©2010</span>Kate Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09861373649696211491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039230584496939248.post-62921774528014885652012-01-02T15:09:00.000-08:002012-01-02T15:09:24.227-08:00One and only one resolution...<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilfq_bmjqJauV_bRmvHRHSrYg8CdEwa7txI2K93FRc_BSPigqB9n9WJ3w6ky8S8BOyuWJvPea9SSBC1newzFzBLEJpTUfdOB0eIlsBs-H6ECsdh_CDQ4yM8puDGUHAxe88ftfzhJI8rPs/s1600/cedarhiding.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilfq_bmjqJauV_bRmvHRHSrYg8CdEwa7txI2K93FRc_BSPigqB9n9WJ3w6ky8S8BOyuWJvPea9SSBC1newzFzBLEJpTUfdOB0eIlsBs-H6ECsdh_CDQ4yM8puDGUHAxe88ftfzhJI8rPs/s320/cedarhiding.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and don't procrastinate...<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>My one resolution for 2012 is;<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">"<i>Five minutes of writing a day for a year equals a book.</i>" </span><br />
<br />
Easy to do, easy to keep and with great results. Thank you Alexandra Sokoloff for that thought.<br />
(<i>PS her books are wonderful...read one</i>) <br />
<a href="http://thedarksalon.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-years-resolutionswriting-one-day-at.html">http://thedarksalon.blogspot.com </a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
</span>Kate Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09861373649696211491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039230584496939248.post-83952347616456614732011-11-05T18:33:00.000-07:002011-11-05T18:38:55.098-07:00PiBoIdMo Day 5...<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_9ojGILPFLV0k3lbq_GKw50kn2b98ycQpVn1Nok9hpxe1QX_lFVNQIKs_uTdS1FC-co0gBZvYuZG_zjUNIVkXr288IczcUZwgkbziXb69Atp7ZfVIU-aOAyVzkdh3XMAIqZ0L3TZATug/s1600/pouringrainpaintdabs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_9ojGILPFLV0k3lbq_GKw50kn2b98ycQpVn1Nok9hpxe1QX_lFVNQIKs_uTdS1FC-co0gBZvYuZG_zjUNIVkXr288IczcUZwgkbziXb69Atp7ZfVIU-aOAyVzkdh3XMAIqZ0L3TZATug/s200/pouringrainpaintdabs.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rain, rain, go away . . . </td></tr>
</tbody></table>And I have four more ideas and titles:<br />
<br />
Idea #2 <b>"Weather or Not" </b>What <i>can</i> you do when it's raining and pouring or snowing and blowing?<br />
<br />
Idea #3 <b>"Little Brother; Pest and Pal" </b> The pros and cons of little brothers as seen from the little brother's POV And the big sister's POV.<br />
<br />
Idea #4 <b>"If I Had a Tiger"</b> What Eli would do with a tiger for a pet. Revenge? Intimidation? Run for president? <i>NOT</i> clean his room? <br />
<br />
Idea #5<b>"Come and Get It!"</b> Lucy's family works and plays and dances and creates. When they home for dinner to share their day with interesting results.Kate Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09861373649696211491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039230584496939248.post-55377937615320087142011-11-01T21:40:00.000-07:002011-11-01T21:40:04.562-07:00Picture Book Idea Month 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wxlyRSOHHOw/TrDIRA1eFCI/AAAAAAAAAZM/hJ-G5u1WH6Y/s1600/PiBoIdMo2011logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="113" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wxlyRSOHHOw/TrDIRA1eFCI/AAAAAAAAAZM/hJ-G5u1WH6Y/s400/PiBoIdMo2011logo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I figured this was a good way to get back to my blog and back to my art after a fairly long hiatus doing all the things life throws at you.<br />
<br />
You know...stuff. Stuff that has to be done so you can eat.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV7cPZ2IRz5iHQNfhn_a3KnY2JVreLUocNnJzdNFUdvORcT1tqF6pcc8U1Rz7Wq87LTKGm3VMJVqaPTqP393WKqI8QWiwULVLpGFabIhhtFRO9mPgn9PLx80SYaNk9jbAOBpzK6Gyq4T5A/s1600/whereishegoing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV7cPZ2IRz5iHQNfhn_a3KnY2JVreLUocNnJzdNFUdvORcT1tqF6pcc8U1Rz7Wq87LTKGm3VMJVqaPTqP393WKqI8QWiwULVLpGFabIhhtFRO9mPgn9PLx80SYaNk9jbAOBpzK6Gyq4T5A/s320/whereishegoing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>So to start off my PiBoIdMo this year.<br />
<br />
IDEA #1:<br />
"Where <i>Are</i> They Going?"<br />
An expose' on where geese, ants, bees, turtles and squirrels are going when they head out on migration. Or just in search of nuts.Kate Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09861373649696211491noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039230584496939248.post-16896712993509289472011-08-14T22:40:00.000-07:002011-08-14T22:40:25.486-07:00The Creative Mind and Magic…<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdpHwH1cyN9qc2Ih-VYwagSzCo8XV6B49Z9Ahir2iFSA_OoZREAKEiZ0vJjNCjTt9LccKbiTNYh4ndMJ3GsCVi5QhU3kX-OYcpF3YBb9jPCoNQ_1_7Rp8nEOwIeBBqme08c34hH3Xk_5hS/s1600/fairy%252Bgodmother.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdpHwH1cyN9qc2Ih-VYwagSzCo8XV6B49Z9Ahir2iFSA_OoZREAKEiZ0vJjNCjTt9LccKbiTNYh4ndMJ3GsCVi5QhU3kX-OYcpF3YBb9jPCoNQ_1_7Rp8nEOwIeBBqme08c34hH3Xk_5hS/s320/fairy%252Bgodmother.png" width="284" /></a>I firmly believe magic exists. Take for example the case of the magic wand. The wand amplifies and directs desires and intentions you focus your mind on. It is creativity manifest.<br />
<br />
Hand a plain stick with a star on it to a child or even an adult and tell them it is magic. They will take it in their hand and possibly point it at a friend (or an enemy) and wave it around a bit, fully intending on turning them in a toad, or a duck or a tree.<br />
<br />
In that instant they believe it might, just maybe, possibly… actually happen. Most people will agree that it won’t happen…but for the briefest moment in their minds they believed. And magic lived.<br />
<br />
If you handed a billion people a wand and they also believed for only a second that their will could manifest itself into a toad (or a duck or a tree) then for a billion seconds magic would exist.<br />
<br />
One billion divided by 31,536000 = 31 years, 259 days, 1 hour, 46 minutes and 40 seconds = 31,709.79 years. And there are about 6 billion people on this planet. That’s about 193 years of magic. <br />
<br />
So I firmly believe magic exists...even if for just a moment. <br />
Kate Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09861373649696211491noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039230584496939248.post-74026845768505716822011-08-03T20:11:00.000-07:002011-08-03T20:11:01.216-07:00What I did on my summer vacation...After a summer filled with new grand baby and vacation I’m eager to start blogging again and thanks to Janet Reid, literary agent I have a great reentry in the blog-o-sphere.<br />
<br />
Janet ran a word challenge contest, she actually does this often but this time she forgot to name the winners. She does not forget often. The challenge was to write a story in 100 or fewer words. Post the story in the comments section of her blog (http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.com) and use the following words in the story: lyrical, angst, conspiracy, reluctant, swoop.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7UHnNn-h-QxzgDfvJ6fC-mvwWzXDpXMDBxv7WBcN1nxgvb6zkTUWxl65IpTZ2aqa58fdOTNUt-XUzwEzoG7M7fA6G-bTRh2-UmZYOfObqdo7LrEIztJgLTIkf5Myi94w16losrvQVZb2/s1600/oldhutch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7UHnNn-h-QxzgDfvJ6fC-mvwWzXDpXMDBxv7WBcN1nxgvb6zkTUWxl65IpTZ2aqa58fdOTNUt-XUzwEzoG7M7fA6G-bTRh2-UmZYOfObqdo7LrEIztJgLTIkf5Myi94w16losrvQVZb2/s320/oldhutch.jpg" width="248" /></a><br />
I wrote this:<i> </i><br />
<i>"The old sideboard was painted with stories. Minutely detailed life marched up drawers and across shelves. A tiny war folded around the doors, a carefully wrought conspiracy hid in the corners and a love affair gone wrong erupted over the intricately carved headpiece. Rendered mostly in browns and greens, a fragile swoop of red would brightly proclaim a birth…or a death.<br />
<br />
This furniture was too precious to sell, too detailed to interpret, too disturbing to keep as is. I dipped my brush in generic beige and reluctantly began to extinguish 87 years of lyrical angst.</i>"<br />
<br />
I checked her blog today (I had promised myself no internet while on vacation) and I won her latest word contest posted on Sunday, July 31. What a surprise to come home after 12 days in the mountains of Idaho to find my name after the word “winner”!<br />
<br />
Winning is a great motivator to keep writing…humm…let’s see…I have this idea….Kate Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09861373649696211491noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039230584496939248.post-51848173131320767142011-05-10T21:31:00.000-07:002011-05-10T21:31:07.189-07:00I've been kind of busy...... interviewing my new model for future illustrations. Introducing my first grandchild; Elynn (E-lynn), 9lbs 5ozs. My daughter is tired but happy and doing fine.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHo-3_qtqo2vNhxqYanYiHEFBCkea3gV6OYLV1zKwGjQgVhyphenhyphenDPEIur-ZAZ-jR45D4ASKx0Sx6k3Mp4ppC3CWA99XCt39WdYfNSqxbyYcmJ80KPVgTsUOvEwBQICnH-VTmiSifItRrNx9_4/s1600/Elynn1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHo-3_qtqo2vNhxqYanYiHEFBCkea3gV6OYLV1zKwGjQgVhyphenhyphenDPEIur-ZAZ-jR45D4ASKx0Sx6k3Mp4ppC3CWA99XCt39WdYfNSqxbyYcmJ80KPVgTsUOvEwBQICnH-VTmiSifItRrNx9_4/s320/Elynn1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I am already teaching Elynn to stick out her tongue and she actually does it. Brilliant and talented child...just like her grandma!<br />
It's amazing what someone who has only been breathing air for a few days can do.<br />
I'll be back to blogging soon as I put her down...oh, what's that mommy?...you want her back? <br />
Being Nana Kate is going to be great!Kate Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09861373649696211491noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039230584496939248.post-48806883173648786362011-04-20T06:20:00.000-07:002011-04-20T06:20:27.000-07:00SCBWI-WWA: I want to do it again!The 2011 SCBWI-WWA was held this last weekend in Redmond (near Seattle). Two exhausting days that went by too fast. Too many things to learn but I tried. Too many new ideas generated in my little brain. <br />
<br />
And too many notes to transcribe before I forget what I wrote. My fast-mode long hand is a bit scribbly but I wanted every writing/illustrated gem of wisdom down on paper. Can anyone tell me what a word that looks like ‘<i>rebraration</i>’ means…or maybe that was ‘<i>nedarfacted</i>’? Thankfully there were many live blogs and synopses of almost ever breakout session so I can get a good brain jolt from them and relive those wonderful sessions. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWUDrZd84uRYxA4soxcN5DqsVt5Cx0oZFEJekmfMFAw6PnInx6oAosSEN_wLINabIO7jxlwRAQj1QZs0dlk_S6ILuFW9dWFb74qdedpv0WkJkFE-nteimqB282pLzs0lcAtT8q1CCE06F/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWUDrZd84uRYxA4soxcN5DqsVt5Cx0oZFEJekmfMFAw6PnInx6oAosSEN_wLINabIO7jxlwRAQj1QZs0dlk_S6ILuFW9dWFb74qdedpv0WkJkFE-nteimqB282pLzs0lcAtT8q1CCE06F/s320/image.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
One of the creators of the original Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Lin Oliver, called it the ‘Mercedes’ of local SCBWI conferences. In the end we wanted to be called the ‘DeLorean’ of conferences because it was fun, fast and not like at all like your mother’s ride. And sometimes it even comes with a Flux Capacitor!<br />
<br />
Now back to the future to revise my stories and refine my illustrations…Kate Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09861373649696211491noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039230584496939248.post-68912026583532419512011-04-09T06:32:00.000-07:002011-04-09T06:32:35.187-07:00What’s in an SCBWI Author/Illustrator’s portfolio?Sorry I haven't blogged for a month but as they say <i>"Life gets in the way when you are making other plans"</i>.<br />
<br />
I've been busy getting my portfolio ready for the portfolio showcase at the 2011 SCBWI-WWA (Western Washington) Spring Conference in Seattle next week.<br />
<br />
However author/illustrators are a strange creature consisting of a talented (hopefully) mix of words and pictures. What do they put in their portfolios? Pictures or words? Or both?<br />
<br />
<i>Good</i> author/illustrator are highly sought after because it means the agent, editor or publishing house only have to work with one person, one ego and one royalty. Finding advice and mentorship for an author/illustrator is hard work but after searching and researching I came up with a plan for my author/Illustrators portfolio.<br />
<br />
This is my author/illustrator portfolio plan:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiadohcTIQnO5s8KKaH3Q4kgQnpQkmYKMfhoHTfUsVmlMO6gh668YVElaFkSGJy4hFrPySbg7R7MF1ZEtHG44P25pY2RJ3-IFWWT6c65bHwyObJKCDyb2m3y50MwkNGlotfwmcd2mRwM8cc/s1600/portfolioexampleMary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiadohcTIQnO5s8KKaH3Q4kgQnpQkmYKMfhoHTfUsVmlMO6gh668YVElaFkSGJy4hFrPySbg7R7MF1ZEtHG44P25pY2RJ3-IFWWT6c65bHwyObJKCDyb2m3y50MwkNGlotfwmcd2mRwM8cc/s320/portfolioexampleMary.jpg" width="255" /></a></div><ol><li>My portfolio pages will have a text from one of my own stories and the illustration that goes with it, hopefully highlighting my aptitude for both. I will use only those illustrations that show character, diversity and a unique interpretation of my words.</li>
<li>I will divide the portfolio into two parts: black and white and color. Divide the color and black & white sections into picture book and chapter book illustrations. </li>
<li>Aim for 10 to fifteen pages with content only on the right hand page. The left hand page will be left black. </li>
<li>Choose the illustrations and words the propel the reader to turn the page or wonder what will happen next.</li>
<li>I will use only two or possibly three of styles of illustration. Style is equivalent to the illustrative ‘voice’ agents and editors are looking for.</li>
<li>Composition, emotion and lighting will be as important in my illustrations as spelling, voice and continuity are in my writing. </li>
<li> I’ll show off my skill depicting people, especially children and my skill with portraying common animals like bunnies and aardvarks. </li>
<li>I will include a couple of completed spreads from my own dummy books complete with illustrations and text to show layout and use space. </li>
<li>I will then lay all my choices out on the floor and put them in order from best to worst. I will ruthlessly toss out the worst regardless of how much I personally love them. Only my best will do even it’s only 8 or 10 pieces.</li>
<li>I’ll print out my final portfolio cover and composed pages (including my name and contact info on each page) and have it all bound at a local print shop. I will make it look as professional as possible.</li>
<li>I will also print out post cards for the interested agents and editors to take with them so they won’t forget me or my talent. </li>
</ol>And I will update my website and my blog frequently!Kate Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09861373649696211491noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039230584496939248.post-64792270178777448462011-03-10T17:45:00.000-08:002011-03-10T17:45:53.515-08:00Right Side of the Brain Exercise #12...OK, back to creativity, nonsense and purple lemons…<br />
<br />
I used to teach creative problem solving to grade school kids, prisoners, continuing education paralegals, moms, family and some private gathering. I did it through drawing and imagery and challenging what is real, normal or the correct, conventional way of seeing, doing and thinking. It never failed to get some interesting results. I think I learned more than they did! So I thought I’d share:<br />
<br />
Creativity exercise # 12:<br />
<br />
Have you seen a purple lemon? A lemon can be purple if you use your imagination you can see a purple lemon. Now imagine biting into a purple lemon, what do you taste? Now grab a #2 pencil and a piece of paper and draw a purple lemon.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Nzvb2cPKjNU/TXl9-vdGmAI/AAAAAAAAAVs/BqJlRMfGg5k/s1600/purpleLemon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Nzvb2cPKjNU/TXl9-vdGmAI/AAAAAAAAAVs/BqJlRMfGg5k/s200/purpleLemon.jpg" width="149" /></a></div><br />
What’s that you say? You can’t draw a purple lemon with a black pencil? You can’t??? Why not? There are a number of ways to draw a purple lemon. Here are two:<br />
Draw on purple paper (note I didn't say the paper was white did I?). Or draw with your eyes closed in a very dark room so you can’t see the color. No one else can see it either so it can be purple if you say it is. You can also paint a lemon purple and just draw what you see.<br />
<br />
Which brings us to Kate’s Creative Rule #1:<br />
“Just because it hasn’t happened doesn’t mean it’s not going to.”<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i> <span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it's a way of looking at life through the wrong <br />
end of a telescope. Which is what I do, and that enables you <br />
to laugh at life's realities.</span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> ~Theodore Geisel</span></div>Kate Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09861373649696211491noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039230584496939248.post-28064943437189862022011-02-28T15:29:00.000-08:002011-02-28T15:29:05.310-08:00Picture Book Marathon 2011 complete...Now to revise and revise:<br />
Picture Book # 27: “Bird Fish, Fish Bird” If a bird was a fish and a fish was a bird.<br />
<br />
Picture Book # 28: “Pasgetti; Once upon a thyme” A budding chef creates a her version of spaghetti sauce with interesting results.<br />
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Picture Book # 29: “Squirrel Co-op” A child’s speculation on how squirrels really get at the bird seed when no one is looking.<br />
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Picture Book # 30: “Whose Shoes” A toddlers view of the world of grown-ups.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpdBYhzDcsnneSBkFBb9O_ZSVtF0L-gBiYw4hpN1ZIhOY3hEUJ0g9EbX-OIzi30q81xxLsSzh4LrEUmgA1n0EDnNPWUMYSwfYgGoAjefkpGkKVHnPuvOjLnxbO2uoWW-CziFcFWGv5P1f/s1600/squirrel+water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpdBYhzDcsnneSBkFBb9O_ZSVtF0L-gBiYw4hpN1ZIhOY3hEUJ0g9EbX-OIzi30q81xxLsSzh4LrEUmgA1n0EDnNPWUMYSwfYgGoAjefkpGkKVHnPuvOjLnxbO2uoWW-CziFcFWGv5P1f/s320/squirrel+water.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Well, I may not have done an illustration for all of them but I got a rough draft for each. So these plus my middle-grade WIP should keep me busy for the next year.<br />
<br />
My personal assistant (my daughter) will nag me until I submit at least 2 stories and 10 agents and/or publishers by March 15th (2011!).<br />
I guess I just need deadlines to get anything done. My on-going excuse is; "But life gets in the way!"<br />
Alas, life will always get in the way...but only if I let it.Kate Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09861373649696211491noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039230584496939248.post-17154140395969447372011-02-23T18:21:00.000-08:002011-02-28T15:30:23.566-08:00Catching Up with Picture Books...I took my days off and caught up by dreaming my newest PBs...really:<br />
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Picture Book # 18: “One Lost Tooth, One Lost Tooth Fairy”: a little girl wakes up to find the tooth fairy sitting on her bed crying because her missing tooth list is… missing!<br />
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Picture Book # 20: “Whose Shoes” A toddler's view of the world of grown-ups.<br />
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Picture Book # 21: “Pardon Me but Your Tail's in My Way!” A peacocks attempt to view a barnyard concert.<br />
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Picture Book # 22: “Achhooooo!” Why we sneeze.<br />
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Picture Book # 23: “Storm Boat” A modern day Puget Sound Noah-esque animal rescue story.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkI8RdcDtjRyhDMV6GCFVOQyELR6G5Gycyl8BXLNOy2aIAqQoGsbbjRi_yOohF71gnHXDKDNR3JBMTQKt_5FwAK9wY88ofKCGQcfoxhUcc6YUQTz62EcmEZ4EtQGp6ZMSMNcbbTgU5ReU/s1600/TheMrktPig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkI8RdcDtjRyhDMV6GCFVOQyELR6G5Gycyl8BXLNOy2aIAqQoGsbbjRi_yOohF71gnHXDKDNR3JBMTQKt_5FwAK9wY88ofKCGQcfoxhUcc6YUQTz62EcmEZ4EtQGp6ZMSMNcbbTgU5ReU/s320/TheMrktPig.jpg" width="307" /></a>Picture Book # 24: “Pigs go to Market” A shopping trip to the Pike Place Market by Rachel the Pig.<br />
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Picture Book # 25: “Old is New” Eight children recycle reuse and make do with their old toys.<br />
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Picture Book # 26: “Nanny Cat” A first grader and her cat take care of each other.<br />
<br />
Whew!Kate Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09861373649696211491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039230584496939248.post-18408424192091516872011-02-15T21:31:00.000-08:002011-02-15T21:31:12.166-08:00Picture book Marathon PB# 14, 15 and 16...I kind of got on a roll today. The weather blew in with a nasty La Nina storm from the ocean so I came up with these stories for the latest picture books waiting for the power to go out. Keeping up with the illustrations is harder. I will need to focus more to get anything done, I keep getting sidetracked with life!<br />
<br />
14) Night Bugs: Introductions to those bugs that inhabit the night.<br />
15) Babies Smell Funny: Two pet cats opinion of the new baby.<br />
16) I Will Dress Myself!: A little girls idea of what is <i>haute couture</i>.Kate Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09861373649696211491noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039230584496939248.post-68339690352317685482011-02-13T13:52:00.000-08:002011-02-13T13:52:42.559-08:00Picture book Marathon PB# 10, 11, 12 and 13...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGVbsfFiHfEN5WGm7solpIK5-OpAuUgNIOhlD3IJRGdlRBRBapPi0kZ7tnr4axTOPj84FqgT567RKMZdp2zKmzIR_k628HY4b9GWx3t4HPuR_t4ORXfV-TY45Ck2LD79WI6_sS_3kqcuhd/s1600/Fry+gull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGVbsfFiHfEN5WGm7solpIK5-OpAuUgNIOhlD3IJRGdlRBRBapPi0kZ7tnr4axTOPj84FqgT567RKMZdp2zKmzIR_k628HY4b9GWx3t4HPuR_t4ORXfV-TY45Ck2LD79WI6_sS_3kqcuhd/s320/Fry+gull.jpg" width="240" /></a> PBM week 2 round-up:<br />
<br />
10) ‘Quigley and Goldie’: best friends however one is a fish and the other a cat…where will they play?<br />
<br />
11) ‘Catch a Star & Keep It as a Pet’: Need I say more?<br />
<br />
12)‘Under My Blanket’: A four year old escapes the world of grown-ups.<br />
<br />
13) 'Captain Caboodle': a seagull that takes the Washington State ferry as a daily commute to his ‘job’ at Ivar’s fish house…eating tossed French Fries.Kate Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09861373649696211491noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039230584496939248.post-54619387176701411662011-02-09T17:51:00.000-08:002011-02-09T17:51:02.882-08:00Picture Books # 6,7,8 and 9I didn't have much time this week for illustrations so I wrote before I went to bed instead. The stories definitely gave me some interesting dreams!<br />
My PB books are:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUYnhVV6sH4g1-s6Pd-67V9QDKCd7dKwfs94G6l3lBUuqeq0z6b5b55CCVoL0MWcC7iLFQOL-FIG9jsHoZeDiLpRCeLefmGFlJyCppYnEfoohHsf_RhTKKzSfRBhwsAOGRNVJY-lAcJzD/s1600/FairyGodmothersdirections.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUYnhVV6sH4g1-s6Pd-67V9QDKCd7dKwfs94G6l3lBUuqeq0z6b5b55CCVoL0MWcC7iLFQOL-FIG9jsHoZeDiLpRCeLefmGFlJyCppYnEfoohHsf_RhTKKzSfRBhwsAOGRNVJY-lAcJzD/s320/FairyGodmothersdirections.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>"Spilt Milk" about a boy's creative way to clean up spilt milk.<br />
"Asking Directions" about two Fairy Godsisters getting lost.<br />
"Mole-hill Mountain" about a colony of moles who have a mountain building contest.<br />
"Dunderbeck, I Told You, You’d be Sorry" illustrations to an old song great-grandpa taught us.<br />
In progress: "Giggle first, Laugh Last" about funny words.<br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Please respect my copyright ©KAH2011</span></i>Kate Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09861373649696211491noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039230584496939248.post-14377823333036748632011-02-08T19:22:00.000-08:002011-02-08T19:22:01.818-08:00It Was a Dark & Stormy Night Entry...<o:p>My </o:p>Blogfest entry to <o:p><a href="http://www.brenleedrake.blogspot.com/">Brenda Drake Blogfest</a>:</o:p><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGMKMNxWEQBvdoNmAx6MoQVIcH2JcW9AJUf_MvhpVGIsuKXSAd_Tc4UPaScFjhp-EhWXyeUpMdo77pVrlJpn7EB8Ox-3tEn9fsf9EZrLroK6L2JhEcp8pVKIRjwRbaviu6dr3f4FwKz8d/s1600/greeboots1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGMKMNxWEQBvdoNmAx6MoQVIcH2JcW9AJUf_MvhpVGIsuKXSAd_Tc4UPaScFjhp-EhWXyeUpMdo77pVrlJpn7EB8Ox-3tEn9fsf9EZrLroK6L2JhEcp8pVKIRjwRbaviu6dr3f4FwKz8d/s200/greeboots1.png" width="200" /></a><o:p> </o:p><br />
<o:p>Title: <i><b>Emerald Boots</b></i><br />
Genre: MG fantasy<br />
<br />
"Jade felt the balloon basket swing violently and scrunched far back into the dark corner hoping desperately to become invisible – stowing away on The Great OZ’s balloon really wasn’t one of her best ideas."</o:p>Kate Higginshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09861373649696211491noreply@blogger.com2