This week I was asked to create a banner for New England's SCBWI Facebook page. This was an honour and a lot of fun to do. What better than lobster and water on a day that was over 90F .. phew, Maine!

Here is the banner.

View it on Facebook at NESCBWI page

I wanted to keep it fun and lively, so it's one of my digital drawings straight into Photoshop, no sketching. It stops me overthinking and it's a style that is appealing to younger eyes. And older ones too I hope!

Right now I am packing to go to ALA (American Library Conference) in Anaheim, CA. This is my first time at a big library conference and it's exciting. I have two book signings, so if you are going, catch me at Kane Miller (with Anastasia Suen, author of 'All Star Cheerleaders') at 11am Saturday and at Charlesbridge's booth Saturday 2-3pm signing 'Hidden New Jersey'.

I am looking forward to meeting LIBRARIANS and catching up with some industry friends. So please come and say HELLO!

There will be photos ...

Right, back to packing.

Toodles
Hazel

On the bedside table:
A slew of Emily Gravett picture books
'Picture This' and 'What it is' by Lynda Barry - recommend highly.

Do you remember the old Rod Stewart song? Here's a link if you don't! Which is a segway to the fact that I have been bunking off the last two weekends and been all out at sea on the Maine Schooner Isaac H Evans. And now work is piled up, but heck, it was great to be skipping the waves of the beautiful Maine ocean, on an historic ship with a bunch of fun people and far too much sun, lobster and a few bevvies (drinks to you). I gained a very sun-burned nose, swam in the sea (just me and a hardy 8 yr old, all the rest were chicken). The wind gave us some good speed and we had a lobster bake on a deserted island beach. It doesn't get any better. Sunday night I slept on deck, under the stars, a three quarter moon dazzling, stars spinning above me as the boat gently rocked making the sky appear to move. Not much for me to complain about this week!

So here are some photos and sketches from the trip/s.

Looks like the drawing cruise I am leading on the schooner in September is filling up too! So if you want to come, nows the time to reserve that cabin.

This week I have been working on the illustrations for Little Rabbit and the Four Leaf Clover ... may have them done for the weekend ... it's a cute story.

What else? Oh yes, a fun time at Pittsfield Library giving an illustrator's talk as part of their summer programme. Lot's of fun and bright kids - always ... and gratified when a teenager came up afterwards to tell me that he nearly stayed home, but that he had a lot of fun and was glad he came along. Hurrah!

6 weeks till LA conference and still not started on the new portfolio images. ARRRGGGGHHHHH.
In laws visiting end of July ... to do list gone crazy ..... DOUBLE ARRGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
Still haven't roughed out last in the problem solving series of picture books I am working on. (SIGH.)

Well, I will be 'PLEASURE BOUND AGAIN LIZZIE' to quote Mr. Bennett, so I only have myself to blame.

English VAT going up to 20%!! YIKES. Makes me glad to be in America, much though I miss England sometimes.

TTFN till next time.

Hazel
aka The Wacky Brit.

PS ... books on the bed side table this week:

Instructions - Neil Gaiman & Charles Ness

The Sandwich Swap - Queen Rania (and Kelly DiPucchio illustrations Tricia Tusa.)

Ladybug Girl at the Beach - David Soman and Jacky Davis

Lilly's Big Day - Kevin Henkes

All images, text, photographs and ideas represented on this website are copyright of the artist Hazel Mitchell and may not be reproduced, copied or used in any way without written permission of the artist.