This is a picture of the basket that I am making in Indian Ed class at the elementary. We had about ten students working on this project yesterday with three adults. Today several of the students brought their baskets to show me. They are all further along, but I was helping untangle yarn and getting several of them over areas where they were stuck. (The materials for this project were also part of the Lowe's Grant that we received.) More students will be doing this project, we just introduced it to the older students who will then help us to teach the younger grades. Over a hundred students will learn this craft before we are done.

Just as a side note our Elementary school also received money specifically for writing and illustrating from Target. We had money for books on writing and children's books,  materials, and money towards publishing the children's books. There are resources out there and it is going to be really fun to see what the students are doing with them. The first batch of books will be available at the Florence Folk Festival in January. They are beautiful. Come meet the authors and get your signed copy. The students are really thrilled.

This is a picture of my daughter, Jessy, helping to cut the 100 loom kits we are putting together for the Elementary School. Thanks to a Lowe's Tool Box For Learning grant. We are almost a fourth of the way done getting them ready. The goal is to have 60 of them in students hands before the winter break and then the rest will be available for students to check out. I can't wait to see what is created.

P.S. This is not the only project the grant is paying for. Students are doing: carving, pottery, printmaking,silk screening, basket weaving, loom weaving, and several other really neat activities.

I got to paint a cast a few weeks ago. Can you see the coi fish and flowers? I love to draw henna designs on lots of strange things. During the week of Halloween I was using it on pumpkins. I think one of the best art classes I ever took, the one that influenced my illustrating the most, was the henna paining class I took in Portland with Karylynn about ...five years ago. We took it at a place called Silk & Stone. http://silknstone.com .  I have always loved working with patterns, and now I am much more aware of them. If you want to take a fun class I highly recommend theirs. Tell them I said hi!-Kassy

I am really tying to use the technology we have to advertise products and art that I do. While I am still working on the new magazine project I have also been updating my blog, helping my husband to create the Web page he is building, and working on facebook and etsy accounts that have been neglected. I even talked to my sister about hiring, or trading with, her to help with some of the tech stuff. I would rather spend the time being creative instead of on the computer, but the business side of things is important too. It is hard to know how to juggle it all. I do think people are more aware of projects when I post daily. I also think talking about what I am doing gets people interested. I have been keeping a list of people who want the magazine once it is out.

I am still working on my magazine today. I am trying to decide if I should release it in 2012 or wait until July so that it will have a 2013 date on it. It is a matter of getting it out before Christmas by Thanksgiving. Or holding it so it keeps it's current date longer. What do you think?

I have decided to go pink for our fairies edition. Pink is not my favorite color, but this is definitely targeting the moms who bring their girls for my fairy makeovers. Fairies are a huge part of my business, so I wanted the first edition to be something I really know. In addition 90% of the little girls I see ask for pink. I am liking how it works with my cover models skin.  This sample cover is not the final product. I haven't even let my editor look at it yet.

So yesterday was the first day back to working on my projects since I shattered my ankle. I drew the layouts for the new website for my husband. I am really excited to finally get that project going. I also laid out the cover for the new magazine and planned the layout for the inside. Basically story boarded what would be on each page. I had this basically laid out, before the accident, in my head with all the pictures taken and video recorded. Now I am laying out what goes where. Video? Yes, each project in the magazine also has a online video connection, so readers can watch the artisans at work.  The magazine is a really fun project for me. It is going to span all my favorite subjects: teaching, writing, illustrating,crafting, face/body painting, and street vending. Did you know that all those things go together? They do when you call the magazine 'Vending Magazine". It is basically a craft magazine where I get to feature different vendors and artisans who are selling their wares in all kinds of venues.  We show readers how we make it, create it, or publish it. It is also the only magazine in the U.S. that will have face painting and body painting instructions.(at least that I have found) I am constantly asked questions about how I do that. I'm going to show people how. The first edition revolves around Florence, OR and Fairies. I will show how to make tutu's, fairy hair braids, and paint fairy faces. There is also interviews with the youngest vendor and an article on a group of College students who have created a company to help pay for college expenses, by painting drum sticks. You will be really impressed with the job, "Voodoo Stx" is doing. The hardest part for me is finishing what I begin, so I'd better get back to work.

Side note-remember that it is National Novel Writing Month! I would recommend going to www.nanowrimo.org and signing up to track your writing. I have over 50 students taking the challenge to write this month. Join us!

Wow! It has been over a year since my last post.( I feel like this is confession, from movies I have seen. ) I have had a very busy year and I am terrible with keeping up on technology. I need to get better. I attended the SCBWI, conference in Portland recently and I have to say almost every speaker discussed how keeping up with technology has helped them with book sales and promotion.

 I have not published anything of my own in the last year. I have been working with children and have helped several children publish books. They will be at the Florence Folk Festival in January signing books. If you are in Florence, OR come see what the students have done. As a teacher I love seeing their excitement when they finish a project.

I have been doing a lot of illustrating on crafts and have started several writing projects. One project that I am really excited about is a new Vending Magazine. I had hoped to have volume one out already, but an accident has delayed its publication. Apparently I don't know how to walk and I shattered my ankle in September. I broke it in three places. It will now set of alarms where ever I go. I am recovering well but today is the first day back to being creative, or getting on my computer at home. Wish me luck! I have tons of catching up to do.