Rozzie Land

Illustration Friday~ tea

I love tea, hot and cold! Here is an illustration I did for "Hopscotch Magazine". It accompanied a poem called, "The Picky Eater" about a kangaroo who invites his friend over for tea. Unfortunately the koala would have preferred a bit of eucalyptus instead.

I've been thinking about redoing this with felt. May play with that soon.

More fun links

Can you tell I'm not very busy with illustration work ? I'm embarrassed to admit that unless I have a deadline, I find it very difficult to motivate myself to create.

So here are a couple of links I'm enjoying and thought you might as well. My apologies, I can't remember where I originally found these.

Here's  a librarian in New York, lot's of fun tidbits ... http://fusenumber8.blogspot.com/

And here's a link to a literary agent. Although this isn't an agent for the kids market , it's still an interesting read. When oh when is a children's lit/art agent going to start a blog? Soon I hope. http://pubrants.blogspot.com/

B&N Trip

Took a trip to the book store yesterday and I always get the same feeling when I walk in the children's section. First ,I dream that I will one day see a book I've illustrated displayed on the main wall - you know the one I mean. Second, how in the world am I ever going to manage that, look at all this talent!

Here were some fun discoveries...

Janee's adorable Valentine book is still on display. I would have taken a photo ,Janee, but they had an ugly 50% sticker on all the valentine books. Congratulations to Janee, she's very busy right now with a lot of fun projects. Your hard work is paying off in a big way!

Here is the second in a series of books by Lisa Kopelke about a toad learning his manners.They are a hoot! Lisa lives here in Vegas too.

I only recently discovered Lisa Schroeder's blog and it was such fun to see her book on display. (on the wall of fame I was just writing about!) Very cute book appropriate for a bedtime snuggle with your kiddos. Love the artwork with an eye catching cover don't you think?
(illustrator- Viviana Garofoli)

And then I came across a couple of books that were new to me and I just fell in love with them. Do you ever visit the bookstore and jot down illustrators or authors' names and then later research everything about them that you can? Me too.

Penny Ives
I just loved the concept of this story where you are given the perfect recipe for bedtime.The illustrations are absolutely delightful. Looks like pencil and watercolor, just so sweet. Wish I could show you some of the interiors.

Carolyn Jane Church
Can't find much about her but you can find several of her books on the UK amazon rather that the US. I'm in love with how she creates her illustrations. Viewing them on line doesn't do them justice. The "dear bunny" story is a sweet love story between two shy bunnies. The illustrator incorporates such interesting papers (textured, possibly hand made) plus real pressed flowers I think! Just yummy.

I wish I could have afforded to buy all of these books but I had to temper myself!
I went on a mission to buy Kate DiCamillos new one, "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane".  Thanks to Book Moot for posting this link to Kates interview in the NY times. Oh how I love Kate DiCamillo's "voice" and can't wait to get started on this one!

New Domain name and URL

I'm still having problems with my current website and had to change web hosts, unfortunately.

My new url is http://www.rozfulcher.com

If you have my link on your website or you've bookmarked me, please change it when you have some time. Sorry for the inconvenience!

Patrice Barton

Here's another fun link for you. I'm so tickled that Patrice Barton has started a blog! Her artwork is something else...so much life in her lines!  http://pbarton.blogspot.com/ 

Ruth McNally Barshaw

Surely, you all have seen this already but I wanted to post about it as well because I am such a fan.

Check out Ruth McNally Barshaws illustrated journal account of this years SCBWI National New York conference. I just finished and it is a hoot!

I want to say a public congratulations to Ruth for selling her book idea to Bloomsbury.  She is so deserving and her enthusiasm over it is contagious! It just goes to show again that the "heart" in a persons work really shines through and will grab an editors attention. Yay Ruth!

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day! Sending you all cyber hugs, flowers and tons of Chocolate!! xoxo

Tagged! 4 things

I've been tagged by the talented Paula Becker so here goes...

Four Jobs I’ve Had:

* Cashier at a military base exchange (like a mini walmart)
* Cashier and framer at an art store (Aaron Brothers)
* Barmaid at a pub in England (lots of fun!)
* Mom (still have this job and it's the hardest one so far!)

Four Movies I Can See Over And Over:

* Cold Mountain
* Somersby
* Along Came Polly
* A Christmas Story

Four Places I’ve Lived:

* England
* Okinawa, Japan
* Germany
* Texas

Four TV Shows I Love:

* The Office (both versions)
* Creature Comforts (claymation- BBC America)
* Everybody Loves Raymond
* American Idol

Four Places I’ve Vacationed:
* Paris (whirlwind trip with my mum and grandmother-not very romantic but fun)
* Scotland (Honeymoon, does that count?)
* Amsterdam (another weekend excursion when hubby and I lived overseas and didn't have kiddies yet)
* Visiting parents in New Mexico and Mississippi (that has been the extent of vacationing for the past several years)

Four Of My Favorite Dishes: Oh this is tough, I love food PERIOD.

* Peppersteak with a spring roll and egg drop soup (take-out)
* traditional fish n' chips with real malt vinegar
* Steak and boiled shrimp with hushpuppies
* Rooty Tooty jr. from ihop!

Four Sites I Visit Almost Daily:

* Bloglines to read my ever growing list of blogs.
* Stat referrer
* Yahoo email groups
* picture book artists

Four Places I’d Rather Be Now:

* In a movie theatre with a bag of very oily popcorn
* Any bookstore with a starbucks
* Out on a lunch date with the hubbie
* In a movie theatre with even more oily popcorn

Four Bloggers I’m Tagging:

hmmm, let's see...

Humblearts
Fox In Socks
Art & Soul
Rock Paper Scissors

John Nez

Yay! Just discovered that John Nez has a blog up and running.
Check it out.

NY Conference

  Check out Dee and Courtney's blog for some wonderful tidbits from the NY SCBWI Conference. All I can say is...JEALOUS! =o)

Let me also say how gracious they are to share their special day with the blogging community. Thanks ladies!

kill fee

Well, I have experienced my first "kill fee" situation!

I have been doing some little booklets for an educational publisher and these were the sketches for the most recent one. I just got word today that they accidentally assigned the story to two illustrators. Since I was the second person assigned, they have gone with the first illustrator. You know how it goes..."last one hired, first one fired". What a bummer.

But the good news is I will receive half of what I would have been paid due to the "kill fee" clause in the contract. I like that!
I think I'm going to ink these in anyway. I need some more b&w pieces in my portfolio.