New website on the way!

If you're looking for my website, you've probably discovered that it disappeared. Sorry about that!
It was hopelessly out of date, and in need of a make-over. Unfortunately, there has been a bit of a delay in getting a spiffy new one up and running. So.... in the meantime, you can get the basic information here:

Cathryn Falwell's temporary website

You can also contact me here:   frogsongstudio@yahoo.com

Many thanks!

Nature Nests

In The Nesting Quilt, Maya watches as a little finch snaps up a tiny scrap of Nana's blue cloth to use in her nest. Later she sees the blue strip woven into the nest, which is now filled with tiny birds.

Last Spring I filled an old suet feeder with scraps of cloth, yarn and ribbon--hoping to temp nest-builders with colorful adornments.

Then,while cleaning out the garden earlier this spring, I discovered a small nest from last summer which had amazingly survived a wild winter and four feet of snow. Woven around the nest was a blue ribbon.

The nest few weeks brought several gusty winds, and eventually the ribbon disappeared.
Then last week, I noticed another nest. A nervous catbird flew back and forth. It's hard to see it in this photo, but festooned just below the nest is a faded blue ribbon. You can see the bird's face peaking out of the nest.

Nesting Quilt crafts to make

I've been getting ready for upcoming library programs at Portland Public Library, Baxter Memorial Library in Gorham, Maine, and others events. Here are some of the fun crafts we'll be making! They are all based on The Nesting Quilt.

I sewed squares of cotton print fabric (thank you, Grace!) to felt squares.
Kids can "stick" them onto a felt-covered board.

Precut 3" squares of paper in pretty prints can be glued onto a 9x9" square of construction paper to make a paper quilt.

Remember sewing cards? Kids can draw, and then "sew" a border with yarn.
Cardstock weight paper, pre-punched.

Dried pine needles make lovely nests. Glue into a cupcake paper, which is
glued onto a small paper plate. I found those cute wooden eggs here.

Two paper birds. One is a cut, fold and glue  together. The other is
easier for small hands. I precut the bird and wing shapes. Kids
can glue on the wings and the little feather.

Nesting Quilt at Portland Public Library

The Portland Public Library is exhibiting the illustrations from The Nesting Quilt in the children's area now through June 28th. I've included some related items as well.

There are instructions for making this little quilt
in the back of the book.

There will be a children's program on Saturday, May 30th, at 10:30am.
Story time, fun crafts to make, and a book signing. On First Friday, June 5th, there's a reception for the show.

This is kid-size nest! Children who come for the Saturday
program will be able to try it out!

This is the quilt that Maya and her Nana make for the new baby.

Nesting!

The Nesting Quilt is finally out! I have several events coming up in conjunction with the book's release, so I've been getting ready. Yesterday I tried being a bird....

by making a nest out of bittersweet vines and dried grasses. Two smooth stones made perfect eggs.

The first event is Sunday, May 10th--Mother's Day--at Letterpress Books in Portland.

We'll be making Mother's Day cards and paper birds.

Nesting Quilt first copy arrived!

Very excited to finally hold a bound copy in my hands. Nesting Quilt won't launch into the world for another month or so (end of April or early May) so this is my "preview" copy.  Tilbury House folks, you pulled it off! Many thanks!

I'm also thrilled (soundtrack: Tooting My Own Horn ) with this lovely review from  Kirkus Review.

The Nesting Quilt, update!

Well....progress! Yesterday I checked the color proofs with my editor from Tilbury House, Audrey Maynard. The Nesting Quilt will be released in May. Yay!
Here's the cover:

The Nesting Quilt

The new book is evolving....changes include a new title: The Nesting Quilt. Here's another page from the book:

And here's the finished quilt. As you can see, it has changed a bit since Suzie rearranged the pieces! Along the way, I learned a few things about the fun of sewing triangles. Ack!!

The plan is to put the pattern and directions for making this as a free PDF on a site. The book will be out in the spring from Tilbury House. 

"Nesting" in the works

This summer has been a lovely balance of welcoming friends and family visiting us in Maine, and working in my studio on Nesting. Here's a page with Maya cutting up her old pjs to use in a "nest" quilt that she's making with her Nana for the new baby.

Little Helper

I'm working on a new book called Nesting that will be published by Tilbury House in the Spring. In the story, a child and her grandmother make a quilt. So....I'm making the quilt. Apparently, Suzie has decided I need her input. Here's the before and after of the design:

Housekeeping

I am not a techy. So for the past two years plus, my website has been woefully outdated. My old pal, David, a marvelous website designer and Renaissance man, came to visit us this weekend. He graciously dusted off my site and set up an easy and nearly fool-proof (even for me!) way for me to update it. So please take a look around and let me know your thoughts.

www.CathrynFalwell.com

Winter is here!

Time for getting cozy with a favorite child and a favorite book! My dear friend Carol insists that Rainbow Stew is her adorable one-year-old grandson's favorite book, and I'm thrilled, of course. Here is Tobin with his Opa Carol. He certainly looks like he's focused on the story!

Tell Me A Story About Maine

I'm delighted to be a part of this show: Tell Me A Story: About Maine - Children's Book Illustrations by Maine Artists.
July 26th - Nov. 23rd at the Atrium Art Gallery, USM Lewiston-Auburn College. Opening reception is July 26th from 5-7. Work by 15 artists, including Dahlov Ipcar, Charlotte Agell, Jeannie Brett, Jamie Hogan, Laura Rankin and Chris Van Dusen.

The gorgeous image above is by Maine's Treasure, Dahlov Ipcar.

Here's one of mine that will be in the show. It's from Pond Babies.

Rainbow Stew meets Alphabet Soup!

Very pleased to toot my horn about Jama Rattigan's post about my new book, Rainbow Stew, on her blog, Jama's Alphabet Soup. She sent me a lot of interesting questions and a list of photo requests, and then she put it all together for a very nice piece. Even my Dad liked it! Here are a couple of the photos from the post. Read the rest on her blog.
Jama is also an author of children's books. You can check out her official website here.

My kids in the garden, many years ago

My Dad with the three of us, many MANY years ago!

Rainbow Stew!

Rainbow Stew is here! My copies arrived today, and more are on their way to bookstores.

The book also has a website of its very own: http://www.RainbowStewBook.com/

Please check it out as it develops for recipes, craft ideas, gardening projects and more.

Clean-out-the-studio art sale

I finally uploaded a bunch of stuff (about 60 pieces) that will be in the sale onto a Flickr site if anyone would like to see them. I hope to add more today. Here's the basic information, or scroll down a bit to see the poster.

AN ARTFUL AGGLOMERATION OF PICTURE BOOK ILLUSTRATION

by CATHRYN FALWELL

A Clean-Out-the-Studio SALE of Prints, Drawings,

and Original Illustrations from more than 20 picture books!

Friday, April 12, 6-8 PM

Art and Book Sale and Reception

Saturday, April 13, 11 AM -4 PM

Art and Book Sale 

Zero Station

222 Anderson Street

Portland, Maine

For directions:  ZERO

-Reasonably priced, starting at $20.

-Credit Cards accepted.

-Librarians and Educators get a 15% discount if they are buying pieces for public display for children.

-A portion of sales will go to buy art supplies for an area childcare center.

 http://www.zerostation.com/directions.html

Love and Equality

My cousin Susan made this image, and I really like it. It embraces the symbols of love and equality so simply and beautifully. But until the Supreme Court hopefully makes the right decisions to make sure ALL people have the rights defined in our Constitution, this symbol can only exist in the sand. I'm holding out for hope. 

Pre-Spring Sale!

To see the artwork, see this FLICKR site.

Well, it's time to cut down the amount of mouse food in my studio. (They LOVE paper!) I'm having a clean-out sale at at a Portland (Maine) gallery, Zero Station, in April. There will be an assortment of stuff: sketches, drawings, sample pieces, giclee prints, and original illustrations from most of my twenty-something picture books. I will also have books for sale.
  Kirsten Cappy at Curious City suggested I offer a discount to teachers and librarians, which I think is a fine idea. And Anna Boll, who has launched a great site called Author & Illustrator Visits, said I should ask everyone to share the news!
Hope to see you there. Let me know if you have any questions!
UPDATE:  In celebration of their 25th anniversary, I will be donating a portion of the proceeds to purchase art supplies and books for Youth & Family Outreach---a fabulous early childhood center in Portland, Maine. 

Nature Lovers...

Happy Valentine's Day from Maine!