Illustration Friday - WHISKERS

Click to enlarge

Talk about a quick sketch! They don't get much quicker than this! But, I just had to keep my streak alive! (I believe this is my 43rd straight week!) It's getting more & more difficult with the holiday season in full swing! Anyway, meet Wesley. He's a little fresh & likes to give raspberries. When I saw this week's prompt was 'whiskers' I immediately knew what I wanted to draw. I mean, really, few animals have more prominent whiskers than a walrus! (Though I know a few people that have him beat....thankfully men; not women!) As always, I appreciate your comments & visit!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Click to enlarge

Illustration Friday - ZOOM

Click to enlarge

First of all BIG THANK YOU to all who left comments on my last post about my new book! Its an exciting time, & your well wishes really mean a lot to me!!

Now....on to this week's challenge! This one is a crazy & really old doodle that I resurrected earlier this year. When I saw the word was "zoom" it was the first thing to come to mind, & I honestly was so hung up on it, I couldn't think of anything new that would be better! And with it being a short week with the holiday and the kitchen beckoning, I didn't think I'd get a chance to convince myself to abandon this idea & work on something else that I actually liked. So..........I colored it!! Ta da! (Not REALLY cheating....only SORT OF cheating!!!)

 Speaking of the holiday....I've really got lots to be thankful for this year. It seems like everything is finally coming together!

And I'll be breaking from tradition, & instead of the usual chaos associated with spending it with my family, I'll be heading to CT with my *fabulous* new boyfriend to enjoy it with his NORMAL family! Of course, I may find out that is not really the case! But at least I know they like football as much as I do, & the Patriots are playing, so it's all good!!!!  :) Whatever it is YOU are doing, I'm wishing all of you in the U.S. a safe and happy Thanksgiving!! And to everyone else, have a wonderful week!!

Finally.....a BOOK!!!!!

(Click to enlarge)

                      I'm am pleased to announce the book I illustrated is *finally* available to order!

This has been a LONG time coming, & has been a project filled with excitement, hard work, frustration, disappointment, (I'd even go so far as heartbreak!!) and now, finally, pride! The original contract was signed way back in 1996, and subsequently broken in 1997 by the publisher after the art was completed and delivered. Without a doubt, one of the biggest disappointments in my life. So imagine my surprise when the author contacted me 15 years later & said she'd found another publisher interested in our book! Of course, nothing can be easy, and lots of changes were requested, resulting in lots more work, but finally, it is DONE!!!

I invite you to please check it out at:
http://www.frecklebox.com/the-quilt-personalized-book-1902p.aspx
You can flip through the entire book. It is personalized, and available in either a boy or girl version.

  Honestly, as much as I'd love this book to be a big seller, this is not about sales for me. This is about achieving a life-long goal that I set for myself as a little kid! I'm told the book has gotten a lot of interest, and I noticed it has the most Facebook "likes" of all the books on the site! (Yup, I admit, I checked!) Hey, that's got to count for something, right?! ;)

Illustration Friday - TREE

Click to enlarge

So here's a first -  I'm posting a black & white line drawing. I really liked my idea this week, but just didn't have the time to finish it. Still pretty cool, though.... Maybe I'll get it done for next week.....

Also, was planning on having this week's post cover TWO topics, but am just too tired for any big announcements now, so this one will be dedicated to Ill Friday, & stay tuned for my next post..............

Illustration Friday - SHY

Click to enlarge

 Percy was always a bit shy around strangers.....

Percy the pony is the result of a doodle during another less than stimulating meeting at work. I think he looks rather shy.....or maybe that's actually contrition.....

Click to enlarge

Jerry found under the bed to be the safest place in his new home for the first day or so....

Jerry (aka Jer-Bear) was inspired by my friend Jen's new adoptee. Used to being one of 8 or so cats in his foster home, he didn't quite know what to make of Jen & her husband, or the fact that he was flying solo, so under the bed seemed like a good idea. But fortunately for everybody, he got over his shyness after a day or 2. Jen might actually regret that if he decides he likes sleeping in her bed....

Not quite sure if I got his markings totally right, but I think she'll recognize him!

Am a little later than I'd like this week - Thursday nights aren't a good time to get feedback! But I kept the streak alive! As always, I appreciate your visit!!!

Illustration Friday - HAUNT

Click to enlarge

 This is a monster; not a ghost, but I'm pretty sure this guy could haunt somebody's dreams if he tried! The fear of growing a rear view like that will certainly haunt mine!!!  I was asked at the last minute to draw him for a Halloween party my company held today for the employees' children, so he was cranked out in less than 10 minutes.

 But the kids didn't seem to notice. Pin the tail on the monster turned out to be a big hit! (Well, AFTER the candy collecting, that is!!)

And if HE didn't scare you, I can guarantee this photo of me WILL!!!  As always, I appreciate you stopping by!!! Happy Halloween, everyone!

Illustration Friday - SKY

Click to enlarge

Hmmmm....I don't have a caption for this one! I think kind of just taking it in, just like the couple down front is enough.............jeez! I think I'm getting a bit sentimental!! Not sure what's come over me!! :)

I actually had 2 for this week. I inked & scanned them both, but I liked this one so much, I figured I'd quit while I was ahead. Plus, I'm coming down with a vicious cold, & I suspect my Aleve Cold & Sinus will wear off soon, leaving me as a sloshing bucket of fluids long before I finished the 2nd one!!!

Anyway, that's all I've got for now! Enjoy your week, everyone, and thanks for stopping by! I'm off to down some magic potion (aka Airborne) & head for bed with a box of Kleenex!

Illustration Friday - WATER

Click to enlarge

It was just another ordinary, lazy Sunday....until Salvatore noticed there was a stranger among them....

Well, this week's theme was so crazy-easy that I was tempted to just posted an existing piece. But then I got an idea, & just had to play around with it. I guess I subconsciously had Loch Ness monsters on the brain after seeing this cool guy my friend, Phil posted on his blog a few weeks ago: http://philrood.blogspot.com/2012/09/monster-alphabet-nessie.html  (Check out the whole series!!! Great stuff!!)

  But since I finished so early this week, I felt like I couldn't post just one, so I went into my archives, and dug up a few more....

Click to enlarge

A version of this girl & her friends is currently framed & hanging in my guest bathroom. 

Yeah, I admit I  have a pretty funky bathroom....

Click to enlarge

 And you might recognize this attitudinal guy as my blogger/google avatar..... 

Click to enlarge

When Allistair, a bit of a hellraiser, took to his skis, Ferris tried to avoid getting swamped...

Allistair and Ferris starred in my Illustration Friday entry for SWAMP waaaayyyyyyy back in March. I immediately thought of Allistair's wake when I saw this week's theme was WATER....

Click to enlarge

Bathing Bertha spent her last $10 on SHADES to compliment her outfit, but if she doesn't spring for some sunscreen soon, she'll blend in with her bikini!

And then Bathing Bertha followed the week after for SHADES. My week has already been from Hell, and it's only Monday....What can I say? I wish I were floating around with her! I already have cocktails on the brain! I think I might need a few to get me through this week....

As always, I appreciate your visit and any comments you may feel compelled to leave! And if you like what you see, and haven't subscribed yet (on the right) please do! :)

Illustration Friday - MIRROR

Click to enlarge

Not a good thing when you find your own image startling.....

Whipped this out super-quick this week, so not really my best effort. I've been having less and less time for the Illustration Friday challenges over the past month, but still managed to keep my streak going! HUGE project in the works that's been taking up most of my spare time, but I see the light at the end of the tunnel & think it'll be worth the effort!! As always, I appreciate your visit!!