Children's Book Conference

 This past year I worked really hard to have a solid portfolio so I can start looking for an agent and start working in the publishing world as my kids get more independent. One of the best ways to break into the industry and meet people is to go to SCWBI conferences. I went to one four years ago and I got a lot of feed back, took all the advice, took some more art classes, said no to most of my social life and worked between motherhood this past year, that when I won best portfolio at the conference it was so rewarding, to feel appreciated and to be recognized for my hard work. This time my feedback was that I was totally ready to be in the publishing world and I will have no problem to find an agent (I just need to knock on their doors) and now that I know all the art rules so well, now I should try to break them and just play and she what I can create.

Anyway it was so good and I'm ready to take on the art world! Next year my plan is to look really hard fro an agent and hopefully get an agent and start working full time as an illustrator. Wish me luck!

Summer Time Part 2

 The beginning of the summer my camera broke! I was so sad and sick to my stomach since I loved that thing. I've told myself my next camera I was going to upgrade to a professional one but we didn't have the funds for that. Well to make a long story short and me going back and forth, I waited two months till we had the funds and I purchased a REALLY nice camera, it's so nice I'm still learning how to use it, and the camera is so good it shows imperfection even more-- and I need to get better, so I'm excited to keep learning and growing in photography. These three pictures were the first few pictures I took trying to figure it out. It was so nice to have a camera after two months of not having one.

End of July Dustin and I went to South Dakota to study art under Thomas Fluharty for a week. It was awesome! First thing, South Dakota is gorgeous and I had no idea!

It was also great to just spend time plein air painting and just drawing all day. We would work on stuff then Tom would give us feedback and he had so much knowledge and he gave me many good pointers to help move me up to the next level in art. We also got to spend time with his wife, Kristi, she was amazing. It was such a great week, they became instant family. We had a lot of good discussions of art and deep discussions about God and our Savior, it was just "stinkin' cool" as Thomas Fluharty would say.

Art Museum

Brandy Wine Museum

Falling a little behind on this blog....
Anyway, During our trip to the East Coast we met up with one of our online art teachers at the Brandy Wine Museum to check out some NC Wyeth paintings.
It was fun to finally meet Jonathan Hardesty and to see those amazing paintings.  It was so inspiring and humbling experience.  And the museum itself is very beautiful.

Snap Shots

The first year babies change so much I feel like I have to take many pictures to capture every moment. It's been fun to see Elizabeth's little personality come through.

Dustin took the kids to a movie the other day.

Dustin standing by his logo design.