More New Maps

I love getting things in the mail. These arrived recently– maps for an ongoing series of books about the USA for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. More states to come!

(Hairy Little Assistant #1 likes to read.)

Night Owl

Here's the finished piece. This was the sketch. I tweaked it around a bit in order to fit my postcard design.

Good Eats in Charlotte

Here's a map for the July issue of Charlotte Magazine, for an article about restaurants on Central Avenue. (Not wise to work on this kind of map when I'm hungry.)

Charlotte, N.C. Map

Here's a map I did recently for Charlotte Magazine, for a feature story about how good and bad planning decisions have impacted the city and its future. Fitting a large amount of information that spans a wide geographic area into one spread was a challenge, but I was game for a good one. Keeps the ol' brain cells flexible.

Love It When Good Things Come in the Mail

I have a piece in the May 2010 issue of Highlights!

New Map

This is a map of the St. Regis canoe wilderness area, for an upcoming issue of Adirondack Life magazine.

Can You Say, Garden Time?

This is the finished garden map that I was (ironically) working on back in January. (With the help of my trusty assistant.)

Here we are March 18th in Connecticut, AND IT'S SUPPOSED TO HIT 70° FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS! (Sorry, I had to shout!)

Garden, here I come!

New Map! The Iditarod Trail

Here's a new piece for the November/December issue of ForbesLife Magazine.

(Sheesh, how did it get to be November already?)

New Map. Old Cat.

Here's a map I did recently for AAA Traveler magazine. It's fun to research these kids of pieces, but I have to be careful not to waste all day reading about fascinating places.

On a sad note, Athena, our ancient outdoor cat, passed away peacefully last night. We'd had her for over 21 years, since before my husband and I were married. She was a sweet old lady. She lived in our barn and spent her days catching mice and assorted other critters, though the past few years she mostly enjoyed lolling around the house on a sunny patch of ground.

I think she had some sort of an agreement with the wildlife around here, because despite the raccoons and coyotes (and speeding cars!) she never got into trouble. We fed her a few times a day, and one night, a raccoon mother and her babies scuffled outside the front door gobbling up her dinner. Athena just watched patiently from a few yards away, letting them take their fill. She knew there would be more for her.

The inside cats loved having staring contests with her through the screen.
RIP, Athena.

Monday Map: Time Out Chicago

Rain, Rain... Get Outta Here!

The forecast predicts sun for the next few days. (I almost forgot how to pronounce that word!)

Monday Map: Burgaw, North Carolina

Mmmm... a Blueberry Festival. I love blueberries.

Monday Map: A Garden. And Rain

I'm losing my memory. Have I posted this map already? If so it was long enough ago that no one will remember, I suppose.

If we don't get sun around here soon my entire garden is going to rot. Rain in the forecast for the next 10 days. *Sigh.*

Nighttime Reading

Cat & Mouse

One of my newest Black & White pieces.

Yeah, I have a thing for cats and hats going on right now...

Black & White Art

I've updated my website with a new page of Black & White work, if you'd like to take a peek!

Monday Map: Murfreesboro

Happy June 1, everyone! It was 38 degrees outside this morning, but the sun is shining, and I'm sure it's got to warm up. (We did have a beautiful weekend.) On to a busy week around here...

Monday Map: Read Along the Hudson

Here's a map I did recently for the Westchester Library System's summer reading program. The theme this year is 2009's Hudson River Quadricentennial celebration. (See the sketch below.)

This was a particularly fun project to work on, since I'm not only a huge fan of libraries, but also because I was reading World's End by T.C. Boyle at the same time. The libraries are going to be using this book in the summer for their community-wide read, since it takes place around the Hudson River Valley area. I highly recommend it-- Boyle has a rich and full and bizarrely fascinating way with words, and the book is full of quirky characters and history. Even though it's a fictional story, it grounded a sense of place in my head while I worked, if that makes sense!

Dresses & Flowers & Honeymoons, Oh My!

This is a small piece I did recently for The Connecticut Bride, for a story about the using the internet to make wedding plans.

I had drawn the bride all frantic looking in an early sketch, but the client preferred her calm and composed. My frantic one was possibly more realistic, haha!

Monday Map: Cordova, Alaska

This was a small companion map to the bigger Copper River Delta map I did for Alaska Magazine. Beautiful nature up there!