Hello Readers,

Happy fall. A Horse Named Sky remains on the New York Times Bestseller still. I’m extending thanks to EVERYONE who has shown their support in any way - THANK-YOU! If you’ve ordered bookplates those will go out this week.

It has been a tremendous season for dahlias. The heat stuck around in Michigan and I was able to catch these end-of-season dahlias in my sketchbook. The deep purple are my favorite this year.

My Mom’s garden rarely disappoints with little wonders…

The purple parade extends from the garden to the kitchen. After researching (and a bit of procrastinating) I’m finally fermenting… and yes, surprise, purple. This jar below was all veggies, carrots, cauliflower, onions, red cabbage… and whatever else was in the fridge.

The flavor was tangy and worked well in a rice bowl. Curious to see how the flavor will mellow out over time in the fridge. Seems easy enough to add on top or to the side of dishes. I also tried to ferment some salsa, which took a bit longer. Overall, I liked the flavor and feel more confident about experimenting with more spices. (Maybe from next year’s spring garden?)

I’m focused on doing everything I can to help my gut health, seeing these colors change throughout the project was an unexpected joy. I had no idea how visually creative and inventive the process could be. There’s lots to learn about fermentation I can tell, a new technique for my Living Canvas. (And the lactobacilli takes LIVING to another level.) ;)

Hope the colors of fall feed your heart. When you see the color you love, squeal to spread the joy.

More soon.

Kirbi

I’m feeling a lot of momentum after the release of A Horse Named Sky. On our family trip to Lake Michigan, I packed a few sketching supplies to keep the creativity flowing.

My new basket was perfect for carrying supplies to our spot on the dune. New tools are an important shake-up. On a visit to my illustrator friend’s house, Deb Pilutti showed me some inking supplies I’m getting familiar with. I’m especially fond of this senneliner brush pen. It’s Payne’s grey, I don’t believe a true payne grey but I do like the blue hue.

The pens shown below I learned about from Emmy Kastner. With heat, they erase. Emmy demonstrated with a hair dryer in her studio. I’m familiar with the fabric versions of these pens for sewing but they are also available in the office supplies section.

I thought the friXion pens would be a unquie addition to my supplies pack for the beach. I could sketch moving subjects while the initial sketch lines disappear in the heat of the sun. Kind of like drawing against the clock in figure drawing class…. Fun!

But the wind on Lake Michigan kept my paper cool and the Michigan sun was not enough to make the lines disappear. Good news for those using these for writing.

Sketching on location is never without its challenges. Subjects move. Clouds roll. Some family members are known for their joy of a splashing….

Plenty of time for some drives near the lake shore for some inspiration and a few less distractions.

If you are going to try fricXion pens in your work recommend the ball roller version rather than the gel ones I have shown. The gel damages the paper a bit more with it’s pointy tip but it’s what Amazon could bring to me before we left for the trip.

I don’t mind the colored line holding together the drawing here and there.

A simple pack of tools on location can be a good thing. It isn’t easy with extra eyeballs around you - I try to enjoy being in nature and get in the zone.

I encourage myself to do something daring when I sketch, like drawing a flying bird that was only in view for a second. Go with the flow as they say! I’m not one to mess with a precious resting pup. I take breaks when they come - we are on vacation after all!

Observing subjects closely (whether or not the drawing turns out) is a meditation. Crohn’s has been giving me a heck of a time lately but staying submerged in my sketchbook is a powerful distraction from anything happening physically. This vacation was a much-needed rest!

Hope you get a break this week and try something new.

It’s back to the studio for us!

I’ve drawn my horse-loving heart out. Please enjoy this preview of the illustrated novel, A HORSE NAMED SKY published by Greenwillow Books which will release tomorrow. This book includes over one hundred black-and-white pastel drawings and an epic tale written by Rosanne Parry….

Click To Purchase A HORSE NAMED SKY

Click To Purchase A HORSE NAMED SKY

Click To Purchase A HORSE NAMED SKY

If you’ve purchased A HORSE NAMED SKY for yourself, or someone you love or asked your library to add it to their collection, THANK-YOU. Every purchase of A Horse Named Sky directly benefits Rosanne and I (no matter where you buy it!)

Now what should I make??

xox

Kirbi

Bought some new pan pastels…

People, it’s gotten BAD in the studio this weekend! Look at this mess! We decided to move Evans studio upstairs to the guest bedroom and the guest bed downstairs next to my studio. Even though my studio wasn’t moving, it got hit with some “wind damage” during the big migration. Hashtag, no filter.

Staying in throughout this pandemic, we’ve craved change and function - we’ve done a lot of rearranging. This move will give me some space in the guest bedroom closet for low-touch art supplies and books. Evan gets a bigger room for his music. He plays a lot of different instruments and desperately needs more space! More updates as we get things “settled.”

Spring has come in a big way here in Michigan, below is a picture of us getting started on the garden! Hard to believe it was snowing just a week or two ago.

The hose just flopped like this so I had to take a pic!

There’s a ton to be done out here, but the building, imagining and tending are what makes it fun. One of my many canvases.

We got these sails a few years ago and it’s helped give us some shade, which a lot of my indoor plants that I bring outside need.

I decided this year to do my mini garden/fairy garden in one of these big feed troughs I got from Tracker Supply. More soon!

This weekend I became ADDICTED to making these lanyards! They are an amazing stash buster. Here is a link to the pattern I used: LINK

Here, I’m pulling scraps and coming up with combos!

My first attempt (below) was a little shakey. As first times often are! I used a footer that was too big, with shaky stitches that weren’t close enough to the edge. When the stitches are close to the edge it gives it a more professional look I think.

One of the adjustments I made to the pattern was to not put the ring on until it was finished, with all the clips and sewing in the round, it’s just too much!

Another suggestion I have is to make sure the ironing is CRISP. I even used a fabric stiffener to make sure my creases were tip-top! The more I practiced the better I got.

Well, happy spring everyone. Have a good Monday!