Goodies from Argentina!

I'm always amazed and happy when blog friends send me goodies in the mail. Here is a package from Zime when I was one of the lucky ones to participate in her RegalARTE giveaway. Its a pay-it-forward program in which I now will send handmade gifts to three of my blog readers. I better figure out what I am going to make!
Guess who lives in the houses?
ADORABLE!! Hand painted just for me...with a little chicken!! Ahhh! Thank you, Zime- I feel so special! Zime just recently opened an etsy shop where you will find many of her painted dolls. I promise to pay it forward and have a giveaway here soon!

Goodies from France!

Bonjour! I'm back from my trip to France and had a great time! We visited Strasbourg, which was about a two and a half hour train ride from Paris. My deary was a on a business trip there, so what a great excuse for me to tag along :-)

I LOVE the French illustration style and aesthetic. In particular I was looking for this book by one of my favorite illustrators Marc Boutavant:
I've been wanting this book for so long now! Its very hard to get it in the US (it is on ebay, but very $$$). What a beautiful book!!! Then in another store I found stickers by Marc Boutavant too:
And the cutest little notebook and Christmas Alphabet postcard by Illustrator Marion Billet:
I love "Fake ads" -Postcards by illustrator Amandine Piu:
And of course how can I resist this one (also by illustrator Amandine Piu):
Our high school French got us around ok but I must admit it was mentally draining afterwards. Having a language barrier is a handicap and there were a few awkward situations. Then I thought about all the non-English speaking people who are brave enough to come to the US to make a life for themselves (including my parents.). Props to them most definitely!

Anyways, I already miss the cafes and pain au chocolats. Strasbourg is a very quaint city to visit. Too bad I didn't get to see much of Paris, only the airport and the few blocks around the train station. Next time!

Its all in the Details

Japanese snacks packaging have always been a source of inspiration for me.
Check out the coolest UPC code I've seen in a long time:

Goodies from Japan! (Kawaii Heaven)

I got a HUGE package from Japan this week from Spadazzle. Thank you, Sarah! You are so generous I can't believe it! I was so excited that I even cut my finger while trying to open the box with scissors....but then I kept trying to open the box even with my bleeding finger (lol.)
There was so much stuff, I couldn't believe it. I was in Kawaii heaven! This tofu book is the best! I love vector art and I love food art, its the best combination!
This tofu pumpkin guy is suppose to be a cell phone holder (push in the "stem" and there is a slot to put your cell there). Can we get a collective "awwwwwww!":
Spadazzle's colorful collage work! Check out her work on her blog:
She also sent snacks and cute erasers. She really "got" me so well. Thanks again, Spadazzle! Some women like diamonds and furs, but I can be really happy with just stuff like this. Hope this was some good eye candy for all of you!

Goodies from the UK!

I've been getting packages from all over the globe! Here are some awesome goodies from illustrator Allan Sanders! Woohoo! I was hoping to get a postcard of his Superheroes from the Hot Rods and Hairy Beast show and he sent me so much more! I framed the robot print he sent, and it is now in my living room. I also LOVE the science experiment booklet-it makes me want to take a screenprinting class myself.
Thank you so much, Allan. If you don't know his work, check out his website and blog!

My Re-Ment Miniatures Habit

I love my siblings!!! What's this, you say? I just got a package of Re-Ments from my sister who recently went on trip to Japan. Look at all of this! I never got this much Re-Ments all in one shot!

If that wasn't enough, my brother also went to Japan (separately) and hooked me up with more Re-Ments, the grocery shelves and cabinet:
So here is my awesome Re-Ment grocery aisle, I love looking at it and re-arranging the foods and signs. It stands about 8 inches tall:
One of my mom's friends came over and saw my toys and asked if they were from my childhood. I said, "Umm, no000 I just got that the other day!" Hahah! And then she found out I was a children's book illustrator and it finally made sense to her. My profession is a lovely excuse to have toys around and get away with it.

I'm so thankful for having siblings who feed my habits. And also those of you who send me chicken links and chicken things!

Thank you for everyone's comments on The Haunted Ghoul Bus book. I am not sure if its available internationally, but I hope so. I can't wait to see it in Barnes and Nobles...its going to be a huge milestone for me.

More Goodies!

I know its been over two weeks since I've posted anything! Lots to post about, but I'm trying to stay off the computer and enjoy the summer while I can.

Well, I've got more goodies in the mail! These cute chicken card holders are from fellow illustrator Kristin Sorra. I first met Kristin at the Highlights illustrators' party last year. She is super talented and I'm so happy to have met her and her hushand, who is also an artist. They are so nice and super cool. Thank you for letting me adopt them. I'll take good care of them :-)

Math Boy thought they looked like chicken bumper cars?!? So funny!

Goodies and other fun things

Thanks to Alicia for sending her book, The Wish Trees, to me and my chickens. We enjoyed it very much and the artwork inside is adorable!

Other tidbits:
-Sarah at Spadazzle teaches English class in Japan with my book, The Penguin's Perfect Picnic! There are so many more cute penguin drawings from the kids. I hear a kid did a penguin manga, now this I have to see!

-Zime is doing something called Pay It Forward, in which you send a handmade gift to 3 blogger friends, and in return they do the same to 3 other blogger friends. I love the idea! I will do this too except I think I will make the gifts first, then post about it. (I owe at least 2 people some ATCs, so I am very backed up right now!)

Thats it for now. Stay cool in this heat, everyone.

New Goodies!

I got some new goodies I would like to share with all of you! First...more Re-Ment miniatures goodness:

I love how there are raw AND cooked meat patties!!!

This was a perfect one for summertime.

So both of my siblings are going to Japan this summer (why am I stuck here?!?) Hopefully, I'll be getting more Re-Ments!!! (hint, hint.) My mom came back from Asia and brought me a bunch of goodies, including:

A chicken massager!

and the cutest kitchen sponge scrubbers you'll ever see! Too cute to use!

I'll leave you all now with a cuteness coma.

Goodies!

Its been like Christmas in April:
BIG thank you to Dan Goodsell for sending an incredible box full of Mr. Toast stuff....I love everything! Check out the Mr. Toast & Friends Art show I participated in here.

Thank you, Princess Tomato for sending some chicken goodness. Its always appreciated around here. I especially love the little plushie which I now named "Chick Fruit."

Also, an awesome postcard exchange with Loulou & Tummie from the Netherlands...they are a cool illustrator duo. I love the postcards. Three cheers for vector goodness!

And...there is also some really happy personal news that I would like to share with all of you soon :-)

Chicken Stampin'

A deliciously wrapped surprise package came to me last week from fellow illustrator and blog friend Andi Butler...its a chicken rubber stamp! You ROCK, Mrs. B!!! She also included a CD with some hilarious chicken songs and clucking sounds, it really made my day. Rooster Math Boy and I were dancing around the living room listening to it. Thank you for your thoughtfulness.

I can see how rubber stamps are quite popular these days, I see people at various blogs are making their own. So fun!

Sending some love....

Did I mention how much I love blog friends and the blog world?
Crystal Driedger sent me a wonderful package last week. She held a giveaway on her blog and I loved everything. Thank you, Crystal! The calendar is up on my bulletin board so I see your lovely artwork everyday.

Also sending some love to more awesome folks who gave me a mention, I appreciate it so much, it keeps me going (and going with my evil plan to take over the world with chickens!!!):
Jeff • Marci • Zime • Zari • Rachelle
Thank you, xoxo...cluck cluck!