Friday, August 16, 2013

IF Power and What I've been up to...

Well, I've been quiet again. This is why. I have been working on two book projects. This one is finished and will be available on Amazon soon. It's the first of a series. I am also working on an alphabet book but can't post anything I've done for it yet. It's been a really busy summer. My son turned 18 today and my grandson started kindergarten this week. Wow, time really flies.
I think I wish it would slow down a little ;)

I decided this would work for Illustration Friday's prompt Power, because it's about the power of determination. In the story, Nola is determined to find a coin at that beach. It was a lot of fun to illustrate this story and I can't wait to get started on the next one. I hope everyone had a great summer!

77 comments:

  1. Karen, congratulations on your books.
    When I saw the picture of the girl on I.Friday I thought "I would never have thought of a girl, from the word Power. but Karen is really smart, because nothing is more powerful than childhood".
    Ok. and the power of determination in a child, is not discussed.
    congratulations, good weekend.:))))
    (kids grow up, and we became more wise!) ;)))

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    1. Thank you Roberto. Have a great weekend yourself :)

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  2. Congrats on your books:) The illos is great,love the character and the concept:)

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  3. Fantastic illustrations and the kitten is too cute! Congratulations on all your projects and great to see you at IF!

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  4. beautiful illustrations. congratulations on the book.

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  5. I especially love Nola's hair as she digs on the beach. So real.

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  6. Very sweet illustrations! And congrats on your busy schedule!!

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  7. This is super duper SWEEEEEETT!!! How awesome. I love the story that your illustrations are telling. Very well done and beautiful. Hugs to you.

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    1. Thank you Vee! That means so much to me. (((HUGS)))

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  8. Hello, I'm here from ms vee's whimsical neighborhood :-)
    My first time at your blog and I find the beach and the cape and the islands! I write this from Ptown where my little male grand version of Nola looks for coins and shells and magic stones

    Your illustrations are great!

    Love
    kj

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    1. Well thank you KJ. I'm so happy the illustrations feel familiar to you. I appreciate the visit and the kind words. :D

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  9. Congratulations! I'm so glad for you to be working on such fun projects!

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  10. Hi Karen!! So nice to hear how busy you have been! That is soooo exciting. Guess what-- I am finally learning Painter-- what fun it is once I got over the intimidation factor.

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    1. Oh, yay! It is fun. I still love to just play with it sometimes. I am about to buy the newest version. I love Photoshop but I love to work in Painter first.Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  11. Woohoo, book power! Congratulations! I love that shell fence in the first illo.

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  12. Woweeeeeaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyaaaaaahooooooo!!! Karen! I'm such a doof! I am SO overdue and have not yet told you how stinkin' happy I am to hear that you've been working on 2 book projects. AWESOME!! You rock! Do let us know when they'll be available. I'm thrilled for you! And gosh, it's amazing to know how fast the kids/grandson are growing. I've got a high schooler and jr. high schooler now..no more elementary school.. it's crazy! I am SO thankful for your sweet visits to my blog..you really make my day! I have been keeping busy too. Working on a crazy project right now but there's a light at the end of the tunnel and it's been a good project though. I cannot complain! Have a lovely weekend my friend. And again, WAY TO GO, Karen!!! YAHOOOO!! I'm thrilled for you! The illustrations are gorgeous and I know the client is loving working with you. :)

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    1. Awwww man you are such a great cheerleader Shirley. I'm so happy to have you in my corner. You are a great friend. (((HUGS))) and thank you from the bottom of my heart.

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  13. Delightful sweet and fun!!! I have to tell you that I adore that little cat. Reminds me of my Kirby that died about a year and a half ago. I miss him sooo. I'd like to think that he is on some beach with some cute little girl playing! Thanks so much!
    V

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    1. I'm sure he is on the beach somewhere playing in the sand with lots of children :) (((HUGS)))

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  14. Hi, Karen, I owed ​​you a visit to your blog, you have been so kind to stop by my blog and leave your comments, and I have not been gentleman enough to come and say thank you very much.
    here I am, thanks, I want to wish you and your family a beautiful weekend :)

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    1. That's sweet and very gentlemanly of you Roberto. No worries :) Thank you for the weekend well wishes. My daughter is here visiting for the weekend and I don't see her often, so I am sure it will be a wonderful weekend.

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  15. Karen! I'm hoping you're doing well..it's so awesome to see your work and hear that you're cranking away on book projects. YEEEHAW!! I am wishing you a wonderful week ahead..I'm sorry I haven't been around to the blogs lately, but know that I am always always so happy to see your kind visits. You rock!

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    1. Thank you Shirley! You are my favorite cheerleader ;) I love looking at your daily drawings. I really wish I could get in the time to do it myself, but alas, Braille class and senior curriculum are taking up the remaining bulk of my time. :/

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  16. Hi Karen it seems a hundred years without see one of your beautiful works!!!!!!
    I hoppe a beautiful week for you!!!!!!!!!! thanks a lot for your comment!!! :)

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    1. Oh, I know, I'm so lame!!! I really need to get it in gear and post something new! Thanks for the visit Roberto. I really appreciate it. I hope you are enjoying the holiday season :)

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  17. Hello Beautiful! Thanks so much for your visit! Hugs to you.

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  18. Hello Karen, happy Black Friday!! How are the projects going? You are very quiet and that's a good thing I bet! Hope everything is fine - hugs from Oz :) see you! PS this is your Happy Christmas post from me:) so make sure you read it december 24th! :)

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  19. ANDREW!!!! Yes, I need you to get out that whip of yours I guess ;) I am busy, which is very good, but I still need to make myself find some time to post here. I've been far too quiet I think. The day just gets away from me and before I know it the day is over. Happy Holidays Andrew. By the way, you are quiet too, so I hope that means that all is well and that you are crazy busy too.

    (((HUGS)))

    p.s. I'll come back and read this again on the 24th ;)

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  20. Hey beautiful lady! thanks so much for stopping by and visiting! This mean so much to me cause I know that you are super duper busy and all. Thanks again and again. Sending you much love from Charlotte and hugs! V

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  21. Karen! It's been FAR too long and delayed of me to write! I'm hoping you and your dear family are enjoying the holidays so far. I can't believe we are in mid-December! Yikes!!! Have a lovely Christmas and I thank you SO much for your kind visits at my very quiet blog..you are a GEM!! Big hugs to you my friend!

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  22. Hi Karen you are very very kind with me, Thank you very much, and Merry Christmas for you too,
    This year has been more fun with the company of my blog friends like you. I want to wish you and you family a great 2014. :))

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  23. Hi Karen thanks for your nice comment!!! lately i am the only that comes to your blog ha ha :)

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  24. Yes, that's because I'm too lazy to post something new!!! LOL Thanks for visiting my cold and lonely blog Roberto. I appreciate your kindness. My blog needs refreshing :)

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  25. Wooooooooowwwww!!! YAYYYYYYY!!!! Hellooooooo!!!! Oh wow, Karen, these look wonderful! She is adorable, and the color of the sand and sky.... perfectly Nantucket! Spot on. I'm so excited for your books!!!! xoxo

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  26. Come out and play, dearest Karen. Tsup!

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    1. ♥♥♥CES!!!!! How are you? Yes, I do need to come out and play! Very much so!!!!! Tsup!♥♥♥

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    2. I am okay, drowning at work but managing to come up for air. Hehehehe. It's okay sweetie. We will be here when you are ready to come out and play. Your book is awesome and YES!!! A SENIOR. Tell me about it. I am more stressed and anxious than my daughter. At least she has selected a university. Sometimes it is more difficult if one has many choices, and oh so expensive. This college education better be a real education, not some brainwashing. ITsup!!!

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    3. Cyan's picked a school. I'm just drowning in all the paperwork, testing issues due to his learning disabilities and major community service requirements. It feels like there is more to do every day. LOL oh and expensive..... that is an understatement! Good grief, it feels like my kids will owe money for the rest of their lives ;)

      I'm so ready to play!!!! I miss everyone so much :D

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  27. I wish I could send you pockets of time to spend on yourself. But of course, family is a priority. When you return to your art, we shall all celebrate! Take care, Karen. xoxo

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    1. I wish you could too Bella :D Things will calm down soon, I hope, and then I can get back to the things I love to do instead of filling out financial aid forms, prepping him for tests and helping him apply for every scholarship under the sun. But, it's all worth it, just time consuming.

      XOXOXO

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  28. Karen - hope you're all well and staying warm! We are all fine over here..just keeping busy with the kids' activities..more recently local theater! My youngest is enjoying the behind the scenes set painting/building while my eldest is the actor/singer. Having fun and keeping busy. Thank you for your kind visits..it means a lot to me. Have a super rest of the weekend!

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    1. My pleasure :) I'm happy to hear that things are going well with you and your family. Sounds like you are very busy too!

      (((HUGS)))

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  29. hi.Karen, though you do not delight us with your creations, I've seen that you're out there, walking around, and I read your comments on my blog, thank you very much, you're always very kind to me!

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  30. Hello there sweetie. Just wanted to wish you a very good morning. I am off today! Yay! I am enjoying it very much. I hope the winter storm is not adversely affecting you. It is very cold here in Texas today. Keep warm. Tsup!!!

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    1. It's been crazy weather here. Warm one day, freezing the next. My poor body has no idea what to do ;) stay warm!!!

      (((HUGS)))

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  31. Hi Karen! Thanks for stopping by my blog! I'm sure you are crazy busy-- I hope you are well!

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    1. you are so welcome and yes I am doing well :)

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  32. Though I don't pop by often, I am SO grateful for your sweet visits, Karen. I tell you, I'm all over hte place these days..but mostly now I am trying to focus and really put my efforts into my work again. I hope you've been well! Hope you're getting to enjoy some of your own time as I know how busy you are. hope you're having a super Spring so far!

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  33. Have a great Easter weekend, Karen!

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    1. thank you Bella I hope that you have a great Easter weekend as well :D

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  34. Thinking of you. We are preparing for HS graduation and going to college. Sigh. Kids grow up. Take care my dearest. Tsup!

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    1. thank you Ces! I am thinking of you too. It will all be over soon! Can't believe it. I have been in and out of the hospital since Easter. I feel like I have missed everything :( Now we are rushing to get everything done on time. (((HUGS)))

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  35. Counting down to summer vacation and seeing more playtime fun from you!!!

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  36. Awww..thanks dear Karen! I am so grateful for your wonderful support my friend!! Hope you and your whole family are well and are enjoying a wonderful summer so far! :) xoxo

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    1. You are so welcome my dear friend. I'm just working and swimming and hanging out with my grandson :D

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  37. YES, YES, YES!!!! I actually finally had time to do something fun and will post it tonight after I swim or in the morning... I haven't posted anything in eons!

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  38. Hya Bella and Karen, I am out and playing!! Is it summer yet? The surf was so cold the other day I had snow growing on the tip of my nose - and don't let them tell you all frozen noses look the same - they dont! At first I thought mine was green but then I realised that a passing bird had dropped a small piece of kiwi fruit on it (my nose) Hope you are all well :)

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  39. ANDREW!!!! So glad you came out to join in the fun! I'm so glad it was kiwi and not something icky ;) Hope you are enjoying the surf, cold as it is. It's definitely summer here. Hot and sticky.

    missing you my friend
    (((HUGS)))

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Thank you for taking the time to comment! You are the best!!!