Fun news! My cardstore is open! Over 50 designs for special occasions, or no occasion at all — AND, more to come. I’ve received samples of my Cardstore designs and am so impressed with the quality and color. They are really beautiful. When you place your order, you have the option to personalize the cards with your own photos and messages and even have them mailed directly to the recipient. OR, you can order cards as blanks to use at the perfect moment.

To celebrate, here is a 20% off coupon, valid thru 1/15/09. Just type in NEWCS at checkout. Also, if you do buy any of my designs, please access my cardstore via any of the links on this post, sidebar/site. (I get a better royalty if you enter from my site! THANKS!)

I hope you find cards that make you smile. Spread them around to all your family and friends!

Hi my friends! I am really excited to share that we launched chaipilgrimage.com! YEAH! For those of you who don’t know, a couple years ago, Patrick and I got this fun idea to collaborate on a book combining three things we love so much: India, Nepal and chai. I know it sounds kinda funny, but wait til you see the book! One of the most exciting parts for me (besides traveling and visiting so many friends) was the ‘hands-on’ part of the researching. Instead of Google, we used our senses and recorded everything in pictures, drawings, audio, and writing. Talk about filling the creative tank!

So, with chai as our compass, we backpacked around Nepal and Northern India for 4 months. We wandered from one chai stall to another and into homes of friends we made. Their tradition, “Atithi Devo Bhava” means “guest is God,” and what do you think is the first thing they would offer God? That’s right, chai. Yes, we drank a lot of it. We also celebrated Shivaratri (the night of Shiva) in the ancient city of Shiva (Benares), visited small, remote tea villages in Darjeeling and Sikiim, played Holi at our guru’s ashram, and much more.

Chai Pilgrimage: A Tea Adventure through Nepal, India & Beyond, the book, is due out Fall of 2009. Each spread is a 5-10 minute journey for the reader, visually rich in textures and layered with stories of the people we met and experiences we shared. We are self-publishing, and we are printing in India! Until then, at chaipilgrimage.com, we’ll be sharing things from the book (as well as our continued journey), photo galleries, audio and video, and our process of self-publishing. I’d love for you to visit and participate. We’d appreciate hearing what you respond to, what you’d like to know or hear more of, and especially YOUR stories. See you there! xo, jenny

The students at Spring Lake rocked! We had so much fun. Two FULL days of art makin’! Everyone made their own travelin’ eye–in the form of a fashionable, cool button. Then, we used our travelin’ eyes to dream up a 50 ft cloud mural!

Spring Lake also gave away a whoppin’ 75 books to kids who came to my library night! The kids were really excited!

After Omaha, I went to St. Louis (my home town) where I had the BEST night at the Kirkwood Public Library. Special guests included 2 main characters in my book–Mom and Dr. Dave!–and Dad, more family, grade school & high school friends AND teachers (insert smiley!), and a lot of new faces, too. It was such a special event! My parents and Dr. Dave even signed MY book! Dr. Dave (Dr. Robert D. Lewis) wrote, “to the only woman to ever make me famous!” Hee. I also had a really nice visit at Truman Elementary and a fun video conference with 5 classes throughout the St. Louis area.

My last stop was Kansas City–another ‘old’ home of mine. I saw TONS of friends from my Hallmark days. I also got to see more family and meet a lot of new people. Kelly won BEST dressed, doting a wild, Odd Fellows Lodge coat from the late 1800s with a few BIG EYES staring out! I’ll have to request a picture from her to share, since I missed the photo-op (darnit!). Also, if you haven’t visited Kelly’s blog, you MUST! She is an amazing artist, always creating straight from her big heart and with so much depth. I just love her! (And Kelly’s husband Rhett, too! His sculptures are of the wow-factor.)

I have to say my trip was both invigorating and exhausting. I learned that authors really have to get out and promote their books, especially as a newbie-no-name. At first I thought it was odd to ‘promote’ my book, like I was saying, “Look at me! I’m so cool!” That is so not me at all. BUT, connecting with the kids was the BEST part and worth every bit of insecurity I felt and little sleep I got, and mostly, I felt really comfortable with everyone. It didn’t feel like I was advertising myself–it felt more like sharing, and inspiring, which is something I love to do naturally. It made me laugh when I overheard some kids in an art class saying, “I really like Jenny Sue. She’s so fun and funny.” One girl came up to me after a library event to say, “My dad says you rock!” Hee. I can’t imagine better compliments!

In writing and illustrating a kid’s book, a lot of time passes from conception to birth–sometimes 3 years, as with My Travelin’ Eye. When you’re finally able to share it and hear kids’ reactions and talk about it, it grows into something you couldn’t have ever imagined. I especially liked the school visits since I could connect with hundreds of kids in one day. The kids were really interested in learning about my process, from a notebook-full of drafts (trying out different perspectives) and writing down ideas as they come (even on napkins at a cafe) to letting the story sit (incubation time). Some kids guessed it took me one week to write my book, and when I told them it took me over a year, their eyes opened abnormally tall. We looked at some originals, too, and they guessed the different mediums I used.

The kids also had a lot of questions and comments about Jenny Sue and how they related to her in some way or another. We talked about how differences are mostly scary or weird when we don’t understand them, and when we learn more about each other, what makes us different is what makes us all one-of-a-kind. They all wanted to look at my eye, and I showed them how my ‘lazy’, travelin’ eye sees. I drew a picture of a man walking in front of me. Then, I drew a dog walking further away and to my right (the same direction my eye travels, up and to the right).

I showed them what happens sometimes when my travelin’ eye decides to take charge. (Yes, it really does have a mind of its own!) It grabs what it sees to my upper right and throws it in front of me, creating a mixed-up image that my brain tries to make sense of:

The kids agreed it would make a pretty cool super-power…if only I could figure out how to make it happen on command! I told them I’m working on that for the sequel…

They were also curious about how I became an illustrator and author, and I shared about my schooling, apprenticeships and continual study. I met MANY students who want to be authors and artists! One 1st grader asked a great question: what should you do if you send your story to a publisher and they don’t like it? I only had a second to respond but blurted out, “That’s just ONE person’s opinion! Believe in yourself and never give up!”

I signed a ton of books last week, but I also got a lot of autographs myself! I’m excited about all the new friends I made on this trip and want to thank them for inspiring me! Also, a BIG, big thanks to all my hosts in Omaha, St. Louey and KC for such nice events! Thanks for your support! xojenny sue

I remember thinking, “This is a huge responsibility and honor–to make a book for kids.” (I also remember praying a lot that I’d do my best.)

The first thing I did was made a Jenny Sue doll…oui…I am a pathetic doll maker. She turned out akward and goofy and wobbly (I had to stitch a small tree branch to her back and head to keep her head upright). AND, she was the oh-so perfect companion for months of painting. (Plus, she was fun to talk to and make talk and pose.) The process of painting the book was SO fun, really. Mostly smooth. I giggled a whole lot. Only had one freak-out moment when I couldn’t paint to save my life, but luckily it passed.

I had the BEST experience with my editor, too. She ROCKS. She saw my vision from the beginning and had tons of faith in me, even though I’d never written or illustrated a book before. It really helps to have an editor who believes in you.

And Patrick…he was my NUMERO UNO support. And my parents, my best cheerleaders. So many people were apart of it in some way, inspiring and energizing me. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I’ve received so many fun emails and calls from friends this week who already have my book. It just makes me SOOO happy! So, so, happy. (I’d LOVE to hear from you, too, when you read it!) Sharing it–finally–is the best part of it all. And, I can tell, the fun is just beginning…

xo, jenny sue

Patrick whisked me away from the house/studio on friday to spend a whole weekend in town. It felt great to be “on foot”. Oso’s nose led the way. We walked everywhere. In tall pines, down ‘county roads’, ’round the center of town and thru the awesome architectural ‘door’ place. The textures and colors were treasures. Also heard some great music from our friends, the brent berry band and art of flying. Spring is officially here at 8000 ft, and we are digging in the dirt! It’s gonna be a rockin’ garden season!

I know y’all are itchin’ for summer time and sleeping under the stars and breathing some fresh mountain air. Well, at least I am. I’m dreaming of doing yoga barefoot in an open meadow, sitting in prayer in front of a campfire under zillions of stars and mostly, some quality sister-time. I’m craving a retreat for drawing and writing and dancing and singing with like-spirits. Earth mommas, wise elders, young spirits. Artists and storytellers. Poets whose words bring me to tears. Sharing. And simply, hanging out with inspiring women friends. Plus, I’m yearning for another adventure in the Sangres, walking thru aspen-eyes and friendly-blue-pines and carmel-er-cottoncandy-scented ponderosas. Oh, and of course shooting stars.

Anyone else dreaming of this? A walk between heaven and earth? You know–that beautiful place of total peace and bliss.

My dear, beautiful, wise and really funny friend Elaine (who is an amazing poet/writer and one of the most adventurous gals I know) and I are leading a women’s creative backpacking retreat in August thru the Lama Foundation in Taos, New Mexico. While I know it may not be for all of you, I thought it might be exactly what some of you are looking for…

Elaine describes it a bit more eloquently:

Please join us for a week of walking through the wild beauty (see pics at left) of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in Northern New Mexico. From our base camp in a high alpine meadow, we will spend our days hiking, writing, drawing, sitting, stretching, cooking, eating, sleeping and dreaming. There will be time to share our stories and dreams, cook great meals, relax and open our hearts. This is a great opportunity for learning to listen to the land, and write in the language of wilderness. This retreat is open to all levels of wilderness and writing experience. Good physical condition and some backpacking experience are recommended.

If you might be interested, space is limited. It’s Tues. Aug. 12-Weds. Aug. 20, 2008. Click here for more info and registration, and ask any questions in a comment. Ahhhh! I am so excited. I hope some of you will join us. xo jenny