Trend Watching

Here's another great place to see what trends are coming and going. Trendwatching.com

LeBook

LeBook, another trend spotting resource for fashion, color, photography and design trends worldwide. (It's good to keep the eyes open for trends that aren't necessarily children's book related, just to get a fresh perspective.)

International Talent Support

Check out the International Talent Support ....lots of fashion trends, upcoming designers, and photographers, and talent. While you're at it check out E V E, another source of great design, upcoming events, and interesting odds and ends.

Children's Picture Book Database at Miami University

Check out Miami University's Picture Book Database. (I found this through About.com's Children's Books info in my email updates) It's a very informative update every time I get it.

Graphic Arts Federation

Check out the Graphic Arts Federation. (I'm typing this while wearing one contact and leaving the other one out.) I've been going around all day this way..needless to say, feeling very disoriented.
A tip....never sleep with your contacts in your eyes. I forgot to take mine out two nights ago and have been suffering the results in my left eye. extremely painful and a bit dangerous. My eye is finally beginning to clear up, but at my age, this has not been a joke. I hope tomorrow brings a clear view, and no pain.

Behind The Name-Etymology & History of First Names

Behind the Name shows the etymology and history of first names from various cultures.

Etch-a-Sketch drawing of Lebron

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This is amazing

Make a Face

Check out Artnamtomy for a terrific online source for facial expressions. I've visited it before, but had never seen the advanced facial expression section. It's amazing. Click on application and then go to level II

TwitterLit

TwitterLit is "A site that serves up literary teasers twice daily. At 5:00 AM and 5:00PM Eastern Time I post the first line of a book, without the author's name or book title, but with a link to Amazon so readers can see what book the line is from. "
Warning..it's addicting.

Art Junction blog

Check out the ArtJunction blog. Make sure to click on the amazing Sony Bravia commercial on YouTube there.

Moses- When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom

Carole Boston Weatherford's book Moses, illustrated by Kadir Nelson is something you've got to read. The incredible combination of Kadir Nelson's illustrations (everytime I see any of his work it does something to me. He is my illustration hero. ) and Weatherford's deep, warm heartfelt writing is powerful. I am going to buy this one....gotta have it.

U.S. Freedom Corps Capital PurSuit Drive

This is an excellent idea and opportunity for folks around DC to offer practical help to those in need...

USA Freedom Corps Capitol PurSuit Drive-Washington DC.

Thousands of Americans including: youths in foster care, adults, teens, ex-offenders, and veterans who have come from low income environments are transitioning back into the workforce every day. Affording proper attire for interviews and work is an enormous obstacle for these citizens, so the USA Freedom Corps office will be partnering with the Capitol PurSuit Drive from June 13th until June 25th.

Please bring the following used items to be donated: business suits, dress shirts, blouses (on hangers, please), belts, and shoes. Donated items should be in usable condition. This is your opportunity to literally give the suit off your back to help fellow Americans secure their futures. All donations are tax deductible, and receipts are available upon request.

There will be four collection points for the Capitol PurSuit Drive:
* Ike's Eatery
* 1800 G Street, 9th floor lobby
* West Wing Lobby and Ground Floor
* USA Freedom Corps 736 Jackson Place

The donated items will be distributed among three national charities: Working Wardrobes, The Women’s Alliance, and Career Gear. A portion of the donations will also be distributed in the D.C. area through several nonprofit organizations.

For any questions, please call the USA Freedom Corps office at 456-7381. All suits should be delivered to one of the collection points no later than 5pm on Monday, June 25th.

2 Year Birthday

Cachibachis celebrates two years of being online this month. It doesn't seem possible! What about the rest of you bloggers out there? I know many of you must be at least 2 years old.

For the Kids-Club Penguin

Club Penguin. Kids love it.

Simon Schama's Power of Art on PBS

Check out Simon Schama's Power of Art on PBS. I've been lagging in my blogging due to the end of school and Summer Vacation! It's already been an adventure. Vacation hadn't even started before one of our kids rode in an ambulance to the ER with an allergic reaction. (she missed the last day of school because of it.) Yikes. She's fine now, after 2 more days of hives coming and going. I am so grateful to have her running around full force again.
Give your loved ones an extra hug today.

Virginia Art Education Association

The Virginia Art Education Association has some great programs going on. Check out some of the high school student's art.

A New Biz Has Been Born....Baby Sleep Tonight

My friend Robin has recently started this business (along with her amazing seamstress/sewing abilities). It is called Baby Sleep Tonight. (I wish I'd had this advice when my colicky son was a baby.....)
Congratulations Robin! May the business take off and may many babies and parents sleep well due to your advice.

FugleFlicks-Art Flicks made by Kids

Fugle Flicks....gotta watch them. These are art related videos made my kids. I've only watched one so far, but it was fantastic, fun and hilarious. Make sure to watch Young Sloppy Brush. Check out the Fugle Blog too.
Another of the videos teaches space concepts in art. It's called Deep Space.

Boston Globe Article-Arts skills are life skills

Check out this Boston Globe Article by Jonathan Rappaport June 12, 2007 Art Skills are Life Skills.

Project Zero Research

Project Zero's mission is to understand and enhance learning, thinking, and creativity in the arts, as well as humanistic and scientific disciplines, at the individual and institutional levels. This is an amazing project and the link is well worth saving to delve into at a later time as well. It is a Harvard University Program.

Tagged by Sherry

I've been tagged by Sherry.
Here are the rules:Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.
Here are my facts.
I am 5' 8.5 inches tall (just like Sherry!)
I have a twin sister who is also an illustrator (her artwork is astounding..and she is the one who inspired me to be an artist when we were younger)
I am married with 3 kids
I was born in Ansonia, Conneticut
I played the cello and the piano in middle and high school
I lived in La Paz, Bolivia for nearly 5 years where our first son was born
I enjoy the freezing cold water of Maine more than the warmer waters of the mid-atlantic (we vacationed in Maine for many summers when I was young)

I'll be tagging some folks later today.

Hanoch Piven

Hanoch Piven's work is something you've got to see. (I found out about him and last two posts/info on scbwi...thanks to all who posted this info.) Hanoch was featured in this link on Drawger, which I've blogged before.

Mark Kistler's Imagination Station

Mark Kistler's Imagination Station is another fun place to visit online. He teaches kids to draw in 3-D.

Incredible Art Lessons

For a fantastic resource for art teachers, or anyone teaching art classes to individual kids or groups, take a moment to check out IncredibleArt.org. They've got lessons for kids all the way from preschool to undergraduate. There are ideas for art teacher/subs and many fantastic links.

Livia Coloji's Children's Illustrations

I just found Livia Coloji's work online and wanted to share the link to her wonderful children's illustrations.

Book Mooch

If you're a book lover, and your bookcases are burdened with books you've read and can share, check out Book Mooch. You can exchange your books for others you'd like to read. I just signed up and I'm already sending one out, and hope to mooch one soon.

Dan James and Ghostshrimp

Take a look at Dan James' original website and illustrations. Very entertaining quirky stuff. CLick on the voice bubble to enter the site. After entering the site, move the mouse around the image to see all of the options.

Alllison Smythe's Poem on Verse Daily

Congratulations are in order for multi-talented Allison Smythe....graphic artist, poet, (wife, mom and all around gifted woman). Her poem Something In My Eye is online and in the spotlight today on Verse Daily.

Kim Norman's Podcast and Evil Inner Editor

Kim Norman's sense of humor and creativity can be seen and now HEARD on her podcast of songs she's written and sings..and her Evil Inner Editor is also a hoot.

Good Quote

This is encouraging in so many ways, and in the children's illustration and writing field especially so. (It comes from Insight of the Day)

"It is not the straining for great things that is most effective; it is the doing of the little things, the common duties, a little better and better.'"

Elizabeth Stuart Phelps1844-1911, Writer

Kid's Ideas

It's fun to eavesdrop on kids. My daughter recently commented that if Norman Rockwell was still alive, he and Shel Silverstein could have teamed up. She's a big fan of Silverstein, and was flipping through a book of Rockwell's illustrations.
It would have been a rare combination.

Fliptomania

Here's a random cachibachi for ya....Fliptomania Inc. These are flip books that kids (or adults who love things like this) make flip books of various scenes and characters. I like the sock monkey. Of course for all you illustrators out there, I imagine you've made some sort of flip book yourself. It's addictive. ToyDirectory.com has loads of links and info about toys and the newest fads in toys.

Scratchboard and Photoshop Tutorial by Michael Halbert

Michael Halbert's scratchboard and photoshop tutorial highlights his skill in both mediums. Take a look at this link to see the rest of his tutorials...wow.

Jan Thornhill's children's Illustration Q&A

I love scratchboard...both viewing it and creating images in it...so when I saw Jan Thornhill's children's illustration Q&A highlighting her scratchboard work, I had to post it.

Today's Inspiration Blog

Today's Inspiration highlights well known talented illustrators from the '40s and '50s and their work.

Smart Museum- for Kids

Check out the Chicago Smart Museum. They've got a fun interactive art online site for kids to learn about art.

Jeff Hopkins-Pictures Come to Life

Jeff Hopkins is a children's illustrator with an added talent. He brings his pictures to life in active storytelling drawing performances.

The 4OOPS Fine Arts Link Page

Helen Ramsey is an educational consultant with a website called 4OOPS. It's a wealth of info for all sorts of educational links, resources and informative bits. The Fine Arts Links page is fantastic.

Art Instruction Blog

The Art Instruction Blog provides tutorials of oil painting, watercolor and drawing.