Tariff Transaction Value – what next?
As a small business owner, I am really nervous about what my tariff tax will be for my new book, Flock of Rock, which was printed in China. I think I understand tariff transaction value, but when a tariff changes astronomically after an order has shipped but is not...
A Wooly Blend of Colors and an Octopus
As I complete the final steps of the publishing process for my fourth illustrated children's book, Flock of Rock, several activities have been falling into place for 2025. One upcoming event I am very excited about is a group felting lesson at the Wendell Gilley...
A brand refresh for Binding Tales
It's time for a brand refresh! Binding Tales has evolved a lot since its inception in 2019. As we launch into 2024 I am doing a brand refresh! The biggest change for Binding Tales occurred shortly after launch in early 2020, when I began feeling the creative pull...
Writing & Illustrating Children’s Books
Another huge goal accomplished... and now I wait. Completing the cover design for my alphabet book was the final project to prepare this book for my queries to literary agents. While books aren't traditionally all formatted when going out in queries, I decided to pair...
Needle Felting 3D on 2D Art
Needle Felting 3D on 2D Art, an illustration and felting lesson through detailed images of a guitar player by fiber artist Hillary Dow.
Felting Techniques, Colors, Texture
While preparing for an author visit recently, I shared this image of my slide deck with a colleague. His reply closed with, “So colorful!” Vibrant colors and the unique nature of how felting techniques and colors create texture and shadows are both a challenge of the...
Felted Paintings
Picking up some of my original felted paintings to post them for sale is taking me for a walk down memory lane. My technique and speed have come such a long way since crafting the pictures for my first book. Fairy Dance Party The lapse in time since hanging these on...
Needle Felting a Picture
During the January 2022 live monthly felting class, I continued needle felting a picture of a sleeping child, one of the two characters featured on my next book cover. As I usually do, I took pictures throughout the process, which are included on the final lesson...
2021 – Our Annual Family Letter
Was 2021 a mixed bag or what?! It has no doubt been another challenging year, but we’ve made the best of it and we’re looking forward to 2022. We struggled our way through hybrid learning with the kids in kindergarten and second grades while Adam and I were both...
Felting a Fairy Village
Dotted mushroom caps and fairy houses, curved doors, window boxes, planters, a winding street to the distant mountains. This needle felted illustration has been so much fun to create! Like many of my illustrations for my children's books, this picture began during a...