Happy New Year!

"Little Women" Illustration for SCBWI Tomie dePaola Award

Here is my entry to the annual Tomie dePaola Award.

He gave us all the challenge to produce an illustration in black & white – something I don't normally do. But I'm always up for a challenge!

We were to choose a passage, line or description from one of the following classic books to illustrate: “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott, “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” by Mark Twain, or “The Yearling” by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

I chose this passage from "Little Women":
As Christmas apporached, the usual mysteries began to hunt the house, and Jo frequently convulsed the family by proposing utterly impossible, or magnificently absurd ceremonies, in honor of this unusally merry Christmas. Laurie was equally impracticable, and would have had bonfires, sky-rockets, and triumphal arches, if he had had his own way. After many skirmishes and snubbings, the ambitious pair were considered effectually quenched, and went about with forlon faces, shich were rather belied by explosions of laughter when the two got together. Several days of unusually mild weather fitly ushered in a splendid Christmas-day. Hannah “felt in her bones that it was going to be an uncommonly plummy day,” and she proved herself a true prophetess, for everybody and everything seemed bound to produce a grand success. To begin with: Mr. March wote that he should soon be with them; then Beth felt uncommonly well that morning, and, being dressed in her mother’s gift, – a soft merino wrapper, – was bourne in triumph to the window, to behold the offering of Jo and Laurie. The Unquenchables had done their best to be worthy of the name, for, like elves, they had worked by night, and conjured up a comical surprise. Out in the garden steed a stately snow-maiden, crowned with holly, bearing a basket of fruit and flowers in one hand, a great roll of new music in the other, a perfect rainbow of an Afghan round her chilly shoulders, and a Christmas carol issuing from her lips, on a pink paper streamer: – 

“THE JANGFRAU TO BETH. 
“God bess you, dear Queen Bess! 
May nothing you dismay; 
But health, and peace, and happiness, 
Be yours, this Christmas-day. 

“Here’s fruit to feed our busy bee, 
And flowers for her nose; 
Here’s music for her pianee,–
 An Afghan for her toes. 

“A portrait of Joanna, see, 
By Raphael No. 2, 
Who labored with great industry, 
To make it fair and true. 

“Accept a ribbon red I beg, 
For Madam Purrer’s tail; 
And ice cream made by lovely Peg,– 
A Mont Blanc in a pail. 

Their dearest love my makers laid 
Within my breast of snow. 
Accept it, and the Alpine maid, 
From Laurie and from Jo.” 

How Beth laughed when she saw it! How Laurie ran up and down to bring in the gifts, and what ridiculous speeches Jo made as she presented them!

Christmas ABC's Sketch Project and HoHoDooDa – Z is For Zonked Out!

Just like Santa, a lot of us put so much energy into the holidays, when it's over, we feel so zonked! The day after, I have ZERO energy - ZILCH, ZIPPO, ZOT! Zzzz . . .

Don't forget to check out my Facebook Page for the Advent Calendar.

Take a look at what the others are sketching over at HoHoDooDa here.

Christmas ABC's Sketch Project and HoHoDooDa – Y is For Yule Log

Don't forget to check out my Facebook Page for the Advent Calendar. Come back tomorrow to see a new sketch!

Take a look at what the others are sketching over at HoHoDooDa here.

Christmas ABC's Sketch Project and HoHoDooDa – X is For XOXO (hugs and kisses)

Don't forget to check out my Facebook Page for the Advent Calendar. Come back tomorrow to see a new sketch!
Take a look at what the others are sketching over at HoHoDooDa here.

Christmas ABC's Sketch Project and HoHoDooDa – W is For Wreath

Don't forget to check out my Facebook Page for the Advent Calendar. Come back tomorrow to see a new sketch!

Take a look at what the others are sketching over at HoHoDooDa here.

Christmas ABC's Sketch Project and HoHoDooDa – V is For Velvet Dresses

I love it when little girls (especially my beautiful nieces) where velvet dresses for the holidays!

Don't forget to check out my Facebook Page for the Advent Calendar. Come back tomorrow to see a new sketch!

Take a look at what the others are sketching over at HoHoDooDa here.

Christmas ABC's Sketch Project and HoHoDooDa – U is For Ugly Sweater

Of course, ugly is in the eye of the beholder. Orville loves his sweater!

Don't forget to check out my Facebook Page for the Advent Calendar. Come back tomorrow to see a new sketch!

Take a look at what the others are sketching over at HoHoDooDa here.

Christmas ABC's Sketch Project and HoHoDooDa – T is For Tree

Don't forget to check out my Facebook Page for the Advent Calendar. Come back tomorrow to see a new sketch!

Take a look at what the others are sketching over at HoHoDooDa here.

Christmas ABC's Sketch Project and HoHoDooDa – S is For Stockings

Don't forget to check out my Facebook Page for the Advent Calendar. Come back tomorrow to see a new sketch!

Take a look at what the others are sketching over at HoHoDooDa here.

Christmas ABC's Sketch Project and HoHoDooDa – R is For Rudolph

Don't forget to check out my Facebook Page for the Advent Calendar. Come back tomorrow to see a new sketch!

Take a look at what the others are sketching over at HoHoDooDa here.

Christmas ABC's Sketch Project and HoHoDooDa – Q is For Question

The all-important question around Christmas - where you naughty or nice?

Don't forget to check out my Facebook Page for the Advent Calendar. Come back tomorrow to see a new sketch!

Take a look at what the others are sketching over at HoHoDooDa here.

Christmas ABC's Sketch Project and HoHoDooDa – P is For Poinsiettia

I love poinsettias, but I'm afraid to have them in my home since they are poisonous to cats, and there's always at least one cat around here!

Don't forget to check out my Facebook Page for the Advent Calendar. Come back tomorrow to see a new sketch!

Take a look at what the others are sketching over at HoHoDooDa here.

Christmas ABC's Sketch Project and HoHoDooDa – O is For Ornaments

I love collecting different ornaments, and this year I signed up for the Blu Penny Handmade Ornament Exchange! Today was the deadline to send them out. This is what the ornaments I created look like.

Don't forget to check out my Facebook Page for the Advent Calendar. Come back tomorrow to see a new sketch!

Take a look at what the others are sketching over at HoHoDooDa here.

Christmas ABC's Sketch Project and HoHoDooDa – N is For Noel

Did you know that noel also means Christmas carol? I didn't either, until I looked it up. Guess what carol she's singing - yep, The First Noel!

Don't forget to check out my Facebook Page for the Advent Calendar. Come back tomorrow to see a new sketch!

Take a look at what the others are sketching over at HoHoDooDa here.

Christmas ABC's Sketch Project and HoHoDooDa – M is For Mistletoe

It's Day 13 of my sketch a day project for December.

Don't forget to check out my Facebook Page for the Advent Calendar. Come back tomorrow to see a new sketch!

Take a look at what the others are sketching over at HoHoDooDa here.

Christmas ABC's Sketch Project and HoHoDooDa – L is For Lights

It's Day 12 of my sketch a day project for December.

Don't forget to check out my Facebook Page for the Advent Calendar. Come back tomorrow to see a new sketch!

Take a look at what the others are sketching over at HoHoDooDa here.

Christmas ABC's Sketch Project and HoHoDooDa – K is For Kids

It's Day 11 of my sketch a day project for December. K is for kids. It's so much fun to watch kids experience the joy and wonder of the season!

Don't forget to check out my Facebook Page for the Advent Calendar. Come back tomorrow to see a new sketch!

Take a look at what the others are sketching over at HoHoDooDa here.

Christmas ABC's Sketch Project and HoHoDooDa – J is For Jingle Bells

It's Day 10 of my sketch a day project for December. J is for Jingle Bells, and here is Jangles, jingling his jingle bells.

Don't forget to check out my Facebook Page for the Advent Calendar. Come back tomorrow to see a new sketch!

Take a look at what the others are sketching over at HoHoDooDa here.

Christmas ABC's Sketch Project and HoHoDooDa – I is For Infant

It's Day 9 of my sketch a day project for December (another late edition). I is for infant, so here is the baby Jesus.

Don't forget to check out my Facebook Page for the Advent Calendar. Come back tomorrow to see a new sketch!

Take a look at what the others are sketching over at HoHoDooDa here.

Christmas ABC's Sketch Project and HoHoDooDa – H is For Hot Cocoa

It's Day 8 of my sketch a day project for December (another late edition). H is for hot cocoa. I absolutely love Starbuck's Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate, and haven't had one this season. I'll be remedying that soon.

Don't forget to check out my Facebook Page for the Advent Calendar. Come back tomorrow to see a new sketch!

Take a look at what the others are sketching over at HoHoDooDa here.

Christmas ABC's Sketch Project and HoHoDooDa – G is For Gifts

It's Day 7 of my sketch a day project for December (the late edition). G is for gifts, of course!

Don't forget to check out my Facebook Page for the Advent Calendar. Come back tomorrow to see a new sketch!

I've also joined in the fun over at HoHoDooDa (short for Holiday Doodle a Day). Take a look at what the others are sketching here.

Christmas ABC's Sketch Project and HoHoDooDa – F is For Family Portrait

I's Day 6 of my sketch a day project for December, F for family portrait.

Don't forget to check out my Facebook Page for the Advent Calendar. Come back tomorrow to see a new sketch!

I've also joined in the fun over at HoHoDooDa (short for Holiday Doodle a Day). Take a look at what the others are sketching here.

Christmas ABC's Sketch Project – E is For Elf

Day 5 of my sketch a day project for December. You gotta love an elf. This elf was inspired by Herbie, who wanted to be a dentist!

Don't forget to check out my Facebook Page for the Advent Calendar. Come back tomorrow to see a new sketch!

Christmas ABC's Sketch Project – D is For Dear Santa

Day 4 of my sketch a day project for December. The ole' Dear Santa letter. Do you remember writing those?

Don't forget to check out my Facebook Page for the Advent Calendar. Come back tomorrow to see a new sketch!

Christmas ABC's Sketch Project – C is For Cookies

Day 3 of my sketch a day project for December. I love cookies - I think gingersnaps are my favorite, along with chocolate chip. I make the recipe that goes with the story that Neiman Marcus charged someone $200 for the recipe. The secret is ground-up oatmeal and melted chocolate in the batter - yum! What is your favorite cookie?

Don't forget to check out my Facebook Page for the Advent Calendar. Come back tomorrow to see a new sketch!

Christmas ABC's Sketch Project – B is For Beard

Day 2 of my sketch a day project for December. Don't forget to check out my Facebook Page for the Advent Calendar. Come back tomorrow to see a new sketch!

Christmas ABC's Sketch Project – A is For Antlers

Every holiday season, I get excited and I decide to do too much. :–) In keeping with that, I decided to do a sketch a day project for December, using the ABC's of Christmas as my inspiration. I'm putting them together in kind of an Advent-type layout on my Facebook Page. Come back everyday to see a new sketch!