My home life was not happy. I focused on everything arty to give me hope, strength, confidence. (Just because your parents are educated does not mean they can parent). But I could live in my cartoons & all the books that I loved. Which is why I prefer to create happy picture books instead of sad.

I'm so grateful to be born at a time where these was so much great music, books, movies, art. Also grateful to be exposed to so much culture at home. My life has been about learning, creating, and learning some more. I've had my share of sorrow, but there's always been art to make things better.

Another collage, because -- why not? #Gouache #Art #Painting #Create #Collage

Oh goodness I hope so.

New Year's resolution: I vow to reread the Freddy the Pig books this year.

I do no understand this lemon pig thing. But then, there's a lot I don't understand.

A collage of some of my paintings for 2025. I love winter, but I know the dark cold months of January & February can be brutal. But spring will be just around the corner! #Art #Paintings #Gouache #Create #joy

Me & my hair would like to wish you a very Happy New Year. Here's to more art in the world and less crap. I know -- that's asking a lot these days...

Here's another book that I've been enjoying. I discovered that I love Commonplace Books! Broken down into the four seasons, each section is chock-full of poems, recipes, and excerpts from much loved novels, like Walden, Emma, Anne of Green Gables and The Pickwick Papers. #CommonplaceBook #Seasons

I'm really enjoying this book, Seasons of Wonder. I've been searching for more meaning in my life & this book is so inspiring. I love the idea of "making the ordinary sacred".

My favourite scene from The Bishop's Wife is the choir scene. So inspiring! The song is called O Sing To God. Fills my heart. www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtUw...

Have a Merry Gnomey Christmas! #Gnome #Gnomes #Christmas #GnomeChristmas #Folklore #LittleFolk #Winter #Together #GnomeFamily

Tonight we had Chinese food (yum!) and watched White Christmas and Christmas Vacation. Let the festivities begin!

Aside from the obvious sadness all around us these days, this year has had it's sad & disappointing moments for me (not one to share sadness very much). However, one good thing DID happen -- I got a book gig & it's coming out next year. I'm so happy I could burst! Merry Christmas! #kidlit #kidlitart

I confess I signed out this book only because of the cover, which I think is amazing. Still haven't read any of it yet! #MapleSyrup #History #Winter #BookCover #BookCoverDesign #Illustration #Art #Snow #Canada #CanuckSyrup

I adore the work of Emily Sutton. And such a beautiful story about sibling seasons! The story behind the story is fascinating & heartbreaking. The original author, Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz, had a very hard & short life. But thank goodness his story survived, thanks to Jonathan Freedland. #kidlit

Happy Winter Solstice! #Winter #WinterSolstice #Gnome #GnomeInWinter #Nutcracker #Christmas #Snow #KidLitArt

I'm in the middle of a big gnome painting, so here's an abstract painting I did a few years ago. I went through a fun abstract phase & this is one of my favourites. I think of a light snow storm when I look at this. Also, regarding the news, I have no words, so posting art is all I can do. #art

Happy Saint Lucia's Day! "Celebrated on December 13th, is a festival of light and hope, especially prominent in Scandinavia, marking the beginning of Christmas by honoring Saint Lucy of Syracuse, an early Christian martyr known as a bearer of light in winter's darkness." #StLuciaDay #Winter

🎉Ernest H. Shepard was born on this day back in 1879! The celebrated, beloved illustrator contributed to Punch magazine for decades and illustrated many beloved books, including the Winnie-the-Pooh books as well as "The Secret Garden" and "The Wind in the Willows".

All I want for Christmas is... #Gnome #Gnomes #Christmas #ChristmasTree #ChristmasGnome #Decorations #kidlitart #Illustration #FolkloreChristmas #ChristmasPresent

Doing research for one of my book ideas. I'm searching for images of trolls. Guess you could say that I'm TROLLING! Snort! Ah ha ha ha ha -- I slay myself. #Research #BookResearch #Trolls #Trolling #kidlit

H is for Hawk. Seen this morning in our backyard! Beautiful creature (even tho I don't like that it kills cute mice, etc.) #Nature #Hawk

My least favourite thing to do in my creative career is the author photo. Aaaaaaaarrrrgggg.

Are you getting into the Christmas mood? I sure am! Planning my baking & cooking. Listening to Christmas music and reading Christmas stories. #Christmas #ChristmasSpirit #Winter #Snow #Fox #ChristmasFox #Xmas

London Calling! #BritishPhoneBooth #Gnome #Gnomes #Winter #December2025 #Snow #FolkloreTuesday #Folklore

Heh. #Gnomes

Ella & Bruna are two young gnomes. They are the best of friends, but still have a jolly good argument every now & then. They love to go outside when the first snow falls, & dance around, singing and laughing as the flakes fall. #Gnome #Gnomes #kidlit #GnomeFriends #Snow #Winter #kidlitart

We've started watching Christmas movies early this year -- not sure exactly why, other than I'm itching to get into the Christmas mood. I can't really explain it, but the movie Krampus has quickly become one of my new fave Xmas films. It's riveting, is all I can say. #Krampus #ChristmasFilm #Xmas

Happy #gnomevember! #Gnomes #Gnome #GnomesinNovember

I'm not a big reader of graphic novels. My one true love seems to be picture books. But this graphic novel of William Golding's Lord of the Flies is amazing. Adapted & illustrated by Aimee De Jongh, this GN is a true gem. Excellent storyboarding & illustration. #GraphicNovel #kidlit #kidlitart

Here's a nice news clip about my favourite bookstore, A Different Drummer in Burlington, On. I grew up in Burlington, and spent a lot of time in this store as a teen. So it was such a wondrous feeling hosting book launches here! DD really supports their local authors. www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMYJ...

There's been a light dusting of snow throughout the day so I'm posting one of my fox drawings to get into the winter mood. I'm wintering! #Fox #Foxes #Winter #Snow #Wintering #ColouredPencils

I still dream of creating a Christmas picture book. I've done Thanksgiving & Halloween books, which were so much fun. I have two Christmas ideas so far -- both kind of quirky 12 Days of Christmas songs. Too predictable? I know, I know -- just do the work, send it out and pray. #ChristmasBook #kidlit

I'm late to the chat! Great topic. I'm forever thankful for the never-ending support I get from my husband, Guy. He's always encouraging, & he's had to listen to a lot of my insecurities & gripes. Plus he even takes part in some of my presentations! We even wrote a pic book together. #kidlitchat

One more month until Christmas! #Christmas #Winter #Snow #HappyHolidays #ChristmasTime #ChristmasTree #ChristmasFox

The snow has melted here in Toronto, but I'm still getting into the Christmas spirit through my art. #Christmas #Santa #Fox #Winter #ChristmasIsComing

My headspace today. Does anyone out there remember Julius? I was addicted to this video for a period of time. #Julius #Cute #Love www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjDS...

In my world gnomes are kind and gentle and giving. They look out for each other as well as all the flora and fauna who live near them. #Gnome #Gnomes #Fox #Winter #Kindness #FolkloreSunday #Folklore #WeeFolk

Ho Ho Ho! Look what Santa found! #Santa #SantaClaus #Gnome #Christmas #ChristmasGnome #ChristmasIsComing #kidlit #kidlitart

A celebration of autumn from The Princess of Wales. Love this so very, very much. Soothing & comforting. #Autumn #Fall #Beauty #Nature #PrincessofWales www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IW7...

Waiting for feedback from a project & so using the time to create a new painting! I'm really enjoying the process & can't wait to share! #Painting #Art #Gouache #ArtIsFun #kidlit #kidlitart #Artsie

#WeRemember #Poppies #Nov11 #RemembranceDay

Happy winter fox. #Fox #Winter #Snow #WinterFox #HolidayFox

It's the most wonderful time of the year! #Snow #SnowFall #SnowFlakes #Robin #SnowyRobin

It's snowing in Toronto! The perfect day to start playing Christmas carols! Woot! #Snow #SnowDay #ChristmasCarols #ChristmasIsComing

Meet Uno. He's one of the baby gnomes. Babies in the gnome community are lovingly cared for by their parents but they are also cared for by the great gnome community. Every gnome life matters. Love, care & kindness has always been the gnome way. #Gnome #Gnomes #BabyGnomes #GnomeCommunity

Penelope is one of the youngest gnomes. She loves flowers and also enjoys dollops of fresh sweet honey with the occasional blackberry. #Gnome #LittleGnome #SweetGnome

The world is a nightmare right now -- so why am I sketching character studies of gnomes? Because it makes me feel so good. It's good fun creating a whole community of gnomes -- their flaws & fine points, along with their talents and dreams. #Gnomes #Gnome #GnomeLife #GnomeFamily #kidlit #kidlitart

Fall in love with fall... #illustration #Fall #LoveFallLeaves #kidlitart