working on Felt Wee Folk – 2nd edition

Posted on April 6, 2013 by Salley Mavor

I really can’t believe that 10 years have gone by since Felt Wee Folk: Enchanting Projects was published! I’m grateful that it has had such a good run and is still in print. I’ve said repeatedly that I won’t be writing another how-to book and that I want to focus on exploring my art form. I still want to continue on that path, but the practical side of me has decided to take some time this year to update Felt Wee Folk. I want to do what I can to keep the book in print for at least another 10 years.

In the 2nd edition, the popular projects, like the fairies and dolls will remain and the non-doll felt projects will be replaced with new varieties of wee folk characters and more doll-making tips. This all doll version will have a new cover and about 30 more pages than the first edition. The second edition will feature many new projects for seasoned wee folk makers as well as yet-to-be converts, who are just beginning to learn how to wrap pipe-cleaner limbs. We don’t have a definite date for publication, but with the work I still have to do, combined with C&T’s production time, the book should be on the shelves sometime in 2015. And because the information is propitiatory, I won’t be able to show the new projects I’m designing until the book comes out. Sorry, but that’s how these things work.

For now, Amazon is selling print-on-demand copies of Felt Wee Folk. They don’t mention that it’s print-on-demand, but it is. They also have a Kindle version. The book’s publisher, C&T sells an e-book version, too. Downloading the book may be the easiest way for people from around the world to obtain the information without paying for overseas postage.

Debbie from A Child’s Dream Come True just sent some beautiful wool felt samples for me to use in the new projects. This is going to be fun!

Have you seen my new prints, which feature projects from Felt Wee Folk? “Humankind” and “Adopt the pace of nature” are available in my Etsy Shop.

Words + Images = 2 new prints

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Salley Mavor

Print – Humankind

I’ve recently added two new archival prints to my Etsy shop. I enjoyed researching lesser known inspirational quotes to go with my artwork. The first image surrounds T.S. Eliot’s remark with an array of fantasy characters from my how-to book Felt Wee Folk. The milkweed fairy below was originally used in the background of Felt Wee Folk’s title page and is now the focus of Emerson’s wise words. The watermarks will NOT appear on the prints. I’m am slowly adding identifying watermarks to my digital images on this blog. Aesthetically, I don’t like it, but with my images being shared all over the internet, I have to do what I can to protect my work from becoming just an anonymous picture with no trace of origin.

print – Adopt the pace

California poppies and other icons

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Salley Mavor

I’m finally caught up with unfinished tasks and e-mails, so I went through last week’s pictures from our trip to California. I see this grouping as iconic images which represent the look and spirit of California. We came across this hillside full of California poppies while driving along the central coast. Rob took a picture of me taking the closeup photo. We’re calling it “Salley’s World” in reference to a certain famous 20th century American painting.

This couple’s color sense was irresistible.

The children playing, the beach umbrella and the VW van pictures were all taken at Hearst Beach.

This tile roof is inside the courtyard of the San Luis Obispo Mission.

And Tuesday is farmer’s market day in Paso Robles.

Polly’s trip to California

Posted on March 31, 2013 by Salley Mavor

Polly doll saw a lot of dry and wet places on her recent trip to California. Dry vineyards in Paso Robles.Green grass and railroad tracks somewhere between San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles.

Misty and moist Bridal veil falls in Yosemite.

Another magnificent waterfall in Yosemite.

And soft and furry sequoia trees in Yosemite!

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visit to Fresno

Posted on March 24, 2013 by Salley Mavor

We had a wonderful time doing book related business in Fresno, CA on Friday and Saturday. First there was the reception for the “Pocketful of Posies” exhibit, which is on display through May 24 at the Arne Nixon Center for the Study of Children’s Literature, Henry Madden Library at Fresno State.

Jennifer Crow and her helper Mai Sou Lee did a beautiful job organizing and hanging the show.

On Saturday, I signed books at Petunia’s Place, a children’s bookstore in Fresno. 14 yr. old Sarah Riley came from a 3 hour distance to meet me. She started making fairies from Felt Wee Folk when she was 7. I’m impressed!

Closeups: Spring

Posted on March 20, 2013 by Salley Mavor

Today is the Spring Equinox! Let’s celebrate the coming of warmth and the promise of the growing season. Here are some spring-inspired closeups of my artwork, starting with a house and tree, which I guess is from the first grade. Skip 50 years, to a group of details from some nursery rhyme illustrations in Pocketful of Posies. If you have the book, you can look carefully and pick them out.

new born lambs

Posted on March 16, 2013 by Salley Mavor

Rob and I visited a friend’s farm a few days ago. We took photographs of the new born lambs and proud ewes, who were very willing subjects. As our camera clicked away, they provided us with the most pastoral maternal scene. The lambs were so beguiling! See sheep and lambs I’ve stitched from my Close-ups series here.

Illustration exhibit in Boston

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Salley Mavor

March 16 – April 28, 2013. Contemporary Illustration: At Your Service
The Adams Gallery, Suffock University, 120 Tremont St., Boston, MA

An original embroidered illustration from my book, In the Heart, will be included in an exciting invitational exhibit in Boston. Designed to show the variety of work being done in the field, Contemporary Illustration: At Your Service will show original artwork along with examples of their commercial application. There will be editorial illustrations from newspapers and magazines, along with work from advertising, product and toy design. My piece is the only children’s book illustration included, but my friend Ashley Wolff’s Miss Bindergarten doll will be on display, along with a picture book from her popular Miss Bindergarten series.

Pages 14/15, In the Heart

Fresno, here we come!

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Salley Mavor

detail from “Wee Willie Winkie” board book

Yes, the Pocketful of Posies traveling exhibit is coming to Fresno, California and so am I! 25 original embroidered illustrations from my picture book Pocketful of Posies, 10 pieces from my series of baby board books and George’s Chair will all be on display March 18 – May 24, 2013 at the Arne Nixon Center for the Study of Children’s Literature, Henry Madden Library at Fresno State.

All are invited to the opening reception on Friday, March 22 at 6:00 pm. Rob and I will be traveling to California for the event and I will be giving a talk at 7:00 pm. In addition, I’ll be at Petunia’s Place, also in Fresno, for a book signing on Saturday, March 23rd from 11:00 – 1:00. We’re really looking forward to coming to California and hope to meet some of you on Friday or Saturday.

detail from “Pocketful of Posies” 2010

My artwork is included in the dual exhibition, “Golden Threads: Journey through the Picture Book,” in Fresno State’s Madden Library. Featured will be “Golden Legacy: 65 Years of Golden Books,” sixty pieces of original artwork from Little Golden Books, and “Pocketful of Posies: The Worlds of Salley Mavor” (co-hosted by the Fresno FiberArts Guild). I’m happy that the show will be up for more than 2 months, giving people plenty of time to come and see it.

Close-ups (Cats #2)

Posted on March 10, 2013 by Salley Mavor

Cat pin circa 1980

It’s about time I showed more cat pictures because there are so many to choose from. Cats were the subject of the first post in the Close-ups series, back in 2009. This brown cat pin is over 30 years old. Read about my pins here. The baby leopards are from “Rana is Born”. The piece was the inspiration for Judy Richardson’s story, Come to my Party, which I illustrated in 1993.

detail from “Rana is Born” fabric relief 1992

This costumed cat is a detail from “On Halloween”, which is in my 1997 book You and Me: Poems of Friendship. The whole illustration is printed as a poster, which is available in my Etsy Shop.

detail from “On Halloween” 1997

This seated cat is from my 1999 book The Hollyhock Wall.

detail from “The Hollyhock Wall” 1999

This kitty is part of the faux tile frieze in my kitchen. Read about that here.

Faux Tile 2001

And this cat topiary is from the verse “Molly My Sister and I” in my book Pocketful of Posies. Autographed copies, plus a poster are available in my Etsy Shop.