Ever wonder what the character Juno would be like in the world of A.A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh? Of course not, who thinks like that? I mean, besides me, while driving in the car one random day. I didn't draw this in the car, I'm pretty sure that would be as illegal as trying to text while driving, but the movie/children's book mashup stayed in my head long enough for me to see it through in the ol' sketchbook one afternoon. And so here it is!
 

The Magpie was very honored to meet artist Nikki McClure at the recent BAM Ignite event at the Bellevue Arts Museum. She has a stunning exhibit, Nikki McClure: Cutting Her Own Path, on display until February 3 of next year at The Bellevue Arts Musuem, which I highly recommend going to see, if you live in the area. Chances are you've probably seen her incredible cut paper illustration on book and album covers, and my personal favorite, on children's books, which I think showcases her work marvelously. The dramatic contrast of the cut black paper against white or colored backgrounds lend themselves perfectly for children's books, and her work has such a narrative storytelling aspect. 

If you see Nikki McClure's exhibit, you get a chance to see original work and by getting up close, you can see every slice that renders a single piece of paper into a delicate lattice portrait. Admiring that level of handcraft and skill makes me think of jade or bone sculptures, where intricate carvings are made from a single piece of material. And she has a display of her sketchbooks and watercolors, along with a box of used Xacto blades to get a sense of her process and what it takes to inspire and create such beautiful pieces. Also -- put it on your calendar, she's doing a reading at Bellevue Arts Museum on December 8th, from 1-1:30pm! Visit the museum's event page for more details.

If you don't live in the area, fear not! Her books are my Fancy recommendation for the holidays. For the art collector and appreciator, {4} Collect Raindrops is a collection of McClure's work. There are fun books like {3} Things to Make and Do, to inspire the artist in everyone with simple projects. For the family she has several children's books like {2} Mama, Is It Summer Yet, {1} All In a Day, or for the mom to-be, {5} The First 1000 Days. I love giving her books to friends with children because there is always an emphasis on being close with nature and the whole food movement. It introduces simple, healthy habits to children like the benefits of gardening, going to a farmers market and just being hands-on with what goes on their plate. She's also done the cover art for grown-up books like Manifestos on the Future of Food and Seed, a collection of essays about the sustainable food movement. 

Art that speaks to body and soul, this is something this Bird can flap her wings about. Nikki McClure's books can be found in bookstores and online, and a quick way to get them is at BuyOlympia.com -- that's where I did a bunch of shopping myself!    

Jaunty Fine Print: Books available in stores, or for purchase on Nikki McClure's website

Do you appreciate the value and power of a dollar? It sounds like something your mom or dad would have said, but the phrase rings true to this day. For every large mega-business that's operating today, they all had to start out with that first dollar they earned, and that goes the same for small, independent businesses. Even if they don't want to become mega-sized, it all comes down to that one little dollar. So why not have a children's book that's about the journey of that one dollar as he travels through the community, from small purchases to helping to build small businesses?

Let me introduce you to Bucky the dollar bill. He was created by my friend Lisa Nakamura, a celebrated chef in the Pacific Northwest, an active voice in the food community, and most importantly, a small business owner. She is the owner and head chef at Allium on Orcas and its little sister shop that serves sweets and ice cream, Lily. The community of Eastsound on Orcas Island is just like the town in her book, it's full of people who love and take pride in their home town and want it to thrive. She wrote Bucky as a way of illustrating the concept of the Spread it Around theory; it's about doing what you can, even if it's just a few dollars here and there, to support your local shops and really invest in your community. 

I was grateful for the opportunity to bring Bucky to life through drawings throughout the book, and it was nothing short of magic to finally see Bucky and all his adventures be brought to life on a printed page. This book is meant to be shared with children and grownups alike. The story is funny, sweet and heartfelt -- you'll be inspired to seek out ways you can be more involved in supporting the city you live in. 

Get a copy of Bucky the Dollar Bill today, and keep the movement going for the little dollar who's making a big change.

Jaunty Fine Print: book illustrations by Denise Sakaki - buy your copy of Bucky today!!

There was a sadness in our hearts last week when news of author and illustrator Maurice Sendak passed away on May 8th. The amount of Mirth, Imagination and the Wild-ness in the world dipped considerably as we were reminded of what an influence Sendak was on us during our early, raw years of childhood. I don't remember what age I was at when I was given my copy of Where the Wild Things Are, but I remember being struck by the feeling of a story being told to me, not at me. It was a story that embraced the notion of chaos, that as a child, you're constantly fighting against a primal need to act-out, be loud, be a Wild Thing. In Sendak's story of Max, the unruly child who refuses the world of Grown-Ups and their Must-do's, the tale became child's dream come true, to take a dangerous adventure to a savage place populated with Chimera-like creatures as powerful as they were riddled with child-like emotion. Despite their strenghth and size, a stern word or an attitude of authority could sway their devotion, much like Max. Much like all of us at that age, and maybe still as we sit in our Grown-Up world of Must-do's, wishing for something simpler. 

Sendak's work was sophisticated and pristine. It had universal appeal because it spoke to our emotional core, having the potential to evolve and never leave us. As children, we had a rare ally. As adults, his work reminds us why it's important to live and love with savage honesty, to never allow our hearts to be compromised. It was with eerie portence that the film version of Where the Wild Things Are happened to be on television the week before he passed away. It was appropriate that the Peter Pan-like Spike Jonze would bring the story to the big screen. I honestly can't explain what I think of it, or if I even liked the movie. It had a lot of the surface ideas of the book: the darkness of reality to children, an emotional presence as delicate as a spiderweb but oddly resiliant as iron. I think it was more Wild than anything else, but I missed the sense of self-realization, that a love of bonfire rumpuses, fort-building and dirt clod fights with mercurial rules isn't real love. Love is more complex than that; contrary and inscrutable at times, but always with open, awaiting arms. The return to one's own room, with supper still hot, in a place where one is loved best.

Sendak once said, "I cry a lot because I miss people. They die and I can't stop them. They leave me and I love them more." It perfectly captures his possessive sense of love, much like that of a child. When something is good, when you are safe, happy and cared for, why would you ever want to leave that? Time is cruel. It separates us from our heart's content and there's no way to explain that. And now, as we mourn Sendak, missing him, unable to stop him from leaving us, we gather up our childhood memories and depart from our Grown-Up world for a spell, if only to dance by the bonfire with old friends under a full moon for a long overdue Wild Rumpus. With teeth and claws. With snarls and howls. To be Wild again and celebrate a tender soul who introduced Fear to us, so that we may become Fearless. 

Jaunty Fine Print: Illustration by Denise Sakaki, words and inspiration by Maurice Sendak

The only Jaunty shopping trips this Bird has been on of late, have been for friends having babies. One of the things I like to do is add something personal along with all the typical baby wishlist registries, because there is nothing cute or adorable about silicone nipples, no matter how practical they may be. I always received books as a child, and while maybe storytime may have fallen by the wayside in lieu of PlayStations and XBoxes, this Bird is hanging on to the notion that there's still people out there who read to their little one. If so, good on you -- reading really is fundamental. And there's definitely some good books out there once you've run through Goodnight Moon five hundred times. 

These are the latest books (some old, some new) that this Bird has taken a Fancy to:

{1} Don't Lick the Dog written/illustrated by Wendy Wahman - a local/Seattle-based author who teaches wise lessons about pet ownership; good for the kids who are starting to ask for a puppy or kitty. Sent this one to a niece right as they got a new dog. 

{2} A Pair of Red Clogs written by Masako Matsuno, illustrated by Kazue Mizumura - I grew up with this book and it's a personal favorite about a little girl with a new pair of red laquer clogs who becomes careless, but learns from her mistakes

{3} Just Being Audrey written by Margaret Cardillo, illustrated by Julia Denos - just discovered this book and it's so charming and beautiful, I have to get a copy for myself. It's a sweet biography about Audrey Hepburn, incredibly illustrated, focusing on all the good things and humanitarian efforts she championed in her life. 

{4} Zen Ghosts written/illustrated by Jon J. Muth - it's never too early to teach a child about questioning the world around them and embracing a deep sense of humanity. A tale about the power of love and lost spirits, elegantly told and illustrated by Jon J. Muth. He also illustratedCity Dog, Country Frog, also a sweet tale about friendship.

{5} This is New York written/illustrated by Miroslav Sasek - this is just one of several cities Sasek has chronicled in his geographical series of wonderfully illustrated books, which you can see here. The classic NYC, London, Paris and Rome are my favorites. They're so modern and clever, and a great way to familiarize children with different places.

{6} Little Pea written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Jen Corace - all I have to say about this book is: so cute, it hurts!! An adorable little pea reluctantly eats his dinners of candy and sweets, just so he can enjoy his dessert of spinach! Obvious reverse-psychology, I know, but a sweet-pea book to inspire a finicky eater to eat their greens.


Jaunty Fine Print:  book cover images from Amazon.com

 

The weather has been notably Un-Jaunty of late -- pouring rain, flashes of lightning, a rumble of thunder or two. But this Bird refuses to let the rainyday blues take hold. Grey skies send warm J'adore wishes for warm comforts like a stack of neglected books, baking some orange and pecan scones, and taking the time to let one's gaze linger on a raindrop or two.

What? So boooooooooring, you say? Don't doubt the restorative powers of just sitting with a book, an oven-fresh scone and a spot o' tea as you hear the drumming of raindrops on the roof. Right now I'm jumping between two books that couldn't be any more different -- William Gibson's Pattern Recognition and the kid-friendly Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo.

What about you, Jaunty Readers? What rainy day activities do you love best?


Jaunty Fine Print: photos by Denise Sakaki

 

Don't pooh-pooh this Magpie for reverting to her carefree chickadee days, remembering old favorite books like Ludwig Bemelmans' award-winning and adorable series, Madeline. I think this was one of my earliest introduction to charming Parisian life, through they eyes of the independent-minded and mischief-prone Madeline, the smallest of the twelve girls who left their vine-wrapped house at half past nine, walking in two straight lines.

While this Birdie doesn't have a yellow sailor-hat, she did put together a Parisian Madeline-Inspired outfit of primary colors and happy memories: blue satin dress with Magpie-added button details on the collar (JC Penney), cream puff-sleeve jacket (Anthropologie), red tights (Express), patent yellow clutch (JC Penney), silver-toed black suede mary jane flats (Nine West), and a white oh-so-French vintage beret. And that's all there is -- there isn't any more.

Jaunty Fine Print: Photo and illustration from madeline.com; clothing photos by Denise Sakaki