The Perfect Page Turn

With picture book writing their is a real art to handling a page turn. You have to think through not only the words but the accompanying art on the pages. There are many amazing tools out there to help you envision what your story will look like with each turn. You can find a wonderfulContinue reading "The Perfect Page Turn"

Q-Kids: Hot Rock Art

The broken crayon is the bane of my craft box. If you're int he same boat as me it's time to collect all those broken bits and get to crafting. My kids have wanted to do the "painted rocks" art and leave them on our local trails for awhile now. The issue is all theContinue reading "Q-Kids: Hot Rock Art"

Q-Kids Activity: Cookie Cutter Fun

It's Monday. Just in case you needed a reminder. Staying in quarantine is getting longer and longer and even those of us with that extra serving of creativity are losing steam. We are also running low on all the snacks and comfort foods. So for snack time this week things got a bit crazy. IContinue reading "Q-Kids Activity: Cookie Cutter Fun"

Bibliographies for Writers

You know those pesky end notes after research papers in high school and college? Well they're back. In fact they never really left and are super important for writers who want to write in certain areas. If you're writing nonfiction I'll assume this is all old news to you but other types of writing thatContinue reading "Bibliographies for Writers"

Q-Kids: Nature Weaving

My kids love to be outside. Unfortunately, the weather hasn't been cooperating much here. But for those that do have fair weather this activity will have kids exploring and gathering all over your yard. There are many nature weaving photos available on Pinterest. My version is handy because I utilize something I already had onContinue reading "Q-Kids: Nature Weaving"

Making the Most of Time

Today I didn't know what to write. I'm feeling far less than inspired in these current times. So I looked up some quotes from others wiser than myself instead. Here's what I found. Hopefully you find them as inspiring as I do. “If you love life, don’t waste time, for time is what life isContinue reading "Making the Most of Time"

Quarantine Check-In

How are you holding up? Take a moment this morning and take a mental inventory. Did you get some fresh air this weekend? Did you connect with someone you love? Did you accomplish something that needed to be done? Have you read something exquisite? Just like a boss would do, I've found it essential toContinue reading "Quarantine Check-In"

Q-Kids Art Activity

This little mini series is an attempt to help out my fellow parents who need ideas to break up the day. These ideas will be fast, adaptable, and hopefully use things you already have on hand, all from home. BOX VEHICLE I know we are all getting stuff through delivery right now and that cardboardContinue reading "Q-Kids Art Activity"

Q-Kids Art Activity

This little mini series is an attempt to help out my fellow parents who need ideas to break up the day. These ideas will be fast, adaptable, and hopefully use things you already have on hand, all from home. PINE CONE FLOWERS We have a lot of pine trees in our yard and I knowContinue reading "Q-Kids Art Activity"

Q-Kids Art Activity

This little mini series is an attempt to help out my fellow parents who need ideas to break up the day. These ideas will be fast, adaptable, and hopefully use things you already have on hand, all from home. BEADING Whether you're kids are small or big you can get a lot of fun withContinue reading "Q-Kids Art Activity"

Q-Kids Art Activity

This little mini series is an attempt to help out my fellow parents who need ideas to break up the day. These ideas will be fast, adaptable, and hopefully use things you already have on hand all from home. MAKE A PUZZLE My kids love puzzles and this is perfect for any artist. Have theContinue reading "Q-Kids Art Activity"

Q-Kids Art Activity

This little mini series is an attempt to help out my fellow parents who need ideas to break up the day. These ideas will be fast, adaptable, and hopefully use things you alread have on hand, all from home. TRACK A PLANT'S GROWTH I bought a hyacinth for Easter last week and it hadn't startedContinue reading "Q-Kids Art Activity"

Q-Kids Daily Art Activity

I know these past two weeks I've posted about teaching art classes but in all honesty I'd had those posts scheduled out before the whole virus crisis happened. I'm not teaching right now at all. But it occurred to me that just because I don't have a classroom to go into that I can't shareContinue reading "Q-Kids Daily Art Activity"

Teaching Shadows

You'd think rule one of any teaching class would be never turn out the lights. But here I am, the newly minted art teacher, closing the blinds and flipping the switch. I mean how else do you really teach kids about shadow without a spotlight and some well placed puppets? So here I am withContinue reading "Teaching Shadows"

It’s Practice not a Mistake

My posts on Mondays have been delayed lately because I've received a new opportunity to teach art to kids. It's sticky madness to be totally honest. I don't mind though. Creativity is happening. Mistakes are termed as practice. Freedom of expression is running rampant, often literally. If you hear a voice within you say 'youContinue reading "It’s Practice not a Mistake"

The Good, The Bad, & The Changes

I've had the opportunity through my amazing agency Golden Wheat Literary to be working through a marketing series. The goal is to get a better grasp on our audience and make our efforts line up across our platforms. While it sounds like a less than fun experience I've actually had a realization this week. IContinue reading "The Good, The Bad, & The Changes"

Managing an Anthology

Sadly, I've been a part of two local anthologies that have fallen through. I'll be honest it was due to the planning portion than the writing portion. How do you actually put it together in a coherent way. So if you're on anthology train here are some tips to get your project into the stationContinue reading "Managing an Anthology"

A New Kind of Note

I'm delving deep into a new type of childrens writing and am loving it. I'm five stories into a historical fiction STEAM series. It's a blast. What I'm realizing though is everything can't be an art note. I've talked in the past about what makes a good illustration note, you can read more here. SoContinue reading "A New Kind of Note"

Revising Grief

Nothing kills my creativity faster than grief. It's like my mind gets tunnel vision and my whole demeanor is sad. I try to find the creative pieces in every part of life but in these moments I can't. So I look elsewhere for comfort. I usually start with my Bible and that helps the healingContinue reading "Revising Grief"

Why Snow is Like Story

I'm sitting at my desk on a cold February day and it hits me how much stories and snow have in common. If you'll indulge my little analogy, here's why I think so. At the start, small flakes are falling in a quiet tumble. Little whispers of plot are coming out of the sky andContinue reading "Why Snow is Like Story"

Holy Homesteading

Living a Creative Life with Hannah Deurloo, Author

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