author of more than a dozen books for kids & teens
04 Aug 2012 Leave a comment
in News
Between work and gardening, I’ve been watching the Olympics on TV and have marveled at some of the amazing accomplishments and heartbreaks of athletes from around the world. I admire athletes like South African Oscar Pistorius who had to fight his way into the Olympics and who celebrates his abilities. I also admire the dedication of all those athletes who put in long hours, month after month, year after year yet don’t go home with a medal.
02 Aug 2012 Leave a comment
in News
I haven’t blogged much, but I have been busy; an article written, a picture book critique finished and sent to the author, a picture book edited, sugar snap peas and zucchini picked, more lettuce planted and the garden watered. Now it’s time to get back to my young adult novel in progress.
28 Jul 2012 Leave a comment
in News
Just back from Galiano. Beautiful weather, wonderful freshly smoked salmon, and fresh veggies from my dear friend Marci’s garden. Add in wine, and lovely sunsets and you have perfection. Check out my friend, Marci DeVicque’s fuzed glass works. They are totally gorgeous. 
And these tiny tree frogs are everywhere and super cute!
25 Jul 2012 3 Comments
in News Tags: outdoor DIY art project
Ta Da! Here’s my latest outdoor art…faux stained glass windows.
This is what I spent yesterday afternoon doing instead of writing. I’m thrilled. It makes my shed look like a mini cottage.
What you’ll need:
an old window, simulated liquid leading, glass paint in several colors (available at craft stores…), paint brushes, a glass scraper or one-sided razor blade with a handle, and plastic containers for the paint.
1. take an old window. Paint the frame (I had already done this since it was one of the original windows from my house. I kept a few of the windows when I replaced my old windows with new double glazed ones).
2. clean the glass with vinegar and water.
3. create a design on paper (you can skip this step if you are using a simple design like mine)
3. use simulated liquid leading to “draw the lead lines”. It’s easiest to use straight out of the bottle by squeezing the paint through the tiny nipple. This requires a steady hand though. Touch up the lead lines using a small paint brush.
4. let the faux lead dry for a few minutes then clean up your line with a glass scraper or one-sided razor blade. Don’t worry about a few wobbles in your line. No one will even notice once you’ve finished the faux glass.
5. fill in the spaces between your leading with the colors of your choice.
Voila!
Of course it’s nowhere near as beautiful as my real stained glass windows, but hey, it’s perfect for the garden, and it only cost me $17.00 for the paint and an afternoon outside!
Tip: I used a stippling technique for the colored panels since I didn’t want the wall behind the windows to show through. But if you use regular brush strokes, you will see some brush lines in your window. Don’t worry about that either because it looks great no matter which technique you use.
Keep in mind that the paint will need to cure, so it will need to stay dry for a few days.
23 Jul 2012 3 Comments
in News Tags: Margaret Mahy
I’m so sad to hear that Magaret Mahy is no longer with us. The world has lost a wonderful woman and one of the great children’s writers of our time. I don’t doubt for a minute that she had more stories in her, stories we’ll never get to hear. Fortunately, she left more than a hundred books in her 76 years. Some of her stories delighted younger readers, while others were intended for older audiences. 
I met her many years ago in Calgary. She sat next to me at Kaleidoscope, an international children’s literature conference held every four years. She had been invited as a keynote speaker and she was truly inspiring. I was a young author with only two books under my belt, but when she sat down at my table, she was far too interested in everyone there to talk about herself. She was thrilled to be in Canada and she glowed with enthusiasm for the people she had met and the landscapes she had seen. Her curiosity about everything and everyone was childlike and refreshing. She was one of the most engaged people I’ve met, and that feeling was confirmed a few days after the conference when we were travelled with our hosts (who were both on the organizing committee) for a short hike into the Rocky Mountains.
Margaret’s books are as current today as they were the day they were written. These are are some of my favorites, and I hope you will pick one or two of them up for yourself, or for a young reader who will enjoy a brief visit to one of the many worlds Margaret Mahy created for us.
21 Jul 2012 Leave a comment
in News Tags: DIY with books
Two things that I truly love are books and home renos/decorating. Here’s a great idea that combines the two, but be sure you’ve already read the books cuz it could be a disaster if you pull one out! It comes from one of my favorite DIY sites, Apartment Therapy.
20 Jul 2012 Leave a comment
in News
A gorgeous hot day yesterday so went on a lovely bike ride from Mattick’s Farm to Island View Beach in Saanichton with my friend Janet Daines. It’s only about a 7 kilometer ride, but it requires quite a climb along Island View Road which is followed by a long curvy downhill section. Janet had no trouble with the hill, but I had to get off my bike about half way up the hill because I don’t have great hill climbing gears. The ride is pretty much through farm country so it was gorgeous. And, arriving at Island View Beach, the views were even prettier. It was clear enough to see Mount Baker today too, a bonus.
Of course, having come down the hill required another climb back up, but the views were worth it.
19 Jul 2012 2 Comments
in News
One of the cool things I love about the Vancouver Folk Music Festival is the lantern parade they do towards the end of the night concerts. The lanterns are carried through the crowd, and then light our way as we leave the park at the end of the last set. These lanterns are crafted from paper, sticks, glue and paint and have grown to be an art form in and of themselves. This year the lantern theme was children’s literature. Lanterns featured included The Stinky Cheese Man, the spider from Charlotte’s Web, The hat from The Cat in the Hat, Peter Rabbit, Little Red Riding Hood, and many more. Here are a few pictures I managed to take.
I just wish you could have been there….it was magical.
13 Jul 2012 Leave a comment
The Vancouver Folk Music Festival is calling my name. There are people I’m excited to listen to again like Ani DiFranco, Lucinda Williams, Veda Hille and Ramblin’ Jack Eliot, Stephen Fearing and Holly Near. But I always discover new fabulous music.
Now if only the weather would cooperate! See you there.
11 Jul 2012 2 Comments
in News Tags: Sheena Lott
So excited! My new picture book will be out this fall…here’s a sneak peek.
Sheryl McFarlane 