I've finally set up an Etsy shop. I had been meaning to for some time but have been so busy with my contracts that I kept putting it off. It was easier than I thought. I was inspired by the article in in the New York Times Magazine by Rob Walker, Handmade 2.0. I only put a few prints up but will be adding stuff as I go along. The pirate book I've been working on for the past four months is finally coming to a close. I only have a few spot illustrations left to do. I think I should be done by Friday and I can take a few days over the holidays to work on my own stuff before I begin the book for Raincoast. I have a short comic strip I'd love to do. Speaking of Etsy, I recently received a print I had purchased from Anne Julie Aubry. Her stuff is so beautiful. Please check out her blog: Ma Petit Theiere ( on my blog roll ) . As usual I've been into all sorts of new stuff. I have a couple of new books on my shelf. Cherry and Olive ( "Cerise Griotte") is written and illustrated by Benjamin Lacombe. I hadn't heard of him before and my cousin who lives outside of Paris emailed me about him. Really great stuff. The other book is Edward Lear's complete book of Verse and nonsense. What an amazing book. My friend Julia Schuckel introduced me to the work of Friedensreich Hundertwasser. I can't believe I wasn't familiar with his work. His architecture is amazing. My friends Ambera and Oliver are spending Christmas in Oliver's home town of Lichtenstenstein and will be making a trip to Vienna where they will check out some of his work. I hope they buy me a Stieff....
