August DesertFriends desktop calender

For you to download to use as a desktop wallpaper calender, every month of 2010. Get the whole set here.

Please note that this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License.

DesertRoad to SnakeBite Ranch pattern

I entered a new pattern design at Spoonflower's fabric of the week contest, the theme was desert, so of course I had to take part.
If you'd like to vote for it, follow this link, search for my pattern (DesertRoad to SnakeBite Ranch by chesirella) and click on it. Thank you!

William Kurelek

Lumberjack, 1974

A Prairie Boy's Summer, 1975
I found William Kurelek's A Prairie Boy's Winter/Summer in my old bedroom in Germany and remember how strange and fascinating these books were to me as a child, being autobiographical and realistic and so different to the other books I had,
and how I found it so relieving to read that this boy got nervous about his school's summer games, too!
I just bought Lumberjack (also autobiographical!) online but it's in no condition to read indoors or without gloves on unfortunately, that smell beats all old-book-smells I've known. But it's a great book and I like his plain writing style, and of course, the artwork! I'd love to see To My Father's Village, which he wrote and painted just before he died, but it's either out of print or at crazy collector's prices...!

Little Green Helpers

Here are some pictures of the 2 Little Green Helpers books, Grow! and Recycle!, published by Campbell Books this summer. They come with push-up-tabs that make water gush, plants grow or birds appear from bushes. I also did the title lettering (Grow! + Recycle!) and the wooden stamp alphabet was done in-house, I love that handmade touch it gives.
Also available to buy here and here.
view more on Flickr

I've always wanted to make a green theme kids book about recycling...maybe one that is more factual and for older kids. I haven't seen that many around, although even Charlie and Lola recycle these days, which is good because I was in a bit of a shock when I first arrived in England and there still wasn't any real recycling going on!

Envelop shop

I have some of my designs/illustrations on Envelop, where you can order pillow cases, aprons and such like, printed on cotton on demand. I will upload more products soon...

Fair Play Kids

Editorial work for German parenting magazine Leben+Erziehen.
Interesting article about how parents can help kids to gradually learn things like consideration and respect for others, like keeping them on a long leash to solve arguments on their own, unless it gets physical...:o)