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July FableFriday: Christina Kelly, Production Artist

For Christina Kelly, art is a way to draw connections. “Making art was and still is a social and bonding activity for me,” says Christina, a Production Artist at FableVision Studios. She’s one of the newest additions to our team – not that it shows.

“As opposed to animation and fine art, illustration relies on a key image to clearly communicate a story contained in that single moment,” Christina explains. Her job of conveying a good story by creating captivating illustrations and bringing them to life is what drew her to FableVision.

Before coming to FableVision, Christina had stints at Cloudkid and Soup2Nuts. Her work can be seen on the Sprout show Astroblast!, along with the PBS series WordGirl and SciGirls.

Christina’s flavor of art and design comes from a variety of places but most notably from a deep-rooted appreciation of Japanese anime and culture and an endearing affection for cats. This month, we sat down with Christina to chat about her art, the furry felines who inspire her, and a brand new comic book that’s currently in the works.

                   Christina with the Soup2Nuts crew

                   Christina with the Soup2Nuts crew

Christina, welcome! Tell us about your journey to FableVision.   My path to FableVision is a tale of suspense and mystery. Just kidding! Before my time at the studio, I spent a few years as a concept and background designer at Soup2Nuts and Cloudkid. After both places closed down, I started working here as a freelancer in January 2016. I was fortunate enough to work on multiple projects for the next several months until FableVision became my permanent home.

So you’ve been here for a little while now – what’s a typical day in the life of an artist at FableVision?
I like to get here at least a half hour early and just spend some time doing some loose doodles in my sketchbook. I’ve found that it helps me wake up and it feels a little bit like stretching before sports. The rest of the day is a combination of juggling a couple of project needs, a possible meeting, and getting feedback on designs.

                                   Christina and her sister

                                   Christina and her sister

You were raised in San Diego. Do you find that where you live has had any effect on your art?
I think it influenced what I like to draw and a fondness for my childhood. I have a lot of good memories of drawing outside with chalk for hours and finding lots of wild animals to study. It also helped a lot that my sister would sit down and make games and comics by drawing with me.

What first drew you to art? Do you have any early sketches from when you were little that you’re comfortable sharing?
I first got into art when my parents gave me a “magna doodle” toy when I was very little. It let me create hundreds of drawings that would ultimately get wiped away in seconds so I could draw “better” doodles. Sometimes I would be so proud of them that I would ask my Mom to snap a picture so I could remember it. A lot of my art endeavors weren’t so contained though, and I have a lot of messy drawings below to prove it.

You’re a graduate of Massachusetts College of Art and Design. How much of what you learned there have you found indispensable to your work?
As an Illustration major, I learned a lot about storytelling and composition. Learning how to simplify my art into narrative symbols is one of those fun challenges that trained me to consider every part of an illustration and decide what was relevant to the story.  

Internships also played an important role in my education. During my time as a student I interned at the animation studio, Hero4Hire Creative, under Lindsay Small-Butera, where I learned how to translate my illustration skills into multimedia form. Since I help tell stories every day, I think I never stop using those art muscles I learned at school and in the studio.  

Look at your desk at work and list three items from it. Then, take a sentence or two to describe what those items say about you.

  1. I have a Bee and Puppycat figurine that came out of a “blind box” toy. I’m a huge fan of the series, and I would love to make something similar someday.
  2. This is my new marimo plant! I got her as a gift from my Mom. I decided to name her after my great grandmother Florence. I love the weird marimo culture (people treat them like real animal pets!) and wanted one of my own.
  3. Here is a possibly fake space phone I got as a special gift. I can’t make any calls on it but it makes some funny sounds. It makes me smile so I like having it on my desk. I think sometimes objects remind me of fun memories better than photos. (Photos are important to me too though!)

Can you walk us through your creative process? What are some of your challenges? What do you find rewarding?
Concepting and brainstorming is still always a deceptively time consuming part of my process. The one important thing I’ve tried to learn over time is to spend more time brainstorming through sketches and less time in my head. Even bad ideas are still ideas. I have found that I work very well with a traditional pad of paper and pencil to get very quick ideas out.

 Though I definitely always love seeing the final polished product of any project, one of the most rewarding moments is when someone peeks over your shoulder and sees a concept after lots of brainstorming and thinks it’s clever. The best idea always seems to be the one that comes after a lot of early concepts, so I always stick to that system instead of going with the first idea that pops in my head.

You’ve created art for shows like Astroblast!, WordGirl, SciGirls, and the Annecy Film Festival featured piece, "Rhino Named Paul." Do you have a favorite memory from that time?
It’s hard to pick just one! Everyone at Soup2Nuts that worked on “Astroblast!” had a very good sense of humor, so when a challenge came up we always found a way to have fun while fixing the problem. One of my favorite memories is when we had a series premiere party and made themed snacks for the show. I made pistachio pudding cups and won a very stylish beanie hat that I treasure to this day.  

I also really enjoyed getting to draw a LOT of cute animals for Cloudkid’s “Rhino Named Paul.” I always get really excited when I get to work on character design projects, an area where you really get to play with shapes and expressions. In particular, there’s one scene in the series where there’s 10+ different colored sleeping cats in a house that I got the esteemed task of designing. Talk about a dream come true!

Rumor has it that you’re working on a comic book. Tell us more!
I am! I spent a year working on a 30-page comic book called “The Terror on Tashirojima Island.” The book is about an island off the coast of Japan that is inhabited by lots of cats. It’s also about demons, but I promise it’s not that scary! I’m going to be premiering it at the local independent comics expo MICE in October.

You have a really wide range of experience from animation to concept designs. Where does one start if they want to be an animation maven?
I am very fortunate because even though I did not study in an animation program at school, I’m working in animation today. I would say that it definitely helps to do some combination of applying for internships at places that you think you’d like to do work for, going to networking events in your field of interest, and posting your work online. Meeting people and getting feedback on your work helps a lot.

Is there a particular personal project that you’re fond of?
I’m very fond of my college thesis illustration series I did on cats in mythology. I had an excuse for a whole year to research any weird lore or cultural myths surrounding cats. It was everything that I was very passionate about learning, so it was a lot of fun to work on. I think it also helped me find my identity as an illustrator.

What’s kawaii?
Kawaii is a Japanese word for “cute.” For example, on my desk I have a “kawaii stickers” set, which perfectly describes the adorable kitten and puppy stickers inside.

Does your slight obsession with cats influence your work?
Whoops, what tipped you off? Cats definitely influence my work and life. I grew up with a few cats and my mother went to school to be a veterinarian, so my fondness for animals may as well be in my genes. Whenever I get stuck trying to doodle or sketch, I still draw cats as my go-to muse.

More About Christina!

Favorite Harry Potter book: The first one!
Least favorite word: Flubber
Best cartoon ever: Steven Universe!
Lifetime supply of one food: Sour dough bread
Favorite graphic novelist: Emily Carroll
Name of debut album: Happy Cat Sounds Volume 1
If you weren’t making your living as an artist, what would you want to have as a career? I’m always in between animal rescue and librarian. I love books but I also love being able to be around pets. I think working at a Cat Cafe would be the perfect job!

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FableVision and The Trustees of Reservations celebrate 125 years of conservation with new picture book

Massachusetts’ Best-Selling Author/Illustrator Duo Commissioned to Create Commemorative Storybook to Celebrate The Trustee’s 125th Anniversarythe Commonwealth’s Largest Conservation & Preservation Non-Profit

What kind of child grows up to change the world?  The Trustees of Reservations, the Commonwealth’s largest conservation and preservation organization, knows the answer. As part of their 125th anniversary celebration they commissioned FableVision co-founders Peter H. Reynolds and Paul A. Reynolds to write a commemorative-edition children’s picture book as a tribute to a little boy named Charley Eliot—who could grow up to be Massachusetts’ visionary preservationist and founder of The Trustees of Reservations—now known simply as The Trustees.

FableVision's Peter H. Reynolds, Paul Reynolds, and Julia Young pose with a portrait of Trustees founder Charles Eliot. 

FableVision's Peter H. Reynolds, Paul Reynolds, and Julia Young pose with a portrait of Trustees founder Charles Eliot. 

FableVision’s founder and New York Times best-selling author/illustrator Peter H. Reynolds is excited about the book’s impact. “At FableVision, we’re very fond of visionaries—and Charles Eliot truly was one. I’m thrilled to be able to draw attention to his vision and mission that allowed The Trustees to protect so many of Massachusetts’ most precious sites for 125 years,” shared Reynolds.

Reynolds’ twin brother Paul, who recently landed the Library of Congress MassBook Award for Best Picture Book of the Year for his storybook collaboration with Peter called Going Places, was deeply touched by this project. “In researching, I learned that Eliot’s life was tragically cut short at age 37 by spinal meningitis, after which his father Charles W. Eliot, who was President of Harvard University, wrote a 770-page biography of his son’s life. Reading it, I felt as if Eliot’s father transported through time and was sitting next to me sharing about his remarkable little boy. Building on those details, I tried to create a story that would capture his son’s love for nature and history—a passion that would propel little Charley into a lifetime of conservation advocacy. The landscape of Massachusetts was impacted for generations because of this man’s vision. I hope this story inspires all ages to continue Eliot’s vision through the work of The Trustees, and that it will foster the next generation of stewardship of our natural and historic resources.” 

The endpapers at the front and back of the book feature full-color illustrations by the Reynolds’ longtime colleague and fellow FableVisionary Julia Anne Young who is also a writer, illustrator, and designer. Young’s drawings feature a handful of The Trustees’ signature properties around the Commonwealth. 

Attendees of The Trustee’s 125th Anniversary Gala in May received advance copies of the storybook.  Released in a limited-edition printing, the Charley Eliot and the Knights of the Woods storybook was carefully hand-bound by FableVision’s print partner, Bridgeport National Bindery (BNB) in Agawam, MA.  

BNB’s Michele Brennan notes, “Our most seasoned hand-binder from our library division, an immigrant from Moldova who has been with Bridgeport for nearly 35 years, used the time-honored technique fan binding. This is a centuries-old skill, one we decided to use once I shared the mission of The Trustees. Bridgeport preserves these skills and passes them on to our younger interns. It seemed appropriate to bind the books in this way to honor The Trustees’ 125th Anniversary.”

 Limited quantities of the collectors-edition book are also available at 12 sites, including The Trustees’ most visited National Historic Landmarks: Castle Hill on the Crane Estate in Ipswich and Naumkeag House and Gardens in Stockbridge.   Additional Trustees locations carrying the limited-edition book include Appleton Farms Dairy Store in Ipswich, KITCHEN at the Boston Public Market, Appleton Farms’ booth at the Boston Public Market, The Old Manse in Concord, Powisset Farm Guest House at Field Farm in Dover, Tully Lake Campground in Royalston, and Dunes Edge Campground in Provincetown.

Celebrate this special book with Peter and Paul during special book signing events this summer, including a public unveiling and birthday party at the Boston Public Library on Saturday, July 23, as well as special teacher/librarian event at The Blue Bunny Books in Dedham later this year.

 The Trustees’ 125th anniversary celebrations will continue throughout the year with other public events and celebrations. Festivities include a Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra concert on August 6, hosted for the first time ever at Castle Hill on the Crane Estate in Ipswich. The Trustees will hold a special Member Appreciation Party on July 14 from 6 to 8p.m. in partnership with the Copley Square Hotel, also celebrating their historic 125th birthday, and with gratitude for 125 years of loyalty to The Trustees (RSVP required). 

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New England Patriots Tight End Martellus Bennett and The Players’ Tribune visit FableVision Studios

Paul Reynolds, Marty Bennett, and Peter H. Reynolds

Paul Reynolds, Marty Bennett, and Peter H. Reynolds

Martellus Bennett is larger than life in every sense. Creative, generous, funny, artistic, curious – everything about him is big. A new arrival to New England and the Boston area, Marty wanted to swing by FableVision with the folks from The Players’ Tribune to introduce himself to a media studio in his new neighborhood – and we were beyond thrilled to host.

When he’s not tossing a football around for the New England Patriots, Marty’s pursuing his creative passions as an artist, writer, and producer. Marty is opening up his own studio called The Imagination Agency to create apps, children’s books, and animated films. Zoovie: A Warm and Fuzzy Tale is his studio’s first animated short released in August 2015. In addition to illustration, Marty wrote and illustrated Hey A.J. a story featuring his daughter, Jett. The app version of Hey A.J. was just released in time for Father’s Day.

Minutes after his arrival at FableVision, Marty was asking questions, offering tips, and poking his head into all the nooks and crannies of our workspace. Marty and FableVision founder Peter H. Reynolds instantly connected and talked enthusiastically about their love of producing art that inspires kids and adults to dream big.

Marty’s contagious enthusiasm left a lasting mark on the studio. Keep an eye out for all the great things ahead coming from him, The Imagination Agency, and The Players’ Tribune! Thanks for visiting! 

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The Logical Journey of The Logical Journey of the Zoombinis: Part Three – Chicken Scratch Pie

A note from the FableVision editor: This blog series over the next few weeks is written by FableVision’s Tone Thyne, Vice President of Creative. This series will give you a front-row seat to what it’s like to create a show, an over-the-shoulder look at the creative work that Tone and Gary Goldberger, FableVision President and Co-Founder do here at the Studio. Curious about how we got here? Read more about Tone here, Zoombinis here, and download the game to play!


Okay...here’s the fun part.

This is the part of the show-making process where I start to consider all the millions of different directions the show can take. At this stage, I intentionally don’t think about important details like, How would we pull this off from a production standpoint? How much money would this idea cost to make? Will this be a CG show, traditional drawn animation? Puppets? or How many spots do Spotted Flying Salamanders have and what region of the world do they actually hail from?

All those questions can be answered later. For now, this stage is all just pie in the sky.

The first and most important question I ask myself is, “What show would I (grown- up me) like to watch?” I know we’re ultimately making a show to appeal to a younger audience, but trust me – no kid is ever going to love a show that the show’s creator doesn’t love first.

With that directive, I grab a window seat on the MBTA, a blank sheet of paper, and a medium-fine-point Sharpie. While gazing at the world speeding by, I’m lulled into a trance. I make sure the conductor has my ticket first before any of this trance business happens. In this semi-conscious state, I’m able to transform the train window into a virtual television screen where I can watch the phantom show I’m dreaming up in real time. And as an added bonus – no commercials! As I visualize, I scribble what I see.

 
 

Don’t strain yourself. Let me help.

1. Narrator and his backstory
Throughout the entire Zoombinis game, there is an omnipotent Narrator who speaks to the player. This Narrator relays the backstory of our little blue friends and is present at every turn in the game – to set up a challenge and to remind the player when they’ve gotten something wrong. The Narrator takes a very objective stance – narrating what’s happening at each turn, but not really revealing too much.   

But who is this guy? And why does he know so much about the Zoombinis? Is he the puppet-master? Does he have anything to do with the Zoombinis’ plight? Perhaps the series centers on him and his story – inside and outside the game – and how the Zoombinis fit in to HIS world. Maybe he’s sort of like a major grown up Dungeons and Dragons geek...er, enthusiast who plays Zoombinis in the fantasy world in his mind?

2. Characters getting ready for Zoombinis to enter
As the player navigate the Zoombinis through the game, they encounter several interesting characters. Some examples are:

  • The Stone Guards – Four stone characters who regulate the passing of the Zoombinis through the Stone Cold Caves.
  • Arno – A grumpy Pizza Troll designed to look like a tree stump.
  • Captain Cajun – The humanoid owner of the ferryboat in Who’s Bayou.
  • The Fleens – Small and easily aggravated green creatures who harbor a significant distaste for the Zoombinis. The list goes on and on.

What if our series revolved around these and the other characters in the game? We could follow their day-to-day activities and like them, await the Zoombinis’ arrival in each episode. In this incarnation, the Zoombinis themselves are minor characters to the others.

3. Actors playing Zoombinis
Here’s a weird one. What if the series was extremely self-referential? The whole series could be the “backstage” goings-on of the game. There could be a set of actors who play the characters in the game – including the Zoombinis themselves. Our show would be what happens when the “cameras aren’t rolling” during the “filming of the game.” Sort of like a Real Hollywood Story of Zoombinis.

 

 

4. Scot as a kid
As mentioned before, Scot and the team at TERC brought Zoombinis to the world in the early nineties, but who knows how long they had been mulling and creeping and crawling around in Scot’s brain before that? What if the series took a young boy (named Scot perhaps) and showcased him playing with imaginary characters he’s made up? Maybe he calls them “Zoombinis” and he acts out adventures in every episode? Maybe we watch him creating the elements that will eventually become parts of the game. Like watching Jim Henson sewing the Kermit puppet out of his Mom’s green coat.

 

Hey, I didn’t say any of these ideas were good yet.

I simply can’t get the image of that scrumptious looking pumpkin pie I used as an illustration way back in paragraph one so I’ll naturally close with a possibly over-reaching pie analogy. Gary and I are headed over to see Scot Osterweil in a couple days and we’ll take this list with us as a starting point. These four ideas are going to form the foundation for the discussion between Gary, Scot, and me. A veritable crust of sorts. Our goal is to walk out of our meeting with all the good stuff that makes up the delicious filling of the pie. Once that’s done, we can put the icing on top and share with the world. That’s gonna need to be one giant pie.

Off to MIT.
See you next time. 

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June FableFriday: Andrea Calvin, Vice President of FableVision Learning

andreacalvin_fablevision

FableVision Learning, FableVision Studios’ sister company, is an educational publishing company with a BIG mission. “To put it simply, we’re a K-12 educational media publisher providing creative learning tools, resources, and support for the classroom,” explains Andrea Calvin, Vice President of FableVision Learning.

fablevisionlearning.com

Looking bigger, FableVision Learning is a mighty team of creativity champions, educational professionals, software designers, and strategists who truly understand the challenging needs of the 21st century classroom. They have a relationship with over 42,000 classroom teachers and school administrators across the U.S. and around the world. This network includes many of the most innovative educators around who are early-adopters of new products and technologies.

“Our team works every day to ensure all learners reach their full potential,” says Andrea. “We also have a lot of fun along the way.”

From technical support and project management to marketing and sales, Andrea wears many hats at FableVision Learning. We sat down with her this month to chat about innovative programs in the classroom she’s working on – and some exciting new ventures coming up this year.

Before venturing over to FableVision, you were pretty involved in Boston's journalism world. How did you transition from working in the newsroom to FableVision?
After graduate school, I landed a job at the MetroWest Daily News in Framingham (at that point the paper was owned by Community Newspaper Company). For a few months I worked the night desk as a copy editor and inside page designer. Eventually I became a night news editor and front page designer for the Daily News Tribune.

The big turning point of my journalism career was when the company decided to launch the Dedham Transcript, a weekly community paper and daily news site covering the Massachusetts town of Dedham. It was an amazing ride. During those years, I met Dedham residents Paul and Peter H. Reynolds and heard all about FableVision. When I made the decision to leave the newspaper world, FableVision was there – ready to become the next phase of my journey. It has been quite an adventure.  

FableVision Learning's Patrick Condon, Andrea Calvin, and Bill Norris, wearing carnival-themed animal masks made in Fab@School Maker Studio.

FableVision Learning's Patrick Condon, Andrea Calvin, and Bill Norris, wearing carnival-themed animal masks made in Fab@School Maker Studio.

Are there any skills that transferred from your journalism job to your job at FableVision Learning?
Journalism is communication and deadlines, two skills that are critical for any job. But any good reporter has the ability to learn new skills fast, weed out the facts, and roll with the punches. There were days in the newsroom that would start with covering a Girl Scout ceremony and end with chasing a massive brush fire. I have to be ready for anything. I’ve also learned to rely on my team. I work with fantastic people, Bill Norris, The Dot Connector, and Patrick Condon, Digital Media Engineer, the newest member of the FableVision Learning team.

You work closely with FableVision co-founders Paul and Peter H. Reynolds. How do you take their creative spirit and channel it into FableVision Learning?
Many would argue that that’s the secret to a long and creatively fruitful life. I find ways to listen to the big ideas and chunk them out into digestible nuggets for others to become inspired by. It is the spaghetti trick. I toss a lot of things out there and I see what sticks.

So—what’s coming up in June? We hear there’s a trip to Denver booked?
Yes, in June I will be traveling to Denver to finally meet the amazing Denine Jimmerson – our creative captain of Professional Development at FableVision Learning. Wait, you mean ISTE? Oh, yes, that’s happening too!

 
 

On June 27-29, FableVision will have a hands-on booth that will be set up like a Maker Space and will feature our Creative Maker Suite of products – Animation-Ish and  Fab@School Maker Studio. Our friends at Steelcase have donated an amazing line of classroom furniture. Technology will be provided by Dell, Silhouette, and Canon printers. Each day, there will be focused sessions on using the software tools in the classroom and time for folks to really get to understand how the programs work. In addition to all of this, we’re going to have meet-up times for FableVision Ambassadors and the Early Childhood Fab Lab partners. It should be a blast. I highly recommend folks visit Booth #3704 while at ISTE. 

You’re part of a small, nimble team doing big things. How do you keep track of it all?
Post-it notes. I have walls of Post-it notes.

FableVision Learning celebrated the release of Fab@School Maker Studio this year! How are you seeing it have an impact in classrooms?
The Maker Studio project has been one wild rollercoaster. After six years of research and development through The Reynolds Center for Teaching, Learning, and Creativity, Fab@School Maker Studio hit the online store in January. The early adopters were quick to get the program into their classrooms and the response has been stupendous. There is one school that is using Maker Studio as part of their colonial America curriculum. Fifth graders are assigned a colony to research, and then in Maker Studio they’re creating an object or a house or a plant unique to that specific location. Another afterschool program is creating projects in Maker Studio to sell in the school store as a fundraiser. And yet another teacher is using Maker Studio and digital fabrication to teach volume and shape. It is exciting to hear the reports from sites across the country on how the program is being used. 

What’s coming up at FableVision Learning that you’re excited about?
It is going to be a busy summer and fall for the FableVision Learning team. On June 15, we were invited to participate at the Abbot School’s Publishing Day Extravaganza. It’s a day to celebrate the work our 392 third, fourth and fifth graders have done in writing and illustrating a children’s picture book about Boston Marathon Race Director, Dave McGillivray. Paul Reynolds will open the day’s event and then there are the mini-marathon stations. Then there’s ISTE at the end of June. And then, on July 23, the team will be demonstrating Maker Studio at the Boston Mini-Maker Faire. I know there are more things happening, but that is what the next few months look like!

Terry and Ellen Shay with Peter H. Reynolds

What’s a FableVision Ambassador?
If you think of FableVision Learning as a tree, FableVision Ambassadors are the branches. There are roughly 200 ambassadors across the country and they help us maintain a direct link to the classroom as we continue on the core mission to help all learners discover their true potential. Terry Shay is our Lead Ambassador and he works to nurture the program and the teachers. Fun fact, he is also my long-lost brother but I only discovered this last year at ISTE. I am joking, but in all seriousness, he is an amazing educator, creativity champion, and friend.

What’s your favorite project you’ve worked on from start to finish?
That is a fun one. When I worked at FableVision Studios, I had the opportunity to help on a branding project for National Braille Press called Great Expectations. It was a program designed to teach parents and caregivers of blind children how to read picture books. My role was small, creating a postcard to explain Great Expectations, but I simply love the whole mission. It was an honor to work on that project.

Not client related, I had a ton of fun creating the marketing videos for Zoombinis, launching the redesign of the Studio website, and bringing the entire Fab@School Maker Studio product to market. I try to find the fun in all I do; if I can’t there is always a 3:30 p.m. dance party.

How are you making your mark on Dot Day in 2016?
That is the big question! More to come in July, I promise. ;-)

You're a big camper. Do you have any especially adventurous camping stories?
The story my mom likes to share is… when I was 2 ½ I went camping for the first time with my grandparents. I loved it and have gone every summer since. A few years back, my husband Mike and I started hammock camping because it’s easier on a motorcycle. Basically, during the summer we pack up the bike with all the gear and head to the Berkshires. Our go-to places are along Route 2 or in North Adams. It isn’t horribly adventurous, but a few years back we were caught in a flash flood and only had our hammocks for protection and we couldn’t run for cover in a car, because we only had a bike. Luckily the hammocks come with a sturdy rainfly and we kept pretty much dry. Then there was a time we went “stealth camping” on logging trails in Maine and I think a deer or a bear or some wild animal was near the hammock. That wasn’t a fun night. But we went out for pancakes in the morning, so it was all good.

You’ve also got a pretty good green thumb. What’s growing in your garden this summer?
That is the big question. Last year it was all cucumbers all the time. The funny thing is, I didn’t even buy the plants, my mother-in-law did! I did make some sweet refrigerator pickles, you can check out the recipe here. This year, I am going in a different direction. I’ve planted red cabbage, arugula, beans, and lettuce so far. I hope to also grow broccoli, tomatoes, and peppers. I have a pretty big network of gardener-friends so we try to each grow a different vegetable to share.       

What is quilling?
The easiest way to describe quilling is the art of rolling paper and bending it into a shape to create a larger image. You can create really beautiful designs like flowers, birds, and animals. I find the whole process very relaxing.

More about Andrea!

Favorite book: In Watermelon Sugar by Richard Brautigan
Favorite movie: The Matrix
Best vacation spot: The deck of a cruise ship
Guilty pleasure TV show: I watch anything and everything, right now I’ve been rewatching Party of Five
Favorite kind of pickle: garlic dill
Best place to go hammock camping: Mohawk Trail State Forest  
Favorite podcast: Welcome to Night Vale and Totally Beverages and Sometimes Hot Sauce
Podcast you’re most likely to recommend: Gosh, if I want to sound smart, I say RadioLab. But, I simply love Totally Beverages and Sometimes Hot Sauce

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