august

It is time I let you know what I've been up to. Let's see ...

Earlier in the year I illustrated and designed two books for the Leukaemia Foundation - resources for children with cancer and their families. The books, Ben's Stem Cell Transplant and Jess' Stem Cell Donation, were recently launched and are now available through the Leukaemia Foundation.

My second children's picture book, Sylvia, published by UQP, is due to be released 24 September. I am very excited about the upcoming launches. The book will be available for sale in bookshops and online. I'll post more info about the book upon its release. In the meantime, take a look at UQP's website for a peek inside the book.

Last week was Book Week and I was invited to read to the students of St Bernard State School. I read my book Bea, which was published by UQP last year, and we had some wonderful conversations about picture books, language, inspiration and birds. We even sang the 'Bea and Bernie' song! Bea, by the way, has been shortlisted for the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards 2014. Fingers crossed!

Also last week, I taught a picture book masterclass at QUT. It was a wonderful afternoon and I was delighted to meet students interested in writing and/or illustrating picture books. QUT was where I completed my Masters and Graduate Diploma in Creative Writing, so I was excited to share what I've learned.

In addition to these bookish projects, I designed the inaugural edition of mhBalance magazine for Mental Health Association QLD and branded a couple of organisations (yet to be unveiled), as well as doing ongoing work for my lovely longtime client, Mondo Organics.

Later this week, I am off to the ProBlogger Training Event on the Gold Coast. This will be my second ProBlogger conference and I am very excited. Lots to learn about the wonderful world of blogging. Can't wait.

Until next time ...

whirlwind

For the past five months, I've been swept up in a whirlwind of work and I am only now catching my breath. There was the release of Wholehearted Food by Brenda Fawdon, for which I did the book design, photography and illustration. I designed, typeset and proofread Toonarbin: Biography of a House by Christopher Bray. Next, I designed, typeset and proofread Studios & Events 2014: Cultural Trails of the Scenic Rim, which was launched in February this year. I illustrated and designed two picture books for children by the Leukaemia Foundation (yet to be published). I branded a magazine for the Mental Health Association of Australia. And, overarching it all, I wrote, illustrated and designed my next children's picture book, being published by UQP and due for release later in 2014. Phew!

I neglected to mention in earlier posts, last year, besides working on Wholehearted Food, I also designed and typeset seven plays for the Playlab New Vintage series, and proofread another seven.

That's all my news. I thought I'd better write a blog post or you may think I am simply lying around in the sun somewhere.

wholehearted food is on the shelves

Wholehearted Food by Brenda Fawdon, published by UQP, is now launched and on the bookshelves. Last Sunday saw the 'mountain launch' of the book, up here on Tamborine Mountain at Marks & Gardner at Secret Garden. Launched by the Scenic Rim Regional Council Arts and Cultural Coordinator, Bronwyn Davies, the book found its way into the homes and hearts of many. It is such a pleasure to witness the fruition of our work. The book is available online or in many quality bookstores around the country.

wholehearted food

This year I worked on a fantastic project, close to my heart and close to home - well, from my home, actually. Brenda Fawdon, co-owner of Mondo Organics restaurant, cooking school and catering, has written a brilliant wholefood cookbook, Wholehearted Food, published by University of Queensland Press (UQP) and due to be released 23 October 2013. The book contains loads of delicious recipes, and wholefood and nutrition advice. I took all of the photographs for the book and designed it, as well as co-styled all the food pics with Brenda. What an undertaking! Everything was cooked up in our kitchen and photographed on our back deck or in our kitchen garden on Tamborine Mountain. Here's a link to the UQP website; you can read about the book and even download some sample pages. Brenda is speaking at the Brisbane Writers Festival this Friday - I can't wait.

the year so far ...

High time to report on what's happening. A productive and creative start to the year, indeed.

In January, I designed the Scenic Rim Regional Council's Studios and Events 2013: Cultural Trails of the Scenic Rim, featuring Tamborine Mountain artist Kate French on the front cover and, well, me on the back - thanks to Bronwyn Davies, Arts and Cultural Coordinator of the Scenic Rim.

My first children's picture book, Bea, published by UQP, was launched on 28 February at Avid Reader in West End, Brisbane, by the wonderful Professor Sharyn Pearce. Here's a link to UQP's website where you can take a look inside the book. Bea enjoyed a mountain launch on 24 March at Marks & Gardner Gallery @ Secret Garden on Tamborine Mountain, by the Scenic Rim Regional Council's Arts and Cultural Coordinator, Bronwyn Davies.

I have typeset and proofread a number of Playlab's New Vintage plays. New Vintage is a digital collection of Australian plays that stretches back over one-hundred-and-fifty years of Australian drama to the mid nineteenth century. A great project!

I am now designing a wholefood cookbook by Brenda Fawdon of Mondo Organics, published by UQP and due to be released later this year. I have also done all of the photography for the book - food shots and more.

Until next time ...

12.12.12

An auspicious date, indeed. I am taking the time to complete a few administrative tasks and various projects - as well as clean the house - in order to clear space and energy for new beginnings. It seems an appropriate time to blog about what I've been up to since August. Let's see ...

I mentioned I've been working on my first children's picture book. Well, I now have the first printed copies and I must say it is exciting to finally see the results of my imagination and days (years) of scribbling. Bea will be released in March 2013. In line with this, I am setting up an online store to sell prints of my illustrations (more on this later), which will be accessible from my www.christinesharp.com website. Exciting!

I designed the beautiful new Mondo website and both Mondo and I love it (as do plenty of Mondo patrons, judging by the amazing feedback). As always, thanks to Excite Media for bringing my designs to life.

Projects underway include: designing a privately commissioned book about an amazing heritage house in Brisbane; re-branding a terrific health organisation; and designing the 2013 Studios & Events: Cultural trails of the Scenic Rim booklet. I'll share more details about these projects once complete. I am also working on a pile of books for Playlab and a cookbook by Brenda Fawdon of Mondo Organics. A lot in the pipeline!

Wishing anyone who reads this an awesome Christmas and New Year. If you need someone to design a book or make things beautiful (or correct), let me know. If I can, I'll be happy to help.

the year is flying by ...

Full moon on Friday - a blue moon! And then ... spring, which, up here on Tamborine Mountain, is a sight to behold.

A busy few months since my last update. I've edited an accounting textbook and a book about statistical analysis, both for John Wiley & Sons. I've done bits and bobs for my long-standing and much-loved client, Mondo Organics.

Best of all, I've been working on my first-ever children's picture book, which is being published by UQP, due for release in 2013. I'll not spill the beans just yet, but I'll let you know more closer to the time.