With peace, love and magic – Patricia

Where?

All books
Or individually:
52 Weeks of Peace
A Book of Fairies
Book of Dragons
The Book of Mermaids
Magnetic Mermaid Dress-up
Totes, mugs and more

The post Crazy for Books appeared first on saxtonstudio blog.

He was looking at my Book of Fairies. Assuming he was astounded by my artwork, his mother began explaining how I made the pictures for my books – how I drew them by hand, using a pencil to sketch and then add more detail; how I used pens and paints for color.

“But I don’t get it,” he repeated. And his mother said “I know, it’s pretty amazing right?”

“No”, the little boy said, shaking his head and scrunching his nose. “I don’t get magic.”

Then he thought a little more and added “I don’t get magic. I only believe in ninjas.”

Yet there we were, sitting at my kitchen table, the air thick with that very thing, that elusive stuff called magic.

Not the hocus pocus kind. No card tricks or rabbits emerging from empty hats. But moments when you can’t help but feel the stir and sweet bristle of magic in the air – which is the best way I can describe my meeting with this little boy’s family last September. (And I realize this could be a “you had to be there” kind of story, but I’ll tell it anyway, because it’s a sweet story – and because sometimes the stars align, and when they do, I tend to pause and take note.)

It had ordinary beginnings. A friend introducing one friend to another on facebook. My initial reluctance (how many facebook friends does one need?), then giving in. New friend sharing pictures from her daughter’s fairy-themed birthday party, my Book of Fairies as centerpiece. (Hearing that people may do this is one thing; seeing it – gorgeous photos of the book surrounded by fairy decor and childhood joy – is quite another. My heart was full.) Notes shared back and forth. Connection and friendship blossoming. A few months later, “…we’ll be in your area, my daughter would love to meet you and have the book signed?”

It’s a beautiful day when they stop by. And there it is – that unexpected stir and bristle in the air. We smile and hug as if we’ve known each other for eons. We do ordinary things like chat and look at art and drink tea and eat the brownies I’d prepared – but nothing feels ordinary. The light is crisp and clear, the mood exceptionally easy. A veil lifted. And somewhere in there the children steal my heart.

We get around to signing the book. Sitting on my front stoop, a white butterfly lands on my writing hand. It stays while we talk and stays while I sign the book and stays while we talk some more. It stays and stays, and stays until we question whether it’s indeed alive (although I would swear I felt little feet moving on my skin). Eventually my new young fan gently nudged her fingers under its wings and turned to a nearby plant where our butterfly friend floated a few wing beats to land on a leaf. (So, yes, it’s quite alive.) And as if watching over us, it stays there for the rest of our time. I don’t know about you, but butterflies I’ve known don’t generally attach themselves to people.

The air was bright with magic that otherwise simple afternoon. You could almost see it. We all felt it. For all I know there might have been ninjas there too.

Here’s a little bit of it captured. (With gratitude for the universe conspiring to bring us together.)

All photos © Lacey Marie Photography

The post Magic, Captured appeared first on saxtonstudio blog.

I love the 5-starred ones best (of course!), but they say “no review is a bad review”, so I appreciate them all – even the one about the fairy book illustrations being scary. (That had to be my favorite “negative” review. Because, really?)

And as I’m soon to launch a new book, I’ve got books on the brain. (Well, sure, I often have books on the brain, between writing them, reading them, and designing covers for others – but today, even more so.) So I wanted to send out a nudge to anyone who’s a fan of any of my 3 current books or my mermaid toy, encouraging you to head over to Amazon and write something sweet.

It really makes a difference, and helps get more books into more hands, especially those young ones whose imaginations are so alive. Thank you dearly!

The post "Scary Illustrations" and Other Great Reviews appeared first on saxtonstudio blog.

That said, I’ve gotten a little bolder. It helps when you have something that’s your own, or something you’re excited about, and even better when others are excited, too. So let me extend my gratitude right now to those of you who’ve bought my books and gifts and shared the love with others. It makes my heart sing. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

It’s also that time of year when people do an awful lot of gift shopping and I figure I’d be remiss not to put in a specific mention of my own offerings, so here you go ~ especially for any of you who are new to my world, or simply need reminding (as in “hey! yes! I could get THAT for so-and-so… perfect!”).

What’s shown below is also what appears on my Shop page. (< listed over there on the left) For future reference, you can check in there anytime to see where to get stuff (although it’s not always decorated with holly and ornaments).

And please feel free to forward to a friend, in case they decide something would be perfect for so-and-so. Thank you! Blessings to you. Thank you. I’ll go now…

The post Tis The Season..! appeared first on saxtonstudio blog.

A second edition. Wow, I have to admit that feels great.

My heartfelt thanks to my publisher, Shenanigan Books, for believing in me from the start with The Book of Mermaids, and to anyone and everyone who’s bought A Book of Fairies and helped make it this far. It may not have been discovered by the New York Times yet (ha ha!), but to know it’s being enjoyed by thousands of people truly, truly means the world to me. Thank you!

from A Book of Fairies / © Patricia Saxton

from A Book of Fairies / © Patricia Saxton

from A Book of Fairies / © Patricia Saxton

from A Book of Fairies / © Patricia Saxton

The post Fairy News! appeared first on saxtonstudio blog.

I came across these sketches the other night .. a couple of the original pencil drawings for A Book of Fairies; and was reminded how much I enjoyed creating that book.

They also reminded me that loving what you do can translate into something that’s not only real and viable~ but with enough good spirit (backed by solid effort … and maybe a muse or two), it can also touch others in ways you hadn’t imagined.

How do you measure that? It comes unexpected, in the eyes of a delighted child, eager to share a story about the mermaid they saw in their grandfather’s creek, or the child who sends you a hand-drawn thank you with fairy crowns and sparkles, or the teen who wants to be an author or an illustrator too.

And all of that makes all the years of well-loved pencil scribbling all the more meaningful. It makes doing what you love make sense.

The post Doing What You Love appeared first on saxtonstudio blog.

And I think, how fantastic! It’s from my talented publisher Mary, at Shenanigan Books. She’s very crafty, that one ~ in all the right ways.

She’s also started a new blog with features about the company’s growing flock of authors and illustrators, news about their books, happenings in the world of publishing, and a special Kid’s Page showcasing easy-to-do craft projects, ideas for young authors and illustrators, plus science and nature activities. Head on over now and you’ll find instructions for making a fairy house as beautiful as this one!

So even though writing this up added one more unexpected thing to my to-do list, it made my day. (Because as you surely know, I have a thing for fairies.) Hope it brightens yours as well!

The post All in a Day's Work appeared first on saxtonstudio blog.

How about a literary treat for the young ones’ Easter Baskets? Yes! Fill it up with chocolates, and pink and yellow peeps, tie it with a bow ~ then add something that can be enjoyed long after the last bit of bunny has hopped away.

Naturally, I think the books and toy shown above would be excellent choices  :  ) (and you can find the links to buy them on my books page) ~ but there’s a whole world of great books out there for kids. I’m a huge (HUGE) advocate of children reading (actually, I’m big on everyone reading) … reading to them, reading with them, and when they’re able to read on their own, appreciating their joy at discovering new worlds through words and pictures.

So think about it. Slip a special book inside a child’s Easter basket this year. Really, chocolate AND books? It’s a win-win.

The post Easter Goodies appeared first on saxtonstudio blog.

The holiday season was very kind to my books (A Book of Fairies and The Book of Mermaids), and I hope everyone who received them as gifts is finding much enjoyment within the pages.

Naturally, post-holiday sales have slowed, so I was both surprised and truly thrilled to see that as of today A Book of Fairies has reached the  #1 listing on Amazon’s 3,429 “books about fairies”!

Earlier today I’d been wowed to see that it held the #8 spot on Amazon’s entire listing of 60,556 fairy books! Holy fairy wings! That’s a lot of books about fairies. I feel very honored to be so high among them.

And … I’m feeling immense appreciation for the many good people who have helped make my book flutter towards the top.

from "A Book of Fairies"

Maybe I should ask my numerology friends… but whatever they’d say, I’m thinking #’s 1 and 8 are pretty good numbers for me today. :  )

The post #1 in "Books About Fairies" appeared first on saxtonstudio blog.

Then there’s a whole bunch of cool stuff over at my *boutique* at CafePress.  Totebags, mugs, coasters, mousepads, journals and magnets, grouped by my signature pieces of “peace”, “pencil points”, fairies” and “mermaids”. Lots to choose from. Fun, unique, and practical!

Happy holidays ~ and may peace, magic and creativity fill your hearts!

The post Gifts of Peace, Magic & Creativity (under $20!) appeared first on saxtonstudio blog.