A Story Be Told

There are more stories written than any one person could read in a lifetime.

I was invited to be a part of a collaboration with 3 other authors to create this book. We were asked to write thoughts, stories or poems inspired by the illustrations of Patricia Brier, who is an accomplished author and digital fine artist. It was fun to do something very different from creating my children’s books.

I have in the last 2 years met many authors who write and have written books in a variety of styles and genres. Some, like myself, write stories geared to children. I have met through social media and corresponded through email with some wonderful, interesting and creative people across the U.S.A. .

Ryan Cowan is an educator in a California school system. He has written the wonderful story of Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal. It is a creative adventure story of magic and the conflict between good and bad to save a society from disappearing forever. A wonderful read for kids and adults alike. Ryan is a wonderful and genuine person who I thoroughly enjoy corresponding with.

Pam Dixon Oertel has written a delightful story of Lucy Leaf. The story tells about what happens in the life of a maple leaf from spring to fall. A great way to teach children about nature and also how it applies to our lives, too. Illustrated by Elizabeth Overlock, the whimsical pictures are fun to look at.

An author I have become very fond of is from my home state of Ct. In fact she has written 2 stories about happenings during the witch panic in my hometown of Old Wethersfield and the neighboring city of Hartford. Katherine Spada Basto writes historical fiction and has 3 books, those pictured above and another titled” Chosen For Rome, Vestal Virgin”. She is a fantastic writer and story teller. I am looking forward to meeting her in person in Ct. in the near future.

Another author who I have come to know, lives here in Maine. Michelle E. Shores has written a historical fiction story of the supernatural and mysterious events that occurred in a town in Maine in the 1700’s. It can be chilling at times. The events that took place come from documented testimonies of people who lived with the characters in the story. She has been writing a prequel to the book and will be available later this year I do believe.

My 3 books ,shown above ,that have already been published will soon be joined by my newest book which will be available this spring. I illustrate as well as write my books. I enjoy being able to create bright pictures to go with my rhyming stories. I hope everyone will take time to pick up a book. There are so many stories, adventures, information and things in this world to see and experience, even if only through books.

I hope you will look into some of the stories I have introduced here. Read on and enjoy!! Catherine

HALFWAY THERE

The year is half over. I have completed some design work, found new shops that will carry my books and / or cards. My goal to get moving again is in motion, but as always something happens to slow the progress. Being home does not mean endless hours to draw, paint and write. There is so much that needs to be done and tended to that like a homesteader, house, garden and general maintenance comes first. It all takes a full days time.

But there are some days where I manage to put aside a few hours for my artwork and writing.

Those are the days when I pull out the work and manuscripts I had begun and move forward with whichever seems ready to flow. I have the writing for a new book I hope to publish next year completed, but now the illustrations need to be done. The ideas have floated in my head and in sketches, but now I really want to complete them and am giving myself a time frame for a project that is halfway there.

I also have 3 other book ideas and some paintings to go with them, none are complete but they too are on their way to becoming whole.

Sometimes I get worked up and frustrated because I am not moving forward. Not creating. Not achieving that which I so enjoy doing. I want in this time of computers and “video everything” to put out things that I feel are important , real and part of our history that goes as far back as the first cave paintings and the first communications of a happening. Old fashioned and out of date some may say, but the reality is when people take time to stop and look around they can see the beauty that really is there. There are lovely things and lovely people. Wonderful stories. In a way when they do, they are halfway back to the real in life. Some pick up on that and others move on again as if they temporarily stopped for a dream.

I will get back on the road to completing what I have started and perhaps I will finish my projects for after all, I am halfway there.

Back in the Groove

The holidays are past and a new year , like a blank sheet of paper or canvas, is open and ready for the creativity and the many possibilities that may come.

I have a list of things to accomplish, but the moving forward is slow. I am stuck in statue mode and know that in order to get back in the groove, I must start with at least one project. Writing this blog is one them. I don’t know if anyone reads these blogs I write, but if nothing else they are a way to unstick my brain and make clear the path and direction I need to take.

I have a card line with over 43 designs for birthdays, holidays and other special occasions such as “ just because”. I must keep the line fresh with new designs. This year I have a new card titled “Hearts” that can be used for Valentine’s Day but also for an any occasion day. I will be working on a new birthday card and Christmas card. Perhaps a new Mother’s Day card as well. My cards are available in several shops and also on this website.

Some of the cards in my funkybirch line on display, along with my 3 books, at one of the shops that carry them.

Books…….I have 2 manuscripts that I hope to publish as books, at least 1 this year. Last year became busier than I expected and I did not have the time needed to move forward with either of them. One is completely written and in need of the illustrations. The other is somewhat written with some illustrations done. I seem to be hesitating to get back in the groove with putting pencil and paint to paper. I have 3 books published and selling well in bookstores, shops, amazon and on this website. I had published them in 2019, 2020 and 2021. I did not publish in 2022,. Like with anything else, if you don’t stay current and fresh, you are soon forgotten. So finishing and publishing a new book this year is a must!!!

My 3 books I LOVE MY SOCKS (2019), The Snowman Choir (2020), and the The Bears’ Halloween Ball ( 2021).

Time for me to get back in the saddle, back on the path and back in the groove. Happy creating and stay motivated! Believe in the possibility of anything being able to be. Catherine

A time of gratitude and joy.

This is the time of year when we celebrate many things in many ways.

The holiday season is here. It is a time of gatherings, cooking and baking and remembering family and friends near and far. The seasons changing and that special feel of Thanksgiving, Christmas, Chanukah and the many other celebrations that we enjoy at this time of year can also be very inspiring for artists. The music, traditional and new, the writings and stories from the past and present and the paintings, drawings and sculptures that represent this festive time of year become a very important part of our celebrations and dear in our hearts. We feel a greater sense of care and gratitude at this time more than any other during the year.

String of Hearts painting by Catherine Gorski O’Connor

I know that I feel more inspired to create light and fun paintings at this time of year. I did not realize how much I enjoyed snowmen and snow women until I looked at how many I have painted and written about!! But who doesn’t like a good snowman whether real, painted or in a story? I wrote a story many years ago when my now adult children were little. The rhyming story called THE SNOWMAN CHOIR was inspired by watching my kids having fun in the snow and memories from my own childhood of snowball fights, making snowmen and all the magic that swirls in the imaginative minds of young and old alike. It took me many years to publish it , but now it is a book my grandchildren are enjoying. In fact, the book is in homes across the United States and even a few other countries. I like the story of my grandson in Florida finding the book in his reading teachers classroom. He couldn’t believe it!!! I became a cooler grandma then.

I hope you take time to enjoy the beauty of the holidays. May you feel more gratitude and joy and that your heart be light. May the magic of imagination swirl in your thoughts and that you pass that on to others. I wish you happy and healthy holidays and a beautiful end to this year.

A Time For Lists

Blowing With The Breeze. Catherine Gorski O’Connor 2022

Summer is upon us. The year is half over and there are many different activities that come with the warmer season. People take vacations, travel to the mountains and beaches. Picnics and other outdoor recreation and sports fill the days and weekends. Some people, like myself, like to garden. I grow vegetables, herbs and flowers. I also have some fruit trees that will hopefully provide me with apples and pears to eat and bake pies and breads to store for the colder months. A good time to prepare as well as enjoy.

This is a time for making lists. This is when I stop and take stock of where I am, where I hope to go and what I would like to achieve by the end of the year. I make a list because if I see what is to be done, I achieve it better than if it is rolling around in my mind. The list is a tangible guide to check off that which I get done.

Right now, I need to do an inventory check to make sure I have enough cards for the holidays, birthdays and other occasions that are upcoming. Printing businesses get very busy towards the holidays filling printing orders that were left to the last minute. I like to be ahead of the rush and not worry about it. Also, the printers appreciate one less crazed artist to deal with.

I have to get back on the stick with my artwork too. Time flies by and the day to day things sometimes stop me from picking up pen or paint brushes. I have a manuscript for a new children’s book that I need to illustrate. I would like to publish it at the start of 2023. I have about 14 illustrations to do in the next 6 months in order to achieve that goal. Believe it or not, that is cutting it close. I also have another book in my mind that I need to put on paper. I have the story line and pictures that will go with it floating around in my brain. I get lazy at night and do not use the quiet time to get things done. So the list is a great way to get me working in some order.

New paintings are needed to freshen and replenish my painting gallery. It is a good way to loosen the creative knots that I sometimes get. I have recently completed 2 new paintings, Happy Valley ( 8” x 10” ) and Blowing With The Breeze ( 11” x 14” ). They are both painted in acrylic on canvas and are easy going and whimsical. They were fun to do.

I also have house cleaning, family visits, correspondences to catch up on and very importantly I must remember to relax and breath! All on my list…I hope you all have a wonderful and safe summer. Enjoy today, the moments you have and the memories you make. Remember to make a list, even if it is just to take to the grocery store! Enjoy!

The One Person Show

As an artist and published author I have found myself in the Do-It-All position. A one person show. I have created a card line, paintings and published books, which I have written and illustrated.

My card line, under the funkybirch logo, has more than 42 designs that I have created for birthdays, holidays and all occasion. New cards are added often.

I have written and illustrated books for children. So far three, I LOVE MY SOCKS (2019) , The Snowman Choir (2020) and The Bears’ Halloween Ball (2021) have been published. They are available in bookstores, toy stores, on Amazon and from me through my website. I am currently working on several other books and hope to publish them soon.

My paintings are mostly on canvas. Some of the paintings are printed into cards and are also available as frameable prints.

What goes into it all? First of all I must create. For my books I must write and illustrate a story, rhyme or poem. My card line needs new designs to keep it fresh. Painting, drawing and imagination are a very important part of that all coming together.

Next , the work needs to be published. I am an Indie author which means I publish independently through a publishing house that specializes in that type of work. My cards go to a local printing company. Both books and cards go through quite a process of scanning, page setup, proofing and determining selling price.

Marketing is a HUGE piece in the process. As an indie author and also with my card line, I have to do all the footwork and door knocking, so to say. I have to Contact editors of publications (newspapers) for articles and to show my work in a public forum. I have to Contact book stores and/or the companies buyers, toy stores and local shops to ask if they would be interested in carrying my work.

Flyers need to be made to be put out or mailed to businesses etc.. I also have book signings that I have to create with businesses and then advertise.

Social media, such as Facebook and Instagram are a good way to reach people in my area and also those across the country.

I have to keep the product and inventory stocked and also mail out orders. Sometimes samples as well. I also have to do my own book keeping. It is a very big job for one person to do and keep on top of everything and keep it fresh. Sometimes one needs to reinvent or add a new twist. I am looking to perhaps add furniture painting, in limited amounts as I had a piece that was included in a charity auction that was quite vigorously bid on.

A chair that I painted for a charity auction that had many bids. The painting was inspired by my painting and card “By The Lily Pond “.

I am sure that many fellow authors and artists can relate to being a one person show. Perhaps some day I will be able to hire people to take over some of the work. I am doing what I love and accomplishing my goals and dreams from long ago, so it is completely worth the push, push, push, push.

Changes

It is autumn once again. Here in New England the trees bloom into their finest colors. The air becomes cooler and crisp. Fall festivals and celebrations are everywhere. What a fantastic season it is!!

I have been invited to be the Author in Residence for the elementary schools in my home town at the end of October. I feel so honored to have been offered this opportunity! This will be a new experience for me and I cannot wait to see where this new road will lead me. It is amazing how one thing can lead to a great swirl of change in the most unexpected ways. Writing a simple thank you rhyme for a pair of hand knit socks led to my rhymes and stories ,written long ago, finally getting published . I have reconnected with my hometown and I have met many wonderful and interesting people. I am now busy in ways I could not have imagined. My quiet country life is not quite as quiet as it was. Changes.

There is one thing in our lives that we can count on and that is change.

I think back on all the years and all the experiences I have had. Sometimes it is amazing to me that all those times have been in just my one lifetime, and I have more yet to come. So many phases..so many emotions..so many ways of thinking….so many changes.

Enjoy all that autumn has to offer and winter too when it arrives. Try to remember to take a look at what is around you every day. Look up at the sky. See the sun, clouds, stars and moon. Enjoy the changes. Your changes.

The Magic of Imagination

When was the last time you let your mind run free and go on a fanciful adventure? Imagination is a vacation and play land for the mind and soul. It is letting the inner child in us out to play. Children , and we all were one once, have the ability to see and think of things differently. More simply but with flair. Anything can be possible. How wonderful to have gumdrop trees, lemonade waterfalls and rafts made of chocolate. To fly on the backs of large colorful birds, soaring through the sky to the tops of mountains where you can see endless forests that go right to the sea. Unfortunately, as we grow older and have more responsibilities, our visits to these wondrous places happens fewer and fewer until one day, they become a distant memory. In fact it is sometimes discouraged…..grow up! Act your age! Stop being childish!!! When in fact, that is exactly what we should be doing, being more young in heart and mind. The happiest people are those who laugh often and take a lighter approach to life. We must be responsible, but not let it consume us.

Books are filled with stories about seasons, holidays, special occasions or people. There does not need to be a given season, anytime is good to read a book. They are meant to be read over and over!!

My books I LOVE MY SOCKS, THE SNOWMAN CHOIR and THE BEARS’ HALLOWEEN BALL are fun to read and kids can enjoy looking at the bright and colorful pictures. So, read, read and read some more. Books can take you to wonderful places. May you always believe in dancing bears, singing snowmen and the magic of imagination.

THE VOYAGE

THE VOYAGE, painting by Catherine Gorski O’Connor 2021

The voyage, the journey, the path. All are ways to express the direction we are moving in our lives. Long ago I started writing rhymes that I intended or hoped to publish. My children were young and I was inspired by their growing up and things we enjoyed such as holidays.

It has taken many years, many roads, many mountains and hills and an ocean of experiences to get to where those hopes and dreams are coming to fruition. In 2016, I began having my first card designs printed to sell. I had been making cards since I was young, but now I was taking the step to sell them. Since then I have created over 40 card designs and sell them on my website and also at a local store. It is difficult to find shops that will sell cards from artists as there are so many competing for a spot. Some shops will take local artists work, but will often choose to buy from an artist who is well known in the gallery scene. The larger card companies can sell their cards at a lower price and higher volume, so shops will purchase from them over a slightly higher priced local artists work.

In 2019, I finally published a first book titled ” I LOVE MY SOCKS “. It was written as a thank you to my sister for a hand knit pair of socks she had made for me. I did not intend for it to become a book, but through some persuasion I investigated a local Indie publishing company and decided to see what the process was and move forward with it. Quite the learning experience!!!!! I am glad that I did for it brought my sister happiness and it connected me to my community in ways I did not expect. I was published in the local papers and the book was part of a sock drive for the local homeless shelters. It reconnected me to my hometown elementary school. I was able to donate the book to the school library that had played a big role in my childhood years. I thought that was really wonderful to have my book in my elementary school!! My 2nd book is there also.

Last year, in 2020 , just months after the SOCKS book was available I published my 2nd book, “ THE SNOWMAN CHOIR”. I had written that for my children in 1993. I never gave up hope of having it become a book. It took many years, but I finally was able make it happen. I am glad I had the experience of having published a book already for I had a better understanding of the process. I illustrate my own books and the pictures were a collection of paintings I had created for the story over several years. I decided to keep it that way instead of starting over and unifying the artwork because it was a personal piece and I wanted to be able to see the steps and years and changes I went through to get to where it was a real and published book. This was a major goal for me to have achieved!!!! One of those truly happy moments in life.

I have my 3rd book being published right now. It is a Halloween story. I wrote it many years ago as well. I recently finished the illustrations and must say I am very happy with how they came out! I could have published this book last year, but it did not make sense to publish 2 books when shops were accepting few new works due to the covid virus. I have high hopes that this book will sell well and find its way into shops and more importantly to children. My books are written in rhyme as that is the style that fits me best. Children learn more easily from rhymes and it also helps to develop their memorization skills. So, my journey through bookland has begun and I will hopefully be able to publish many more to come! I have a very long list of stories waiting to be made into books for readers young and old to enjoy.

I paint pictures as well. Some of those paintings are printed into cards, such as the painting at the top of this writing. I am drawn in many directions with my artwork and I have a full daily life schedule as well. The important thing, at least to me, is that I am doing what I enjoy. I am achieving goals set long ago and although I may never be wealthy or famous, the success is that I AM DOING IT. My voyage, my journey and the many roads I have and will yet travel, are what make life interesting and new and exciting. Even when life seems mundane, what comes around the next turn could be great! For the one thing in life that is a given is that change is inevitable. Journey on and enjoy the adventure! Catherine

Moving Forward

As humans, our time is marked by hours, days , weeks and months that make up a year. A new year is as open to possibility as is a new canvas or a clean sheet of paper. Boundless opportunities to create and explore that which is unique to our experience. How wonderful is that? It can sometimes be hard to find what to do and where to start. So many ideas, and yet the reluctance to make that first move, pencil mark or brush stroke holds us back. It delays our moving forward. Sometimes we just need to jump right in, no matter how unclear the the direction or vision.

Let’s all move forward with less fear of being imperfect or making mistakes. After all, pencil can be erased. Paper can be replaced. Paintings can be painted over and we can change the choices and decisions we make.

This year, I will have my 3rd children’s book published, a Halloween story. My card line is expanding with new all occasion, holiday and birthday additions. Wrapping paper, gift and matching note tags will also be implemented. I am also working on new paintings, of course!

Be well, be brave and keep moving forward! “ Believe in the possibility of anything being able to be.”

Autumn Tapestries

Autumn has arrived. The summer sun is fading, but the colors of the world are magnificent and bursting like fireworks. The most spectacular hues, painted on the canvas that is Earth.

The new season brings not only changes in temperature and foliage, but it becomes a season of smells, sights and sounds. It is the gateway to the holidays.

The holidays are occasions for families and friends to get together, either in person or in spirit. Days when the world slows and people stop their usual busy schedule and enjoy that special day. This year, communicating with those we love, whether far or near seems to be especially important. Travel is more limited and social distancing needs to be in order. What better way to send those special thoughts, messages and holiday greetings than through a card selected with love and care.

We have wonderful cards for the holidays!!!

This Halloween let our Happy Skeleton or Mouse Trick or Treaters entertain the young at heart and feed their imagination for fun. For Thanksgiving, we have Turkeys and an Autumn Harvest scene. Christmas has many special cards to bring the beauty and joy of that holiday to light and to others. Angels, deer, Christmas trees and a myriad of Snowmen, including this years newest card” THE SNOWMAN CHOIR” which is the companion to this years newest book of the same title. Pair the card and book for a great gift!

And of course we have Birthday and cards for any occasion as well. Take a look through our Paintings gallery, you may just find that perfect gift. Many of our paintings and card designs are available in framable prints. If you have any questions, inquire through the contact page. May you and your families have a beautiful autumn and memorable holidays. Enjoy the tapestries of life!

My First Books

Summer is here. Flowers are blooming and gardens are growing. Days are longer and nights are warmer. It is a time for making wishes. I write a personal note in the birthday cards I send to MAKE A WISH!! Wishes can come true!!! I have found that to be true in my life, and if you believe, it can happen for you!!

Last year, my children’s book, “I LOVE MY SOCKS”, was my first book to be published. It is a wonderful and fun book written in rhyme. Perfect for children ages 4-7 and beginning readers. You can order I LOVE MY SOCKS through the PayPal button on the I LOVE MY SOCKS listing page and also through Amazon. Sherman’s Book Stores (5 locations) in Maine also carries the book.

My newest book “THE SNOWMAN CHOIR", is now published and available. It is also a story written in rhyme, and is a perfect read for kids and adults alike. THE SNOWMAN CHOIR will bring back memories for some, and will inspire the imagination in all. The book is also available on the books page using the PayPal button or through Amazon.

I am currently working on the illustrations for my 3rd book, which will be published later this year. New paintings and cards are posted as they become available. Check the galleries to see what is new.