Geeky Girl is Getting a New Teddy Bear!

There has been SO much happening, I admit I have been really overwhelmed!

There's been some really bad stuff with medical and mental issues and words like "cancer testing", "inflammation", "... indicators", and "more extensive testing..." And the Depression and Anxiety have gotten so bad... well, there are a whole bunch of new Inner Demon characters in the works. (Yeah?)

Ok, got that out of the way, on to the GOOD STUFF! I'll break it up into separate posts. Puppies first.

If you've been following my Service Dog Saga, it's been a few years since Theo had to retire because he had osteochondrosis in his shoulder and developed intense anxiety from the pain. He was adopted by my friend Mark and is enjoying retirement on the seacoast.

I had started the process from scratch, with a different company, and made it through a few rounds before they decided it would take 3-5 years just to find me the right dog. So I researched until I found the right kind of dog and the breeder, here in New Hampshire - Monadnock Labradoodles. They only raise Australian Labradoodles - a mix of Labrador, Poodle, and Cocker Spaniel. They are allergy friendly with the temperament of a service dog.

I've been on the waiting list for a year and just got the news that I'd be getting one of Georgia's new litter (born on Feb 9th). 

 "Her wonderful laid-back temperament gets her noticed everywhere she goes!"

This is the dad, Moose - "Moose comes from therapy lines and it shows! He is friendly, calm, sweet, goofy and happy-go-lucky."

That's a great combo of personalities, and each parent is 25lbs - I am so excited to get my puppy! 

I won't know which one will be mine for another four weeks. They'll temperament test them to find the one best suited to being my service puppy. My puppy will have a week of puppy training at the breeders, then some more board and train with All Dogs Go To Helen. I am really grateful to have resources and support. I am very aware that I lack puppy skills... and will take full advantage of any help I can find!

There will be ongoing puppy training, then service dog training, socialization, and introduction to different situations and experiences, as well as desensitization. Honestly, much of the training is the same for the dog as for me! I think the puppy, even without training, has better social skills than I do... so much to hope for.

I've been redoing my website and working on setting up an online store. I was encouraged to include a "Buy Me a Coffee" button. If you aren't familiar with that, it's just a way that people who read your blog, or want to encourage your artistic endeavors, can contribute a few bucks easily. 

I took it a step farther, with a "Buy My Dog a Bone" Button! So anyone can contribute towards Teddy Bear's training. You can click on the links to see - they're both really cute! Don't worry, you can look without actually being charged. And if you have time, go click around the new website: www.SandyBartholomew.com and be sure to let me know what you think or if you have any suggestions. 

GOrillas! on the Move!

Today I had the perfect kind of social interaction day!
Sue Matott, the children's librarian at the Pillsbury Free Library - (our local library here in Warner, NH) - chose my book, Ready, Set, GOrilla! for Storytime!

      [Book Info: "Ready, Set, GOrilla!" - written by Melissa Stoller, 
                         and illustrated by Sandy Steen Bartholomew
                         Spork (Clear Fork) Publishing
                         Released - November 13, 2018]
And she didn't make me read - I got to do the craft project with the kids (the fun part). I had tattoos and coloring pages for them to take home and, in the library, I let them be illustrators and make really cool buttons with their art.

Because this was a group of two to four year olds, I drew simplified characters from the book, in circular frames and pre-punched the circles. Part of the image gets folded around the metal button, so I wanted to make sure none of the important image was lost. I chose the characters with larger areas to color (ie: panda and penguin... B&W - not so interesting).

 Once they'd finished coloring (and their grown-ups were finished with their art pieces too) -

- each kid brought their art over to the button machine and pressed their own pin. Even the shy kids got really into it and helped me pull the heavy lever.

Everyone was really excited by the finished pieces!

Even the scribblier attempts looked like masterpieces once they were mounted and pressed. I loved watching the kids' awed expressions after they loaded up the press, pulled the lever, and then saw the shiny button emerge! SO much FUN!!

And to make it even BETTER! - "Ready, Set, GOrilla!" is the featured book on the StoryWalk this month! So if you are in the area, start at the lower level of the library and then follow the RiverWalk (RailTrail) path to read the whole book. It's a beautiful walk - and a really fun book - but bundle up because it's crazy cold out there!

If you'd like to get your own copy of the book, you can order it from my Etsy shop, Bumblebat or from Amazon. There are really good reviews on Amazon - it's a great book to talk with little kids about bullying and playing fair - and wonderful illustrations! (of course!)

Here are easy links:

Ready, Set, GOrilla! Book on AMAZON (price varies, used copies available too)

Ready, Set, GOrilla! Book on Etsy (Bumblebat.com) - ($25) - comes with an original sketch in the book, lots of tattoos, and I'll send you a file of the coloring sheets you can print out - remind me! Oh, I also will send some cute little pins I made.

GOrilla! and Friends Removable Tattoos on Etsy ($10) - 2 each of five designs. They can also be used on paper.

Ready, Set, GOrilla! Coloring Sheets on Etsy ($3) - a PDF with 5 different pages that you can print out as many times as you like.

Nudge, nudge... this makes a great Holiday Gift!!

Mother of GOrillas

I got the coolest gift from Melissa Stoller - the author of Ready, Set, GOrilla! Melissa had adopted a (real) gorilla in my name! I had been concerned at first - where would he live? My house is bursting at the seams with extra people and dogs.

And then, what happens if GOrilla challenges the dogs to a race?
Would he revert to his old ways and... GASP  ... CHEAT? 
Or if he challenged Minou (the cat)? Oh dear...

Yesterday, Lilah and I came home to find a package from the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) with this adorable little guy...

So I was incredibly relieved that this GOrilla! seemed very friendly - and non-competitive! He DID insist that he be allowed to take a Selfie...

... it makes him look much larger than he really is. Oh, wait - maybe he's more competitive than I realized!? Nah. Mostly he's very silly. And incredibly soft. And gives very nice hugs.

Is that the coolest present ever? THANKS MELISSA!!

And along with the arrival of GOrilla!, I got news that my shipment of Ready, Set, GOrilla! books would be arriving this coming week! YEAH! That means I have them listed on my Etsy shop again. They come with tattoos of the main characters and I will sign them and draw little sketches in them as well. Here are some samples:

Coloring Sheets!

 We did a craft fair this past weekend and kept ourselves busy... coloring!

...and annoying my kid...

But it also reminded me that I needed to add the coloring pages to my web site. So I did.

If you'd like to pay me for the coloring sheets, click HERE.
 (Hey, thanks!)
If you want them for FREE, click HERE.

I still have lots of tattoos on my Etsy shop too!

Happy BOOK Birthday, "Ready, Set, GOrilla!"

Today is THE day! The BIRTH of Ready, Set, GOrilla! written by Melissa Stoller, illustrated by (ME!) Sandy Steen Bartholomew, and published by Spork/Clear Fork Publishing.

I am SO excited, but I don't know what to do with my energy - just wandering around the Studio thinking how hungry I am and I need a Book Party and cake... maybe some balloons?

Melissa and I celebrated with Callie, our publisher, on Facebook Live - watch our video!


And we have already started to come up with more ideas for the characters and we need STUFFIES! Which characters would you want as stuffed animals?

Don't forget that you can get tattoos of them at www. Bumblebat.com

Yes - I'm all over the place. Sorry.

SO - a PARTY...

We'll be having a little Book Party celebration on December 1st, from 11am-Noon, at the Velvet Moose in Warner, NH. Kids are welcome - there will be coloring pages, tattoos, snacks. But I'd also LOVE to see you big people too. This is my way of celebrating a success (Hey! I have a new published book!) so please come and celebrate with me.

If you can't make it to the party, the books will also be available at the Pop-Up Holiday Shop on December 8th at the Simonds Elementary School (also in Warner, NH).

And you can order the book on Amazon and from other booksellers.

Got Tattoos?

I have stacks and stacks of tattoos on my drafting table! Now I'm just waiting to get the books from the publisher.

 

Tons of tattoos!

I've been playing with some of them... it's hard to resist! Here's what Gopher looks like after about a day on the back of my hand...

I just made a "bracelet" out of the "Circles of Friends" tattoos...

... and then added Llama in the middle of the Friends on my wrist...

They are a little bit shiny when you first apply them.

If you missed the Kickstarter or you realized that you should have ordered two books or extra tattoos... I've added most of the items to my Etsy store - BUMBLEBAT. If you order before I ship out the Kickstarter tattoos and books (in the next two weeks) - I'll combine the orders and add extra STUFF to compensate for the shipping. :-)

Friday (today!) I'll be sketch-noting the NH Women's Conference (Jack Canfield!!!) and I'm sure ALL the life coaches and professionals in their high heels and shirts with buttons (I can't handle either- the clothes, I mean, not life coaches!) - anyway - they'll all be wishing that THEIR hands were covered with these adorable tattoos instead of their glamorous manicures. Hmmm... I wonder if these would stick to fingernails... how cute would that be?! Panda and Bear and Penguin... like finger puppets!

READY, SET, GORILLA! Book Preview

Kickstarter #5! Gorilla book and Tattoos!

I finally did it! I JUST launched my fifth Kickstarter project. It's a "Quickstarter" since it's for a small amount (just $500) and it only lasts a week. Here's the short link: http://kck.st/2R4kYgi you can use that link - send it to all your friends so they'll back the project too!

The Kickstarter is basically to create a series of tattoos based on the characters from the picture book, "Ready, Set, GOrilla!" written by Melissa Stoller, illustrated by ME!, and published by Spork/Clear Fork Publishing. It will be released on November 13th.

But!!! If you pre-order one through my Kickstarter - you not only get the super cool tattoos... you can also get the book signed by me with a little sketch.

The book just got another pretty good review:

READY, SET, GORILLA!

Melissa Stoller
Sandy Steen Bartholomew (Illustrator)
Clear Fork Publishing/Spork Imprint (Nov 13, 2018)
Hardcover $16.99 (38pp)
978-1-946101-69-3

Clarion Rating: 4 out of 5

Ready, Set, GOrilla! is a lighthearted take on serious decisions and consequences.

Melissa Stoller’s Ready, Set, GOrilla! highlights sportsmanship in an entertaining animal race. Illustrated by Sandy Steen Bartholomew, this picture book for beginning readers explores the concept of fairness on a playground.

The story begins when Gorilla, an exuberant bully, challenges his friends to a race. As each runner is on the cusp of winning, he trips or hits them to ensure his own spot in first place. He ignores their reluctance to play again, and moves on to race Gopher, a spirited creature who doesn’t hesitate to point out Gorilla’s cheating despite being a cheat himself. Gopher’s triumph is short-lived, as a cheetah arrives and bolts at the start of the race, showing both Gorilla and Gopher how it feels when the odds are stacked from the start. Realizing how poorly he treated his friends, Gorilla agrees to establish ground rules before a new race begins.

The book conveys a clear lesson on the golden rule through an everyday scenario. Gorilla’s change of heart offers an important lesson in empathy, but his comeuppance feels orchestrated. It’s unclear why the gopher and cheetah are both needed to shine a mirror back at Gorilla. Cheetah in particular doesn’t appear to have changed, though she’s pictured at the end on the merry-go-round with all of the other friends.

Full color spreads enrich the race. From a winding yellow slide to a wooden obstacle course, the playground’s equipment is exciting and dangerous: Penguin spirals in the air, and Llama balances at great height. Sometimes divided in panels, at other times spanning both pages, the illustrations emphasize the physicality of the story. Gorilla bears a cartoonish, human-like profile. Other characters sport a more natural look. Bubbles of colorful, emphatic dialogue fill the white space, which sometimes results in a busy layout.

Ready, Set, GOrilla! is a lighthearted take on serious decisions and consequences. Without over-moralizing, the book implicitly shows how the enjoyment of a race lies in the camaraderie gained and in the knowledge of having put forth an honest effort. Gorilla’s instinctive desire to win “at any cost” is proven selfish. That his friends forgive him adds to the gentle outcome. While not always true to life, the competition ends with enthusiasm for more.

Reviewed by Karen Rigby
October 19, 2018

- FOREWORD REVIEWS

I posted the above Review on Patreon with this text:

This one is a much more serious and analytical review of Ready, Set, GOrilla! but still pretty good. My response... or rather... my REVIEW of the review:

"Reading that review was kind of like being in a playground! Up and down.. bump! Then up again. I think Cheetah got a bum deal - but maybe the reviewer is suggesting that Cheetah needs her own book? ;-)"

That post got this response:

Marek Bennett
"We found Ms. S-B's review of the book review engaging, light-hearted, and all too short. We eagerly await her next effort." ~ NH Review of Reviews of Reviews

And on Facebook:
So - anyone else want to leave a Review of the Review? Or maybe, a Review of My Review of The Review? Or, if you are VERY clever... how about a Review of Marek's Review of My Review of The Review? Ha HA!

Yeh - so - feel free to keep it going... ;-D

Obviously I have been staying up much too late working on designing tattoos, Kickstarters, and other promotional materials. I really need to get some sleep. So go ahead and click the link below, and take a look at the Kickstarter project. Tomorrow I'll tell you some more... stuff.

It's that time of year again... RUN AWAY!

Sitting on this beach for an hour - or maybe longer (?) - the sounds of the ocean start to soothe me and wash the pain and fear out of my brain. I wanted someplace new - and yet familiar - to escape to.

 I've never been here before. In the past, I've run to Ogunquit and walked the Marginal Way until I felt at Peace and could return to the real world.

But the people walking on the Marginal Way were couples. Pairs. Holding hands. Foreign to me. If they even noticed me, we'd nod very slightly and walk on.

On THIS beach, there are a few older couples in beach chairs facing away from the water, towards the fading sun. Everyone else is on their own. Like me. Mostly women, around my age. With dogs.

Walking back and forth through the still warm waves, we smile at each other and laugh at the dogs - romping in the surf. "What a beautiful dog!" and "Ah! He licked my hand!?"

I don't have the greatest social skills, but I am quite sure if I tried to compliment the Marginal Way Ladies on THEIR companions, I'd get a black eye! "What a beautiful man!" and "Ah! He licked my hand!?"

A book by Lisa Scottoline just popped into my thoughts... "Why My Third Husband Will Be A Dog." I say - Why wait for number three? 

There is definitely something to it... 

A beautiful golden retriever was dashing up and down the beach chasing a tennis ball. Suddenly, he swerved and headed right for me. He skidded to a halt and dropped the ball right at my feet! He smiled at me (he DID!) until I picked up the juicy thing and threw it down the beach, towards his owner. A little while later, I felt water splashing me and he was back. Grinning. Plop. ThROOOOOOWWWW! Run run run. And repeat...

It's been a really long time since I've had a dog. I'm more of a cat person... but this one - out of the many dogs on the beach - really tugged at my heart. Friendly. Social. Beautiful. Joyful.

Someday - this will be me...

I will live in an unusual, pretty little Victorian cottage (with a tower!) on the cliffs over the ocean. My studio will have a happy cat, a joyful devoted dog, and HUGE windows looking at the sea. We will walk on the beach everyday and visit with our 2 and 4 legged friends and then draw late into the night.

And it will be Good.

Three baby birds, Two freaked cats, and a Partridge on my front stoop

Animal attraction? I came home one day to find this strange creature on my door stoop. My mother-in-law did some research and said it is a partridge. I think it is one strange bird. It just stood there. With my husband gardening nearby. With kids running past. Me taking photos. It's like it was posing. It showed up a few days later standing right behind my car. It didn't want to move. If I wasn't pretty sure they were extinct, I would have guessed it was a mutant form of DoDo Bird.

 In the carport, we have a new family of birds. The mom chose the motion-sensor light to build her house on. Right next to the door. For the past few months, every time I drove into the carport, the bird would fly off in fright... and trigger the light. Very convenient for me, but the flap of wings near my head would make my heart race! Now, with the babies, she sits on the junk at the back of the carport and sings, or maybe she's tweeting to her homies about her new brood and updating her Birdies'R'Us wishlists! The babies look pretty snug for now - reminding me how moms are so good at getting their families to fit whatever space they are provided. And everyday, when I step outside, I pray that I won't find the nest (or any babies) on the ground under the light. Urck.

And lastly, there's my cat Lilo. After Rum Tum passed away last fall, we had been trying out new kittens. That failed miserably when my favorite of the cats pooped all over my bed. Urck!

So we decided to convert to a one cat family and Lilo (LiloBean JellyBean) found new confidence and a sense of serenity she had never experienced while under the dominion of RumTum Teazer. She relaxed and blossomed. Until Sunday, when her nightmares returned... supa'sized!

I posted a while back, the memorials I made to RumTum after she died. One was a little shrine type thing, the other was a larger-than-life cathead-shaped wooden cut-out of her face. On Sunday, I finally got around to mounting it on the mudroom wall above a little pass-thru window. I went back to organizing my new sewing room. My husband came in and asked if I'd seen Lilo's response to it. The poor thing was crouched on the floor hissing with a tail that was almost as puffy as her body! RumTum was BACK! And she was HUGE! I kept patting the painting and saying "It's not real" until her tail finally depuffed. As you can see from the photo (depuffed) - she still does not trust the painting! I have other big paintings of cat faces all over the house, but this is the only one that bothers her!