del4yo's Profile

I work from home as a designer and illustrator and author...until my son was in kindergarten I had day care three days a week, and when he was a baby I had a great nanny three times a week.. On days my son was with me during the week I was fully with him and would work during nap time , time when he played by himself , and as soon as my husband was back home until late at night. Now I work at night and in the morning , and the only reason I survive is because I work mostly with the east coast and Europe , they can't communicate in the afternoons.

I had some odd moments. Skype is the best and worst of tools : one time my son , fed up to wait for me after a 15mn conference, began to throw his stuffed animals at the computer . And another time he stole a full box of brownie bites in the kitchen and began to stuff himself just behind me. I am glad I work with people with a sense of humor. I don't usually work much when my son is alone with me.

Working from home on my own projects , I do have to work as much if not more than when I wasn't telecommuting. But I do get to run to school if there is a problem, I can settle a sickie camp in my studio, and instead of a lunch break I do get to ride my bike for errands instead, which I really like to do. Sometimes I work late because I took some well deserved me time, and I appreciate to shop when nobody is around, and to work when everybody sleeps.

Working from home is like having the possibility to have your children at work: not for the faint at heart.

PS: I do dress correctly even if I seat between the bedroom and the kitchen . It helps me feeling that I am in fact at work and not at home.

I think you need to have your very own place in the house to hang stuff you like. Childrenshould be able te create their own space, too. I made a big painting of bunnies flying in the sky with balloons but my son liked decals with happy sheep and parachutes better. So here we go, happy sheep. The bunnies ended on my wall in my workshop were they are put to work as reference for my next book. And I think it's ok.

I once saw my favorite Sasha doll, in a museum, and it freaked me out. I carried mine in my suitcase from France along with very little personal belongings. her clothes were in a pretty bad state for so much playing so I splurged in new, original ones for her...my brother saw that, recognized the clothes and freaked out because they looked new-hum, they were. Ok, out of creepy stories : Poupée Caroline is seated in my bookshelf in a tiny vintage doll chair and she looks perfectly at ease between my collection of Japanese craft books and vintage drawing books. She reminds me tons of good memories and makes me feel at home, thousand of miles from home...

Toca boca! The best Apps ever for a toddler! To a tea party is my favorite. We love the little shop too. These apps are for creative play, real cute, and fantastic fun. I have them on both iPad and iPhone, it's like carrying a toy chest with me.

There is just enough color to warm up the place and the contrast make it very nice in a baby's point of view too! I love the carpet, I want the same!

I removed the pad when my son was 6 months, and put it back, omg, my son stuck his arm and had bruises on his head! I choose a breathable one. My son made clear very soon that he hated his crib, a nice designer crib, but anyway. No bumpers, no quilts, no soft toys, no nothing, our children begin their lives in a prison! It's time to think about it.

Hello!I'm the author of the owl illustrations.

They are not for free use...Usually I ask people who use my illos for published projects to make a kind donation to UNICEF. Since you don't even mention me, I would really appreciate if you could do it anyway?

Can you please contact me? Thanks!

I love my clutter! (But it's cute clutter)
No woman is a desert. I'm more of the island kind. Pretty, cluttered island with a lot of color.

I actually rescpected all your rules , like thta I have more room for toys, art stuff and knickknacks.

Except for going wireless. Anyone with a toddler knows how nice it is to have the keyboard and mouse attached to the computer.

I downoald all the novels I read, and most magazines.

The only book I still buy are my craft books with patterns, and art books.

I'm an avid reader (3 to seven books a week), and having a whole library in my iPad is a true delight!

Our favorite app on the ipadis actually an iphone one, but it scales OK:

Feed me!
You have to feed a monster with the results of the questions he asks.

I was surprised to watch my 3 years old going enthusiastically through all the questions, learning his letters and numbers without paying attention. Lovely!