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Paloma and Wings: An Herbal Comic – the Book is here!

Boxes of books!

Dear Friends,

I’m excited to announce that my new book, Paloma and Wings: An Herbal Comic — ten years in the making — is finally in print and available for purchase.

Here’s what the book is about:

“Paloma loves plants and herbal medicine making. Wings is a small dragon who follows Paloma on her herbal adventures. Enter the enchanted world of plants and discover their special relationship with us! A mix of comics and prose, this fun and informative book is for kids and kids at heart.”

I’m honored that these herbalists — from whom I’ve learned so much, and who I greatly admire and adore — have the following to say about it:

“Written and illustrated with children in mind, this thoroughly original and delightful book contains a wealth of information about plants, healing and nature. In a joyous and light manner Paloma and Wings guide children on a journey into the plant world with instructions on how to gather and harvest plants, make simple herbal recipes and remedies, and, perhaps most importantly, how to develop lasting relationships with plants and the natural world.”
—ROSEMARY GLADSTAR, Herbalist and Author

The first section lays down foundations for working with plants, including safety and mindful harvesting considerations and practices

“Paloma and Wings: An Herbal Comic is a wonderful contribution to the herbal genre for children! Part comic book, part recipe book, and part herbal, this whimsical tome teaches children the wonders and usefulness of herbs through stories, songs, and down-to-earth facts. From how to help friends and family when they are sick to how to handle an insect sting, Paloma and Wings will empower children to help themselves and others with the natural healing power of the plants.”
—KRISTINE BROWN, RH (AHG), Author and Illustrator of Herbal Roots zine LLC herbalrootszine.org

Comics accompany each chapter.

“An enchanting, conscientious and deeply charming guide to the earth’s natural medicines and the wonder of the animate world. A delightful and intelligent read for the herbally curious child and those who are still young at heart.”
—ASIA SULER, Founder of One Willow Apothecaries and Author of Mirrors in the Earth: Reflections on Self Healing from the Living World

Chapters introduce plants and herbal ideas. Recipes and activities are sprinkled throughout the pages.

Full color, 120 pages long, perfect bound 8″x10.5″ book – $24

For December only you can add a copy of Wintergift CD by Debra Knodel and myself at a discounted price of $8 to your order of the book (more details about the CD below).

Purchase Your Book (or Book+CD)

Purchase Paloma and Wings Book $24 and (optional) Wintergift CD $8 -for shipping in the U. S.

Purchase Paloma and Wings Book $24 and (optional) Wintergift CD $8 – local pick up

If you wish your book signed , please indicate when you pay or leave a message with me here.  If you have any questions, contact me as well.

Note: To those of you living outside the U. S.
I haven’t been able to figure out yet what to charge for mailing outside of the US. However, if you’re interested in purchasing a book, please contact me and give me some of your shipping information (town/city, country, zip code). I’ll figure out what shipping costs would be and let you know.

Wintergift – mostly harp with some tracks with vocals – Debra Knodel and Jane Valencia

WINTERGIFT by Spookytree (Deb Knodel & Jane Valencia ) is a celebration of the beauty, magic, and mystery of winter, with some sweet surprises of who and what you might discover in a snowy landscape or by the hearth fire. This album is a compilation of our most beloved winter season tracks from across our albums, plus five brand new never-before-heard tracks. Cozy up by a warm fire, and enjoy a musical wander into enchantment!

Over an hour’s worth of music. You can preview the music here, but please come back to this page to make your purchase and get your discount.

Jane, the book, and Wings!

 

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Full on Spring: What are you Planting or Gathering Now in your Life?

Chickadee - art by Jane Valencia
Chickadee – black and white gouache on Bristol board – by Jane Valencia

Greetings to you, at the New Moon – we are well into spring!
It seems strange to me to be posting black-and-white art when the world has become so bright and colorful. Each day seems to bring a new breath of color into the world. Last week was the yellow-green of Big Leaf Maple in flower, and the bright sunshine face of Dandelion. This week Wild Cherry is in full white puffy blossom attire, and the Italian Plums are beginning to wake into white blossom as well.

My Illustration class resumes next week. I’ve been working in black-and-white since September, my watercolors and colored-pencils — favored medium for more than a decade — set aside so I can just focus on the kind of work we’re doing in the class (no color until you really can handle pen & ink, and black-and-white gouache). With all the color of spring, I’m starting to yearn to return to my style of art. But, as with spring, so much is in flower. I don’t really have time to do much beyond the parade of commitments I have in motion, tending to the outcry of new leaves and flowers, and the harvest that’s demanded — now.

What’s full on for you this spring? What are you having to set aside, to come into right timing in some other season? Drop me a note about it — or them — below.