tania howells

Starring Shapes!

I am so super exited to show you my new book!  Starring Shapes!  It comes out in the fall of 2015 and is amazingly already up on Amazon for pre-order.  They even let you have a good look through the first number of pages.  This is the first book I wrote and illustrated, so I am feeling really lucky, grateful and chuffed.

It has been such great timing- I was busy with this book and then the third Willow book all through Finch's first year of school, and my first block of childfree time since he was born, apart from a few mornings at preschool of course.  

Willow is going to look something like this:

It's about picture day!  Lana Button has done it again- such a lovely story! Willow is worried she won't be able to smile.  I know the feeling!!  I think Willow is actually me....  Please stay tuned, I will post the cover as soon as I am able!

dreamy creamy lotion

Hello!! I have been so busy finishing up the illustrations for the third Willow book ( handed in!  Not sure of it's release date... fall 2015? will keep you posted!) that I have not been able to blog at all.  Today I am celebrating being done!

Yesterday I hauled the bike from the basement and went to see the cherry blossoms!

Glorious!

My garden is looking just lovely too- Oh how I love spring!

Today I made this, something to post on my neglected St.Clarens General Store blog!

I have made this cream four times and finally, this batch is just what it should be!  Dreamy and creamy, just lovely.  It's not as oily as my solid lotion bars because it has aloe vera gel mixed in, so it absorbs just beautifully.  It took about half an hour to whip up and it lasts for ages, at least a season maybe longer in the summer when I won't be feeling so dry.  I even think it would be perfect to mix a bit of zinc oxide powder into and make it a good sunscreen.  I am just not sure how much...It is a variation on a recipe from a great book called Homemade. 

you will need:

1 cup of aloe vera gel

5-10 drops of essential oil of your choice

3/4 ounces of grated or pellets, beeswax

1/2 cup of coconut oil

Steps:

1.add your essential oil to your aloe vera gel

2.Melt the coconut oil and beeswax in a double boiler until the beeswax has blended into the oil as a liquid.

3.In a slow stream pour the oil/wax mixture into the aloe vera mixture, while whirring away on slow speed with a hand mixer until all oil is blended and it looks creamy and dreamy.

4. spoon into jars.

The book suggests you store it in the fridge but I keep it in the bathroom since I use it as a night face cream and it hasn't turned sour or anything.

enjoy!