The rumors are true! Silas and I are in the studio hard at plurk on our new Wonderland project entitled, "Go Ask Alice." While I cannot divulge all the details, suffice to say this book will be full of lush, gorgeous illustrations created by Silas and myself. We've been in the studio for weeks and weeks, with more than a few months ahead of us, but we're so excited we need to share. NOW!

Without further adieu, may we introduce Mister White Rabbit...

The book is designed to be a lush art book, but oh-so-much more. Can't spill all the details now, but we will be posting more art as the days go by, so check back! 

Also...pssst! You! Yes, YOU! Like this piece? Leave us a comment then dash over to our Go Ask Alice facebook page to show your love! We're taking all the comments from this site and the stats from our facebook page when we go shopping for a publisher this fall.

In the current economy, publishers are leery of risky projects, and while we don't feel Wonderland is a "risk", often publishers will shy away from art-intensive books unless an enthusiastic fan base can be established. Help us to show the industry that there are wonder-fans out there who would love to tip-toe through Wonderland, Duirwaigh-style.

So I've had this fantasy for a while, and it has nothing with a chick walking into a bar with a summer sausage and a poodle. Instead, it goes like this: I'm with someone I love and we're strolling through a beautiful village at night. There are lights on in the shop windows, music spilling from the door of a blues bar, a few people ambling arm in arm around the town square. And in this fantasy, I'm taking in all the loveliness of the store displays and...I'm taking photos.

 I've always thought the best way to window shop is at night. You can see what's in the window and actually glimpse into the store in a way daylight does not allow. Everything is illuminated. Shiny things shine brighter, gauzy things look gauzier, green seems greener. Only one problem with making this fantasy a reality: while on vacation I'm often too tired from daytime sight seeing to muster the energy to shop at night. 

 Until now

For Silas's birthday, Mernie agreed to babysit our dogs, house, plants. It's been three entire years since Silas and I were out and about completely alone. (Confession: we weren't entirely alone. I took Houdini with us.) Knowing that Silas appreciates rare and strange beauties as much as I, we decided to head for Santa Fe, a perfect town to make my night shopping fantasy come true. We spent three glorious nights touring the town, taking photos. We paused for French pastries and espresso, but most of our evening hours were consumed with store display eye candy.  

The images were so scrumptious, I thought you might like to enjoy them here: