Kids, Lakes, Loons and Pines

Interview with Meenal Patel

In my role as a writer, I have found opportunities to make unique connections with people from all over the world. This is a gift that connectivity through the internet has given us in the 21st century, which I have leaned into, both in my personal and professional life.

Over the years, I have shared many of my conversations with other writers in my author interview posts. I enjoy this avenue of learning about and from others. I also enjoy the creative process of asking questions and turning my conversations into a post to share with hope to inspire others as well.

With the recent publication of my article: Family Adventures in Winter Weather in Taproot Magazine - Issue 37::SPARK, I found opportunity to connect with Meenal Patel, the artist who illustrated the text I wrote. We connected via instagram and I threw out the idea of collaborating for an interview post.     

Enjoy our recent conversation:

Meenal, can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Where do you live?  Tell us about your family & your interests.

I’m an artist, illustrator, designer, and children’s book author living in San Francisco with my husband and dog. I spent most of my life in Minnesota and hold a dear place in my heart for that place as home. I still feel very connected to MN because my sister and dear nieces live there. I love drawing kids, women, and textures from nature. I also love working with color and patterns – exploring both are my favorite parts of the art making process. Beyond making art, I love hiking, cooking, reading, and a good homemade morning cup of chai.
Can you share your process of illustrating “Family Adventures in Winter Weather” for Taproot Magazine?

I was so excited to illustrate this story since I immediately connected with it from growing up in Minnesota! I love the idea of finding what you love doing even within the sometimes frigid winter months.

The first thing I did was read through your piece while taking note of the overarching ideas and jotting down adjectives that came to my mind. After that I quickly sketched out as many ideas that came to mind. At this point the sketches were really rough, tiny, and probably incomprehensible to others. Next I chose the sketches that I thought captured the story best, met the creative brief needs, worked well in the dimensions of the assignment, and would play well together as group. I drew refined sketches of my selects and explored color swatches a bit. After getting approval from the client I moved on to refine the compositions, add color, texture, and pattern.

It was a such a pleasure to work on this set of illustrations. I love any moment that I get to connect back to my Minnesota roots!

Please highlight some of the other projects you are involved with and some of the products you have created.

My art business has a lot of aspects of it, which keeps things exciting! One part of it that has very much been a labor of love are the children’s books that I’ve written and illustrated – Neela Goes to San Francisco and Priya Dreams of Marigolds & Masala. They are both very much inspired by my nieces and the latter touches on some of my own experiences as a kid.

I also recently did a fabric collection with Cloud9 Fabrics called Plant Peeps, which was such a fun project to work on. It’s so fun to see what people have been making with the fabric! There are so many talented sewists and quilters out there.
Editorial illustration like the work I did for Taproot on your story is another favorite part of my job. I recently did a bunch of editorial illustration telling the story of Maya Angelou’s life for a kids’ publication called Bravery Magazine.

 

Beyond that I am busy running my own online shop where I sell art prints, my books, and other goodies that I make.

What’s next for you?

I am juggling some client work, making new patterns, experimenting with some new mediums, and thinking about stories for my next book. Making art really is my happy place. It’s the moment when I find joy and I truly hope that joy reaches others through my art. I feel really grateful that I am able to do this work!

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Thank you Meenal for this fun and inspiring interview!

Taproot Magazine::Issue 37::SPARK::Family Adventures in Winter Weather

Recently I received my contributor copies of Taproot Magazine - Issue 37::SPARK.   After much anticipation I was able to see the article I wrote six months ago, Family Adventures in Winter Weather, in print and hold the product of my contribution to this lovely magazine in my own hands.  

As a writer, the experience of turning an idea into word, and then sending it off for publication is a fun process that I am grateful that I am able to experience quite frequently with my column in Minnesota Parent Magazine, my experiences writing for mothering.com and my contributions to Taproot Magazine.  

This contribution was extra special because it was illustrated by the talented Meenal Patel.   More about the process of her illustrating my article HERE and HERE.

Writing for magazines is a creative outlet that I thoroughly enjoy. Thoughts and ideas formulate in my mind, then are transferred thoughtfully and intentionally to words in print on my computer screen.   My completed articles are then sent to my editors, who polish my words, and graphic designers or illustrators who complement my writing with photographs or original art, working their magic with the layout on the pages.   When all is ready the magazines are published and sent out into the world for others to read.   When I pull up to my rural mailbox and receive a magazine that includes my contribution, I always get a rush of excitement and a feeling of joy and accomplishment!  

Writing for Taproot Magazine is a certain kind of special.  I hope you find opportunity to get your hands on a copy and read the article that I wrote highlighting my experiences and recommendations to your family outdoors in winter weather.

 

Taproot Magazine :: Retreat to the Sauna

Yesterday afternoon I received my copy of Taproot Magazine - Issue 24 :: REST.   After much anticipation I was able to see the article I wrote months ago, Retreat to the Sauna, in print and hold the product of my contribution to this lovely magazine in my own hands.  

As a writer, the experience of turning an idea into word, and then sending it off for publication is a fun process that I am grateful that I am able to experience quite frequently with my column in Minnesota Parent Magazine, my experiences writing for mothering.com and my contributions to Taproot Magazine.  

Writing for magazines is a creative outlet that I thoroughly enjoy. Thoughts and ideas formulate in my mind, then are transferred thoughtfully and intentionally to words in print on my computer screen.   My completed articles are then sent to my editors, who polish my words, and graphic designers who complement my writing with photographs, working their magic with the layout on the pages.   When all is ready the magazines are published and sent out into the world for others to read.   When I pull up to my rural mailbox and receive a magazine that includes my contribution, I always get a rush of excitement and a feeling of joy and accomplishment.  

Writing for Taproot Magazine is a certain kind of special.  I hope you find opportunity to get your hands on a copy and read the article that I wrote highlighting my experiences with this cultural tradition that is so familiar in the area in which I live.

Here are just a few more pictures that I took for the article that did not make it to print that add more dimension and perspective to the story:

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As always, thanks for reading!

Alabama Chanin Sew Along - Taproot Magazine Issue 20 ::Share

This week I recieved issue 20::SHARE of Taproot Magazine.   I have felt privileged to have contributed to this lovely magazine in the past and this current issue I contributed in a different way - not through my printed word, but as a participant in an Alabama Chanin sew blog project that my friend Christine organized and wrote about in her feature article:  

The Power of Handmade.

When Christine presented the idea of working together to craft a beautiful garment for someone who needed a touch of joy in their life, I was immediately drawn to the proposition.

 “Together we could make beautiful things and spread some handmade joy.” -Christine

I responded to the invitation without hesitation and soon joined an eager group of makers that Christine pulled together from around the world.  Christine sought nominations from group members and two courageous women in my life were chosen as recipients of the gifts:

My dear friend Jen, a mother of three children ages 17, 15, 11 had been recently diagnosed with breast cancer. She just had a double mastectomy and was in the initial stages of chemotherapy treatment.  I knew Jen would be a perfect recipient because she loves both surprises and handmade gifts.  Jen is such a beautiful individual both inside and out and cancer and chemotherapy had taken away some of the beauty she enjoyed sharing with the world. 

Jen’s husband Tim was thoughtfully involved behind the scenes at the start of the Alabama Chanin project by discreetly finding Jen’s measurements and giving input of Jen’s style and color preferences to help Christine chose to perfect garment for us to make for her.  She received the gift of the Classic Coat in a pallet of rich blues while going through a rough patch of her chemotherapy treatment.  She was absolutely delighted and touched by the surprise.  When she opened the package and read all of the kind and thoughtful notes that accompanied her beautiful gift, she was moved by the group partnership and sentiments.

“Throughout my journey battling cancer there have been many unpleasant physical feelings along with feelings of fear and sadness, but along with these - joyful, delightful and happy experiences.  So many people have reached out to me to offer support.  It is this support that makes it almost impossible to have a good attitude.  This gift definitely brightened my day!  Just looking at and wearing the garment fills me with memories of friendship and joy!” -Jen

 I made Jen a bucket hat from the Alabama Chanin DIY as a complementary gift in the same style as her classic coat.

Betty, a brave woman in my family circle, was chosen as a recipient of a beautiful A-line Top to spread some joy, hope and light into her life.  Betty is a mother who has been enduring the most excruciating suffering of losing her firstborn child.  She experienced a preterm rupture of membranes at twenty-two weeks gestation while pregnant with her son Henry.  Henry was born premature on September 22, 2015 at twenty seven weeks with neonatal complications.  Henry was loved, cared for and supported by his mom, his dad and medical professionals in the NICU for two full months before he passed away peacefully in the loving arms of his parents.   Betty is still grieving and will always have an emptiness in her heart, but being a recipient of this project certainly lifted her spirits. 

“I was blown away by the kindness and intent behind this project.  I received the package in the mail on a particularly hard day.  The timing of this gift was like a smile from God, it was as if it was work from angels.  When I received the gift and read all of the thoughtful notes that accompanied the project, I cried happy tears”  -Betty

I was a participant in the sewing circle for Betty, sewing on of the four panels in her A-line tunic.
Participating in this act of giving has not only been healing and supportive to these deserving women, but also for myself as a maker and giver.   Going into the project I did not anticipate how my involvement in this act of giving would elicit such inspirational happy feelings in my own heart. Participating in fellowship in this genuine act of kindness and creating something of such beauty and purpose to delight another individual has been such a wonderful experience.  I know that I have been inspired by Christine’s initiative and the comfort and joy that both Jen and Betty experienced as result of the efforts of our sewing circle.  It is my hope that our stories of this experience will have the potential to influence a ripple effect of generosity in the broader community of makers, doers and dreamers. 

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 You will be lucky if you can get your hands on the new issue of Taproot Magazine issue 20::SHARE, read Christine's The Power of Handmade and all of the other great content in the issue as well.

 

::Taproot - SONG

It's here!

Taproot ::SONG:: has been published and is on stands and in the homes of subscribers now!

I am so happy to be contributing to this issue with my article "Keeping Chickens" with photographs by Amanda Blake Soule.

It is a such wonderful experience to see my very own ideas come to life through print - and to be a part of Taproot, a magazine that I enjoy with a vision and mission that I believe in.

I hope you are able to get your hands on a copy - and maybe even get a little chicken raising guidance and inspiration from my article.