ALARMING

Fire Alarm Wednesday night. 
Only this time there was SMOKE in the hallway. 
Hearts racing, 
Cats yowling!! 
Stuffed the Cat Boys in their carriers and headed
into the fire tower across the hall. 
Worried how to get the 3 of us down 30-some concrete flights 
with my very sore left hip. 
The tower door opened 
and a fully kitted out Philly Fireman said, 
"Thought I heard Cats!" 
Emergency over, fire in a dryer on 6.
Back home. Whew!!

REMEMBERING, JANE

My dear friend and mentor, Author/Illustrator 
Jane Flory Freedman, passed away
November 25, 2005, seven years ago.

So many changes and the urge to share the 
current laughter, gossip and inspiration continues.

How much she would have enjoyed it all.

Detail from my photo of Jane Flory

on our research expedition to the

Landis Valley Museum, Lancaster, PA

http://pabook.libraries.psu.edu/palitmap/bios/Flory__Jane_Trescott.html

janeflory.blogspot.com/

How Time Flies

Jane Flory in my college days

48 years ago this month since I walked into 

Jane Flory's Evening Division office as her 

new student helper. 

Part of my student aid package.

Best boss I ever had.

Friend, teacher, mentor followed.

Can't say in what order, evolving and growing

with time.

Some time before Jane revealed her other profession.

Author and Illustrator of over 50 children's books.

An alumna of the College.

As well as raising three lovely, talented 

and mischievous daughters.

Just a few of Jane Flory's wonderful books

Jane was the first to believe I could write as well as illustrate.

Trusted me to illustrate her Ranshackle Roost (HMCo).

Taught me everything she knew about "the ropes"

of writing, book illustrating and publishing and introduced 

me to Houghton Mifflin Co., her publisher.

We did 4 books together.

Ramshackle Roost, We'll Have A Friend For Lunch, The

Unexpected Grandchildren and The Bear On The Doorstep

(all HMCo).

Hard work, much laughter, interesting expeditions.

She listened, sympathized, advised, cheered 

and laughed with every "war story" from books 

that came after.

We shared a love of history, doll houses, handcrafts

and travel. Unabashed Anglophiles.

Remembered anecdotes from shared adventures 

always make me laugh. 

And I miss her.

Jane Flory at the Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster, PA. 

 on a research trip for my book, The Three Brothers, Whitebird/Putnam

One of our memorable"expeditions" over the years.

Life Saver

My senior year in high school began as a disaster.
My family's 5th move in 16 years. From Syracuse, 
NY to New Milford, NJ. New school, new classmates, 

old drill. Add family hassles.

Mrs. Bea Kettlewood, from my yearbook

My one saving grace. the Art Department at New Milford
HS headed by the indefatigable, Bea Card Kettlewood. 
Assisted by Eva Bowker and Mel Davison. 
I don't remember how it happened, but I got to spend 3 
periods in a row every day in the large,well equipped 
Art Department. Assignments? Anything I wanted to do .
Weaving, mosaics, clay. Teaching, learning and lots of laughter. 

 Eva Bowker, top and Mel Davison, below

Mrs. Kettlewood kept a chart. Upon acceptance to 
Art College, she pasted a gold star next to a senior 
student's name. The rows of stars grew. But my 
space stayed empty. Syracuse turned me down. (I had 
PSAT scores, but not SATs. SU Admissons returned 
Mom's call. She gave them whatfore on their nickel)

         Yours truly, looming in Mrs. K's NMHS Art Dept.

Finally late Spring, acceptance came from the Philadelphia 
Museum College of Art, Mrs. K welcomed me with an enormous 
handmade gold star. Massive cheering and hugs. 
A truly legendary much beloved teacher and friend to all
her former students.



Bea Card Kettlewood

#12 Paint Remnants,          #17 Low Tide, Long Ropes, ME

         Port Clyde, ME  

                                  #11 November Storm, Pemaquid Point, ME

   #30 Architectural Classics, Philadelpia, PA  

    (all painting photos by Tony Gallo)

Retired from teaching, Bea continues to paint and show her work.

Landscapes, Seascapes and Cityscapes. Charming, colorful, 
evocative pictures of  places she knows and loves in Maine, 
New Jersey and one here of a doorway in Philadelphia. 


Follow the link to see more of her delightful work.
   http://www.pbase.com/gailb/beakettlewood

For Paula On The Left Coast.......

OK, here's the evidence that there 

are cats living with Illustrators on 

the right coast who have

totally taken over the decor, 

sensibilities and considerations 

of the dwelling and studio they

share with their human.

Besides the water fountain in the kitchen that sits 

beside their food dishes, TZ and Fred share a 

water dish on the bathroom sink and another on a

wooden stool in the living room.

Among their many designated napping spots 

are the west window ledge, the north window 

tower, a pouf on the floor in the bedroom and 

another atop a wicker hamper by the window. 

There are also several African baskets, the day 

bed, love seat (or love seat back) and the ever 

popular,MY bed. And I almost forgot, the OUT 

box overlooking my computer

and keyboard.

Though I have stated that when I die I'd like to 

come back as one of my brother's children, 

another excellent choice would be as one of

my cats. 

                   =^..^=  =^..^=

Old Fashion

                                    From my high school portfolio, 

                                   Jackie Kennedy influence 1962-63

I wanted to be a Fashion Designer. When I got to 

The Philadelphia Museum College of Art, they 

canceled that major. Without a thought about the 

life long consequences, I changed to Fashion 

Illustration, which was also canceled the

following year. And the school became the

Philadelphia College of Art.

college work, pen and ink and film color overlay 1967-68

Undeterred, I switched again, to major in 

Illustration. The Illustration department 

had a proud history, having been started by

Thornton Oakley, who had studied with Howard 

Pyle at his renowned Brandywine School in 

Chadds Ford, PA. 

decorative costumes, pen and ink and color 1966-67ish

As part of my student aid, I worked after school

in the office of the Evening Division Director. 

The result of another snap decision, having been 

offered either that, or work in the college store 

between classes. I had no idea that Jane Flory, 

the night school Director was also a published

children's book author and illustrator. (See my 

November 25, 2008 post) Jane became my great 

friend, Mentor and collaborator.

my first fashion illustration job for a newspaper ad 1968ish

Two days after graduation I got my first freelance job, 

neither fashion nor children's books. Fire engines and 

a picnic ground full of people in 2 colors.

Four months later I was drawing shirts, skirts,

dresses, shorts and slacks in pen and ink for the 

salesmen's catalogues at Villager/ Ladybug, the well 

known (at the time) women's clothing company. 

Meanwhile, the Art Director of Villager's advertising

company, gave me my first fashion illustration 

assignment (above) for a newspaper ad. 

kid's fashion portfolio sample, early professional portfolio, pen & ink and watercolor 1969-70ish

For  a while I had two portfolios. One for fashion. 
The other with samples for book publishers. 

                                                     

Beamed Up

arrow points to boom window
(click to enlarge)


I saw a metal gondola with several men slowly

rise up the south side of 2 Liberty Place, 

while I was on the phone yesterday.

When they passed the railing at the top of 
that portion of the building (40-some stories 
high) I suddenly realized that the platform 
could not be hanging from the roof nor 
attached to the side wall, because the next 
building section stepped back from the 
lower one.

"Sky hook?", crossed my mind as I looked 
up under my window shade.

Indeed, there was a long steel boom

sticking out of a large window opening

just under the triangular peak at the top.

The gondola rose slowly until it was just

under and perpendicular to the boom.

Gradually it turned until it was still

under but parallel to the boom
and away from the building.

Now for the BEST part.

Almost imperceptibly, the boom w/gondola

fastened beneath swung to the left.

When it reached a certain point the boom began

to move bit by bit lengthwise into the opening

in the building until it and the gondola

disappeared from sight.

And the glass window descended and closed.

(Sorry, no pictures. Too busy narrating the action 
into the phone.)

Hoping for a next time!

PS I've since been told there is a
"boom"on each of the 4 sides of the building.