Artist In Profile: Fritz Koch-Gotha

As in previous years, I'm crafting a homemade 'zine to tuck into my childrens' Easter nests this Sunday!

This year, they will feature mini-prints of these richly coloured and very funny illustrations by Fritz Koch-Gotha.  I have carefully scanned and touched up the colours to share the illustrations with you here.

I hope you love them as much as I do!

"Easter Egg Painting Class"...the girl rabbit in the centre
having a meltdown because she's broken her egg is so funny!

"Off to School"...the brother bunny blowing his nose on a
cabbage leaf ...KG's imagination is vivid...

"In the Classroom"

"Class in Prayer"

"Musical Interlude"

"A Family Dinner".  Father Rabbit seems to be an
Army General...HA!

Which of these is your favorite?

I can't quite decide...

Easter Booklets

Every year for Easter, I make little zines for Oliver and Charlotte to discover among their stash of goodies.  This tradition was started by my mom, who made my brother, sister and I each one every year. 

These are Oliver's booklets from the last two years.

The booklets include vintage pictures...

...we add little captions to make the book personal...

...sometimes they double as "learn your numbers"
 flashcards...

....they're always funny...

...and super fun to put together!

This year, I'm trying to come up with a prototype.  I think I have it down to white, square cardstock, bright cotton yarn binding, and including pages featuring Pysanka egg designs (scored a pysanka egg decorating kit at my local variety store!)

I've loved reading about how others craft special items for easter baskets in the blogosphere.  One of my favorites is here.

Easter Cards

The 2011 Easter card collaboration!

Oliver's three-year-old finger prints, my chickie detail drawings...

We cut this paper up and glued it to some cardstock.  These became sweet little tags for the glassine bags containing our homemade pralines!  Oliver was delighted to hand them out at all our family gatherings on the weekend.

Eggies

I cannot BELIEVE this little praline making session went off without even a tiny disaster! 

I used this "fancy" recipe . Oliver had his own batch to work with which he also promptly consumed.  I made the ones meant for public consumption and he decorated those happily and I think they turned out quite nicely!

Here's what I actually SHOULD have been paying attention to: laundry, dust bunnies, sticky counters, setting C's immunization appointment, remembering to get father-in-law's birthday gift...making Jello pralines won out...go figure.

Happy Easter Oliver + Charlotte!