She’s two, and I’m sending presents. ‘Cause that’s what aunties who live 12 hours away do.

So, my little niece turns two tomorrow. While I can’t be there, I can still send a piece of me through my sewing! I finished this bag in record time tonight–about an hour and a half. And I really like how it turned out. I even spoke with my sister (my niece’s mom) tonight while making it. Though it won’t make it in time for her birthday, it should be there by this weekend, which is when my mom, dad, sister, and bro-in-law will be there to party hardy in celebration of the lil’ tike’s b-day. Here are some pics of the gift bag and her present:

It's all pretty with butterflies and dragonflies!

Close-up

Ribbon

Gingham interior

And what's inside? Squirrels! Handmade (not be me, of course).

I also made a card for her, so it’s a completely handmade present. Yay! I’m going to try to do this for Christmas this year, too, so maybe this is the first step. Right?

Minnesota Children’s Publishers (mostly of the nonfiction variety)

When I explain to people that I want to go “home” (Minnesota) to work in my chosen publishing field, they look at my like I’m bonkers. “Don’t you want to move to New York or Boston or even Chicago or San Fran? Well, no, I don’t really have any desire to move there on a regular basis, but for a job, why would I want to go to any of those? They don’t have nearly as many fantastic children’s publishers as the Twin Cities does. Normally, the laughing ensues on this, and I attempt to convince them by explaining that MN houses three of the largest and most-respected publishers of kid NF lit as well as a great many smaller, stellar kid lit publishers. Don’t believe me, either? Take a look-see at this article by the School Library Journal written in March of 2008.

As many of you know, I currently work in adult scholarly journal publishing, and I love it. I really do. But my heartstrings are still pulled toward children’s nonfiction publishing, and it doesn’t help that I’m writing my entire master’s project on it.

Nonetheless, I thought since I am now the resident expert (or whatever) in children’s publishing, I thought I would put up a list of children’s publishers that are located in Minnesota. Please note that I may be missing some publishers, so if you know of any I’m overlooking, please let me know. I’ll add them to the list. Also, this does not include adult publishers with no children’s books on their backlist or current list. This list would be twice as long if I was to include all publishers in MN.

FYI: I use the term nonfiction loosely. Many of these publishers work in the library/school sector (I can’t think of the correct term right now) where they publish texts specifically for schools and these books will never make it to the local Borders or Barnes & Noble. Some of them publish a combo of trade and school. Some publish nonfiction and fiction. It all just depends. Please also note that when I refer to “children’s publishing,” this includes young adult/teen lit, as well.

• Lerner Publishing Group, Minneapolis
• Capstone Publishing Group, Mankato and Bloomington
• ABDO Publishers, Mankato
  
• The Creative Company,  Mankato (This is one of the most beautiful websites I’ve ever seen; it’s worth it to take a look.)
• Meadowbrook Press, Minnetonka
  
• The Child’s World, Mankato
• Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd., Woodbury
• The Place in the Woods, Golden Valley
• Free Spirit Publishing, Minneapolis
• Milkweed Editions, Minneapolis
• The Oliver Press, Minneapolis
• Teach Me Tapes, Inc., Minnetonka
• Maren Green Publishing, Inc., Oak Park Heights
• Farmer’s Hat Productions, Wayzata
  
• Augsburg Fortress, Minneapolis (This is a religious publisher, so they have a very specific audience, but they publish books for youth; I felt compelled to include them, as they do publishing children’s fiction and nonfiction.)
  

San Francisco

I’ve decided that it’s time to travel to someplace new (to me). I was soundly smacked with the travel bug when I got a taste of it during our brief visit to Sioux Falls, SD earlier this month. Though I didn’t really enjoy that visit (Sioux Falls is surprisingly busy and packed with people, and I couldn’t get around on foot or via public transportation–not my favorite when in a new city).

I think I’m going to take the hubby to San Francisco for his birthday in May.Why SF? Because it’s there. And we’ve never been. And there’s so much to see. I’m also told spring (and also fall) in SF is the best time of year to visit–the temps are temperate and the rainy season (winter) is complete and the foggy season (summer) hasn’t yet began.

The only major expense I’m concerned about is plane tickets, as taking the train out there would cut into our SF fun time by a few days. I’ll see what I can find online. How did we book trips before the Internet?

Anyone recommend any sites to see while in SF? Advice is welcome!

Let the planning begin!