MSN created a web series called Re: Discover, The Soul of Your Favorite Cities. Happily, they chose to include Minneapolis... and me! They also highlighted The Wild Rumpus Bookstore and the Toddler Tools Book Series, along with a nice write-up. An Illustrated Life Among her many credits are the Best Behavior books, such as "Hands Are Not for Hitting" and "Teeth Are Not for Biting." And for the past three years, Heinlen has worked on the Toddler Tools series, illustrating books such as "Manners Time," "Sharing Time" and "Clean-Up Time." She notes that being a mom herself has given her new appreciation for her own books. "My kids and I, we read them all the time. For a while, my son thought I illustrated all children's books in the whole world!" Heinlen's business also entails branding, Web visuals, and book and CD covers. "I specialize in small, creative businesses, and they enjoy the fact that I integrate great illustrations into the designs." She recently animated the website for Minneapolis wine and beer shop The Wine Thief & Ale Jail, a project she describes as "fun and whimsical." "Sometimes when you add one more layer, one more element of an illustration, it becomes more personal. It gives it a uniqueness, because it's not something people usually see." Working on projects that celebrate peoples' lives, like wedding invitations and baby announcements, gives Heinlen an opportunity to become more engaged with her clients. "That's what I love," she says. "Getting to learn all about people and their businesses and lives." Though she works alone much of the time, Heinlen makes a point to get out and interact with folks in her Minneapolis community face to face, attending events like the annual springtime MayDay celebration. "It's a wild, artistic whirlwind of color and song, with super-sized puppets from the Heart of the Beast puppet theater, dancing costumed children and families, floats made of papier-mâché, paint, and magic rolling by on jerry-rigged bicycles," she says. "Anybody who works in a creative field knows what it's like to soak that stuff in, watching people and seeing the dynamics of the day." Aside from a short period when her family lived in the Middle East, Heinlen has lived in Minneapolis most of her life. "My tribe is here, and they speak my language," she explains. She also appreciates the four seasons, even the cold ones. "People see us as a big snow bubble, but every year is dramatically different, and I've come to love all the seasons," she says. "In the fall, we go to the orchard and pick apples and go on hayrides. When winter comes, we're excited for the snow and sledding. In the spring, we have the MayDay Parade, and then summer comes and we spend time at Minnehaha Park. There's always something to look forward to in the next season." She loves being involved with the local art community, and volunteers at the Soap Factory, a gallery for established and emerging artists that's based in the historic National Purity Soap Factory in downtown Minneapolis. Heinlen also takes her kids to family-friendly museums like the Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. "They really make it accessible for families," she notes. "I've been to major museums in other cities like New York and Chicago, and our museums are right up there." Written by Jane Boursaw, Freelance Writer, as featured on Re:Disover America on MSN |