REMEMBERING TOMIE on October 18, 2020

The Neiman-Marcus Christmas Book was once so highly anticipated that its publication was national news especially for its outrageous offerings, such as, a condominium in Hawaii - $1.2 million - in the 1982 Christmas Book. The “His/Her Gift” in 1982 was an exercise machine for $20,000.

As with other catalogs - French Creek Sheep and Wool Co. and The Popcorn Factory - I wrote a “To Whom It May Concern” letter to Neiman-Marcus and suggested that they sell Tomie’s books in their catalog. They wrote back to ask Tomie to submit a design for the Christmas Book cover.

They loved his design and used it in 1982. They also sold GIORGIO’S VILLAGE in that catalog and products created from the cover design: drink glasses, a cookie tin, note cards, and wrapping paper.

When Tomie autographed at Neiman-Marcus in Texas, he said it was so much fun to see his cover design walking around the store on shopping bags

Because we had a contact, I suggested Tomie’s friend, Trina Schart Hyman, for a future catalog cover. Trina’s design was not accepted by Neiman-Marcus, but she was paid a fee for her submission.

Trina offered to give me the fee, but I declined. She instead gave me the rejected, yet beautiful, artwork. (Bob)

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REMEMBERING TOMIE on October 17, 2020

One of Tomie’s favorite foods was popcorn, so he wrote the “definitive” book on the subject, THE POPCORN BOOK.

I sent The Popcorn Factory a copy of Tomie’s book, after receiving their catalog in the mail, with the naive hope The Popcorn Factory would feature the book in a future catalog.

They did sell it in an edition of the catalog and also asked Tomie to design a popcorn tin.

His first tin was offered for Holidays 1983. He designed many more tins for them over several years.

The popcorn - especially the three-way combination of cheese, caramel, and buttered popcorn - was delicious.

The 40th anniversary edition of THE POPCORN BOOK, now called TOMIE DEPAOLA’S THE POPCORN BOOK, was published in 2018. (Bob)

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REMEMBERING TOMIE on October 16, 2020

Tomie created the 1983 Advent calendar for the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

He autographed at the Met’s Children’s Bookshop on October 16, 1983. There was a display case on the outside wall of the Bookshop in which Tomie’s original artwork was featured.

During the early days of my attempts at promotion and publicity, my cover letter boasted in bold type that Tomie’s illustrations had been exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

An accurate statement, albeit an exaggeration. (Bob)

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REMEMBERING TOMIE on October 15, 2020

Tomie’s illustrations in the June, 1973, issue of MS. magazine!

Excerpts from the book, WHAT IS FEAR: AN INTRODUCTION TO FEELINGS, Copyright 1972, were featured in a “Stories for Free Children” segment. (Bob)

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REMEMBERING TOMIE on October 14, 2020

Christmas 1982, The French Creek Sheep and Wool Co. catalog. Autographed copies of CHARLIE NEEDS A CLOAK were offered through the catalog. (Bob)

Copyright - Estate of Tomie dePaola and Whitebird, Inc.

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