iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Elizabeth Metz @thefinestmuffins.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Happy #KidLitArtPostcard day! I'm an author-illustrator seeking representation. I ❤️ colorful textural art, funny stories for kids, and Anne "so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers" Shirley of Green Gables. 🎨: www.elizabeth-metz.com (Repurposing old art this month because time flies!)

Illustration postcard. Textured digital art features a red-haired girl with gray-green eyes, freckles, and braids. She's wearing a straw hat decorated with a colorful array of flowers and leaves, and she's looking up at the hat uncertainly, her eyebrows raised. The frame of the illustration cuts her face off just below the nose.

Text at the bottom of the card says Author + Illustrator Elizabeth Metz, www.elizabeth-metz.com, framed by graphic outlines of more flowers.

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Elizabeth Metz @thefinestmuffins.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

I voted in the best TV shows thingamajig! Here's my ballot! (My agenda was to boost delightful shows that trend under-appreciated or off radar. An honest top 10 would for sure include Parks and Rec, New Girl, The Good Place. Declaring "favorites" stresses me out; spotlighting gems is easier!)

The 100 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century: My Top Shows
Legends of Tomorrow
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Bad Sisters
Anne with an E
The Bletchley Circle
Drunk History
Superstore
Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries
Community
Kim's Convenience

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Jennifer Laughran @literaticat.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Heads up, Bookworms: There will likely be💀supply chain issues💀 this holiday season. So if there are specific books you have your heart set on for holiday gifting, I strongly suggest you buy/order them ahead of time (✨like now✨) rather than waiting until November/December.

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Elizabeth Metz @thefinestmuffins.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

As a kid I was obsessed with Chris Van Allsburg's The Mysteries of Harris Burdick. This sentence would be GREAT in that book, with spooky pencil art of the remnants of a food fight, peppered with many-sized footprints, viewed through a broken glass door upon which a shaggy figure hangs a sign.

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Linda Holmes @lindaholmes.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

I hope folks understand that this is a reaction to the Ellipse, the Reflecting Pool, the East Wing, the fences, the barriers, the National Guard, and the general state of the city, as well as the Kennedy Center.

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Elizabeth Metz @thefinestmuffins.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Justice for Grover as The Creature Who is Definitely Not Stirring in the Sesame Street gang’s seminal production of “The Night Before Christmas” as seen in A Muppet Family Christmas. Anyway, booo AI.

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Elizabeth Metz @thefinestmuffins.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Whenever the "Gorilla Grodd attacks young Obama in his dorm" scene from Legends of Tomorrow makes the social media rounds, I'm bummed it doesn't include this, the OTHER Grodd-Obama scene. Barry trying to bipartisan "yes we can" a HOMICIDAL GORILLA is peak comedy. And this actor's Obama voice? 👏👏👏

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Elizabeth Metz @thefinestmuffins.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

I was a freshman at the University of Dayton. The evening of 9/11, a sonic boom from planes taking off from Wright Patt Air Force Base coincided with a random fire. I have a vivid memory of experiencing both from my dorm window, plus a vague memory that there were rumors of a bombing in Dayton.

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Elizabeth Metz @thefinestmuffins.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Happy #KidLitArtPostcard day! I'm an author-illustrator seeking representation. I ❤️ colorful textural art, good stories for kids, and chickens, which are inherently funny, especially when they're pondering. You can see more of my 🎨 here: elizabeth-metz.com

Illustration postcard. Art features a smudgy painterly landscape with a green, thriving tree in the midground of half the page. A white chicken with red comb and wattle cocks its head and takes a step toward an unexpected thing in the grass in the lower right corner of the image: a violin, perched on its side.

Overlaid text says "Author + illustrator Elizabeth Metz, www.elizabeth-metz.com.

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Elizabeth Metz @thefinestmuffins.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

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Elizabeth Metz @thefinestmuffins.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

I encountered them so young that it's probably more accurate to call them formative than life-changing, but: A New Coat for Anna A Chair for My Mother The Giant Jam Sandwich ...together helped me understand collective action, of building community (and getting things done) through a project.

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Joel @itsjoels.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

This is the letter kids got at the end of Dolly’s Imagination Library. I defy you to read this and not cry.

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Musicology Duck @musicologyduck.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

every time i get an email written with chatgpt that doesn't make any sense, doesn't answer my question, or uses the same words over and over again ...in my head i am imagining it was written by Derek from the Good Place

static.klipy.com

Jason Mendoza and Derek's Intimidation Stare-Off

ALT: Jason Mendoza and Derek's Intimidation Stare-Off

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Shannon Hale @shannonhale.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Reading novels for fun increases empathy, intelligence, relaxation, critical thinking, happiness, and general life satisfaction and is totally free through your local library

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Elizabeth Metz @thefinestmuffins.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Ancient male dermatologist, upon seeing a burn on my arm shortly before Thanksgiving: "Ah, of course. I know how much cooking you women do this time of year." To be fair, it *was* a burn from an oven door. But COME ON.

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Elizabeth Metz @thefinestmuffins.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Most #KidLitArtPostcard Days, I tout myself as author-illustrator. That's still me! I have stories + dummies + will be querying again soon. But you know what I've *always* wanted to illustrate? BOOK COVERS. So here's a mockup for The Westing Game, the classic MG mystery. 🎨: www.elizabeth-metz.com

Illustration postcard! Features a mock-up book cover for The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin, including a shiny gold Newbery Medal in the bottom right of the page. Typefaces are vaguely 1970s-ish, in honor of the book's publication year.

Cover illustration depicts a warm-colored sunset over a chessboard lawn. On the left, a distant silhouetted mansion has a few lights on and smoke billowing out of chimneys. In the foreground on the right is a high-rise, glass-filled apartment building. 15 characters are framed in windows:

Doug Hoo wearing a race medal and a beaming smile.
Sun Lin Hoo wearing an apron and an uncertain look.
James Shin Hoo wearing a chef's coat and a scowl.
Otis Amber wearing an aviator hat and an air of mischief.
Berthe Erica Crow wearing a maid's uniform, a tight bun, and a grim look.
Judge JJ Ford holding a gavel and everyone's attention.
Sandy McSouthers wearing a doorman's hat and a chipped-tooth smile.
Jake Wexler wearing a doctor's coat and laughing eyes.
Grace Windsor Wexler wearing pearls and a haughty sneer.
Denton Deere wearing a doctor's coat and a distracted look.
Angela Wexler wearing an engagement ring and a far-off look.
Sydelle Pulaski holding a crutch and a secretary's pen.
Chris Theodorakis birdwatching.
Theo Theodorakis playing chess.
And Flora Baumbach holding a measuring tape and sadness in her eyes.

And silhouetted between the two buildings, striding across the lawn, is the book's youngest character. She wears a witch costume, a satchel, and a winner's confident gait. She is Tabitha Ruth "Turtle" Wexler.

The bottom of the postcard notes:
Available for book covers! Elizabeth Metz. www.elizabeth-metz.com.

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Musicology Duck @musicologyduck.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

DoorDash trying to end home rule for 700,000 people over a TWENTY CENT FEE

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Elizabeth Metz @thefinestmuffins.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

A sick kid gets a visit from his grandfather and is begrudgingly entertained.

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Elizabeth Metz @thefinestmuffins.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Me: "Wait, isn't it the middle of the game"? Also me: *frantically googling when Ray Charles died, because... he's definitely dead, right?*

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Ken Tremendous @kentremendous.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Democratic senators taking the high road for people who actively tried to overthrow elections -- who are literally *on tape* saying "Please subvert American democracy" -- shows that we are still playing completely different sports, here.

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Elizabeth Metz @thefinestmuffins.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Ahhh, I used to walk through this park on my commute when I last lived in DC! There's a statue of Joan of Arc overlooking the water feature, and I'm just imagining her look of distaste and/or vengeance. 😂

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Elizabeth Metz @thefinestmuffins.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Happy scorching hot July #KidLitArtPostcard Day! Has anybody actually tried frying an egg on the sidewalk? How'd it go? I'm an #unagented author-illustrator seeking representation and/or projects. I ❤️ colorful textural art, funny stories for kids, and clouds (not pictured). 🎨: elizabeth-metz.com

Illustration postcard. Art depicts two girls (one with brown skin, black hair pulled back in two puffs, a yellow blouse with fluttery sleeves, and navy shorts, the other with pink skin, brown hair pulled back in a ponytail + bangs, wearing green overalls over a white short-sleeved blouse) sitting on a sidewalk looking at an egg frying on the pavement between them. Between them, a brown scruffy dog looks up warily at the beaming sun, its tongue lolling out. Overlaid text says "Author + illustrator Elizabeth Metz, www.elizabeth-metz.com."

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Musicology Duck @musicologyduck.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

i don't know how to make it clearer that there are 5,000 soldiers + federal agents + the 30-odd police forces that are always here + like the oklahoma sheriff's department for some reason, in an area that is *68 square miles* and has lower crime than many of the places these folks come from

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Elizabeth Metz @thefinestmuffins.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Happy 5th birthday, #KidLitArtPostcard! Meet me, as a kid. I'm an author-illustrator seeking representation and projects! I ❤️ colorful textural art, funny stories for kids, and (in zero change since childhood) that magical combo of cozy pajamas + comfy couch + a good book. 🎨 elizabeth-metz.com

Kid lit art postcard! Illustration depicts a couch in shades of chromatic grays, with a dark, wavy-haired girl in blue footie pajamas curled up holding a book on her lap, her eyebrow frowning in focus.

Overlaid text notes "author + illustrataor Elizabeth Metz, www.elizabeth-metz.com."

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Josh Gondelman @joshgondelman.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

My crankiest old man take is that referring to all art/entertainment/journalism/criticism/comedy/advertising as “content” helped pave the way for broad-ish acceptance of AI slop.

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Elizabeth Metz @thefinestmuffins.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

(I'm about to comment on the Hacks finale. This is barely a spoiler, but beware I guess?) Anyway! This Mona Lisa scene! I kept yelling at my screen "Because she was stolen, Ava! Vincenzo Peruggia and true crime and NEWSPAPERS!" Dear Hacks writers and world: you should read The Mona Lisa Vanishes!

Screenshot from the series finale of Hacks. Jean Smart as Deborah Vance and Hannah Einbeinder as Ava Daniels flank the Mona Lisa at the Louvre. Ava's turned to Deborah with a confused grimace, gesturing at the painting. Subtitled text shows that she's asking, "Why'd this pop?"

Book cover: The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity, by Nicholas Day with art by Brett Helquist. Above the title, the famous Mona Lisa smiling eyes peer down at, below the title, a dark haired mustachioed man in a white jacket smuggling the painting in his coat while looking furtively behind him.

A quote at the top of the bookjacket reads, "A witty thriller." - The New York Times. The Robert F. Sibert Medal covers part of the art in the bottom right.

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Kelly Mangan (She/Her) 🏳️‍🌈💖💜💙 @kellyamangan.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Some people think it's frivolous or indulgent to make art in times of fear, tragedy, & great suffering. But those are the times it's needed most. Some small, beautiful thing could be what keeps a person going when the world is closing in around them. It takes courage to sing into the darkness.

Illustration of a guitar at sunrise, by me.

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Elizabeth Metz @thefinestmuffins.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

As someone who really came into my Cincinnati Reds fandom in 1999, I get irrationally happy whenever the Reds are beating the Mets 5-0.

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chira 🎋 @artofchira.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

I'm absolutely captivated at her sincere surprise and confusion. she is genuinely unable to even hypothesize why there's pushback. her ghasts are fully flabbered.

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Maggie Tokuda-Hall @maggietokudahall.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

I wrote this essay last fall for print only & I'm republishing it with their permission bc we're talking about didactism in kidlit right now and I have HAD thoughts about the connection between instructive lit and book banning. I'd be honored if you read it. www.prettyokmaggie.com/blog/2026/5/...

prettyokmaggie.com

Who's Afraid of Children's Books? — Pretty Ok Maggie

This essay was written for the print only periodical, THE APPROACH, in Fall of 2025 and has been republished here with their permission.

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Linda Holmes @lindaholmes.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

People who don’t have kids in public school subsidize people who do. People who don’t drive on city-maintained streets subsidize people who do. We are all the subsidized and the subsidizers when things are operating normally; let’s not do this silliness.

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Elizabeth Metz @thefinestmuffins.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Hiya #KidLitArtPostcard Day! I'm an #unagented author-illustrator seeking representation. I ❤️ colorful textural art, funny stories for kids, and (as a Cincinnatian, especially one who cheered some triumphant marathoners last Sunday!) a nice whimsical flying pig. Portfolio: elizabeth-metz.com

Illustration postcard. Art features a smiling pinkish-orangish pig floating in the air, holding (and looking up at) a multi-colored striped umbrella, Mary Poppins style! A blueish-greenish sky dotted with clouds is in the background.

Overlaid text at the bottom of the page (at a slightly jaunty angle) says Author + Illustrator Elizabeth Metz, www.elizabeth-metz.com.

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Elizabeth Metz @thefinestmuffins.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

Last night the @reds.com inducted the Hall of Fame class of 2026: Reggie Sanders, Aaron Harang, Lou Piniella, and Brandon Phillips. All were with the team in my lifetime (a first!) Per tradition, I drew them for everyredshalloffamer.wordpress.com And then the Reds won, ending my losing streak!! 🎉😭

Pencil drawing of former Cincinnati Reds outfielder Reggie Sanders.

Pencil drawing of former Cincinnati Reds pitcher Aaron Harang.

Pencil drawing of former Cincinnati Reds manager Lou Piniella.

Pencil drawing of former Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips.

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Elizabeth Metz @thefinestmuffins.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

They didn’t include the butt slide in the Brandon Phillips highlight video at his Reds Hall of Fame induction today, and that’s a damn shame.

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Elizabeth Metz @thefinestmuffins.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

Reggie Sanders just called Reds fans the greatest fans in Major League Baseball. And he played for the Cardinals, too, so 👀.

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Elizabeth Metz @thefinestmuffins.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

I foolishly buried this in the middle of a thread, but I really want Baseball Bluesky (... #BaseballSky??) to engage with the guessing game! Please?

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Elizabeth Metz @thefinestmuffins.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

This weekend, a new class will join the @reds.com Hall of Fame. 13 years ago, I started a project to draw every member of the Reds Hall, and I've kept it updated with every induction since. You can see the whole thing here: everyredshalloffamer.wordpress.com

Blog header graphic: Title says "Every Reds Hall of Famer: One artist's quest to stay busy in the offseason... and maybe even master the shape of the wishbone C."

To the left are hand-drawn portraits of five players:
(1) Ernie Lombardi, depicted smiling in colorful pastel, his trademark schnozz on view.
(2) Hughie Critz, freckled and shy looking, drawn in pencil.
(3) Paul Derringer, with serious eyes and cheekbones, drawn in pencil.
(4) Joe Nuxhall, baby faced and from the 1940s, drawn in pencil.
(5) Sam Crawford, mid-swing, looking off in the distance, drawn in pencil.

To the right of the text is one more player: Ted Kluszewski, in multicolor pastels, his arms folded, a smirk on his face, with his trademark busy eyebrows and sleeveless jersey.

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Elizabeth Metz @thefinestmuffins.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

I would like to know! My team, the Reds, are doing amazing early. Truly touched by good luck and blessings. I, on the other hand, am on a personal 16-game (across 5 seasons) losing streak. Haven’t seen a win in person since mid-2022. Help?

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Elizabeth Metz @thefinestmuffins.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

We used to be a SOCIETY. Same way I feel looking wistfully at planned transit maps of Cincinnati (the 1920s subway project that went belly up or the 2000s MetroMoves plan that voters rejected). 🫡

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Elizabeth Metz @thefinestmuffins.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

It's niche, but a rousing rendition of The Banana Boat Song would be a real hit with the dozens of us who still remember the Legends of Tomorrow "Moonshot" episode!

youtube.com

DC's Legends of Tomorrow - "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)" [FULL VERSION]

YouTube video by Spicer Young

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Kevin Necessary @knecessary.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

If more people could see Earth from the Moon, maybe we'd have fewer people wanting to fight and kill over gods or money or land or power.

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Brian Lies @brianlies.bsky.social · 05/04/2026

Thanks for adding CAT NAP to this post—I’ve been startled that so few people understand that EVERYTHING in this book—including the ornate frames—was made by hand to emulate the originals in The Met.

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Elizabeth Metz @thefinestmuffins.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

This post and its replies are extremely validating for me and the emails I get every few months that are actually meant for someone in Maryland who gained my name upon marriage about 15 years ago. (Hiiii, other Elizabeth! You've gone through so many more life events than I have in that stretch! 😅)

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Elizabeth Metz @thefinestmuffins.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

It's way past time to start a 2026 #CopyrightPageArtNotes thread! Got a whole stack to share today! (If you're unfamiliar with the concept: in the fine print of the copyright page in many picture books, you can find a sentence or two about how the art was made. It's a fun treasure hunt!) (1/?) 🔎

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