the windy project
The Windy project was a series of four hardcover books followed by a series of ten stop-motion story apps. The books and apps were written, designed, produced, and illustrated with dioramas by Robin Mitchell Cranfield and Judith Steedman. Line drawings and collages supplementing the books and apps were made by Robin.
The Windy series of books —Windy, Sunny, Snowy & Chinook, and Foggy — was published by Simply Read Books and received positive reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, How Magazine, and Selvedge Magazine, among others. Each book had a glossy dust jackets with directions for a craft printed on the back side. Chirp Magazine also published an original Windy story called “Wheel Painting”. Sunny, Snowy & Chinook, and Foggy were released with original music produced by Brady Cranfield and guests including Daniel Bajar, Miko Hoffman, Larissa Loyva, Nicholas Krgovich, Kathy Slade, and Chris Harris. Sunny was shortlisted for the Christie Harris Illustrated Book Prize.
The Windy & friends apps were published by Loud Crow and co-produced by All In Pictures (Leah Mallen and Marc Stephenson). Animation was by Alicia Eisen and Callum Paterson. Devon Gifford, Erin Guimond, Claire Schagerl, and Elliot Squire staffed the art department. William Howell was key grip. Talent Pun worked on design. Geoff Manton managed the project. Fiona Curtis contributed to scriptwriting. The story apps received multiple awards including two iKids/Kidscreen awards.
The windy & friends story app series
“A blustery adventure featuring traditional crafting and stop-motion animation. ...a uniquely engaging story experience that will be enjoyed by children and parents alike.”
—Bologna Ragazzi Awards
THE WINDY BOOKS
“Playfully ingenius ... The volume’s compact size lends the action intimacy, drama and a magical sense of verite.”
— Publisher’s Weekly
“[U]nique and pleasurably nostalgic”
— How Magazine
“If you haven’t seen Windy, Sunny, and Snowy … you are in for a treat”
— Selvedge Magazine
“Red sky at night, sailor’s delight
Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning”
— The Sailor’s Handbook
DRAWINGS & COLLAGES FROM THE BOOKS
Each book features a map of the action pictured in the book. These were made with ink and textured paper by Robin.
Music from the books
Selection from the original Sunny CD
Mastered by Adam Sloan
Produced by Brady Cranfield
Selected music for Snowy & Chinook and Foggy by Cowbell and friends
Recorded by Stefan Udell & Steve Wood
A Good Morning
The Gift That Grows
Lyrics and vocals by Larissa LoyvAs Good as Gold
Lyrics and vocals by Nick Krgovich
Toothbrush by Stefan UdellIn the Woods
You Gotta Wonder, Snowy
Lyrics and vocals by Dan BejarSnow
Vocals by Kathy SladeSnowbed
It’s a New Day
Friends
Lyrics and viocals by Chris HarrisIn the Fog
What the Sailors Say
Lyrics and vocals by Larissa LoyvaHome Base
crafts
Craft instructions, tutorials, and workshops were an important part of the Windy project. Windy craft events were held with the Lighting Architecture Movement Project (LAMP) for Small Wonder magazine and Word on the Street.
The inside of each book’s dust jacket contains instructions for an craft inspired by the story.