Tuesday, February 27, 2007

piles

Funny that the article closed with "here's hoping she never ever cleans out her attic" because that's just what I was trying to do when the issue arrived. Last week's ice storm got under our roof hatch and poured into the attic and onto my storage. Nothing was too damaged, but it prompted an aggressive attack on the disaster left from construction 3 months ago, now that my grip is finally good enough for lifting.
In the piles I found Cinderella in a place I'd thought was safe, but her right hand was mortifyingly and mysteriously broken. Strange, is it not? Luckily the 2 fingers were still attached and a little glue and some painstaking effort from my own shaky hands got her right again.

Some readers (you know who you are) will probably tell me to post again quickly to move this embarrassing picture of my messiness off the top of my blog. But I think messes are important. Photos of studios that are clean and organized are boring and unrealistic, as are retrospectives of artists where every painting is brilliant. I want to see the crap and the failures and the mistakes in between the masterpieces. That's where the masterpieces come from. "Sh*t makes the flowers grow." There is no sense in pretending otherwise.

Besides, Teaching PreK-8 likes my piles. Granted it was at least livable back in August. There's a lot of digging and sorting to be done to restore it to that former chaotic glory. But a little pruning is needed this time around too. Hello eBay. This now is my pile of lentils.

Sunday, February 25, 2007

Teaching PreK-8

Back in August Kate Pierpont and Jessica Rae Patton (who I met by chance through the roller derby) came to my attic to write this article for Teaching PreK-8 Magazine. It was a pleasure and a great honor having these two most lovely ladies in my studio. They usually interview much more famous authors and illustrators, and nothing this flattering has ever been said of me! I cannot thank them enough.

I had short hair and a working hands back then. Good memories. Click on the pages for a bigger image.





Apollo!

My friend Kenichi won tonight's Showtime at the Apollo dance off. He is amazing and the coolest person I know. Watch him defend his title next Saturday night!

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Miss March

There's much more to say about this, but for now I will just bask in the glory of being next month's Teaching PreK-8 cover girl.

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

fish in the moon

I'm fish sitting ElizaB's beta, Lucius. It's great having a friendly little fish in my kitchen again. He was not at all happy about being lit for photos.

Saturday, February 17, 2007

love sold

The hearts are mostly claimed, only #2 and #6 are unsold. 10 more are on the way and will be up next week. Thanks to my mum for making the web page, and everyone who wanted the hearts. I am most grateful.

Friday, February 16, 2007

horoscope

Gemini (May 21-June 20)
You seem to be suffering, although in an interesting way, from a metaphysical version of jet lag. Maybe it's because you've been stretching your boundaries with such experimental vigor. Or maybe it's because you've been engaging in a form of time-travel, exploring the past and future in your dreams and fantasies. In any case, you can take comfort in the knowledge that the warps and tweaks you're dealing with are the results of your brave choices. Congratulations as well for having churned up the most useful riddles you've had to ponder since you jumped out of your skin last year.
Freewill Astrology

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

electrohand

This electronic device sends a current to my tendons and pulls my fingers down from the inside. A fun new try at breaking through the scar tissue. But I'm still stuck and it's getting old. I'm fully expecting another surgery. At this point, anything to get it to move again. I'm ready.

I've got wicked dirty fingernails.

Sunday, February 11, 2007

Friday, February 09, 2007

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

heart #4

bad art night #6

Meg's studio hosted another Bad Art Night this weekend. Over 20 people came. Our Girl Scout Handbook manifesto was read. Glitter went everywhere. Lots of incredibly bad art was made. Total chaos.






fortune cookie #5

Pick a path with heart.

Sunday, February 04, 2007

making do

Last week a few people wrote to me about this doll I made last year, Cinderella Makes Do, which I'd forgotten was even on my website. It's an interesting time to be reminded of her.