Sidney the elephant is on his way to work. He carries his briefcase which contains the following items,
1 cell phone
his lunch (which consists of 1 tomato and cheese sandwich with mustard and
1 container of milk)
today’s newspaper
Sidney works at a law firm where he is an expert at memorizing and retrieving case numbers. After work he likes to put on his p.j.’s, and eat dinner (tofu with peanut sauce), while watching his favourite show (Jeapardy).
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Sidney was created using iron on transfer paper, the design printed (both front and back) then ironed onto cotton. The briefcase was sewn out of felt. the accessories have a little piece of velcro on the back and can be attached. approx. 9″ x 4″
Having made many of these pillow dolls in the past I find I am still working at perfecting the ironing technique. So far it seems the hotter the better. For me (someone with a short attention span), the method is fairly quick (once the design is complete), and I quite enjoy making accessories to go with the dolls. (For Hortence and Giles I made tiny skates out of felt, and scarves.)

I saw the Motorcycle Diaries last night. It got me all fired up. There is an excitement in me, a feeling that good things (and big things) can be accomplished in small ways.
There are days when one feels like her voice does not made one tiny little dent on the hard scratchy surface of this planet, and then there are days when she feels like she sends a small ripple across a pond that spans the width of the earth.
All that is required of the artist is to put the energy (the words, the ideas, the paintings) out there, one little piece at a time. One feels something, then expresses something.
And that m’dear I can do. Yes I can.
As my creative writing professor in college was fond of saying, “When the Japanese were in a period of peace, they painting only fans.”
What form will your revolution take?

(found my pen)

What will monday bring? If you are in my part of the world it is snow, a light sprinkling of the stuff. Some snow, a spilled cup of tea, early morning singing (the waifs still), a search for the lost pen (still continuing), and the ups truck.
I spent the weekend drawing and sewing my addition to the month of softies. I become obsessed with these things. I have come to understand that it is the creation of characters that really fills me up. It is exciting to take a rough pencil drawing and see it emerge into a three dimensional character that you can carry with you everywhere you go. The creature starts to take on a life of it’s own, with little personality quirks and trademarks. I will show you what I mean once the photos are taken this week.
I have entered into a period of hyper creativity, too many ideas, too little time. Which one comes next? What form will it take? Want to start new book concept, want to redo the website, want to start on old ideas. Feeling a little frantic and excited. Want to get moving, now! just start something.
And then I look up at my wall calendar, at the quote for november which reads,
“Adopt the pace of nature.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
So I take a deep breath, and remember that there is no need to rush any of this. It will all emerge in it’s own time, in it’s own way.
Time for a walk.
The snow melts slowly.

I was amazed to find myself adapting quite well to living in a car for a couple of weeks. Space is completely redefined and priorities shifted. One creates an entirely different scale of judgement for many things. A bathroom was “fancy” because it had a nice smelling hand soap. Starbucks an absolute luxury because they have a selection of teas (and coffee that does not come out of a machine!) One will do just about anything to not have to eat at a chain restaurant or a gas station, but there are parts of the country where that is impossible, (much to my dismay). How my heart did soar when we would enter into a city again with a fancy health food grocery store. Eyes widening over a selection of fresh produce and organic deli sandwiches. Body rejoincing at the thought of detox tea, and citrus.
12 states in nine days. This planet is so immensely beautiful. Some of the sights and experiences have changed me forever. Some things are a blur. The last few cities seemed to blend into one. Omaha, Denver, Chicago, where was that restaurant again? How did I get here? Random moments stick out in my mind. Peeing in the snow in the middle of the night, amidst silence. A bonding moment with a woman in a Chicago rest room that made me smile for a couple of hours (I walked in on her by mistake, she exclaimed, “It’s o.k. honey, it’s all the same, I got nothing you don’t”). Singing christmas carols loudly while driving on dark roads. Getting caught in a snowstorm at the top of a mountain and having to turn around, being the only car on the road. Exploring an old mine shaft at the back of a cool cafe, filled with that dripping, damp, moldy smell, (the smell of claustrophobia). The feeling of moving my legs again after hours in a cramped space. Finding a great cafe, (with books) and sitting down to write.
some great things…
I picked up a calendar of “the Wuggly Ump” by Edward Gorey, it has some of my favourite drawings of his ever.
The above drawing is of a tea container that I had in a cafe in Madison (the drawing was done in the car, which I don’t really recommend as it can lead to a slight bout of nausea as I quickly learned.) I had never seen one like it before. If anyone knows it’s origin or where I could get one I’d be happy to know.
I believe my new journal from Lovely design is currently at my post office. can’t wait, can’t wait.
I am overjoyed at Loobylu’s Month of Softies project!!! Want to sew, want to sew.