Little Red Poppet's Windy Day

It's been very windy these last days, with clouds moving quickly across the sky in purposeful looking groups. I however, have been very still, and not moving much at all at times, watching them with seemingly no purpose at all.
I know a funk when I'm in one. So the best I can do is not fight it too hard. I've recommended countering these sorts of times by the same measures one uses to treat the flu, which work better without deadlines and bills and offspring.
Tried and true are several measures---in which Poppets play and I make toys and toy-like things.
In which I become quiet and I replant things that were neglected all winter. In which I take walks, fast ones, as the sun is setting.
I snagged a grapefruit from a tree in the neighborhood. Sometimes we all need a bit of strange fruit.
It's just smaller than a soccer ball, and looks sort of like a brain but more like a butt, but I won't complain. It might be full of wonder inside.
That's mostly it, except for mundane things and going to the park for a bit with Aubrey and Orion.
There are worlds in my head, true, but the doors are shut today. I shut them, likely, because I'm not fit to go in on days like this.
That's okay too. I'll go to sleep without any specific expectations for tomorrow. It's better to wait and see what happens. If I feel tomorrow as I do today, I'll take a different route, steal a grapefruit from another's tree.
Eventually, the doors will click open gradually, revealing subtle shifts in light. Or they'll fly open suddenly, blown by gusts of new energy.
Either way, the happiness of pursuit generally returns.
You know it, as I do. Just as we think we'll never feel better again, we do. Years of experience and miles of watching tell me this is true, for me as well as you.
g'night to you

What We Know About Poppets, So Far...

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• You can get Poppets and Poppet art from our Etsy Store.
• some creations can be found on Ebay.
  

OR you can order directly by emailing Alison (aka Sunraybug Poppet) at strange_studios@yahoo.com

• You can meet other explorers on the Poppet Planet Forums.

• You can see and share Poppets On Tour.
  

• You can contact Poppet Planet directly by emailing to strange_studios@yahoo.com.

• You can click on any of the images on the ever-changing sidebar (right column) for more.

A Bit of Now and Later

We're looking longingly at the swimming pool, but despite the fact that flowers are bursting into bloom, there's still plenty of snow on the mountains, the air is still crisp and the water is too cold, even for wetsuits. A solid bank of clouds is closing over the peaks as I type here, like a lid over our bowl of rock, and though we've had a few blustery days, the true windy season is ahead of us.
All these changes carry an energy that generally translates into a creative reset. I'm in transition, still partly mired in the introspection of winter, but I see more physical movement in the work in progress.

I want to thank David Kirkpatrick for his tutorial on creating animated gifs. And also Adrienne Reynolds for her wonderfully detailed account of her creation of the Poppet's Embarrassed Embassy.
Both are in the Nuts and Bolts section of the Poppet Planet Forums.
In addition, there have been an awful lot of great Poppets On Tour images to see for inspiration and fun.

Mostly the next couple of weeks will be spent finishing up pending projects and tying up loose ends. I want to remind everyone that we're still working on a new shopping format (in addition to the ebay store) that includes a layaway program. In the meantime, you can email Alison (aka Sunray Bug Poppet--see sidebar) to make payment arrangements, including items in the ebay store as long as arrangements are made before bidding.

At night, after the studio lights are out, I've been designing the commission for the Mr. Gaiman. So far, it's all on paper, but it's different from anything I've done before and from anything he might expect--which is a fairly bold statement, considering his imaginative powers.

So March is near. We'll be bringing out Poppets and art for St. Patrick's Day, very windy Poppets and new additions to the Alice in Wonderland and Midsummer Night's Dream collections.

All that said, I'd better get some rest. We're going to be busy.

Poppet Pretends Coraline

A number of years ago, when Neil was working on Coraline, he'd send me bits of it to read. It was, of course, intriguing in every sense. He asked me to phone him every few days and nag him to finish the story. I did just that. I'd call and he'd answer and I'd say things like "Did you work on Coraline today?" or "How much did you work on Coraline today?" or "What exactly did you do today?"
One day, he said "Please stop nagging me about Coraline. I'm beginning to dread your phone calls."
So I stopped nagging him and he eventually finished the book without any nagging. Or, at least without mine, which made me happy because I don't like nagging and because Coraline is an excellent book.

That said, here is Poppet's version of Coraline, so that now people nagging me to do a Poppet version of Coraline can stop. Though I imagine by tomorrow they'll be nagging me to finish something else.
I'm okay with that. Hope you like her.

A bit of Poppet Wisdom

Poppet Planet isn't immune to the stresses of everyday life. After all, we're a group of humans. We're subject to the same depressions, worries, freakouts and screw-ups as everyone else. Recently we agreed that the best way to get through difficult times is to apply lessons learned in childhood.

First: The Golden Rule

In addition, we apply these:

be kind
share
work
conserve
sleep
eat
exercise
learn
play (with joyful abandon)

So far, it seems to be working.

And, we introduce our newest genius, The Impeccable Doctor Brown.

Today is for considering how we behave toward our fellow humans, especially in difficult times. Poppet wisdom for sure.

Lovers and Astronauts

Just pics for tonight. Thanks to Alison, who collaborated with me on these and for taking care of things when we trip ourselves up, or when the universe knocks Poppet Planet a little out of orbit.

rest now, back tomorrow.

Welcome February and Zorcon's Day

Indeed it is February. How did this happen?
Oh. Right. The planet spins, travels around the sun, it's light, it's dark, it's light, it's dark.

My gluey-hands, or why-I-don't-answer-my-phone-in-studio. This is Joyce, who joined us in October.
Among other things (note apron) she is now our official Poppet photographer. Now you'll get to see more studio shots of work in progress.


Yesterday Zorcon had his 'day spa'. He got a bubble bath, wrapped in warm towels
and some relaxing time with
Orion (and a carrot.)

Flight of the Conchords might be my new favorite show.

I'm not sure anything could replace Curb Your Enthusiasm for my favorite downtime watching, but Bret and Jermaine, with their unabashedly dry approach and
truly funny songs rarely let me down.

If you haven't checked out Poppets On Tour (see sidebar) you're missing some great new photos. If you haven't checked out the forums (sidebar) you're missing some cool people to hang out with.


This morning was mild on the playground. There is no equal to the sound of a playground full of kids in the morning.
But---it's not a particularly good idea to close one's eyes to listen while standing on a basketball court, even if the other players are three feet shorter than yourself.

I'm off to the studio. In progress--a Poppet interpretation of Coraline, a solar powered airship, and more Excellently Mad Poppets in Bell Jars.

have a good day