tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96041612024-03-07T00:20:23.249-08:00Lisa SnellingsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17033378825749946868noreply@blogger.comBlogger1454125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604161.post-65053884806209822952014-06-19T15:00:00.000-07:002014-06-19T15:01:08.817-07:00Your Chance To Own An Important Piece Of Poppet HistorySince I started working for Lisa in November of last year, I've been admiring a large table she's kept in the studio and said very little about. All I knew was that it was a work that she'd started right around the time of the big recession of 2008 and that she couldn't afford the time to complete after downsizing and donning the many hats required by her Poppety Empire. <br />
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Now that Poppet Planet has found it's way, Lisa can begin to devote some of her energy to larger pieces, and move forward into the book projects she longs for. She has decided that now is a brilliant time to finish this very important piece of Poppet's history--and her own as well. She is actively looking for a commission to complete this work.<br />
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You are looking at an unfinished gaming table sculpture made with the original casting of Poppets, of which there are very few left. This sculpture is the last that will feature such a large grouping of the original casting of Poppets. Lisa's art is transforming into something that tells of a bigger picture--one that requires fewer Poppets and more of their world. <br />
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The title of this work is "Complimentary Colors," and tells the story of two opposing armies that meet in the middle and cancel each other out.<br />
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This piece is designed to be a gaming table, and it comes with a 24"x 24" beveled glass top. There are several options for table legs, to be decided at the time of the commission.<br />
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If you are interested in commissioning this piece, or if you have any further questions about it, please <a href="mailto:jessiepearlstuart@gmail.com">email us at welovepoppets@gmail.com</a>.<br />
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I personally would love to see this piece finished. That being said, I'll be sad to see it go because I know how much it represents for Lisa. Saying goodbye to all of those Poppets who have dutifully stayed in their little places all these years waiting for Lisa to tell them what's next in their journey. They've been in this war just as long as she has been. It's time to see them off.<br />
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--Jessie, assistant to Lisa SnellingsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17033378825749946868noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604161.post-89777661103929019642014-05-09T18:26:00.002-07:002014-05-09T18:29:08.033-07:00How To Make A Poppet<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jessie P. Stuart, 7 Eleven aficionado </td></tr>
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Hey everyone, it's Lisa's assistant Jessie.<br />
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You may have received a similar greeting in an Etsy convo recently, followed up with "I swear we didn't forget about you, your order is coming, we just weren't expecting for Neil Gaiman to link to the shop and get so slammed with orders that we're just now getting to the order you placed on April Freaking Tenth."<br />
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The Poppet business is booming, and because Poppet Planet is currently a two-bit operation and everything we sell is hand cast or hand sculpted and hand painted and hand <strike>licked</strike> kissed on the face by Our Artist, we have quite a bit of actual nose to the grindstone work to do pretty much round the clock.<br />
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I want to tell you a little bit about the process of making Poppets just in case you ever felt disappointed when you opened your mailbox a week after placing your order and still seeing no sign of a cheery package from Palm Springs. Also, this will explain why Poppet says "read our shop policies," which kindly remind you to convo us immediately to tell us if your order is a gift so that we can make arrangements to get it to you in time.<br />
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Don't make Poppet tap the sign.<br />
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<h3>
How To Make A Poppet</h3>
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by Jessie Pearl Stuart, a human who knows and has done seent it all</h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baked, not fried</td></tr>
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<b>Step One: Sculpting or Casting the little buggers</b><br />
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Poppets are cast in resin and marble dust, or they are hand sculpted by the artist. Yeah, by the artist. As in Lisa. As in they are not outsourced or made by the hundreds in a warehouse or even passed off to Jessie to perfect. Hand Sculpted Poppets are indeed made with Lisa's hands.<br />
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They start as lumps of polymer clay. Our Artist fashions them into various sized balls for each piece of the poppet. This includes one large "gumball" sized ball for the body, a "marble" for the head, three "blueberries" for the two arms and the rough, and two little "BBs" for the hands.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poppet Parts Chart</td></tr>
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Lisa provided me with a "Poppet Parts Chart" for reference, as I will on occasion, as her lovely assistant, roll hundreds of tiny balls that are ready for her to just pick up and sculpt. This saves her <i>some</i> time, but after having sculpted many many many poppets in her days, she can whip up these balls to their correct size with no problem. Still, if I can save even two minutes of her time, I will.<br />
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The balls are then formed into their various shapes--which if you have not noticed, are all pretty much teardrops. Look at your poppet. Can you count the teardrops?<br />
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Some of the more elaborate poppets are only hand sculpted once every few weeks, as we have discovered a bit of a time saver. After Lisa sculpts, say, Poppet On Tour, we make a mold of it. <br />
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The molds don't last forever, but if we can get 30 poppets out of it before it begins to deteriorate, it's worth it. Making the poppets via mold isn't just a lickety-split cookie cutter process though. The poppet will come out with "flash," where the seams of the mold come together and squishes where the clay comes out of the sides and creates a sort of "extra skin." Lisa takes her trusty X-Acto knife and cleans it up, and adds back any delicate detail that was lost in handling.<br />
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Once they are perfect, they are set in the toaster oven at something like 250 degrees F and a few minutes later we have poppets! Or we have a terrible smell and a moment with a lot of curse words because we forgot that we'd put the toaster oven to "broil" for our cheese toast that morning. (It happens more often than you think.)<br />
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Now, that's just the hand sculpted poppets. When it comes to the Classic Poppets, pieces such as An Angel Named Grace, A Child's Garden, Piper the Gnome, or those big wonderful garden sculptures, it requires goggles and a trip to the garage.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Willie cold casting a marble sculpture</td></tr>
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More often than not, Lisa is the one doing the marble casting--which is a complicated sciencie process that I do not fully understand. There's measuring and mixing and timing and that's not really my thing, but she is training my delicious man friend Willie Dean all of the sorcery that goes into the process.<br />
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The liquid form of a poppet is similar to the same texture you get when you add milk to your ice cream, or like a well blended cottage cheese. It is poured into molds (molds that were created by Lisa, that were created from hand sculpted originals) and left to sit for some certain magic amount of time. There's some kind of bass-ackward nonsense about the time being shorter for larger pieces because the chemicals heat up when they react, and with more material there is more heat and it cures faster. Don't hold me to any of this information though. Like you, I just see the finished product and go "yay!"<br />
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But I do know that there is a lot of frustration with too chunky of mixes or spoiled batches of whatever, so we're not exactly talking about some easy cheese science here. It's Grandma's scratch brownies with real vanilla extract compared to the Betty Crocker mix. It's gotta be exact for it to come out right. You can't just add an egg and expect it to be as good. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Freshly cast poppet</td></tr>
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At last, that familiar little totem is popped from the mold, and we have that clean little doo-dad. It may need some cleanup, like the one in the picture here that needs some sanding on the bottom. And because of the marble, you might notice little "freckles" on Poppet's face. We're starting to leave these because they're kind of cute! It's just the grain, but it adds character. Some poppets are very freckly, though.<br />
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I am not with Lisa at all times, I do not know exactly how many poppets she casts in a week or a day, but I can tell you that last Tuesday Willie cast about 30 figures that included some poppets, some rats, and some other random things that he found molds for--some things that pre-date Poppet that you've never seen before.<br />
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Wow, 30 figurines though! That's a lot, and all within about three hours? He's a little poppet making factory! He's a machine, that Willie Dean!<br />
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Yeah so about step two...<br />
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<b>Step Two: Base Coat Painting</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Base coat stages of Poppet</td></tr>
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Every Poppet, whether cast or sculpted, is painted black (except for its face.) The crevices of the rough, all of it. Black. And paint takes a minute to dry, as you know, so usually the body is painted first, and when the paint is dry 10 or so minutes later, the head is painted. <br />
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When all of the paint is dry (and the rough takes the longest because of all of the little holes) we use a technique called "drybrushing" with white. <br />
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To drybrush, we dip a flat brush in the white paint, and then make several strokes on a piece of cardboard, or our apron, or whatever is handy to eliminate most of the paint from the brush. Then, when the brush is mostly "dry" of paint, we make several quick strokes on the poppet, which leaves a chalky white effect that allows the texture of the poppet's robe to show through, as the white paint does not fill in the creases. A second hit with the "drybrush" is made to areas that need to be highlighted, such as the rough, or Poppet On Tour's backpack, or the little cup of cocoa and bunny slippers on the Cozy Poppet we know from winter time. <br />
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This step is very important to the painting of poppets. It's what creates the unique layered look that you can observe on your poppet's robe. In fact, if you took a microscope to your poppet, you would see the white and black paint under the colors. Cool, huh?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bibbit. Bibbit Bibbit. Bibbit?</td></tr>
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There is another painting technique that we give to some pieces called "washing." This is a technique we use on little Bibbit, for example. This is a technique where we mix lots of water with the paint and let the colored water sort of "stain" the piece. The neat thing about this is how it runs into the cracks where it is dark, and it stays light on the surface. She has also used this technique to give garden sculptures a sort of mossy patina by washing them with green.<br />
<br />
A very cool thing that happened recently was while I was being nosy and snooping through Lisa's house, I found a cache of rats. Jester rats! I brought them to her and told her I loved them and asked if there was some way we could save them from their little shelf in the dark room I was "accidentally" looking around in by accident on purpose.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"Valentine Chester" was made many years ago when Strange Studios was more than just a two bit operation, and there were actual hired Poppet Painters who really did work in a warehouse in the desert. Many Valentine Chesters were painted. Many never sold. But why does he have to be only for Valentines? I get that his pink heart and cheery red robe are very Valentine-ie, yes, but Lisa came up with an idea to update Chester a little to give him a more year-round look.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwD6bThRWspN-44wFN2mJ6rp5ZHVoPFUFUi23An94GA0CgdEqifj9yk8NDqvBON4ZxspVj6eZj6eWPYL2FLoUuC5-uZKq6YtwhoOane0aBG25ey3bEQ_-FsddNb2IBFgnx8BUy/s1600/chester+jester.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwD6bThRWspN-44wFN2mJ6rp5ZHVoPFUFUi23An94GA0CgdEqifj9yk8NDqvBON4ZxspVj6eZj6eWPYL2FLoUuC5-uZKq6YtwhoOane0aBG25ey3bEQ_-FsddNb2IBFgnx8BUy/s1600/chester+jester.jpg" height="320" width="254" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new and improved Chester Jester</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We put a black wash over him.<br />
<br />
The result? Chester has less of a bright red robe and more of the Alizarin Crimson color that the Classic Red Poppet wears, the bubblegum pink trim on his sleeves is darkened to a more "Lisa" sort of blacky-pink, and his fur is darkened to a more ratty sort of grey.<br />
<br />
We finished him up with a gold tooth, a touch of glitter, and a glossy coat on his fancy jester clothes, and even gave him glossy black beady eyes that make him look very lifelike. Like, he might actually be alive. I don't know. It freaks me out when it's dark and they're all looking at me. But anyway, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/189086851/harlequin-rat-chester-jester-fool-that-i?ref=shop_home_active_1">he is now for sale</a>. <br />
<br />
Of course, all of these fancy little bells and whistles like glitter and gloss are a glimpse into Step 4. Now we go to Step 3 with our base painted poppet.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Step Three: Painting The Poppet</b><br />
<br />
So even if a poppet is just one solid color, we're looking at about two hours of solid work before even coming to the point where we can paint it that solid color.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCdJmLlkNF0zQMrcH-rMjxzJPxHWFIlQ_KpMJDvmSuhlDp055ZZs86Xf1TCWlsObq9QSD7gO-j7z57sfmeq4htEiGcGozW41rmd0oTwIS1uKmncYaLgjElK7dXxapS5xKbpUW/s1600/april+workstation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCdJmLlkNF0zQMrcH-rMjxzJPxHWFIlQ_KpMJDvmSuhlDp055ZZs86Xf1TCWlsObq9QSD7gO-j7z57sfmeq4htEiGcGozW41rmd0oTwIS1uKmncYaLgjElK7dXxapS5xKbpUW/s1600/april+workstation.jpg" height="201" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Various stages of painted poppets</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The color is drybrushed on over the white drybrushing, but not covering up that black undercoat that the white left exposed. This can be tricky. Too much paint and you cover up your texture. Not enough paint and the white shows through. <br />
<br />
Then you've got to do the rough. And make sure that the little holes in the rough are filled in. And then you've got to touch the rough up again to cover up where the paint from the holes slopped out.<br />
<br />
And let's not forget that beautiful face. Poppet's got to have a face!<br />
<br />
If the poppet needs to have a white painted face, we paint a thin layer of white in 2-3 coats, similar to painting your nails. When the face is all painted, we take a very fine brush and paint an outline around it. And then we dot the eyes.<br />
<br />
I? Am not very good at dotting the eyes.<br />
<br />
Truth be told, even Lisa sometimes has trouble dotting the eyes.<br />
<br />
This is where the licking comes in.<br />
<br />
If an eye goes wonky, and you're quick enough, you can simply lick off the paint. No, you cannot just use your finger. Or a washcloth. A tongue is the only tool that will do. Not every poppet is licked but it happens. And now you know the company secret. <br />
<br />
Sometimes the paint sets too quick and we are beyond the licking point and have to repaint the face. Oh and yes the paint we use is nontoxic, but I think that's only for it's regular use. Probably isn't meant to be ingested. But who cares, because Art.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0ZnjsVJEtj5xsKfLJJsuRd24eRd99N0zDqEDgMt2cXW3n6lgxnou5rXLJkcuONbtlxmQc6tKPFRkdh4wpIVz3VIC749CyrJMJIiK-xTfIHLcx8NN5TU1qbqXNWnnFlwg-LGx/s1600/old+lady+crackers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0ZnjsVJEtj5xsKfLJJsuRd24eRd99N0zDqEDgMt2cXW3n6lgxnou5rXLJkcuONbtlxmQc6tKPFRkdh4wpIVz3VIC749CyrJMJIiK-xTfIHLcx8NN5TU1qbqXNWnnFlwg-LGx/s1600/old+lady+crackers.jpg" height="200" width="132" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cracker surfing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Touch up, outline, paint the little hands and there! A Little Red Poppet.<br />
<br />
HA! As if all we sell are single colored poppets. Surely you jest. Surely you aren't suggesting that we don't spend hours coming up with new designs to entertain you folks so we can get sales and, you know, make a living. You're too much.<br />
<br />
Let's take a look at the shop, shall we?<br />
<br />
Oh I see this cold cast marble<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/188412097/day-of-the-dead-stroll-poppet-by-lisa?ref=shop_home_active_4"> Day Of The Dead girl </a>with her drybrushing, wash, tiny flowers and I won't even bring up her umbrella. Or the<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/186960965/pizza-chef-poppet-collaboration-by-lisa?ref=shop_home_active_2"> Pizza Chef</a> who starts off with red for his sauce, which is stippled with yellow for his cheese, all of the outlining for the apron, pepperonis and mushrooms which all have to be painted, along with the little bell peppers, and his "sauce splatters." I won't mention his hat or that rolling pin.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIIZv_86bbvZhtH42LwXwZfPligkNk4_faGH__33nXWPT0mTErHR7MmanV-ZIF2XPAmhybLRlUQQwTAh9KloaFhJ8lp6KCTFuah5nZ19buwFUgd4IOxRuCAv34e71A1x6-DiLT/s1600/il_570xN.582017886_swoc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIIZv_86bbvZhtH42LwXwZfPligkNk4_faGH__33nXWPT0mTErHR7MmanV-ZIF2XPAmhybLRlUQQwTAh9KloaFhJ8lp6KCTFuah5nZ19buwFUgd4IOxRuCAv34e71A1x6-DiLT/s1600/il_570xN.582017886_swoc.jpg" height="320" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"None of this will matter when we don't have any water"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/177426154/the-mushroom-clown-poppet-with-balloon?ref=shop_home_active_14">Mushroom Clown</a> with it's perfectly round "face paint," all of the highly detailed <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/Strangestudios?section_id=14427904&ref=shopsection_leftnav_4">Game Of Thrones</a> poppets, and the very very detailed tiny landscape scene painted <i>inside</i> of <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/184133995/yesterday-a-look-back-from-tomorrow-lisa?ref=shop_home_active_16">Yesterday</a>. And yes, that is a hand sculpted 3D flower in there, but I won't get to that yet.<br />
<br />
From the dots and spots on the Birthday Poppet to the frogs on the coats of the the steampunk professors, there's a lot of tiny detail on these puppies that is usually applied using a toothpick. Not to mention, everything needs an outline, so it all has to be applied twice.<br />
<br />
Depending on the detail of the poppet, this can take hours. And because it is easier to get several done at once, it takes even longer. In the end though, instead of having spent two hours on one poppet, we maybe spent six hours on 10. That's working smarter, not harder.<br />
<br />
So now do you want to talk about umbrellas, rolling pins, and 3D flowers?<br />
<br />
<b>Step Four: Bells, Whistles and Schmancy Little Thingies </b><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwArYOoyor4PWU_V5J0cjRIlsiWa0EnlZPsXF-dUn9beX4yoaLQ2sVTFcpWgFh-hb92cMpV4a2qwG98Mz6X2xjHTsWmIk3lvdrDZVw0gc1AC9oyVRxwPPX4Nbtk1T8dZj4nKFI/s1600/fret4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwArYOoyor4PWU_V5J0cjRIlsiWa0EnlZPsXF-dUn9beX4yoaLQ2sVTFcpWgFh-hb92cMpV4a2qwG98Mz6X2xjHTsWmIk3lvdrDZVw0gc1AC9oyVRxwPPX4Nbtk1T8dZj4nKFI/s1600/fret4.jpg" height="320" width="253" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fret and Worry</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Is your favorite poppet holding or interacting with a schmancy little thingy? Does he have clown hair and a clown nose, or a mask or an umbrella or glasses or a tiny toy or a knife or anything that we didn't just cast into his little hand in the first place?<br />
<br />
You are not alone, because there are hundreds of poppets with little add ons that make them special and unique. A poppet for sale is exciting, yes. But put something in its hand or on its head, <i>duuuuuuuuuuude</i> I'mma need a stack of those. And we sell stacks of them. STACKS.<br />
<br />
These fancy little add ons are made by hand, or if they are a charm or a bead or something, they are usually attached by Dremmeling a hole and gluing the piece on with the help of a piece of wire.<br />
<br />
There are a few little pieces that made with an epoxy that Lisa is allergic to and it gives her big rashes on her hands. But this substance is the only substance that will do for the perfect thingy. Dedication, yo. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgeVpjW-ysNaji86mZTb50qOVSfFn5oJS_VzIy3Gg1QSZh7zmHkUDqZxGdk1vxCX6UC5zTeLcKwzdbeUhZf9Uykn7t4IAnUSr05ESqtZFyNoRtHFtJIWg4r1tiqDnK-ed1CdY/s1600/random1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgeVpjW-ysNaji86mZTb50qOVSfFn5oJS_VzIy3Gg1QSZh7zmHkUDqZxGdk1vxCX6UC5zTeLcKwzdbeUhZf9Uykn7t4IAnUSr05ESqtZFyNoRtHFtJIWg4r1tiqDnK-ed1CdY/s1600/random1.jpg" height="200" width="159" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glass shard nail polish and microbeads</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But the thingies! They add so much! <br />
<br />
I will never forget the time that the little brass ukulele charms didn't come in so Lisa hand sculpted some so we could send off orders, and she used a razor blade to cut four tiny little strings into it.<br />
<br />
Sometimes the fanciness of a poppet is done with a hat tip to some gawdwaful funky nail polish that even a 14 year old girl will dismiss with a haughty "gag me with a forklift." Sometimes we get bored and start gluing things to poppets, such as microbeads or candy sprinkles.<br />
<br />
I personally go overkill on glitter but everything I've put glitter on has sold so I don't think it's all that overkill, unless you're buying it because it's overkill and that's what you like about it.<br />
<br />
Finally, it's time for the finishing touches.<br />
<br />
<b>Step five: Finishing Touches</b><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWuIwHNU7NfDKRaS-iBmv36TSMdEMO6_6Wc6XdX8osPPPUcW4O6S-RGyHRAOoMV4N864C5HRAVZnBKR8s3g8qYVSN2qK8fUQ8UxKT9CcHW4YjAqxO_JCEe1QhvXJ2ODXfdEX6o/s1600/il_570xN.594869888_9a5d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWuIwHNU7NfDKRaS-iBmv36TSMdEMO6_6Wc6XdX8osPPPUcW4O6S-RGyHRAOoMV4N864C5HRAVZnBKR8s3g8qYVSN2qK8fUQ8UxKT9CcHW4YjAqxO_JCEe1QhvXJ2ODXfdEX6o/s1600/il_570xN.594869888_9a5d.jpg" height="320" width="235" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Not in Kansas)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
How do poppets get their glossy coats? This is a little known secret that may surprise you. <br />
<br />
Poppets are fed a diet of raw egg and avocado with a little bit of salt, pepper, and cayenne. The protein lends to the thickness of the coat, whereas the 20 different vitamins and minerals give poppets their shine. <br />
<br />
Have you ever dropped a poppet on your tile and breathed a sigh of relief when it survived without a scratch? This is due to the high cholesterol and monounsaturated fat in the poppet's diet.<br />
<br />
I'm kidding. We use clear nail polish or floor wax. <br />
<br />
Each poppet is hand finished by Lisa. She inspects every one for imperfections, touches up my sloppy work (sorry, not all of us have been doing this for 25 freaking years) and signs the bottom. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCwY311vdrwhPA7L5sDwGWNckBu2GFQm-fmkWV-zIZSXgKEgCTyZj97Ljec8X7gNeROHY1pbD4voKNnT1DhxvggW3nfyyO3KcYI1lknRcupZX7k5ema7NySrgGV0JyrKmkM5T/s1600/Little+RED+Poppet+with+signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCwY311vdrwhPA7L5sDwGWNckBu2GFQm-fmkWV-zIZSXgKEgCTyZj97Ljec8X7gNeROHY1pbD4voKNnT1DhxvggW3nfyyO3KcYI1lknRcupZX7k5ema7NySrgGV0JyrKmkM5T/s1600/Little+RED+Poppet+with+signature.jpg" height="198" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Would you like this on a shirt?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
PS, did you know that Lisa's designed her signature to look like fish bones? <br />
<br />
Okie dokie, so you've now got a pretty good idea of what goes into each and every little poppet on the planet. Now, I'm just telling you about what happens between the time that you place your order and the time it is shipped out. If this was the first poppet made in a series of poppets to be made, or a one of a kind, we'd now take it for photographing, work up some ad copy, list it on Etsy and promote it via Facebook and mailings.<br />
<br />
But since this is a poppet that you ordered, your pal Jessie here will put together your brilliant little package. You know the one! The one with all of the ribbons and bubble wrap and "scraggle" (which is what I call the shredded paper accordion stuff) and pretty little gifts and a thank you card.<br />
<br />
A few notes about the packaging--<br />
<br />
-Lisa prints those little art cards, one of us uses spray glue to back them onto cardboard and then cuts them out.<br />
-I sand the edges of the cards with sand paper by hand<br />
-She hates my bows, so if the quality of the bows on your packages have gone down it's because I am doing them and I apparently suck at it <br />
-I put in orders for your little treats, like the pinback buttons. We aren't making those, another shop on Etsy does them for us. <br />
-Each package takes between 10-20 minutes to finish.<br />
<br />
So if you've ever wondered why shipping on a little two inch figurine is $5, it's because a human girl really did put in a bunch of effort to wow you and there's a lot of stuff in that box surrounding your little friend.<br />
<br />
Now I hope you understand why we sometimes fall behind at Poppet Planet even though Lisa is working until 10 or 11 at night every day of the week, and why correspondence starts off with "Hey there, this is Lisa's assistant Jessie." <br />
<br />
By all means, if you have questions, please send them. And by all means, if you have a gift to order please tell us so we can make your order a priority. <br />
<br />
Our shipping is not slow. Our production list is long, and our orders are backlogged. <br />
<br />
Contrary to popular belief, we do not have a stock room of hundreds of pre-made poppets we can just throw in a box and send out. Though we may have a few extras on hand from our "work smarter not harder" production technique, it took us time to make those too. And believe me, I may help out but the brunt of the work is done by her. <br />
<br />
Lisa and I thank you for your patience while we adjust to all of this growth. The majority of our customers have been super cool these past few months, and you've been extremely patient with me specifically while I learn. Thank you for not making Poppet tap and re-tap the sign. <br />
<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17033378825749946868noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604161.post-62055011765891858392014-04-19T09:26:00.002-07:002014-04-19T09:31:19.793-07:00Difficult Work vs Hard Work<br />
The Great Recession rolled over our studio like a wave, leaving us with a different dynamic - fewer humans to do more work for less money.<br />
So for awhile everything was multitasking, economy of materials and no movement or moment wasted. My brain switched to a new gear that was creative, innovative and just at the edge of panic. Our studio and household were in a sort of survival mode and stayed there for several years. We were the Nostradamus and we forged on.<br />
<br />
It was during this time that I learned the difference between <i>hard work</i> and <i>difficult work</i>. It was then I learned to dovetail the two for maximum efficiency.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6MJZb5cbsKNNcSr6t7wPNgPzkIQ865BbmiSyE5ZOvhhNlnlRXIyQxK84eEwJvjygkMatTaBAMEYKkp9tJz2as0GxfkXwV8mubLJw9JYi4hD2c91Je8laM-kpZUqthFbWJsawDg/s1600/What+hath+night+to+do+with+sleep+(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6MJZb5cbsKNNcSr6t7wPNgPzkIQ865BbmiSyE5ZOvhhNlnlRXIyQxK84eEwJvjygkMatTaBAMEYKkp9tJz2as0GxfkXwV8mubLJw9JYi4hD2c91Je8laM-kpZUqthFbWJsawDg/s1600/What+hath+night+to+do+with+sleep+(5).jpg" height="320" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clowns will kill me in my sleep.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But of course, there's a cost.<br />
<br />
Eventually, I learned that<br />
this pedal to the metal<br />
approach is highly<br />
unsustainable.<br />
<br />
<i>Ease up, Ripley - you're</i><br />
<i>grinding the gears.</i><br />
<br />
Divide and Conquer: <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCxaCT4da3OaBhLFYbLuMU2hhoZbVUFg_RQIrBhjCpLhxMHUlfPAgiXoqT7BkgWLD_IxA4o1JFEPeg7BoIb24ix8S2uHAD5DJG-nv0IHxH1vzKxXeNKCs83397g-ATP22ILMqzA/s1600/POT+in+shop+Lisa+Snellings.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCxaCT4da3OaBhLFYbLuMU2hhoZbVUFg_RQIrBhjCpLhxMHUlfPAgiXoqT7BkgWLD_IxA4o1JFEPeg7BoIb24ix8S2uHAD5DJG-nv0IHxH1vzKxXeNKCs83397g-ATP22ILMqzA/s1600/POT+in+shop+Lisa+Snellings.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poppet on Tour waits for a polish.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Hard work</b> is a full day of marble casting. It's mostly physical labor and plenty of it. It sounds like a good idea to be planning and thinking while using mostly my hands. I mean, I've got this large portion of my brain not engaged, why not make mental lists, think of everything wrong with my life or plan the next project?<br />
Because over time, it's debilitating. It can lead to the dreaded mental flat spin and a crash. Who has time for that?<br />
<br />
<br />
Instead, why not put on some music I really like and zone out? I can get into the motion and routine of the work, truly enjoy the craft, and appreciate the hard-won skill of my hands. <br />
And I can give my brain (and creative soul) a rest and refresh. I can enjoy the work I'm actually doing.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Difficult work</b> is planning an exhibit, finding the right metaphor, writing an article, working out the mechanics of a kinetic piece. Do I really need to do this while I'm loading the dishwasher or folding laundry?<br />
Do I need to be frowning in concentration about something else while my hands are shaping beautiful wings?<br />
<br />
Sometimes the answer is yes. Sometimes it's unavoidable, as in periods of change or when pushing to meet a project deadline.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5N-af7mLVOJJBF3los392LHcXbd-rl6zNtb0Q_J4ItNJjOQvUhKDOoJvSkDOFZqDCbOAlHfmUcpy0g-j6BrALIzkJUlS1kF8vN97oCg6Fps_Kxrr2lYOkQpR6T7s128xP9HUtQ/s1600/IMG_8308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5N-af7mLVOJJBF3los392LHcXbd-rl6zNtb0Q_J4ItNJjOQvUhKDOoJvSkDOFZqDCbOAlHfmUcpy0g-j6BrALIzkJUlS1kF8vN97oCg6Fps_Kxrr2lYOkQpR6T7s128xP9HUtQ/s1600/IMG_8308.JPG" height="217" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maestro continues to work on a unified theory.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Otherwise, it's not a bad idea to give the body a rest while doing the difficult mental work. True enough, I've had some great ideas while working. Overall though, I solve problems more efficiently while at rest. A casual walk, sitting comfortably somewhere or even floating in the pool.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Difficult Work vs Hard Work. Rest your body for one, rest your mind for the other. You'll have more energy and be more productive in the longer run.<br />
<br />
And don't forget that sometimes, humans must stop working, period. We need time to play and time to rest.<br />
<br />
Have a great Easter, fellow travelers, whether Pagan, Christian or Cadbury.<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604161.post-53317030598757834342014-04-02T09:18:00.001-07:002014-04-02T09:18:22.843-07:00A stitch in time saves nine? It's the "in time" part that counts. <br />
<br />
Orion and I headed out to school this morning in a sprinkle of rain, though there were no clouds overhead. Clouds were moving in over the mountains, which were tipped in snow. A rainbow cut through it all like a bright banner. As I slowed at a traffic light, the brakes whined and I heard the pop of the CV joints. These things must be fixed soon, because it won't take long for them to fail completely, causing at worst an accident or at least affecting the whole car system and bringing it to a halt.<br />
The clouds are brilliantly lit. The desert is beautiful but like the car, there are problems that threaten its dynamic. There is a drought that isn't likely to go away. There are sixty three golf courses in the desert. Closing them and turning off the water that keeps them green will turn these to dust bowls. And one thing we have enough of in the desert is blowing sand.<br />
Then the entire system fails. No golf courses, no visitors. No visitors, no economy.<br />
<br />
Could we live with fewer golf courses? Could some of them be used for growing something useful, like food? Is there a solution for the desert? Might we find a way to sustain ourselves? We now face the distinct possibility that we cannot.<br />
<br />
Systems fail. In my observations, it seems that the micro and macro tend to mimic each other. Small systems -- like a car, like the health of an individual, a relationship, a business, a family --seem to fail in similar fashion. Things start to go slowly---the suspension, an untreated dental issue, a festering resentment, fewer clients, loss of income. Things break, can't be replaced, adjustments are made and a downhill spiral begins.<br />
Only spirals get faster as they go. We all know the best time to fix something is at the beginning.<br />
Replace the button, repair the cracks. They will only get bigger. This applies to the washing machine that needs bearings and to the economy of a nation that's off track. Or a desert that's based on a climate that no longer exists.<br />
<br />
It's very possible that we've broken our desert home. It's possible that we've broken our planet. It's possible that these things are beyond fixing. Or not.<br />
<br />
Either way, it's clear to me that it's past time for a very large shift in our thinking. It's clear that if we continue to put off the things we can change, we'll be faced with things we can't.<br />
<br />
Does this stuff worry me? Every day. But not all day. I can only change myself and the small bit I can reach. But if I'm doing what I can, I have more peace.<br />
<br />
Tell me your thoughts. Do you worry? How is your life affected by the changes, and by the knowledge that more change is coming?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604161.post-30889070003181025952014-03-16T16:17:00.002-07:002014-03-16T16:17:40.953-07:00Working <br />
The best words of wisdom I have for you today is that the only way to make something happen is to schedule time for it and show up.<br />
I'm not so late learning this one but pretty damned far along to be putting it into practice, so you're likely way ahead of me here.<br />
<br />
Knowing the path is not walking the path. I'm walking it today. Good enough. Now I have to practice, practice, practice scheduling time and showing up. Not poppet time. Not shop time. Time for making the things I want to make.<br />
<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604161.post-31205947762483698022014-02-07T11:00:00.001-08:002014-02-07T11:13:45.895-08:00 Schrödinger's Cat via Lisa's Quantum Circus<br />
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<br />
From Lisa Snellings' Quantum Circus:<br />
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Poppets like Physics. And Philosophy. <br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5lblJK4f8s&feature=youtu.be"><br /></a>
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5lblJK4f8s&feature=youtu.be">Poppet Explains Schrodinger, once more.</a></span><br />
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In a short video made with photos of a sculpture that incorporates paintings. And Poppets.<br />
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How very interstitial.<br />
<br />
Indeed.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604161.post-48824567104820675842014-01-22T21:35:00.003-08:002014-01-22T21:39:38.435-08:00Poppet Rainbow All The Way Across The Sky<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDffG144h1So-5inPi0HLBqWK_4MmfBXRdpjfCDxiZJglf7_2QyFekPq2OX8_O7O1K4kt3Vp-GAKu-eXWRB0p50plZwK51oOaLJbzQDEqW_tuwfV0sX4ecAF3bWggd2Q72Uf5/s1600/rainbow+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDffG144h1So-5inPi0HLBqWK_4MmfBXRdpjfCDxiZJglf7_2QyFekPq2OX8_O7O1K4kt3Vp-GAKu-eXWRB0p50plZwK51oOaLJbzQDEqW_tuwfV0sX4ecAF3bWggd2Q72Uf5/s1600/rainbow+5.jpg" height="272" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/176649372/rainbow-poppet-so-many-colors-in-a?ref=shop_home_active_2">So Many Colors In A Rainbow,</a> available on Etsy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
JPS here, aka Jessie Human aka "you're fired" aka "aaaw, you're hired." <br />
<br />
I have been Lisa's assistant and liaison person since November. We have been constantly busy, and yet she says "this isn't busy season." <br />
<br />
Welp. <br />
<br />
In November and December she was training me in the art of Poppet Painting. I painted many poppets, but something I love about Lisa is that before it can be shipped, she personally inspects, touches up, and signs each one. Often, she kisses their little faces. She also kisses her paper dolls and her cats and my kids and my husband person Willie--but not in a "why is this woman kissing my husband person" kind of way. <br />
<br />
If you've not met Lisa Snellings, let me just say that she's pretty much one of the coolest people you'll ever meet. Hands down. Her food, her stories, her random creative ideas that turn into something I can hold in my hand and honestly ask "so...can I have this one?"<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECwrfxRtfJQyh2Ytr0OT2DIf4RO6IQCG4U55Q0nV_5W2_A4Ynddz59cLy0KnykdJ9Xc7zpCnc1bbZF-yfLgjVGuPu6erLAzG68LhshzozwRCRY_5MRv5eSo7ZzhVS-iI2gZVO/s1600/studio+1+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECwrfxRtfJQyh2Ytr0OT2DIf4RO6IQCG4U55Q0nV_5W2_A4Ynddz59cLy0KnykdJ9Xc7zpCnc1bbZF-yfLgjVGuPu6erLAzG68LhshzozwRCRY_5MRv5eSo7ZzhVS-iI2gZVO/s1600/studio+1+16.jpg" height="247" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Various works in progress. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Once the new year hit our favorite artist got this beauty streak in her. She got all happy and creative and she started being inspired by crap we'd find in thrift stores and anything that had anything to do with the circus.<br />
<br />
Which includes boiled peanuts.<br />
<br />
Which are now my favorite food ever.<br />
<br />
Part of the reason I work at Poppet Planet is because Lisa wasn't getting enough time to work on larger projects. Poppets are so popular and well loved, our artist was on what she called "a poppet hamster wheel" and couldn't put time into the really big ideas she has. Now that I am on the poppet hamster wheel (and I love it, and I think I need one of those neat tube systems to go with it as well) Lisa is cookin' on the new stuff!<br />
<br />
And I probably shouldn't talk about any of it. But I do take studio pictures, like the one above, so feel free to take a look at them and try to decipher what is going on. <i>(Is that a tiny piano I see?) </i><br />
<br />
We needed rainbow poppets, she told me the other day. She told me "Lisa's palate," because she occasionally speaks in third person--which isn't as strange as when she talks in Silence Of The Lambs (it puts the glue dot on the mat board)-- "is made of colors that have black in them. The crimson, the winter blue, they all have black in them." She had me look at pictures of past Rainbow Poppets to get an idea of how to do this year's.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://img0.etsystatic.com/013/0/5504671/il_570xN.411443464_gqap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://img0.etsystatic.com/013/0/5504671/il_570xN.411443464_gqap.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://productinfo2.shophandmade.com/Sku/H65/H657Y5C/H657Y5C-Product-0001-1000X1000Cropped.Jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://productinfo2.shophandmade.com/Sku/H65/H657Y5C/H657Y5C-Product-0001-1000X1000Cropped.Jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Out of all of what I found, I liked the "classic" one best. Probably because I enjoy the classic poppets more than the hand sculpted ones. <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/176576236/little-red-devil-poppet-lisa-snellings?ref=shop_home_active_3">Then again</a>, there are some seriously <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/175669191/voodoo-poppet-lisa-snellings?ref=shop_home_active_16">amazing</a> hand <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/99999605/ouija-board-poppet?ref=shop_home_active_17">sculpted poppets</a> in <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/Strangestudios">the shop</a> right <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/176586577/love-stories-lisa-snellings?ref=shop_home_active_1">now</a>. <br />
<br />
I loaded up with "Lisa's Palate" friendly colors and ended up with this little dude:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcowTMXCg41oDdxWQw47YQIApFh1c4FMLUhYaMeraMx_Frby7S59-TMkLcwLfdqYkiV31byQZJNupX9nqu3HtJMRkrXJlAohNoRTQtXdWFu3mWUGmmkPIzeOlCdqZd8O4k96k/s1600/rainbow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcowTMXCg41oDdxWQw47YQIApFh1c4FMLUhYaMeraMx_Frby7S59-TMkLcwLfdqYkiV31byQZJNupX9nqu3HtJMRkrXJlAohNoRTQtXdWFu3mWUGmmkPIzeOlCdqZd8O4k96k/s1600/rainbow.jpg" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
I think he's adorable. Or it. Lisa says we try not to give them genders unless it's obvious. Or that's her Silence of the Lambs thing again.<br />
<br />
To me, rainbow is male. But Lisa told me that there is a collector who sees all poppets as female.<br />
<br />
Do you think poppets have genders? Does it matter? Leave a comment below. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17033378825749946868noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604161.post-57252248131064811562014-01-16T15:04:00.000-08:002014-01-16T15:04:03.342-08:00Cleaning Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyo2Z4mGef8X3TZy7md38szg0x8vSougX0nJWLmOK4hvNdlbOP0s_ir4jEGLJfFRmeyorJwIF_jptQQI5m2qGYACMLqZa94P2qsgRyUjbR2RhDH9xWlW5DdTAjIby9iW-geyDz_Q/s1600/Doctor+Circuit+and+Poppets+Dirty+Fans+-+Lisa+Snellings+(679x800).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyo2Z4mGef8X3TZy7md38szg0x8vSougX0nJWLmOK4hvNdlbOP0s_ir4jEGLJfFRmeyorJwIF_jptQQI5m2qGYACMLqZa94P2qsgRyUjbR2RhDH9xWlW5DdTAjIby9iW-geyDz_Q/s1600/Doctor+Circuit+and+Poppets+Dirty+Fans+-+Lisa+Snellings+(679x800).jpg" height="640" width="542" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604161.post-31148699077202527232014-01-15T18:15:00.001-08:002014-01-15T18:15:04.085-08:00A Brief History Of The Ouija BoardLisa's assistant Jessie here to school you on the history of the Ouija Board. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiel5XoxSH4IkPkPQOBlkEkdrkjvmASv2ztq9AldfEGXB0KrGexx_RFoKeuOcoThQ-xX8EUFDkiSDUOuQTRnalE5fPZ3KGJON12miXOKH4VdzOVBKx6vnRn9hFQGykuHqXC8yOm/s1600/Ouija-Board-movie-Norman-Rockwell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiel5XoxSH4IkPkPQOBlkEkdrkjvmASv2ztq9AldfEGXB0KrGexx_RFoKeuOcoThQ-xX8EUFDkiSDUOuQTRnalE5fPZ3KGJON12miXOKH4VdzOVBKx6vnRn9hFQGykuHqXC8yOm/s1600/Ouija-Board-movie-Norman-Rockwell.jpg" height="457" width="640" /></a></div>
The history of the Ouija board is more romantic than your God fearing
grandmother would have you think. In Victorian times, lovers would sit
with their knees together on a chaperoned date, which gave them an ample
opportunity to play footsie-feelie. At the very same time, these
couples were able to send secret messages to one another that the
chaperones couldn't overhear.<br />
<br />
Imagine the naughty things being said in this classic Norman Rockwell picture. <br />
<br />
Poppets, as you know, mimic humans in a gentle, poking-fun way, including our emotions, beliefs, experiences, and culture. Poppets explore Ouija, seeing the unknown not as good or evil, but as, well, unknown.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYORhdQPD2NXNxhOOgSZEwqLxMi0QvaDEnwfIuAK57QIQZ8GmWrgLl8NC0UPWKwgckli-ZIQoPgDkA2ukc5Dg18jc2f-cU4qgT1pgqOazetrB1q5CBhFKfpnS3qIUDFRKn8_x/s1600/il_570xN.417530617_2jzc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYORhdQPD2NXNxhOOgSZEwqLxMi0QvaDEnwfIuAK57QIQZ8GmWrgLl8NC0UPWKwgckli-ZIQoPgDkA2ukc5Dg18jc2f-cU4qgT1pgqOazetrB1q5CBhFKfpnS3qIUDFRKn8_x/s1600/il_570xN.417530617_2jzc.jpg" height="234" width="320" /></a></div>
You can explore the mysteries of the Ouija with your very own Poppet Ouija Board and Planchette hand made by Lisa Snellings. <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/175777181/poppet-ouija-board-and-planchette-lisa">Purchase at Etsy</a>. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTL8HLE3geYaFfcQKRg-yM__uTu-aCs1qhJ2i0apsdZTuzl7wFw8xeEiL2QtgMrHo7XnDXBmkY-MzvbdppoKPfMD9dHz2stXT_Y4X2vpU2XHzxceY-n5wlCnNvhgAvyUdR3om/s1600/il_570xN.174881038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTL8HLE3geYaFfcQKRg-yM__uTu-aCs1qhJ2i0apsdZTuzl7wFw8xeEiL2QtgMrHo7XnDXBmkY-MzvbdppoKPfMD9dHz2stXT_Y4X2vpU2XHzxceY-n5wlCnNvhgAvyUdR3om/s1600/il_570xN.174881038.jpg" height="180" width="200" /></a></div>
Not willing to play the game? No Victorian lover to rub knees with? Leave it to Ouija Board Poppet to discover all that hooky-pooky woo woo creepy mystical nonsense. <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/99999605/ouija-board-poppet?ref=shop_home_active_5">Purchase at Etsy</a>. <br />
<br />
Coming soon: Pocket sized Ouija Boards with tiny planchettes that you can give as a Valentine or keep for yourself. <br />
<br />
There are plenty of other Poppety Sweet Valentine things in the shop, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/Strangestudios">come check it out</a>! Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17033378825749946868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604161.post-91324378836538156172014-01-11T13:35:00.001-08:002014-01-11T13:35:57.370-08:00I love the smell of paperbacks in the morning. I think a lot about books. There were always books, from my earliest
memory. I can thank my parents for that. My mother's reading habits
and my dad's willingness to drive me to the library in the next town
every Saturday morning.<br />
Yesterday I took a day off for much
needed rest. Surrounding me on the bed were my laptop, my Kindle, a
paper copy of "The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland" - a kind and
timely gift sent from Michaela in Germany. And, of course, the ever
changing plethora of cats.<br />
<br />
I hear a lot of
discussions about how sad it is that paper books are going away. Of
course they are. Paper is going away --or at least its widespread use.
I don't have a problem with that, short of a little nostalgia. This is
the information age after all, and I love it. I have a library that
fits into my purse, windows into the world in my house. Any question I
have can be answered in the time it takes to ask it.<br />
<br />
Everything has a price. Remember beautiful stationery? You may not,
but I do. Printed and scented and tied up in pretty boxes. So exciting
to choose the new box. So thrilling to get a fancy envelope in the
mailbox. But then, once upon a time the sight of a woman's ankle
could send a proper man swooning. (And no, I wasn't alive for that,
having grown up in the relative freedom of the 70's.)<br />
<br />
We move on.<br />
<br />
Some
of us will always love paper books. Of course we will. They are our
childhoods. And they likely won't disappear overnight, wiped out by a
single cataclysm. Instead, they will evolve into something else.<br />
They
will become artful, valuable and precious. I expect that in short
time the word "book" will replace "electronic book" and "paper book"
will replace "book." Or some such. Time will tell, and less of it than
we may think.<br />
I'll do what I can to preserve my small library of
precious editions - my Sturgeon, Padgett and Leiber, my Bradbury, Asimov
and Ellison.<br />
<br />
Some argue that reading is going away.
Yes, indeed it is. Language is changing at a logarithmic pace and
videos replace words and pictures. This, to me, is a larger concern
and another topic.<br />
<br />
But hopefully there will always be
those of us who love language. Writing is an art form. A sentence so
well crafted to give us pause will hold its place as such. Time will
choose the classics of every era, including this one. At least I hope
for this. Stories can be read on screens as well as on paper. In the
end, it's the words that matter.<br />
<br />
Despite my many faults
and missteps, I've done my part as my parents did, in that all of my
offspring read for pleasure. And each of them writes creatively. I
don't have to wonder if they will pass the love of language on. That's
not my concern, but theirs.<br />
<br />
<br />
If you're
filled with longing for paper books, go to the library or a used book
store and breathe deeply. Look at the light slanting across the stacks,
dust motes dancing between. And don't be sad about books. If you love
them, you'll always have them.<br />
<br />
Hope your Saturday is inspiring.<br />
<br />
--your artistUnknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604161.post-9450724906684070812014-01-04T20:24:00.002-08:002014-01-04T20:24:38.026-08:00Around The Studio<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNc3Fc258mtaEXy_IfLeMIMqcn95k5BDyLkmHbP7cKZGmkU4UW7UopCG_vhyphenhyphenPo-X8Zkdkkt6IptG-pAU4N20WHog21sW3r05fm5UYjyooZS6hiYQK9VK8PN6xLPaaVvOQwkzR/s1600/jessie+plus+astro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNc3Fc258mtaEXy_IfLeMIMqcn95k5BDyLkmHbP7cKZGmkU4UW7UopCG_vhyphenhyphenPo-X8Zkdkkt6IptG-pAU4N20WHog21sW3r05fm5UYjyooZS6hiYQK9VK8PN6xLPaaVvOQwkzR/s640/jessie+plus+astro.jpg" width="454" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jessie Human + Astro Cat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTyrmzVi5TDui0QKXHWGxw8KqNFSqNV_LwFVc759Y_K7KQZGXJDSaqgNuo9mNprOYAOs4DA61rempWBqlxU8REY0CocNdotEN-QYPbTTAm4K8MJgOO-_11F5n54AlNaa1V54-6/s1600/lisa+and+zombie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTyrmzVi5TDui0QKXHWGxw8KqNFSqNV_LwFVc759Y_K7KQZGXJDSaqgNuo9mNprOYAOs4DA61rempWBqlxU8REY0CocNdotEN-QYPbTTAm4K8MJgOO-_11F5n54AlNaa1V54-6/s640/lisa+and+zombie.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lisa + Zombie Puppet</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZL6HqbYbF3eLgLJHcc5ZDA1E9J7-O2yubjOw2njXCnaLIKbv2DprvoPOsKH0z3kxHSrFwFlzsnJKNUWEEDVo1-_oRlQ-mA_5nawVZFVs7LCHxTG6mjSvosfaTWsPaBgJhP5NK/s1600/lisa+not+impressed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZL6HqbYbF3eLgLJHcc5ZDA1E9J7-O2yubjOw2njXCnaLIKbv2DprvoPOsKH0z3kxHSrFwFlzsnJKNUWEEDVo1-_oRlQ-mA_5nawVZFVs7LCHxTG6mjSvosfaTWsPaBgJhP5NK/s640/lisa+not+impressed.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lisa + Unimpressive Text Message Convo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFT_P095PDWmE6EqYtvJeQI24Ss7xm7uR4hLak4SAdcnnkPPGPebk07M_THWcuhf59yl3XGTATlsJqHmPSIqM1clL_vCzVhi9amhUPrVDb7F8LGFRI3pDXx-Q7SGqNqYQk_wK1/s1600/lisa+playing+with+dolls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFT_P095PDWmE6EqYtvJeQI24Ss7xm7uR4hLak4SAdcnnkPPGPebk07M_THWcuhf59yl3XGTATlsJqHmPSIqM1clL_vCzVhi9amhUPrVDb7F8LGFRI3pDXx-Q7SGqNqYQk_wK1/s640/lisa+playing+with+dolls.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lisa + Brain Nomming Fun Time Plush Dolls</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtgTxwZe2s3lpsoXdgPuCrneIiSK2MKyXacJXzvl8y0tdBGRmk0JebrLaNufqE2yKjk4Haq6GoCR5_O7TqnN6rGJbTlHRkZNDLMlE5CfEoCS44mA99ldX27UXeDmBg7aIac-Lf/s1600/misfit+lineup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtgTxwZe2s3lpsoXdgPuCrneIiSK2MKyXacJXzvl8y0tdBGRmk0JebrLaNufqE2yKjk4Haq6GoCR5_O7TqnN6rGJbTlHRkZNDLMlE5CfEoCS44mA99ldX27UXeDmBg7aIac-Lf/s640/misfit+lineup.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Attic Sale Lineup</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCzPlvtk2xeA1KtYhYWl4r2xqa1qeTdPqFcLZ-5fTkjkVZxWqmwZC7qpTt8EMwtXlPEbHNfc4f_0tBvuHErcg2-2cC27_8HX7qzJfxCblAahT5xFXHv005zFnjloUeK42kONl/s1600/puppet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCzPlvtk2xeA1KtYhYWl4r2xqa1qeTdPqFcLZ-5fTkjkVZxWqmwZC7qpTt8EMwtXlPEbHNfc4f_0tBvuHErcg2-2cC27_8HX7qzJfxCblAahT5xFXHv005zFnjloUeK42kONl/s640/puppet.jpg" width="442" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A new old friend--gift from Aubrey, made by Ladies Auxiliary hospital volunteers</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJ7HtN0D6vw3Q61SLchAsPOPbXCskNVH3pv25zCqU9ZQCamNr04_5SJReEFGYxdmS3y7gXkFzhE1hrR3O3OGHHax-qDexJLkMnieFagpTEHzbv_WQD7k-eHt2wv7aF3vGER-G/s1600/ruby+in+progress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJ7HtN0D6vw3Q61SLchAsPOPbXCskNVH3pv25zCqU9ZQCamNr04_5SJReEFGYxdmS3y7gXkFzhE1hrR3O3OGHHax-qDexJLkMnieFagpTEHzbv_WQD7k-eHt2wv7aF3vGER-G/s640/ruby+in+progress.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rubie Poppets--coming soon! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0pSw1ePnJLtZ3ILuOHV2IjgOvOpFlvwWNbQ0DNRk7JxcJSaT5Sgvuiios233duIsktm1Kbp5aiQ4A9wnQtoeUw0CjaroSv90EFPeN60Q9o-irVWemHYk62zQZAWnBvs9t6BcR/s1600/studio+12+27+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0pSw1ePnJLtZ3ILuOHV2IjgOvOpFlvwWNbQ0DNRk7JxcJSaT5Sgvuiios233duIsktm1Kbp5aiQ4A9wnQtoeUw0CjaroSv90EFPeN60Q9o-irVWemHYk62zQZAWnBvs9t6BcR/s640/studio+12+27+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amelia, assemblage, Jessie Human's travel kit, frames, misc. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdq5u5HZPe66khWKQB-yT7t1BFIUSMoXiYOuVGl57yZt0d5W2u5nHWh6xhtUOmA-_4QaotaH-3GpqqpPH0UE4mxYB9WEPCyku7v9BMCUzfm5THQKs1IJB9DBHPJmMl7HL9fna/s1600/studio+12+27+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdq5u5HZPe66khWKQB-yT7t1BFIUSMoXiYOuVGl57yZt0d5W2u5nHWh6xhtUOmA-_4QaotaH-3GpqqpPH0UE4mxYB9WEPCyku7v9BMCUzfm5THQKs1IJB9DBHPJmMl7HL9fna/s640/studio+12+27+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chocolate milk. And some poppets and things. Paint. It makes sense if you know the makings of poppets. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMB3cy05kb2TuPO33eCxO2S4tISUiPjgvIB0usv3Le5Vj4IzJNPRkG_8Kd2dhomdHOgMLFhHDWxWYcYggHRc4LvOvOtvyPTsUyJ9_mITjjz5LBqclorAUQyVO0FT2U1L2if_dm/s1600/studio+12+30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMB3cy05kb2TuPO33eCxO2S4tISUiPjgvIB0usv3Le5Vj4IzJNPRkG_8Kd2dhomdHOgMLFhHDWxWYcYggHRc4LvOvOtvyPTsUyJ9_mITjjz5LBqclorAUQyVO0FT2U1L2if_dm/s640/studio+12+30.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More paints. Always with the paints. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRdBm-ajsJNOrMFfcYqCfwPGx6vOxTyzkeUA-PrK7niCOLQTPammStJSrjICSZkGhyphenhyphenCi0keoai72g0ACmvgPA6Cnw8_GbgcuUTHG5ziQAihEQEDnqm8QUGbH5nUlrkU3fRyQv/s1600/lovely+lisa%252C+a+clown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRdBm-ajsJNOrMFfcYqCfwPGx6vOxTyzkeUA-PrK7niCOLQTPammStJSrjICSZkGhyphenhyphenCi0keoai72g0ACmvgPA6Cnw8_GbgcuUTHG5ziQAihEQEDnqm8QUGbH5nUlrkU3fRyQv/s640/lovely+lisa%252C+a+clown.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lisa + Clown Makeup. Stunning. </td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17033378825749946868noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604161.post-9091436930796878202014-01-01T15:23:00.000-08:002014-01-01T15:23:44.022-08:00Of Queens, Girl Friday and A Distant Carnival on the Horizon<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red;"> <span style="color: black;">Happy New Year to you, fellow traveler.</span></span><b><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></b><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">All my hopes for your happiness.</span></span><b><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ONBC0t_8a0QhHjmU_MGuKlEK63H9EVxw3o3uoJADWbUP0qdqz3pfGd9_Y0W7JLmDcX-EzIjvq1tqxa9kehFsDMvmlpIXVR6u6YFk1MAOoR8dgMjzonPSMGzQ2oIzIegsCDi0cg/s1600/Lisa+Snellings+January+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ONBC0t_8a0QhHjmU_MGuKlEK63H9EVxw3o3uoJADWbUP0qdqz3pfGd9_Y0W7JLmDcX-EzIjvq1tqxa9kehFsDMvmlpIXVR6u6YFk1MAOoR8dgMjzonPSMGzQ2oIzIegsCDi0cg/s320/Lisa+Snellings+January+2014.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PJ pants, poppet shirt and bed head. Photo by Pete Clark</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<b><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<b><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></b><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Twenty-thirteen began as another year of digging out of the Great Crater created in 2008. Progress was made, energies were renewed and by the end of summer- despite two months of illness - I seemed to be trudging steadily uphill, hoping again to reach the edge of the hole and climb out. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"> It is a wonderous and terrifying thing to understand precisely what one wants. I began to <i>know</i> which direction I'd head in, once I got back to level ground. Now I see that unexplored carnival on the distant horizon and I'm headed toward it. I'm in no particular hurry because what truly matters, fellow traveler, is where we are<i> right now.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Of course, stopping for the strange and wonderful along the way of any journey is essential.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"> By November, I knew it was time to begin enlisting help. I knew the sort of helper I needed first and had suspected for some time that Jessie Pearl Stuart was<b> </b>just that.</span></span><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span><b><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></b><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">It must be someone with mad skills, a sense of humor and most of all, a sense of what Poppet means in its heart of hearts. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"> Jessie is all that and a bag of chips. And she's a good writer too. Such that her words will help you know her better than anything I could say. Read on then, and join me in welcoming Jessie.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">----Your artist.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"></span></i><br />
Words from the Jessie Human:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4qiOYnbnCsbSBd1rXGIJeST6nwayhZElqR2nYfonFPj8BuVWXXg3E8TtDT9AsAE_zfs8SzG9Hezx3J-Jaruycys18S2uweDW09RFmaOpJGN7X1i2d8lcbHWFLREj6bn5sXP7h/s1600/queen+of+garden+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4qiOYnbnCsbSBd1rXGIJeST6nwayhZElqR2nYfonFPj8BuVWXXg3E8TtDT9AsAE_zfs8SzG9Hezx3J-Jaruycys18S2uweDW09RFmaOpJGN7X1i2d8lcbHWFLREj6bn5sXP7h/s640/queen+of+garden+9.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/171403781/fairy-poppet-statue-original-queen-of?ref=shop_home_active">Queen Of The Garden on Etsy</a></td></tr>
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This? This beauty? This marvel? This freakin' fairy queen goddess just hanging out poolside on a sunny Southern California day in December? This is my job. Chasing these things all over Lisa's yard and house and hoping they'll hold still for a photo.<br />
<br />
See also: feeding the dragons in the garage.<br />
See also: scraping paint from the bottom of my boots<br />
See also: jousting windmills in the desert<br />
<br />
My name is Jessie Pearl Stuart and I work at Poppet Planet under the direction and guidance of Lisa Snellings. My official title is "Poppet Liaison." I am more or less Lisa's personal assistant, a painter, <strike>a list maker</strike> (we do not do lists, lists are bad according to the boss), photographer, poppet/fairy/brain/creature wrangler, fetcher of things, copywriter, listener, sound board, noise board, tootsie roll,<i> all the things</i> type person.<br />
<br />
This is not a job I was looking for, but it's pretty much the job I have always wanted to have.<br />
<br />
I have been homing poppets on my own bookshelf for several years now. I have admired Lisa's art for more than just its beauty, since Lisa lives not far from me and therefore to me she's a "local artist." It makes me feel all tricky to say that. Palm Springs, where Poppet Planet is located, is really a 45 minute drive from where I am here in Yucaipa, which is a small mountainy apple orchard town with only one main road and no hospital. Ever since I found out that Lisa lived so close, I would make up excuses to try to visit her.<br />
<br />
"Oh hey this poppet broke, will you repair it for me? I'll totally bring it to you in person so we can just skip the mail..."<br />
<br />
"Hey uh, Lisa...hows about like, you know, maybe I could come visit and take some pictures for your website?" (The oldest trick in the book for a photographer.)<br />
<br />
I even tried offering to intern for her in the studio a few summers ago just doing desk work type stuff.<br />
<br />
And Lisa, with all of her arty wisdom said "our time will come."<br />
<br />
I found out now that she'd always wanted to meet me, but under the right circumstances. Lisa contacted me a few weeks ago and asked me to come out to the studio because she wanted us to sit and chat. And I was less star struck, and more excited to meet this person who makes these irresistible little bookshelf goobers that, you know, just look at you. With their eyes.<br />
<br />
Lisa told me many things that day. Mostly of what direction she intended to take her art next and how she needed a hand to free up some of her time. She wanted to tackle some projects that have been on the back burner for some time.<br />
<br />
I looked around and saw my beloved goobers in all states of unreadiness.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GuPZlWud9T9ynlws4r0SVHQqlPIHpQKgDkj8BVykY74CjoxWa9jLNxsklV-eE2rEs_sYRqTtVyeU5SKhgxXq8rNhljAt9JCxG7NSkOKUnAQew11NgZtCv60AnFW-0Zrxh8kq/s1600/unfinished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GuPZlWud9T9ynlws4r0SVHQqlPIHpQKgDkj8BVykY74CjoxWa9jLNxsklV-eE2rEs_sYRqTtVyeU5SKhgxXq8rNhljAt9JCxG7NSkOKUnAQew11NgZtCv60AnFW-0Zrxh8kq/s400/unfinished.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
I thought at first that maybe visiting Lisa's studio would be like visiting Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. But I soon realized that there was a lack of oompa-loompas. And because of this, there was a lack of The Next Big Thing for Lisa.<br />
<br />
The gumption is there. This lady amazes me. The way her wheels turn is nothing I could ever describe, for it's something to experience to hear her think out loud about art. So she asked if I'd like to be her right hand woman.<br />
<br />
"You'll also need to paint poppets. Can you paint poppets?"<br />
<br />
I showed her a picture of a naked fairy sitting on a mushroom that I made in high school ceramics. She said, after examining the picture, that I could paint a poppet. <br />
<br />
I looked at the unfinished poppets, the globs of still wet paint and little notes she'd written to herself. "As a lover of poppets, it's strange to be learning of the things and the magic that goes into them."<br />
<br />
And then she began to show me how to dry brush.<br />
<br />
She sent me home that night with a bunch of poppets that needed to be sanded and base painted. Boy I bet she's glad I returned and didn't just keep a shoe box full of free poppets.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5RyMGsvLdDynSI3Y_2nG5qa3NOXgYxEYbj47OvRFhMcgOsqnGMFJk7HMvg_jFeyFo918QZrUec_5J-QbnZJg3aNUTqz0UHswg1WrXDp6ecNVB864M-OTmqwKss1nG1u1jPuXH/s1600/il_570xN.527256015_tvjn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5RyMGsvLdDynSI3Y_2nG5qa3NOXgYxEYbj47OvRFhMcgOsqnGMFJk7HMvg_jFeyFo918QZrUec_5J-QbnZJg3aNUTqz0UHswg1WrXDp6ecNVB864M-OTmqwKss1nG1u1jPuXH/s320/il_570xN.527256015_tvjn.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/169637399/heart-of-winter-a-classic-poppet?ref=shop_home_active">Heart of Winter on Etsy</a></td></tr>
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Next thing I knew I was set on the Heart Of Winter poppet and painting tiny red dots with the end of a tooth pick. <br />
<br />
"We need to come up with a new poppet," she told me. And I said "How about one with a ukulele?"<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMW2Q-N0ESpPbgI3Ob-wDYIckywK2nXeCuWcgZT5BPUMXShoItJPUqXkJzrP8Rr04_ztbSsjAbsAaVUxVIr8su5O6LaJpABfe-AmQSL16yCpixSZjLf2WKnmhcsgdXkuLf5Sio/s1600/il_570xN.533348504_4x8d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMW2Q-N0ESpPbgI3Ob-wDYIckywK2nXeCuWcgZT5BPUMXShoItJPUqXkJzrP8Rr04_ztbSsjAbsAaVUxVIr8su5O6LaJpABfe-AmQSL16yCpixSZjLf2WKnmhcsgdXkuLf5Sio/s320/il_570xN.533348504_4x8d.jpg" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/171166507/ukulele-poppet-play-with-me-lisa?ref=shop_home_active">Play With Me on Etsy</a></td></tr>
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And "Play With Me" was strumming us a tune not long after that.<br />
<br />
We seem to bounce things off of each other well. She hand chose me she said partly because of my talent and creativity. I am honored that Lisa thinks I have talent. <br />
<br />
Okay so I totally also mixed a horrible batch of barfy paint on some brains and I am very sorry. But I didn't totally blow the brains because purple was my idea for this little duo, The Brain and Dr. Circuit.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpstwAH9IYmSth-jUcfaTgzxGMcrLX7rgjVdQNzv9IrvvxCukWZLC1CQkr27aPk71E767oL0atF9rTCzuk2cVwzkWE9rT0Rt0EklXw9WloZ-CucVcICc54dRl7PJpqIO6vstX/s1600/circuit+pair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpstwAH9IYmSth-jUcfaTgzxGMcrLX7rgjVdQNzv9IrvvxCukWZLC1CQkr27aPk71E767oL0atF9rTCzuk2cVwzkWE9rT0Rt0EklXw9WloZ-CucVcICc54dRl7PJpqIO6vstX/s640/circuit+pair.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/171380768/poppet-and-brain-set-1-of-11-the-brain?ref=shop_home_active">The Brain and Dr. Circuit on Etsy</a></td></tr>
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The barf paint was a mistake. The purple steampunky brain thing? Lisa loved it when I brought it to her. She ran with it and immediately started in with that circuitry and those wicked cool glasses. She also decided that the brain should be accompanied by a poppet, and Dr. Circuit showed up to play. <br />
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For real, poppets show up to play at Lisa's. So do her cats. So do lizards. In fact, there is pretty much always something new greeting me on the porch every time I ring her doorbell--which doesn't work so I have to knock loudly in case she's in the garage with the Dremmel attaching hands to something that doesn't usually have hands.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hAGJZmZx3NSHOuJKI_tKmUO6905UUz-lTo-W5uFsv-C5eOO1xP85bUy41nJ7CcNvNeucfncVIjEm_4wsE7uTCxMiM90D0xKfmJvYl43WEY6hoxuCboUVLbuOcgKYgu0cETnO/s1600/queen+of+garden+2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hAGJZmZx3NSHOuJKI_tKmUO6905UUz-lTo-W5uFsv-C5eOO1xP85bUy41nJ7CcNvNeucfncVIjEm_4wsE7uTCxMiM90D0xKfmJvYl43WEY6hoxuCboUVLbuOcgKYgu0cETnO/s320/queen+of+garden+2.jpg" width="320" /></a>I swat at all of these glittery half finished Bugs that get all playful when we turn on the lamps. Twice, something has literally eaten my backdrop.<br />
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And don't let queenie pie here fool you. I almost fell in the pool trying to snap a photo of her basking perfectly on a leaf when she suddenly decided to fly up and over me and check out a humming bird that showed up to one of Lisa's feeders. <br />
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Visiting "Strange Studios" is not at all actually strange, not one bit! Right.<br />
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So yes, I am the new girl around here. The poppets are trolling me, but I will stay.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmpsKEx-EfSi-KzOMDAVuT1R1RTUlDwvu2hKnndwsUnGLrYp8QFp_3UgoMLJRo-zk0zgVltv2Frwy5WY3-I5qt5kW4zy_n36QSgVvS3PYOdv9KilADvol2pcQji2TNNUxZN7XI/s1600/play+your+ukulele.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmpsKEx-EfSi-KzOMDAVuT1R1RTUlDwvu2hKnndwsUnGLrYp8QFp_3UgoMLJRo-zk0zgVltv2Frwy5WY3-I5qt5kW4zy_n36QSgVvS3PYOdv9KilADvol2pcQji2TNNUxZN7XI/s400/play+your+ukulele.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
A little about me: I write, I photograph, I knit, I read, and I always dress like I am going to snake church. I shop at thrift stores, yard sales, and I brake for things on the side of the road that say "free." <br />
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I am a descendent of the Jersey Devil and Charlemagne. I don't do hugs. I speak fairly fluent sign language. I have three cats and a corgi and two boys and Willie. I have been described as "a leprechaun with a camera" because incredible shots just seem to jump at my lens, and I have also been described as "a f&($ing documentarian." I don't know if that is a word, but that's what was said.<br />
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I'm really excited to meet Lisa's friends and fans. I'm also excited that Lisa makes brownies in the microwave in little snow flake coffee cups.<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Find me all over the interwebs:</span></span><br />
<a href="http://wereallfriendshere.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">My Blog</span></span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/terwilliger911"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">My Flickr</span></span></a><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/jessiepearlstuart"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">My Facebook</span></span></a><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1545209.Jessie_Terwilliger">My Goodreads</a> </span></span><b><span style="color: red;"> </span></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17033378825749946868noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604161.post-18000653630468188262013-11-30T10:00:00.000-08:002013-11-30T10:00:13.759-08:00Holidays and HelpersI've hired a studio assistant, who is turning out to be more like a Girl Friday and all that goes with.<br />
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Perhaps eventually I'll be able to start writing again.<br />
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It looks hopeful.<br />
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The circus train is moving. We have shaken some dust.<br />
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Hoping you are having a good entering into of the insanity that is winter holidays. And all that goes with.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4CKikiS2dLCoduiKt84YTGIeOS-w_0zAoetnnVGZzlGtF1o_ClCdFbDbhVsPV60sFK8hj5vlIcVSCTuPc8BIBZmjX-mlUOnp__5cTskkQzjQEHRIWMupxfwIZq3C-w3hgWfEZsA/s1600/Play+with+me+tag+no+text.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4CKikiS2dLCoduiKt84YTGIeOS-w_0zAoetnnVGZzlGtF1o_ClCdFbDbhVsPV60sFK8hj5vlIcVSCTuPc8BIBZmjX-mlUOnp__5cTskkQzjQEHRIWMupxfwIZq3C-w3hgWfEZsA/s320/Play+with+me+tag+no+text.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsmf29uWgSO3B-BxhdRIM983kPC5nEchDLDY_-oe8N7LIkNQabbhgoq-iSrGQbMxechBDS5S69z9XBu1ED1j8vasU_pBUx6JzlkXf5uv7AYEka71V4p0JBTZlT3bzWwwmwCh9Kg/s1600/Sleeping+Snow+Fairy+and+Bibbit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsmf29uWgSO3B-BxhdRIM983kPC5nEchDLDY_-oe8N7LIkNQabbhgoq-iSrGQbMxechBDS5S69z9XBu1ED1j8vasU_pBUx6JzlkXf5uv7AYEka71V4p0JBTZlT3bzWwwmwCh9Kg/s320/Sleeping+Snow+Fairy+and+Bibbit.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604161.post-91757608064800904052013-11-01T20:54:00.000-07:002013-11-01T20:54:00.846-07:00Waving<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ15z2Ahr39v5f1i4DDhi5lRqGya-6UIUcjP27IkSNdq_0XXxp2zmLo2-1CPvLnWi-UbR0UoBgckzfsDU1khKoAulFELuHOKCQ7MaljY2foI0rqC6UHbhlrY3mYJ8GJZVAaejMCA/s1600/Holiday+King+and+Queen+and+bibbit+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ15z2Ahr39v5f1i4DDhi5lRqGya-6UIUcjP27IkSNdq_0XXxp2zmLo2-1CPvLnWi-UbR0UoBgckzfsDU1khKoAulFELuHOKCQ7MaljY2foI0rqC6UHbhlrY3mYJ8GJZVAaejMCA/s320/Holiday+King+and+Queen+and+bibbit+copy.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604161.post-23551529820231244582013-10-31T09:30:00.001-07:002013-10-31T09:30:11.288-07:00Halloween<br />
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I have run away to join the circus.</div>
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Will send postcards from the road.</div>
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Happy Halloween.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604161.post-57732177195698658272013-09-22T16:11:00.001-07:002013-09-22T16:15:49.746-07:00The Story Chair<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I took some video of the box sculpture and then it turned into this --<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Bk5ggnop-0">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Bk5ggnop-0</a><br />
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I learn new things every time I make a video short. It's fun being at the beginning of something again. Brain is happy.</div>
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And I fell in love with this image, so made it into a print:</div>
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I have to say that it works because of the music of Calexico. They are astoundingly talented and great company in the studio.<a href="http://www.casadecalexico.com/"> More on John Convertino and Joey Burns of Calexico.</a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604161.post-66978119965087764882013-09-20T09:55:00.001-07:002013-09-20T09:55:57.620-07:00Leaves and a Queen<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9F99e87ZlC3T3ULtXEdyNy29RJYrzXA2JvxjBu2e9p1zf5OsJRGGHI6APVLvhMHDg0urg8GwCloi89NwWI6aQtvnZEugQ06a8-ZoEa9yj_xCHmKva6MIrMnStQIiopRtorQwEA/s1600/making+leaves+first.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9F99e87ZlC3T3ULtXEdyNy29RJYrzXA2JvxjBu2e9p1zf5OsJRGGHI6APVLvhMHDg0urg8GwCloi89NwWI6aQtvnZEugQ06a8-ZoEa9yj_xCHmKva6MIrMnStQIiopRtorQwEA/s200/making+leaves+first.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy3bPmrr4LpFCOmU9SwozsEFYy0Pkh36qI3Fpi5lt5HVrVGzDwS4u5cqUGmJMImglNhS-gD90L72ucMjA2af5MWAiTn5JMZXQUfbTp3Dpw8z4lRqerHGVml7xL7MSOwOj8eyYzbw/s1600/making+leaves+first+cut.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy3bPmrr4LpFCOmU9SwozsEFYy0Pkh36qI3Fpi5lt5HVrVGzDwS4u5cqUGmJMImglNhS-gD90L72ucMjA2af5MWAiTn5JMZXQUfbTp3Dpw8z4lRqerHGVml7xL7MSOwOj8eyYzbw/s200/making+leaves+first+cut.JPG" width="150" /></a> I wanted ferns for a box sculpture. I looked around and found these silk holly leaves. The fabric shading looked like it might work. I took out the plastic spine (it just peeled right off) and used a very sharp Xacto blade. Here are photos of that and where I used them. The box will be traveling to the World Fantasy Convention in October. I won't, but plan to be there next year.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMYnFeC7AbbZ9hbpR_0wVrH7QlWBjq2zgS2MoRiAlfTR_LC45Ntu3voN9SeKhSbT5rXn9jBQjbW5RUSdCGHamPFUIO-CR9PRTlCtsgsgJvEDU4BkdCZIaywzuPyPfMJqFn1xizQ/s1600/making+leaves+finished.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMYnFeC7AbbZ9hbpR_0wVrH7QlWBjq2zgS2MoRiAlfTR_LC45Ntu3voN9SeKhSbT5rXn9jBQjbW5RUSdCGHamPFUIO-CR9PRTlCtsgsgJvEDU4BkdCZIaywzuPyPfMJqFn1xizQ/s200/making+leaves+finished.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">finished leaves<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq71XAR7X3u8eMUQoJ6sB1vT68N8wUylNEWKNRC42jsvHX4vF6Xgp0_IpIoKyiyRAHs4rhNdLHOvQAlqfgSkMSlCxGRKQ7jttO_brrGYZer3ihdPJXYUYx3boShkTksqJOuxA5lA/s1600/Mirror+box+books+are+magic+(594x800).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq71XAR7X3u8eMUQoJ6sB1vT68N8wUylNEWKNRC42jsvHX4vF6Xgp0_IpIoKyiyRAHs4rhNdLHOvQAlqfgSkMSlCxGRKQ7jttO_brrGYZer3ihdPJXYUYx3boShkTksqJOuxA5lA/s400/Mirror+box+books+are+magic+(594x800).jpg" width="296" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sculpture boxes are bigger inside than out.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29r-mJDXfYs0Nd6W35lbBhOdyodNsjadUBW4vhyphenhyphenhjOWcXojLdP5XnsaZnnHqQn-26M79VgcEMDDxFQqTvTtHb-o4Tk9du3PSfrplghGWQAAAziM4kuiKsyKiViwGpKP6bZRBxYA/s400/Books+are+magic+mirror+box.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The box is titled "Books are Magic"</td></tr>
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This box measures about 9 inches tall. I'm a little concerned about shipping, but I installed layers of thin, dense foam around the inside panels and usually have good luck shipping glass. </div>
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And I made a Red Queen for Autumn</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604161.post-35650184796459614112013-09-13T10:24:00.000-07:002013-09-13T10:34:19.860-07:00More About Holes<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGA9wvGswrs2rR23yya0bc4jHeoa4BHxILnoRTnAVADyYU5kMxD9FHEkvIRV4hCJdCi6J9t3pWk7JU3jsGLpzJBYNPcZIXFFeKoCYuv-5MAnTi0Cm_yXZvpSOsAnNxKbeCQ-kFg/s1600/sketch+in+the+hole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGA9wvGswrs2rR23yya0bc4jHeoa4BHxILnoRTnAVADyYU5kMxD9FHEkvIRV4hCJdCi6J9t3pWk7JU3jsGLpzJBYNPcZIXFFeKoCYuv-5MAnTi0Cm_yXZvpSOsAnNxKbeCQ-kFg/s320/sketch+in+the+hole.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The hole. I started calling it that sometime in the blurry past. Somewhere back there, I remember learning that was Nora's word for it. Nora is my friend I rarely see anymore. I have a few of those. It happens.<br />
The hole. Right. Found one, fell in. It was a long, slow fall. In fact, I was already falling when I realized what was going on. Before that was a clusterfuck of migranes, with a toothache between. Even that seems blurry now. <br />
<br />
But not summer. No, summer is as clear as a bell. No. Not like a bell. And not clear. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgUmkoRs_OvBhbZQXXPgvPIuQkjDuBpMu_GS6QCrjLP1BwTwp-HxVSRyfOXvwvLhVAAK_ZzMsMDvu9OrVgY87r1RFw7uHDNj-TmHcxdCo_AK6xxlKMeF0NUXze3f1C5tXr0e_8SA/s1600/Lisa+Snellings+Strange+Light+Cover+(4)+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgUmkoRs_OvBhbZQXXPgvPIuQkjDuBpMu_GS6QCrjLP1BwTwp-HxVSRyfOXvwvLhVAAK_ZzMsMDvu9OrVgY87r1RFw7uHDNj-TmHcxdCo_AK6xxlKMeF0NUXze3f1C5tXr0e_8SA/s320/Lisa+Snellings+Strange+Light+Cover+(4)+copy.jpg" width="219" /></a>More like a siren through smoke. A squeal of tires on asphalt. A train bearing down. The desert summer is always harsh, but this is an ugly heat, it locks us indoors as sure as a snowstorm but doesn't feel like nature. This isn't the desert I know. This heat feels WRONG. <br />
<br />
Too much bad news and suffering among humans. Too many oblivious, selfish dumbfucks. Sometimes I'm one of them.<br />
<br />
I can't look at the sky. It begins to look like a ceiling. It presses down. My heartbeat - if I looked at my chest, I might see it just so faintly. I don't look. I've seen it before. In my head, it's cartoony - a heart shape pounding against my shirt, stretching it to breaking. My skin prickles, my hands sweat, the floor tilts. <br />
Then I hear it, in the wind or the whooshing pattern of a fan or the dishwasher's rhythm. "Wake up human. Wake up. Wake up human wake up. wakeup human wakeup human wakeuphuman. It's late it's late itslate itslateitslateitslate. <br />
<br />
I don't look at the sky because it <em>is</em> a ceiling. I squint my eyes and look.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwdjocKGwIQJcxNALTT5G0at_b3Ry1hx6_WeOmIXf9zVJ6jgfjMSAXTRhcu8p3qC_x5dkwGqE3b2lxKpTsXQOgziaFg1MYU7cpYDqyw6F-EB4maRLWIUUj5jNSwGWdrXoEEEMWg/s1600/low+res+mock+up.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwdjocKGwIQJcxNALTT5G0at_b3Ry1hx6_WeOmIXf9zVJ6jgfjMSAXTRhcu8p3qC_x5dkwGqE3b2lxKpTsXQOgziaFg1MYU7cpYDqyw6F-EB4maRLWIUUj5jNSwGWdrXoEEEMWg/s200/low+res+mock+up.JPG" width="141" /></a>Ohhhhhhh. Un-see that.<br />
<em> I can do this.</em><br />
I close my eyes and breathe. I know what to do. I have SKILLS. <br />
<em>Breathe. C'mon, girl, breathe.</em><br />
All is quiet.<br />
<br />
There. There, it's over.<br />
there its over<br />
there its over<br />
there is no ver<br />
there is no door<br />
There is no door.<br />
There is No Door.<br />
<em>The sky is a ceiling and there is no door.</em><br />
<br />
Aw, shit.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5B8Gu9CcCdBmgFLcOStxA2g5pQbBuSdeXvugi24BtnA0zgkd-W6f7SjeeDAdhac5o20LQy_BfEByKOFcFLxDHWqyMQG5fqnymab6uTWN5sjgT3DxlLtdrJ6ZwU_Mkt2E28oX3pw/s1600/FAlling+(571x800)+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5B8Gu9CcCdBmgFLcOStxA2g5pQbBuSdeXvugi24BtnA0zgkd-W6f7SjeeDAdhac5o20LQy_BfEByKOFcFLxDHWqyMQG5fqnymab6uTWN5sjgT3DxlLtdrJ6ZwU_Mkt2E28oX3pw/s400/FAlling+(571x800)+copy.jpg" width="275" /></a> And I'm falling. Falling, falling, falling. <br />
It's not so much that darkness closes in. It's not so much a darkness descending. <br />
It's more like the light receding.<br />
I'm falling. Damn. And I forgot my tiny umbrella.<br />
<br />
It's awfully quiet in here. And so dark. Outside are monsters.<br />
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<br />
I could sleep all day. Outside are dragons.<br />
Everything I love is out there too. And not in here. And I could sleep all day.<br />
<br />
Possibly we fall into these holes simply because we lean over and look into them. There are dark places, probably best avoided, but then, never looking in seems too much like denial.<br />
It's not the one thing that gets me, usually. I can take the tragic news story, financial struggles, relationship stress or illness. The anxiety. It's the one-two punch - the combinations - that leave me feeling vulnerable, powerless and useless.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0A1vRwlxq9feXVtBXc7-qhi0ygkPRz6zlfCfMdUFQ_arSKxR6BpIeOwEM8muDamNYifejHrAgWAfdFAg0XwZiCGFpw7qiq8hhl0clWCe-ZebaXtFNBrpvje3oXCIkilmpstrtnA/s1600/No+Hole+for+Poppet+-+watercolored+for+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0A1vRwlxq9feXVtBXc7-qhi0ygkPRz6zlfCfMdUFQ_arSKxR6BpIeOwEM8muDamNYifejHrAgWAfdFAg0XwZiCGFpw7qiq8hhl0clWCe-ZebaXtFNBrpvje3oXCIkilmpstrtnA/s320/No+Hole+for+Poppet+-+watercolored+for+blog.jpg" width="249" /></a></div>
Most times I avoid holes. I work stuff out in the work. But this time I couldn't work. Couldn't write. Couldn't hold on. So I fell. Thankfully, I had support and understanding at home. And a gentle doctor still trying to convince me I'll always need Chemicals for Better Living. Otherwise - and it has been otherwise before - I'd have stayed a lot longer.<br />
It gets awfully comfortable down there where we can just give up.<br />
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<br />
You are not alone, fellow traveler. And neither am I. <br />
We all fall down.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604161.post-85385415045617014632013-08-06T11:04:00.001-07:002013-08-06T11:07:08.467-07:00Gloom needs Grey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
I've begun to make October poppets. It's a practical thing in that it gives collectors time to plan. I have to think about what I spend my money on and plan ahead. I get that, wholly.<br />
But it's also a thing of the spirit. I've said time and again that this desert summer is hard on me. I start to dread it in April and it never lets me down. This year was no exception and even harder. The air got so hot that I couldn't save my little garden, even with shade and water. The brutal desert summer. Yes, I'm still in it and it won't begin to cool until late September (if then.) <br />
But at least I can now imagine relief coming and my October work leads to October thoughts, which are like a cool blanket of comfort against the oppressive heat.<br />
<br />
I want clouds! I want rain and grey and gloom! Because against a steel sky, an idea shines like a bright yellow balloon. You see, it's not that I have anything against the sun. I have something against too much sun. Like too much of anything,(rain or snow) it can have us begging for relief. <br />
Humans need change.<br />
<br />
And those of us who feel sadness or fear don't feel so alone in grey as we do in an over bright place filled with leather skinned tourists in pastels.<br />
<br />
The summer sun. That stone I talked about last time that for me has become permanently linked with my worry about the environment. I mentioned that sometimes I wake with this fear. Sometimes I take it to bed with me.<br />
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<br />
Coping with our fears isn't easy. You're probably sick of hearing me say I'm writing a book about it. I'm sort of sick of saying it too. I want to get the thing done! But the truth is that this is easier said than done and I chip away at it as I can, trying not to let the frustration of no-time-after-the-day-job make me give up.<br />
But that's another issue.<br />
<br />
I told you that when I wake up with these fears - fear for the planet, for us silly humans, fear of aging and dying - I talk myself down, make a plan for the day and focus on that. <br />
And on other people. Something to do and love. <br />
<br />
What do you do? When you're down, when you get discouraged, depressed or anxious. What are your very best coping tools? This is a good time to share. Let's help each other out.<br />
<br />
What works for you? No answer is too silly. I promise. There are those who read here that could use the help and friendship right about now. (Those who write here too.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604161.post-39536301941992427472013-08-04T10:18:00.001-07:002013-08-04T10:18:08.042-07:00The Stone in the Desert
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJgSIZvx27sMUKwFK7pta5TG96xxQhjuuABzvaY-VR07Ya-hiDHOgLUXtoUithoikb4t776S41iVt7JWGs_00BOy4VLPivZTWCH-RRtQRTE8uU4IBLNTwZtkFG1kHdbMd_vm38A/s1600/Desk+in+sepia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJgSIZvx27sMUKwFK7pta5TG96xxQhjuuABzvaY-VR07Ya-hiDHOgLUXtoUithoikb4t776S41iVt7JWGs_00BOy4VLPivZTWCH-RRtQRTE8uU4IBLNTwZtkFG1kHdbMd_vm38A/s400/Desk+in+sepia.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I wake with a stone of fear in my
gut. It's a familiar stone. <em> Hello stone</em>, I think. It doesn't
answer. The stone is a metaphor. But the fear is real enough and
I'm not happy at its return. I don't know what time it is, but I can
tell by the light it's earlier than my 9am Sunday alarm. I haven't
moved yet.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I take a quick inventory of what
hurts. My jaw, mostly. But not too bad. Four hundred, so far,
saved for the cure that costs nearly two thousand. I can live with
that most days. Once in awhile it will keep me in bed until I can
get to the dentist with every 'extra' dollar I can earn from now
until then.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Today seems to be one of the days I
can live with it. That's good. There's a cat at my feet. I can
feel it, but I can't tell which one. It makes its fuzzy way to lick
my face. Hello Soosi. And there's still a cat at my feet. That
would be Shoni. These two work as a team.
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
As soon as I get up, others will come
running and for five minutes or so I'll be busy opening cans and
wondering stupidly once again at how I ended up with this herd. Then
I'll make coffee and start on the list I made last night of stuff to
do. Poppets that must be sculpted, or painted or packed. School
paperwork for Orion's new year. Notes on judging a podcast
competition. Something to do is good. Takes my mind off the stone.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I open the back door to let a cat out
(and another in) and hot air rushes in. I get a quick glimpse at my
failed garden. This year, the shades didn't save it. Once the air
gets to a certain temperature it eats everything. And the soil bakes
the roots. Maybe if I'd spent more time... but there wasn't any to
spend.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Maybe I'll try again in fall. But
likely not, because this is the year we focus on leaving the desert.
And that means simplifying.
</div>
The stone. I know it so well. The
fear has been with me since I can remember. I seem to have always
had this sense that things were going horribly wrong with the world.
I managed to distract myself most of the time – mostly with trying
to make good art, but sometimes with screwing up my own life and
cleaning up the messes.
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So finally, it seems I've at least
learned not to make new messes. There's that, but I've also learned
that this desert has become toxic to me. The heat is too much. I
can't help but think that eventually it will be inescapable. And the
wealth. Too much here. So much blind materialism. So much vanity.
I want to be with people like me. By like me I mean well-meaning
idiots, more interested in learning than acquiring.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I want to be with other kids who see
the monster. Or at least I want not to be surrounded by aggressive
denial. Where are they? I don't know. There may be others here in
the desert but I can't find them. I'm too blinded by the heat. And
the bling. And dentists with leather couches and marble counters who
won't take half now and half later.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In the meantime, there's only one way
to deal with the stone: </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Things To Do and Love for Others.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I don't know which one this entry
is. Possibly both. Possibly neither. But I do want you to know I'm
thinking of you. I thought it might be worthwhile to let you know
what's going on with me.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Tell me what's going on with you. Are
you afraid sometimes? Do you have a sense that humans are on the
brink of royally screwing themselves? Are you hopeful? Busy with
your own dental issues?
</div>
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</div>
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I haven't forgotten you. Things have
changed since I was writing here every day. I've never fully
recovered from Ye Olde Great Recession. So I spend a whole lot more
time working and, unfortunately less time writing, even though I've
begun to figure a few things out.</div>
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</div>
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I'm still here, being your artist.
And wondering how you're getting on </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Out There.</div>
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</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604161.post-34602895700503854822013-07-12T10:15:00.001-07:002013-07-12T10:15:24.616-07:00Signal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKH8WLbrtxrKBmz2M3Q3KyTm-FUpFZat0_89Wd-YjzdT7k23T2z6vmbKmD5SAbAhH5ApZEmy2qydXTmiQWFPXmUTOcE7c4ipqYqPLfxImcH8qGsKlu87ueyVAlMyIs1aog4ThQXw/s1600/Lisa+Snellings+Signal+at+Dusk+2+(558x800)+(558x800).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKH8WLbrtxrKBmz2M3Q3KyTm-FUpFZat0_89Wd-YjzdT7k23T2z6vmbKmD5SAbAhH5ApZEmy2qydXTmiQWFPXmUTOcE7c4ipqYqPLfxImcH8qGsKlu87ueyVAlMyIs1aog4ThQXw/s1600/Lisa+Snellings+Signal+at+Dusk+2+(558x800)+(558x800).jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Summer in the desert is hard on me. This year is no exception. True enough, I'm your classic introvert, so long stretches of quiet time at home suit me. It's different though, when it's too hot to go outside and the light is blinding and the air is oven hot. Yesterday was thick with dark clouds. Even though it was humid, it was cool enough for Pete, Orion and me to get out for a bit to plunder some thrift stores and get ice cream. We found a few treasures and butter pecan ice cream is always good for a lift.<br />
<br />
I made this image by photographing a small poppet sculpture against a painted background and softening up the edges with photoshop. It makes me think of other creatives 'out there' working in relative isolation. It's not a bad thing at all that technology allows us to signal to each other. Sometimes that's all I need. I'll know when it's not and I'll head out somewhere to dream and conspire with others like me. <br />
<br />
This is my choice, to be what some refer to as 'self-contained.' Most of the time it works fine.<br />
It might be your choice too, or you may find yourself isolated for the moment by circumstances.<br />
Either way, this is me signaling to you that I'm here and I know you're there. I hope you find a bit of inspiration today.<br />
<br />
Sometimes, that's enough.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604161.post-35488364554434969372013-06-19T23:52:00.001-07:002013-06-19T23:52:19.026-07:00Pick my Brain, please<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJKI5-AwgccICkVUjQFpkNgeiQpkRq3W7R2a9Thj3y4YAuF1kUKBFAAvNa2V3o_OOaz5ZNAcR6cLGGRkJoz6Xi3bTF6glMQ0n9zwld48s5LM2xwSat8oJDmxu3obGglFWFWpGZQ/s1600/Mushroom+Clown+with+text+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJKI5-AwgccICkVUjQFpkNgeiQpkRq3W7R2a9Thj3y4YAuF1kUKBFAAvNa2V3o_OOaz5ZNAcR6cLGGRkJoz6Xi3bTF6glMQ0n9zwld48s5LM2xwSat8oJDmxu3obGglFWFWpGZQ/s320/Mushroom+Clown+with+text+(2).jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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It's been weeks and weeks of head-down, focused hard work in the studio. Not the painting room, but the dirty, dusty, messy room where casting, carving and sanding take place. And not the "difficult" work of metaphor or story lines but the "hard" work of chemistry and physical labor. Because that's a lot of what being a sculptor is. Chemistry and physical labor. <br />
<br />
And it's been good. Mostly.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHu9sqUP72Ys6swD6lFZZEIUAD-mesZD-6Luk-O4bWPMSi_6MsHkfvpaZ-kyKit97To_iFuzBAWxrDPYT8OdosK1PyVWXm4CgzBBO8Bv8HJDcXjlYOZjvQSZnQGPKGH_r7ZYYbg/s1600/Bibbit+Pet+Jimmy+Scratch+Mini+Print.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHu9sqUP72Ys6swD6lFZZEIUAD-mesZD-6Luk-O4bWPMSi_6MsHkfvpaZ-kyKit97To_iFuzBAWxrDPYT8OdosK1PyVWXm4CgzBBO8Bv8HJDcXjlYOZjvQSZnQGPKGH_r7ZYYbg/s320/Bibbit+Pet+Jimmy+Scratch+Mini+Print.jpg" width="320" /></a> My hands don't look great but my mind is clear. I've told you before that sometimes this job doesn't seem like a job at all. Sometimes this job is a couple of hours of thinking while floating on a raft in the pool. But other times this job is a thirteen-hour day in my own personal sweat shop, doing repetitive labor.<br />
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But oh how, after all these years, I am an expert at what I do. On all sides. From conception to execution to managing to marketing.<br />
And everything in between.<br />
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And no, I haven't been here. I think sometimes, that I've already said everything I had to say on this blog. Other times, I think whatever I have to say will be better said in some other format - like books.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKq1d1Kp-zQHrabTMn75lm3cU6WYB5uRAB5WQyEWiSsOv-jH_1kZr1MQwIswYKU9YFgAZwuZLtQljeyFzodMuFA8UIXKE5P9EHywZAcylVwF__wxhj67Z-YyDY0Y78e_0dIyk-A/s1600/Poppet+of+Steel+watercolor+finish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKq1d1Kp-zQHrabTMn75lm3cU6WYB5uRAB5WQyEWiSsOv-jH_1kZr1MQwIswYKU9YFgAZwuZLtQljeyFzodMuFA8UIXKE5P9EHywZAcylVwF__wxhj67Z-YyDY0Y78e_0dIyk-A/s320/Poppet+of+Steel+watercolor+finish.jpg" width="320" /></a>Mostly I don't think that much about it. When I have something to say, I put up a blurb on FaceBook and have done with it. Because it's easy and fast. There's immediate gratification of "likes" and comments.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQoR0r5DGcNyKrJj1vvgzc79RgYL1yxiSOedPweWZ82Mv9hkplT6Sv8WR7-WgRiFngdw6Qrlq6aavKimGT9aLH0sx66AK0_-XMU0K-gar4Ivffn-f8uZ8kLKWur4bOhz7adipFA/s1600/Cinderella+Scare+Crow+Mini+Print.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQoR0r5DGcNyKrJj1vvgzc79RgYL1yxiSOedPweWZ82Mv9hkplT6Sv8WR7-WgRiFngdw6Qrlq6aavKimGT9aLH0sx66AK0_-XMU0K-gar4Ivffn-f8uZ8kLKWur4bOhz7adipFA/s320/Cinderella+Scare+Crow+Mini+Print.jpg" width="204" /></a><br />
It's not the same as writing here. It's sort of like the difference between reading a book and reading an electronic version of a book on Kindle.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPDjLHnp8QnZzqBSVuUGSZy7Nn9X2V3TcIYb5LnfLyO_akZY5gF5hQ9ENlXljksMijThXMcT0QPAV_yy6dTj6RQ0K8ldmSkWT3e3S0qMR5sEMrqcnNRn2SBPWbJDEVeMEyoox8-Q/s1600/La+Catrinas+Bella+copy+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPDjLHnp8QnZzqBSVuUGSZy7Nn9X2V3TcIYb5LnfLyO_akZY5gF5hQ9ENlXljksMijThXMcT0QPAV_yy6dTj6RQ0K8ldmSkWT3e3S0qMR5sEMrqcnNRn2SBPWbJDEVeMEyoox8-Q/s320/La+Catrinas+Bella+copy+(2).jpg" width="240" /></a>The satisfaction of reading a paper book and writing here is deeper. Somehow.<br />
<br />
So yes. I'm a well of information on the limited subject of being a sculptor, being an artist, making a living at it and managing to find inspiration to keep it all going.<br />
<br />
I can tell you how to avoid air bubbles in a mold, how to pull an idea out of thin air, how to cope with depression, how to skin a catfish or grow squash. How to create a profit and loss statement. How to sell prints at a convention.<br />
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I'm coming up on 25 years. Twenty five. Of making art and making a living at it. Of finding meaning in it. <br />
<br />
Ask me something. How can I help you? I want to, if I can.<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604161.post-29814125473502046252013-05-15T20:29:00.000-07:002013-05-15T20:29:04.768-07:00SurfaceTwo weeks sick. Ten days in the proverbial hole. Ten.<br />
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Now the sun has come and the artist has climbed back to the surface. Just in time for a change of scenery before the heat really sets in.<br />
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It lives. I meant, me.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGuD-eMN0Pt2tr2VIa-0yEYovba2iGjU5oDP2j9CVFpac1J2T2T2XYLZEQSMULoyVC6_Cx_PGghSfBS1yRl2e_cnV_AHJA0-vpM5Yu_-YkQcpG98RsrEAuNMgSZZqQPLPt-1bX_w/s1600/Day+of+The+Dead+Little+Table+1+(585x800).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGuD-eMN0Pt2tr2VIa-0yEYovba2iGjU5oDP2j9CVFpac1J2T2T2XYLZEQSMULoyVC6_Cx_PGghSfBS1yRl2e_cnV_AHJA0-vpM5Yu_-YkQcpG98RsrEAuNMgSZZqQPLPt-1bX_w/s640/Day+of+The+Dead+Little+Table+1+(585x800).jpg" width="468" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604161.post-15176027157588318072013-04-19T08:39:00.000-07:002013-04-19T08:40:34.035-07:00Tonight's Little TableThis is tonight's Little Table. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje7UzXW0nY8pi6BAajUzs4UYlFe4DZvN5cm7E2UPteuVc4U_IOtbVM1caZkzuGbdZsRHI8mfupEA2vo1s56hoim54bDYCAoDYhMN2pUacMcqw3hDQFD0KkaNR30KBehk0ODTJ9Og/s1600/Tonight's+little+table+April+18+(600x800).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje7UzXW0nY8pi6BAajUzs4UYlFe4DZvN5cm7E2UPteuVc4U_IOtbVM1caZkzuGbdZsRHI8mfupEA2vo1s56hoim54bDYCAoDYhMN2pUacMcqw3hDQFD0KkaNR30KBehk0ODTJ9Og/s320/Tonight's+little+table+April+18+(600x800).jpg" width="240" /></a>I'm not at it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcqnHkb6BXJS94Kg9SLNfw8BrBpOv2roNy8ppfd8w9eeZ4PwqFRyAbovl7A-Ba49krgvfXZFlzXwkKx2E56K_Fd0nIiNJaKhYI6_BHePEPpVZZ9_s78dGunhv1P7-XY0rd2co_A/s1600/tonights+little+table+with+hint+of+ball+(600x800).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcqnHkb6BXJS94Kg9SLNfw8BrBpOv2roNy8ppfd8w9eeZ4PwqFRyAbovl7A-Ba49krgvfXZFlzXwkKx2E56K_Fd0nIiNJaKhYI6_BHePEPpVZZ9_s78dGunhv1P7-XY0rd2co_A/s320/tonights+little+table+with+hint+of+ball+(600x800).jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
I'm having some silliness<br />
with Orion.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdHk2pePJZZCt8aKcwLy_T29TDhG8PhibRe_Vm2kOKkdfXK8EhtGmDBQ4EwPE2y3aYYzpB6PG9SE7moHAxMfsH1O_CO567zlpiFucN_NEkbf-Fd-LqqXdleaF2lJpM777rtXbfsQ/s1600/Tonight's+LIttle+table+with+ball+(600x800).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdHk2pePJZZCt8aKcwLy_T29TDhG8PhibRe_Vm2kOKkdfXK8EhtGmDBQ4EwPE2y3aYYzpB6PG9SE7moHAxMfsH1O_CO567zlpiFucN_NEkbf-Fd-LqqXdleaF2lJpM777rtXbfsQ/s320/Tonight's+LIttle+table+with+ball+(600x800).jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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A good way to spend some unplug time when we can't swim. Orion has a cold and it's been windy for days on end. The punch ball isn't heavy enough to break anything. We are, but we try not to get too out of hand. The object of the game is to cooperatively keep the ball in play and off the ground for as long as possible. Just as in the pool. We call this game "Laws of Physics," because they do apply and can surprise us. Chaos factor, you know.</div>
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Tonight, there's an added feature. This is an old house with lots of rough edges on the ceiling. We play knowing that it's only a matter of time before the ball meets one. </div>
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Mostly we play for the laughing.</div>
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Now Pete and Orion have gone to pick up Chinese food and I'm saving photos for Aubrey.</div>
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And as I look at these happy photos, I'm haunted by images of</div>
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smiling people in the news, who are now gone. Children. I can't truly imagine the loss. I don't have the courage to try.</div>
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Or to embrace the anger that will follow.</div>
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And I'm haunted (as always) by the other times I've been sickened by violence. Each incident brings with it the horror of all the ones before.</div>
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These memories are strung together like beads. Some of mine are quite vintage. My earliest was made as I sat in my Little Red Rocking Chair. I see this memory in black and white because mostly what I recall is pictures on the screen. Terrifying pictures of war and mass graves.</div>
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These things happen and they tear away any sense of peace or well-being. Gradually, we gather those comforts back around us. Until the next time.</div>
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We are the lucky ones - myself and you, reading here. We have time between the violence to regroup and forget a little. Many others don't. They live with violence daily. And the victims don't, or their families.</div>
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How then, can I be part of the solution? What can I possibly do to help?</div>
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Good question. I don't know the answer. For now, The best I can do to honor those innocents fallen is to live an honorable life. To be informed and to vote. To remember them and to deeply appreciate my own life and family and all that goes with. And to make art. To be one more person doing what she loves.</div>
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Still, tonight the anxiety creeps in at the edges. I glance at the time. How long have they been gone? I resist these feelings. I get moving. I start some laundry, tidy up in the den and prepare to enjoy dinner together.</div>
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This weekend I'll catch up with Aubrey, Alison and Phillip, and other family and friends. I'll not hesitate to tell them that I love them. Or you. Because I love you too, fellow traveler.</div>
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I'll gather my peace about me again eventually, but I won't forget. And yes, I fear for humans. That one never goes away.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604161.post-67697456591978668232013-04-14T18:04:00.003-07:002013-04-14T18:04:53.287-07:00Walk the Walk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVrZlbzFuI1prQU0jgKEeu6ofhZiRKjtfdloAobSV2QK6J5dEUQPwCgBqJcqSlLu35iBDpO0kzKHr1ct4yM2AXTSCvhQQJCH9j54hCorglKIuClydswQYYs7I33jz6xFFM8-U-Q/s1600/Lisa+Snellings+with+work+for+Night+Birds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVrZlbzFuI1prQU0jgKEeu6ofhZiRKjtfdloAobSV2QK6J5dEUQPwCgBqJcqSlLu35iBDpO0kzKHr1ct4yM2AXTSCvhQQJCH9j54hCorglKIuClydswQYYs7I33jz6xFFM8-U-Q/s400/Lisa+Snellings+with+work+for+Night+Birds.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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You can't really write something well unless you know it.</div>
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And you can't really know something well until you live it.</div>
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Sometimes you've gotta just get in there.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3