Mostly pictures of humans making

If you've been away, visit the previous entry and add your summer experiences. I'd like to know, and I'm fairly certain others would too.

Jack is Back A Brief Look at "Fortune's Teller"

Fortune's Teller is finally leaving us tomorrow. We have scads of photos from along the way. And stories. Remember the sign on the studio door--the one that states "Nothing Can Go Wrong Now?" An absolutely absurd variety of things went wrong with this one. You can't write this stuff.Possibly one day I'll write about it. But not today. I need some time travel to balance my perspective on it. Right now all I want to do it get the thing safely where it's going with no more surprises.

I particularly like the still image of Jack. I'll likely add some text for a t-shirt image for myself. If you like it too, let me know and I'll make some available.

If you don't know who Jack is, you can read about him in Smoke and Mirrors. Fortune's Teller is partially created from the original casting mold for "Don't Ask Jack."



The "Dark Caravan" kinetic carnival began with Jack. It's fitting that the last piece of the carnival features his likeness. It's also fitting that Poppets have infiltrated the carnival, showing up increasingly in the later sculptures.

There are twelve fortunes on the wheel including, Dreams That Wake Hold Warning and A Glimpse Ahead Will Change Your Mind.

This time the wheel stopped at Don't Eat the Dumplings. Sounds silly yes, but I'm pretty sure he means it.

The music is "Sever," by Porcupine Tree on Signify.

Hope you enjoy it. G'night

Talk and Toys

TruthDig Debate: Sam Harris v. Chris Hedges
Tuesday, May 22, 2007 8 p.m.Royce HallUCLA

A Truthdig debate between Sam Harris and Chris Hedges

Moderated by Robert Scheer
For more information and tickets:TruthDig Debate email: author@samharris.org

This looks worth a drive on the TEN to me, especially if Pete's driving, and likely some interesting conversation on the way home.
*****

So much bad news. So much sad news.
Our house is quiet but for the sound of distant gardening and smells of cut flowers and fresh coffee. How tempting it is to hide out in here. But we won't. We watch. We learn. Don't we?

On Dreary Days We Play. That seems to work. On dark days, when all else fails, I can make toys.

This box holds a Little Red Poppet and two masks for her to wear. It reminds me a little of a trunk doll I had when I was a little girl, a little of a ballet box and seems a bit like a Victorian toy.

I like it.

Masks and other costumes seem to be a theme this month. We'll open the gallery again on April 28th with Poppets dressed in costumes from "Through the Looking Glass" and others. There will be a few rats this time too, as I can fit them in.

Mostly we're back to working on the fortune teller, which will be very cool once done, but for now, because of all the delays, is getting to feel like an anvil over our heads. Well, my head. Ben seems unaffected by either headlines or deadlines. Good for him, otherwise he'd be making toys too. Then again, what are the kinetic pieces if not big toys?

At any rate, it's good to be working in the studio again. Now it smells of paint instead of dust, which in my view is better. And if I make only toys for awhile, that's okay too.

There are lots of new topics up on the forums www.poppetplanet.com including some new Poppets on Tour photos on flickr. Thanks Laura!

Supposedly there will be a Poppet Planet party at Balticon. As soon as I have more details, I'll post them here.

My coffee has been drunk. Time to make things.