Here We Go...

Play With Toys doesn't officially begin until tomorrow, but I've already begun to put auctions up if you want an early look.

Today has been cold and rainy all day. No school tomorrow, YAY! The pool looks forlorn, but Orion and I toasted marshmallows in the fireplace. It's cozy inside...

but not so great for taking photographs,

so

tomorrow I'll put up more auctions and very likely more on Sunday, including a BRAND NEW RATBAG RAT and even some HATS for your favorite Neil Rat.

And yes, even more Poppets.

In answer to the comment from Gerald Perry: I think you're referring to the kinetic sculpture called "No Refunds, No Returns," which is part of the Dark Caravan series. The series resides currently at a private residence in VA, but will be installed next year in the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland.

---time for apple cider. I think there may be some snow on the mountains.

Happy Winter--ish!

Sometimes Poppets Wear Green

We won't see snow on the ground here in the desert, but maybe on the mountains soon. It's at least nippy enough for sweaters and to light the fireplace mornings and evenings.

I thought these little evergreen poppets might bring me a touch of the weather I'm missing. And they did! I gave them just a touch of snow.


Outside, there's fragrant smoke from other chimneys and the oranges are beginning to be, well, orange.

The Original Dancer, revisited.

This original sculpture is called "Love Be Nimble, Luck Be Quick." It's largish and kinetic (electrical) and lives in a niche in the stairwell at Neil Gaiman's house. It has lived in the niche for a long time now and may even be a bit dusty. But Neil tells me it still works creepily and that its story lives somewhere in his head.

Play With Toys will offer the first few releases of a limited edition of the original yellow jester from the sculpture. It's very much like the original jester, poor thing, that must eternally evade the lustful Frog, who attempts to snag him with an umbrella.

The edition includes the wire and cobalt cat's eye bead hanger-- a very small edition of fifty numbered sculptures.

We're putting in lots of hours, drinking lots of hot tea and yes, having some fun.

Wow. "Play With Toys" begins in a couple of days.

Surely we had fun. The days of November simply vanished.

It's like time travel.

Self-Explanatory

Bigger Inside than Out, Thankfully

I woke at 6:40 in a fluttery sort of panic, wondering why my alarm hadn't gone off and why I was sleeping in Orion's room. Then I remembered that there's no school today and that I'd come in when Orion had a nightmare.

I fell asleep again to dream about a clean city full of lights that reflected and refracted off wet buildings and huge drops of falling rain. Orion and I glided down broad empty avenues in joyful abandon, banking turns like surfers on boards, two Bandicoots racing through a world in my head, temporary and colorful as a soap bubble.

When I awoke again, it was to discover the mild cold of yesterday had grown mighty and invaded my chest which now seemed full of lead. I tried to locate a part of my body that didn't hurt. My hair, I think.

Cold medications, a long hot shower and tea with honey and lemon from a neighbor's tree will make me human enough to function. Because today is a day for gathering with loved ones, feasting, and remembering things that are good.

Of which there are many. Among them, for me, the certainty that we humans are larger inside than out. We have the ability to create worlds and change this one. That and the hope that one day we will move past our human infirmaries and our fears of one another and CLICK! All those lights will illuminate at once and we then will fly.

I wish you all a safe and very happy Thanksgiving weekend.

Poppets Like to Play

Yes. We are having fun.






Deslily has created a waving poppet on her blog and other photos. Her Poppet (named Kester) also encounters Gandalf. That one cracked me up. Thanks Deslily!






The studio is bustling with activity, the household is bustling with activity. We find ourselves in the season where days begin early and end late. Where parents hand off information like relay batons, dividing to conquer tasks and searching out holes in schedules to spend moments together. It's difficult work, but leaves us feeling alive and purposeful.


In my head, I'm forever finding ways to distill concepts into simple representations. Of course I am. My work is just that and it follows that I'd think that way. Hmm. Or did I think that way first and the work followed?


no matter


For instance, yesterday Orion brought me a seemingly impossibly tangled Slinky to fix. Truly it looked like a lost cause, but I managed it. (hint--requires concentration and patience)


In my mind , a person who can untangle a Slinky without damaging it will likely be able to manage a business successfully.

On the other hand, a few weeks ago he brought me one of those little parachute toys with the strings seemingly impossibly tangled.

Without a second thought, I cut the strings off and put new ones on.


Possibly it's not only the ability to untangle the Slinky. Possibly it's also knowing when to untangle and when to start over.

I'll think on it.

But now, it's time for coffee and sculpting.

Autumn's Monarchy and Poppets that Smell

Good.

...that smell good.

Poppets that smell good. Like Pumpkin Pie---or at least Autumny and Pumpkiny and maybe a little Poppety.

Anyway. They are nice on tables---we like them as place markers for really special dinners, nice in warm spots but mostly, we like them because we can't stop picking them up and smelling them.

Something about humans sniffing their Poppets is funny, and weird....but mostly sort of happy.

And weird.

Anyway, we've already made some available, so you can look weird too.

Oh, and the King and Queen stopped by too. Yes, we are beginning to have fun.

Mad and Grumpy Elves

Today, after forgetting for the third time what I'd gone to the shelves for, it dawned on me that I've been working Angie's hours with her, Ben's hours with him and my own.

sheesh
I am quite achy, and apparently, becoming, ahem, somewhat grumpy.


Tomorrow I plan to read, watch a DVD with Pete (Daywatch--no spoilers please) and play some games with Orion. Maybe I'll play with some clay while reacquainting myself with a certain sofa.

Sometimes working at home is a very good thing.


Still, the studio is bustling with new work. Ben and I are very happy to have Angie join us.

We have been three mad elves, making.

Though the nights are cool with dark starry skies, the weather is too warm for fall. The time change from the totally nonsensical 'daylight saving' summer hours adds it's own bit of chaos.
It's not a thing like time travel.

But none of that has slowed the madly making. It will be interesting indeed to see what comes about when the temps drop and we can work with the doors open.

******
I thought you might enjoy the work of Sue Boehme. I do. I have a small piece of her work that's a clay sculpture from what must be a very strange garden. I hope to have more in the future.




























***



Also, I am remembering to thank Ravyn for designing the bookmark given as part of the RIP Challenge.










Now, time to recharge.

g'night

Art and Comets

Today was a wonderfully productive day in the studio, spent doing work both challenging and satisfying.
In other words, we had way too much fun.

Tonight Pete and I took a look at the Holmes Comet. You can see more about it at Dr. Sky.

There is no substitute for looking into the night sky.

None whatsoever.

g'night

November 1

I like this photo of the door. When I first saw it, I got the impression of peering into some surreal daytime landscape in the distance.

Hope you had a good Halloween.

We did, though there was little time for decorating. I truly missed building something huge and knarly this year, but don't regret focusing my efforts into the work for Poppet Planet.

So...

While Two Dads took Orion and Sophia for Tricks or Treats, I ( having managed to wrench my knee) spent an unusually quiet evening with my feet up, reading in a house of jack o lanterns, ghouls and rats.

And thinking about new things to make. It seems I'll be able to now, because I've selected my assistant and after her first two days of working, I can already see more studio time for myself.

This is a very good thing.

So, between reading (a bit of Stephen King, a bit of a new and odd story in progress by Mr. Gaiman) I thought of new things to make and projects to finish up.

It's November 1. Poppet Planet is spinning happily on its axis.

Time to stretch my wings, I think.

It's November 1. Coffee is ready.

Here we go...

Now you see it, Now you don't.

Yesterday the sky blazed with pinks and oranges, the sort of desert sky that only appears in the fall.



These spectacular orchestrations of moisture and light are impromptu performances, quick and viewed only by those diligent enough, or lucky enough to catch them.



In fact, as Orion learned, a sky full of colored light can vanish as though by a magician's trick, leaving a sense of wonder with a touch of loss.
Next time the sky blazes, he may watch more intently, waiting for the disappearing that he now knows comes next.


I was, not diligent, but lucky enough to capture Orion's experience on camera.

I feel a little like an intruder, and you might too. But how often, really, do we get such a close look at a moment of learning? Orion, thank you.

Today is Halloween. It's a good day, with jack o' lanterns blazing through the house. Tonight will be for Tricks or Treats and playing in the dark.

Then tomorrow it will be gone. Just like that.

Still it leaves us full in Autumn, the season lots of us love best, with moments both bright and dark for us to wonder at.

Happy Halloween. Happy Autumn.

Smoke, Evil Beagle and Da Bounce

Already this morning the fires were on our minds. We begin our days with the news, hoping for improvement, sad for the damage already done. By midday we could see the smoke moving over the mountains and by four thirty, when I took this shot from our back yard, it brought us the somber reality of loss.

The LA County Public Health site used a photo I posted here last year, of other fires.

You can see an update of the fires and containment status on Google Earth.

Peter Beagle, it appears, got his dose of Vitamin Evil during Vcon last week.

Thanks to Rubius for this photo.

Strange Roads will be available in January. I've read the three stories. You won't believe where Peter has taken Poppets.

Or possibly, where Poppets took Peter.

Either way, wow. I'm both honored and delighted he went there. I look forward to sending you down those very strange roads indeed.

On the home front:

I like this bit of baby action best when I hear little Logan in my head...I don't like it.I don't like it.I don't like it.

But then, I know he does.

And, finally,

The Poppetzez haz lef the buildin'.

Whew! If you're expecting some, they're on the way.

G'night

Thank you

Packages will be shipped out every day for the rest of the week. Poppets and other creatures head out in many directions, seeking new homes, adventures and friends.

If you've ordered something and are wondering where it is, it's very likely on its way. If you have any questions, you can reach me at the harlikn7@aol.com address.

Thanks to all of you for your comments and reception of the Halloween season creations. We had way too much fun.

On Friday Orion and I swam in very cold water. I'd tell you the temp, but I really don't want to know because I suspect if I did, I wouldn't get back in. It was fun, and funny and really cleaned and scrubbed all the rooms in my head. It's sort of like swimming in summer. It just takes longer to get in and out of our suits and instead of checking for prune fingers, I check for blue lips.

It was too windy for swimming today and, unfortunately, perfectly windy enough for fires. It's that time of year again. Fire season in SoCal. Things are not so good in Malibu.

Tomorrow is for dusting off giant eyeballs and other things for putting in our front yard.

Shadows and Light

Orion was assigned a presentation about shadows.

So, we played in the dark, talked about light and how photographs are made.

He left for school with a photograph and new information pinging around in his head.

Soon enough he'll put it aside, then later on, he'll connect it to other information, constructing, piece by piece, his map of how things are.

*****

Today I received new stories from Peter Beagle, written around art images I sent him. I was both surprised and delighted at how he interpreted the art and where he went.

Strange Roads indeed.


*****

I'm reading bits of Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book, looking forward to more bits. Later I may envy you, wishing I could read it again, for the first time.

***

Orion and I won the Gran Prix of Mario Kart today. He in first place and I in second.

We rode in the parade. We danced...for real.

***

The Freedom From Religion Foundation has erected its first billboard in Madison, Wisconsin. If you live comfortably near Madison and have a Poppet and send me a Poppets On Tour photo of your Poppet with the billboard I will happily send you another poppet of the color of your choice.

No kidding!

*****

And a few days ago Derek Ash sent me two new Halloween poems. They are cool and sort of...poppety.

***

Today was the first day of a shipping marathon. Poppets are headed out in many directions to all sorts of new adventures.

**

Lots of creativity these days. Lots of making. Shadows and Light.

Poppet Soup, Onithoptors and Love. In the Dark.

Poppet 1 Flyer

We had dinner at Supreme Dragon. We talked about many things, Pete, Bent and me, but eventually, we got around to talking about thestateofthings, as we seem to do.

The stateofthings seems as dark as always, a bit darker in places.

I can't stop noticing the several ridiculously huge fish swimming in the gigantic aquarium a few feet away. It's a tall

aquarium and the fish appear to congregate at the pane nearest our table, turning in near unison to stare our way. I think of how little kids assign sentience to all creatures. I think of fish staring down from a tank in the center of the room at humans who sit at tables, eating fish and discussing thestateofthings.

When I still believed ladybugs mulled things over, I listened to my parents and their friends at dinners, talking about thestateofthings. I couldn't understand what they said, just that they were worried and if they were worried, thestateofthings must be pretty dark. The world was different outside of my back yard. And sometimes darkness was very near indeed.

So I played.

Now it's my turn to worry, think and do what I can about thestateofthings. I know ladybugs don't have brains.

But I still play, mostly in the dark.

Atomic Garden Soup

Kama II

Now We Are Having Fun

During the worst of this summer's oppressive heat, we likened our situation to that of people trapped inside by winter weather. We seemed even to suffer from a sort of cabin fever. Stuck inside, hammered down by the heat.

We are revived now, with cool breezes. Flowers are blooming everywhere. Our fall is sort of like spring. Full of life and energy.

Time for going to the park, watching the stars and of course, playing in the dark.

New pieces up at Play In The Dark:

Mask for Little Pink

Basic Hardware

Ghostly Flyer

Some Guy

Indeed.

Now we are having fun.

Poppets Love Halloween

Trick or Treat!

Finally Poppet Halloween Masks for Play in the Dark.

Can you tell we're having fun?

Play in the Dark or just play.

This is JACKO.

If you haven't looked recently, I've added some new pieces to Play in the Dark. More will go up tomorrow, including some MASKS, so your poppets can dress up for Trick or Treat.

More would've gone up today, but playing needed to be done.

Sometimes Orion and I play in the dark. We tried swimming in the dark once, wearing glow bracelets. The bracelets looked cool, but it was just too creepy swimming in totally black water. We imagined many things and after about ten minutes, got out sort of hastily. Some of the things we imagined followed us right to the door even though we hadn't given them names. Inside, in the bright light of the kitchen,we sighed our relief. We heard them shuffle away, disappointed.

We haven't tried swimming in the dark again.

But tonight, inside, we played a game we invented, sort of accidently. It requires only those crazy eyeglasses with attached nose. We take turns while the other is out of the room and put the glasses on things. The only rule is that they go on something for which wearing glasses would be ridiculous. The only goal is giggles.

It's a good game.

Play.

g'night

Play in the Dark

Well, we have begun to post items for the PLAY IN THE DARK sale.

Halloween season is here.

I'll be adding more pieces tomorrow, and the next day,

and the next day,

and the next day,

and likely the next day too.

and so on.

We made lots of stuff, it seems.

You'll see.

and mostly, HAPPY OCTOBER EVERYONE!

PS: Check out the RIP II Challenge. It's perfect for the season.

Orange? T'is the season.

Oh yes. I did it. I made Orange Poppets.

Summer is over. Yay!

Baby has arrived safely. Yay!

Now?

Your artist is ready for her favorite season of the year. Here comes Autumn. Here comes Halloween.

And, for a little while, Little Orange Poppets.

We are happy.