Some Very, Very New Lisa Work and A Very Very Short Story

Inorganic

Flight Risk

All the Days We Didn't

and

Brave New Soup

For which Greg Carere has written a short, short piece you can read on The Two Minutes Project.

Tomorrow we're taking a day off. It was ridiculously hot, then cold and rainy and now we're walking around in our bikinis and sarongs.

On Tuesday, more work will be listed in the Poppet Store. I'm awaiting a package from Neil the Gaiman containing a dead Queen, a jar of honey and whatever other bits he sends me to put together into something entirely weird for the CBLDF.
We are nearly officially bugged out and intend to stay buggy for the rest of the week, possibly the summer.

Now it's Sunday evening and Orion and I have plans to watch Bee Movie

Bug Out, Pete rants and HDR rocks

OK. So, kick me. Yes, we are behind getting the pieces up in the store.

Or don't kick me, because your artist is working hard on lots of things.

Really hard. And last night, I needed to put some stuff into my brain, instead of pulling stuff out of it.

It happens.


I got some good shots of Pete doing his comedy gig at the Red Barn. It's good for me, to not be the one on stage, to be the one in the wings, holding the water and camera and supporting someone else. He did pretty well, actually. The strongest opening I've seen so far for his act. Comedy is a tough gig. Go Pete!

Then LA band HDR rocked. I'll admit, I was immediately crushed out on bassist Amy Tung and took tons of photos of her.

After it was late night fare at, where else, California's classic In and Out.

Then sleep.

It's Saturday now. I have studio work this afternoon---we're working on some solar options for upcoming kinetic pieces.

But I promised to put new Buggy work in the store. I'll be putting things up, probably all week, because we have a lot of new stuff.

I'll have some of it in the store by tonight, I promise.

recreation

I've just completed another 12+ hour studio day. Yesterday, the high outside was around 115, I haven't heard for today, but it was windy and mostly like standing in front of a giant blow dryer. I'm dirty, my eyes are irritated, my feet are dry and cracked and my brain says "No" and "uh-uh" and "lalalalalalalalala."

It's a short list I want now, which has nothing to do with working on it and starts with a shower and good music.

hope you have a good night too...

Triple digits, Bugging Out and Summer Drag

It's here. And we're not ready, shade-wise, and I'm not ready, head-wise. I've been completely immersed in projects and Pete's been working like a fiend, gig after gig after gig. So we've been eeking through household stuff, calling each other on the phone to keep in touch. The canopies I bought are still lying in boxes outside, in the blistering sun.



Angie seems to feel pretty much as I do, but she plows on, getting the studio organized and helping me keep focus, making better coffee than me And Alison, infected not with our desert summer but with the "June gloom" murkiness that hovers over the coast this time of year. But she's working too, designing packaging for our future gift poppets and creating our database.







Ben takes it all in stride, as usual. Just look at him. Sheesh. He says he's never had a bad dream in his life. Sometimes he needs a kick in the shin. He is busily finishing up his turn at three different collaborative pieces. In the next few days, he'll hand them off to me, for my contribution.


They're like brainling children, these collaborations. Possibly that's why long-time collaborators begin to seem very much like family.


We'll be having a sale beginning on May 23. In honor of our summer-dread-madness, we're calling it BUG OUT. There will be lots of bugs. The Poppet studio will be somewhat quiet this summer while we make other things, but there will be a selection of Poppets always in the eBay store, and a few spontaneous one of a kind Poppets here and there.



Otherwise, we will work on projects, hide in the dark and in the water.




I got this great shot of Orion before he realized I was pointing the camera at him. Lately, when he sees the camera he either runs or makes a silly face.







I recognize this camera -avoidance phase. Aubrey is still in it.

So the heat is on. Not the crushing depression---just the nod of recognition it so unerringly demands.

Its the work that keeps us sane. And the closer look, (which is bigger inside than out.)
Except when it doesn't. Then we must flee for a reset.


Have a great weekend.

Chipping Wisdom 2.0

Today I had a(nother) dental appt. Afterward I drove Pete to a gig in Indian Wells. Driving back, I listened to reports of the devastation and sad loss of life after the quake in China, reminded again that the filter created by distance has gone. Technology has brought every event into the here and now--makes us more aware of ourselves as members of the human family. At the break I switched to some Pink Floyd, and at the precise moment the music started, the numbness in my jaw fled suddenly and this fresh pain put bright edges around everything.

By the time I got home I was genuinely bummed out. So I settled in at the computer to work at minute image details for a project, feeling more and more overwhelmed as my mind wandered off to other projects---and the deadline trailing behind each. I remind myself to employ chipping wisdom when I'd rather curl up and sleep off this gloom.

It's sort of working.

I'm working on a number of projects, with a number of collaborators. The projects are each very different from the other, as are the collaborators. I send bits of ideas or images to them and they send bits back and once in a while that feels a lot like solving a jigsaw puzzle with a best buddy on a rainy Saturday afternoon.

That's pretty okay.

Grapefruit and How to Kill an Idea

This afternoon found me eating a grapefruit over the sink, trying to decide how to fend off this latest idea assault.

It's the second of the day, the first occuring at about 5:50 am.

It's that time of year again. Orion and I are swimming in earnest. In another week the water will've warmed enough for everyone else.

As always, with the change of season, the vision imp arrives, this year like the lion's roar.

So I'm there with my grapefruit slices, leaning over the sink because I don't want the comittment of a plate.

A plate means I'm stopping to eat.

Not happening today. Instead I'm deciding whether to put this one in 'the notebook' while the previous one is burned into Memorex.

So, here's the thing--writing an idea down can lead to its death.

I have only loose theories about why, but I have experiences.

Many ideas should, without a doubt, be written down. But some should not.

Herein lies the choice.

If this particular vision is the latter sort of idea, it won't survive being put on paper. Like Dorian Grey in reverse, the ink is archival but the vision will fade into oblivion.

By the time I clear my grapefruit carnage, wash my sticky fingers, I've decided not to write this one. Instead, I toss it into the mental soup. I likely won't be able to recall it intact later , but it's in there, like some sort of strange DNA. It will stew there with other bits, waiting for the right sort of spark, then POOF! it combines with other bits and something new emerges.

When it works right, the something new is yes, more than the sum of its parts.

It is Bigger Inside Than Out.

That is, when it works that way. At least some of the time, it does.

We pays our money and we takes our chances.

sun day, wind day, most nearly perfect

Sunday afternoon in the park.

We're here to video and photograph Spencer Anderson and the skateboard he converted for 'land sailing.' We find ourselves distracted by our surroundings.

The mountains are a bit hazy still. Possibly left from the fires just on the other side of the range.

This day, this afternoon, is the avatar of tranquility, beauty, nature and civilization.

Elsewhere, (and elsewhen) things are very, very different. This classic icon, this Sunday Afternoon in the Park doesn't exist in a vacuum.

Instead it lives between much sadness and uncertainty, rare and fragile. We take a moment to appreciate it for what it is.

Mimi Ko and I, with our cameras and without our shoes, capture a bit of it to share.

Three amigos--Zoya and Max and

Orion.

Kiril and Orion wait for wind, prepare to run behind Spencer as he sails by. Later the footage will be used to create an animated segment for a Poppet-y video to be shown at VCon.

Spencer explains a bit about the physics and principles of land sailing.

He hopes to get others interested. After seeing him in motion, I'm thinking it might be a matter of getting the word out.

It is an extremely cool concept.

Today's work was a sort of practice run, to get a feel for what we're up against.

I'm seeing we're in for some work, and some fun.

I'll keep you posted.

Oh---and of course, none of this human activity is ever lost on our little watchers.

Have a good Tuesday. Take your shoes off.

Shake and Bake. Again.

Well, there you go. We've got fires to the west of us. We're in no danger, thankfully, but we can smell and see the smoke and ash blowing in the wind. And tonight, while I was giving Orion a bath, the house got a good rattle. Aubrey came out of her room.
"Earthquake?"
"You bet."
"You're going to check your email now, I guess."
"Yup."
"Mom, you're such a geek."
"Indeed."
"Beachfront property. Any day now."

And, faithful as ever, a computer-generated Caltech Seismology Dept shake map was in my inbox, showing a 4.2 about 27 miles south.

The winds have been wicked all day. I took Orion to the park in the afternoon and the kids ducked and covered for blowing sand several times.

Then there were the devastating storms in Virginia this week. Now a bit of CNN ought to put me right in the mood to hide under the covers with my Poppets.


Funny how it doesn't quite work that way. Seems the more aware I become of the uncertainty and sadness the world is, the more I appreciate every good thing
here and now.

Create, live, play, learn.
But for now, sleep.

Take care out there, all of you, but don't forget the occasional joyful abandon. Find something that resonates and go hog-wild.

g'night

RockPaperScissors

Eventually, Orion will discover that RockPaperScissors is a social tool, to be employed when decisions need to be made, generally about who's going for food, but occasionally for much more important delegation. For now, he likes a good round just for the fun of it. Me too. Today we discovered that it's even more fun...underwater.

Summer Hell is just around the corner. We've begun putting shades up. Every year when we put up shades I think of future Aubrey and Orion, talking about how we put up shades in the beginning, more each year, to try to cool the area around the house, before everyone began leaving the desert, before everything changed.

Clearly I read too much science fiction for my own good.

I've not quite fallen off the face of the planet, but I have been mostly invisible, holed up trying to make progress on a number of large-ish collaborative projects that all sort of reached the point of being 'in my court' at once.

Electric Velocipede, with its very Poppet cover, is now available for purchase HERE. It will premier at Wiscon, and is an all-girl issue.

Tomorrow I'll take a break from projects. I can't promise I'll not think about them. When the work is good, it's really good and I just can't help myself. But I'll try. I'll let friends and family know I'm still around. I'll catch up on Reaper and Lost and eat some cheese or something.

But I won't go out much. Because my mind is full of the work.

I'm kicking myself for not going to see Roger Waters at Coachella Music Festival last weekend. There was a giant pig (the pig) balloon and a WWII plane dropping glitter.

I'm an idiot. Pete worked the concert, hung out with the bass player from Flogging Molly.

Did I mention I'm an idiot? I heard Sia was excellent as well.

I read about the storms in Virginia. I haven't seen much news---writing and making art can be a lot like hiding sometimes. It's warm and dry and windy here, sand blowing everywhere and palm trees bending. There's a fire somewhere in the east. I haven't checked into that yet either.

So, for now, mostly just lots and lots of work, paper to my rock, scissor to my paper, rock to my scissor.

And sometimes a bit of swimming.

Warm weather buggin

Remember that thing I said about operating on the edge of failure? I'm living that one as I type this. I'm still deep into work on several projects, a couple of which are a bit beyond anything I've done before.
And stretch, and stretch and one and two....

It's a workout, difficult and satisfying.


Still, in between, the studio buzzes along. We're deep into spring now, with summer hell around the corner. Last night I listened to Pete listing reasons to move out of the desert. Among them were:

"Ow, I burned my butt on the carseat."
"Ow, I burned my hand on the shopping cart."
"Ow, I can't have a dog."
"Ow, I looked at the sky."
"Ow, my shoes are melting."
and so on.

Summers here are tough. Springs here are beautiful, with the dread of summer.
So we decided that about mid to late May we'll have a "Bug Out" sale in the honor of bees (live and dead) in the studio, summer outside and the general state of mind of your artist.
Buggy.
But here's the thing---when the work is good, everything is good. Summer dread or not.

Orion and I are still swimming in our rubber suits. It's another one of those mental challenges, to force oneself to jump into cold water.

The little old man was flying his kite yesterday. I met a man who picks up his son from school every day on a skateboard. He uses a pole, gondolier-style. I asked him yesterday if I could photograph them, and he said yes.

Quick note about ebay: Rebecca (Jordan's Mom) brought to my attention that spammers are contacting some of my collectors with offers of 'second chance offers.' If you get one, it's bogus. I don't do second chance offers. If something doesn't sell, it goes into the store or to a convention or a family member claims it for his/her own.

If you do get one, let me know so I can follow up. Evil, evil spammers!

Ok. I'm off to work on projects, some Poppet and some not.


Have a great Friday

Mostly about books

I've had a great week working with Larry Niven on Strange Light. It's a mental workout on many levels, and a joyful eater of notebooks, pens and hours.

In addition, I finished the cover for the May edition of Electric Velocipede, an all-female edition that can be pre-ordered here. I've read some of the stories. Definitely worth getting. And, on the cover, Poppets!


Indeed, I built a set using a much-appreciated puzzle panel and yes, I set it on fire to create this image.

Such trickery. Such fun. It felt like play, but for the deadline and other deadlines that happened to converge this week.

This seems to be happening more often. Probably not a bad thing. Likely I need to be reminded occasionally that this stuff I do is a real job. You'd think I'd get that, given the hours I work. I don't, until I have to work hours when I don't want to work. This month has been particularly grueling. Luckily I have Pete, and now Angie, to help me remember to eat, make it to my dental appointments and not walk off cliffs.

Because when I do things that feel like play, I tend to forget things I shouldn't.

Oh yes, the dental appointments. And pain aplenty. I'm looking on the bright side of this one (ouch, even) deciding I'm happy to be at the dentist now, and not then, and that this is the price I pay for living so long. Ok, one more--- Owwwww. Then, in two weeks, more.

I put a few new things into the store. Some Little Pink's (the original 2 inch ones that no one has seen for ages) and some signed(by many authors), numbered limited edition copies of Strange Attraction.

Pete pointed me to this sweet circle of Poppets on Fond of Snape.
I like seeing photos of Poppet collections. It's sort of like working with authors. The work looks different, and more magical, out of the studio and into the worlds of others.

That's about it for now.
g'night

You need a brain and hands to fly a kite

Several times now, on the way to pick Orion up from school, I've seen a little old man in the street with a kite. Every time I've seen him there's been no wind at all. Maybe he's strange. Maybe he's a bit off, possibly he's insane, judging by the intensity of his effort. Yesterday, there he was again, crazy old fool.

On the other hand,I thought, maybe he's a freaking genius.

Orion and I passed him again on the way home. His kite was soaring!

He grinned with joyful abandon. Everything about him spoke of contentment.

It is what it is what it is.

Today I thought about the difference between hard work and difficult work. I tend to be a productive sort of person and it takes an effort of will sometimes to accept the fact that part of my job is thinking. I don't know exactly where it comes from, but I feel truly productive only if I see concrete results, e.g. a spotless kitchen, a finished sculpture, a deadline met. Lots of people think this way. (Luckily, everyone doesn't.) We try to do too much in a day instead of balancing things out.

My brain feels lost without my hands. My hands must validate my brain?

For me, hard work is finishing and painting 30 Ratbag figurines. Difficult work is sorting out the gearing for a kinetic piece or finding the metaphor that connects two distinct visions, or working out the studio budget for a year.

When I spend a day on difficult work, even when I make marked progress, I must actively resist the temptation to top the day off with a bit of hard work. I must recognize that thinking, doing difficult work, or making long-term decisions is as valid as work I do with my hands.

Possibly I should fly a kite. The answer is as likely there as anywhere else.

Everything is connected in one way or another.

On the above image---I thought the photo begged to be a fake movie poster. Anytime you see an image on this blog that strikes you with an idea, poster away! We had fun on the forums with LOL Poppets. B-movie poppets might be fun too. You can post them there yourself. I can link to them from here.

g'night

Technicalities and Disciplines

Lots of project work going on. This is a good thing for me, pushing limits. I stretch out, working on large scale pieces. This "operating on the narrow edge of failure" is part of the curriculum for artistic growth and possibly as important to my own psyche as salt.

As I write, Orion steadily bounces a balloon against my head. Of course I could tell him to stop, but I don't. I enjoy the challenge (yes, I'm a kid with wrinkles) and, after all, I did interrupt a perfectly good game of throwing balloons at the ceiling fan to get a sudden idea down on paper.

Orion gets it. I get it. I'll be back to balloons in a minute. The older kids have agreed that "Hang On While I Jot Something Down" will be on my gravestone.

I'm fine with that.

Luckily, at this stage in my career, I've met experts in many different fields who are happy to help me in my pursuit of near failure.

I needed to create a tiny star field, so turned to the expertise of astronomical artist Joe Bergeron and used a toothbrush to create near microscopic points of light on black. The first couple of tries produced amazing results, on my glasses. I'll be picking stars out of my hair for days.

But eventually, I got what I wanted.

I'm making good use of the jigsaw panels. I didn't expect to be working on Strange Light as well as Strange Machines, but this is what happens when I hang out with brilliant author types like Larry Niven. We started this thing and now it's rolling along on its own momentum. Nothing to do but roll with it.

In between, Orion and I have tentatively begun swimming again, in our wetsuits. Just in time too. With all this project work, it provides a good balance.

Have a good Thursday.

The Discipline of Getting Brain to Paper

I'm working on keeping a better notebook. I love notebooks, blank journals, sketch books, but I've never been good at sticking with one from start to finish. I tend to scribble like a mad scientist when I'm visualizing. Possibly I'm afraid to let details escape before I can capture them on paper. It's a discipline, I'm learning, to keep a good one. Bent's notebook is beautiful, archival, filled with drawings and the ultra neat notes of a serial killer.




But, I'm gaining on it. I remind myself to slow down, take time to write things out. I've pre-numbered my pages, so I won't be tempted to tear any out. And I've noticed that I'm developing a decent habit of reaching for this notebook---instead of whatever scrap of paper is nearest.


The other part is always knowing where the notebook is.

Anyway, if these things don't work, my next plan is to reach into my 'other' life, when I did keep crazy-meticulous notes, in the laboratory. I found a great place to order lab books (they have great sketch books and project books too.) The Book Factory Their site/service and books are great.

*******
Here's a weird little bit that likely belongs in the Nuts and Bolts Forum. Bent was watching a program on one of the science channels called "Mystery Dinosaur." The paleontologist needed to make a mold of some of the fossils, and instead of building a molding box from wood or paper, he used Lego blocks. They're tight fitting, don't stick to mold rubber and can be configured into any shape he needs. Super-Maker smart!!! We ordered two big base panels (Amazon stores)and a pile of blocks. We'll use one in the studio for molds, the other will be mounted in the wall of Orion's room, so he can build 'sideways.' Let him learn a bit about gravity.

*******

I've been really deep into working on "Strange Machines" and "Strange Light." The machine is moving along nicely---thanks to the puzzle panels! It's going to be all mechanical, no electricity.


And I have the first image for "Strange Light" partially finished.


That said, I'll get the "Strange Roads" signed copies and "Spook" Poppets in the store this weekend. Please forgive me! I've had a great week of studio and geek out, totally immersing myself into book projects.

But today is Saturday, and I promised Orion we'd check out the pool today. We may need wetsuits, or we may brave the cold or we may wait another day. The mercury will decide for us.

Have a great weekend.

Strange Books, Strange Panels, Strange Folk

One of the panels for Strange Machines, and a close detail below so you can get a look at the texture.

Thanks to Holly, Jade, Heather and Jess, it's moving along. Jess's panel didn't make it-- postage from the UK was ridiculous. Still, she sent me this photo of her effort with Poppets and says she'll turn her panel into art. I count that as inspiration.

Book signing at Mission Hills:
Larry Niven! We went to lunch, where the food was terrible. Really. But the conversation was great. By the last half hour, we had the seed of a story idea for Strange Light and are continuing our discussion through emails.

ok. Here this woman walks up to Peter and does a little dance and says "Guess who I am!" She turned out to be a good friend he went to college with, but our expressions seem to ask for explanation. Otherwise you'd make crazy stuff up, or just assume we look goofy for no reason.

It was great spending time with Peter. I'll put the signed copies with "Spook" Poppets in the store tomorrow. And we've made some extra "Spook" Poppets for the people who've already ordered books.

Here I just look goofy for no reason. Sometimes my eyes look slightly crossed in photos. Probably because sometimes my eyes are slightly crossed.

This is Greg Ketter, of DreamHaven Books, publisher of Strange Birds, Strange Roads.

Off to the studio I go...

Give a Man a Fish....Teach a Man to Fish

Swiffer Wet Jet kicks ass. It zips right over these white (yes...sheesh) tile floors.

I could do the same job with a damp terry cloth under the mop, and a spray bottle of cleaner. But the Swiffer, at the touch of a button, squirts cleaner in just the right spot with a little mechanical rrrrrrreeeeeeeeennnnnkkk! that never ceases to delight me. This is what I'm spending battery power for.

Here's the thing I wonder. I've fast forwarded through as many Swiffer commercials as the next person. I've never seen one that even mentions the one thing that truly makes Swiffer unique---that it cleans your floors without using a drop of water from your faucet.

Not a drop.

Now. Why, do you think, doesn't Procter and Gamble mention this fact?

After all (desert dweller here) it's sort of a big thing.

I'm guessing--- maybe P and G don't mention cleaning floors without water because most women's (c'mon. it just is.) perceptions of clean involves water, and lots of it.

For instance, "Surface Clean Only" on a child's fabric-covered toy will stop me from purchasing it. Mostly a toddler will first saturate a fabric toy in drool, then proceed to suction germs from deep within, possibly even pulling germs from other universes.

Surface, Schmerface.

(Alright. Hard surfaces are different. But humans tend to like to wash things in water.)

Already a lot of commonly fabric items have been replaced by paper, e.g. dinner napkins. They're more convenient and for restaurants, cheaper than washing fabric.

One day we Earthlings may have to rethink both fabric and paper because of lack of water.

Recycling takes loads of water. So do most manufacturing processes. What alternatives to paper and fabric, ones that don't require a lot of water to make, exist?

I wonder how much water is used to manufacture the Swiffer cleaning pads we throw away. Or what chemicals Swiffer cleaning pads leach into the groundwater. Or how long it takes one to disappear.

But then, there's the water-less cleaning.

Remember the sand showers in Tank Girl? I shudder. You know how much I love being underwater. I don't even like to think about it. Still...things change.

Possibly P &G is indeed concerned with water conservation. Perhaps the Swiffer's water saving nature is a secret. Perhaps they believe the average consumer's resistance to change would keep them from using the Swiffer, so the water wouldn't be conserved.

Nah. But even if that were the case, wouldn't it be more beneficial to change perceptions?

Which is more beneficial? Saving the water? Or avoiding the pads and batteries?

Rrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeennnnnkkkkk!

Ow. My brain.

*******

Meet Poppet Planet's Contributor Poppet.

It's not for sale. The only way to get one is to contribute something (for instance, at the moment, puzzle panels, or a P. O. T. t-shirt design, ) It comes with a little certificate of authenticity and a great deal of thanks. There will mostly always be projects going on. Your artist has a very large list and only two hands.

Tomorrow. Mission Hills Paperback Book Show. I'll take a camera. And a Poppet.

g'night

Uncensored Comedy and Poppet Planet Wants YOU!

[Title Expunged]: A Night of Uncensored Comedy

Join NCAC for an evening of flagrantly free speech on Wednesday, April 16 in New York City. See a raucous performance by the comedians of Laughing Liberally inspired by the First Amendment issues and controversies that NCAC works on each day. Stick around afterward to drink liberally and speak freely with the staff and supporters of NCAC.
When?
Wednesday, April 16th @ 7:30 p.m.
Where?
The Tank, 279 Church Street — between Franklin & White, below Canal
How much?
$5 discounted tickets for NCAC friends: BUY tickets online, or use discount code word "BRUCE" (in honor of the patron saint of free speech & comedy) if you're buying tickets at the door.
The evening's program will feature comedians Harry Terjanian, Katie Halper, Lee Camp, Jamie Kilstein, and Roger Weaver. Watch video online of Laughing Liberally, whose performance The New York Times called "A bruising battle in the take-no-prisoners war for American's ideological soul."
**********

If you happen to be in the area and can attend and if you happen to take your Poppet and if you happen to get a P.O.T. image, I'll very happily happen to send you a Collaborator Poppet, or a ? Everything Poppet. Or some other Poppet you've been wishing for.

******

Poppet Planet Wants YOU!

We need some sort of Poppets on Tour T shirt and Poppets on Tour cards. Last night we were wandering around downtown Palm Springs and I thought of how much easier it would be to ask someone to pose with a Poppet if I were able to hand the subject a card (or bookmark) and/or was wearing an "official" Poppets On Tour t shirt.

Possibly you've thought of this before. Possibly you even have a great design in mind. Possibly you'd like to take this to the forums and work on it with others. It's worth doing! We'll supply you with any image files you'd need. If we get lots of great designs, we'll use more than one!

Anyone interested in creating a design for this should email ravyn@poppetplanet.com

The P. O. T. designer(s) will get a free T shirt, Collaborator Poppet and of course, credit for the design.

And we'll all benefit, because the next time we ask someone to pose with a Poppet, we'll look official instead of....well, you know.

Off to the studio....

Be Kind, Rewind

If you like the work of Michel Gondry, you'll probably like Be Kind Rewind.

If you love the work of Michel Gondry, you'll likely love Be Kind Rewind.

I've read both positive and negative reviews of the movie---mostly the negatives were that this one lacks the darker edge of most of Gondry's work.

The people in this house generally love Gondry (including Orion, who loves his music videos.)

None of the previews I've seen for this movie provide the slightest clue as to what it's really like or even about. That makes me think the people who are unfamiliar with Gondry's work but would really appreciate it might miss this one. That would be too bad.

On leaving the theater, Pete described it best by saying, "Wow, a movie made by someone who actually loves movies." ditto

I'm hoping our own Carl A. will see Be Kind Rewind and review it on his Stainless Steel Droppings. (see links list, stage right)

It's not playing widely. We caught it here at the Cinemas Palme D'Or in Palm Desert, where the seats are a bit old and not so comfy as newer theaters. Nevertheless, without Palme D'Or, this desert would be a black hole for film and we'd be driving to Ontario. They consistently show films we can't find anywhere else in town. Thank you Palme D'Or!

*****

Today it was very warm. We'll be swimming again soon. The studio is very busy but with new and improved scheduling, I'm spending more time on projects and larger works. I should have some new things to show in the quite near.

****

I got a postcard in the mail today. I have jury duty. On April Fools Day. Already my inner dialogue is sharpening its sticks.

****

Angie tends to leave a light on for Poppets, who now all live in 'the cave' until time for shipping. Tonight I actually hesitated before turning them off. What do all those little guys do there in the dark?

****

g'night

Sunday Signing

I'll be signing copies of "Strange Roads" with Peter Beagle at the Paperback Book Show at Mission Hills on Sunday. If you're planning to be there, come by the DreamHaven booth and see me. I'll be happy to sign whatever other books of mine you bring as well.

We're making some special "Strange Roads" Poppets in the studio this week. There will be some signed copies of Strange Roads in a set with a SR Poppet and bookmark available in the store soon. I'll let you know when they're up.

We're busy bees. Not busy with bees, but that's 'on the list' for soon.

Thanks to those who've sent puzzles!!! I'll be sending out 'collaborator' poppets to you next week. We only need a few more, so if you're going to send in a puzzle, you might want to do so sooner than later.

Have a good Tuesday. This is Tuesday, right?

Here we go again.

Some days I zoom along.

Some days I don't.

Today was one of those days spent mostly tripping over my own feet.

But I at least managed to get some masks photographed and into the store.

sheesh.

I've been working on a lecture for VCon (I'll post exact dates and info as soon as I get them) in October. It applies the Drake Equation to creative ideas (instead of to the probability of intelligent life on other planets)

I mention it because today reminded me that the reason I can write about being one's own worst enemy with such authority is that I've played the part so often.

Sometimes there is little intelligent life on planet Lisa.

Ow. I learn. I learn. I learn.

Sleep...and tomorrow. Tomorrow I try again.

g'night

Bad News, Good Poppets

Just added Little Pierrot Poppet to the Poppet store (see link top right corner) along with other spring-inspired Poppets.

Pierrot is an open edition. It's been awhile since I designed any harlequin poppets.

Dunno why.

But, here he is. I'll be making a number of different masks for him.

He tells me he really likes masks.

****

Did you catch the interview with archaeologist Brian Fagan on last night's Daily Show? He talks about his new book, which is an account of the last period of global warming.

There were brilliantly funny segments on the economy as well.

Bad news all around. No wonder Poppets like masks.

Suddenly, I'm very thirsty.

Sheesh.

Agape Kitty, Happy St. Paddy's Day

Today we celebrate St. Patrick's Day. I can appreciate St. Patrick well enough, but I'm not Irish and I'm not religious. Still, I love the spirit of the holiday---no gifts, no guilt, just mostly enjoying family and friends---yes, and spirits too.

But mostly, when I think of St. Patrick's Day, I think of our own St. Paddy, who was such a big part of our lives and who is still deeply missed.

After Paddy died, we got Gurtie. And Gurtie and I never had the same relationship I shared with Paddy.

I loved Paddy. I wrote I do not love my cat.

How was I to define the love for Gurtie? It was certainly not the love I felt for my family and friends, it wasn't the love I felt for Paddy. I began to appreciate that the Greeks had several words for love;Eros, Agape, Philia, Storge. But none quite fit this queer co-dependence between Gurtie and me.

Eventually, with work, I began to understand my obligation to Gurtie. It became my goal to teach myself to love this persnickety, grumpy, delicate-stomached animal, nothing at all like Paddy, who seemed to listen and even understand.

Finally, I began to see that it didn't matter at all what I called my relationship with her. The truth is, it wasn't at all about feelings, but rather about actions. Love was a verb. Not a thing I felt, but a thing I performed.

And I taught myself to perform it well.

Today I saw Gurtie sitting in the sun. The light was perfect and I grabbed my camera. As I looked at her through the lens I realized, I love my cat. Paddy would be so pleased.

Happy St. Patrick's Day, Paddy.

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all of you too.

G'night

Palm Springs Wind and Sun call for Makers

Mimi Ko sent some photos from her February visit. Thought you'd like them too.

I often wonder, given the extremes of wind and sun here, why Palm Springs hasn't become a veritable Mecca of Making for solar and wind powered inventors. Near-alien conditions can exist here-- it's Tatooine, begging for energy and innovation, creative architecture and kinetic art. Doesn't anyone around here do something besides shopping and golf?

Of course, someone must.....please find me.

I'd think, honestly, that the same people who'd be such innovators would be drawn to the clear night skies, perfect for star viewing, or the mountains and clean air. True, it's hellish in summer, but then, there's the challenge, right? If we can make it here (cool it, wet it, power it, grow it, create it) we can make it anywhere.

Like the song says.

It's on my list, yes, THE LIST, to send an invitation via Make magazine and others. Surely all the Makers aren't in the Bay Area or upstate NY?

****

Thanks for all the emails for puzzles! Our ISP has been in and out for the past few days now, i.e., in for five minutes, out for five hours, so if I haven't answered you, I will soon.

****

I did see a van with a SUNPOWER (the "O" looks like a sun)decal and it looks like there's a small solar company moved into a new office complex on Gene Autry Trail. I'll check into those.

We have a crop of new Poppets for spring. I'll get them up and into the store as soon as possible, as internet connection luck holds. We're told it may likely be wind-related.

--Makers to the rescue! Please?

Poppets will work for Puzzles; Lisa steps off the Wheel

Where'd I go? I stepped off the wheel for a bit. Sometimes the studio feels like a strange machine, and I feel like the hamster.

So many little parts to make up the whole. I found myself approaching burnout, starting to succumb to the bug Orion had last week. So I made a wise decision to back off. Let other people handle some things, let the rest wait. Don't let me fool you into thinking I'm wise. I missed the wall by about three inches this time.

I spent some time thinking. It's easy to get caught up in the doing, isn't it? And forget about the thinking---that the thinking is the heart of what is to be done.

Because off the wheel is how the difficult work gets done, and the big decisions get made.

I'm going to spend a few days in my head and with my notebook, working out Strange Machines.

On that (Strange Machines) note:

If you enjoy working jigsaw puzzles, or know someone who does, I'm in need of several puzzles, all put together and glued, approximately 18" x 24". If you're interested, please email to lisa@poppetplanet.com. Poppets will show up to thank you (and move in.)

Next time you feel yourself approaching burnout, stop. You think you can't, but you must. Your brain loves you. Love it back.

g'night

Who Remodels on a Friday?

I suppose that would be me. Ravyn and I are updating the blog format. You may have noticed.

Please bear with us for a little while, as things change and shift about before your very eyes.

Don't worry. We're all over it.

I think.

Dove good? Capital One evil? weigh in

The studio gets an awful lot of junk mail, but yesterday we got a real 'winner' from Capital One. Generally, this sort of mail goes directly into the round file, but this one felt squishy, like there was some sort of sample inside, so I passed it to Ben. The 'prize' inside was a small rectangle of bubble wrap.

sheesh. What a dirty trick.

The late Bill Hicks, in his onstage act, would sometimes ask if there were any marketing people in the audience and invite them to go ahead and kill themselves. I don't go there, but I get his point. I believe really good marketing for a good product is an art form. If you've never thought much about it (likely if you're reading this blog you have) check out the work of past CLIO winners.

Obviously Capital One wanted to increase the odds of someone reading their ads by first enticing them to open the envelope. Not a terrible idea. But I can think of a dozen things they could've put in the envelope that would've been funny, or useful, or both, leaving me appreciative and more willing to read the info inside.

I will never again open a Capital One envelope. I don't care if it buzzes or whistles or smells like mint. They blew it. The letter is from Pat L. Wright, Director of Small Business Solutions. I plan to contact Pat L. Wright at http://www.mycapitalonecard.com/ Whomever is responsible for this bubble wrap trick should be fired.

Now, on the other hand, this made me think about who is advertising well. The first company that comes to mind is Dove. I've mentioned Dove before. I don't know if the Dove Campaign for Beauty was started just to sell products or to change minds. (Logically, it would be both.) I don't care, because the result is that they are indeed changing minds.
Here is "Onslaught" retrieved from the Dove website:




I'm off to make art. Should I make a Dove Poppet to support their Self Esteem program? I'm open to suggestions. As always, thanks for being here.

New Poppet Collaborations

...with Ravyn

Monday's Washing, with BENT

Quick address. Ok, not so quick.

This month I'm donating 10% of sales of Shamrock and Alien mask Poppets to support Norml, one of the organizations I donate to regularly, which also includes the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, National Coalition Against Censorship and Desert Aids Project.

I've received only one complaint so far, and that one was polite and honest and I appreciate it. It also tells me it might not be a terrible idea to address it here. After all, I generally write pretty frankly about things on this blog, and I invite you to do the same.
I can and do donate privately to a number of organizations, but I chose these particular ones for the auctions because they represent issues that are cloudy to most people and by supporting them here, I invite people to do what Poppets do, which is to 'take a closer look.'

I don't read a lot of comics. It's not that I don't appreciate them, but you can't do everything, and I never got into comics. I did other things. Still, I support the rights of comic creators to have freedom to create. I don't like everything I see in the media, but I think the responsibility for content is on the creators and viewing the responsibility of adult viewers. I'm not gay but I believe people should be free to chose partners as they wish. I don't advocate drug use (including alcohol) but believe that adults should have the power to make their choices. (If you think marijuana prohibition is about marijuana, please do some research.)

This is an ongoing quandry for me, whether to separate my art from the source of my art (my beliefs). It's one of the issues that keeps me up at night. It begs me to define who I am, what my goals are, what my art is, and what my audience wants. These are not easy questions.

As with other 'either/or' issues, I'm thinking the right answer lives somewhere in the middle. It's a matter of balance. Until I find it, Poppets will keep being both adorable and creepy, funny and sad. My demons will play with paddle balls and dead things will talk. And Poppets will keep looking at the world around them and asking questions, questions, questions.

Because that's what I do. I ask questions, questions and more questions. And I encourage others to ask too. Because understanding begins there.

"Stumbling toward the light" still fits me, after all these years. And light is complex, made of many colors, and is perfect. I may never find it fully, but the journey, for me is noble and exciting and gives my life meaning. Therefore, protecting my right (and yours) to explore is a responsibility I take very seriously.

Those are my thoughts. Please tell me yours. I truly want to know.


Now, the Poppet Planet crew (and Orion) are headed out for Chinese food. When we return, fun with bees. Neil's bees. I'm going to make a little weird thing for him (yes, I'll show you) and something for, you guessed it, CBLDF.

have a great Monday.