Month: January 2007

This unassuming little mechanical pencil is a very old pal. I draw with it just about every day. I have had it since 7th grade, which I can assure you was a LONG time ago. It’s a Staedtler, made in Germany, circa 1980. This is officially a well-made product- I also have about 50 other mech pencils that don’t function half as well.

It’s sort of a miracle that haven’t lost it, considering it’s followed me across the globe over the years. Do they still make good stuff like this anymore?? I mean, does anyone? Seems like everything today is designed to break or malfunction. Anyhow, it’s a fun little reminder of being age 12 or 13 and studying mechanical drawing (ew!) in junior high.

You can see my Pencil Pal with his long-time steady companion, The Squishy Eraser. And there, in the background, is The Computer. Three very important tools. Not shown, the equally important Prismacolor Cool Grey 90% colored pencil. I love ’em, and buy ’em by the boxfull.

I have a decent amount of metal lunchboxes- I think they are beautiful, mainly because there seems to have been actual care taken in composing the images that went on them. At the suggestion of my illustratin’ friend Barb, I will post some of them. Today’s box is a Holly Hobbie one from 1981. This is the stuff I grew up with. Thinking about it now, I am sure Holly’s art and the general “colonial revival” that was going on in the 70’s had a lot to do with what I like today, such as my fabric obsession. I noticed recently that there is an interview with the real Holly here. Holly the character has been revived, in both her old/country form and a new, hipper form. Holly the Person looks great, and I hope she keeps making gorgeous books like Toot and Puddle as long as she can!

Well, what do you know- I have actually uploaded an Illustration Friday piece on Friday (barely!). I think that’s a first! I am trying to be looser with line and color, so this is a very off-the-cuff illo. The bunny shown is clearly on the RED team, The Cortland A’s. I would add some kind of pithy football comment now, but I don’t know anything about football. I know it’s not usually played with apples, though. Go Reds!!

Check out the February 07 issue of Highlights High Five magazine!

I did the shoelace-tying art for this feature about the “Shoelace Chipmunk Trick.” This was a tough piece to work on- apparently there are a bunch of ways to successfully tie a shoe; and this was a new way to me (my husband knows yet another, euro-style way)! I had to tie my own shoe at least 50 times to draw it.

I bet it will take the average 5-year-old much less time to learn it (but then, they don’t have to draw it)!

Happy New Year, everyone! I am a bit off my blog lately-been busy not only with the merrymaking, but with the triple whammy of having lots of work and being sick. Come to think of it, that’s what happened last year, too. But it’s a new year now- and I haven’t used a Kleenex all day, so things are looking up! And besides- the Tournament of Roses Parade was on today! Now, I live on the other side of the country, but I have always been obsessed with the parade. This morning, watching it with my girls, I had a flashback. I remembered being around 7 and designing my own “float” for the parade, a big upright dog that I could pull myself (I was a practical kid, I guess). I purposefully designed the float to be of manageable proportions, because my grandmother had a bunch of nice rose bushes in her backyard. I remember asking her if I could use the roses for my float. She was about the sweetest person ever, and somehow found a way of telling me that she would let me have them, but that there probably wouldn’t be enough for a whole float. I accepted that, but still remember thinking that it was somehow possible. Smart lady- somehow she dished out reality while still keeping the possiblities open. Here’s hoping that you all keep those possibilities open this year, too!