-
Illustration Friday: Fragile
Illustration Friday: Fragile
I’m not sure how I’m going to explain this one. I’m not sure I even understand it myself. I thought about illustrating some delicate breakable figurines or some super ornate glass knick knacks… but it just seemed like too much work. I’m a lazy illustrator.
The other interpretation that came quickly to mind is my fragile ego. I’ve thought about this a lot (cause it’s all about me all the time here at SAJ) and I’m not sure how to broach this subject.
All my life people have been nice to me. Oh the Pain! Just kidding.
I’m not sure why though. It’s puzzling. Do I have invisible writing all over my face that says “I can’t take it”? I really don’t want to complain because I think I’d run crying to the hills if anybody started now. But it’s a strange thing. I’ve rarely gotten made fun of or been the target of someone bullying me. Sure there were a couple of times in middle school when the boys made fun of my homemade jumpers and my hopelessly un-cool saddle shoes but I was never really picked on. I don’t remember ever really getting teased by my family either. It’s almost like everybody just knows not to. I think the worst nick name my brother ever called me was “thunder thighs” and he only called me that because it was the meanest thing he could think of in response to me calling him “cupcake”. Sure I’ve always been self conscious about being pear shaped and having thighs of a speed skater but nobody ever calls me a lard ass or fat cow or even makes any comments about maybe I shouldn’t be having that whipped cream on top of my mocha.
I think the reason I’ve never been the butt of jokes is that people just know I can’t take it. Even in this blog I’m blown away by how nice everyone is in the comments. You go to any other blog and people really dish it out. Is it because I’m not the sarcastic type? Is it because I don’t use the f-word? Does that make me a sissy? I don’t know the answer and I don’t know if I could handle the answer if it was given to me. But it does make me think sometimes. I’m thankful that I’ve been protected from the cruelty of the world. I just wonder why I’m so lucky?
So anyway, don’t everybody start insulting me now. But maybe a few zingers now and then I could take.
-
Illustration Friday: Ancient
Illustration Friday: Ancient
I love illustration Friday. It pushes me in ways I never would have gone. Especially on days like today when I want to write about something completely unrelated to the chosen word of the week. So how am I going to tie the word “ancient” into what I really want to talk about? I’m going to push the outer limits of creative writing, that’s how.
I was collecting beach bits for Amanda and I was looking all over my house for something to put them in. Something sweet but durable and definitely mailable. I was all set on making some vellum paper bags and sewing up the sides with a zig zag stitch, when Toby had to muck things up and tell me that my beach bits would be sooooo much better if I put them in jar. He always does this to me. I’m all settled on what I’m going to do and I go into his office to show off my nifty new idea and then he sends me a curve ball criticism that completely throws me off course and makes me doubt everything I did. A jar. A jar. A jar. I searched high and low for a jar that would be suitable. Toby suggested I look in the fridge since that’s where we keep ancient relics that we never think to look for elsewhere. Sure enough there was an ancient jar in the fridge. It was full of ancient Fusano California Valley Olives. They looked like they were a hundred years old. Out went the ancient olives and into a bowl of hot soapy water went the jar so I could soak off the label. And then I went back to my office to wait.
While I waited for the label to soak off I decided to screw Toby’s idea and I made my cute little velum paper bags with a zig zag stitch anyway. I think they turned out pretty cute. So cute that I bet you’re sorry you didn’t ask for one.
And that’s that.
I also celebrated that a couple of stressful jobs finally went to press today and I made a little movie about beach bits for you. (3.79 MB, 2.18 minutes) (actually I made it for Amanda and my niece but you can watch it too)
