well behaved children of the corn

An elderly lady, who is an old family friend of Mr You’s, gave me a couple of rolls of old transparency films that were taken by her 1st husband in the 1940’s. He was a QC in the war trials in Japan after the 2nd World War. He had lots of photo’s from this time, but apparently he had one very rare one of the Japanese Emperor at the time, Emperor Tojo, whom I’m told it was forbidden to photograph.

I love old photographs, and have a small collection and loads of books. These were a real treat. I didn’t see the Emperor, but there are lots of wonderful photos of their experience in what was obviously a very unfamiliar land.

Taking a holiday in a foreign land (or having a baby I’m told) always reignites the photographer in people. Snapping shots of buildings, shops, merchandise, clothing, food, etc, that are all strange and new to what we know as commonplace.

I remember my sister and I being terrified as young children being surrounded by a busload of snap-happy Japanese tourists. We both had very fair skin and very light blonde hair, not to mention my little sister was the cutest little thing you’ve ever seen. They accosted us (in a friendly excited way) at a lookout and took turns having their photo taken with us. Our Dad had to calm us down and explain why they were so interested in us. (It made sense to us, our Mum would often point out people of other nationalities and say “Look, aren’t they beautiful!”).

I learnt a few things that day. I learnt I could never be a celebrity, and I learnt how lovely it is that different cultures think of one another as beautiful.
I’m aware this isn’t always the case, but it should be.

Anyway, these photos are so interesting. Not only are they a snapshot of another culture and the wonder of someone experiencing it for the first time, but also of a time gone by. There are more to look at here.

robot

My Illustration Friday attempt for "robot".

When I’m stuck on a topic, really stumped for ideas, I ask Mr You for suggestions. This week his robot suggestions included both,
- an arse rowing a boat = row-butt
- and a baby’s bottle filled with fish eggs = roe-bot

As interesting as those ideas are, now seems as good a time as any to reveal the blueprint for my concept robot fish. Don’t ask me why.

We both thought an illustration of Shakira’s awesome robot dance / bellydance combination from her new video clip (the one that goes”Shakira! Shakira! Oh Oh My hips don’t lie”) would be hard to beat. But quite frankly, I’m not sure I’d be able to do that special dance justice.

We love Shakira! We love her in that way that you love a reality TV show that is sooooo bad it crosses from terrible to brilliant. The first time I fell in love with Shakira was while watching her dance in the “Whenever, Where ever” video clip. I loved that soooo much that each time it came on the telly I mimicked all those special moves, and can now perform them on request… should the day ever come. (fact!)

Don’t get me wrong, I think she is beautiful and has the most delicious figure. I prey each night that she is actually making up those songs and dance moves in a cheeky tongue-in-cheek manor. If that was the case, I think she and I could be best friends til we die.

Shakira! Shakira! Shakira!

bags and mags

'Tea Bag' book bag is now on ebay here.

'Autumn Stripe' bag is now also on ebay here.

Eeeeeek. How exciting!!!
Mind you, I'm also a bit nervous to tell you the truth. I'm not worried about parting with them, it's just that strange feeling of not knowing if they'll be going to a "good home" that makes me feel unsettled.

You should have seen me trying to sell my first car, 'Little P' (who's name evolved because of the numberplate, not anything to do with my own flossy-p child spawn). He was a daggy granny car; a golden 1982 Holden Gemini. He would have been labelled a 'bomb' if he hadn't been so well loved by the granny who owned him before us. Honest to God, the granny who sold it to my sister left a tissue box on the back dash, a bag of knitting in the boot, and told us that “'Betsy' likes a full tummy” (or "put fuel in the car you twit" in laymen’s terms). But much like me, the granny obviously felt little ease passing the keys to my then teenaged sister.

My sister passed “Betsy” on to me and Betsy became Little P, aka ‘the golden chariot of fun and adventure’ (said in a gameshow host voice – HEY, I had to make the granny car seem cool okay). Arhhh, good times, good times. Daily water and oil top-ups, long rides without heating or air-con, and not to forget the pungent smell of car exhaust that stayed in your hair for hours after a drive. But there was a great stereo and a giant set of speakers that my sisters dodgy male friends had “given” her and installed, that made up for it all. I loved that car dearly.

The day came when I sold Little P. The teenaged boy with a fistful of banknotes had me concerned. He had a nice face, but his dad let slip that this was his 3rd car after crashing the first 2 while speeding. I chuckled nervously as I mentioned that this was the perfect car for him because it couldn’t manage any speed above 75km/p/h.

The deal was made and they drove away together. The only thought that stopped me crying (worried sick that Little P would end up as scrap metal within months) was the hope that this boy would kit Little P out. I dreamt that one day I’d see him all hotted up, with airbrush flames up the side, white leather interior, fat tyres rimming expensive silver wheels, cruising up the road, preceded by the deep rumble of a fully-sick engine, and a classy trinket of some kind dangling from the rear-vision mirror.

He deserved all that, and more. Onward and upward Little P! Rock on!

spotted

My Illustration Friday attempt for "spotted".

too big to squish

We have a new pet.

He's a stray, he turned up at our house over night and hasn't left yet.
He has long legs, soft dark brown fur, and big shiny eyes.

Oh, and he's about 6 inches wide!

(Any advice on removing a very large spider from inside a house will be highly welcomed. Failing that, I'll also be accepting good pet name suggestions)

tea bag book bag

Yes-sir-ee, on a roll I am. Here's the finished tea bag book bag, (complete with soft flanelette lining and pretty red ribbon).

I'll be putting this on ebay this coming weekend. I'll let you know where and when in case anyone is interested.

striped autumn bag

You won't believe it, I've finally finished something I began! I know I know, this is big.

I present you with my freshly completed "Striped Autumn Bag". Taa daaaa.

And what's more, I'm on a roll. I'm also puting the very very last finishing touches on my long awaited "tea bag" this very evening. I'll post photo's in the next day or so.

Now I have to decide what to do next; ebay? Try out etsy? Mind you I have grown quite attached to this bag and may have trouble parting with it.