beetlegrass

Figure Skating with Finger Puppets

 

Went to Plimoth Plantation in Plymouth, MA with a friend yesterday to see the Wampanoag Homesite, the 1627 English Village, the Craft Center, et al. I'll be showing more photos in time for Thanksgiving, but for now, here are  some tasty patterns. The day was cold and bright, with the shadows creating some interesting shapes and patterns of their own.

A shout-out to my local library, from whom I got a pass to the museum at a super-discounted rate.

These images are © Megan E. Jeffery.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Have been working on some finger puppets who "just happen" to have red hair. Since childhood, I've loved the freckle-faced redheaded kids featured in Health-tex magazine ads, and have worked that combo into my own illustrations whenever possible. Since I have a nephew who's a redhead, people think I'm drawing him. To which I say, "Surrrrrrrrre..." And sometimes I am.

So: it was high time I worked red hair & freckles into a 3D form.This first little redheaded dude is going to be my Little Boy Blue stand-in, and here he is with a cornstalk I made using skinny wooden dowels, raffia, clear elastic bands (covered by a wrapping of raffia). I wedged a bit of teacher's tack up inside the teepee shape to keep the sticks open.

I found that a certain kind of weed was perfect for emulating a cornstalk tassel (@ the top). So, yeah, I'm crafting with weeds, and in doing so realized: I used to make stuff with weeds as a kid. Like using those red weeds as "food" because they looked kinda like raspberries. Well, they say "Stick with what you know." And what I know is: weeds.
 
 

His overalls are made from Barbie doll jeans, which I stitched into with a variegated orange embroidery floss. Doing the double-stitching on the straps was quite the challenge. Overall clasps are jump rings.

His hat was from a craft store a billion years ago which I was happy to rediscover amongst my junk. With his hat on, he reminds me of Richard Scarry's Lowly Worm, which ain't so bad.

His shirt is made from skinny vintage bias tape. I had to be fairly inventive with how to use this, because of its skinniness. Hence making it look like he's got rolled up sleeves -- but that's whatcha do when you're working hard in the field -- you roll up your sleeves!

This other guy was going to be another farmer kid, but then I put one of the doll sweaters that my sister knit on him, and the farmer thing went out the window.

When my sister made me a bunch of these sweaters, we both thought that I was going to be using them (exclusively) in the creation of pillows. But now a bunch of puppets (to be shown @ a later date) are all cozy-like in their new pullovers, and I'm reallllllllly digging the results. I stitched into this sweater for a little design interest. Always important.

It's funny, but this puppet is reminding me of a redheaded kid I played kickball with in the third grade. Think I'll name the puppet Kinzler cuz that was the kid's surname. He wanted to take his turn up "at bat" ("at kick"?) before me so that our team could possibly get another run before our last out. He didn't trust that I could get a run, and was pretty clear in his assertion that I was an Automatic Out. I was really looking forward to my turn, so was insistent that we not go out-of-order. And what do you know? I got a home run! If a movie is ever made of my life, I want it to center around that moment.

The concept & design of these puppets and their stories are the property of Megan E. Jeffery.
These images are © Megan E. Jeffery.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

That's how I'll be voting on the Big Questions today.

Moving here meant: different voting booths. In CT, booths are like the one I've illustrated above.
Here, they're tables with a "don't-look-at-my-answer" visor around the desktop, and votes are written on a piece of paper that then gets put in the ballot box. Still seems strange to me. There needs to be curtains and levers for me to feel like I'm actually voting.

My niece bought a "Vote for Nixon" button @ the flea market this past Sunday, so she'll be wearing that to the polls today. "I've been in a coma... who we votin' for?" Heeheehee.

This illustration is copyrighted. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

It's the classic tale of 2 birds, 1 stone.
My friend Dave Lowe tagged me to list 6 random things about myself.
Not sure if this is any different from the "6 Weird Things" list I did, but, hey, I'm playing along.
Since my brain is stuck in neutral re: thinking up new personal things to divulge, AND it's been awhile since I've had a flashback, I thought I'd COMBINE the two and show you a page from my journal from February of 1986. I was 20 years old and in my junior year of college. Which some of you may know better as the Mesozoic Era.

6. Think it's safe to infer from the above list that I like NIGHTTIME.
* BONUS RANDOMOID: I like making lists.*

My thoughts on these things now:

1. Now rain makes me worry, "Uh-oh, what's Mr. Basement doing?" and storms put me on High Alert Tree Watch. Being a homeowner is ruining my love of violent weather!
2. Still holds true.
3. Hey, I do this every nite! Way to fulfill a dream!
4. It's rare that I'm a passenger now. But every so often, just to keep that feeling fresh. I'll keep my left foot on the pedals, and slide on over to the passenger side.
It should be fairly apparent that "having the radio on loud" also = singing loudly.
And maybe badly.
The optimal situation: if it's spring and it's drizzling.
5. Hmmm... haven't done this for a looong time. I don't even know where there is a swingset in this town.
And I don't want to pull a Robert Downey Jr. and help myself to someone's backyard version.

Yesterday at the Seekonk (MA) Speedway Flea Market, got some stuff... didn't post it then cuz there was a Baby Shower @ church (won a door prize for being a word jumble whiz), & it was just 2 HOT to do 'puter things.

This bank, $1, has a combination lock that really works!
So excited by this purchase: the price & the fact that it fits in so well with my various puppet characters. Here, Sal, Vinny "the Fingers" and Fabriczio are up to no good. Again.

The dealer said I could get this for my dad for Father's Day, so I had to tell him about a Father's Day gift I DID get for my dad one year. It was a T-shirt that said "THE NATIONAL BANK OF DAD", and then hung on this was a little sign that read, "Sorry, We're Closed."

Got the above doll clothes for $5.

1. Twin jackets for twin pillows?
2. Looks like a hospital gown...
3. Cute red jacket, kinda felty.
4. Velvet trousers can be hacked up for something.
5. Always wanted to do a pillow called "You're Nothing But a Big Girl's Blouse". My opportunity?
6. Aprons are always welcomed, and I need sox for a current project. Good timing.
7. This blue jumpsuit looks like something Humpty Dumpty should wear.
8. Camou stuff for WIPs. The pants look like froggie legs, which gives me lots of ideas...
9. G.I. Joe's coveralls... a grease monkey pillow? (Ooh, I like that!)
10. Groovy coat. Probably impossible to work with in a cut-down state, but couldn't resist the pull.
11. Looks like something a Heidi character should wear. Or one of the Von Trapp kids.
12. A kimono -- plenty of ways to use this little #.

Got the above Girl Scout items from the same dealer from whom I bought the MINES sign last week. The combination of mine warning signs and a girl scout's no-longer-needed uniforms makes one (me) come to a rather unsettling conclusion.

The dealer wanted $6 for the whole lot, but really all's I wanted was the stuff with the merit badge patches.
I asked him, "Oh, so you're not selling things individually?" He said, "I'll sell them individually, but..."
And I knew what that meant.
The sum of the parts would be > than the whole.
So I bought it all.
He said, "Use what you want. Pass along the things you don't need."

I said, "Yeah, cuz I doubt I'll find any use for ."

(IS THIS THE FIRST BLOG REBUS IN RECORDED HISTORY?)

Day's total: $12.

The concept & design of these puppets and their stories are the property of Megan E. Jeffery.
These images are © Megan E. Jeffery.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

It seems amazing to me that a year has passed since just attending SURTEX® last May to get an idea of what that art licensing trade show was all about; who exhibited; what they exhibited; how they exhibited. Since then, had been working pretty diligently on "stuff" to make & show.

So this is where I, and my sister Jane (who flew in from California to help me, the peach), spent May 16th thru the 21st. Arrived in NYC in the 16th, set up that day and the 17th. Show was the 18th, 19th, and 20th. Broke down the booth after the show was over on the 20th (in a record two hours -- it's amazing what the fear of missing the FedEx Ground Shipment deadline can do to spur you along). Came back home on the 21st.



Above, the red arrow points to MY press packets in the SURTEX® area of the Press Room.
My sister picked a primo piece of real estate to place them.



Above: Pix of my booth, you can click on them to see them larger. We were not allowed to take photos of anyone else's booth (with good reason), hence the sorta tight shots. With glass windows as a roof, we had ample light where we were in the River Pavilion. (There was one more stool in front of the booth; I musta dragged it out of the way to take these photos.)

1. My Booth Sign: In reading blogs after last year's show, it seemed that some exhibitors wished that they had customized their booth signs, since the as-is signs are kinda boring: white background, with your company's name and booth number in black, and the flag of your country of residence. When I had called to ask about creating a custom sign, I was told that I could create an "applique". Knowing what an applique is in SEWING, but necessarily in SIGN COVERINGUPPAGE, I did my usual, "???", and was told, "Like a sticker". I thought they meant, "Cover up the sign with a giant sticker", and since I had no idea how to create an 11x17" sticker, that's when I decided to make two color print-outs and have them laminated, to protect them from being ripped or poked. Well, looking at other people's customized signs, a "sticker applique" is really more along the lines of a sort of bumper sticker-y addition. But you know what? No harm done. My sign stood out against the sea of white ones. And I've never been a fan of "do-what-everyone-else-does" anyway. I'm a renegade, I tells ya!
2. Prints of Pug calendar pages were spray-mounted to two 20x30" pieces of foam core. Since I didn't know that the metal bars in between the white panels were RAISED (by like 3/4"), and I had some posters that were supposed to span two panels, which would then "sag" (looking like a open book, kinda), it became necessary to create some little blocks that could be attached to the middle of the backs of the foam core to make up for the gap. This was the first time that my inner MEGyver had to take over, and a magazine holder (made of corrugated cardboard) that I had with me sacrificed its life in order to be cannibalized for this effort.
3. The laminated foam core posters that you see in my booth were created at Staples. Done for $10 a piece, down from $20 from like the week before I got them made. Who's blessed? I'm blessed. (Oh, yeah, two rolls of 72 dots' worth of velcro to hold up all the posters was a goodly amount.)
4. Hung up the faked-out gift bags with those 3M white hooks, the ones where you pull down on the tape to release the goo when you're cleaning up. Package of three hooks; three bags. I love it when a plan comes together.

Stuff I had on the counter top:

1. Binder of Illustrations -- Pug calendar, Work I've done For Clients, Altered Book/Graphic Novel Project, Sketchbook Drawings
2. Finger Puppet Binder -- Had this divided into Animals/Creatures, Humans/Occupations, Freaky Fingers Side Show, Freaky Love & Every Day, (Various Characters), Halloween, Seasonal/Holiday/Christmas, then had a puppet catalog of all the various puppets that I've made, in case anyone was interested in seeing what I have done/can do, with an eye to manufacturing
3. Pillow Binder -- This included Doll Pillows (made with vintage doll clothes as the inspiration), Character Pillows, Couched Cushions/Patterns, and Tea & Egg Cozies
4. Home Dec Photo Album -- I decided to put together this little album showcasing pix of my house, knowing that some home dec book publishers have been in attendance at past shows
5. Pug Business Cards -- Made with my booth # on them, just in case anyone needed to find their way back to me
6. Couched Cushion Business Cards -- For people who were interested in the fiber end of things
7. Queen of Hearts Promotional Post Card -- For a reminder re: my finger puppets
8. Couched Cushion Bookmarks -- Made as a "giveaway"

Sometimes the counter had the laptop computer on it, showing the 2 YouTube videos that I've made in a continuous loop. Since I'm cheap and didn't want to spend any more $ for the next increment of electricity, when the batteries for the laptop wore out, that was it for the day, and away went the computer to its home under the counter.



Above, four arrows point out: "Hey, Megan, how about adjusting the lights AFTER you're done putting up the posters?"
Above, pointing to Arms' stand: Realized that there needed to be "another level" to showcase Arms, so went into MEGyver mode again, folding a piece of white tissue paper in half and wrapping it around a roll of duct tape. Perfection.

I decided after getting the bulk of the set-up done to rent a shelf for the three days ($80 and change, which included the installation/taking down). Wasn't sure if it would be a "good investment" or not, but having some architecture on the wall looked good, and it was a good idea to have a place to stash the puppets while eating the likes of which can only be described as the bionic cousin of the gyro.

This gastronomic oddity was my sister's good idea of what to get for lunch the first day of the show, after my solicited suggestion of "I don't know... a cheeseburger?" was dismissed summarily with a "Oh, you don't want a CHEESEBURGER!" Yes, but apparently? What I do want? Is a SLEEPING BAG full of LOTION.

She delivered it to me with the cowed expression of one who is about to be beaten, and who knows they deserve it. "Don't kill me", she pre-empted. At first I thought she meant because it had taken her awhile to fetch it, but who cares, wasn't hungry yet anyway. She tried to distract from the ooey-gooey, impossible-to-eat factor by telling me that she had asked them to leave off the onions.

What she told me later, after this thing had been consumed and the Threat of Death had long since passed, was that she had ordered "extra sauce".

During this lunch, which Jane was smart enough to eat at the provided tables away from the booth (while I mouthed to her with big exaggerated lip movements, "Why did you get this?!?"), one of my "carefully anchored" chains holding two pillows and a tea cozy decided to come crashing down. Thank heavens I stopped making pillows out of blown glass years ago.



Since I had like NO materials left in my box o' trix/tools/potential weapons, I had to call on my MEGyvery skills yet again, and so bade my lovely assistant fetch me some coffee stirrers, and those, combined with packing tape, duct tape, wood shavings, and snot, served to form a structure (see first hand above) that I crammed into the metal groove at the top of the booth, which was successful in holding up the soft goods for the remainder of the show. Whew, another crisis averted, thanks to the quick thinking of MEGyver!

The next hand is my sister's, who, to keep herself from falling asleep during the long show hours, played with the puppets that were brought. She put this configuration on her fingers and stated, "Monkey in the Middle". So, naturally, a photo documenting this moment in time was a 'must'.

In other hand news: My porcelain hand, brought to display some guys, had three of its fingers broken off in transit. Gluing them back on became a craft project for the first night at the hotel. We love craft projects!

Also broken: One postcard holder (and another one cracked but serviceable, kinda like me), and two flower pots. Happily, Jane, the Intrepid Researcher, had already sussed out where the nearest Staples store was in relation to the convention center (@ the Port Authority), so we hied there to replace some of the broken bits, and to pick up White-Out (turns out the booth walls weren't exactly free from gouges), and some pop-uppable, wipe-y uppy cloths (turns out the booth wasn't exactly clean, either).

I'll most likely write some more about exhibiting, but want to wrap this post up, so will say that it was fun hanging out with mein schwester (who was a HUGE help), and getting to know our surrounding booth mates:

Louis Vega Trevino Designs
Savannah College of Art and Design
The Peter H. Reynolds Line

... and meeting some other fun SURTEX® exhibitors, too:

Fifishead Design
M Pierce/ S Beise LLC

It will be interesting to see what business and what types of products result from meeting with the various attendees that I had to the good pleasure to talk with; will keep you posted!

All photos are © Megan E. Jeffery.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 

Had a niece visiting me last week, so we traipsed all over Providence: seeing the sites; experiencing the shops; feeling the rain. :-)
Here are some of the things I came away with...

This swivel chair ($13), part of the Designer Chair series from reac JAPAN, was purchased at The Curatorium, a great shop on Wickenden Street that I've mentioned before.
Wanted to show you Fabriczio (who loves all things designer-y) sitting in the chair to show scale.
I think I really really really need to get some more chairs. They are soooooo cute!!!

Little rubber elephant (50 cents) was another purchase at The Curatorium. 
Now he has found a buddy in a plastic elephant I have. Big Elephant helps Little Elephant see over the crowds at the parade.

Above, left: Stickers by Bob's Your Uncle; got 'em at The Curatorium.
Above, right: Red drafting tape (was in dire need), purchased at The RISD Store.
My alumni discount applies. Does yours?

Two hackey sacks ($1.50/pc.), cut up for my own nefarious purposes. (No, I didn't buy them this way.)
Purchased at OOP! on Westminster Street.

Movie ticket to JUNO; seen twice in two weeks.
It's really really rare that I'll see a movie twice in a theater, but this one is so worth it.
The writing; the acting; the animation sequence; the music: go see it. Really great.
Also saw: Atonement, and, while beautiful to look at, I'm not really getting all the hype.
Just felt kinda empty.

The above book, NOT purchased but rather was hand-bound by my niece and given to me. Nice!

Click on images to see them larger.
Images are © Megan E. Jeffery, 2008.
Finger puppet's concept, design, name, and image are the property of Megan E. Jeffery.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Santa saw fit to pay me another visit this year, even though some would say that I have been Nothing But Naughty.
Fortunately for me, my Santa is fairly lenient with me as regards behavior.
Without further ado, here's the bounty of treasures that was bestowed upon me:

Above: A sock giraffe! Asked my sister what I should name him, and, after a moment's consideration, the answer came back, "Nehi." Heeheehee... I said, "Nehi needs a necktie!", so of course, there needs to be a kids' book entitled, Nehi's Neckties, wouldn't you agree?

Awesome pail, more pix below...
Too-cute Ladybug racers, more pix below...

Wooden zwieback, so funny. Toast seems to be becoming a theme in my work right now. Guess I'll have to ride that wave for awhile.

A Box O Fun! Nehi's maracas are just ONE of the treats (out of 25!) that were inside. I will save the others (each individually wrapped) for dinner parties, etc.

Above: Ladybug races often bring out the worst in their participants.

Above: Zapp welcomes the Robot Pail into the fold. The inside of the pail is cool, too, with stars and a moon and the earth at the bottom.

Above: Robot puzzles (contains 3!) and miniature toys which I can't wait to use in future photos!

Above: Close-up of the miniatures.

Above: Stuff for the home and for the home office... Chopstick holders, Hello Kitty chipboard pieces (for scrap-booking or what-have-you), Lego coasters (perfect colors for my dining room), notebook paper reinforcements in funky colors/patterns, Santa Post-it notes, stickers, and Tiki pencil toppers!

Above: Fun crafty things: stickers & elastic & sequins & ribbon & postage stamps & a funny head pen.
(The Inanimate stickers are to put on items around your home to turn them into 'friends'. I'll follow up with photos on how I use these, don't worry.)

Above: A close-up of the Polish postage stamp featuring finger puppets! So cute. Love the blue hand on the left.

Above: Ways I can entertain myself... a movie, a homemade CD of Christmas music, and a reprint of a 1940s book, called How to Get Along with Boys. It may be too late for this book to have any good effect. Here's an excerpt:

"Dates" rarely happen. You must first meet a man and manage to impress him sufficiently to be asked. Then, if you like, you may affect surprise.

Do not neglect your girl friends; some of them have brothers; or their boyfriends have friends. In the normal social activities of a group, you may meet someone you like.

If you live in a small town where the eligible males are numbered and it is impossible to meet other men, you might prevail upon your family to move to a larger city. It is not advisable to consider moving to improve your marital opportunities unless you have family there or at least obtain your parents' consent and approval.

Also: A lip balm and some ham & egg bandages will see to my health care needs for the next year.

Above: More books to read! Hooray! All comedic memoirs, too, even better...

Above: Chocolates & Gum!
(Notice how I've cropped the cookie box and the blue bag of Kisses... Yeah, they've been opened and are being eaten...)

Above: Close-up of the gum with quite possibly the best. name. ever.
I'm almost afraid to chew it, I mean: look at those sad eyes! How do I dare?!?

Above: 3 tags that were on the gifts -- Santa is a right artsy old elf...

Singing in my Elvis voice: Merry Christmas, Santa, sure did treat me nice...

Click on images to see them larger.

These images are © Megan E. Jeffery, 2007.
The concept/design/image of the robot finger puppet is the property of Megan E. Jeffery.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Made a custom-designed finger puppet for a Christmas present. It's based on a character that the intended recipient has developed and performs as.
Her character's first name is Gladys, but for this MINIature version, I've gone with "Minnie", short for Minerva. Click on the images to see them slightly larger.

Max is a mumbler because his tail is always in his mouf. So he's not always intelligible.
Minnie's glasses are a flea market find --  a doll's (Barbie or the like) pair that I added fake rhinestones to.
The fact that I'm willing to let these glasses go should be proof of my love.
I stitched around Minnie's formidable boozum to give it extra definition.

Minnie's pillbox hat was made from a felted wool ball, wool felt, and some black netting. Did a Google image search on pillbox hats so I could do this teeny version. Details are important when making a character.

I don't know if the REAL character says the above, but since it was something that I grew up hearing, thought I'd cram the words in Minerva's mouth.
Dressing table and stool are from my childhood doll house.
You can see my arm in the reflection. I'm wearing a black sweater. :-)

Above: TV and phone are from my childhood collection of doll house stuff.

Above: An update on an old fave. Wallpaper and floor paper I've had since elementary school. Never used the wallpaper because I wanted to "save it for something special". Now that 30 years have passed, it might be time...
The cupboard is one of those cheap wooden ones you can get from the craft store. I blasted this one with spray paint for some other project.

Above, left: Here's the backside of Minnie ("Not my best side, you know! I'm afraid you'll have to use your wide angle lens, Honey"), showing the "pearl" buttons down the back of her dress.
The recipient of this puppet spun the yarn that I used to make the hair; thought it'd be cute to "give it back" to her in a different format.
The bun is a couched felted wool ball, and am so pleased with the way it came out!
The real character wears chopsticks in her bun, so I tried to replicate that by using sequin pins that I blackened with a Sharpie marker.

Above, right: This is how I'm going to package her, along with a little hang-tag.
I JUST HAPPENED TO HAVE this clear plastic pocketbook, and it is so perfect I could just squeal!
(In fact, I did.)
I don't even remember where/when I got it. Maybe someone housed a present to me in it?
Regardless: It's for moments like these that I never. throw. anything. away.

The concept/design of this puppet and its images are the property of Megan E. Jeffery, © 2007.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Plimoth Plantation Patterns (or: PPP)

 

Went to Plimoth Plantation in Plymouth, MA with a friend yesterday to see the Wampanoag Homesite, the 1627 English Village, the Craft Center, et al. I'll be showing more photos in time for Thanksgiving, but for now, here are  some tasty patterns. The day was cold and bright, with the shadows creating some interesting shapes and patterns of their own.

A shout-out to my local library, from whom I got a pass to the museum at a super-discounted rate.

These images are © Megan E. Jeffery.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Red-Headed Stepchildren

Have been working on some finger puppets who "just happen" to have red hair. Since childhood, I've loved the freckle-faced redheaded kids featured in Health-tex magazine ads, and have worked that combo into my own illustrations whenever possible. Since I have a nephew who's a redhead, people think I'm drawing him. To which I say, "Surrrrrrrrre..." And sometimes I am.

So: it was high time I worked red hair & freckles into a 3D form.This first little redheaded dude is going to be my Little Boy Blue stand-in, and here he is with a cornstalk I made using skinny wooden dowels, raffia, clear elastic bands (covered by a wrapping of raffia). I wedged a bit of teacher's tack up inside the teepee shape to keep the sticks open.

I found that a certain kind of weed was perfect for emulating a cornstalk tassel (@ the top). So, yeah, I'm crafting with weeds, and in doing so realized: I used to make stuff with weeds as a kid. Like using those red weeds as "food" because they looked kinda like raspberries. Well, they say "Stick with what you know." And what I know is: weeds.
 
 

His overalls are made from Barbie doll jeans, which I stitched into with a variegated orange embroidery floss. Doing the double-stitching on the straps was quite the challenge. Overall clasps are jump rings.

His hat was from a craft store a billion years ago which I was happy to rediscover amongst my junk. With his hat on, he reminds me of Richard Scarry's Lowly Worm, which ain't so bad.

His shirt is made from skinny vintage bias tape. I had to be fairly inventive with how to use this, because of its skinniness. Hence making it look like he's got rolled up sleeves -- but that's whatcha do when you're working hard in the field -- you roll up your sleeves!

This other guy was going to be another farmer kid, but then I put one of the doll sweaters that my sister knit on him, and the farmer thing went out the window.

When my sister made me a bunch of these sweaters, we both thought that I was going to be using them (exclusively) in the creation of pillows. But now a bunch of puppets (to be shown @ a later date) are all cozy-like in their new pullovers, and I'm reallllllllly digging the results. I stitched into this sweater for a little design interest. Always important.

It's funny, but this puppet is reminding me of a redheaded kid I played kickball with in the third grade. Think I'll name the puppet Kinzler cuz that was the kid's surname. He wanted to take his turn up "at bat" ("at kick"?) before me so that our team could possibly get another run before our last out. He didn't trust that I could get a run, and was pretty clear in his assertion that I was an Automatic Out. I was really looking forward to my turn, so was insistent that we not go out-of-order. And what do you know? I got a home run! If a movie is ever made of my life, I want it to center around that moment.

The concept & design of these puppets and their stories are the property of Megan E. Jeffery.
These images are © Megan E. Jeffery.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Yes. No. Yes.

That's how I'll be voting on the Big Questions today.

Moving here meant: different voting booths. In CT, booths are like the one I've illustrated above.
Here, they're tables with a "don't-look-at-my-answer" visor around the desktop, and votes are written on a piece of paper that then gets put in the ballot box. Still seems strange to me. There needs to be curtains and levers for me to feel like I'm actually voting.

My niece bought a "Vote for Nixon" button @ the flea market this past Sunday, so she'll be wearing that to the polls today. "I've been in a coma... who we votin' for?" Heeheehee.

This illustration is copyrighted. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Flashback Friday (1986) -- Random Things About Me

It's the classic tale of 2 birds, 1 stone.
My friend Dave Lowe tagged me to list 6 random things about myself.
Not sure if this is any different from the "6 Weird Things" list I did, but, hey, I'm playing along.
Since my brain is stuck in neutral re: thinking up new personal things to divulge, AND it's been awhile since I've had a flashback, I thought I'd COMBINE the two and show you a page from my journal from February of 1986. I was 20 years old and in my junior year of college. Which some of you may know better as the Mesozoic Era.

6. Think it's safe to infer from the above list that I like NIGHTTIME.
* BONUS RANDOMOID: I like making lists.*

My thoughts on these things now:

1. Now rain makes me worry, "Uh-oh, what's Mr. Basement doing?" and storms put me on High Alert Tree Watch. Being a homeowner is ruining my love of violent weather!
2. Still holds true.
3. Hey, I do this every nite! Way to fulfill a dream!
4. It's rare that I'm a passenger now. But every so often, just to keep that feeling fresh. I'll keep my left foot on the pedals, and slide on over to the passenger side.
It should be fairly apparent that "having the radio on loud" also = singing loudly.
And maybe badly.
The optimal situation: if it's spring and it's drizzling.
5. Hmmm... haven't done this for a looong time. I don't even know where there is a swingset in this town.
And I don't want to pull a Robert Downey Jr. and help myself to someone's backyard version.

Essential Items.

Yesterday at the Seekonk (MA) Speedway Flea Market, got some stuff... didn't post it then cuz there was a Baby Shower @ church (won a door prize for being a word jumble whiz), & it was just 2 HOT to do 'puter things.

This bank, $1, has a combination lock that really works!
So excited by this purchase: the price & the fact that it fits in so well with my various puppet characters. Here, Sal, Vinny "the Fingers" and Fabriczio are up to no good. Again.

The dealer said I could get this for my dad for Father's Day, so I had to tell him about a Father's Day gift I DID get for my dad one year. It was a T-shirt that said "THE NATIONAL BANK OF DAD", and then hung on this was a little sign that read, "Sorry, We're Closed."

Got the above doll clothes for $5.

1. Twin jackets for twin pillows?
2. Looks like a hospital gown...
3. Cute red jacket, kinda felty.
4. Velvet trousers can be hacked up for something.
5. Always wanted to do a pillow called "You're Nothing But a Big Girl's Blouse". My opportunity?
6. Aprons are always welcomed, and I need sox for a current project. Good timing.
7. This blue jumpsuit looks like something Humpty Dumpty should wear.
8. Camou stuff for WIPs. The pants look like froggie legs, which gives me lots of ideas...
9. G.I. Joe's coveralls... a grease monkey pillow? (Ooh, I like that!)
10. Groovy coat. Probably impossible to work with in a cut-down state, but couldn't resist the pull.
11. Looks like something a Heidi character should wear. Or one of the Von Trapp kids.
12. A kimono -- plenty of ways to use this little #.

Got the above Girl Scout items from the same dealer from whom I bought the MINES sign last week. The combination of mine warning signs and a girl scout's no-longer-needed uniforms makes one (me) come to a rather unsettling conclusion.

The dealer wanted $6 for the whole lot, but really all's I wanted was the stuff with the merit badge patches.
I asked him, "Oh, so you're not selling things individually?" He said, "I'll sell them individually, but..."
And I knew what that meant.
The sum of the parts would be > than the whole.
So I bought it all.
He said, "Use what you want. Pass along the things you don't need."

I said, "Yeah, cuz I doubt I'll find any use for ."

(IS THIS THE FIRST BLOG REBUS IN RECORDED HISTORY?)

Day's total: $12.

The concept & design of these puppets and their stories are the property of Megan E. Jeffery.
These images are © Megan E. Jeffery.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

SURTEX® Wrap-Up

It seems amazing to me that a year has passed since just attending SURTEX® last May to get an idea of what that art licensing trade show was all about; who exhibited; what they exhibited; how they exhibited. Since then, had been working pretty diligently on "stuff" to make & show.

So this is where I, and my sister Jane (who flew in from California to help me, the peach), spent May 16th thru the 21st. Arrived in NYC in the 16th, set up that day and the 17th. Show was the 18th, 19th, and 20th. Broke down the booth after the show was over on the 20th (in a record two hours -- it's amazing what the fear of missing the FedEx Ground Shipment deadline can do to spur you along). Came back home on the 21st.



Above, the red arrow points to MY press packets in the SURTEX® area of the Press Room.
My sister picked a primo piece of real estate to place them.



Above: Pix of my booth, you can click on them to see them larger. We were not allowed to take photos of anyone else's booth (with good reason), hence the sorta tight shots. With glass windows as a roof, we had ample light where we were in the River Pavilion. (There was one more stool in front of the booth; I musta dragged it out of the way to take these photos.)

1. My Booth Sign: In reading blogs after last year's show, it seemed that some exhibitors wished that they had customized their booth signs, since the as-is signs are kinda boring: white background, with your company's name and booth number in black, and the flag of your country of residence. When I had called to ask about creating a custom sign, I was told that I could create an "applique". Knowing what an applique is in SEWING, but necessarily in SIGN COVERINGUPPAGE, I did my usual, "???", and was told, "Like a sticker". I thought they meant, "Cover up the sign with a giant sticker", and since I had no idea how to create an 11x17" sticker, that's when I decided to make two color print-outs and have them laminated, to protect them from being ripped or poked. Well, looking at other people's customized signs, a "sticker applique" is really more along the lines of a sort of bumper sticker-y addition. But you know what? No harm done. My sign stood out against the sea of white ones. And I've never been a fan of "do-what-everyone-else-does" anyway. I'm a renegade, I tells ya!
2. Prints of Pug calendar pages were spray-mounted to two 20x30" pieces of foam core. Since I didn't know that the metal bars in between the white panels were RAISED (by like 3/4"), and I had some posters that were supposed to span two panels, which would then "sag" (looking like a open book, kinda), it became necessary to create some little blocks that could be attached to the middle of the backs of the foam core to make up for the gap. This was the first time that my inner MEGyver had to take over, and a magazine holder (made of corrugated cardboard) that I had with me sacrificed its life in order to be cannibalized for this effort.
3. The laminated foam core posters that you see in my booth were created at Staples. Done for $10 a piece, down from $20 from like the week before I got them made. Who's blessed? I'm blessed. (Oh, yeah, two rolls of 72 dots' worth of velcro to hold up all the posters was a goodly amount.)
4. Hung up the faked-out gift bags with those 3M white hooks, the ones where you pull down on the tape to release the goo when you're cleaning up. Package of three hooks; three bags. I love it when a plan comes together.

Stuff I had on the counter top:

1. Binder of Illustrations -- Pug calendar, Work I've done For Clients, Altered Book/Graphic Novel Project, Sketchbook Drawings
2. Finger Puppet Binder -- Had this divided into Animals/Creatures, Humans/Occupations, Freaky Fingers Side Show, Freaky Love & Every Day, (Various Characters), Halloween, Seasonal/Holiday/Christmas, then had a puppet catalog of all the various puppets that I've made, in case anyone was interested in seeing what I have done/can do, with an eye to manufacturing
3. Pillow Binder -- This included Doll Pillows (made with vintage doll clothes as the inspiration), Character Pillows, Couched Cushions/Patterns, and Tea & Egg Cozies
4. Home Dec Photo Album -- I decided to put together this little album showcasing pix of my house, knowing that some home dec book publishers have been in attendance at past shows
5. Pug Business Cards -- Made with my booth # on them, just in case anyone needed to find their way back to me
6. Couched Cushion Business Cards -- For people who were interested in the fiber end of things
7. Queen of Hearts Promotional Post Card -- For a reminder re: my finger puppets
8. Couched Cushion Bookmarks -- Made as a "giveaway"

Sometimes the counter had the laptop computer on it, showing the 2 YouTube videos that I've made in a continuous loop. Since I'm cheap and didn't want to spend any more $ for the next increment of electricity, when the batteries for the laptop wore out, that was it for the day, and away went the computer to its home under the counter.



Above, four arrows point out: "Hey, Megan, how about adjusting the lights AFTER you're done putting up the posters?"
Above, pointing to Arms' stand: Realized that there needed to be "another level" to showcase Arms, so went into MEGyver mode again, folding a piece of white tissue paper in half and wrapping it around a roll of duct tape. Perfection.

I decided after getting the bulk of the set-up done to rent a shelf for the three days ($80 and change, which included the installation/taking down). Wasn't sure if it would be a "good investment" or not, but having some architecture on the wall looked good, and it was a good idea to have a place to stash the puppets while eating the likes of which can only be described as the bionic cousin of the gyro.

This gastronomic oddity was my sister's good idea of what to get for lunch the first day of the show, after my solicited suggestion of "I don't know... a cheeseburger?" was dismissed summarily with a "Oh, you don't want a CHEESEBURGER!" Yes, but apparently? What I do want? Is a SLEEPING BAG full of LOTION.

She delivered it to me with the cowed expression of one who is about to be beaten, and who knows they deserve it. "Don't kill me", she pre-empted. At first I thought she meant because it had taken her awhile to fetch it, but who cares, wasn't hungry yet anyway. She tried to distract from the ooey-gooey, impossible-to-eat factor by telling me that she had asked them to leave off the onions.

What she told me later, after this thing had been consumed and the Threat of Death had long since passed, was that she had ordered "extra sauce".

During this lunch, which Jane was smart enough to eat at the provided tables away from the booth (while I mouthed to her with big exaggerated lip movements, "Why did you get this?!?"), one of my "carefully anchored" chains holding two pillows and a tea cozy decided to come crashing down. Thank heavens I stopped making pillows out of blown glass years ago.



Since I had like NO materials left in my box o' trix/tools/potential weapons, I had to call on my MEGyvery skills yet again, and so bade my lovely assistant fetch me some coffee stirrers, and those, combined with packing tape, duct tape, wood shavings, and snot, served to form a structure (see first hand above) that I crammed into the metal groove at the top of the booth, which was successful in holding up the soft goods for the remainder of the show. Whew, another crisis averted, thanks to the quick thinking of MEGyver!

The next hand is my sister's, who, to keep herself from falling asleep during the long show hours, played with the puppets that were brought. She put this configuration on her fingers and stated, "Monkey in the Middle". So, naturally, a photo documenting this moment in time was a 'must'.

In other hand news: My porcelain hand, brought to display some guys, had three of its fingers broken off in transit. Gluing them back on became a craft project for the first night at the hotel. We love craft projects!

Also broken: One postcard holder (and another one cracked but serviceable, kinda like me), and two flower pots. Happily, Jane, the Intrepid Researcher, had already sussed out where the nearest Staples store was in relation to the convention center (@ the Port Authority), so we hied there to replace some of the broken bits, and to pick up White-Out (turns out the booth walls weren't exactly free from gouges), and some pop-uppable, wipe-y uppy cloths (turns out the booth wasn't exactly clean, either).

I'll most likely write some more about exhibiting, but want to wrap this post up, so will say that it was fun hanging out with mein schwester (who was a HUGE help), and getting to know our surrounding booth mates:

Louis Vega Trevino Designs
Savannah College of Art and Design
The Peter H. Reynolds Line

... and meeting some other fun SURTEX® exhibitors, too:

Fifishead Design
M Pierce/ S Beise LLC

It will be interesting to see what business and what types of products result from meeting with the various attendees that I had to the good pleasure to talk with; will keep you posted!

All photos are © Megan E. Jeffery.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 

Things Purchased in the Past Week

Had a niece visiting me last week, so we traipsed all over Providence: seeing the sites; experiencing the shops; feeling the rain. :-)
Here are some of the things I came away with...

This swivel chair ($13), part of the Designer Chair series from reac JAPAN, was purchased at The Curatorium, a great shop on Wickenden Street that I've mentioned before.
Wanted to show you Fabriczio (who loves all things designer-y) sitting in the chair to show scale.
I think I really really really need to get some more chairs. They are soooooo cute!!!

Little rubber elephant (50 cents) was another purchase at The Curatorium. 
Now he has found a buddy in a plastic elephant I have. Big Elephant helps Little Elephant see over the crowds at the parade.

Above, left: Stickers by Bob's Your Uncle; got 'em at The Curatorium.
Above, right: Red drafting tape (was in dire need), purchased at The RISD Store.
My alumni discount applies. Does yours?

Two hackey sacks ($1.50/pc.), cut up for my own nefarious purposes. (No, I didn't buy them this way.)
Purchased at OOP! on Westminster Street.

Movie ticket to JUNO; seen twice in two weeks.
It's really really rare that I'll see a movie twice in a theater, but this one is so worth it.
The writing; the acting; the animation sequence; the music: go see it. Really great.
Also saw: Atonement, and, while beautiful to look at, I'm not really getting all the hype.
Just felt kinda empty.

The above book, NOT purchased but rather was hand-bound by my niece and given to me. Nice!

Click on images to see them larger.
Images are © Megan E. Jeffery, 2008.
Finger puppet's concept, design, name, and image are the property of Megan E. Jeffery.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Booty Call

Santa saw fit to pay me another visit this year, even though some would say that I have been Nothing But Naughty.
Fortunately for me, my Santa is fairly lenient with me as regards behavior.
Without further ado, here's the bounty of treasures that was bestowed upon me:

Above: A sock giraffe! Asked my sister what I should name him, and, after a moment's consideration, the answer came back, "Nehi." Heeheehee... I said, "Nehi needs a necktie!", so of course, there needs to be a kids' book entitled, Nehi's Neckties, wouldn't you agree?

Awesome pail, more pix below...
Too-cute Ladybug racers, more pix below...

Wooden zwieback, so funny. Toast seems to be becoming a theme in my work right now. Guess I'll have to ride that wave for awhile.

A Box O Fun! Nehi's maracas are just ONE of the treats (out of 25!) that were inside. I will save the others (each individually wrapped) for dinner parties, etc.

Above: Ladybug races often bring out the worst in their participants.

Above: Zapp welcomes the Robot Pail into the fold. The inside of the pail is cool, too, with stars and a moon and the earth at the bottom.

Above: Robot puzzles (contains 3!) and miniature toys which I can't wait to use in future photos!

Above: Close-up of the miniatures.

Above: Stuff for the home and for the home office... Chopstick holders, Hello Kitty chipboard pieces (for scrap-booking or what-have-you), Lego coasters (perfect colors for my dining room), notebook paper reinforcements in funky colors/patterns, Santa Post-it notes, stickers, and Tiki pencil toppers!

Above: Fun crafty things: stickers & elastic & sequins & ribbon & postage stamps & a funny head pen.
(The Inanimate stickers are to put on items around your home to turn them into 'friends'. I'll follow up with photos on how I use these, don't worry.)

Above: A close-up of the Polish postage stamp featuring finger puppets! So cute. Love the blue hand on the left.

Above: Ways I can entertain myself... a movie, a homemade CD of Christmas music, and a reprint of a 1940s book, called How to Get Along with Boys. It may be too late for this book to have any good effect. Here's an excerpt:

"Dates" rarely happen. You must first meet a man and manage to impress him sufficiently to be asked. Then, if you like, you may affect surprise.

Do not neglect your girl friends; some of them have brothers; or their boyfriends have friends. In the normal social activities of a group, you may meet someone you like.

If you live in a small town where the eligible males are numbered and it is impossible to meet other men, you might prevail upon your family to move to a larger city. It is not advisable to consider moving to improve your marital opportunities unless you have family there or at least obtain your parents' consent and approval.

Also: A lip balm and some ham & egg bandages will see to my health care needs for the next year.

Above: More books to read! Hooray! All comedic memoirs, too, even better...

Above: Chocolates & Gum!
(Notice how I've cropped the cookie box and the blue bag of Kisses... Yeah, they've been opened and are being eaten...)

Above: Close-up of the gum with quite possibly the best. name. ever.
I'm almost afraid to chew it, I mean: look at those sad eyes! How do I dare?!?

Above: 3 tags that were on the gifts -- Santa is a right artsy old elf...

Singing in my Elvis voice: Merry Christmas, Santa, sure did treat me nice...

Click on images to see them larger.

These images are © Megan E. Jeffery, 2007.
The concept/design/image of the robot finger puppet is the property of Megan E. Jeffery.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Your Portrait in Roving.

Made a custom-designed finger puppet for a Christmas present. It's based on a character that the intended recipient has developed and performs as.
Her character's first name is Gladys, but for this MINIature version, I've gone with "Minnie", short for Minerva. Click on the images to see them slightly larger.

Max is a mumbler because his tail is always in his mouf. So he's not always intelligible.
Minnie's glasses are a flea market find --  a doll's (Barbie or the like) pair that I added fake rhinestones to.
The fact that I'm willing to let these glasses go should be proof of my love.
I stitched around Minnie's formidable boozum to give it extra definition.

Minnie's pillbox hat was made from a felted wool ball, wool felt, and some black netting. Did a Google image search on pillbox hats so I could do this teeny version. Details are important when making a character.

I don't know if the REAL character says the above, but since it was something that I grew up hearing, thought I'd cram the words in Minerva's mouth.
Dressing table and stool are from my childhood doll house.
You can see my arm in the reflection. I'm wearing a black sweater. :-)

Above: TV and phone are from my childhood collection of doll house stuff.

Above: An update on an old fave. Wallpaper and floor paper I've had since elementary school. Never used the wallpaper because I wanted to "save it for something special". Now that 30 years have passed, it might be time...
The cupboard is one of those cheap wooden ones you can get from the craft store. I blasted this one with spray paint for some other project.

Above, left: Here's the backside of Minnie ("Not my best side, you know! I'm afraid you'll have to use your wide angle lens, Honey"), showing the "pearl" buttons down the back of her dress.
The recipient of this puppet spun the yarn that I used to make the hair; thought it'd be cute to "give it back" to her in a different format.
The bun is a couched felted wool ball, and am so pleased with the way it came out!
The real character wears chopsticks in her bun, so I tried to replicate that by using sequin pins that I blackened with a Sharpie marker.

Above, right: This is how I'm going to package her, along with a little hang-tag.
I JUST HAPPENED TO HAVE this clear plastic pocketbook, and it is so perfect I could just squeal!
(In fact, I did.)
I don't even remember where/when I got it. Maybe someone housed a present to me in it?
Regardless: It's for moments like these that I never. throw. anything. away.

The concept/design of this puppet and its images are the property of Megan E. Jeffery, © 2007.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.