Illustration Friday: Zoo

Back in 2006 I went to New Orleans with a group to help rebuild people's homes that were damaged by Hurricane Katrina. I was told by one of the residents that the elephants at the zoo were used to help clear trees that had fallen in the roads. I was touched by this story as it showed how much we as humans need animals in our lives. And they in turn need our respect and care b/c they are really no different than us opposable thumbed primates.

*Above photo was taken at the New Orleans Zoo.

5 Random Things

I have been tagged by Nicole and find myself struggling to think of parts of myself that do not elicit boredom for the dear lurkers out there. Being shy and private this may prove painful, but here it goes...

* My favorite color is orange with yellow nipping at its heels as a close second.

* Please look at Nicole's #2 random thing as I, ironically, have the exact same problem.

* When I was little I wanted to be a veterinarian like my father, but the sight of blood makes me nauseous. My father had to watch my brother and I at nights when we were young as my mother was taking college courses. Seeing as he worked, we inevitably were left to roam the back recesses of the vet's office. One particular evening my father was dissecting a dog (please note the dog had died naturally) and putting organs in bowls. My brother thought it would be particularly hilarious to corner me in the room while simultaneously sticking a bowl containing the dog's brain underneath my nose. The thing I remember most was the brain happened to be in an old cool whip container. I never looked at cool whip the same way again.

* I've been sewing since I was a small child. I used to love standing by the side of my grandmother as she sewed. She used to make beautiful ballgowns for my mother (see above photo of my mother) when she was in highschool. I on the other hand used to make clothes that, looking back, resembled "art school girl that makes her own clothes." Some of my outfits still haunt me.

* The best Christmas present I ever received was when I was seven years old. My father brought home a black cat that the owner wanted him to "put down." Instead my father gave me PeeWee on Christmas day. He was my best friend for 15 years and to this day I have never gotten a gift that could top that.

Here are the rules:
1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.
2. Share 5 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Kumiko
Nacho
Angela
Elisa
Lesley

Illustration friday: Scale

Angel kisses for a scaley mermaid....

*click on image to see detail

Monster Mash

I'm shocked (and happy!) to report that my l'il monster is one of the three winners of the monster mash contest.

Thank you to Penelope for making the contest possible for all illustrators and the judges Stefan G. Bucher, Meg Hunt, and Gina Triplett.

Later on, when the monster under my bed crawls out to read me a bedtime story I'll be sure to let him know. I imagine he will want to celebrate with a hot cup of cocoa, at least a dozen frosted pink cupcakes with sprinkles, a side order of waffle fries and a story from the Grimm Fairy Tales.

Illustration friday: Hats

Esther Octopus likes to wear a flowery swim cap and goggles when she goes for a swim!

Thanks to all for the nice comments on my IF monster last week.....