New Work Monday #35

or Lame-Ass Edition because I forgot to play with photos last night for today:

Serenade
Microsoft Paint

I drew this on Microsoft Paint.

With a mouse. My hand hurts now.

Funnily enough, what you see above, is, apparently, indicative of a current trend in mass market French illustration. What I mean is: Everytime I've entered a competition in this country, my work tends to lose to stuff which looks a little like the above.

Okay, I'll admit that that work is a bit more polished than what I've posted here (ie, probably wasn't done on a computer that hemorrhages every time you try to do something "creative" with it) but it isn't far off.

Sometimes I wonder why I bother.

And then I see images like those by Benjamin Lacombe and I'm all, Damn it, mood does exist in this business in this country.

Thank the heavens.

Now I just need to figure out how to get my stuff up to snuff and start scoping.

Looking Ahead

I was making dinner last night when Kilian came up to me for a chat.

"So, I was talking to my teacher, and she said that if I want to be an engineer, then I need to have the BAC S (Science High School Diploma), which means a lot of math, science and I'll need to take English and German too."

I stopped. I turned. I stared.

The hell? Isn't my son.... like... 10 YEARS OLD?

Shouldn't he be dreaming about being a rock star or something?

Still a bit stunned, I slowly got the following out of my mouth... "O...K..., then. Well. Um. Since you start junior high next year, I guess you'll know how to start picking and choosing your options."

I almost felt like lying down then.

I'm raising Dilbert.

Hold me.

New Work Monday #34

Tartan Fat Rabbit
Fabric

I received a sewing machine for my birthday last week so I decided to give it a run this weekend with materials that I had around the house.

First, I trolled all the luscious little softie sites around the web. I had no idea that softies had such a following or that so much awesome is out there. For my first sewing attempt (that I was damn well determined to finish BY THE GODS), I decided to go with the fat rabbit because it looked easy.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha.

Actually it is pretty easy. What I wasn't reckoning with was my fabric.

A fabric that I bought in Edinburgh 11 years ago.

From the royal tartan manufacturer (or whatever).

REAL TARTAN?

It frays.

QUICKLY!

Don't ask me what tartan it is either. I have no idea. If you know, feel free to educate me.

At one point, Mr C walked into the room while I was working on the ears and asked me why I didn't make anything useful? Ever?

"If it makes me happy, then it's useful."

"Why are you brandishing that stitch-ripper at me?"

So.

I made some slight modifications to the original pattern because I HAVE THE POWAH! Also? I couldn't make the nose to work so I gave up because my bum was hurting from sitting so long.

Whatever.

I like it.

Mr C does too. He asked if he could make it his facebook avatar and then went and changed mine by accident.

Next up, the bat pattern I bought. Doesn't it look luscious?

Existential Question

Kilian: 'Maman?'

Me: 'Yes?'

Kilian: 'How will we spend the rest of our time?'

Me: ... 'Um. Are you talking about the rest of our lives or just today?'

Kilian puts a finger on his chin and looks up towards the sky: 'Just today I guess.'

For pete's sake.

Kids.

Today

Today is my birthday.

Today I am 35 years old.

Today it hasn't rained (yet). Woot!

Today I know that there is a very nicely wrapped (by my son) box waiting at home for me. I'm not sure what it is, but I have an idea.

Today some wonderful friends took me out to lunch. Bless them. Sally, Kathy and Vince. You guys rock. And then some.

Today I came clean on something to somebody. It felt good. I felt less stressed after.

Today my husband told me that he thought I was older.

Today my colleagues told me that they thought I was younger.

Today, I sent twitter a message demanding cuddly kittens on my desk by the time I got to work.

Today @france_normandy sent me a picture of a kid in a kitten costume.

Today @wearedinosaurs offered me a cake made out of kittens. Hell. They're carnivores.

Today @DeeGF sent me a lovely kitten e-card.

Today twitter delivered lots of beautiful Happy Birthday messages (Thank you everybody!)

Today facebook delivered lots of fantastic Birthday messages (including some Graffiti). Thank you!



I'm feeling pretty thankful for today.

New Work Monday #33

This is a cool rooftop I noticed that looks onto Place François 1er in the 8th (not far off Avenue Montaigne or The "Where Japanese Tourists Try to Find People Willing to Buy Louis Vuitton On Their Behalf" district).

It sort of reminded me of something Edward Hopper might paint...

New Work Monday-Tuesday edition (#32)

Below you'll find a watercolor that I did ages ago and put up on another blog.

Sorry dudes, I have been out of sorts lately. Technically speaking, you could say I've caught the crazy which is why I have been lax in posting anything at all.

So. Here you are. The liberty flame, which is topside of the bridge under which Lady Di ...



The Flame of Liberty that's stationed right near Metro Alma Marceau and over the Pont d'Alma.

There are still some pictures hanging on in remembrance...