It is only because of their amazing ability to blend in with whatever company they may be in that Snootpiks have gone unnoticed for so long. One Snootpik has agreed to let us photograph him and we will be sure to keep you informed whenever another Snootpik sighting is reported.
Atari is the first of his kind to visit earth. Though he found it quite fascinating all those light years ago, these days he only holidays here occasionally.
He is fluent in every language known to man, but seldom speaks. He prefers to play quietly with his subatomic particles. His favourite galaxy is Andromeda.
I never had a special desire to live within viewing distance of the ocean, but since moving to Kalk Bay 3 years ago and living literally across the road from it, I am smitten with all things that smack of the sea. Not only is there plenty of sea here, but there is also a working fishing harbour to make it a little less wild and scary (which, frankly, the sea is very) and I am enamoured of all the little vessels that come and go and I imagine having a little sail boat myself that I would absolutely not vomit over the edge of, because in my imagination I fortunately have no tendency for sea sickness.
One of the bonuses of living in an old house, pre-electric heaters, is that they are often festooned with fireplaces. Our block of flats was built before electric wiring in homes became common, but although we have a kitchen cupboard where the cooking fireplace was, strangely we can find no evidence of any others. I think that the block may have been one big house before and perhaps there are / were more located elsewhere.
A friend who lives in Observatory - where big old houses with wooden floors and high ceilings are the rule - has three, (yes three!) of the beauteous features and I say “not fair!” However, I forgive him, as one of the mantelpieces is currently the residence of a Tangleton Couchie custom made for his girlfriend, and I think it is a spiffing spot for her to pose and primp (the Couchie, not his girlfriend).
New in town - Lolli Tangleton Couchie. Though she comes across as naive and squeaky clean, she has seen her fair share of hard times and once lived on the street. But through it all she has kept a positive outlook - in fact, she doesn’t know how to do otherwise.
She loves company, but can do perfectly well on her own too, thank you very much.
(and no, she is not one for laughing out loud, but she has a soft giggle that is infectious)
I forgot to mention that I won the clutch purse by Wren in the giveaway on Emmarie Designs blog!! I was so thrilled especially because it was the first time I’ve entered a blog giveaway. Wendren delivered it to me personally (apparently we live fairly close by to each other), beautifully wrapped. It is currently the home of my camera, but I am thinking of all sorts of other uses for it. Thanks Wendren and Emmarie!
Spirited Away… one of my all-time favourite movies - and I sat entranced last night watching it again. I remember when I was younger, after reading a book or seeing a movie that had a particularly impressive effect on me, I would draw the characters and scenes from the story, either how I imagined them to look or as best I could remember. It would allow me to relive the stories and almost become a part of them. Sometimes I still get that feeling of wanting to be inside the story, or the creation of it.
Here are some amazing creations inspired by Spirited Away:
No Face - possibly my favourite character. For sale on e-bay by cute art
Various Spirits who visit the Bath House. Apparently this set is “long sold out”
I must admit, I didn’t see this one coming… so cool, by Anna the red, an expert kyaraben bento-ist, an art I was entirely unaware of.
I imagine I must have some dust-sprites living under my bed, who look exactly the same except they’re grey.
And finally, because who could resisit this fabulosity, a paper assembly of Howl’s Moving Castle, from the movie by the same genius that is Hayao Miyazaki (not to mention the original fabulous author of the book - Dianna Wynne Jones)
I love going to the little beach across the road from where I live in Kalk Bay and scouring for bits of driftwood, little spiral trapdoors (operculums), the odd bit of ceramic fragment and smooth pebbles of sea glass. I imagine from what corners of the world they have come, for how long they have rolled in the waves so that their sharp edges become so softened. Most likely a lot of them are from booze consumed on the very same beach, but it’s nice to wonder… You know, I hate littering with a passion, but isn’t it wonderful how ugly and dangerous pieces of smashed bottles can be transformed into these little jewels.
If you’re in Kalk Bay, you can find my brooches and lots of other beautifully handcrafted items at Blossom in Colyn Rd.
Here they are in the shop.
I felt these gorgeous scarf rings - they’re sooo soft and I’m sure they would feel wonderful against the skin on the neck - unlike many awful scratchy fabrics and labels in winter.
