up until now, I've been inspired to work with images or concepts that I really like. you're beginning to see the common threads by now; boats, pirates, birds, etc. this morning when I went to take out the trash, something terrible happened, and this isn't the first time. I began to wonder if I could make something out of an image of the very thing that terrifies me to my core...a squirrel.
my (some have argued, irrational) fear of the squirrel falls into two categories...#1, that one might jump onto my head and get caught in my hair...and #2, that one might decide to run up my pant leg. now before you dismiss both of these as ridiculous impossibilities I want to tell you about some of the encounters I've had with these little suckers...and you see how ridiculous my fears sound then...
- I've been trapped inside a building by a squirrel sitting on its hind legs just daring me to open the door and see what happens.
-I've been flanked in an alley "west side story" style...concentrating on one while two more came up behind me.
-I've been chased down 3 flights of stairs by one that I (evidently) disturbed as it was sleeping in a flower pot on my friends back porch.
-as a baby, my family tells the story of a group of them stalking me and trying to get near me as I slept in my carriage (this is when I believe that I was "marked" or "chosen", if you will).
-I've been stealthily followed as I walk down the sidewalk, and they run beside me in the street, hiding under cars when I catch them looking (the squirrels, not me)
-just today, as I took out my trash to the dumpster and absentmindedly went to open it up, I hear a squeak and look up in horror to see that one of them is perched on top...clearly not wanting to give up this position merely so I can throw away my trash. I screamed...oh, how I screamed...and then I ran like the devil. taking out the trash will never be the same for me again.
so...in the spirit of taking my fear (well founded, I like to think) and making it work for me rather than against me...I give you "girl with squirrel
". at first glance, it seems this lovely lady has a rather jaunty hat atop her hair...but look a little closer. it is the scene of one of my worst nightmares come true.
as with my other handbag designs this one has a side closure that features a cluster of vintage buttons.
.. when the bag is closed, the shape changes into this:
a beautiful vintage fabric featuring vignettes of a victorian city serves as the backdrop for this exploration of terror...and it measures about 22x18...perfect for toting around the city.
perhaps I have freed myself of their reign by way of creating such a bag...one can only dream.
current listening: Vince Guaraldi "impressions of a black orpheus"
burbee, i'm proud of you - way to conquer that fear. ironically, i have a small fear of birds. maybe you should take me through some therapy since you love them so much! karm
Posted by: Karmen | July 18, 2006 at 07:10 AM
or the perfect handbag size to capture the frenzied squirrels...and then...only our glorious imaginations can tell us what we could do with our trapped little friends.
Posted by: Seth | July 21, 2006 at 05:15 PM