gathering magic

gathering magic
Originally uploaded by Kim's Suitcase.

for www.illustrationfriday.com
This weeks illustrative challenge was the theme"magic". My first thought were of herbs and their medicinal/magical properties. The hidden power within these inoculous looking plants.

metal tea pot

metal tea pot
Originally uploaded by Kim's Suitcase.

oh the humanity

It occured to me today that I am a bit of an intense people watcher. I honestly never forget a face. I even age people in my mind, once in my 20's I recognized a woman who was in my public school a year ahead of me. I remembered her name and went on to tell her, that I knew her when I was in grade 2. Usually after revealing such facts people are a little freaked, it is my particular party trick, remembering faces. Sometimes something touches me so deeply on these people watching forays, I explain it with this phrase, "oh the humanity is killing me". What I mean by this is the mundane, tender, madness, ordinary, extraordinary minutae of life and people just slays me it is at once so gorgeous and grotty and true.

Sea monkeys

we are growing sea monkeys
i said to my daughter "i must go and irrigate the sea monkeys"
she said "ok you go and interigate the sea monkeys and tell me if they change colour."

dental work

dental work
Originally uploaded by Kim's Suitcase.

Dental Work

today this tuesday was special i went to the dentist. I like the dentist. I have good teeth, but I do tend to get a build up of plaque. So because my husband currently has health insurance that covers my teeth I go regulary to get em cleaned. I feel a little like a grateful hippo, being picked away at by some gentle bird. Symbiotic. I listen to easy listening music leaned back and hear little snippets of wonderful mundane family tales from my dentist. My dentist and his receptionist are not glamourous people. I like them, they seem authentic, good at their jobs and without gimics. Once I had a dentist that I told I didn't want certain work performed, he told me all sorts of rot about how dangerous a decision this was and made me sign a waver leaving him free of charges I may lay against him when my teeth fell out, certain teeth needed immediate attention I was told. I told him that most things I do, I do slowly. I said "I rot slowly." He hadn't an answer for this, years and years later those same said teeth that needed attention are still very well. Okay I did a little mental heal, focus work, you know sending my teeth good vibes and all that, so I was thankful for the heads up.

rafter, home

rafter, home
Originally uploaded by Kim's Suitcase.

a late entry for www.illustrationfriday.com
in which i opened the dictionary to the word "rafter"

new paint

in a box
olive green
bengal rose
alizarin crimson
naples yellow
vandyke brown
sap green
magenta
and
purple lake

gong

do you remember that show called "the gong show" it was a talent show in which really awful performers got gonged off the stage. i am looking for a gong, an internal one will do. does anyone know where i might find one? then when i am up too late at the computer i can gong myself off to bed. think of the uses and possiblities. if you have never seen this fabulous show i am sorry, it was much better than any idol show around and it harkened back to vaudville days which i am sad that i wasn't around to see. where is that gong, internal or not when i need it. wait i hear it now, good night.

apalachian mountain music

it went like this hum ta da ta da dum dum

Big and Little

big and little
Originally uploaded by Kim's Suitcase.

walk

walking in the snow and ice, every step counts.

beautiful dream: the words inside

milkpod wish
the world
shaking hands
catch fairy fluff
before it hits the ground
a child said...
"war happens because they didn't use their words"
peace dances
like fluff distant dust
hands together
in a simple holding
in between the days
soft breath
and
quiet peace

beautiful dream

beautiful dream
Originally uploaded by Kim's Suitcase.

chocolate

oh chocolate

chocolate thinking starts small
the memory of a sweetness
the flavour enjoyed

chocolate

i am thinking about chocolate
oh
nothing but deep rich chunks
dark,light, or white

oh i think edit this thought
don't go there
write, draw, doodle

but oh don't think of chocolate

even the name is seductive
such a full mouthed flavored name

like a huge pink chocolate elephant
it fills the room,
don't look, pretend it isn't there

it leaves me not only thinking but consumed

awash in sweet bittersweet dark chocolate feelings

throw me a life buoy, a butterscotch life saver,
let one small piece melt in the mouth
boil water, this is serious
get the marshmallows
dive in
break into
leap onto
run don't walk
rattle down the road
with little bits of change
and
damn it
buy a bar.


or maybe two.

Everyday Angel, Maude

everyday angel
Originally uploaded by Kim's Suitcase.

for www.loobylou.com a month of softies. This months softie theme is "Holiday Hang Ups". This is Maude, who is not completly new but really did want to have a debut! She is fully jointed and has wings that can be detatched, as the pressure of angelhood can at times be a tad overwhelming.

Home, on a snowy day

snowy day at the window
Originally uploaded by Kim's Suitcase.

for www.illustrationfriday.com
this weeks theme is "home"
(please click on image to make it bigger)

suds n' duds

3 and 5 are my dryers
collecting quarters and technical information

Friday it seems is a laundry day tradition

there seems to be a humility in the laundromat,
no one can hide it
we all have dirty laundry

the Laundromat people,
open like a flower to the sun
when questioned, spoken to

at first on guard

but then, a smile, a helping hand
advice offered in kindness,

you are like me
we both have laundry

somethings soiled
to be washed and dried and folded

to take us through another week of
routines

laundry

I have more dirty laundry than you can shake a stick at.

p.s adopt a kitty

please click on image for a better view, if you can't make out what these cats are saying substitute your own sad and happy dialogue.

Adopt a Kitty

Adopt a Kitty
Originally uploaded by Kim's Suitcase.

www.illustrationfriday.com for more on the 'adoption theme'
nice and naughty kitties to adopt, a wacked out doodle done late at night!

shirt

shirt
Originally uploaded by Kim's Suitcase.

yes i am

yes i am the great matahari in a canoe on a lake with a lumber jacket.

why do you ask?

yes i do look like joan of arc in that old film by karl someone or other when my hair is cropped short to the head.

why do you ask?

yes it is true i can belly dance and peel cucumbers with my teeth while swallowing a sword.

why do you ask?

yes it has been said that i am rather unique like everyone else.

why do you ask?

yes i am sort of fond of the kiwis that are yellow.

why do you ask?

yes i can spare change.

security also

security also
Originally uploaded by Kim's Suitcase.

This was my original thought for illustration friday, I intended to do a little painting, but I like the simple line of this fetus, looking secure. The womb as a secure place to be

security

security
Originally uploaded by Kim's Suitcase.

Here is my post for www.illustrationfriday.com ,see many others there, the theme this week is 'security'.
Please click on the image to make it larger for better viewing.

sweet grey cold and cloudy

I love sweet grey, it is one of my very favorite colours but I can understand when one grey day blends into another it can make people feel grim. Personally my favorite weather is rainy weather, one of the reasons is because the colours of things really glow, cabs, newspaper boxes, anything shiny and wet, leaves. Dressing the part is important for weather survival, I wore shoes for a long time in the snow, then one year I got boots, and I could play and really enjoy the weather. Yes I look the total geek, and it makes me laugh all the way over the windy hill, wearing my thermal underwear and two hat, I am a happy warm geek, so very much enjoying the crazy weather that is thrown at me. If I have learnt anything, it is to not take myself too seriously and to dress for the weather.

vacuuming bovine

vacuuming bovine
Originally uploaded by Kim's Suitcase.

hello. I thought that my site was a little bare so I am adding this little drawing of a vacuuming cow.

pool

If I'm ever lost I can always find myself in a pool.

Vacuum

vacuum: empty space, the inside of a vessel exhausted of air
from the Highroads Dictionary New Canadian Edition 1961

vacuum
i have a feeling that the improper use of the vacuum will one day cause my death

i picture it as the way i will one day die

an acccidental electrocution, running my Hoover over a patch of water, black ice of the carpet if you will

it will be a shocking death, a little like hari kari but not with as much choice involved

i will be swallowed whole by white light
hopeful all the flicks are gone from the living room rug

dead

i will look peaceful in death, slightly wind swept, mused hair with the list of chores happily complete

note on bubble

Please do click on the picture, for bigger, bolder better bubbles!

bubble

bubble
Originally uploaded by Kim's Suitcase.

check out the others at www.illustrationfriday.com
I am posting today, Thursday because today is a "yes" day, I am happily floppy and over tired and ridiculous in a nice way, but tomorrow it might be a "no" day because the late nights and broohaha, will have caught up with me and I will crash and rise like so many tiny bubbles to the surface of dilirium, or perhaps I will have a nice little cup of espresso, and let the yesssss continue.

Connect the dots

we are all connected like dots making the outline of the silly elephant with the silly hat in the cheaply printed newsprint colouring book

we are like stars too up in the heavens connected to make meaning and myth our own secure blankets pulled snug under our chins

like ice cubes melting and boiling and turning to steam

beads on a string

all in the darkened stage followspot finds us backlit and beautiful and if caught by surprize maybe bearing all