Archives for the month of: January, 2016

Carly_Photography (114 of 134)

Remember the beautiful pictures my friend Carly took at the launch of the Artist’s Survival Cookbook? I promised then I would write a special post about her as I truly admire her work and her as a person. Today is the day when I finally honour that promise. It has taken this long as Carly was working on her new website Fossick and Forage, which she finally launched last night. I’m sure you’ll agree with me that she is an excellent photographer and food stylist. She is also an amazing person, full of life and craving for new experience. I was impressed with how she magically transformed a run-down old church hall into a warm and welcoming place for my launch. And I was even more excited when I saw that the first  Story on her webpage is dedicated to the launch of my book. Comparing the photographs each of us has chosen for our sites illustrates brilliantly how you can tell a story simply by selecting the imagery. While I was looking for the people shots that conveyed the vibe of the day, Carly focused on the mood of the bygone era. (And no, I am not the lady she has selected as her poster girl for the story :). It’s also interesting to find out what others say about you. Thank you so much, Carly!

 

mole close up

Mole got a big fright when he saw the identikit picture L’Artiste has drawn up and placed around the studio. I wonder if anyone will recognise him and turn him in.

guilty Lil-dedes2

Bobby the policeman is always in uniform. He even sleeps in it so it wasn’t stolen along with the other ones. It’s lucky he does because he still has a body! The Dedes asked him to investigate to find out what happened to their robes. Bobby rounded up some of the Lil’Dedes and started questioning them. They were quite incensed. With the assertiveness only a short puppet can have, one of them stepped forward, looked Bobby firmly in the eye and said, “just because we’re little doesn’t mean we’re guilty!” Look at their clothes. Honestly, they are much more elaborate than the black robes the Dedes always wear. What was he thinking?

nuddy swim

So, Lil’Dede Mole has taken off with all the robes. This was a real blow for the Dedes and needs to be investigated. They have now become so accustomed to their clothes that they feel extremely self-conscious without their proper attire. But for now nothing could be done about it so they wondered what else they could do on hot summer’s day. Well, you can go for a swim in the nuddy they thought, and off they went to the beach. Unfortunately, what looked like an inviting sparkling blue ocean turned out to be a sea of plastic. “No birds here either” said Clown disappointed. This has to be investigated too.

drycleaners

When Foxy Lady got out of the suitcase at dawn, Mole, one of the Lil”Dedes was just packing up all the robes the Dedes had thrown on the floor.   “Ah, great” Foxy Lady said “will you take them to the dry clearners?”  Mole got a big fright, grabbed what he could and ran while muttering “I will take you to the cleaners, but not the dry ones.”

box voll

Today was a holiday for the Dedes, they stayed in their suitcase in the art cupboard. Not their favourite place, but I like to keep them in the dark. I am worried they will fade too quickly when they are exposed to light all the time. At the moment I am revising old material and I am planning a few ebooks with Dede stories. The first one up will be the “Super Dede Competion.” This was definitely one of our highlights on the blog. Does anyone remember it?

lartiste painting

L’Artiste is wondering why the garden is teeming with Dedes looking for their Dopplegängers. Loudmouth started the craze, accidentially I might add. Then Monkey went out there. Cash Cow and Push Push the elephant have tried their luck in the garden as well, and who knows who else. I haven’t checked lately but I can tell you it’s like being at a fun fair out there. L’Artiste stayed put in his quiet corner of the studio and shook his head in disbelieve, muttering “why would I bother? I know I am unique!”

Note from the artist behind the scenes: Now I have a confession to make. On Instagram the Dedes tell a totally different story. Similar pictures though. On Instagram Loudmouth met her ‘role model’, rather than her Dopplegänger. And here L’Artiste asks “why would I need a role model? I am the role model!” Different realities, eh. I try to keep everything in sync, but is is worthwhile to check out Instagram, there is also some additional footage. So if you are on it anyway, you might want have a looksie.

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Monkey was intrigued by Loudmouth’s experience and being such a ‘me-too’ puppet he wanted to meet his doppelgänger as well. Out he ventured into the garden, though the best place to find a monkey is in the jungle. He searched for the thickest growth. Luckily I was there and could prevent him from taking to it with a machete. You can imagine his disappointment when I told him he was actually sitting between the lettuce and the tomato plants in the vege patch. He scratched his head and then his eyes lit up. “Ah, I know where I have seen my doppelgänger. Follow me!” And with these words he ran into the house, straight into the bathroom and blew kisses at the mirror. “No, this is your reflection,” I lectured him. I could see his frustration. “This must be it then,” he said and pointed to the cup from dededesign zazzle store.”Please do me a favour and look up what dopplegänger actually means!” I said, before he could grab a pen and draw his face on something.

 

 

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Loudmouth, the Dede chicken, ventured out into the backyard today. And guess what, she bumped into her Doppelgänger. The Dedes are very shy and don’t talk to strangers willy nilly. They like to watch for a while but there were so many similarities that it was easy to get into a conversation. It was only when the new friend asked “Are you for real?” that Loudmouth took offence. I don’t think this friendship will last.

 

 

 

 

garlic plaiting

The Dedes agreed on one thing yesterday evening.  Devil has to get off the phone. He defended his behaviour by saying it was all research for the Dedes at large. They didn’t believe him and decided on a phone-free Tuesday (every week from now on). Then, one of the other puppets will babysit the phone and Devil has to do chores around the house and garden. Today he has to help Mouse plait the garlic she harvested earlier. He is not a happy chappy. “Hang on,” he said. “Didn’t we all say we should agree on a decision? I haven’t!” “Overruled!” “So much for decision by consent!”