Following the light of the sun, 

we left the Old World. 

christopher columbus

Hot rollers, sponge rollers, perm rollers. Metal clips, barrettes, and hairpins, not bobby pins. These are the styling tools of the old world, and indeed, the vintage supplies pictured are mostly mid-century pieces belonging to my 97 year-old grandmother. Because she uses only a comb and a brush to keep her hair neat now, these supplies would have eventually been tossed if I hadn't rescued them. I wasn't completely sure what I would do with them, but shortly after they came into my possession, I was cleaning out an art file when I found some drawings I'd done in the late 90s. Here's one:

Seeing this reminded me of the beauty routine and supplies I once had, and beyond that, I recalled the days of watching my sisters primp. They were so glamorous with their lighted make-up mirrors and Conair Ready-Set-Go steam rollers. I thought about how we all knew what phrases like "get ready" and "go out" entailed. I thought about how the process of getting ready to go out oozed with hope and anticipation, but sometimes the prep wasn't worth the trouble. Some events and outings just never measured up to the efforts we put into our look.

In the end, I realize I took my grandmother's supplies because there are stories in those items, and now I see characters in most hair styling tools. Thinking about those characters prompted me to reimagine the girl above, and as I messed around with pattern paper and some canvas and fabric scraps, a whole group of girls stepping out into the world began calling to me, wanting their story told. Hopefully they don't mind waiting while I organize a few other art novel ideas I'm toying with. But you know a girl in rollers...she can be antsy and impatient. 

October Graphic Novel Celebration

It's been a few years since I became slightly obsessed with graphic novels and art novels, and when Franki Sibberson announced the plan for a graphic novel celebration on the The Nerdy Book Club blog, I went right to the bookshelf to decide which book to share. The format for this celebration is outlined here, and I'm joining the party a week late, so there were posts and tweets last week. I hope you'll all enjoy this month-long ode to the graphic novel, and maybe participate too. For me, it'll be a chance to learn about new books and fill the gongoozler book love files. I've picked Stitches for my first post. And so off we go...

Stitches: A Memoir 

by David Small

readership: mature middle grade readers through adult

Stitches is the first graphic novel I read cover to cover, entranced, enthralled. It’s an incredibly paced memoir depicting author/illustrator David Small’s mid-century childhood experience. Being time period specific doesn’t hold this novel back, though, and it’s truly an every-kid-any-year story with deeply relatable coming of age themes.

From the start, Small puts the reader in his city, his house, his body, and immediately, the reader senses the disjointed relationships in David’s family. Because the emotional bankruptcy is palpable, we connect deeply with David and understand the dark gaps of miscommunication that exist between him and his brother and his parents. For David, his language becomes illness, and when his doctor-father responds, he speaks with medical treatment. One treatment, x-ray, actually damages David's thyroid, and after two surgeries, David also loses a vocal cord, rendering him somewhat speechless.

As the next few years unfold, David has a rough go of it. He feels mistreated, invisible, but as he allows a therapist to hear his story and see his art, he begins patching emotional wounds. In contrast, his parents—and their secrets—are unraveling. Soon, his determination not to inherit their habits of silence and miscommunication push David to leave home. He’s sixteen and fends for himself, finding an apartment, finishing school, and exploring art seriously. In the end, he becomes his own hero and works to understand his family’s shadowy side. And though it’s not overtly written or illustrated in the novel, David’s ultimate success is clear. He excels at beautiful communication, evidenced in his work with children’s books and Stitches.

To learn more about the writing and art of David Small, visit his website. His second graphic novel is now in progress. Can't wait.

Today, my calendar tells me, is the first day of Autumn. I've noticed it edging in on us. I've noticed it trying not to be hot, trying to soften its stark, blinding light. Just last week, I noticed the sunshine filtering through the tree branches, proof that the desert sun has dropped lower in the sky. Ah, such relief. And I'm ready for change. Even after a summer of new developments, switcharoos, and change overs. For some lovely reason, anything that happens in autumn feels kinder, gentler, more impactful.

Since the beginning of September I've been eyeball deep in writing and art projects. It's been a stumbly start, but I'm back to writing and arting full-force. I hope to post more often too. Especially since I'm inspired to share some interesting personal items that have come into my possession since spring. These mid-century keepsakes and craft items, like the tangle of leftover embroidery thread pictured above, inspire me in cool and curious ways. Often I imagine characters and stories that relate to the objects and materials...often these characters ache to have their voices heard. Hmm. We'll see where that goes.

Wishing you a joyous and inspired autumn!

"If you are interested in something, no matter what it is, go at it full speed. Embrace it with both arms, hug it, love it, and above all become passionate about it. Lukewarm is no good."

Roald Dahl