Bingo Hour

I re-drew this comic I had done over a year ago and finessed it a bit to submit to the Manitoban for next week.
I was totally smiling the whole time.
Man, I had forgotten the feeling of being "the caller" during the Bingo hour twice a week!!

You might know this already but people get really crazy during a game of bingo. There is a whole culture of superstitious behaviour: tiny trolls, certain coloured bingo boards, lucky tiddly-wink styled chips of a certain colour. I love the whole scene, the ceremony of it all.
There was this one lady, Mary, who had a rhyme for EVERY number I called. For example, B8: Set them straight, B5: I feel alive! I got so distracted listening to all her amazing rhymes one game that I got complaints for calling too slow. That is the other thing: people get temperamental about the pace of the game. They like a few quick "one line any way" games to warm up and then they want to get down to business with the classic "X" or "Black-Out"...But oh my goodness, if you call TOO FAST you get a whole lot of complaining too.

It takes a lot of practice to call a game of Bingo in a nursing home: There are a lot of things to be aware of outside of the regular game...make sure you seat people very strategically, learn how to patiently repeat the same stuff many times in a non-irritated voice and keep that bucket of chocolate eggs visible: the folks like to keep an eye on the prize!

Also, you will have to get up and redirect Mildred (very large lady in her wheelchair) several times during the hour because she comes in yelling it's NOT her birthday and all hell breaks loose.

Wear a Face

Things are underway for a very exciting collaboration between tijit (the devon half) and designer extraordinaire: "Tony Chestnut" (the fabulous and talented Jill)

She is a one-woman show from start to finish, check out her website and her latest creations here:

http://www.tonychestnut.ca/

So, when Jill approached me about silkscreening my hand-inked drawings on to Tony Chestnut scarves I very promptly said yes! Our plan is to print these very large faces on to beautifully dyed and sewn raw silk scarves. I am pretty sure they are going to be AWESOME.

Jill will be selling them at a craft show in Winnipeg near the end of November...but for you hip folks with cold necks that don't live in Winnipeg, I will give you more details on how you can get one of your own in a few weeks.

In other news, I am busy drawing a new story for tomorrow. (Wow, a blog entry, some printed things AND a comic in one day?!)

Always thankful for the days that my one-year old has epic naps.

Mozy Rue

You can now buy our hand-printed "tijit" designs at the sweetest little eco collective at the end of my street!

We are so excited to be a part of this wonderful boutique: it's beautiful, features local designers, has many handmade things made from preloved objects and tons of eye candy to drool over.

Everyone can find one special thing to go home with at Mozy Rue. Pop in and say hi on your way along Osborne Street!

And by the way, check out the nice shout-out I found on their blog this week:

http://ecocraftcollective.blogspot.com/2010/10/hey-its-tijit.html

Bitter Sweet

Whenever I sit down to draw one of these old friends, or tell their story there is not one emotion I can definitely commit to. I am happy to have known them, sad they are gone, disappointed in the living situation they had to endure while struggling with Alzheimers...and then the whole meditative act of drawing and writing as I remember is somehow life affirming.
All these things at once.
I think aging, for some folks, tends to bring their personalities and life-expereinces in to sharper focus...what does your mind hold on to as the other stuff slips away? Your love, your children ...the place where you grew up? Thinking about aging makes me hyper-aware of the life I am living right now- I will be reminiscing about it one day too.
A four panel doesn't tell it all but I sure try to cram in as much of it as possible.

The man, the mystery.

I am hoping to submit this drawing today to the Dave Barber Birthday Party (Art Auction) Bash to raise money for the Cinematheque in Winnipeg. It's rainy and windy and i am planning on carrying my one year old wearing his halloween costume on one hip with this drawing tucked safely under the other arm.
whew! The things we do in the name of art.
If you don't know who Dave Barber is, he is a fine gentleman who works for the Cinematheque. He is a wonderful dude to have involved with the arts community in this city.
Hey, If you are planning on going to the party you should throw some money down for this drawing...it's for a good cause!

In Print!

So, my old folks comics are going to be featured weekly (on the Diversions Page) in The Manitoban newspaper here in Winnipeg. It was pretty cool to see Lloyd printed on newsprint in all his glory this week.
And, the amazing cover for this weeks edition is a painting by my good pal, and very talented artist: s. arden hill!

that was a fast year

So this week I have been focusing my art-making on decorations and invites for Rowan's First Birthday party...I did not draw this particular image (haven't had the chance to scan lately) But I wanted to share it anyways. Birthday appropriate wouldn't you say?

And if I could just brag for a second: I folded some beautiful origami paper and then sewed pieces to a ribbon to create two very charming banners. Can't wait to see them hanging from the house and tree outside. No rain please!