Sunday, February 6, 2011

Design Challenge of the Day....

Left to my own devices, I like to set little design challenges for myself. I get an idea in my head and work obsessively at it until I solve the puzzle. Occasionally I have a case of the I'm-so-bloody-clevers.

Exhibit A - the new purse pattern (yet to be fully revealed). I'm in love. (I love the I'm-so-bloody-clevers).

With the wee girl setting the challenges, I'm just glad when I come out the other side with something that approximates her vision of what is possible.

Case in point... Today, while visiting my parents (talking to my sister and knitting the Acacia in that rainbow cotton yarn...), the girl presented me with a cactus spike and told me that it was "a needle". Next came various forms of garden foliage - "the fabric" - and some sort of soft-but-strong shrubby bits, named "the thread". I was expected to make.....

... a cat. (Yes, really.)

Exhibit B - People of Blogland, meet Agapanthus the cat.

Between you, me and the gatepost, I reckon that poor old Aggie looks more like a bat.... but she passed muster with the design police (wee girl) so I can wipe my brow and sigh a big PHEW-got-away-with-that-one sigh.

My sister and I laughed that the wee girl will probably continue to play on my never-say-it-can't-be-made attitude... just for sport....

We pictured her telling her university friends, "Just watch... get her talking, hand her a pile of stuff and tell her to make it into [insert impossible outcome].... It's a hoot!"
Satisfied with the challenge being met, she then kept herself busy with drawings of Cranberry the cat, to show Granny and Grandad what he's like.

Cranberry chases butterflies....
Cranberry climbs the apple tree....
He sleeps on the armchair. (I love how she's drawn the piping around the armrests).
And he chases the goldfish.
In the car on the way home, the wee girl announced, "Mummy, you have to follow your dreams because if you don't, they won't come true. I'm going to follow my dream, and my dream is to fly." (I somehow think she will).

My little fledgling is about to fly off to her first day of school tomorrow. I'm torn between teary remembrances of my little baby, fears about her exposure to the big bad world and excitement in knowing how much she'll love learning and playing there....

But I can't help thinking of the teachers..... I don't think they know what they're in for....

25 comments:

thornberry said...

I'm sure that it will all go beautifully tomorrow Nikki. Take a deep breath all of you and jump off the branch and fly!

Larri said...

Oh, what precocious exhuberance she has! I'm sure she gets a lot of her crafty and imaginative talent from her Momma. :o)

PS...On LittleGirl's first day of school, she walked in and said, "I'm here. Where do I put my stuff?" LOL Those poor teachers!

Kate said...

How exciting, my girls nearly burst this week when they started! Good luck to you both!

Chrys Mc said...

ohhh give my lil munchkin a big squishy from me in the morning, and tell her I said to have a fantabulous day! (and tell her I will be waiting for an email soon about how its all going at big school)..and if you happen to see my other little munchkin friend from kinder (aka Rose A) tell her I said hello too!

Kate said...

I love everything about this post Nikki!
You two are a wonderful team.
Good luck for the morning. Bet she has a ball. X

Bree said...

Good luck tomorrow Nikki. For all the tears I shed the night before Sammy started, I was the proudest (non crying) Mum the next morning. I was just so excited that he was sooooooo excited to be there........I did, ahem cry when I picked him up though! : )

Tas said...

Fabulous post. Those drawings are amazing. I hope all goes well tomorrow and that both mummy and the wee girl have a great first day :)

willywagtail said...

Just be careful they don't treat her like a numbe and try to squash her uniqueness by making her conform to their little pigeon holes. It would be such a shame. Cherrie

trash said...

Had similar thoughts about her getting you to make stuff, I just didn't take it as far as Uni ;-)

A Peppermint Penguin said...

she's a chip of the ol block and no mistake!

Good luck for 1st day (or probably more likely, hope it went well!)

My sympathies to her teachers, I bet they haven't had a wire quite that live for a while. Make 'em earn their pay (and their holidays!) :D

It's going to seem very quiet in the studio for a while.

Cheers,
AJ

and my word verification is...

racat

which is what
ra wee lassie gets ra mummy ta mek!

Michele said...

I think it is wonderful that you have the ability, and willingness to make your daughter's dreams a reality. I am certain she believes, and why not?, that her mommy can do absolutely anything. I am agog at her imagination, and artistic abilities. Congratulations on raising such a delightful little girl. Michele

KC said...

What a great post! I love the cat you made and the cat in the paintings both. Your wee girl really captures that smug cat satisfaction well! And she couldn't be starting school with a better attitude!

CurlyPops said...

I hope the wee girl has a wonderful first day of school today. How exciting!

Unknown said...

Happy first day of school! I am sure the teachers will find her and her imagination a delight :)

Finki said...

what a wonderfully creative cat (; The things you can do with a few leaves. So cool that she's always presenting new challenges for you and more so that you meet them all. What a mum.
Big hugs for first day at school. You might not get much work done with pending silence and missing her a little, but soon it will seem as though this is how it always was.
She'll have a ball...oh and she'll come home starving and buggered. Not sure why it works like that, but have snacks and hugs prepared. xx

Fer said...

Oh so priceless! Good luck (to both of you!) with the first day of school, I reckon she'll have a ball.

Loving the new purse design too - yummy pleats!!

Jan said...

Nikki, I hope the wee girl's first day at school goes well for you both. With her oh-so-positive, anything's possible attitude, the teachers just won't know what hit them!

Jennie said...

I'm rolling with laughter over the green cat and the dream to fly. Oh lordy kids are the best.

Melanie Gray Augustin said...

Oh yes, she is certainly going to be a challenge for her teachers, but a truly delightful challenge I'm sure.

Love the new purse designs and I just love the thought that she'll continue to challenge your designs skills for ever more.

Megan said...

love the fabric for the purses. can't wait to see the rest.

Jenny from Ohjoh said...

I hope you all enjoy school.
I found it wonderful, sad, beautiful and miserable all at the same time when No 1 started school. He, however, thought it was GREAT and kissed us and off he went.
It's a big moment for kids and mums & dads!
Enjoy

flowerpress said...

I'm thinking that girl should just skip school and head straight for design college, she's a natural ;-)

Catherine said...

Oh, she's amazing - hope she had a great first day! I really love Exhibits A and B too - yes you are (bloody clever)

Lynette said...

...If I ever get another cat it WILL be called 'Agapanthus'
love it!!!

bec said...

I think the prep teacher will NEED those wednesdays off for the first month or so, to prepare answers for your wee girl! I asked mine's new teacher how she went on the first day, I recieved 'there's one in every class' as an answer. Hmmm, I think she means the talking!
Great drawings, wee girl!