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I’ve been seeing these little penguins in sweaters all over the web lately. The story behind these guys is that there was a massive oil spill in New Zealand effecting all kinds wild life including penguins. In an effort to save the birds they were being fitted with sweaters to keep them warm and from preening their oil soaked feathers. They looked so cute that the knitting sweaters for penguins request took off like a rocket ship but then came the controversy…because on the web there is always controversy. Did the penguins really need the sweaters or was it just one of those internet phenomenons? There are quite a few different takes… Some say they still need them, some say it stresses the penguins to be in sweaters, others say they need them to help a charity but not for real penguins (the charity is putting them on stuffed penguins and selling them to help raise money). The latest info I’ve read is that the penguin sweater knit-a-thon is still on. Tomorrow it might change. The internet is a funny place full of information that isn’t always as accurate as we’d hope.

Anyhow the story got me thinking and I know there’s a picture book in there somewhere. So I thought what if there was one little clever penguin who decided instead of asking for a sweater he wanted something else. Maybe while the volunteers were looking to opposite way that little guy jumped on a computer and asked for something else. I imagine as a stressed out little penguin a vacation to someplace warm and sunny might be just the ticket. And what if the message he sent out went viral. Donations started flooding in from all over the world, suddenly planeloads full of penguins in sweaters show up to beach side resorts everywhere and settle in for fun in the sun. How much fun would that be?

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©COPYRIGHT 2013. MB ARTISTS, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. some little woolie doodles...sigh...wish i could knit. happy friday!  "-)

I received a cool award from a fellow blogger! Check this out:

Its the Arte y Pico award. Its now sitting on my mantle next to the Oscar and Emmy.
It was given to me by the wonderful Leslie Hawes who is talented with colored pencils and also tells very entertaining stories on her blog. Thanks Leslie!
(I'm technically supposed to choose 5 deserving people to pass the award on to, but since I never play these games and Leslie knows that, I've been absolved from passing it along. Just so you know.)

And Ranjini, another super talented colored pencil artist, gave me a mention in her latest CPSA bulletin. I was really honored, thanks Ranjini! I'm feeling a bit sheepish though because I've been "off" my colored pencils a bit lately.
(Well, that's not entirely true. I actually just finished up a big children's book project, but what I mean is that I haven't done any of my "own" colored pencil work for a spell. )
Its time to get back to the board. Sometimes paying work takes over and who can say no to that?

Speaking of CPSA, did you know they have a blog now? Its very new, but hopefully it will be a good place to check in and find out what's going on in CPSA news for all of us CPSAers.

Boy howdy, I need to do some website and blog updating. Do you all get behind too? I need to put up some new art and do some rearranging of things and weeding out. It kinda feels like cleaning a closet or something.

Today is September 1st!!!!! I made it through the summer. I'm ecstatic that we'll be into Fall soon now. No more flip flops, and I can finally start wearing sweaters again. Soup! Pretty leaves! Fires in the fireplace! Gourds! Crisp air! Did I mention Sweaters! Uncontrolled Knitting!

But first I have to go render a building for an assignment, so I'm off to make fresh coffee and do that. Everyone have a good day! (If you're here in the US you're supposedly having a Labor Day holiday, unless you're an illustrator, for whom those kinds of holidays mean pretty much nothing.