How to use this Page

When I get tired of uploading or creating products on my numerous online stores, I play scrabble with friends online, on facebook (if any of you would like a game just click on my FB link in the right frame and let's play, though I think it's for the whole world BUT the U.S. and Canada). This gives me ample time and opportunity to do quick sketches and just fool around with inspirational ideas. Today I pulled out an old photo of one of my dogs, Bertha (they never lie still long enough to draw live) which I liked because of its warped perspective, and decided to spin a fast sketch from it to make up for the tedious (but necessary) uploading process. Here you have it, warts and all from my moleskine sketchbook.

Do all dogs have that pathetic, sad "please love me and give me a treat" look on their faces? Mine certainly do. ALL the time. Bertha and her sister Bella have followed me all the way from Malaysia to Australia and now to France. I am stopped constantly by passers-by on our walks who wish to know what pedigree they are. I tell them with complete confidence and pride that my dogs have at least 10 different pedigrees in their blood. Pure Malaysian Street Dogs :)

I wouldn't be here in France on my own without their companionship and protection. 

It's not that I haven't been trying to make time to draw, but Life keeps getting in the way so I doodled a few type designs and then finally managed to draw this "Magicked Frog" to accompany a sweet story by a friend of mine. Had loads of fun doing them all but am still at my wit's end where time is concerned, reorganizing my home now that my shipping finally arrived from Australia ... here is what I've been playing with in between cleaning, clearing, unpacking and running errands:

Go Green Leaf cards and products at Floating Lemons Typography at Zazzle

Bertha blue cards and products at Floating Lemons Typography at Zazzle

Bella pink cards and products at Floating Lemons Typography at Zazzle

Hello purple cards and products at Floating Lemons Typography at Zazzle

I'm hoping to finish up household tasks and errands as soon as possible and get back to more drawing and blogging. WIsh me luck. Cheers.

Great Abaco Island, Bahamas

Population: 14,000 (2005 est.)

Coordinates: 26 25 N 77 10 W

Think of the trade winds, steady equatorial air currents, and you might imagine early European explorers drifting across the Atlantic towards a cluster of lush islands strung across the Caribbean Sea like a necklace of pearls. But it is these same winds that also bring an annual average of six hurricanes to this region between June and November—tropical storms that are beginning to make the news once again. In fact, just yesterday, the National Hurricane Center announced that Bertha, the second named storm of the 2008 season, had graduated to Category Three on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. So you’ll want to steer clear of Bertha, but if you’re searching for a “Hurricane Capital,” look no further than Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas; since 1851 it has endured 18 severe hurricanes (Category 3, 4, or 5) and 40 altogether which works out to about one every four years.

Ben Keene is the editor of Oxford Atlas of the World. Check out some of his previous places of the week.

ShareThis

The Ajan Warrior of the Night

“Well now we know why Miss Shannon had that big silly grin on her face a couple days ago. She’s got herself a brand new warrior page!”

“Ooh, it’s got everything! Let’s see, there’s Kishi and her ring, and her cape and arrows and it’s even got three different kinds of earrings!”

“It is a pretty nice page, huh?”

“Okay ladies, me and hunter girl over here have got our warrior stuff together. Let’s get with it! Where’s your new pages?! We’ve got four to go!”

“Oh my goodness”

“Heheee.. Ooh, if you wanna read one of the stories from Shannon-sama’s book when she’s the Huntress and fights monsters with her magical cat named Kishi, you should go see the Call of the Huntress page, ’cause we gots lots of neat stories! Have fun minna!”