advice of the week

good enough for government work?

Yesterday I read an article in the paper about the 2010 Census, and how the country is gearing up for another official head count in the next few months. I thought it might be a good employment opportunity, so I set up an appointment to take the test for Field Employee positions this morning. Last night I took the practice test provided online to familiarize myself with the kinds of questions that would be asked.

They're about what you'd expect from a government document. Here's a sample:

(The instructions tell you to refer to a provided outline of a chapter from a census procedures manual in order to answer this question.)

23. Which section of the manual tells how supplies such as pencils, erasers, and paper clips should be stored?

A 2.D2

B 2.D3

C 2.D5

D 2.H2

The correct answer is 2.D3, the section on "Storing small items".

Yup. It's government work all right.

No detail escapes attention.

There are even Official 2010 Census Government Pencils (No. 2 1/2) to use on the test.

Clearly, being a Census Enumerator is a Very Important Job.

I scored a 95 this morning...I'll let you know if that's good enough for government work.

stuff and nonsense...

A few months ago, an out of town relative

noticed this sticker on our car, and started chuckling uncontrollably.


It seems he immediately pictured a canine character

with that name, and told me I should sketch him...

So I did.

a page from my sketchbook

Way back in the Dark Ages when I was in high school, I was enamored of the fashion illustrations in the Sunday NY Times magazine. I thought I'd like to be a designer, or at least a fashion illustrator. Fast forward a *few* years, and here I am, designing haute couture for fairies...it just goes to show you that when you follow your dreams, you never know where exactly they might lead you!

Click here to see photos of the actual gown on the studio blog.

Have a lovely weekend!

"Even writers need relief from words."

~ sarah vowell ~

I'm coming up blank these days. I guess staying holed up in my studio, only venturing out on my twice-daily walks with the pups, or for quick trips to Trader Joe's for wine, doesn't make for very interesting stories. (Although, you should pop over to Mo's place...he can make an everyday bus commute sound like a scene in a Fellini movie.) I wish I had that guy's way with a story.

The good news is that I'm not blocked completely. I'm knee-deep in the creative process, it just doesn't involve writing at the moment. All my efforts are focused on things like this:

I honestly could not tell you why. It seems I have little control over the creative energy field that I'm channeling. I've just found it worthwhile to do what the voices tell me to. (I think they may be fairy voices, but that wouldn't exactly explain the other things I've been making...or would it?) Things like this:

or these:

Well, back to the studio. The fairies are waiting. Stay tuned for a giveaway soon!

wednesday's word

Rocks.

I've been collecting pebbles and smooth stones for a long time. (I have a particular fondness for heart-shaped ones.) I love to carry them around in my pocket and hold them in my hand, turning them over and feeling their smooth, round shapes. I even write words on them, so that they become talismans of sorts. The other day, I noticed I'm not the only one who does this. 

Check out these stones over at Geninne's place. She's an amazing illustrator in Mexico whose blog is a favorite of mine. I hope she inspires you, too!

how do you doodle? a buenos burritos giveaway!

She's done it again. Yesterday morning I was minding my own business, meandering aimlessly around the blogosphere, and landed (as I often do) on Bossy's site. I read her post, then the Guess and Press, and then finally moved on to her Favorite Things section, where she talks about...you guessed it: her favorite things.

In the recent past, these favorite things of Ms. Bossy's have included deflated basketballs, Converse sneakers, subways and cinnamon, to name a few. Many of these things we have in common. (Except maybe the subways...I spent way too much time on the IRT during high school) Anyway, yesterday's Favorite Things were little pocket-sized notebooks.


And that brings us back to what the heck it is that she's done again: she's inspired me! I'm a crazy note-taker, jotter and doodler myself, and I've gone through many, many, many little notebooks over the years. So it got me thinking and wondering how many other creative geniuses are out there, doodling away, just pages away from the next Big Idea.



Here's my Big Idea: send me a photo of your notebook(s), and don't forget to include a peek at the inside! The winner will be chosen by our team of impartial judges here at Camp Cactus (see photo below)



Deadline for submission is Thursday, September 11th. I'll post the best ones a week from today, Saturday, September 13th.

The winner will receive this beautiful, hand bound leather notebook, dimensions:4" x 5.5", (unsullied by my crazy doodles) to help you come up with your next Big Idea.



So, I'll be looking forward to seeing your doodles, lists, clippings, and inspiration. Just email your submissions to me at cactuspetunia {at} yahoo {dot} com

And thanks again for the inspiration, Bossy!