Shannon Larratt is Zentastic

So finishing this rag rug has become a bit of an obsession for me. I made a lazy move about a third of the way in and made the whole task more difficult (basically the outside is wound looser than the inside so it's tenting a bit as I pull it together), but I could do a way better job if I do another one… I have a ton of sisal rope that I picked up for another project though so I think when this carpet (I guess it'll end up being a bathmat or something) I'm going to make a basket for my overflowing collection of markers with it or something. Either way, I just love the process of making stuff.

I got a new flatbed scanner today (it's not hooked up yet). You may remember that I dismantled my old one after it stopped being able to register a full color range… Anyway, I got it because the work on my first children's book is starting to move along quite well. It's a collection of poems and accompanying drawings a la Alligator Pie and books that I liked as a kid…

(I doodle ideas while I wait for my various doctor's appointments)

I really scratch my head at how shockingly bad kids books are. It surprises me a lot because I see so many webcomics that are just brilliant and charming (way nicer than anything I can make, not that I don't love my own stuff too — but there's such an ocean of creativity right now in the world), so I know the talent is out there, and really, creating whimsy for kids isn't particularly hard… So who knows if it's a conspiracy to make children stupid or some larger truth of the publishing industry?

Other than that I've been chugging along on a really wonderful interview that started out on the subject of atypical female genital piercing and has moved into an eye-opening conversation on the postgender experience that I hope people will enjoy when it's posted next week. I'll probably post a little mini-interview on female genital implants for the weekend as well I hope…

Anyway… I think I'm off to Ciro's later tonight for a drink with Blair.