Posted By Kathleen David on September 9, 2012
Since I turn 49 today.
Short version now, longer entry later so check back. We are on our way to the Ren Faire this morning and we are rushing to get out the door. So letter to myself later.
I am grateful that I have made it to my 49th year.
Posted By Kathleen David on September 8, 2012
I have been in a creative slump recently. I have been creating because I had to not because I needed to. Deadlines have a wonderful way of focusing me. I only had 5 pieces in the Dragon*Con Art Show when I thought I would have about 15 done total. And I was lucky to get those done. I had to get the three Doctors who were needed for the sketch. I had sold 1 and 5 and given 8 to Paul McGann. The 5 was my third 5 since the first one is owned by Peter Davison which he had thanked me for and I know from a third party that he has it out in his living room. All the Doctors I used were either the 2nd or 3rd time I had created them. I need to send 6 to Collin Baker. I got Captain Jack to John Barrowman this DragonCon so I might have to make another one of those since he is fun to walk around with.
Anyway, back to creative slump. When one’s motivation to get things done is panic, it is not as much fun. But panic and push was all that I had this summer which is unusual for me (which those who know me can attest to). Yes, I did have a little more travel than I had planned for and I had a couple of projects that needed to get done before I got to Dragon*Con.
Then I went to Dragon*Con and got to play with my fellow puppeteers. I renewed old friendships and made some new ones. I got to talk puppets and puppetry. I participated in the puppetry slam which was wonderful. I talked to artists I have known for years and those I just met. And I talked to the fans who told me how much they love my puppets and my dolls. I had a couple of people tell me that they were a little disappointed that I had only puppets this year, they wanted to see my dolls but for many Vincent made up for it.
I had to think on my feet a lot for my various panels. We did a costuming on a budget panel and I had the audience tell us their dream costumes and we gave them ways to reach it without breaking the bank. I found myself running through half a dozen ways I would do something and it was like a dam broke. I could think creatively without pushing. This was re-enforced when I did the puppetry on a budget panel.
I have a million ideas now and ways of doing them and I WANT to do them rather than just think about it.
So I am going to look at my list and start at the top which is finishing up Shana’s puppets and sending them off to her for the school year. Then I have some dolls to finish for a swap and I will be onto NYCC and things I want to for that show.
So thank you everyone who helped me break through my slump at Dragon*Con. I feel tired but renewed. Extra special thanks to all my fellow puppeteers. I enjoy renewing my bonds to that tribe.
I am grateful that my brain seems to be working correctly (for me) again.
Posted By Kathleen David on September 7, 2012
First I have to say Thank You to Pat, Regina, Lee, Bev, Beau, Anne, John, and all their helpers and minions for the convention and how well it ran for me. Special thank you goes out to Patrick Freedman for saving my butt on my “Not Da Muppet” panel (always check your electronics and make sure that the plug worked on the last computer works on the current model.) Thanks to Hannah Miller and Cherlyn Lambeth for jumping in at the last minute to bring “Lord of Time” to life. We did that with next to no rehearsal. Thanks to Rachel Wyman, John Hudgens and Jamie Karmin for being there for what little rehearsal we did have this year. Thanks to Whitney Carnes who stage managed the puppet slam and got us in order and ready to go in record time. Thanks to all my fellow puppeteers, the slam was awesome and I am honored to have participated in it. Thanks to all my fellow panelists. And finally a Big Ol’ Thank YOU to all the volunteers and hotel staff that makes DragonCon possible.
My biggest complaint the entire weekend was the area in front of the blood drive in the Marriott where you could go to the food court or to the Hyatt. I lost more time at that junction then anywhere else at the convention. And it was not like the hotel staff, security, and the volunteers didn’t try to keep traffic moving but things just happened like someone’s electric scooter running out of power in the middle of the hallway. Or the perfect storm I saw of one scooter from the right, one from the left and an SUV of a stroller coming out of the blood drive area having just attended a panel there. No one wanted to give ground. Saturday I started going out the doors and walking across the street again between the Hyatt and the Marriott just so I could get to places on time.
Getting from Point A to Point B was a bit of a challenge but I allowed for extra time and I just on time or early for each of my panels.
I do like that the food court got its act together and snaked the lines so that one could move around with relative ease.
John Barrowman is a good hugger. Just saying. Scott is a real sweetheart too.
If you ever get to see Heather Henson’s IBEX Puppetry troop, GO. Next show is in New Hampshire at the Squam Lakes Nature Center this Saturday (Sept. 8th 2012). They do seriously awesome work and the puppets are beautiful. They are based out of Orlando so my Orlando peeps should keep an eye out for their shows. Heather is as gracious as her dad was and very giving of her time. I will always appreciate her participating on the Fraggle Rock panel.
Doc Whoopee’s party rocked as usual. I am sorry that I couldn’t talk to everyone as much as I wanted. I had a lot of people vying for my attention there and after midnight I was running around with my iPhone getting people who know Ariel to wish her a happy 21st birthday. I think a couple of my friends were a bit overwhelmed by the party. That party sort of ran for three days so that was where I went after I was done with everything else. I know a couple of people were looking for me in the VIP room because I make an appearance there which I did but it was brief.
Rib night was the usual interesting mix of Peter and my friends and family. Peter was not doing the Saturday Night Masquerade so he and the others commented as the show went. I had to leave half way through because I had puppet slam. All the food except half a bag of chips was consumed. Could have used more chicken.
Already trying to figure out what we want to do next year in the puppet slam. And what I am going to bring to the Art Show. And what panels I am going to suggest. And….well I guess I am going to DragonCon next year. See you there.
I am grateful for everyone who volunteered at the convention.
Posted By Kathleen David on September 6, 2012
Puppets and DragonCon have gone together for me over the years like Peanut Butter and Jelly. Some of my best and most memorable experiences at DragonCon have puppets involved in them. This year was no exception and probably more so than any other DragonCon before it.
I am putting the rest of this entry behind the cut so I don’t overwhelm the reader with too much at once.
Posted By Kathleen David on August 31, 2012
You know how I tend to say that a trip to a convention is uneventful and I am very happy that it was uneventful. Well this drive down was eventful and I really wish it hadn’t been.
Peter is a good driver. Let me rephrase that slightly, Peter is a GREAT driver. He has really good reaction time and is aware of what is going on around him. His reaction time has saved us more than one potential fender bender and Wednesday night I can honestly say that he saved our lives.
We were in Virginia in an area that was three lanes with construction around so there was little to no shoulder of the road. Peter was in the left lane going at the speed of traffic when he heard someone trying to pass him on the left. Now stop and think about that for a moment. In the left lane, no shoulder and passing on the left. Peter saw in the rearview mirror a white car coming up way too fast so he reacted and moved to the right and applied the breaks in a safe fashion (i.e. not slamming them on.) The person in the car to our left lost control of their car and went spinning out of control almost hitting us three time total while Peter tried to keep out of the person’s way. Then the car hit the right embankment and flipped end to end landing on what I think was a concrete barrier or a rock and it looked like it split in two but it did land on the roof. It was like an advertisement for the 3-D effect for one of those doggone Final Destination films. Pieces of bumper and tire and car went whizzing either past or over the car while Peter continued to keep us out of harms way.
At this point we could hear and see the sirens of the police that were chasing this car coming up rapidly. There was nothing we could do for the driver so we drove on just so very happy to be alive. Caroline, fortunately, slept through the entire thing. We were very happy to be alive and unharmed through a very scary situation.
The rest of the drive was uneventful and believe me when I tell you that I am grateful for that.
We got to the hotel only to discover that our room was not ready because the person who was suppose to check out decided NOT to check out so the lovely people at the Marriott had to find us a room which they did. Serious Kudos to the staff here at the Marriott Marquis, they manage to deal with the beast that is DragonCon very well. Since we didn’t have our room, I decided to take Caroline to my folks since she is spending the next couple of days there. We had a nice visit and by the time I got back Peter was in our room for the convention.
Peter’s sister and her husband are here as well so we had a short visit with them and sorted out the badge stuff before I finally got Peter to take a nap. While he napped, I unpacked our stuff and finished a few details on the puppets that I was putting in the Art Show this year.
I went over to the Art Show with my art work and ran into several people that I have known for years. There was catch up and the like. After setting up in the Art Show, I did a fast wander of the convention and saw a number of people I haven’t seen since last year. It was nice to have conversations in a place where you aren’t looked at funny since you have a Wookie messenger in fact you get compliments.
I went back to the room a little after nine where Peter emerged from his deep sleep. I watched Project Runway and went to sleep. Woke up with one heck of a headache at 4:30 and got up about 5:15 to see if I can get the headache back to a dull roar so I can get some sleep that I need before the first day of DragonCon really starts.
I am putting the photos of my pieces in the Art Show under a cut since this is getting a bit long.
I am so very grateful for my husband’s driving skills.
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