Look Ma, I’m Famous!

There’s my Moby! I am so stunned and honored that he is considered good enough to hang out with such illustrious pieces. He was my first major beading project (I did one small goddess doll to practice), but I did put a lot of time and love into him so it’s wonderful to see him recognized in all his beastly beady goodness.

Moby is Smiling Today!

I got the email - Moby has been awarded an Honorable Mention! There were eighteen winners selected; as one of these, he will be displayed at BeadFest in Santa Fe this weekend, then again in Philadelphia at their BeadFest in August. He will also get a glamour shot in Beadwork magazine in the summer issue! I'm planning to go to Philly to see him on exhibit.

I'm thrilled, of course; I put several months and untold finger-sticks into him. He is not the prettiest creature, but then again he's not supposed to be; he's a battle-hardened warrior who has seen the very worst that Man and Nature can serve.

You know how when one of your friends or relatives is pregnant, all of a sudden it seems like *everyone* is pregnant? I've seen so many references to Moby in the past few months it's incredible: from DVDs of old Rocky & Bullwinkle episodes about "Maybe Dick" to the Yankee Magazine coverage of the marathon reading of the novel every January in New Bedford, he pops up all over the place. Does that make him trite? Gee, I hope not; I've become so fond of him.

The Whale Really IS Rising!

Whee! I got the email - Moby is a finalist!

I have to ship him to CO for judging; if he makes it big he'll go to Santa Fe! I'm so excited for him - there are likely some serious competitors out there, and I really have not done him justice. I hope he's not too disappointed by being among such glamorous company. I will miss him; he keeps me company atop my desk at present. Now, to find $25 and a really good box ...

Moby Rising

I thought one of the ways I could introduce myself would be to introduce you to some of my past pieces. This is Moby - he was worked over several months in Delica size 11 seed beads. Mostly peyote stitch, with a little bead embroidery and some flailing thrown in for good measure. I made a "stuffie" out of muslin for the base; he's about 12 inches long, with a stand made from a stump I pulled out of the Connecticut River. I have entered him in the Beaded Book contest Interweave Press is sponsoring. I have no illusions about his chances of winning, but he was a genuine pleasure to make. Most surprising: my view of the book has changed as a result of working him. I've read Moby Dick several times, including with my book discussion group at the local library, so was familiar with the material; but as I worked on this figure, I had to reassess what I thought not just about the Beast, but also Ahab, Ishmael, and even Melville. I've always like Good versus Evil themes; the fun bit is, neither is clearly defined in this tale.


Eyeball:




Tail:



Scars from a longago battle with a giant squid:



His teeth are wooden Tuga beads that I had to saw in half. Did you know most male sperm whales have teeth in their upper jaws that never erupt? While researching this (what fun! Hooray for Marvel Classics!) I realized that 99% of Moby illustrations are just plain wrong!




I made the harpoons out of a birch branch; I whittled them, stained them with husks from my black walnut tree fruit, and had hubby drill a teensy hole in each for the eyepin harpoon. His blowhole is an off-center "S" shape as described, but I just couldn't bear to tear a hole in his fluke; I had come to like him too much by the time it was appropriate to tear him up!


If you'd told me 25 years ago I would actually like Melville's work I would have looked scornfully at you from behind my kohl-smeared eyes, blown smoke in your face, put a defiant hand on hip, and told you to bug off. Now he's ... not a hero exactly, but certainly someone whose mind I have come to respect. And the Whale has become one of my favorite literary characters.