8″x10″ acrylic, 2012. We bought three of these little guys in different colors from the gift shop at the wonderful Saratoga Children’s Museum. Sonja barely had to point at them and I was already gathering them up, saying, “of course we’re getting these!” I actually don’t often encounter toys that I’m moved to buy, but when I do, there is no hesitation. Rarely one to use a toy for its intended purpose, today Sonja stuffed this poor finger-puppet full to bursting with “noise putty.” Fun! And gross!
Tag: owl
Ian’s Owl
5″x7″ acrylic, 2012. As soon my dear friends Jon and Brian began the process of adopting a baby, their friend Mary rushed out immediately and bought this owl. Since that point, a couple of years fraught with anticipation and frustration culminated in the very recent addition of baby Ian to their family. Jon and Brian made sure that this owl, which is certainly symbolic of the support and will of their loved ones, was tucked in next to Ian as soon as he safely home. While visiting the adorable baby, I was able to take my own photos of the little toy, and I can tell you that it is incredibly soft and has a sort of comical presence. It’s made by an offshoot of Tomy called My Natural. If I had a chance, I might advise the company the their little sewn logo by the owl’s foot looked alarmingly like an angry alien face to me before I found out that it was a stem-and-leaf motif!
Choo Choo and Hoo Hoo
11″x14″ acrylic, 2009. Here’s an older sketch of two of Sonja’s little favorites. They are each about the size of an adult hand, and she has an assortment of animals about that size lined up along the top of her head board. I will admit that most of them were collected by my husband and myself long before she was born! Choo Choo Chicken was named when we found Sonja chewing on his foot as a baby… so I suppose that, really, we should spell it “Chew Chew?” It occured to me to post it today when I was amazed to stumble upon this post about a lost stuffed chicken identical to Choo Choo. We purchased ours from Target many years ago around Easter time, but I’ve never seen it anywhere since… hope they’re able to find another! Here are pre-Sonja portraits of Choo Choo and Hoo Hoo.
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Hoo Hoo
5″x7″ oil, 2005. Our Sonja, who is almost two, is under the impression that owls and penguins are the same animal. She’s not as familiar with real owls and penguins as she is the abstract variations of illustration, animation, and toy design, so I guess it’s understandable. This little owl is one of a the elite group of toys who live in Sonja’s crib. She is extra interested in him right now because she likes Little Bear (the show and the books) and is convinced that Little Bear’s friend Owl can fly to the moon.