Fireside Questions for Santa

December 24, 2014December 24, 2014 / jrmilson / 4 Comments

With Christmas Day drawing nigh,

I have some questions and wonder– “Why?”

Like, what is it about Santa that makes little kids cry?

And how in the world does he get reindeer to fly?

How high do leaves go when they “mount to the sky”?

How many toys do elves make versus having to buy?

So going to stay up late, or at least I’ll try,

And will hide behind the sofa, on Santa to spy.

I want to face him– eye to eye,

To directly ask the jolly elf guy—

“With no disrespect or meaning to pry–

How is it a fat old man can be so spry?

And get down the chimney without bruising a thigh?”

So busily hanging stockings by the chimney to dry,

While waiting here for Santa with questions to ply,

But for now I’m hungry and will bid “goodbye”,

Here anxiously awaiting the Old Boy to drop by.

Goodness, gracious, me oh my.

I wish that I had some Pumpkin Pie!

Wishing a Merry Blessed Christmas to all– “and to all a Good Night!”

— Jim (and Red!)

Santa Claus Drying Socks By The Fireside

Steampunk Ripples & Bearpunk Pranks!

December 18, 2014 / jrmilson / Leave a comment

The Christmas and Holiday Season is all about giving and sharing. Kindness. Stories of random acts of kindness and their far-reaching effects are in the news every day this time of year. But they are there the rest of the year, too. We just need to look for them. When one does an act of kindness, passes along a smile, compliment, comforting touch or gesture, there is no telling how far the positive effects may reach. It could change someone’s day. It could change a life. It could change the world. It’s all about– ripples.

So I thought it would be appropriate and fun to share a few treasured gifts received from some very good friends this year- the artist Christine Southworth and her daughter, the writer Sylva Fae. And– ripples.

As modern times and the internet would have it, Christine and Sylva are two wonderful, charming people who I have never had the pleasure to actually meet in person yet, but who have nevertheless inspired and influenced my life over the past year in a very positive way thru their shared artworks and writings. Which makes it all even more incredible. It is a perfect example of creating ripples, and watching a single act multiply and impact others one by one in turn.

Mother Teresa Quote– Ripples

Earlier in the year, I wrote a blog post titled “Expand Your Horizons on a Walk Around the Block!” After reading that post, which apparently resonated with her, Christine gifted me back an original drawing, entitled “Milson, the Steampunk Bear.” This drawing has since been the featured image on my blog here, on the right. Needless to say, I was blown away by her talent, kindness and generosity.

“Milson, the Steampunk Bear”- Original Art by Christine Southworth

A few months later, having fun, Christine’s daughter Sylva surprised me with a poem inspired by the drawing “Milson, the Steampunk Bear.” I would like to share that poem with you here. Again, I was amazed with such a wonderful and creative gift, totally out of the blue. Other bears mentioned in the poem were inspired by earlier creations of mine, available for review in the Gallery, linked above.

“MILSON- THE STEAMPUNK BEAR”

“Hello! I’m Milson the steampunk bear. No other bear can compare.

I’m quirky, fluffy but beware, I have a secret– “Shhh, don’t share!”

When all the grown-ups go to sleep, down the stairs, I do creep.

Through the catflap, quietly sneak, across the step with one big leap.

In sun or rain or snowy weather, I wear my hat with jaunty feather.

Goggles and specs I wear together, with studded boots of shiny leather.

I grab my bike from garden glade, for my nightly escapade.

A steampunk biker renegade, ready for the bear parade.

Meeting at the dead of night, Old Glory bears reunite.

It really is quite a sight, Hats on, pegs up. Hold on tight!

There’s Butterscotch Spike on his brass heart bike.

Horace revs a vintage trike, and Sidecar Elsie’s quite a tyke.

Grumpy Gus on a golden chopper, Old Boone loves his ride in copper.

Gaarrth’s a steamcycle whopper, and Tuffie’s trike is good ‘n’ proper.

All the rest in leather and lace, come and join the bearpunk race.

Engines roar as bears give chase, and Grumpy Gus takes first place.

Taking off at lightning speed, a steampunk cycle is my steed.

I know I can, I will succeed. Head down, ears back, I take the lead.

Engine off, put on the brake. The trophy is mine to take.

We feast on mead and fruity cake, then home before the grown-ups wake.”

—by Sylva Fae

Earlier this week for my birthday, Christine gifted me with another piece of artwork—“Milson the Steampunk Bear Finishes the ‘Go Anywhere, Do Anything’ Chair.” That’s him, the little bear with the wrench in his hand on the bottom right. I was honored to receive such a gift- again. We have had an ongoing discussion thru the week as to whether “housework” might be included in the “Do Anything” operating manual.

“Milson, the Steampunk Bear Finishes the ‘Go Anywhere, Do Anything’ Chair”- original artwork by Christine Southworth

Already inspired and moved to action from the original drawing and poem, this latest piece served to reinforce the message. It has been received, loud and clear, and it seemed time for “Milson the Steampunk Bear” to take form.

This little guy is the first of some new Bearpunk patterns and of what will be a whole new line of work and creations, as “Steampunk Bearpunk Bears and Accessories” will make their way into my store after the first of the year. While a departure from the Traditional, Vintage and Country Primitive stylings I have been making, they will be a fun new complement and addition. And if this first fellow- “Milson, the Steampunk Bear” is any indication, it’s going to be a blast working on them!

Milson, the Steampunk Bear– German Mohair, Glass Eyes, by James Milson, 2014

And it all started from a Blog post, which moved an artist an ocean away to create a drawing, which inspired a daughter to create a poem, which in turn led to the creation of another artwork, which led me out of my own comfort zone and to the creation of new teddy bear designs and store line. Which hopefully leads to more enjoyment and fun for who knows how many more folks in the coming years. A single ripple reaching distant shores and flowing back. And back. And back. If ever undecided about doing an act of kindness for someone—do it. You never know whose world you may be changing.

Here is a link to visit Sylva’s delightful blog → “Sylvanian Ramblings Blog”

Christine is a frequent contributor of original watercolor paintings and other artworks on Sylva’s blog, just look thru earlier posts for beautiful artwork and delightful posts by Sylva there. You can learn more about Christine in a recent Guest Post on Sylva’s blog here → “Christine Southworth Guest Blog Post”

In other news, Red and I are also hard at work finishing his first short story collection for release in the New Year—“The Adventures of Little Red Bear.” Hopefully more ripples. Busy times here. Making waves!

It’s the Holiday Season. Kindness. Sharing. Join in, have fun and go make some ripples of your own! It just takes one act or moment of kindness to get the whole progression started. And sometimes, as in a simple blog post, you don’t really know what ripples you may be setting in motion and what may come back to you in the process.

Sending Ripples Into The World

Thanks as always for reading and following along. Very best wishes from Little Red Bear and I, and the whole gang of critters and story folk here for a very Happy, Healthy and Joyous Holiday Season! — Jim (and Red!)

Milson, the Steampunk Bear– German Mohair, Glass Eyes, by James Milson, 2014

A Cup of Earl Grey

November 23, 2014 / jrmilson / 4 Comments

Rainy and dreary

Soul feeling weary

This is the day

For a cup of Earl Grey

So put on the pot

I’ve a new story to plot

There’s no time to delay

I need a cup of Earl Grey!

Tea and Honey– Winnie the Pooh

Charles Dickens for Dinner, So to Speak

September 18, 2014September 18, 2014 / jrmilson / Leave a comment

Worked well past midnight again on what I am now calling the “Poetry Project”, or “PP” for short. In the end, it may turn out exactly so. Hope not.

Charles Dickens is being quite helpful, albeit demanding and forceful. I decided to stay healthy for dinner last night and dropped the Pepperoni we had discussed from our pizza, opting for only assorted veggies instead. I think he was disappointed, mumbling something about wanting a “decently struck meat pie”. Hard to catch it all thru the accent at times, to be honest. Dickens was not well pleased with his trip to America in life, so we’ll have to see how this one turns out. The veggie pizza probably didn’t do much to further relations.

Maybe the poem collaboration will lead to a book in the end– “Charles Dickens and I”, or “Charles Dickens in My Head” or something, like the lady who wrote about she and Julia Child. Charles doesn’t cook or give out recipes of course, providing lines of poetry instead. Not sure how long he’s planning to stick around though. Perhaps a nice roast for the weekend may help. I don’t feel qualified to attempt a proper meat pie.

Woke up around 5am this morning with a few more lines to jot down. Two lines yesterday. A few more today. Like I said, this one’s going to take a while with other projects going on, too. Dickens is generally considered the greatest novelist of the Victorian period, so why he has appeared to drive along a poetry project instead of a renowned poet is beside me, although it’s not like he never wrote any poems either. Regardless, I am very grateful for the help and have found it best not to question who the Muses send.

I keep getting stand alone, disorganized, independent lines as they pop into my head, and in the end putting them together in a meaningful fashion may be like trying to assemble a jigsaw puzzle in a hurricane. Yeah, I’d better order that roast to keep Mr. Dickens around a while longer. At least until Shakespeare or Robert Frost show up.

In the meantime, here’s a photo of some of London’s East End street kids from Horace Warner, c 1901-02. He called them “Spitalfields Nippers”. Great term– “Spitalfield”. It might fit into it all somehow. With the lamp. Or not. Mr. Dickens liked to work in serial fashion, and I think he is having sport while serializing this poem into my head.

Anyway, wishing everyone a wonderful day! Off now, I hear Mr. Dickens calling again. Quite demanding, he is.

By the way– I suppose to be safe, if anyone has a proper recipe for a good meat pie, I’d appreciate your sending it along. Just in case.

“Spitalfields Nippers” by Horace Warner, c 1901-02,

Advance Warning on a New Writing Project!

September 16, 2014 / jrmilson / 2 Comments

A story character entered my brain a few years ago, and then went to the back and took a Rip Van Winkle nap. He awoke quite unexpectedly last night right as I was beginning to make dinner, demanding that I start writing about him– right now! But instead of a little story, he is adamant about being featured in a poem. Ugh!

I began working on it last night until the wee hours, and have been writing on the new project almost non-stop since I woke up this morning, finishing cold oatmeal while continuing to work away at it. This one may take a while.

I don’t usually talk about my writing process because I am admittedly only an amateur at it and far from qualified to give advice, but in a nutshell here it is. Given my old woodcarving and sculpture background, I use the same process starting with a new dictionary, like a block of wood, and then hack and carve at it, removing odd words and everything that isn’t a story. So poems are even harder, finding and saving rhymes amongst the shreds and slivers. Boy do the bits and pages fly when I get going! I only imagine that’s how properly trained writers go about it as well. Do all the bards search thru shards, burning time to find a rhyme?

Searching for a Rhyme

I have to stop now for a while to rest my mallet arm, and then resharpen my tools for more writing work tonight. I feel like Charles Dickens has taken up residence in my brain along with the story character. Is there an aspirin for that?

Much too early to go into what it’s about because this is going to take a while and we’re only getting started. So please be patient as the character, Mr. Dickens and I get things sorted out. I suppose if Mark Twain pops in for a visit we would have enough folks for a few hands of poker in odd moments. The next image is a hint. It involves– a lamp. Whoa. Hope I haven’t said too much.

So, trying to be responsible. Giving advance warning. Looks like there may be poetry coming down the road. Might want to take your loved ones to higher ground and seek shelter.