It Started With Socks

Back in prehistoric times, about 1979, I was an aspiring, and starving, artist with ADD (attention deficit disorder), few prospects, and a loving, very patient wife. Throw in a pair of long white socks and you end up with

a job designing plush toys for Disney!

OK, so what do the socks have to do with Disney? Well...I found the socks from my days in high school track, said to myself "What a waste of time! I could have been doing something more productive. However, I did enjoy the long jump." (Oooops! There's that ADD!)

I said to myself "I think I can do something with these old socks." Soooo... I made them into a couple of funny snakes,

called them Snocks, sold them to a few gift shops, then traded them

for a design job with a now-defunct toy company in Southern California, got fired, got hired at another Southern California toy company........and you-know-who is in Southern California.

Disney was my first freelance job creating the patterns and sewing the models for new plush characters to be made in Korea (that's pre-China) and sold in the Disney parks and newly created Disney Store. My apologies to American workers who did not get to manufacture those Disney toys. I refer you to the first line of this post and the word "starving."

Fast forward to 2016 and I am back to socks......Socks on Rocks. One of the ALASKA TALES.

A picture book about crafty Alaska Dall sheep who wear colorful wool socks to protect their sensitive feet. Not just for Alaskans, this book can also be enjoyed in the lower 48, and Hawaii. Ever seen "Not available in Alaska and Hawaii?" Don't get me started.

Socks on Rocks. You like to knit? You like cute animals? You have small children? Large children? Grandchildren? All of the above? None of the above? You will love this book when it becomes available in September.

Even more important, and with great anticipation, you ask: "How can I make funny sock snakes and then work for Disney?" I CAN show you how to make funny sock snakes. Yes, I can. But, you do not want to work for Disney. Trust me. Don't you get annoyed when you hear "Trust me?"

Watch for step-by-step instructions for Snocks, pictures to color, and other fun stuff on my website and blog. And, remember:

Blog + blah blah blah = Blahg.