Penguin Prose

This week’s Illustration Friday topic is “blanket”. The first thing that came to mind were the super hero capes and livingroom forts. I loved those snowy days when school was canceled – sitting around pretending the house was an obstacle course and our adventure began with hot cocoa.

If it weren’t for my blankie, I’d have to travel the unknown alone and cold. So my contribution to the topic is the bedtime penguin… complete with mini penguin blankie (and teddy of course).

I still have that old blanket, packaged very carefully in a little ziploc baggie.. shredded with love.

😀

Find the bedtime penguin featured on gift items in the shop.

[tags]illustration friday, penguin, jgoode, memories[/tags]

Since I began selling my doodle art online, I’ve had a side goal to try to help promote various causes through my art.

As time has gone on, the Penguin cartoon collection has turned into the perfect avenue for such promotion. I started with the Pink Ribbon penguin, supporting breast cancer awareness, and expanded into a number of additional causes.

This past October I met an indie jewelry designer named Pam Swider, the owner and operator of Women for Hope. She was hosting a Breast Cancer Awareness group promotion effort called Indie for Awareness and I jumped with excitement to get involved. After the October event, Pam asked if I would consider creating penguins featuring a number of cancer and health related support ribbons.

“Absolutely!” I replied. How can I turn down an opportunity to help?

Once the penguins were created, I sent the Teal Ribbon Penguin to Pam. She then wore it to an art show she partiicpated in, and here they are sitting quite pretty!

In addtion to a huge selection of beautiful jewelry for all occasions, Pam creates and sells a number of support jewlery items including: “Bracelets, earrings, necklaces, keychains and cell phone charms in support of 15 different causes from Breast Cancer to Sexual Assault Awareness”.

The really inspiring thing is, not only are these items hand crafted, made with love by someone who understands the turmoil and emotional strain associated with the issues these items represent… but 10% of the proceeds sold by Women of Hope is donated to a variety of charities supporting womens’ issues. Giving from the hand that creates; it’s such a fabulous full circle kind of love.

Last I heard, The Penguin was delighted to join the gang at the art show. Thanks so much! I’m honored to work with someone as wonderful and giving as Pam.

View all of the various Support Penguin designs and products

[tags]jgoode, women for hope, support, pam swider[/tags]

I entered a contest at Zazzle a few weeks ago. The contest was to design a greeting card template (a template allows buyers to customize the card). There were literally 100s of entries ranging from cute and fun to beautiful and inspiring. There’s a fabulous array of talent at Zazzle these days.

My entry was a Christmas themed penguin scene, (penguins? who woulda thunk?), complete with Mr. and Mr.s Claus, Rudolph and the elves. It was a lot of fun to  create.

Now the votes are in and they say the penguins and I earned an Honorable Mention… YAY!

Thank you all who voted and left comments. I appreciate every speck of support — and contests are a lot more fun when our friends stop by.

You can purchase this card and customize with your own photo and text greetings here.

[tags]jgoode,zazzle,penguin,christmas,contests[/tags]

My (almost) 5 year old son has been asking for weeks if I would make a mailman penguin. He loves Mr. Mailman, a character on one of the pre-k programs he watches. So, I finally sat down and completed the request. Just remember, your mail carrier might just like penguins too. – wink.

As always, Mail Carrier Penguin is featured on a variety of apparel, gifts and decor.
Fun gifts for your favorite postal workers.

[tags]mail,post office,jgoode,penguin[/tags]