SST Short Story Competition November 2006

I won! I feel so lucky that at last my work collided with the right judge. My mother sent me a bouquet to congratulate me making the shortlist, and she asked the shop to do something 1950s style. So they sent peonies, gladioli (Morrissey's back-pocket favourite) and lilies

Otto's new pants November 2006

I loved the pants I bought from Melissa at tiny happy so much that I thought I would make some myself with some left-over corduroy. Otto requested a rocket ship and because there wasn't quite enough cord, I added blue striped cuffs - kinda French, n'est pas?

The Lost Thing November 2006

We got The Lost Thing by Shaun Tan out of the library. I thought that it was more of an adult kid's book, but Otto is obsessed by it, perhaps because of all the fanciful, surreal machines that feature in it. We wanted to help our lost thing out, so we painted a map on its papier maché body

Cathy's business card November, 2006

Cathy needed a card to help her hustle her wares. She's a lawyer, in case you're wanting one. I showed her about twenty designs (squiggly drawings, stickers on printer offcuts, tea cups and crochet) and she picked the leaf collage.

Short story manuscript November, 2006

Finally completed after five years of writing in between childcare and housework and design jobs. Sent off to publisher on Tuesday, 21 November. Cross your fingers and toes for me!